To the Moon and Back

Have you ever wondered why some of Gods creatures are, for lack of a better word, ugly? Worms, and caterpillars that slither and slide, or beetles and ants that lumber and creep. We have many different insects here, in our home and out. The ones that irritate me the most are the ones that fly. As the rains start to come, at nowhere near the ideal frequency, the insects, plants, and animals start to grow and thrive again. As the sun goes down on our little sliver of Guatemala, the bugs start to come alive. In-between dinner preparations, baths and refereeing, I will squish and swat with a vengeance, and without mercy, except for when it comes to moths. They strike me as such unfortunate creatures.

Most children, as do mine, often confuse moths for butterflies. The easiest way to tell the two apart is by the way they rest. While moths rest with the wings open, butterflies rest with their wings closed together, hiding their beauty.  I sometimes wonder to which I bare more resemblance of in my life, either through my domestic capabilities and shortcomings, or character traits and flaws.

These past few weeks have been good for us with company from all over the country, and progress on the new facility. The fourth cargo container headed for Canilla has arrived in the Northern port of Guatemala. We will likely dance around requirements and paperwork for the next 4 weeks, until we are able to travel to Quiche, the closest town to us with paved roads, and receive the contents. This shipment contains the normal assortment of seemingly random, unrelated items for construction, but also includes a large portion of the medical equipment and supplies,  necessary for opening the doors of the new facility, and caring for the patients.

Ryan has begun hanging the doors we built for the clinic and outpatient services portion of the facility. It has been encouraging to see the rooms take shape and resemble something more than Lincoln-Log style structures.
The water system is now in place for the new well.  The system will provide clean, high pressure water to the entire facility, and surrounding dwellings.
The roofing progress has moved to the back portion of the facility as we install the 40 foot sections of steel roofing over the rooms for admitted patients and delivery related care. This is the last portion of roofing on the ground level, and it will likely move slower than the previous sections due to the length of the sheets and the intensity of the sun and its reflecting heat. Roofing has proven to be an exhausting task for the crew on the roof, mostly comprised of family, as they push to cover all the exposed walls and rooms before the rains pick back up.

Our little family farm is growing with the addition of chickens, both meat birds and egg layers. The kids are all pitching in with the animals.  Watching them learn to appreciate their food is encouraging.
The kids continue to grow and embrace this lifestyle. I had someone ask me if this was a good place for them to grow up. I enjoy raising them here, and I think, for the most part the benefits outweigh the disadvantages. I think our children have some of the best of both cultures, but they definitely have access to resources that most children their age, living nearby, do not.


Just last week, we were surprised with a spur of the moment trip into Guatemala City.
We made record time, reaching the outskirt of the capital, in just under 3.5 hours.  Though I wish it was for a break from the normal for a little R&R, we were rushing our middle child, Joshua, to a private hospital for medical attention. After a rather minor fall, Joshua fractured both bones in his left forearm. Despite having a reliable vehicle and finances to afford private care in Guatemala, I was still terrified at the thought of the unknown. During the 3 and a half hours it took to get to the city, as I held Josh, trying to buffer each and every bump, my mind would wander back to that scary 'what if' place.
We were escorted back for an X-ray, minutes after arrival. Within an hour we were discharged, payed our bill and left with a happy camper in a green cast.

As grateful as I am to all who helped with taking care of Josh, and with watching our other children, I feel obligated to return the favor.
If a neighbor would have a similar incident requiring medical care, he would likely drive to Quiche, and receive free, but typically less than good treatment. This doesn't seem acceptable to me. In a matter of months, the facility in our front yard will be equipped to handle cases identical to Joshua's, at little or no cost to the patient,  in a safe and comfortable environment, close to home, handled with love and care.  This is no small feat, and is actually near impossible without your support, prayers and encouragement and Gods favor.
As we work together each day, watching the swirl of responsibility pass over the ministry as a whole, we continue to push on. This is where I wonder if my work is that of a moth or butterfly. Typically, I feel like I can take some of the strain of daily life in stride, and flutter gracefully throughout the day from one task to the next. Unfortunately, when circumstances get the best of me, I sense I take on the traits of a less than glamorous moth. I will fight my way from one minute to the next, struggling to simply stay a flight. At the end of the day, I fall to the ground and rest, with all I have left in me, open, exposed and visible.
It is after those days of feeble flight and performance when I am more receptive to the gentle admiration of a loving creator.
Some day, I hope I can grow, and learn to float through the ripples and challenges, and maybe even soar through this trial of missional life. Thank you for all you do to make this possible, and your role in keeping our boots on the ground. If you are touched or encouraged by our story, trials or transparency, we ask you to consider standing with us int his journey, either through prayer or financial support.
And of course for putting up with me and suffering through my ranting.
Katie Ann Ficker

The construction zone outside my home