It is a hot, autumn day here in Canilla, and in less than a
week, I will find myself basking in the cool crisp air of a Midwestern fall
day. If everything goes as planned... and the weather cooperates.
We survived our first year back down in Canilla. We rolled through
our one year anniversary of living without a paycheck, leaving US soil, and walking
away from our friends and family that we left behind, with a little reflection.
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| Courtyard of the new facility |
For over a year now, we
have been plugging away on the construction of the new building, and the
clinics will begin the transition into the new facility early next year.
We will
take one step at a time in expanding into the rest of the building.
We are
looking forward to our time back in the states, but in preparation of our
absence, I can’t help but feel a sense of abandonment for all we will leave
behind. Don’t get me wrong, I am looking forward to many things... Milk-shakes, Target, falling Leaves, hugs from family and
friends, and going to a live church service, among other things! I roll through my mind what it will be like
and the conversations I may have, the questions I may get asked, and of the
possible scenarios, the one that haunts me the most is, “How is Guatemala?”
Sure, the short answer is easy. As ‘fine’ or even ‘good’ will suffice for most people,
but my concern does not come from saying something good enough or pleasing
enough, but rather from not speaking the truth.
How is Guatemala? Well it is good, it really is. The weather
has been mostly predictable in the fact the rains only came for a fraction of
the rainy season. The rain ravaged the roads for about a week, compared to
months of rain in the past years. The lack of rain left many crops dry, short, or
just plain dead. We are still hopeful
for a few more weeks of moisture, but we sense a change in the seasons,
unfortunately. Despite the lack of precipitation, Guatemala is still
plugging away with its usual fall activities.
The medical clinics continue to serve 500 pregnant women per
month, and hundreds of general patients needing anything from antibiotics to
insulin. While we are ecstatic to have the most skilled clinic staff in the
history of the ministry, we continue to see patients with needs we cannot meet
with the resources we have to work with.
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| Angelina |
Last week, I was able to help with a young mother of two, who was
going into early labor (Pictured Here). We did all we could to slow her contractions, ease her
mind, and get her to the regions nearest medical facility. Upon finally making
contact with a physician at the Government Hospital, we learned that despite
our ability to fly her in, and get her to the hospital in less than 20 minutes,
the answer was simply ‘no’. They were out of space. They had told us not to
send her, as she would be turned away. We were faced with multiple options, but each on was worse than the last.
If we send her to the hospital, and they deny her care, she will end up
birthing a 29 week old baby in the middle of another town, on her own and away
from all friends and family that could possibly help her.
It makes me want to
scream!
How can I fix this?
How can we fix this?
Well, we just need to get the hospital up and running!
But, will that solve all the problems this community, our local community, is
facing?
Once again, I am glad you asked!
NO.
We see need everywhere.
In every face of content, we can find need. In every home
made of mud, we can find need. In every life that grows inside a mothers womb, we see need in the future.
Yet the spirit of the people as a whole
continues to baffle me. They continue to push forward, despite surmountable odds.
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| Yolanda |
We are surrounded by such a culture of resilience. Yet,
there are families ravaged by generational alcoholism. Children deserted by their fathers as
they pursue possible work in the US.
Single mothers struggling to change the earthly fate of their daughters.
Breaking the cycle seems impossible, and yet we press in, we all press in, in the hope that we can make a difference for this life, and for eternity with as many people as possible.
Little by little, we see hearts soften to the truths of a
God who loves them. We see eyes, that were once blinded, opened to see the
grace of His forgiveness. We watch a mother, whose hope rests in faith alone,
continue to spend every waking moment to improve her children’s future. We see
children, having walked for hours, alongside their mothers, come to the clinics to receive milk powder or
food to supplement their meals, walking away with the joy of a child, even if only for a moment.
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| Installing windows in the prayer room of the new facility |
I wonder if while I am ‘back home’ I will miss those little
eyes that stare at me from the safety of their mothers legs, while I buy my tomatoes
off the street? Will I miss the sound of the backhoe in my front yard? Luckily it is only three weeks…. Right????
I am so glad to be going back up to visit. I am also looking forward
to coming home again. Back to where my kids can find their way through the house when
it is dark. Where I have many different creatures (some human) running wild, tracking dirt and sand
through the house constantly. You know.... Home. Where you can put your feet up, sit back and stare at the wall over a hot
cup of tea and just be… home.
I pray you are all enjoying your fall weather, and thank you
for sharing a little time with me. We look forward to seeing everyone we can, and can’t
wait to share with you the awesome things God is doing here in Guatemala!
If you feel connected to our ministry and want to share in
this craziness, please consider supporting us on a monthly or completely random basis.
You can Donate through PayPal, or the mailing address:
Ryan and KatieAnn Ficker
PO Box 263
Marine, IL 62061
Thank you for the love!
