As I write this I am suffering from the most accute case of heart burn a pregnant woman can handle. But I must tell you my heart is burning much deeper from a sad and sickening story that I was told today.
Let me start at the beginning....
Several weeks ago a woman showed up at our door with her three sons. She had been told our property was a school and she was in need of a new school for her boys age 7,11, and 13. We informed her we were not a school but invited them to come back the next day to play soccer and visit awhile. We formed a friendship with this family and the boys have been attending the house church for the last couple of Sundays.
While our friend Dorothy Calvalcanti was here visiting us, she taught the lesson for the adults one Sunday. She had the priviledge of leading our friend, the mother of the boys, in a prayer of salvation!!! Praise God!!!
Last Sunday our dear friend invited us to come to her birthday meal the next Sunday (which was yesterday). She was turning 34, but appears to have lived several lifetimes already. Unfortunately we took the invitation lightly and weren't even sure if it was going to happen.
When we picked the boys up for church our friend came out, sadly stating that she wouldn't be attending church, but she wanted to make sure we were coming for lunch for her birthday. We did a quick, 'yes, of course, we'd love to'.
We returned after church and were very warmly welcomed into their very humble dwelling. There were wonderful smells coming from the stove and soon we were served an amazing, flavorful steak with rice and tomato sauce. It was incredibly delicious!!! They even went and bought us coke and popcicles with the few coins they had on hand. The party consisted of only us and her mother and aunt. However there wasn't enough chairs for everyone so we ate in shifts, under a movable flourescent light that they moved over the table so we could see what we were eating.
We were very thankful for this delicious meal that she chose to share with us....how kind and generous of her to share her birthday meal with us!! Some foreigners that can hardly even communicate!!!
So, today she stopped by our home.
She sat with me on the sofa, and suddenly shared her life. It must've been God that I was able to understand what she was sharing with me....because my Spanish is still so very limited. She shared that she just cannot find a job. That the only way she is able to provide for her boys is to prostitute herself. She shared that she had been with a man on Friday night so that she would have money for the birthday meal....
I feel sick.
How could've we sat there enjoying that steak.....with such a great pricetag.
I would've done anything to return that meal to her...to save her the disgrace of selling herself in order to celebrate another year of her life.
I want to cry. Is this what poverty does? Is this dear mama, only 2 years my senior, a wicked person for wanting desperately to provide for her children? What would I do in her shoes?
I am heavy with this burden. With my heartburn that is reminding me of the 'steak of great price' that is making it's way through my digestive system.
I know that it was no mistake that this family came to our door 3 weeks ago. I know that I serve a Master who often ate with prostitutes and sinners. I know he has a plan for this dear woman.
Tomorrow she comes to cut our grass and weed the flower beds. Pray for more of these jobs to come her way. There is a battle for her soul right now. She told me that after she accepted Christ she got more calls from men than ever.... She needs to be set FREE!!
Will you pray with me for her freedom. Will you pray with me for wisdom..
pregnancy, love, and helping orphans in a 3rd world country
Monday, November 7, 2011
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Oh the trauma....
Being a parent in a third world country is not always easy!!! Especially when you have full awareness of germs and all the ways they like to get into our bodies. If you've ever watched those TV specials about all the little bugs that live on your pillowcase and even find their homes in your eyelashes.....you know the obsessive compulsive results full awareness of germs can bring :)
I say all this to tell you of a traumatic event that happened today in the life of the two men I love most.
We decided today to try out the real Guatemalan experience and eat at the market. Sundays are completely packed with people and smoke from all the grills going. We took our friend Evelyn and her 3yrs old son Christian along to help us with how to order in this kind of setting. We ended up ordering enough food to feed 6 WWF wrestlers, but enjoyed it to the fullest.
At the end of the meal the two little boys had to use the bathroom. Drew was voted as the one to take them. Before he left he gave me all his small bills so that I could pay the bill. Little did we know this was a dire mistake.
So they get the bathroom door and discover you have to pay to get toilet paper....I have all their money. But they go ahead and proceed like REAL MEN. Thankfully Drew assummed everyone had only to go #1. Unfortunately, this was not the case for Isaiah.
There were three stalls in this stinky room so they had to wait in line. When they finally got one, Drew, Isaiah and Christian crowded in. Much to Isaiah's dismay they found that the toilet had no seat, and was covered with other men's urine. Remember they had no toilet paper either. So, Drew, being so brave and valiant, wiped the raw sewer off with his lovely yellow jacket, so that dear Isaiah could place his little bum down and try to do his business.
Either it was the lack of a toilet seat, the knowledge of no toilet paper, or trying to relax in the presence of your dad and your friend....but he couldn't go. Not only couldn't he go, but something snapped. He started howling, crying out of control.
When Drew finally emerged from this hole of despair, things didn't look good from a mother's point of view. We still had a good half mile to walk home and Drew was intent on getting there as fast as possible to take a bath in clorox. Isaiah howled nearly the whole way home, his trauma echoing through the little streets of San Lucas. Snot and tears covering his face which he wiped away with the back of his germ covered hand.
As I write this my left eye has started to twitch. Even though we are safely home and Isaiah has been able to relieve himself, has been bathed in disinfected water, Drew has been showered and changed, all the clothes are in the washer, all the shoes have been disinfected.... and I've made us all drink a bacteria killing concotion...it's still a lot for a mother's nerves!!
Living in Guatemala has definately taught me my dependance on God Almighty. I just cannot control all those germs. I cannot control a little boy from getting dirty. I cannot make all the men in Guatemala have perfect aim for the toilet. I just have to TRUST. Trust that the God that can heal the sick and raise the dead, is looking out for us and protecting my little boy!!
I say all this to tell you of a traumatic event that happened today in the life of the two men I love most.
We decided today to try out the real Guatemalan experience and eat at the market. Sundays are completely packed with people and smoke from all the grills going. We took our friend Evelyn and her 3yrs old son Christian along to help us with how to order in this kind of setting. We ended up ordering enough food to feed 6 WWF wrestlers, but enjoyed it to the fullest.
At the end of the meal the two little boys had to use the bathroom. Drew was voted as the one to take them. Before he left he gave me all his small bills so that I could pay the bill. Little did we know this was a dire mistake.
So they get the bathroom door and discover you have to pay to get toilet paper....I have all their money. But they go ahead and proceed like REAL MEN. Thankfully Drew assummed everyone had only to go #1. Unfortunately, this was not the case for Isaiah.
There were three stalls in this stinky room so they had to wait in line. When they finally got one, Drew, Isaiah and Christian crowded in. Much to Isaiah's dismay they found that the toilet had no seat, and was covered with other men's urine. Remember they had no toilet paper either. So, Drew, being so brave and valiant, wiped the raw sewer off with his lovely yellow jacket, so that dear Isaiah could place his little bum down and try to do his business.
Either it was the lack of a toilet seat, the knowledge of no toilet paper, or trying to relax in the presence of your dad and your friend....but he couldn't go. Not only couldn't he go, but something snapped. He started howling, crying out of control.
When Drew finally emerged from this hole of despair, things didn't look good from a mother's point of view. We still had a good half mile to walk home and Drew was intent on getting there as fast as possible to take a bath in clorox. Isaiah howled nearly the whole way home, his trauma echoing through the little streets of San Lucas. Snot and tears covering his face which he wiped away with the back of his germ covered hand.
As I write this my left eye has started to twitch. Even though we are safely home and Isaiah has been able to relieve himself, has been bathed in disinfected water, Drew has been showered and changed, all the clothes are in the washer, all the shoes have been disinfected.... and I've made us all drink a bacteria killing concotion...it's still a lot for a mother's nerves!!
Living in Guatemala has definately taught me my dependance on God Almighty. I just cannot control all those germs. I cannot control a little boy from getting dirty. I cannot make all the men in Guatemala have perfect aim for the toilet. I just have to TRUST. Trust that the God that can heal the sick and raise the dead, is looking out for us and protecting my little boy!!
Monday, September 26, 2011
I would like to announce that today I officially decided that my due date must be earlier that what I have been told. There is absolutely NO good reason why I am so big at only 26.5 weeks. Unless, it's the uncommon amount of bread that is so readily available in this country. Or possibly the little illusion that all Guatemalan's seem to have about what is bread and what is cookies. Our sweet spanish teacher brings 'bread' for us every morning she comes to our house to teach. Let me tell you....it is NOT bread. It is a very wonderful sugar cookie that is just about the perfect food when dipped in coffee. By calling it bread, it somehow gives you permission to eat as many as you want. I mean, really, breads are at the bottom of the food pyramid...so eat your heart out. Unfortunately it seems to have made this baby grow by leaps and bounds!! Just so it leaps and bounds right out when the time comes!!
Below is a picture of the belly, and how it has made my cooking a bit more complicated!!
They didn't know the reason why, but it was to represent a hard heart. A hard heart makes so many things difficult, especially being open and ready to do what God asks of us.
Let me tell you, God showed up during this retreat. These women were so open to what new things God wanted to do in them. There was repentance, deliverance, worship, wailing, dancing, rejoicing, laughing, manifestations of the Holy Spirit and so much more!! There was one little man who worked there who said he saw the presence of God during one of the sessions we had!! I feel so excited and refreshed by seeing the work of God so evidently in people's lives!!
However it was rather grueling as we had three, 4hr sessions on Saturday. This fact, left this pregnant woman with very swollen feet and hands and some very uncomfortable heart burn. BUT it was so worth it!
I would invite you to send up a prayer for these lovely ladies. A prayer that what was planted in their hearts during this weekend would NOT be snatched away by the enemy.
There was a lady that prophesied over me during the weekend. Of course it was in spanish, so I'm not exactly sure if I got the translation correct....but she prophecied that my baby would be a 'propheta' (a girl prophet) and that she would clearly know the 'derecha de isquierda' (right from left). I claim those things for this little life growing inside!!!
How wonderful and blessed it is to have sisters in Christ from every tribe and nation!! To God be the GLORY!!
Below is a picture of the belly, and how it has made my cooking a bit more complicated!!
On another note, we had our very first healing retreat for women in Guatemala this past weekend! There were 10 wonderful orphanage workers that attended. As soon as the women arrived we duck-taped a large rock on eack one of their hands.
They didn't know the reason why, but it was to represent a hard heart. A hard heart makes so many things difficult, especially being open and ready to do what God asks of us.
Let me tell you, God showed up during this retreat. These women were so open to what new things God wanted to do in them. There was repentance, deliverance, worship, wailing, dancing, rejoicing, laughing, manifestations of the Holy Spirit and so much more!! There was one little man who worked there who said he saw the presence of God during one of the sessions we had!! I feel so excited and refreshed by seeing the work of God so evidently in people's lives!!
However it was rather grueling as we had three, 4hr sessions on Saturday. This fact, left this pregnant woman with very swollen feet and hands and some very uncomfortable heart burn. BUT it was so worth it!
I would invite you to send up a prayer for these lovely ladies. A prayer that what was planted in their hearts during this weekend would NOT be snatched away by the enemy.
There was a lady that prophesied over me during the weekend. Of course it was in spanish, so I'm not exactly sure if I got the translation correct....but she prophecied that my baby would be a 'propheta' (a girl prophet) and that she would clearly know the 'derecha de isquierda' (right from left). I claim those things for this little life growing inside!!!
How wonderful and blessed it is to have sisters in Christ from every tribe and nation!! To God be the GLORY!!
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Pregnancy in a 3rd World Country
This funny title of my blog says it all "Waves of Nausea." Welcome to the emotional, physical and psychological roller coaster of pregnancy in a 3rd world country!
Our family took a giant leap of faith and moved to Guatemala, an underdeveloped country in Central America, January of this year. We moved here to help little chldren, orphans who have been abandoned and abused. Statistics tell us that of the world's 100 million street children, 40 million of them live in Latin America. There are more startling statistics about abandoned and abused children than you want to know. We had to get involved and help them. To see our mission to orphans and learn how to get involved, check out our website www.WeHelpChildren.org
Amazingly, soon after our move to Guatemala, I got pregnant. Surprise Cindy!
Getting used to the strange sights, smells and experiences of an underdevelped country is alot to handle. But try doing it in your first tri-mester of pregnancy, and you too will get "waves of nausea!"
One experience I will share happened not long ago. We were on a family trip one evening, and my husband was driving our small Volkswagon car. It was raining and cool that night, as it is here in Guatemala being the "rainy season." All of a sudden I got sick, really sick. I needed to upchuck suddenly, so leaned out the window. My astute husband pulled the car over so I could open the car door and throw up closer to the ground. However, at that exact moment another car in a far lane drove through a puddle....and SPLASH....right in my face. Wow. Need I say more?
I hope you follow along this roller coaster journey of pregnancy and missionary work! Please tell your friends about this blog too.
Love to you from Guatemala!
Cindy
Ps - Please comment below with your own ideas, experiences, prayer needs, etc. I would love to hear from you! It encourages me.
Our family took a giant leap of faith and moved to Guatemala, an underdeveloped country in Central America, January of this year. We moved here to help little chldren, orphans who have been abandoned and abused. Statistics tell us that of the world's 100 million street children, 40 million of them live in Latin America. There are more startling statistics about abandoned and abused children than you want to know. We had to get involved and help them. To see our mission to orphans and learn how to get involved, check out our website www.WeHelpChildren.org
Amazingly, soon after our move to Guatemala, I got pregnant. Surprise Cindy!
Getting used to the strange sights, smells and experiences of an underdevelped country is alot to handle. But try doing it in your first tri-mester of pregnancy, and you too will get "waves of nausea!"
One experience I will share happened not long ago. We were on a family trip one evening, and my husband was driving our small Volkswagon car. It was raining and cool that night, as it is here in Guatemala being the "rainy season." All of a sudden I got sick, really sick. I needed to upchuck suddenly, so leaned out the window. My astute husband pulled the car over so I could open the car door and throw up closer to the ground. However, at that exact moment another car in a far lane drove through a puddle....and SPLASH....right in my face. Wow. Need I say more?
I hope you follow along this roller coaster journey of pregnancy and missionary work! Please tell your friends about this blog too.
Love to you from Guatemala!
Cindy
Ps - Please comment below with your own ideas, experiences, prayer needs, etc. I would love to hear from you! It encourages me.
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