Taste of things to come...

Juan and Axel getting some work done...

We are 1 1/2 weeks into the school year for all 27 of our kids...  4 schmidts and the 23 Gateway grads...all are doing amazing.  As I type I am out of breath a little, but the work is spread out enough to catch it again, just in time for the next round of kids to come through the house.  As we saw the program double from year 1 to year 2 we were anticipating a great ride in 2012 and have tried to be as prepared as possible.  Many of our conversations as Gina and I debrief, center around how ready for our for "the bldg", the home of EducateBV and all these initiatives.  Today alone we had kids showing up at around 10 a.m., off and on, until 8:15 p.m. when I took them back to Buena Vista tonight.

Gina has been so gracious, helping to parent these kids.  I've loved watching her and the other kids "serve" the grads.  Not one comes through the home that doesn't get a fresh drink, a snack, or normally a plate of whatever we are eating as a family.  This is definitely a "taste" of what is to come for our family, the Harmans (joining us in the fall) and the EducateBV family.  We've steadily been feeding a dozen or more kids each of the computer times that we've had and it only excites us for the time where we will have the space to really "feed" them, a place that they can come and enjoy not just the solid meal, but time with our families and sharing life.

HEBER (Ever)

One of the kids who stopped by today was Heber ("ever").  He lives in Tablon and is Milagros' son, family whose husband/father was killed 2 days before Christmas.  Just to get to us, to practice his computer skills, he walked over an hour... (watch interview here)  We have him and 5 other boys who live in the village of Tablon, walking this distance to get their studies done.  Just knowing that makes us eager to have our home / educatebv / located closer and more convenient to all of them.

Pray with us as we continue to love on these teens.  They are all amazing people, full of potential and longing for connection and purpose.  For more on each of them, check out www.educatebv.com

HARMAN FAMILY - HEADING TO GUATEMALA!!!

We are the Harman family:  Britt and Jodi, Mickey (14), Pierce (12), Clint (12), Kate (11), Meg (8), Morgan (4) and Reagan (2).  We have lived in Indiana most of our lives, with the exceptions that Jodi lived in Ohio for a while as a kid, and we lived in Florida for a few years after we got married.  

This past fall, we planned a trip to Guatemala to visit Mark and Gina.  Our trip came and we had no idea what to expect. We didn't really know what we would be doing and really just wanted to experience life with the Schmidts...the reality of their daily life in Guatemala.  Boy, did we ever get the experience.  We had no idea how overwhelming it would be for us. There was so much to take in. Every night we went to bed exhausted, but filled. We didn't even realize it, but we were catching the vision, and God was moving in us in an amazing way. 

On the way home on the airplane, Britt wrote this draft to Mark (which he didn't send to him until a month after we returned):

Mark,

I found this in the drafts of my gmail account.  I wrote it on the airplane on our way home from Guat.  I had all of this rumbling around in my head and wanted to write it down before I forgot.  

Things I liked about our Guatemala trip:  happy little kids in spite of their circumstances, trips in the mule, pizza in Antigua, driving to the grocery store, duck. The weather (really), the view from your roof, seeing things get done that only God could do, delivering milk, Corinne, Isaac, Eli, Bryn, my little buddy Cruz, speaking Spanish (me llamo es. . .? can't believe I said that. I am a dork), coke in a cold bottle.

As I head home I am wondering if your family visiting my house would have as big an impact on your lives as visiting your house has had on mine.  I'm pretty sure I know the answer.  

Britt

P.S. I thought you might enjoy that.  I think about you guys and what you are doing there constantly. Today in our church we were talking about Compassion International.  A line I picked up from some of their literature is that "When the darkness of abject poverty engulfs a place, the devil takes over."  It made me cry thinking about the people we saw and met when we were with you, and the battles you are fighting.  I was having a conversation with a friend and in that conversation, it came up that his grandfather had 21 brothers and sisters and they lived in a 2 room house.  I thought of Gelver and his family.  That was just in the span of 1 hour.  There are countless other examples I would tell you, but I don't want your head to get too big.  Does this happen to everyone who visits you?

This conversation started the ball rolling to get us to the point where we are today.

After we returned from Guatemala in October, we knew God was trying to tell us something was going to change. We just didn't know any details. We didn't know if that trip was preparing us for something specific overseas or just a change in how we lived here. After several  conversations with the Schmidt's and and lots of prayer, we both felt such a tug on our hearts for the people of Guatemala.  So a week in December after a long conversation with the Schmidt's on Skype, we went on a date and both of us agreed and couldn't get around that God was telling us to go to Guatemala and serve. It was just rather daunting and humbling for us to think that God was asking us to do something that only weeks previously seemed overwhelmingly impossible (and rather crazy).

So, this summer or early fall, we will be moving to Guatemala to join The Schmidt family in serving the people of the village of Buena Vista.  It has been a big decision, one that involves leaving behind family and friends that we are very close to, selling our house and land that we have become very attached to, as well as selling our business that we have owned for the last 10 years.  It has been a decision though, that we have not regretted making.  We know there will be a lot of work in the next few months wrapping up our life here in Indiana.  We know that when we get to Guatemala there will be even more work.  We also know that God has plans for us that we can't even imagine, and we are amazed and excited that God has chosen to use us.  We ask for your prayers as we move forward.  Pray for us as a family leaving everything that is familiar to us.  Pray that God will give us wisdom as we get ready to move.  Pray that our family will continue to be effective where we are right now.  Pray for our future ministries in Guatemala and pray for our DeepStream coworkers.

For a snapshot of some things we will be involved in daily, check out www.educatebv.com  

To help the Harman family financially CLICK HERE

Provision Milagros and Family

Heber, Milagros, Lucy and Sara

Last week we posted a blog (read here) on our friend Milagros and her tragic loss of her husband, 2 days before Christmas.  In that blog I outlined a few ways that we were feeling led to help.  We wanted to take a quick moment and give an update on her situation and how things are going. 

Today, Milagros, her children and some of her extended family came to our home for a visit.  We had asked them to come and have lunch and talk through how we could help them as we move forward, loving them and walking with them through this difficult time.  It was a great time with them and we nailed down exactly what our next steps are.  Here’s the plan:

Heber

• Her son, Heber (pronounced “Ever”) will be entering school and continuing his studies, beginning on January 16^th.  We were very impressed with this young man, who has been literally forced into the role of “bread-winner” for his mother and two younger sisters.  In our other blog we mentioned how he possibly needed to work rather than study.  Today they shared that he has the option of enrolling and studying in a program that meets on Saturdays, enabling him to work Monday through Friday.  We are excited to share that we have a sponsor for Heber’s education costs, so that burden is lifted off of him and Milagros.  At the same time, we can’t imagine walking in his shoes, carrying the burden of studying for a brighter future, while also maintaining the expenses of his home.  Pray for him!

• Milagros’ two daughters, Lucy and Sara will both be continuing with their studies.  Lucy is entering her final year of middle school and will be coming to school in Buena Vista each day, while Sara will be entering fourth grade.  Both will have ongoing needs of school supplies and uniforms.  After our other post we received the monies needed to help them both with these costs.

As we shared with this family today, they shared that there is still a great sadness in all of their lives as they deal with losing a husband and father.  The younger of the two girls, Sara, sat and cried as her mom shared some of their feelings.  We ask that every one of you reading this put Milagros and her family on your regular prayer list.  Pray for continual healing and peace, and that God will begin to reveal purpose in the sadness. 

As a family we are thankful to be walking beside them and thank those of you who are helping to meet their needs.

Hope in the Midst of Tragedy

It's Christmas Eve, around 5:00 in the afternoon and we are about to head out to Buena Vista to hang for the evening, celebrate the night with fireworks, an incredible view of Guatemala City, and enjoy time with friends and family.  Phone rings and on the other end is a friend of ours... a friend of many of you as well - Milagros (you might remember her from recent blogs and updates - we helped her with a surgery almost two years ago)  I greeted her, asked how she was doing and was met with great sadness.  She proceeded to tell me that she was very sad because just the day before her husband, while working, had been shot in the chest five times and killed.  Gone. 

I can't imagine.  What do you say?  What can you say?  As we talked a bit more, she explained that the family had just returned from burying him, from saying their last goodbye - to their husband, their friend, their father.  Milagros has three children:  Ever (19), Lucy (17) and Sara (9).  Just days before, they had plans of celebrating Christmas Even, the biggest party of the year here in Guat, together, but in a moment all was changed.

Today, we hiked over to the village of Tablon to visit Milagros and her family - bringing words of encouragement and hoping that in some way we could speak love and peace into their worlds.  Along with us came our friends, the Johnson family, and a team from a partner church in Memphis, TN who was hanging with us for the day.  As we showed up at the property gate, Milagros met us and fell into the arms of Gina and I, sobbing, saying over and over that her husband had been killed and that she didn't know how she was going to take care of her children and home.  We could only hug, speak soft words and cry with her - telling her that we are here for her and that everything will be o.k.

All 25 of us entered into the property and loved on this family for a moment - a moment that I think will have an impact on each of us forever.  We let Milagros share more of the story, but mostly asked how we can help.  You see, we believe that God intersected us with Milagros and her family, almost 2 years ago, knowing that in this moment He would have a plan for us in their lives.  A plan that includes loving, sharing, and giving.  She shared her worry over her two daughters not being able to study this year, due to no income.  She shared how her older son who is registered and scheduled to start his career school this January, might need to go to work instead of studying.  She shared how she had to go and get a Q2800 loan ($350) in order to claim her husband from the morgue and bury him.  We stood and watched as she poured out her heart and worries as her two daughters looked on.  We watched as a team who had no idea who Milagros was, opened their hearts to her today and completely erased the debt associated with her husbands untimely death, taking that load off of her mind.  Never before in my life has the following verse felt more real and alive to me than in this moment, this morning, in this village.  

James 1:27 - "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this:  to visit orphans and widows in their affliction..."

As we stood in her home - my mind was racing as this verse played over and over.  What can we do to visit this women in her affliction.  These kids who are "orphaned" in a way - what can we do to show that God hasn't forgotten them, that Jesus is present in their world and here for them???   

Pause and watch this quick video...

I believe that God intersected each of us who stood there with Milagros today, as well as each of you who have taken to time to read this blog and watch this video, for a purpose.  Many who were there were used to help financially today in a way that I know blew this family away.  We are all invited to "visit this widow in her affliction" as James wrote.  For us, we will visit her, we will pray with her, we have plans to help with many of the needs that we know they will have - we need help as we do this.  Here are a few tangible ways that we feel we can be a blessing to this family as we continue to shower them with the love of Jesus.

• The Gateway Program is committing to sponsor the 19 year old son (Ever) who is continuing on to his career training - TO HELP CLICK HERE...   His education will probably be around $800 for the year, but we will know more info this coming week.  Milagros agrees that it is much better for him and the family if he studies for the next 2 or 3 years and is able to get a better job - this will have a greater impact on the family than his working right now.  However, this leaves the family with no income.

• Educate BV is committing to helping both of the girls with school expenses this coming year which includes around $50 per girl for uniform and supplies.  ($100 need)  TO HELP CLICK HERE

• We are praying for economic ways to bless this family and keep all three kids in school.  A possible monthly sponsor for the family would be a huge help, something in terms of around $150 monthly.  TO HELP CLICK HERE 

 As I type, here in my home, with my kids running around, my wife downstairs, I'm thankful that we are all here together and I can't erase the thoughts of Milagros and her three kids back at their home, still in shock of the loss.  I hope that today, in some she felt the love of Jesus and His peace.  I know that she heard it as we stood there and shared with our words, but I hope that she continues to feel these other burdens lifted one by one. 

Milagros will come to our home a week from tomorrow to talk through some "next steps" for us as we help her.  Pray for us as we walk with this family through the next weeks and months and if you can - help us help them.

Enjoying the Stars, Anticipating the Sunrise

Mark and I can hardly believe what is on the horizon. It is like the most beautiful sunrise you've waited all night to see.  You know it is going to be spectacular because you see the sunset, spend time watching the stars.  You know that all you are watching, all you are witnessing is going to change once that big, orange  cylinder shimmies it's way up.  Life is being set in motion for that moment the sun is seen.

We feel that way.  Over the past 2 months as we've been raising money for the GATEWAY PROJECT, we sense the excitement on how huge the impact will be for the village of Buena Vista.  Whether we are talking with local doctors about hosting clinics in the building, or talking to teachers about after school enrichment classes, neighbors about grass to run and play on for free, students who will have access to computers and books, God's Word being read and spoken; lived and modeled, specialists coming in to teach deaf children, families being fed and taught proper nutrition and hygiene, workers being employed, bellies being full, it all is just ginormously,
                                              HUGE                                          


The days have been good.  We've seen samplings of what tomorrow brings.  We are looking at the stars and dreaming.  We are anticipating the new day knowing it is going to be beautiful, but enjoying the stars no matter how far away they may seem to us, they are not out of God's reach.
Won't you dream with us?

Conflicted With Fits of Sweat

I was so mad that I forgot the camera, but then again I was hit with some frustrating news while walking out the door to take Norma, her son and Cruz, our son to the pediatrician.

Norma's new baby... 3.6 lbs!

When a team was visiting Norma's family's complex they came across her little boy.  Norma carried him almost a full 8 months.  Even though he was born premature, she never took him to the doctor to be sure he was okay so at 3 weeks he weighs 3.6 lbs.  He is the most pathetic, narrow, bony baby I have seen to date.  We offered to take her to our pediatrician whom we trust- she worked with us last year to bring health to Alberta Blanca.  We know that babies die every day here, every day and so we did not want to wait to see if the baby would slowly improve.

While walking out the door for the apt, Mark said, "Gina, I just want to let you know that Norma brought another lady with her and her small baby since we were going to the doctor anyway she thought she could come.  I told her this is a scheduled apt and that the doctor nor us were expecting her.  Her aunt then said, but you are such good people I am sure you can find a way to make it work."

So I asked Mark what he planned to do- were we going to pay for this other baby to been seen too?  Whey doesn't she just take her 4 month old to the health clinic?  Why is it okay to assume that we would pay for her visit?  I for sure felt conflicted.

In the car ride I am battling this rude, assumption with the idea of well that's why we're here- to help.
The money always comes in for needs, but how do I know this mom is a true need- I've never met her, don't know what she has been doing for her baby.  So my mind was in turmoil, my heart as well.

Norma and her premature son were first.  Doctora Norma (Dra.) found problems of fungus in the baby's mouth, on his wiener, thrush on the mom.  She said the baby, if not treated for these infections would have slowly stopped eating,  and died.  Dra. told Norma what to eat, what to drink, how to clean the baby, how to clean herself, what signs to look for in case of an emergency.

I start to sweat.
One, I am holding Cruz who is climbing and crying now for 10 mins. and I know he is sick but I just want him to be quiet and sit with his hands folded and wait!
Two, I am feeling blessed to be a part of changing this mothers life- helping her keep her son alive.
Three, I am just flat out mad that the women there do NOT know how to care for their babies and they wind up dying for no major reasons.
Four, What the heck am I going to do about Glendy sitting in the waiting room- should I just tell her the doctor has no time to see her?

Ater 20 minutes of a lecture, Norma and baby go out and Dra. chats with me about all the meds the mom and baby needs.  Then she sees Cruz.  He has lost weight and has a throat infection thus, the loss of appetite and body rash.  So he's fine.  She is telling me about the meds. he needs and I start to sweat again.

My heart is pounding out of my chest.
By principles, I don't want to just let this mom assume we are going to take responsibility for her child from here on out- that happens a lot.
Dra. asks me where Buena Vista is?, how we decide who to treat?, what else do we do etc... I forgot what she said exactly, but my next words were mumbled, shaky, broken.
I proceed to tell her the recourse of what happened an hour ago on our way to her.
I told her I was so conflicted not knowing what to do and explained why.

She put me at ease.  Told me she deals with that every day, people just walking up to her office door expecting free treatment because their baby needs medicine.  She thanked me for my concern, encouraged me not to worry.  She said she would see Glendy and her baby- for free.  I told her I could give her the 100q leftover from Cruz and the other apt. and she said, "No, use that towards all the medicine that baby needs."  I reassured her this was never my intention, I was a bit embarrassed, but very grateful b/c I did not know what I was going to do.

Glendy's daughter Nataly

Turns out Glendy has been caring for her daughter Nataly very well. Although she only weighs 7 lbs, and needs hernia surgery when she weighs 20 lbs+ she has a problem spitting up her milk.  That coupled with mom only having 1 working breast were obstacles the Dra. thought were easily tackled.  Glendy HAD taken Nataly to the health center 4 times since birth for help, but she never took her to the clinic ( different places but to us interchangeable).  The baby just needs some vitamins and mom needs to drink more fluids and care for the clogged boob issue.

When we left to get the medicine I asked Mark to come with me into the pharmacy so I could tell him more of the details.  I was just in tears, feeling thankful and relieved.  Both babies are good on the mom's milk only as long as they follow her directions so we'll just help with the foods they need.  Although Norma's bill at the pharmacy was substantial and so was Cruz's we were okay- we figured on that.  Glendy's was only 29q ($4) and her visit was free.

So I stressed myself out over $4! My principles get in the way so often.  I praise God who knits all hearts together to bring healing.  I am so thankful we can be apart of watching these 2 cousins grow and learning more and more or ourselves in the process.  We'll take them both back in January for a re-check and I am sure I will bring the money we owe our sweet pediatrician.

So I forgot my stinkin' camera, but when we came home we took some video.
Here is the video

GOT MILK???

Got milk???  Well today there are 19 families who can say they do, thanks to the sponsors of the milk/nutrition program.  Gina and I spent a couple hours this afternoon sitting in some of the family's homes and sharing time with them and we get more excited with each visit as we see the progress in each of the kids.

Today, one family in particular reinforced for us the importance of this initiative.  Rosa Guadalupe and her mom Maria were added a few months ago and we've been watching Rosa change before our eyes.  Not just physically, but the way that she reacts to us while we are there - she is warming up to us and the sadness and fear that we saw on our first visit is disappearing.  I shot a video of her today which you can watch below..  We also met Rosa's new baby brother, 3 weeks old, who also will be benefiting from the milk program.  His mother drinks the Incaparina (fortified drink) which we provide and this is a huge help to the production of her own milk and ability to feed this new life.  We left their home smiling and thankful for the connection with this family.

The program has been blessed with many monthly sponsors, many who've come to us just recently wanting to help with the monthly costs.  At this point there are 4 of the families who are still needing an advocate to partner with them.  If you would be willing to help, VISIT HERE and let us know which family you would like to sponsor.  (You'll see SPONSOR NEEDED noted in green)

 www.deepstreamglobal.com