Tanks, Filters and Low Overhangs

We awoke Thursday morning after a somewhat toasty night, and I took another cold shower to start off the day. When I got up at 5:45 the temperatures outside were nice, and we enjoyed a pleasant walk to the restaurant for breakfast. By the time we finished eating we could feel the temperature and humidity rising. From that point, sweat was our constant companion throughout the day.

As we left the hotel we once again had to deal with a low entry arch and the water tank strapped to the top of Dick’s Land Cruiser. We gradually worked our way through with first me and then Teisha standing on the back bumper to weigh down the rear. We had to do a little bouncing and a little scraping, but we made it through and hit the road. (I think the hotel may be missing a little bit of their arch.)

We headed back up the mountain to Jessica’s family where we spent time explaining the medication we had purchased for Hector’s head rash and applying his first dose. We then set to work installing the water tank which will automatically fill when their water is on every other day. This will be a huge blessing to the family as they will no longer need to fill pitchers, barrels, and anything else they can find to provide a reserve for the dry times.

Dick and I worked well together after he learned to appreciate the Leatherman tool I always wear on my belt. He had spent much time over the last few weeks telling me how useless it is (even insulting it by calling it a Swiss Army Knife), but suddenly found himself needing it a lot. After we worked through his tool prejudices things went smoothly and we were able to complete the job in under an hour. Between Dick and I we had come up with a thorough list of the parts we needed, which was good since the nearest hardware store was about 25 minutes of rough road away. After the tank was installed we prayed with the family and headed out again.

On the way down the mountain we passed a group of ladies who were walking and decided to offer them a ride. We piled five women and two babies into the Land Cruiser and I hoped on the back bumper and hung onto the luggage rack for the rough ride down. Thankfully, Dick drove more like a gentleman than usual. (Gentleman is not a word that is usually associated with a description of his driving, and it is very relative.) However, as we were driving through the river he somehow managed to make sure that his rear bumper dropped below the water, soaking my boots. He said it was accidental, but he said it with a grin and while turning off his hearing aids.

From there we headed to the home of Sergio, a teenager who has Spina Bifida. He had received a new (to him) electric wheelchair the week before and it was not working. Dick was concerned because you never know the extent of the problem in a situation in which a chair has no power. It could be a bad charger, a bad connection, or a bad computer. We were pleased to discover that the battery connections had come loose as the batteries had shifted in transit. Once we discovered the problem it was a simple fix to reposition and secure the batteries.

The wheelchair is extremely important to Sergio because it is his only means of getting to and from school. The journey involves several rough areas with some steep climbs, so he needs a robust chair. While we were there Dick broke out his programmer and made adjustments to assure that he could climb the hills. He boosted the speed and power and made several trips up and down one of the hills himself. The kids in the neighborhood had fun watching the gringo go up and down, up and down, up and down...

By the time we left Sergio’s house we were extremely hot and sweaty and headed for the nearest air conditioned restaurant for a late lunch. I don’t think cool air ever felt so good!

After lunch we swung back by Herlindo’s house. As soon as we pulled up we realized something big was going on because the yard was filled with balloons and people. We found out that after having nine children together Herlindo’s parents finally decided that it would be safe to get married, so we had walked into a wedding reception. We were warmly welcomed by the family, offered drinks, and shown all the kids report cards. We then gave Herlindo the medicine he needed and explained the dosages to the parents. The medications are for a very bad stomach parasite that is in the family’s drinking water. It is the worst kind of parasite and requires strong medications to eradicate.

For some time now Dick has tried to explain to the family that their water is bad and they need to use the filter he had provided for them. Until now, they did not believe that this simple little device would make the water safe, so they just continued to drink it without filtering. Dick and Pat arranged for a doctor to call them and explain the situation and that the filter would work, and that seemed to convince them to use it. Only one problem…they had lost the filter. So, we hooked up another gravity feed water filter and taught them how to use it. Please pray that they make good use of it as it is imperative for the family’s health.

From there we headed home to the cooler temperatures of the inland mountains and refreshing showers. As we looked back on the trip we were blessed and amazed at how God caused everything to come together for such a great and productive trip. Through the heat, work, and rough roads He was with us the entire way.

Good evening from San Antonio Aguas Calientes!

Daryl, Wanda, and the Crew

Here are a few more pictures of our trip:

Bouncing around with Rutgers…again

Today Teisha, Carissa, Taryn, and I took off on another road trip with Dick Rutgers. Unlike last time, Pat is not with us as she is currently home in the states visiting with her grandchildren and getting a break from Dick and me. So, Dick’s car is much quieter and neither Dick nor I are suffering from headaches that usually result from Pat’s head slaps.

As usual, Dick treated us to a flawless drive to the coast. We just hit a few potholes that resulted in a couple of damaged kidneys, but the damage was spread out through us all so we all still have one left.

As we drove toward the coast the temperature rose about 15 degrees and the humidity rose sharply. When we arrived in town all the motels were full except for one that has no air conditioning as. As you can tell from the photo, the ceiling fans are no good as they have gradually drooped and warped from the humidity. But that is balanced by the reality that we have no hot water. Tonight’s shower was the first time all day I have been cool. Earlier Dick and I were trying to decide who would get the better bed (the one without sharp metal sticking in your back). I decided that he could have that bed and I will sleep in the cold shower, but now he wants the shower. We will compromise and alternate hours.

As soon as we had checked into the hotel we took off for Jessica’s house. Jessica is currently in Hermano Pedro and doing quite well after recovering from malnutrition. The journey to their home is quite interesting and involves some pretty bad roads and crossing a couple of streams. Interestingly enough, Dick drives very carefully on those roads.

Someone donated some money to Dick to help with the family’s water situation. They currently only have water at their home for one hour every other day. As a result, they often find themselves hiking down the mountain to fill buckets. After analyzing the situation we realized that we could purchase a 200 gallon water tank that will fill automatically when the water is on and can be used as a supply when the water is off. So we left their home and traveled to the nearest town where we purchased the tank, pipes, and fittings that are necessary and will return tomorrow morning to install the tank. For the time being, it looks nice on the top of Dick’s Land Cruiser, although I had to stand on the back bumper to help it squeeze under the entry arch of our motel.

This evening we found a restaurant that was not top notch, but was quite edible (unlike the shrimp from our last trip). We were also able to purchase some medicine for a nasty head rash that Jessica’s brother, Hector, has. Hopefully this will resolve the problem.

Well, the hour is getting late. I think we are all heading out for a bite of ice cream and then I will return and tuck myself into the shower for the night.

Buenes noches de Patulul, Guatemala!

Daryl

What we need (and what we don’t)

Over the last three years I have led quite a few teams to Guatemala to work with children. During that time I have been blessed by some wonderful folks who are missionaries here who showed me the ropes. They took the time to show me the ways that our teams could be helpful and ways they could be hurtful. While I trusted those lessons and always did my best to follow their instructions, it is only over the last few months that I have begun to fully understand the importance of their advice. I suddenly find myself in their shoes, and it is easy to understand how the typical team from the states can be either very helpful or very harmful.

Over the last few weeks I have had several conversations with Dick Rutgers and Pat Duff. Each of us works with teams from the States and each of us have had both very positive and very negative experiences in those interactions. Out of these conversations have come a list of things we hope and pray for from the groups who come to work alongside of us. If you are considering a short-term trip to assist missionaries in Guatemala or anywhere, please take time to read and pray through this list to prepare for your work.

Please note that even in our negative interactions it was not a case of bad people with impure motives. In each case, they really wanted to help. But good intentions can still do much harm.

So without further ado, I present to you the list of what your friendly neighborhood missionary needs from their short-term workers.

1) A Humble Attitude

If you ever see a confident American in Guatemala you know they haven’t been here long enough to know that they should be very confused. While Guatemala is a wonderful and beautiful place, it is also a country filled with cultural taboos and can be dangerous if you don’t know what to do and where to do it.

Occasionally we will get a team member who is very confident about what they think they know. Maybe they have never been out of the US but they believe themselves to be a good leader and, therefore, need to lead. For those of us who live and work here, this can be a nightmare because the people and ministries with which we work often judge us by the people who are with us. An offensive word or action can permanently damage a relationship that has taken years to build.

What we need are people who are humble, realizing that they don’t have the answers. As a result, they are ready to listen and ask questions. They realize that, while the missionary with whom they are working still doesn’t have all the answers, they do have more knowledge regarding the culture and the needs than a short-term worker. As a result they are slow to speak, have a teachable spirit, and follow the instructions they are given.

And, as they do this, they realize that the trip was less about them coming to change Guatemala and more about allowing God to change them.

2) The Heart of God (not the heart of America)

We all have filters through which we see the world. This principal holds true for Americans who visit another country. It is easy to look at another culture and judge them by the standards of our own. We observe their standard of living and shake our heads in pity. We look at their parenting and get irritated. We find ourselves frustrated by what we perceive as inefficiencies within their society. And we do this because our own culture has dictated to us what is right and best.

This became apparent recently with one American (not one of our team members) who observed a father holding his two year old daughter while riding a bike. “What a horrible father!” In actuality, he looked to be a very loving dad who smiled and talked with his daughter as he rode. Guatemala is not safety obsessed like the US, and sights such as that are common here. Families are close, with three or four generations living together in the same home. But the way they live, work, and love will not look the same as in other cultures.

We need team members who will love and respect he people and the culture with the heart of God, not the heart of America. This means looking past surface issues and personal preferences and seeing these people and this country the way the God who died for them does.

3) Compassion with Intelligence

It is easy to come to Guatemala with a pocket full of money and think the answer is to throw money at the problems that we see. Well meaning people come with a “savior complex” thinking that they will change the country. They pass out money to every beggar they encounter and are tempted to make long term promises of financial support.

They forget that the beggars they are passing will be in that same spot in the months and years ahead, and we will have to walk by them day after day. They forget that the missionary they leave behind will be judged by the promises they made. And they forget that money very seldom solves anything.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that we should never give money, just that we need to do so carefully and strategically. Most long-term change results from long-term relationships and wise encouragement, not through a passing hand-out. We need people who seek the Lord for His heart and respond and act accordingly. We need intelligent compassion instead of an impulsive, emotional reaction.

4) Sacrifice and Flexibility

While most teams are wonderful and easy to work with, occasionally we will have one that is more challenging. They come with strong expectations and are quick to complain if they aren’t met. In those instances I feel more like a babysitter and tour guide than a missionary serving the Lord.

It is easy to spot these groups even before they hit the ground because they are telling us what they want to do and what they are not willing to do. When they arrive, there tends to be frequent complaints. These complaints vary and include everything from cold showers to frustration with the ministry they have to do. They want more time for sightseeing. They are uncomfortable in their work at a specific ministry. They want to do something else. They leave me with the impression that they came for a vacation, not a ministry trip.

We need people who come with a heart of sacrifice and service instead of an agenda. One of the greatest blessings for any missionary on the ground is when they hear a team ask, “What do you need us to do?” That attitude of service gives us the freedom to focus on ministry instead of babysitting. It allows us to work on what is most needed instead of the peripheral issues.

One young man came out in the morning after getting ready for the day and I asked him how his shower was. “Cold, but that’s good! It helped wake me up and remind me of why I am here! Let’s go love people!” I gave him a high five and a big hug.

5) Committed people of prayer

In recent weeks, through interaction with other missionaries here and through my own experiences, I have been reminded of how great the spiritual warfare is that surrounds us. Both those that serve and those that are being served are being attacked by the enemy with severity and frequency. And that is where a short-term team can provide long-term assistance to us.

We need people who will come and see first-hand both the opportunities and obstacles that we face. We need them to experience the warfare up-close. And we need them to go home and pray…and pray…and pray!

There is nothing greater or more crucial that can be done for us and the people of Guatemala.

All of the missionaries on the ground appreciate the teams who come to work alongside us. They are such a blessing and we realize that sacrifice that is made by the team members who do so. These are just some ways you and your team can make the experience better for both you and the missionary with whom you serve.

Good afternoon from San Antonio Aguas Calientes!

Daryl, Wanda, and the Crew

Wheelchairs and Bumpy Roads

Disclaimer: Yesterday it suddenly struck me, through my wife, that there might be some people who read my blog but don’t know me, Dick Rutgers, or Pat Duff very well. As a result, they might be tempted to read in some illusion of truth into my verbal teasing of the other two. I wanted to take a moment to make it clear that my respect and love for Dick and Pat could not be higher. Dick was the one who taught Wanda and I how to love the children of Guatemala and was one of the main influences used by God to bring us here. And Pat has become a sister to me as she has continued our “love lessons.” So, any teasing you see in my blog is just that…loving teasing.

Disclaimer to the disclaimer: Please do not share the above disclaimer with Dick and Pat. I wouldn’t want our relationships to get all mushy!

On Tuesday morning we left our motel in San Pedro Laguna after a quick breakfast and headed to a town on the other side of the lake. Although the town was only 14 miles away as the crow flies, it took us about 75 minutes to drive there. The roads started out nice and smooth, but our nice black top road suddenly came to an end and became a very bumpy and rutted dirt road. I observed that Dick has a talent for avoiding the potholes on the driver’s side but hitting them dead center on the passenger side. Somehow we all managed to keep our breakfast down.

Shortly after we returned to blacktop, we noticed an odd sound coming from the driver’s side rear wheel. Dick pulled over and we inspected the tire. At first glance, everything seemed fine, but then I reached down and turned one of the lugs…by hand. All six of his lug nuts had been jarred loose and spun freely. When I expressed my surprise, having never seen anything like it before, Dick just said, “Oh, it happened last month, too.” (Do I really need to say anything more about Dick’s driving?) After retightening the lugs, we were on our way again.

Our first stop was at a hospital where we were met by Dr. William Boegle. Will was a successful podiatrist in Seattle until he and his wife felt God’s call to move to Guatemala and begin a ministry for women and children in crisis. He also treats patients for free at the Christian hospital in which we met. You can read more about their ministry by clicking here. 

A while back Will had introduced Dick to Emi, a little girl with Cerebral Palsy who was in great need of a wheelchair. We were returning to deliver that chair and make adjustments to assure a good fit.

Emi immediately stole our hearts. This precious 4 1/2 year old has bright eyes and a sweet disposition. Even though she is non-verbal, she communicated plenty with her eyes. Each of us had the opportunity to hold her and love on her for a while. Dick and I worked on making the adjustments while the doctor examined and treated Dick’s foot. (Yes, at the same time.) Dick had a run-in with a bike rack last week that resulted in a deep puncture and infection, but Will was able to provide sound advise and additional antibiotics.

What a blessing it was to meet Emi’s family! This is a family who not only loves their child with special needs, but is quite proud of her. They were quick to ask, with the pride evident in their eyes, if we wanted to hold her, and beamed as we did so. The appreciation they expressed repeatedly was both sincere and passionate. They are such a neat family.

We left the hospital, following Will on his scooter, and he led us to the roadside stand of a man named Ernesto. Ernesto was paralyzed from the waist down three years ago when the septic hole he was digging collapsed and crushed his lower spine. He now runs a little booth that sells videos and DVD’s that is about a half mile from his home. Each day someone has to take him to his booth and bring him home at the end of the day. He would like more independence, and Will wanted to know if an electric wheelchair could negotiate the roads to and from his stand. Unfortunately, after traveling the route it was determined that no wheelchair could handle either the incline or the roughness of the roads. However, several options were discussed, the best of which is a used Tuk Tuk adapted with hand controls.

We left Ernesto and went to Will’s house where he and his wife treated us to lunch and gave us a tour of their beautiful place. The view from their home overlooks Lake Atitlan and is surrounded by 70 acres of avocado trees and coffee plants. In addition to the work they do with women and children, this farm also serves as a non-profit ministry that provides income for local workers.

We left Will’s place and headed to Safe Homes for Children, an organization that runs a feeding program for children and a school. We went there to meet some of the children with special needs and see what equipment could be provided to help them. While there we met Angel, a sweet little guy that we believe has CP. He currently has a walker and is quite mobile using it, but it was quickly determined that he could be much faster with a pair of forearm crutches. In addition, we found out about several more children in need of wheelchairs and Dick decided it would be best to return at a later date to meet everyone and do a seating clinic to provide chairs.

From there we headed back home. Of course, very few things here are simple and straight-forward, and the return trip was no exception. We found one of the bridges washed out (we believe from the hurricane last May) and had to do a short detour around that took us through a stream and more dirt roads. Needless to say, by the time we made it back Dick’s vehicle needed a wash.

Yesterday, after a frustrating morning in my office (how could it not be frustrating after the wonderful days of ministry that preceded it) Wanda and I decided to go on a date in the afternoon. We took a crowded chicken bus into Antigua, had a nice lunch together, and spent about 1 1/2 hours at Hermano Pedro with the kids. You might ask, “What kind of date is that?” My response: The perfect one!

Good afternoon from San Antonio!

Daryl, Wanda, and the Crew

Pat needs a nap

Today has been a weird day. Of course, that could be said of every day on spent with Dick and Pat, but today was strange because of our lack of activity.
We started off the day by walking down the street from our hotel to grab a quick bite of breakfast. Unlike last evening’s dinner, this meal was actually quite good with generous portions. Our entire group was able to chew the food. This is a noticeable improvement over last night’s shrimp which is being used to resurface the roads here in San Pedro Laguna.
After breakfast we headed across town to visit a school for children and teens with special needs called Centro Mayan Servicios Integral. This place is a wonderful school that provides a quality education and helps its student reach their full potential. While we were there we delivered a shipment of vitamins, sized up a little girl named Lucy for a wheelchair, and Dick adjusted the speed of Domingo’s wheelchair. It seems that Domingo had been discouraged because his buddy Manuel’s wheelchair was faster than his. He was quite pleased to find that he had far more juice than before and seemed ready to drag race.

In the afternoon we returned to the motel and gambled again as we tried to find a place to eat. The first restaurant we went to told us they had no soft drinks, water, or tea. When Pat asked him what they did have to drink we were told, “Beer!” We left in search of another restaurant. We did find another place and the food was decent and chewable.
The rest of the afternoon was spent relaxing back at the hotel. We have determined that none of us are good at doing nothing. All of us have taken time to work on our blogs, and Dick and I disappeared into our room for a time of quiet reflection (we slept).
By then we found that Pat was getting cranky because she hadn’t take the time she needed for quiet reflection like Dick and I had so we took a walk and got her some ice cream. That helped, but we hope to send her to her room soon before the sugar high wears off and the crankiness returns.
Tomorrow promises to be much fuller as we will be heading to San Lucas to deliver and fit a wheelchair for a little girl and to Godienes to make arrangements for an electric chair for a gentleman there. We will swing back by Safe Homes for Children and visit with Vicki Dalia. If all goes according to plan we hope to be home before dark.
Good night from San Pedro Laguna!
Daryl
Here are a few more pics of our day:

Road Trips, Blood Stains, and Spewed Spaghetti

This is a special request for prayer from all our supporters and prayer partners. As I write this, I am currently in San Pedro Laguna with Dick Rutgers and Pat Duff, and these two are exhausting! It is difficult to be the only mature person in the group. It is like being responsible for toddlers!

Our group left this afternoon after church. As already stated, the team includes Dick, Pat, and myself along with my daughter Brittney and Kathlyn Beyer. The plan was to drive out to the region of Lake Atitlan and stay in a motel for the next two evenings, using it as a base while we deliver a wheelchair, repair another, and make a couple of deliveries in the area. It didn’t take long for me to determine that I was in trouble.

My fear began when Dick informed our group that he had driven carefully on our trip last week. But after reading my blog in which I complained about his heart-stopping driving technique he would no longer “hold back.” I immediately began to pray.

We stopped for a break at a gas station where Pat promptly fell out of Dick’s Land Cruiser. Dick immediately expressed his concern by asking, “You didn’t get any blood on my car, did you?” (Note: Dick asked me to clarify this story by letting you know that he did ask her if she was okay a split second before expressing his concerns about blood stains, although his concern for the car was expressed more loudly and with much greater emotion.) Dick was greatly relieved to learn that no skin was broken and, therefore, there was no blood.

Our journey through the mountains was an adventure in itself. The descent to the lake takes us through a section of road that Dick and Pat have dubbed “The Lower Intestines” because that is what the road looks like on the GPS. We traveled down the side of the mountain through a series of switchbacks involving sharp corners that left you wondering if we would meet a bus head-on.

We arrived in town and checked into our motel which is quite nice and only set us back by 100 Q (about $12.50) a night per room. We were hungry, so we walked to a local restaurant that overlooks the lake. The view was gorgeous, but the food was lousy. Dick and I both got the shrimp (at least that is what it was called on the menu). After trying it, we both decided that they must have been composed of crawdads from the lake combined with rubber from old tires. So, I ate the bread on the plate and ordered a cheeseburger. Dick chose to finish Pat’s spaghetti for her. (There was still a little left that she hadn’t managed to spew at me or splatter on me from across the table. Never sit across from Pat when she eats!)

Today was mainly just for fun as we traveled over and settle in, but there will be some actual ministry done. To be honest, life and ministry here can be difficult and draining, and sometimes we just need to laugh and have some fun. It is good to have friends with whom we all can do just that. My respect and love for these two have grown exponentially in the last few months, and I am privileged to call them my friends.

We are all getting ready to settle down and get some shut-eye. Another day awaits us and will arrive soon, and I will need to be ready to keep these two toddlers in line. Please pray for me!

 

Goodnight from Lake Atitlan!

Daryl

Traveling with Dick and Pat (The sequel to “Fun with Dick and Jane”

We have had a wonderful two weeks with the Beyer family, and on Tuesday we drove them to the airport for their journey home. (One of their daughters, Kathlyn, is remaining with us for an extended stay of two additional weeks, and we love having her here.) Their trip ended on a sad note, however, when Anita received a call that her grandfather had passed away. So instead of traveling home, they went straight to Virginia for the funeral. Please pray for their family.

In addition to our normal work and ministry, on Wednesday Wanda and I were able to journey over toward the coast with Dick Rutgers and Pat Duff. During that afternoon we experienced a temperature increase of about 15 degrees as we dropped in elevation. By the time we reached our destination things were plenty hot and humid, and this is not even the hot time of year. In addition to the heat we were also exposed to the back and forth verbal bantering between Dick and Pat. Dick had “forgotten” his hearing aids, although I wonder if it wasn’t by design so he could pretend not to listen to Pat. Meanwhile Pat kept trying to prevent Dick from talking while she was attempting to translate:

Pat: “I can only listen to one person at a time!”

Dick: “Just make sure it’s me!”

Our first stop was at the home of Gabriel. He is eight years old and has Spina Bifida. His back has never been repaired, so this little guy has a large mass on his back that prevents him from sitting up with firm back support. Dick delivered a new wheelchair and fitted it with a back pad that is positioned higher, allowing the lump to fit underneath. This chair also has the benefit of folding easily as his family takes him to physical therapy each week. This journey is actually a nearly two hour trip one way on a crowded chicken bus, so a folding chair is a great asset to them. We were blessed to meet this wonderful family!

From there we delivered Herlindo to his home. Herlindo is the younger brother of Ronnie who passed away in February of Muscular Dystrophy. He had been showing some weakness and weight loss, and his mom was concerned that these were the early signs of MD. Dick picked him up and kept him for five days so that he could take him to Hermano Pedro for testing. I am pleased to report that he is free of MD. While they are still waiting on a few test results, the general consensus seems to be that he is still depressed from losing his big brother, to whom he was very close. After a few days with Dick he seemed much happier and was eating like a horse! When we took him home we were able to meet his brothers and sisters. There are seven children remaining, including Herlindo. While there, Wanda got to hold some little ones so that made the entire trip for her!

Then we traveled through the town of La Gomera where we delivered a load of vitamins to a medical clinic and picked-up wheelchair applications. At this point, it was after 3:00 pm and we still had not eaten lunch, so we stopped at a roadside chicken place for a quick bite to eat. The food was good and it had some tables under an awning, so it was a welcome stop. By the time we had eaten and left we all felt renewed.

It was great afternoon together. I saw that Pat has finally gotten used to Dick’s driving as I saw no tears and heard no screams. However, I think maybe Wanda has become a Catholic as I believe I saw her cross herself a few times as she sat in the back. (Now that I think about it, I think she started that around the time I started driving here.) In reality, everyone felt better when Dick let Herlindo ride in his lap and steer.

When we returned back home we dropped Pat off at her apartment in Antigua and Dick came back to our house. He needed a break and a place to do some journaling so he spent last night upstairs. I just realized that I should probably go check on him to make sure he is not wandering around lost. I think I saw him carrying his GPS around the house last night.

Blessings from Guatemala!

Daryl, Wanda, and the Fulps