An Amazing Start

     Many of you are aware that I am (was) a school teacher and that I was working with the great staff and student body at Grapeview Public School.  Like any job, you connect with fellow staff and students by discussing your comings and goings to have a better sense of each other.  As the year progressed, many coworkers were intrigued with the work our family had done in Guatemala last year and they asked more about our journey.  It's flattering when  someone takes an interest in what you do.  Little did I know that after my  announcement to return to Guatemala, the school would start scheming ways to help.

Freezie sales for mission support.

     During the last month of school a group of girls in grades 4 and 5 devised a plan to use duct tape and fold it into all sorts of crazy assortments to make pencil flowers, hair bows, wallets, purses, and other items.  They sold these items around the school and directed all funds to the mission in Guatemala.  Additionally, two teachers started to sell freezies at school with their class and social justice club to direct all funds to the needs of the orphanage.  Another teacher  formed a drum group and performed at the local Home Hardware raising both awareness and financial support for the  mission.  I was blown away by all the support and that a group of people were sympathetic toward the same cause.

     The following week we had an assembly for volunteers that support our school community.  During the assembly they called me up and were making mention of the work my family and I have done and will be doing.  I prayed that God would give me the right words to say to the young audience as I can't go into the details about the harsh realities many children around the world experience and why they need so much help.  After I delivered a short speech (which I honestly thank God for because I am far from being that articulate!) the staff announced how much was raised and estimated how much more may be raised.  A large cheque of $2300 was unrolled.  My lower lip started to quiver and then the staff did something even more incredible.  They said  that more was being done.  A lump in my throat formed. Two retiring teachers  this year,  gave up their retirement gifts and directed the monies to the mission. As if that wasn't enough,  another teacher stated that the school had drafted a letter in honour of these retiring teachers that a donation from the Grapeview community could be made to our mission.  Tears filled my eyes.

Bucket Drumming at Home Hardware

     After dropping these bombs of amazing support they then asked me to pose with students and the cheque for a photo op.  I mustered up the words 'thank you' and 'wow' before I quickly turned away from the crowd and looked at my supportive staff and students and began to sob.  Crying is not a common event for me but has become more a part of how I express myself when God breaks me.  God broke me at that moment as I saw how much capacity of love exists in my school community.  I hugged each staff and student down the line that stood behind me not only during that presentation but in support for the work that was going to happen in Guatemala.  It is a rare moment to feel that loved by so many people at once and know that they too mourn over the unmet needs of others that we care deeply about.

     Needless to say the outpouring of support at Grapeview was an amazing start as we continue to find people to partner with us in the mission.  We pray that our support letters find you well and that you can be a part of a ministry.

Jeremiah 29:11

What hasn't been said....

It was funny the other day when I received a Facebook message implying that they would like to hear my (Matt's) perception, so here it is.  I guess for me it is refreshing to read Mandy's heart and mind as it spills on the web.  Often one can be extremely intimate with someone and never understand or completely perceive what they see and how it is effecting their life experience.  It seems strange that a computer can be used as a tool to get to know your soulmate better.  However I give this credit to God as I can't begin to explain how He uses the things and experiences in our lives to find a deeper sense of our being and relation to one another.

An example of this is our camera.  Before we came down I asked Mandy to purchase a camera that could be dropped, frozen, immersed in water and go through dust storms unharmed.  The purpose of these qualities had less to do with the climate of Guatemala and more to do with the expected punishment my children and the girls at Casa Hogar would inflict on it.  Sure enough these attributes were worth having when we recently went to the town of Monjas (pronounced: Moan-hahs) three and a half weeks ago.

In Monjas there is a series of spring fed of pools in which we took the girls swimming for the afternoon.  At first there was an awkwardness in being at the pools due to the girls lacking the resources of a bathing suit (bra, t-shirt and shorts were used instead), and even more so by the presence of many teenage boys swimming and looking at the new girls in town.  Knowing that swimming was a special treat Mandy and I were a bit surprised that they did not embrace the chance immediately to get in the water.  This didn't inhibit Max, Gabe and Mercedes to say the least as they stripped down and were in the water before we knew it.

As time passed the girls began to come out of their shells and began to splash in the water, which lead to water fights and finally to jumping into the water.  In watching this progression we were able to get involved in the action with our camera.  The girls watched in shock as hopped into the mayhem with camera in hand.  However as soon as I immersed the camera and asked for their photo, any girl that had reservations about being underwater quickly got over it.  The only eyes they seemed to notice now were not of the boys but of the camera.  It was fun watching the girls become more creative with their poses and groupings, as well as, getting over their anxieties of being under the water.  We were even fortunate to capture Gabby getting over her fears of swimming and jumping off of the diving board to Mandy and I as we treaded below.  This small capability within the camera inspired girls to coordinate for photos, encourage each other to get over a fear, communicate with us more and to express themselves in a new way.  This was an unexpected use when we thought of the purchase but was a great tool to help us experience that day.

Enjoying ice cream after swimming.

Another great development in the last month has been my new relationship with two groups that support Casa Hogar.  The one group is named EMAUS and are based out of Guatemala City.  It is comprised of business professionals, engineers, and contractors, all of which are Guatemalan, that desire to volunteer their professional advice and resources to aid in the management of Casa Hogar.  The other is the HEAR Foundation out of the Chicago area in the United States.  This group is a small organization of a few employees that aggressively fund raises and supports Casa Hogar, in addition to completing building projects at the girls home.  Even though we may have communication barriers and great distances separating us from each other, the use of cell phones and computer translation has brought our ideas, hopes, plans, and hearts to a common understanding.

As it stands, HEAR, EMAUS and the Wilson's are coming together to create a plan to generate a single organized plan for Casa Hogar that will be the guide and structure to not only our efforts but to the many other groups that support Casa Hogar as well.  The goal is to unite through a website, in English and Spanish, to be transparent about what we see as needs and what we are united in developing together.  Our immediate plans that we are codeveloping is renovations to the kitchen and replacing the driveway that causes tremendous problems in the rainy season.

Me with EMAUS, Mother Claudia, Mother Rutilia,
the Agricultural Minister of Jalapa (in yellow),
and HEAR (the cell phone on the table)

 It has been an exciting time here seeing how God has pulled so many people together for a common cause and making great relationships with those who desire more for people that have been neglected.  Going through the process of "doing missions" has gave me insight that it is not the actions of one person that makes things great but the influence of a great team that sacrifices together.  I'm sure as Martin Luther King Jr. and Ghandi brought about change in the USA and India it had little to do with their single action but the willingness of the many to believe and stand together to make that change.





Here is a great video that sums up the blog! 

A Real Gift!

I feel like I have been out of touch for awhile.  So much to catch up on that I feel my mind is spinning.  We welcomed our friend Kait last Monday.  Her visit is very timely.  Leading up to her arrival, I was feeling really down and missing family and friends back home.  With the holiday season and family gatherings, I felt a little homesick.  Having a familiar face and someone to share our life with here has been really encouraging and  a breath of fresh air.
We carried out a tradition we started last year with the help of Kait.  Last night we prepared a dinner for the nuns of Casa Hogar.  Going to buy all the supplies was a chore in itself.  It's not like going to the Super Store and picking up everything at once.  The nuns giggled with delight as the boys escorted them  to their seat.  It was so awesome serving them as they chatted over a candle lit dinner.  We shared with them after how we respect what they do and how we appreciate the life they are dedicating to serving the girls.
Kait and I spent an afternoon with the nuns making angels and snowflakes and decorated the cafeteria.  It always amazes me how the simple things can bring so much joy.
It's not all work and no play when we have special visitors.  Along with other missionary friends, we went to "Pino Dulce" (means Sweet Pines) for a hike through the mountains and picnic lunch.  We hoped the fog would clear so we could experience the  view while we zip-lined.  We literally were up among the clouds.  It was AWESOME!!!!!! I felt silly that I was more afraid than my six year old daughter.  God has given her a free spirit and one of no fear.
On  our way home  we stopped in at a local friend who lives with his entire family up in the mountains.  They generously invited us into their home that consisted of not much more than a few plastic stools and a table.  In the corner stood a small plastic christmas tree.  It was so cute how proud of it they were after they plugged it in.  That experience was hard for me.  I looked around and tried not to look utterly shocked at the way people live.  Dirt floors, big open gaps near the roof, mud and brick walls,  chickens running in and out......With the nights being especially cold this time of year, I couldn't imagine how they keep warm.  This christmas season has been a very unique experience.  I know we talk a lot about having too much and cutting back on spending, but how much changes for us.  For Matt and I, this has become a reality this year.  Trust me, I often think back on what I would be doing back home now.  Probably would have filled my freezer with so many baked goods, I wouldn't know what to do with.  My house would have been all decked out for christmas, and I would have  joined the commercial rat race of finding all those gifts. If you ask me if I am missing out on things, I would have to say absolutely not.  I am finding joy in the little ( yet very big things for us)  Going back to Emmanuel's family, I would have to say the same.  They have each other.  Nothing fancy....just simple.  Really if we reflect on how Christ entered this world, it was simple.  Jesus' whole ministry was about investing in people, not things.   We visited with this family that afternoon and had the privilege of spending time getting to know them.  During our visit, they offered us coffee that they grow on their property,  and then sent us on our way with bananas and a chicken.  Here is a family who has so little yet so much to give.  They wanted to bless us.

Sometimes it's hard to receive a gift like that.  We were humbled and thankful.  Speaking of being humbled and blessed, our paster surprised us and took us out to a ranch for lunch and later on to his farm to cut a tree down.  I had mentioned how I have always wanted to cut down a christmas tree.  Apparently this is a HUGE deal in Guatemala and they have laws against cutting trees down.  In order to cut one down you need a special permit, which of course cost money.  Last Saturday, Paster Ed and his family took us out to visit his father's  farm in the mountains.  It was AMAZING!   We hiked out to find the perfect tree.  All I have to say is that it looked a lot smaller on the side of that mountain.  We came home and still had some trimming to do.  Again, words could not describe my joy and thankfulness.  I always have a hard time excepting gifts....I sometimes feel like I owe or need to repay the favour.  God's gift to us comes with no strings attached.  We didn't earn His love and nothing we can do or don't do will make Him love us less.  And I guess in a way that is a gift I can pass on this christmas.  The gift of Jesus' love!

Progress!!!

After a couple months in Guatemala some feelings of accomplishment are starting to happen.  With the little Spanish training we have had so far, Mandy and I are beginning to become more independent throughout the town.  Thanks to our numerous friends in Guatemala we can practice lots.  Special thanks to our Spanish teacher Walter for being patient in getting us to understand more.  Due to everyone's efforts we can have basic conversations; our friends that speak English are now speaking more Spanglish with us; we can read basic instructions; and now we can understand the main idea of what our pastor is talking about.  Still very far from being fluent, but happy with our results this far.

Cooking 100 crepes with one frying pan!!!

This week Mandy started to teach the younger nuns how to prepare different cheap quick meals not commonly eaten here (French toast, and crepes with fruit).  It is exciting to watch eight nuns gather around a frying pan just to learn simple technique.  Even some of the nuns badger Mandy and I to be their English teacher which provides entertainment for both parties.

Earlier this week I joined a gym in town because the diet down here is beginning to 'grow' on me.  Mandy and I have been getting more brave to venture out of house more independently so we can exercise and get a small break from our home.  People have been friendly to us as we going about our work outs.   However Mandy seems to get too much attention from the men down here which sometimes hinders that positive endorphin feeling.

Chickens fattening up.

Max has been doing an excellent job raising chickens in our backyard.  In another couple of weeks this batch will go to the chopping block.  All chickens Max takes care of are for food at Casa Hogar.  Our plan is that every two to three weeks we will have a batch of 20-24 chickens for Casa Hogar which will increase the amount and quality of meat in their diet.  Fun project for Max and a benefit to Casa Hogar.

While we plug away at small projects, Mandy and I have made it our goal to connect well with all groups that come and support Casa Hogar.  This week I had the pleasure of sitting down with a husband and wife team that organizes a large medical group that comes down from the Chicago area.  This couple pays for English classes to be delivered at Casa Hogar and for materials for other trade courses taught on site.  In our meeting they were interested in our service project at Casa Hogar and they made me responsible for the direction of the English program at Casa Hogar.  Their desire is to have me report to them the success and effectiveness of the program, which had not been done before for the past couple of years.  Aside from this excellent connection I had the opportunity to meet the mayor of Jalapa, the medical director of the state of Jalapa, the hospital director, and the agricultural minister of Jalapa.  What a great opportunity to get to know those people who have so much influence in Jalapa.

Ultimately, this week opened the door to discuss with Mother Claudia that a central plan is needed for all of the aid groups to feed off of instead of coming up with their own plans.  Mother Claudia agreed that we could work together in making this one plan and use it to coordinate future aid.  Planning ahead is not common down here so this was a massive break through.  I am truly looking forward to see what can be planned.

Getting connected

It is funny how a few months ago when we were applying to CTEN (Commission to Every Nation), that we had no idea how much work it would be just to make contact with the people we have made friends with over our lives to rally support for our mission.  We are beginning to get ready for our first big mail out this week and of course Canada post still remains on strike.  However we have faith that this will not hinder us in getting our message out (thank you Blogger, Facebook, and email!).

Part of what CTEN taught us is that our mission in Guatemala is really only half of our job.  As we forge partnerships with people in Canada to make the work at Casa Hogar possible we are using this opportunity to develop community that wasn't there before.  This shift in thinking extends our ministry much further than we intended.  Sure the vision is to see these girls succeed in Guatemala to become self sustaining women in Christ, but the unwritten vision is to involve our partners in Canada to shape their hearts in helping these girls in need.

I always thought missionaries were lucky people being able to go off to far off places and doing amazing work for God.   This made me underplay the importance of the supporter who stays at home, "not taking the risk".  My view has changed significantly with this and it inspires me to have those who are involved with supporting us to be an active part of the decision making.

My encouragement to our blog followers and supporters is to post comments.  As our family goes through this year of big changes you may give us ways to look at a problem differently or connect us with resources and people that can help.

So follow along with us and keep us in your prayers as we journey together.

Planning for the Unknown

Today has been a shift in gears with trying to find someone to rent our house.  Thanks to sites like Kijiji this has made the advertising very easy however the flood of people responding is a bit overwhelming.  Mandy says it feels like we are exposing ourselves, which is pretty much true.  That reminds me that I need to clean up the underwear off the floor and quickly hide all the small messes around the house!!

Aside from renting our house we are starting our mailing campaign for support this week.  We couldn't have timed it any better in the midst of a postal strike.  Going through these stresses has forced us to become more faithful in God.  In all honesty I am not worried, but I do feel stretched.

Preparing for a year without a salary and no real defined work day is a challenge.  Today when I was reading the bible I came across this verse in Luke 18:29,30
 "'Truly I tell you,' Jesus said to them, 'no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life'"

Reading passages like this gives me confidence in what we are called to do.  I don't personally think God is going to bestow material riches by committing to a work term in Guatemala (not that it is impossible), but I believe that he will make us rich in relationship, which is far greater in value.

This time of preparation is like swallowing horse pills as you humble yourself to being exposed to everyone about your home, finances, and spiritual walk.  Regardless getting through this time is what builds character as we surge forward towards Guatemala.

In the meantime, if you are looking for a house to rent you can find it on Kijiji here and you could help us check off one more unknown off our list.