A few weeks ago, we were asked by our friends in Chumisa (the village that we have our monthly clinic in) to come to a party to celebrate the inauguration of the new clinic building. We knew this was going to be a big deal since the mayor from the main city that is over all the villages that make up the township of Joyabaj (including Chumisa) was going to be there as well. However, even knowing this, I was still surprised to hear the marimba music and the “bombas” (a sort of celebratory bomb that they use here to celebrate anything of importance) going off in the distance as we approached the village yesterday morning. We walked over the muddy trail that made up the end of the road we came in on and arrived at the small clearing that makes up this town’s “main square” to find people lined up along both sides of the road and all around the clinic building. The main attraction was definitely the stage which held the men that made up the band of marimba players, who appeared to have been entertaining the crowd with their playing for a few hours already. As we greeted and were greeted by both familiar and unfamiliar faces, we made our way to a few empty seats also facing the main stage, taking in the sights. Excitement was in the air, and a few men - who had already had way too much to drink - entertained everyone with their dancing as they swayed to the sound of the music. Others had cameras and video cameras ready (an odd sight to see in the middle of a mountainside out here), which they promptly turned on as the mayor arrived and the inauguration service began. The mayor gave a few words about the importance and blessing that the leaders there were for their community, Duane and Leslie both followed with a few words of appreciation for allowing us to partner with them and our desire to continue to do so, and the main leader in the village, Pedro, finished up with more words of appreciation for the partnership that has been established between us and them. This was then followed by a ceremonial cutting of the ribbon across the doors that led to the clinic rooms and then a meal to follow.

 

 

 

And overall, it was a fine party, but there was no denying the spiritual strongholds that still keep that area captive to darkness. From the cases of booze lined up along the road to the candles lit in honor of saints and gods that have provided for them, it was hard to miss the gaping hole that should have been Jesus.

 

These people have become very dear to our hearts over the years that we have worked there; the men are hard workers who advocate for and take care of their families and people, and the people are always grateful for anything that we offer them. But there is a spirit of bondage that is still very real there among the people, and as I have processed through it more in the time after we left, the well-known words of Isaiah 61 have come back to me… “The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners…” (emphasis mine)

Oh, that we may never take for granted the amazing freedom we have been given… and may we never ever lose our burden to see the lost around us come to know that same freedom in their own lives.

Gosh, a whole month has past since I posted last...this has been a busy month with lots of visitors and a couple of teams. Our schedule is finally returning to "normal". Our children, Joseph and Rachel, who have spent the last 6 months in the US, are home. They did a six month internship at IHOP, (the International House of Prayer - not pancakes!) praying from 11pm to 6am each night and attending classes during the day. They, along with David -who spent 3 months there, have returned with renewed faith and passion for Jesus. There is nothing that brings more joy to my heart than to see our children following hard after God. We are very, very grateful to Him because we know that it is only by His grace and mercy that our children are walking out their faith. I often remember those days when we made the decision to move our family here. We were met with such opposition from family and friends who feared that we were endangering our family by leaving our culture and the benefits of growing  up in the US. And then I remember all of the mistakes I made in raising them...and I know without a doubt that God has had His hand upon them.

Progress toward the acute care center continues. We have lab equipment coming soon. The dorm construction is coming together - the roof is almost ready to go on. The paperwork for the nursing school is in progress - although we ask for your prayers in this. We need favor with the Guatemalan government to get final approval to be able to start in January. The physical help that we need is beginning to come. Adrienne, our long time friend will come in August. She is an enormous help and has an ability to see what needs to be done often before we do. And we will begin to get to know the physicians who have committed to come, this fall. It is overwhelming if I think about it too much or think too much in the future. So I just take today....and rest in the knowledge that He is in control.
"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:33

Flor, the young woman who works with us and who now does most of the prenatal ultrasounds, called me in yesterday to see a woman whose ultrasound did not "look right." We have known this woman over the years as a good mama who loves and cares for her children. She has seven children and was now pregnant with her 8th. Now in her sixth month, we could see that the baby's heart was not beating. There is always a moment of panic inside of me as I begin to pray, "how, Lord, do I tell this woman that her baby is dead?" It is said that there is no greater pain than to loose a child...I am sure that that is true. Sometimes women will know, they will sense, that something is wrong - but not this woman. I watched as she tried to process my words.... and we needed to repeat them several times. Finally, she said, "quiere ganas...." which roughly translates as "it takes courage." She did not scream or cry hysterically as some women within this culture do. But as we prayed, her silent tears flowed. Pray for her, pray that she has the courage to pass through the next few days and that the Lord will comfort her heart.
    "Fear not, for I have redeemed you:
    I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
    When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
        and when you pass though the rivers, they will not sweep over you.
    When you walk though the fire, you will not be burned;
       the flames will not set you ablaze.
    For I am the LORD, you God, the Holy One of Israel, you Savior...   Isaiah 43:2,3

the widows

Yesterday, Leslie had to go to a meeting in Chichicastenango, so Aaron, Flor, the kids and I went up to Chiminisiguan for the widows' meeting. Primarily these meetings are a time to encourage each other, pray together, and collect and pay for the baskets they have made, hand out their food, and then bring the baskets back home to organize them to go out to you all!

So, we started out the meeting yesterday with a time where each of the women shared one thing that they were thankful for. This is something new for these soft-spoken women, and honestly, I didn't even know if they would say anything. But, as each one of them shared, I was humbled once again by the responses I heard.

"I am thankful for my life and health."
"I am thankful that God always protects us."
"I am thankful for this group of women and the source of income and food it has provided for us."
"I am thankful for the rain that grows our corn."

As several of them highlighted their thankfulness for the rain, I was reminded at what a raw and foundational level these women live their lives at. One woman not only thanked God for the rain, but gave a little 10 minute reminder to all of us how we could not live without the rain... it is life.

As we left afterwards, I felt my own spirits greatly lifted. We are in a time of big transitions here, and sometimes it is so easy to get caught up in and overwhelmed by all the little details that it involves. But, God has always been faithful to take care of us - as He has each of these women. Yesterday, I was  reminded that often my stress and worry comes more from the fact that I have stopped thanking Him for the ways He has unconditionally provided for us each day with everything that we need - food, clothing, shelter, rain, etc. - and instead am too busy trying to figure out details and pieces of a puzzle that are way too big for me to ever figure out anyway. It is so often in my life here that I find I take away from these people so much more than I can ever hope to offer.

Here are some pics of the women and the baskets. If you would like more info on this program, the widows, or how you can purchase your own basket, please check out the website www.adonaiinternationalministries.org or contact Leslie at Fickerfam@gmail.com.

Happy Mother's Day!

Here, Mother's Day is celebrated May 10th, no matter what day of the week it falls on. This year, a women's group from a church in Chicago area donated beautifully scented lotions with a picture of the group and scripture attached to give out to the women who have children in our nutrition program. It was a joy to give these out to these women, who give and work so hard to provide for their families, usually completely unnoticed by anyone around them. We even got them to smile for some pictures - something that is very taboo in this culture!

Below are some pics and brief stories about just a few of the women we were able to hand these out to.


Here are the lotions, ready to go...

 Micaela, one of our translators, read the verse to each woman and explained that this was a gift just for them to enjoy!

 

These two mamas both have a set of twins each...

                                      ...and this mama has a set of triplets!

Thanks to the church who made it possible for us to bless these women this mother's day with such a special gift!

We were greeted this week in Chiminisijuan by a woman asking us to go to her house to see her brother-in-law who was too sick to walk to the clinic. It was a light day and we had extra help so we agreed to go. Duane drove us on the 4-wheeler as far as we could go and then we walked along the mountain side. It would have been a beautiful walk if I could have taken my eyes off of the narrow path in front of me. I always wonder how women with small children and a load of groceries make this kind of walk.... Anyway, we finally got to the house perched on the side of this same mountain. They had carved a small flat spot and built a 2 room adobe house. We walked into the dark room where Pedro was lying on a bed made of wooden slats. It was a small room - maybe 8x8 with 2 beds and all of their earthly belongings. There were chickens sitting on eggs in two of the four corners. Pedro was tucked in behind the door and was obviously very ill with a very serious illness - we guessed it to be cancer - with probable brain involvement. There was so little that we could do even if we could have some how gotten him to help. Truly his only hope is in Jesus. So we prayed and left him in the able hands of the Lord.

I am always struck by the harsh conditions that so many people here live in. I try to imagine what my life would be like if I had been born into circumstances like Pedro's. I can only imagine the amount of whining....  But then I begin to ponder on why...why was I blessed to be brought up with so much? Why have we been able to raise our children without worrying about where their next meal would come from? Why have we been given so much more than we deserve? And then I remember what Jesus said...that "from everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." So I surrender once again, all that I am, all that I have been given to His service, so grateful for this privilege to give.

Would you pray for Pedro? And would you pray also for 6 year old Yari who has been diagnosed with osteosarcoma (bone cancer) and is waiting today to see the oncologist in the City. There is only one hospital here in Guatemala for those who have cancer. It is so overcrowded, understaffed and under equipped that it is difficult to see how they might help this little one who has such an invasive illness. But we know that nothing is impossible with our God!

A month has gone by since I last wrote....where does to the time go? We made a brief trip to the US at the end March being home for Easter for the first time in 14 years. Before we left, the girls asked if they might be able to see snow. Well, not only did they see it but they had the biggest snow of the winter while we were there. It was so much fun to watch Grace and Abi experience life in the US. Abi, who never wears pants or a sweater even on the coldest days here, played in the snow for many hours, coming in just long enough to let her hands thaw. It was wonderful to see each of our children, spend time with our grandchildren and go to church during the Easter season.

We returned to Guatemala in time for the hottest, dustiest days of the year as we wait for signs of rain. The construction on the apartment is going well - they are just about ready to put the roof on. Clinics have been super busy since we have been home with lots of sick kids. Amazingly, we do not have any guests scheduled for this month and have been using the time to organize the clinic in preparation for government inspections of the "pharmacy". This is a requirement for both the nursing school which should be up an running by January and for us to be able to continue to purchase medication through the government.  All of this is preparation for what we believe God is asking of us....that we open a 24 hour care center. We are making small steps toward this vision that the Lord gave Duane many years ago but they are big steps of faith. We have no idea how it will all come together with some big pieces of the puzzle still missing (like finances, and medical staff) but we trust that in His timing all will come together. Please pray for us that we "might live a life worthy of the Lord and that we might please him in every way; bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God...that we might have great endurance and patience..."
Col. 1:11 (my paraphrase)