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)

Chumisa is a small village at the top of the mountain where we have been working monthly, for about 3 years now. It is beautiful, cool, and always green. We worked for several months in an adobe hut with a dirt floor and beams so low that I (at 5'3") almost hit my head. It was quite a problem for those taller than I to work in! Later they moved us into a rented house that is dark and cold but at least we can work without hitting out heads. We carry all of our equipment and boxes of medications up each month and spend much of our day, scrambling through the boxes looking for just the right medication for each patient. So, when the community leaders approached us with a request to help them build a small clinic there, I was in whole-hearted agreement. We bought much of the block and cement needed for the project and they supplied the ground and all the man power. And they have worked very quickly - by this time next month we will be working in a new clinic - with light and power! I am pretty excited to be able to leave medications and some equipment there. And we are hoping to be able to work more frequently - at least every 2 weeks. We always see over 100 patients - which can be quite challenging when it is just Katie and I working!

There is alot of need in Chumisa. Each of our clinics is very different - and in this one we see so many diabetics. It is a challenge to teach people who eat 10 -15 tortillas at each meal to change their diets! Compliance is minimal because their understanding of the disease is limited. So much of our time goes into education. Almost all of the people are Mayan Catholic. Hearts are hardened toward the evangelical church and there are very few in the area. But we continue to pray and serve and love - trusting that God will do the work that only He can do in hearts.

God supplies seed to the planter. He supplies bread for food. God will also supply and increase the amount of your seed. He will increase the results of your good works. (2 Corinthians 9:10)
 

Our "season " has changed here, going from cool and dry to very hot and dry. We have not had any rain since October so the dust blows continually making it impossible to keep anything clean. I am not complaining though as I know many of you are anticipating yet another winter storm today. David's psalm has however, become my daily prayer...
O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you, my body long for you,
in a dry and weary land where there is no water.  Psalm 63:1

I see the weariness in the faces of the women. Last week as one of the women from Chiminisijuan brought her daughter in yet again, for the same infection, I saw it. She had not only her 9 year old daughter with her but the 3 year old who was burning with fever. He had walked the three hour walk with his mother who could not carry him except for short periods as she had the one year old baby strapped to her back. They were accompanied by her aunt who was sick with pneumonia and a large abdominal tumor.

I saw it again, as we asked the widows this week for prayer requests and the litany of problems too big for human strength flowed from these women. As we told the mama of 8 that she was now carrying twins...there it was again. It is a weariness that extends way past the physical fatigue to the deepest part of the soul. You know it, you have felt it...that weariness that only Jesus can lift.....Maranatha!

"The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.
The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time.
You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing."  Psalm 145:14-16