The Right Foundation!

Our first official hospital sign.

January 26th 2015, will go down as one of the more significant days during this journey to build a hospital in Canilla, Guatemala. To many it may seem insignificant. It was a typical warm, dry, slightly breezy Guatemalan day. A group of nearly 100 people gathered under a large makeshift tent, that was strewn together with several semi-truck tarps supported by random pieces of wood, chain and rope. At our feet was a mixture of construction site dirt and loads of scattered pine needles(as is common during a Guatemalan celebration).  We had 15 chickens cooking in a large Guatemalan pot surrounded by rice and sauce, and hundreds of corn tortillas staying hot under blankets. On the outside, this looked like a typical Guatemalan celebration, but what was happening was actually so much more significant for several reasons.

First, this was a chance to gather together with community and village leaders to not only celebrate the construction, but to ask for help as this hospital is constructed and operates to serve their people. We felt it was a critical step for hundreds if not thousands of villages and communities in and around these mountains to have a sense of ownership and pride in this hospital. It was important for the local leaders to know this is not just a "North American" hospital, but this hospital exists to serve the most impoverished people in this seemingly "forgotten" mountain region of Guatemala. Through words spoken from the front and conversations had throughout the day, I believe this goal was accomplished exceedingly well.

I was able to speak with the help of a translator

Most importantly, this day was about dedicating this property, this project, the workers, and future patients to the Lord. Several of us spoke, of those, several of whom were leaders from various regions in the mountains. Everyone who spoke gave honor to the Lord as the source for this project's success. It was clear by all who were in attendance that the making of this hospital is a miraculous undertaking with the primary purpose of glorifying our Lord.

The event was concluded with simple, yet powerful, symbolism. At the Northeast corner of the hospital, which is the site of the future hospital prayer room/chapel, several symbolic elements where placed in a hole, underneath what will be the foundation. Initially, Duane and Leslie Ficker placed a bible in this hole, representing the word of God being the foundation of this hospital. After that, several of Ficker families took turns pouring or sprinkling other symbolic elements into the same place. The other elements included: oil (representing the Holy Spirit's anointing power), wine (representing the blood of Jesus), salt (representing we as Christians need to be the salt
of the word), and flour (representing our Provider).

The Fickers with the symbolic shovel

Duane and Leslie with the bible that will be under the chapel.

Burying five random objects under the future floor of one room is really just a meaningless human activity, which will only practically act to attract more bugs to the place where they lay. What gives this otherwise silly human tradition actual power is the truth of Jesus Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. In fact, if he was not actually tortured, humiliated, and killed, and then conquered death by getting out of the grave, then we were just a group of people standing on top of dirt and pine needles wasting our time. Thankfully, I know He did get out of that grave, and He did conquer death, and is now our cornerstone. So the act of this dedication was not in vein, but was the first step in building our foundation on what will not decay, but will stand for eternity.

Paul says it well in Ephesians 2:19-22:

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people, and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles, prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by the Spirit.

Kiera is loving her first bag of cheetos!

Cleaning Sand!

Kiera found a puppy and I don't think she plans on giving it back!

Well, we have already been hear nearly 2 weeks. Aside from our family being plagued by a nice stomach bug, our time here has been good. We are enjoying more focused family time, reconnecting with the Ficker family, keeping busy in the clinics, and even trying to squeeze in some time for Spanish lessons. Although, I'd have to say one of the highlights for me thus far is the few days I've been able to break away to help with some of the construction. Its been great being around the Ficker men while absorbing their years of construction experience as we see this once unassuming, dusty, Guatemalan cow pasture slowly transform into a legitimate hospital property. Its been an honor to dig in the footing trenches alongside the Guatemalan workers, tape and chalk the property, and even help with the first concrete pour.

As I stand in the middle of what will be the hospital, diesel smoke and dust fills my nostrils, and hot dry sand covers my skin. I can see a strong, sturdy fence completely around the perimeter. I can see two new structures for housing missionaries and volunteers(and some day hospital workers) that is almost complete. In front of me, I see large piles of river sand(over 350 dump truck loads). Next to the sand, there is an ever growing pile of recently crushed rocks, and a newly started pile of cleaned sand. At my feet, I stand on at least 2-3 feet of flattened fill, as much of the river sand has been used to raise the hospital property site and has now been smoothly excavated. Behind me, I turn to see large trenches that have been dug for footings, and I step carefully as most of the property has been taped off with fishing wire and chalked were we will continue to dig footings.

The grain auger spitting out clean sand.

These are exciting times to be here in Canilla. God has done so much through such a myriad of people it continues to astonish me. As I said, I really have no construction experience, but I have thoroughly enjoyed learning. One thing I found interesting was the importance of clean sand. Now to me, the word clean sand really feels like an oxymoron. Although, I've learned having clean sand is of the utmost importance to making strong, long lasting, and durable concrete. Over the last week the Fickers alongside Ryan Korporal have worked tirelessly trying to develop a system to clean sand, so we can have a strong concrete foundation. As I've often seen done in medicine in the developing world, one has to be willing to be flexible as often the most appropriate tool is unavailable for use. I've seen these men do the same as they have to make less then ideal equipment "work" to get the job done. They initially were able to wash 2-3 truck loads of sand by reverse engineering an old grain auger.  When the bearings wore out on the auger they then used the cement mixer to thoroughly wash and prepare clean sand. Their hard work has paid off as we now have an ever growing pile of clean sand and the first batch of concrete was excellent quality, and will help form a strong foundation.

The first row of footings and re-bar.

As I've watch the sand cleaning project unfold I can't help think of the comparisons to our own spiritual lives. We as humans are all unclean and filled with sin. We have no way to cleanse ourselves, and without being cleansed none of us our worthy to stand before our creator, a Holy God. Fortunately, God has given us the solution. In some ways on the outside, the re-engineered grain auger, and adapted cement mixer are more impressive then the solution that was given to us by God. On the outside we were given a simple Jewish carpenter, who was in no way physically appealing. Thankfully, this Jewish carpenter was sent from Heaven and was both God and man. Through his death and blood we are cleansed from our sin, and only He can restore us to a Holy God. The idea of getting to serve a mighty God who gave His son for me is more then enough to motivate me to live for Him.  John says it well in 1 John 1:7-9:

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness

Guatemala Awaits!

Once again, we are about to embark on another journey south. As Shea and I prepare our last few bags, and make our last Walmart run, we're excited to see what God has planned for our young family over the coming months. We are excited to be a part of this hospital building project in Canilla, Guatemala. Even though we have yet to erect a wall, and the construction is still in early stages, God has already answered so many prayers and taught us many things in this short yet memorable journey.

Right now my head is spinning as I sit here with a hot cup of coffee on this cold crisp snow-filled morning. As I anxiously think about all the things that "need" to be done before we leave and all the things that "need" to be accomplished in Canilla during the next several months its often easy for me to miss the reason we are doing this at all.

So what is the reason? Why do we travel several thousand miles with 4 small kids to help build something that will eventually crumble and decay? The reason is simple. I want myself, my family, and those we come in contact with on this journey to have an insatiable desire know and love God. I want this knowledge and love for him to be where my joy and the joy of others comes from.

Knowing and loving God is crucially important for living our lives. J.I. Packer in his book Knowing God gives a great word picture of what it is like living in a world where we don't know or understand our creator. He says "As it would be cruel to an Amazonian tribesman to fly him to London, put him down without explanation in Trafalgar Square and leave him, as one who knew nothing of English or England, to fend for himself, so we are cruel to ourselves if we try to live in this world without knowing about the God whose world it is and who runs it"

Without this ever increasing knowledge and love of our Lord this life is incredibly disappointing, and difficult. Without the perspective of our Creator this world will seem cruel, painful, and unjust. We will be destined to stumble and stagger through life as if we were wearing a blindfold on a hike through a desert mountain filled with cactus and stones.

So my prayer for myself and anyone reading this is that we will dive into this New Year with a desire to have a greater knowledge and love of our creator. Not only that we would have this desire, but we would put forth the effort to take the next step in a relationship with him as we discipline ourselves to prayer and study of Him through His Holy Word.

King David says it well in Psalms 119:14-16 "I rejoice in following your statues as one rejoices in great riches. I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your ways"