Friday, May 22, 2015

I hate moving.  I have been singing this little tune just like Oscar would belt out from his 1975 trash can "I hate Christmas" ( only who on earth would say such a thing, thought this 7 year old girl) This was one of my most fond memories when I was a kid.  My brother and I would blow the dust off the vinyl and anxiously wait through the static cracking for the cast of Sesame Street to officially welcome christmas in the house. What was even cooler was the album cover that opened like a book and had scenes of all the characters.  And every christmas we are together, my older brother and I still find each other on the couch with the worn out album on our laps while we hum along to the tunes from days long gone.  Now our kids get to experience it.  
I think I have had the same item in my hands at least ten times today because I just can't figure out what box to put it in.  I know its not rocket science, but I am tired so anything that requires any thought is difficult to compute. I thought after a late night of packing and moving things into the girls apartment I would have the chance to catch some extra sleep.  I was mistaken.  Between dogs barking,  kids barging in looking for parts of their uniform, one girl needing a towel, one telling me there is a mouse in the pantry... I could care less if there was a lion in the kitchen at 6am in the  morning.   I thought by now maybe I would have a better system in play.  But the laundry keeps piling, I have no more gas so that means no dryer and no warm shower tonight...great!
And I spent the better half of the day rewashing all my dishes and wiping down food items due to the nice treats the mouse left.  All that to say, I have mixed feelings about moving.  Maybe because Jalapa has felt like a second home to us since 2009.  Maybe because it's change again and this creature of habit likes things a certain way.  Whatever it is exactly, we know that God is continuing His call and we follow His leading wherever that may be. Now back to packing!

Monday, May 18, 2015

One Love

I could hear Bob Marley's voice coming from my bedroom.  The sound of "One Love" belted out throughout the house and as I entered my room, my husband swept me into his arms just to dance.  I shot him a look of confusion... like was this some special occasion.  It was just us.  And that was special enough.  I love the way he loves me, no matter what.  I told him I felt like I should have been wearing a cute little sundress and not my daily grubby shorts and tank top I feel like I haven't changed in who knows how many days. I told him I wished there was sand between my toes instead of the constant dirt and dust on the floor.  We laughed and spun around in circles for what felt like an eternity.  I didn't want the song to ever end.
Boxes once again are filling every room and there is a constant disorganized mess as we prepare to move next week.  This move has been planned for some time now but not as soon as we thought.  My mind feels as cluttered as my surroundings and it's hard not to get stuck in that feeling.  We are heading to a neighbouring town, where we will be working as team leaders, helping the continual development of the transition program and working on other projects. (http://www.shadowofhiswingsorphanage.org)  The more I move, the more I realize how much stuff can occupy our time.  Moving things from one location to another and then back again.  What if we payed equal attention to God as we do to our things.  What if we were consumed with His word and our relationship with Him rather the things the world constantly throws our way.  I live in Guatemala and still struggle with the comforts and luxuries of home.  I don't have to even look far.   Extreme poverty sits on my doorstep.  And it just becomes familiar.  I constantly wonder why on earth I would have so much more, so many opportunities that the majority of this country simply doesn't have.  I helped with a medical team two weeks ago, and I quickly learned of the many women that walked miles, some not even having a pair of shoes, facing extreme fatigue sore tummies with children on their backs with worse symptoms.  Parasites due to the lack clean water, and it's so hot and I am thirsty and take a drink from my cold water bottle.  So many people I have heard say, " you can't help everyone, you can't save the world from poverty".... that is true, because Jesus is our only Saviour.  He has given us the gift of life and with that we are called as christians to do something.  The reason you and I are born where we are is because He wants to use us for His kingdom.  To be a hand to someone in need.
As the song comes to an end, I realize how much I needed to laugh.  And I pray that God would continue to work through this heart of mine to see people in the light of His eyes and to share His love.

These kids come to the door every week for a glass of milk and snack
Brining a pot of soup to celebrate the new baby in Eddie's family

Friday, May 1, 2015

A Terrible Storm followed by a Silver Lining


With the well working we hope it can
sustain until the rains come in May.
            It is hard to sum up the last few months without a lot of emotion bubbling up.  To start things off, in December our crop project experienced a major set back due to a burnt out electrical system on our irrigation pump in our well.  Thankfully nothing was planted but the repairs and downtime have caused minor losses.  In the meantime, we have planted again in March and are praying for stability in the repairs as we head into the hottest and driest month of April. 
            As we rounded the New Year, it was disturbing to see the decline in the Canadian economy.  This has tremendously affected our mission budget.  Before we left Guatemala in the fall,
The value of the Canadian dollar versus the
value of the Guatemalan Quetzal.
(One year earlier value was Q8/$1CDN)
 we were receiving Q7(Quetzals)/$1CAD.  Our lowest rate of exchange was  Q5.8/$1CAD, which translates to a loss of 17% of our income in the matter of six months.  Thankfully we have rebounded some (Q6.2/$1CAD) but we still are hoping for much better.  It is frustrating to see the prices remain the same in Quetzals but the cost of the item in dollars increase.  If anything, it pushes Mandy and I to lean on God harder knowing full well that He is the provider of all our needs (refer to Matthew 6:25-34), and to seek sustainability through businesses within Guatemala.
Josue with his wife and youngest son
celebrating his son's first birthday.
Thanks to his sharp mind and big heart,
Josue was able to prove our innocence and
allow us to continue on with the mission.
  Despite these set backs, Mandy and I were not ready to deal with the devastation we were dragged through in mid January.  While getting prepared for my mother to come and visit, we were accused by someone in the community of kidnapping, child abandonment, and the enslavement of children within our home.   With a looming investigation and possible arrest, we had our bags packed for an early return to Canada.  However, God knew the strife and despair we were in and sent the best gift through the friendship of a basketball teammate who happens to be a lawyer.  Josue (hose-way) managed to clear the air and prove the false nature of the accusations within a few days.  In that moment of crisis where we were being tricked into leaving, a hand of peace was placed on our house.  Thankfully nothing came of this all, we are still healing through this, and mom was able to rebook a flight and come down.  Please pray for us as we still deal with a lot of anger, and pray for the accusers that they might find peace.

The hen house sat empty for three months while we waited
for a source of hens to come through.  Finally at the end of
April we welcomed our first 200 ladies and will be getting
another 300 by the end of May.  Please pray for success
in sales as this provides work in a country that lacks it, and
an opportunity to raise funds domestically to support girls
as they transition out of safe houses.
            Back to the farming front, the hen project finally completed construction in late January.  In a country full of chickens running freely and constant advertisements of laying hens for sale, Leonel (my business partner) and I figured a small quantity of 200 hens to start our business would be an easy order to fill.  However, this was far from the case.  After visiting a series of farms and livestock dealers we came up empty.  Either they were sold out or the stock did not look good for production.  After six weeks of searching we established a source of hens from a supplier/farmer that we can trust in Jalapa.  This new relationship we are developing is mutually beneficial and looks to have a positive future.  Praise God!



The kids all dressed in their
uniforms ready for school.
Regardless of the mishaps and stress over the past few months we have counted more blessings than hardships.  Thankfully God provides we just need to be tuned into to seeing what He has given. For example, all of the children in our home are in school, loving it, and excelling in their studies.   Max, Gabe and Mercedes started attending school in January freeing up my time from homeschooling. This is a much better fit for our family and all are happier for it.

Francisca working on her
handbag business.
Angelica and Francisca continue to plug away at making jewelry and handbags to make a small income.  They have moved out of the house and into an apartment where they are responsible for covering most of their rent cost.  Additionally, they are taking advantage of their license and are able to be more independent.  There still is a lot of growing up to do but they are on their way.
Irma Lopez has been a new-old addition to our home.  She worked with Mandy last year, producing baked goods to sell in the market.  In January, she has moved in with us to complete her high school diploma and to develop a bakery.  With the aid of sponsors in Canada, she is getting an education, building up her baking tool inventory and receiving extra classes in cake making and decorating.  At this point Irma is turning a small profit with her roadside stand.
Mandy pricing the jewelry
and handbags Angelica and
Francisca made.
The boys were excited to
have Nana back again for
a couple of months.
Over the last couple months we have enjoyed time with visitors.  My mom was able to stay on for two months as well as Mandy’s mom and sister sneaking in a surprise visit for her birthday.  Even our good friend Kate was able to slip away from Canada for a bit to get some much needed Guatemalan time.  It truly is a blessing to share our lives with others and share in the joy of serving here.
Irma and Oma working the roadside stand in front of our house.
If you are going to come to Guatemala you need to learn how
to make tortillas.
A huge answer to prayer recently came when another extension for my leave of absence from my school board was accepted. With this firmed up we have applied for residency, which will open doors legally for us to stay without being charged for visa extensions and being forced to leave the country every 180 days.  The resident status also opens doors for adoption.  It is just a matter of time before we hear whether we are accepted or not.
Finally, we want to express sheer gratitude for the additional support during Christmas and January.  The funding was and is needed, and it came at a time when strife was high.  Thanks for investing in our small, but life changing ministry.

Love,

Matt and Mandy