A Christmas Update

Hey everyone!

Just a quick update on some things around this Christmas Season!

First.... Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all!

Eating and the Gym.... Christmas is not without its challenges when it comes time to go the the gym, stay active and be confronted with all the goodies, turkey dinners and snacks on the side tables. While I have been by no means perfect, I must say I think I've been more disciplined than most years and am actually quite proud of myself. If you have been following my progress and struggle with the same, I trust you have see some success this year as well.... If not, don't get down on yourself, just remember to make a good decision the next time your confronted with it.

Specific Thanks!

I want to send a specific thanks to the family that I connected with over Christmas that had never heard of the dash or our sponsorship program before we chatted and ended up seeing God's had at work in their lives and made a commitment to support. Thank-you! God does work is mysterious ways and certainly has in this situation!

Guatemala Website

thought I'd share this link with you! it is the Christian Horiozns, Guatemala Web Site.

I can't read it, but it's great to see what is happening in the area!
Enjoy http://www.horizontescristianos.com/

And this picutre has pretty much nothing to do with anything, came accross it on the web and thought it was fitting for the amount of snow we have been getting lately! Perhaps we could sell pre-assembled snowmen for a fundraiser! what do y0u think?

Running across the Antartic!

I was driving to the office last week and heard an interview with a London man who is skiing to the south pole. And then I heard of a man who is running across the Antarctic, not walking or dog sledding but running. With snowshoes on of course! I’m struggling to get to the point of being able to walk from Kitchener to Windsor, in a month that I’m hoping will offer some decent weather, not -40 degrees. To me that idea sounds like an outdoor ed class from grade 8 back in Saskatchewan (where I grew up) that just doesn’t end. I’m not sure if you have ever snow shoed, that’s one skill but then to run in them requires a whole different set of muscles that most of us never knew existed.

Regardless, I found these interviews and goals incredibly inspiring. Huge human feats (at least by my standard) that demonstrate just how much can be accomplished by dedication, commitment, training and passion. Accomplishments that someone like me (an average person, struggling to get the pounds off and to find the energy and time to work out) would normally think are simply impossible. But obviously they are not! Nor is walking across the South District, nor is planting a community center in Guatemala that will impact hundreds, nor is providing work, employment and skill development opportunities to young men and women who otherwise would never have the opportunity, or is it impossible to think that 31 dollars a month in sponsorship can change lives in incredible ways. Yes, it can be done, it isn’t impossible and it is being done!

I’m not sure what the whole picture is for these arctic adventures, what their reason is or what there motivation is? ( I know some of its raising awareness and funds for cancer research) But what ever it is, it’s enough for them to engage in months of training, change their habits, give up some favorite desserts, commit their hard earned money and a host of other sacrifices. In considering this, the question that is left behind is simply this

What’s my motivation and what am I willing to do about it?

I hope this blog is at least a small window into the journey I’m taking to answer that for myself.

Back in Canada

This morning it was short sleeve shirts and shorts, if you wanted, and this evening it is THIS.......









The flights went well, AND.... all my luggage made it back to Canada!

Luggage Update

16 hours before my flight home, I now have my Luggage! Sandi (my wife) will be so proud of me bringing home all my clothes clean, cuz I didn't get to wear them!

LAST DAY !

Last day…..

Wow, I can’t believe were this week has gone.

Yesterday was spent mainly with the kids in the camp after running some errands in the city, taking back the 4x4 and checking for luggage at the airport. We were sad to see the kids go, but it was so great to be with them. Gaby and Alfredo will be leading their group in doing another week long camp in another community next week for 5 days, it is not as difficult trip as was to El Morro but it will mean they are away for the week. They do such a great job with the kids and each kid leaves excited about the hope that Jesus brings.

(vbs in a home in Lake Amatitlan)

I thought I’d blog a bit about the inner workings of things around here.

Sponsorship

If you have ever wondered how sponsorship works, well just ask me, not an expert yet but getting there. One thing I thought you should know is that the coordinators. Those that are in the individual communities, know the families and their needs and are the ones to reach out with the resources that are provided are not CH employees. Teen for example in El Morro is a full time overseer of the school there and at the same time spends time coordinating the sponsorship activities in the community. Teen and other coordinators in other communities receive a love gift once in a while for their service. They truly serve from a deep passion to see lives changed in their communities.

Travel to El Morro

I asked the overseer of the sponsorship program, Alfredo, how he gets to El Morro, did he have to rent a 4x4? No he doesn’t. When he goes to support the local sponsorship coordinator and community ( 3-4 times a year) he takes a series of busses from Guatemala to the place where the off roading starts. There at 1pm and only 1pm a 4x4 pick up truck comes by and for about 20Q (2 dollars usa) he takes whoever is there up the mountain with him. I’m told that this can be anywhere between 20 to 30 people, holding on to anything they can, and this would include everyone from the young to the elderly. Then, at around 6 am the next day is the only truck that is heading down the mountain in the same way. WoW!

Staff here at the CH Guatemala home

(Alfredo, getting ready to leave for our day in El Morro, and..... the van he is in was driven down by Rudy and his family from Elmira many years ago)

While in El Morro a small mud house was pointed out to me and I was told that it was the home of one of the CH staff at the house, Flores (sp?). Flores is 36 years old and has come to serve at the CH house. The house is a live in / live with model. Flores and others are here for 3 weeks then go home and visit for one week. So Flores takes that same trip home up the mountain as Alfredo does. But there is more going on here than a job. Flores gets paid a small amount, very small in compared to Canadian wages, but a significant help for her and her family, that see supports those back in El Morro with. And in addition she goes to school here in Guatemala on Saturdays (does her homework through the week) and is working hard on her education. So employment at this home is a kind of support as well.

(a house in El Morro, a very nice one! )

Water. Here at the CH home in Guatemala there is no hot water except for this contraption in the shower. It heats water at the source, if you only turn it on very slowly, too fast and the unit can’t keep up with heating the water. Now most of us in Canada would think that running electricity into the shower would be a bad idea, but apparently not here. My first experience with the thing, I reached up and tried to adjust a setting on it while in the shower and water running. YUP, you guessed it, I felt the strong tinkle of electricity run down my arm and into my body. Needless to say, I didn’t do that again.

(the hot water system in the shower)

This home is actually only supplied water by the city between 3 and 5 am. At that time the water store here fills up for use during the day.

Must go now! See you all back in Canada!

Road To El Morro

El Morro

What can I say about yesterday, way too much too much to pack into a few paragraphs but I will try.

I'm not sure what the translation of El Morro is, but if I had to guess, I'd say, "village glued to side of mountain". That is truly what it is, Can you say STEEP.

Our travels to the village were an adventure all on it's own. When I learned that we needed to rent a 4x4, I was amused, then when I saw the road we needed to travel I was concerned. Two vehicles left Guatemala City with 8 of us in them. Near the base of the mountain we parked the van, rearranged things in the bed of the truck and piled in. Luckily the truck seats five, unluckily I was one that was delegated to the bed of the truck.


me in the back of the truck, in the safety of the parking lot.


How to describe this ride, not like a roller coaster, they are too smooth, possibly more like bull riding, except for an hour at a time, each way, no 13 second bell and some clown comes to rescue you.

So after a total of 4 hours travel we arrived at El Morro. one partcial concrete road that winds it's way up the mountain goes through this community. really you never know you are in a village because the forest is thick. Upon arrival we made our way to the school. where a crowd was starting to gather. The teacher, Teen arrived and opened the large steel doors that were part of the wall system around the building and yard. So we were in and setting up for a kids meeting and later and evangelistic meeting with everyone. about well over 150 kids were there and with moms and grandmothers, I'm sure 225+. Gaby and Jorge lead is some kids skits and song, and Ann, Rick and I made a cross necklesses with the kids, telling the gospel story as we did. What an amazing thing to be a part of.







After that the program went on without us as Rick, Ann and I along with Sully and Teen went to visit both families / children that are part of the sponsorship program as well as those waiting.

First it was to visit Angela and her family. They are desperately waiting for help. Even in this village that is extremely poor by all accounts, there are the haves and the have nots. This family is among the poorest and in desperate help as there situation is changing day by day. You see the father of the family died about 5 weeks ago. I don't have a lot of information about it but the community is on the side of a mountain and I understand that he basically fell in his corn field and was uable to stop his decent down the side of the mountain and was killed. This family is devastated because of this. Their income and hope dashed. Sponsorship for this family will mean the ability to build skills for other income streams, access to education and the needed supplies for school, food and other basic supplies to live along with christian education and development. I can only interpret the shrine in the home to her late husband as a cry to understand the meaning of it all, where God is in a tragedy like this...."fear not, for I am with you" - God.

The Road in El Morro, hope you can tell how steep it is.

The path to Angelas house.



Sully, Angela and her family.




Angela's home, Shrine to her late husband, one bed (only one more bed out of picture) Grass on the floor so people can come and pray at the memorial.

At first the oldest son of the family was not able to join as he was at WORK. Yes that is right, Work. He helps now in the coffee fields so that they can get what ever income they can. As you can see by the photos their mud hut isn't much.

Later I went to visit Margarita and her family of 6, Amazing story, they have been sponsored for over a year now, what a difference this has made in their lives. Still a mud hut, still hurdles to overcome, but much appreciation. When I asked through interpretation about the impact a sponsor has made...... Well that will have to wait for another post..... Stay tuned.....


Other Stuff

we checked at the airport today because we were there taking the 4x4 back anyway and there is still no luggage for me. But now they cant even say it is in Huston, now they can't find it at all.

My Legs are killing me from walking in El Morro, just like they feel after the first down hill skiing of the year.

We had the worlds best chinese food in the world for supper today.

And, we all can't believe this week is almost over!!!!!


Getting some time to Blog

Third Day in Guatemala

Today was a beautiful and amazing day. We ventured to downtown Guatemala city. Such an old and beautiful place, rich in history, some of which is tragic. Not unlike our Canadian history with our own native peoples. But God is bring restoration as He is in all of us.

Today I witnessed some significantly challenged individuals, doing the best they can in very difficult situations. While taking in all that downtown had to offer, we passed by what I can only guess was a mom and her son (perhaps grandma and grandson) several times. She tending to him as he is confined to a wheel chair and clearly developmental challenges. Yes, I gave some local money to them, but could not help but think about what their lives must be like. That this, standing on a street corner for 8, 10 or maybe even 12 hours a day was not only their routine, but their life line. I have learn that in Guatemala public social programs are virtually non existent, example, only now are they considering a small pension for qualifying seniors, perhaps 50 dollars a month.

As I thought more of this mom / son team I also thought it likely that due to the commitment and work her son / grandson requires, others have probably moved on in life and left them behind, it is possible they are all that each other has. And that is just two people of the many blind, physically handicapped and elderly that I saw begging, selling trinkets etc…. I know there are many many more hidden in this city. Then I thought of the children here at the Christian Horizons home in Guatemala, What a blessing, where would these children be if it wasn’t for this home. I can tell you that the love and care they have here from the live in staff and other volunteers is a miracle in its own right to witness. It is a family atmosphere you really have to witness to believe.

The children’s bible camp continued today, however I was only able to be at a small part, My luggage still has not left Huston Tx. So it was time to do some shopping so I didn’t offend everyone I met with my odor. Sully, one of our hosts, found a great shop for me to get some necessities to carry through the week, then off to the Guatemalan version of Wal-Mart for deodorant and other items. The private security in this city is amazing; you don’t walk through a door of a restaurant or store without walking past a person with a shotgun. And use a credit card, you have to show picture ID for that.

We rented a 4x4 truck today that will be necessary for us to get to a place called El Moro (sp?) where we will be hosting an other kids camp, and evangelistic meeting. Rick is experiencing some back pain tonight so please pray for him as the ride tomorrow will be long and likely a bit rough.

Must go to bed now, Thanks for reading, Thanks for praying…..

Day 2

Day 2

Still no luggage, but who cares, I certainly Don’t. Read on and you will see why one bag of luggage just doesn’t matter…..


The Difference a wall makes

Today we visited a family in Lake Amatitlan. A single mom with 7 kids, her husband died and left them to fend for themselves in there home, we the term home is a generous one. It actually reminded me more of a stable.

Until recently much of their home was open air, no barrier to define inside from outside, even in the rainy season. Only a floppy metal roof over some wooden boards, an one small section surrounded by boards to make a kind of bedroom. With 5 beds for the 7 of them in that space. No walls meant a lot of anguish for this family as there belongings, what little they had was open to any thief that came along.

Last year CH built them a brick wall to identify the front and side of the home, the other sides were up against other homes, so this closed in their space, complete with a metal front door.

Path to thier home, the wall



the bedroom







I could not help but think of being in their shoes. Lets say you were praying for a wall, maybe it’s not even a prayer, it the most basic of cries for help to anyone who will listen and maybe at the time you don’t know if there is a God or if he cares.

And that wall means the world to you, your families safety, their identity and it’s a glimmer of hope that things will get better. When God answers that prayer and wants to intervene in the situation do you think you would just wake up one day to find a wall where once there wasn’t? Sure He could, but in your experience do you think that is what happened, well, in this situation it didn’t.

Instead, through time, obedience, and love, God brought people that were willing to listen to Him into their lives, mixed with all kinds of partnerships and support, including some resources from someone like you and me to see the need and do something about it. That’s how God met that need / answered that prayer. God used people like Rudy and Sully here in Guatemala and people like you and me behind the scenes. (come to think of it, perhaps I should really open my eyes to how God does answer prayer, like for healing?. Don't get me wrong I know our God is more than capable and willing to to supernatural miracles, but it does seem his first choice in may circumstances is to empower and equip His Children to do His work here on earth)

Just so you know we didn’t go to visit this family to see a wall. Instead we went to her home as she has opened her tiny space up to Christian Horizons to run a short term bible club from her house. (live a VBS, it is there summer school break from Oct to Jan, not that allot of these kids go to school) there must have been over 30 kids in her home, hearing of Gods love, Christ’s sacrifice, singing and praying.






From there we drove a very short distance to the plat of land that Christian Horizons Guatemala has purchased for a training / educations center in this community. And that visit was well timed, I now understand just what a center like this can do for the many lives in this community. Among many things it can:

- provide a place for formal education
- a place to teach new skills, there not a lot of opportunity to learn in this community
- a place where kids in the community can build relationships and grow in their community rather than become sucked in the world around, gangs, crime and prostitution (very prevalent in this community due lack of other job and education opportunities)
The Lot


This visit has solidified my resolve on the District Dash, my 325 K walk, I can wait to see what we are going to accomplish together to make this dream a reality.

From there we came back to the CH house where soon after about 85 kids arrived for VBS. Bused in from all around. Needless to say it was an energetic afternoon. For us Canadian, we lead the kids in making a craft. It was a cross necklace that we told the Gospel story through. Our helpers and interpreters made the task much easier. The kids loved it and through this they wanted to hear about Canada and wanted to teach me a lot of new Spanish words. Tomorrow we do it again!

Guatemala - Day 1

Left for Guatemala today (Monday Dec 1st), the first hurdle of the trip was at the continental airlines check in. Rick (Fyi- Rick and Ann my travel partners / fellow team members for the trip)was informed that there was currently and embargo on Guatemala and that under no circumstances could we bring in more than 2 pieces of luggage, not even to pay more for the luggage. The only way was to have “elite” status, Rick kindly asked the attendant to simply give us elite status, that didn’t even receive a smile from the attendant. This new info was particularly troublesome as we had a large keyboard with us to take and leave for use in Guatemala, after a quick trip back to the car and we were back in line to get checked in.

Customs went fine, upon learning that this was my first passport and first international trip the customs agent allowed me to stamp my own passport, the way he treated it you could tell it was not the regular practice. After further conversation about how under staffed the boarder guard was and the long hours of overtime he had to work he let us in.

We had just enough time for an extremely over priced sandwich before proceeding to boarding.

That’s when the real fun began, you see, I’m not a seasoned traveler, thus the first passport in my life. Sure I’ve flown before, but generally not more than Ontario to Winnipeg and back (family visits) no more than a 2 hours flight. So when I learned that our two flights today (Toronto to Huston then on to Guatemala city) were 3 hours plus, I was super excited, I thought, finally a big jet bigger than the entire West Jet fleet, Movies or at least the discovery channel on satellite TV.

So when I rounded the corner from boarding and saw our “ride” to Huston, I just about jumped out of my skin and out came from my mouth, “what the heck is that?.... that’s not what I signed up for!”

There before me on the tarmac up a portable flight of stairs was a continental express jet. In truth it looked like a mental arrow with 2 jet engines strapped on where the feathers normally would be. Much Much smaller than I had ever ridden on before.

Climbing the stairs to the door, I realized I couldn’t even stand straight up and walk thru the door. I quickly turned around to Ann and said, “I don’t even fit in this thing”.

Upon which the flight attendant, the only flight attendant (no room for others) said, just tilt your head to the left. I did and proceeded to make my way down the isle.

Now looking for row 18 on any other flight wouldn’t be that far to travel, however on this plane it was the second last seat, 18A. Sometimes I worry when on a plane about those I’m sitting beside, due to, well, I’m not exactly the smallest guy on the plane and let’s say I need a bit more elbow room. Not to worry on this flight. Turns out that 18A is the only seat on that side of the plane, Told you it was small. On the other side was B and C, and that’s it for a row.

All totaled the plane had 57 passengers, one attendant and I guess some pilots although I never saw them. So to put it into perspective, that’s the size of the bus that my daughters grade 8 class took on its trip to Quebec City. So basically I’m in a flying greyhound bus without a TV.

Between reading, writing, praying and nibbling on the snacks provided the flight went well. Part of my reading today was from Bill Hybels book, Holy Discontent. Basic theme in the book so far. “
What has God planted in your heart that you cant’ stand and need to do something about?” In particular I read a chapter that reminded me why God doesn’t just whisk us off to heaven to be with him as soon as we accept Christ as our savior and Lord of our lives. Ephesians 2:10, He has created us for good works. That’s our mission, that’s MY mission. So as this journey start, my prayer is that God will continue to reveal to me (and you) the Good works he has for us to accomplish in His name, for His purpose and for His glory.

Bye for now.

Update later that same night......

We landed in Guatemala City about 30 minutes late (11:40pm) And guess who's luggage didn't make it to Guatemala? You guessed it, Mine! well that is not entirely true, one bag made it, the one with the items to be given to the children here, school supplies, craft supplies, a walker etc... The one that didn't make it had my clothes, toiletries, towels and other essentials that I will not mention.

While the attendant at the air port was nice, they were unsuccessful in tracking down my bag. They took a report and sent us on our way.

About a 20 minute drive later and Rudy and Sully (CH directors in Guatemala) bring us to Christian Horizons Guatemala. but first our journey took us down dark and deserted streets lined with brick walls with barbed wire protecting businesses and homes alike. Needless to say I can't wait to see Guatemala in the light of day.

Good Night!