The lessons from Children!

Reid and Luicito, became friends

Luicito is all smiles

One of the biggest highlights in Guatemala this year for our family, has been spending time at the orphanage in San Andres. This wasn't something we had initially planned on, but of course God opened up some unique opportunities that allowed us to spend time with these beautiful children.

We've been lucky to have my sister-in-law, Katlyn, with us most of the trip. She is a nearly graduated physical therapy student and has been eager to work with as many kids as she can during her 6 weeks with us. It came to our attention that there were several kids at the orphanage, Hogar De Vida, in San Andres that would benefit from her services. Katlyn was excited by the challenge and willing to help, so we spent about 1-2 days a week in San Andres as she worked regularly with 4 of their children.

Katlyn working with Jose

San Andres is a city is about 30 minutes to the west of Canilla. Hogar De Vida is an orphanage that is also significant because this is where the Fickers' got their start in Guatemala 15 years ago. When God called them to Guatemala, they first went to Hogar De Vida in San Andres to work as house parents in this orphanage. The Fickers and their 6 kids, were quickly immersed in the Guatemalan language and culture while spending countless hours playing with and caring for these precious children.

Kiera climbing the ladder

Hogar De Vida is home to about 20 kids. Their ages range from infant to 17. All of them have tragic stories of how they lost their parents, or how their parents couldn't care for them and have dropped them off at the orphanage. Thankfully, through all of their tragedy, they still have huge smiles, and a willingness to befriend, and love new people.  The orphanage itself is filled with color and life. The moment you walk past the large yellow wall and gate, you can since the presence of God in this place. There is a huge, colorful, playground built by loving hands that fills the center courtyard. There are big, beautiful, flowers that are interwoven throughout the property. It is surprising to me that with 20 busy kids running around, there is a certain peace and tranquility that fills this property.

Beau is playing with the boys

As Katlyn worked diligently giving therapy to several of these children, the kids and I spent hours just playing with the others. It was fun to see how our kids transformed during this time. At first, they were very anxious to play with kids with whom they couldn't speak the same language. Fortunately, as the time lapsed they warmed to the idea, and not only enjoyed running around together, but actually started having fun learning and saying Spanish words. It was fun to see how relatively quickly kids can adapt, and look past what seems to be insurmountable boundaries of language and culture, and just have fun playing. Kids have the gift of loving and accepting easily without stipulation. This is something we as adults so desperately can learn from.

Gracie and Oscar playing together

As I sit here writing the day after Beau's 7th birthday, I can't help but feel such a myriad of emotions. Our time with our kids is so precious, and it goes so fast. It felt like only yesterday I held Beau in my arms for the first time. Just like the blink of an eye he is 7 years old. This time with my kids, and with the children from the orphanage continued to impress on me the value of our children. Whether they are our own, or someone else's. Children need to be our priority. Children always had a special place in the heart of Jesus. He showed by example that there was never an adult meeting or business that should take the place of quality time with children.

Beau wanted to hike on his birthday!

I often lament about times Shea and I have been distant with our own kids. Often we are present in body, but our minds and hearts are distracted by what we perceive as more "important things". Often these other "good things" take the place of some of the best things, which is quality times with our children. In 20 years, I'll never wish I saw more patients, had more meetings, wrote more emails, or did more laundry, but I know I'll wish I spent more time really being "present" with my children (and not just handing them this Ipad).  Our children are important and I am grateful that the focus of this hospital project is to take care of the children in these mountains. We do not wish to just take care of their physical bodies but we want the children we take care of, and our own children to know Jesus Christ. That will be our constant prayer.

The importance of children was emphasized by Jesus in the book of Matthew.

The kids enjoying Ice cream on Beau's Birthday

In Matthew 18: 3-5 He says:
"I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me."

Shea and the kids watching as Aunt Katlyn leaves on a plane

Christ again teaches the disciples the importance of the children in In Matthew 19: 13-14:

Then the children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those brought them. Jesus said "let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." 

One body many parts!

Working with my new friend Dr Luis Aquino in San Andres

The last week has continued to fly by here in Guatemala. Our days our filled with homeschooling the kids, keeping the continuous dirt off their clothes clean, Spanish lessons of our own, assisting with the local and village clinics, and helping a little with some of the construction.

It has been fun to see the construction site almost daily. We have been watching as the landscape continues to change. When we first arrived we only had freshly excavated hospital ground, with no dug out footings. We have since seen hundreds of bags of concrete, sand, water, and rock mixed and poured into the ground in the form of footings and stem walls. The footings are nearly half way dug out, and poured. The stem walls continue to go up regularly as the Guatemalan crew, with the help of the Fickers, is learning how to use concrete forms for the first time. The Guatemalan crew continues to work diligently twisting re-bar into the structures that will tie together and strengthen our walls and foundation. This collaboration of materials will make it possible for this building to withstand the traffic of thousands of footsteps over the years, as well as the instant power of an earthquake. The progress is exciting and encouraging and another example of God's continued faithfulness.

Gracie is "all smiles" outside our apartment in Chichi

Recently, my family and I were able to spend a week in Chichicastenango(Chichi for short), working with an American trained general surgeon named Tom Hoak (I wrote about him in my blog last year). As always, Shea and I enjoyed taking a road trip. It was great to head out on the long winding, primarily dirt, mountain roads of Guatemala. It again, allowed us to see the beautiful country up close, and gave us an opportunity to practice the Spanish we keep working so hard to learn. The biggest challenge isn't the 4-wheeled drive worthy roads, but trying to navigate through the cities of Quiche and Chichi with a long pickup truck. The roads in the city are very narrow, poorly marked, filled with people, and I too often found myself backing up for long stretches after realizing I had went the wrong way down a one way street. It gave me great appreciation for the countless trips the Fickers have taken through these cities with Mac trucks and tractor trailers over the years.

Picture of the Chichi market

Our trip to Chichi was great. We were able to spend a lot of time with Dr Hoak, not only learning more surgery and medicine, but trying to absorb as much as we can on how a Guatemalan hospital should be set up and run. As I see the construction site continues to progress, I realize how soon we are actually going to have a hospital to equip, staff, and organize. The realization, gives me more questions than answers. Many of these questions will have to be answered by the Lord in time, but Dr Hoak no doubt provided valuable insight to many of the things we continue to process on this journey. Thankfully, throughout our week-long journey the kids stayed healthy and safe, and we once again enjoyed exploring the famous Chichi market, and trying an array of local cuisine (at least no one got too sick)

The last 6 weeks have provided me many valuable insights. The most valuable has been watching God's people with their individual gifts and talents work together for the glory of His Kingdom. Over the last 6 weeks we have had people from all different backgrounds with a multitude of skills working together with beautiful orchestration. We have had farmers, floor layers, mechanics, nurses, physicians, pilots, cooks, musicians, teacher, childcare workers, and a many other talented people  work together for the common purpose of His Glory. I have to admit there are times I've watched in envy over someone else's craft and wished I had that skill. I've wished I could fly a plane, fix a truck, drive a skid loader, weld a piece of metal, or even prepare a delicious meal to feed 40 people(ok maybe not that one). To my chagrin, many of those are talents I'll never have. I constantly remember that God has given all of us different skills for a reason. The beauty of Christ's Church is that when we use our individual gifts in unison as intended, not only are we truly content as individuals, but corporately amazing things can be accomplished for His glory. I've also been reminded during this time, that its easy to focus on the end product, or goal of having a finished well functioning hospital. The reality is, the journey is the destination. Watching people work together at what they are designed for while serving Him is the ultimate goal. That is why we build this hospital.

Paul says it well in 1 Corinthians 12:14-26:

Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body", it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body", it would not  for that reason cease to be apart of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arrange the part of the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body...