God's ways are higher and bring blessing

In December 2007 we went to the Westside Church Christmas pageant in Omaha. We always tried to go every year if we could. We would usually see lots of people we knew and hadn't seen for awhile, and this year was no exception. We had just recently made the decision to follow the Lord in obedience and prepare to go on the mission field in Guatemala. We were starting to share this plan with others and told them our goal was to leave in a year and a half. We ran into Julie, a long time friend, and shared this with her. Her response was, "Oh, you have to meet someone." She then introduced us to a wonderful lady named Pat who too had fallen in love with the people of Guatemala and she too was making preparations to go serve long term in Guatemala in a year and a half. We chatted and shared stories and then went on our way. We didn't run into Pat again before we left a year and a half later, Aug 2009, and didn't really know what was happening with her.

Well we finished language school and in May 2010 we arrived in Guatemala. In June 2010 we received an email from Pat saying that she now was in Guatemala living about 4 hours from us, but only 1/2 an hour from Guatemala City. Shortly after that we went to visit Pat in Antigua where she is living and serving. We really hit it off and became good friends. We get together when we can, help each other out when we can, and encourage each other. It's especially nice because we have Omaha as a common denominator and end up knowing a lot of the same people. Pat is a retired special education teacher and offers her skills and experience to kids here in Guatemala.

The body of Christ is such a wonderful thing. Through Pat we have met Dick. Dick is retired and living here in Guatemala. Dick has a huge heart for children. He ministers to several boys in his neighborhood who hang out at his house whenever they can and check in with him pretty much every day. He also has a heart for those kids who have disabilities. Besides volunteering at Hermano Pedro, a handicap hospital in Antigua, Dick travels all over Guatemala measuring, adjusting, repairing and delivering wheelchairs.

Pat and Dick came to visit us in San Andres for a few days last week. With them they brought walkers for Chepa and Alicia. Chepa is 23 and has an inoperable brain tumor. She has difficulty keeping her balance to walk and spends some of her time in a wheelchair. Dick adapted a walker especially for Chepa and now she can walk with more confidence without having someone right by her side all the time. She still needs to have a little supervision, but she is enjoying her freedom. As we shared in a previous blog, Alicia has cerebral palsy and is delayed in walking. Dick brought a walker that will help her learn to put more weight on her legs as she learns to walk. Both these apparatus' are a huge blessing!

Dick had lots of help adjusting the walkers.


Chepa getting fitted for her walker and trying it out.

One of our girls here in the home, Leslie, has a learning disability. There is no special education in Guatemala and kids who are struggling just end up repeating their grade. Pat worked with Leslie a little and sat down with her teacher and tutor and gave them some different ideas to do with her. Our goal is to help Leslie pass her grade that she has been in for several years. Pat sharing her expertise with us is a huge help.

Pat reading bedtime stories to Leslie, Marta, and Grisma.

The kids fell in love with both Pat and Dick and I dare to say that the love was mutual. We have a new 5 year old little boy here named Juan who only knows k'iche, no spanish. Dick doesn't know too much Spanish, so the two of them really hit it off and some how communicated with no words. :-)

Dick and Juan hanging out

Juan using reading glasses like Norman and Dick.

We are so blessed to know Pat and Dick and it is so exciting to see how God is using them to minister to His special children here in Guatemala. Thanks Pat and Dick for coming and blessing us greatly! We know two little girls who are smiling bigger because of your efforts!