From Norton:
We're still here down in Guatemala. Just been super-busy the last week. A team of six more people from our church in Denver arrived last Friday. We've done lots of construction work (mixing cement is fun!), attended two church services (our group sang and I preached at one last night...an interesting experience), and just spent time hanging out with the people here. We have two more days in the Lake Atitlan area, then to Antigua for a day, then home on Saturday. If we get a chance, we'll write more soon about our past week. But overall, it's been amazing and we are encouraged on so many levels about what is happening here and what God has called us to do. Thanks so much for your prayers.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Poverty here.
From Norton: The UN estimates that in the two villages where we are living and working 80% of families live in poverty or extreme poverty and 80% of the children are malnourished. Guatemalan government figures have estimated the specific village where we work is the 4th poorest village in the country. All of the homes are made of cinderblock and tin roofs with mud floors. All of the cooking is done over open fires, which is horrible for your lungs if the ventilation in the kitchen isn't perfectly designed. Years ago, many of the people were given filters to clean their water, but no one changes the filters (it's expensive) and they don't clean the water containers anyway. So, the filters aren't really doing anything and they are drinking bad water. As a result, everyone suffers from dysentery. Add to that: 50% of the homes don't even have toilets. Wastewater runs openly down drainage ditches on the sides of the road. The mayor (who basically runs the town) is corrupt and mean. Consequently, all humanitarian organizations have decided to avoid the village because the cause seems worthless. In fact, there is only one humanitarian organization that has decided to help the people of this village. It was started about 5 years ago by an Australian woman who has simply done some amazing things. We met her last week. I do not think she is a religious person, but she is certainly taking Jesus' command to love "the least of these among you" seriously, even if she doesn't know it. But even this incredible woman has thrown her hands up and decided to close her organization. She told us that she's simply "tired" and can't pour any more of her money, time, and life into this village. She went back to Australia for good last weekend (and I don't blame her at all). So starting this month, there will be no one in the outside world doing anything significant to help this village with education, health and hygiene, clean water, business plans and loans, empowerment, oppression, malnourishment, etc.
As our church in Denver begins a partnership with a small church in this impoverished village, we don't pretend to think we have ANY good answers for all their problems. We feel a bit overwhelmed. We know our American efforts to help them could actually hinder progress. We know that we can easily become proud of ourselves because we came to Guatemala to help all the poor people. Even in sharing this on a blog, it's easy to objectify people--turn them into statistics or objects to be examined and diagnosed and solved. But they are people, every one of them, whom God made in his image. So, with all that in mind, we're simply praying for God to show us what to do down here. To forgive us when we don't listen to him, or puff up with pride, or miss an opportunity to be agents of his love. And to give us the strength and courage and perseverance to do what he's called us to do. And doing is the most important thing. If our faith doesn't compel us to do something, then it's pretty much dead and worthless faith. May our faith never be dead and worthless, but living and breathing and risk-taking and doing.
As our church in Denver begins a partnership with a small church in this impoverished village, we don't pretend to think we have ANY good answers for all their problems. We feel a bit overwhelmed. We know our American efforts to help them could actually hinder progress. We know that we can easily become proud of ourselves because we came to Guatemala to help all the poor people. Even in sharing this on a blog, it's easy to objectify people--turn them into statistics or objects to be examined and diagnosed and solved. But they are people, every one of them, whom God made in his image. So, with all that in mind, we're simply praying for God to show us what to do down here. To forgive us when we don't listen to him, or puff up with pride, or miss an opportunity to be agents of his love. And to give us the strength and courage and perseverance to do what he's called us to do. And doing is the most important thing. If our faith doesn't compel us to do something, then it's pretty much dead and worthless faith. May our faith never be dead and worthless, but living and breathing and risk-taking and doing.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
townsend turns 5!
15 july, 2011 day 15
today is townsend's fifth birthday. i can't believe it. five years ago, norton and i were waiting for the referral of a baby from guatemala. we came to san pedro to learn spanish and were actually here in this village when townsend was born. we didn't know that until we got his referral the next month but i thought it was kinda fun that we were in his birth country for his birth. townsend has really gotten into the "cars" thing. a couple of days before we came to guatemala, norton took townsend to see the "cars 2" movie. towney's first experience in a movie theater. i decided not to buy presents at home and bring them in our luggage. i figured i could buy some things here. the first time we walked to the market townsend saw some dvds hanging in one of the stalls. there were some with a picture of "cars" on it. of course, townsend started asking for one every time we would pass by. yesterday i went by myself and bought one of the dvds. i didn't notice until i was back at the house that it was the "cars 2" movie. hmm. interesting. this movie has only been out for two weeks. it's probably made by some guy filming in the theater. :) so anyway-this morning after townsend woke up we gave him a bag with some little presents-a "cars" ball and wallet, a toy car, and some stickers. one funny thing-after he woke up he said, "now that i'm five i can read!" wouldn't it be nice if that's the way it happened? we gave him the dvd at quiet time so the kids could watch that while i was at spanish class. apparently it was truly the movie. in spanish, of course! the girls fell asleep but townsend watched the whole thing. i ordered a chocolate cake from a pasteleria (bakery). townsend was so excited to see it and have the group sing "happy birthday." tonight after the group had left, townsend told me that he had really liked his birthday and his presents. he told the same thing to norton. it is so nice to see him be grateful and thankful.
some things about townsend's year:
1. we went for his five year checkup a couple of weeks before we came to guatemala. he is in the 30% for weight and height. still a little guy.
2. he continues to be very orderly when building/creating. and he doesn't like to dismantle his creations. thus, his room is a big mess!
3. still loves paper and i have to wait until he is at preschool before i can take a bunch and put it in the recycle bin. everywhere we go, if there is a brochure, calling card, pamphlet, flyer, etc., he takes a stack. and if i try to throw anything away, he pitches a fit.
4. is starting to be a bit more social. there have been a couple of older boys here that he has latched onto.
5. he seems to love learning. i bought some workbooks to bring to guatemala and he loves doing “school” here. he knows all his capital letters and many lowercase ones. and he is getting better each day at writing his letters.
6. to be honest, he can be a bit selfish. (i guess we all are, aren’t we?) he is very clingy with his toys and has a hard time letting his sisters play with them. of course, if they have a toy, townsend is very quick to say, “god wants us to share our toys, right?”
7. he still loves, loves, loves all his stuffed animals. he sleeps with about fifteen of them. if he is misbehaving, all we usually have to say is, “if you keep this up we will take away your _(insert name of animal)___.”
townsend, we are so thankful that you were born here in guatemala five years ago. and we are so thankful that we got to spend your birthday in your birth country. you are our very favorite little boy. we love you towney.
today is townsend's fifth birthday. i can't believe it. five years ago, norton and i were waiting for the referral of a baby from guatemala. we came to san pedro to learn spanish and were actually here in this village when townsend was born. we didn't know that until we got his referral the next month but i thought it was kinda fun that we were in his birth country for his birth. townsend has really gotten into the "cars" thing. a couple of days before we came to guatemala, norton took townsend to see the "cars 2" movie. towney's first experience in a movie theater. i decided not to buy presents at home and bring them in our luggage. i figured i could buy some things here. the first time we walked to the market townsend saw some dvds hanging in one of the stalls. there were some with a picture of "cars" on it. of course, townsend started asking for one every time we would pass by. yesterday i went by myself and bought one of the dvds. i didn't notice until i was back at the house that it was the "cars 2" movie. hmm. interesting. this movie has only been out for two weeks. it's probably made by some guy filming in the theater. :) so anyway-this morning after townsend woke up we gave him a bag with some little presents-a "cars" ball and wallet, a toy car, and some stickers. one funny thing-after he woke up he said, "now that i'm five i can read!" wouldn't it be nice if that's the way it happened? we gave him the dvd at quiet time so the kids could watch that while i was at spanish class. apparently it was truly the movie. in spanish, of course! the girls fell asleep but townsend watched the whole thing. i ordered a chocolate cake from a pasteleria (bakery). townsend was so excited to see it and have the group sing "happy birthday." tonight after the group had left, townsend told me that he had really liked his birthday and his presents. he told the same thing to norton. it is so nice to see him be grateful and thankful.
some things about townsend's year:
1. we went for his five year checkup a couple of weeks before we came to guatemala. he is in the 30% for weight and height. still a little guy.
2. he continues to be very orderly when building/creating. and he doesn't like to dismantle his creations. thus, his room is a big mess!
3. still loves paper and i have to wait until he is at preschool before i can take a bunch and put it in the recycle bin. everywhere we go, if there is a brochure, calling card, pamphlet, flyer, etc., he takes a stack. and if i try to throw anything away, he pitches a fit.
4. is starting to be a bit more social. there have been a couple of older boys here that he has latched onto.
5. he seems to love learning. i bought some workbooks to bring to guatemala and he loves doing “school” here. he knows all his capital letters and many lowercase ones. and he is getting better each day at writing his letters.
6. to be honest, he can be a bit selfish. (i guess we all are, aren’t we?) he is very clingy with his toys and has a hard time letting his sisters play with them. of course, if they have a toy, townsend is very quick to say, “god wants us to share our toys, right?”
7. he still loves, loves, loves all his stuffed animals. he sleeps with about fifteen of them. if he is misbehaving, all we usually have to say is, “if you keep this up we will take away your _(insert name of animal)___.”
townsend, we are so thankful that you were born here in guatemala five years ago. and we are so thankful that we got to spend your birthday in your birth country. you are our very favorite little boy. we love you towney.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Notes from Norton
A few random notes about our time down here:
1. Elevation. Each day I walk about a half-mile to school (Spanish language school) around 7 am, then back to the house around noon. It's not too far length-wise, but our village is built on a hill and Antonio's house (where we are staying) is at the top of the hill and the school is at the bottom. It's 400 ft elevation change on my short walk. I have an altimeter and have measured it. If that doesn't mean much to you, just think about being on the top level of a 40-story building and walking down the stairs each morning to the ground floor, then back up 4 hours later. I'm not complaining...it's great exercise and I love walking through the village. But it's life here. And we (the whole family) actually walk about halfway down (200 ft.) to another house for breakfast, then Janis and the kids walk back up, then back down for dinner and back up to the house. And sometimes in the pouring rain. Surprisingly, the kids have done pretty well. They don't complain too much about the walk and seem to have settled into this way of life.
You know what's crazy? In Denver, we live 2 flat blocks (literally) from King Soopers, Rite-Aid, Sunflower Market, the public library, Starbucks, the park, etc. And how often do we walk? Practically never. It's amazing how enculturated we are in Denver. Driving is just what we do.
2. The big city. When I told Rosa, my Spanish teacher, how big Denver was, her first comment was "Muchos banditos?" Because of the large amount of gangs, thugs, and crime that happens in Guatemala City, in her mind, big city = violence.
3. Getting the word right. I don't know why I keep doing it, but it seems like every other time I mention Janis to my Spanish teacher, I call her "mi esposo". That means "my husband". "Esposa" with an "a" is the feminine form of the word spouse, meaning wife. I should say "mi esposa" not "mi esposo". It's just a slip-up, but I wonder if my teacher is beginning to think that I actually have an "alternative lifestyle."
4. LLuvia (rain). I love the dry climate of Denver. I don't miss the humidity of the south (NC, GA, or TX) at all. But there is something attractive about the weather here. It's rainy season, and that means it rains (lluvia) almost every day. I think we've had 2 non-rain days in the last 15. Most mornings it's sunny or partly cloudy and beautiful: a crisp 55 degrees. Sometimes it will start raining by noon and set in all day long. But oftentimes, it gets to a perfect 75 degrees during the afternoon while clouds gather over the lake; then by 4, 5, or 6 pm, the rain starts falling in buckets. And frequently, all night long. I guess it could put you in a melancholy mood if you lean that way. But it's a welcome change from Colorado and there's nothing like sleeping with the windows open while it's pouring rain.
1. Elevation. Each day I walk about a half-mile to school (Spanish language school) around 7 am, then back to the house around noon. It's not too far length-wise, but our village is built on a hill and Antonio's house (where we are staying) is at the top of the hill and the school is at the bottom. It's 400 ft elevation change on my short walk. I have an altimeter and have measured it. If that doesn't mean much to you, just think about being on the top level of a 40-story building and walking down the stairs each morning to the ground floor, then back up 4 hours later. I'm not complaining...it's great exercise and I love walking through the village. But it's life here. And we (the whole family) actually walk about halfway down (200 ft.) to another house for breakfast, then Janis and the kids walk back up, then back down for dinner and back up to the house. And sometimes in the pouring rain. Surprisingly, the kids have done pretty well. They don't complain too much about the walk and seem to have settled into this way of life.
You know what's crazy? In Denver, we live 2 flat blocks (literally) from King Soopers, Rite-Aid, Sunflower Market, the public library, Starbucks, the park, etc. And how often do we walk? Practically never. It's amazing how enculturated we are in Denver. Driving is just what we do.
2. The big city. When I told Rosa, my Spanish teacher, how big Denver was, her first comment was "Muchos banditos?" Because of the large amount of gangs, thugs, and crime that happens in Guatemala City, in her mind, big city = violence.
3. Getting the word right. I don't know why I keep doing it, but it seems like every other time I mention Janis to my Spanish teacher, I call her "mi esposo". That means "my husband". "Esposa" with an "a" is the feminine form of the word spouse, meaning wife. I should say "mi esposa" not "mi esposo". It's just a slip-up, but I wonder if my teacher is beginning to think that I actually have an "alternative lifestyle."
4. LLuvia (rain). I love the dry climate of Denver. I don't miss the humidity of the south (NC, GA, or TX) at all. But there is something attractive about the weather here. It's rainy season, and that means it rains (lluvia) almost every day. I think we've had 2 non-rain days in the last 15. Most mornings it's sunny or partly cloudy and beautiful: a crisp 55 degrees. Sometimes it will start raining by noon and set in all day long. But oftentimes, it gets to a perfect 75 degrees during the afternoon while clouds gather over the lake; then by 4, 5, or 6 pm, the rain starts falling in buckets. And frequently, all night long. I guess it could put you in a melancholy mood if you lean that way. But it's a welcome change from Colorado and there's nothing like sleeping with the windows open while it's pouring rain.
Friday, July 15, 2011
great pic
our camera was stolen (see previous post about no-fear ninja). so we don't have many pics. but here's a great pic of the kids on the road from our house to the village. san pedro and lake atitlan in the background.
tuk-tuks
in the last few years san pedro has established a very fun, cheap way to get around town. it is called the tuk tuk. there are three wheels. no doors. the driver sits up front and the passengers sit on a back seat. it is covered which is the most important thing. and red. they just go around the village and pick up people to take them where they need to go. most people walk and i love to get the exercise but right now is the rainy season and there have been several times where the kids and i have hailed a tuk tuk to get a ride up the huge hill instead of getting drenched. no matter how far you travel the cost is 5q. about $0.60. kids are free. yippee!
gt updates july 11-13
july 11, 2011, monday, day 11
marin-i don't think i had many expectations of how the kids would transition to living here but i think that marin has exceeded any that i did have. she is having such a great time. maybe it's the age. she hasn't complained about bugs, dirt, not having her toys, not being able to understand people. pretty much just goes with the flow. she talks to everyone in english and when they talk back in spanish, she just says, "what?!" and smiles a really cute smile. she is learning some spanish words and will use them often. the funniest thing is how people react to her. everywhere we go, kids and adults will either stare, reach out and touch her hair or face, call her "cancha" which I think means blonde. they are just mesmerized by her presence. our friends here say that it's because she is different-skin, hair and eye color. townsend and ellory just kind of blend in. (unlike in the US where everyone comments about them and ignores marin) she's a little oblivious to it, too. as we have walked around the village i haven't seen another little blonde girl around. not many families with young kids come here i guess. anyway. i'm really proud of her. she has adjusted well and i think will have good memories of our time here.
july 13, 2011, wednesday, day 13
norton finally seems to be on the mend. hallelujah! today as we walked down the hill to go to dinner, i once again had thoughts such as, "wow. what a beautiful place we are in. i can't believe we are in guatemala, living with a mayan family and experiencing this culture as a family. thank you god." when norton was so sick, all i could think about was how isolated i felt and how scary it was to have an illness and not feel confident in the medical care. no fun.
marin-i don't think i had many expectations of how the kids would transition to living here but i think that marin has exceeded any that i did have. she is having such a great time. maybe it's the age. she hasn't complained about bugs, dirt, not having her toys, not being able to understand people. pretty much just goes with the flow. she talks to everyone in english and when they talk back in spanish, she just says, "what?!" and smiles a really cute smile. she is learning some spanish words and will use them often. the funniest thing is how people react to her. everywhere we go, kids and adults will either stare, reach out and touch her hair or face, call her "cancha" which I think means blonde. they are just mesmerized by her presence. our friends here say that it's because she is different-skin, hair and eye color. townsend and ellory just kind of blend in. (unlike in the US where everyone comments about them and ignores marin) she's a little oblivious to it, too. as we have walked around the village i haven't seen another little blonde girl around. not many families with young kids come here i guess. anyway. i'm really proud of her. she has adjusted well and i think will have good memories of our time here.
july 13, 2011, wednesday, day 13
norton finally seems to be on the mend. hallelujah! today as we walked down the hill to go to dinner, i once again had thoughts such as, "wow. what a beautiful place we are in. i can't believe we are in guatemala, living with a mayan family and experiencing this culture as a family. thank you god." when norton was so sick, all i could think about was how isolated i felt and how scary it was to have an illness and not feel confident in the medical care. no fun.
mosquitoes
i don't remember there being so many mosquitoes in guatemala. five years ago we were here in the same month. maybe i just forgot. norton doesn't have any mosquito bites. typical. marin seems to have her father's smell/blood because she doesn't really have many either. i have around fifteen, but they haven't been that itchy and are just some red spots on my arms and legs. then there's townsend and ellory. if we had our camera i would take pictures. they have bites all over their bodies. ellory even has one on her little tushy. and they aren't just little red spots. both kids have huge whelps. every single bite. and when townsend or ellory scratch them, the skin breaks and puss builds up and there are big bubbles all over them. it's a sad situation.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
no fear ninja
this is my tribute to aubren. tributes are for the living, aren't they? maybe i have the wrong word. saturday, the group took a boat to a village across the lake, panajachel. norton and i have been there many times. one of aubren's friends is working there so aubren, the kids and i hopped on the boat with the group and went across. our kids loved it. i took the group to our favorite coffee shop there called crossroads cafe. it is run by a family who see their business as a ministry to the many foreigners in that town. and they make truly awesome coffee. after lunch aubren, the kids and i went back down to the dock to find a boat-ride home. we needed to get back before the group. the afternoon water is much choppier than the morning. but once again, the kids laughed and shrieked with glee as our boat skipped across the lake. after getting to san pedro we found a tuk tuk and headed up the hill to antonio's house. we were dropped off right at the soccer field which was filled with guys playing the sport. i paid the guy. we hopped off and he started back down the hill. it was then that i realized that i had left my backpack in the back of the tuk tuk. i started running down yelling, "alto! alto!" (all the stop signs say that. it was the only thing i could think of) there was a guy standing by us watching the game and he started yelling too but the tuk tuk guy kept going. the helpful guy then went to his motorcycle and offered to give me a ride to go catch the tuk tuk. while i was quickly contemplating this, aubren immediately said, "i'll get on!" and off she went with the hopefully nice, honest, trustworthy man. the kids and i sat on the bleachers. they watched the game. i prayed for aubren. after about fifteen minutes, the tuk tuk guy came back up, waving his hand. i grabbed my bag and was so grateful. "gracias! gracias!" then i continued to pray for aubren. about five minutes after that, she came back on the motorcycle. safe and sound. as she got off, i told her to wait because i wanted to take a picture of her and the nice man. alas, there was no camera in my bag. i guess i can't say for sure that tuk tuk guy took it, but i don't know what else could have happened. big bummer. that was aubren's first superhero action.
when we finally got back to the house, norton was looking really bad. cata offered to call their doctor to come by the house. i don't like that my first thought was, "is he knowledgeable? equipped?" but that's what i thought. but we didn't really have any alternative. so he came by, diagnosed norton with tonsillitis and gave us a prescription for an antibiotic and an antihistamine. nancy said that the pharmacy was open so aubren, nancy and i hopped on a tuk tuk and went down to pick up the medicine. on the way back to the house there is a huge hill. i mean huge. as we got about 1/4 of the way up the tuk tuk wouldn't move and we started going backwards. down, down, down. we got a good start and started up again. this time we got around 1/3 of the way up before it started to slow down. that's when aubren jumped out and started pushing from the side and running along with us. the tuk tuk got some momentum, aubren jumped back on and we made it back to the house. superhero action number two. thank you, aubren.
when we finally got back to the house, norton was looking really bad. cata offered to call their doctor to come by the house. i don't like that my first thought was, "is he knowledgeable? equipped?" but that's what i thought. but we didn't really have any alternative. so he came by, diagnosed norton with tonsillitis and gave us a prescription for an antibiotic and an antihistamine. nancy said that the pharmacy was open so aubren, nancy and i hopped on a tuk tuk and went down to pick up the medicine. on the way back to the house there is a huge hill. i mean huge. as we got about 1/4 of the way up the tuk tuk wouldn't move and we started going backwards. down, down, down. we got a good start and started up again. this time we got around 1/3 of the way up before it started to slow down. that's when aubren jumped out and started pushing from the side and running along with us. the tuk tuk got some momentum, aubren jumped back on and we made it back to the house. superhero action number two. thank you, aubren.
july 10 (past due)
july 10, 2011, sunday, day 10
well. it's been a doozy of the past few days. seems longer. i was just starting to get a little routine started with working with each kiddo on workbook type stuff and going to my spanish class when norton started going downhill again. aubren (a friend of ours from church) got here on thursday night and i am so grateful for her presence. she has helped out a ton and has the most awesome attitude. my next post is dedicated to her. but beyond that our days ave been pretty similar. eat breakfast with the high school group. either walk around the market area/gringo area which is downhill another 200ft and tires out the kids. make pbj sandwiches back at the house. "quiet time" while janis goes to spanish class on the weekday afternoons. play around the house. go eat dinner with the high schoolers. get ready for bed and lights out.
well. it's been a doozy of the past few days. seems longer. i was just starting to get a little routine started with working with each kiddo on workbook type stuff and going to my spanish class when norton started going downhill again. aubren (a friend of ours from church) got here on thursday night and i am so grateful for her presence. she has helped out a ton and has the most awesome attitude. my next post is dedicated to her. but beyond that our days ave been pretty similar. eat breakfast with the high school group. either walk around the market area/gringo area which is downhill another 200ft and tires out the kids. make pbj sandwiches back at the house. "quiet time" while janis goes to spanish class on the weekday afternoons. play around the house. go eat dinner with the high schoolers. get ready for bed and lights out.
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