Sadness.

I wasn't going to post today because I have already done 2 in a row. But today was rough.

I got a last minute call to help a team from Impact Ministries translate at the Coban Hospital. I wasn't busy, so I went. I've helped them before, and it can be sad to see the sick kids, but I like the interactions with the families. We go to the Pediatric Ward, split into groups, then meet each family and pray for each child.

Next, we go to the Maternity Ward and give gifts to all the new moms, and last we head to the nursery to hold babies. Sound fun, right?

But this time was different.

I have been struggling recently with sadness. At times it can be overwhelming for me. I see how hard it is for so many people. Lives here are difficult. And it goes on for generation after generation. And I can't change everyone's life. To see it so clearly on such a regular basis has made me for the most part accustomed to it, though not immune.

Today we went into the Maternity Ward and a lot of the mothers didn't have their babies with them. They were in the nursery. So we would ask if they had their baby, they would tell me s/he was in the other room, and we would leave the gift.

At one point I saw a large family start to pray with one of the groups on the team. They were crying, so I assumed a baby had died. I tried to stay away to be honest. It is just too sad. Then we went to the next section of beds. There were 3 ladies and one man. He told me that one of the women had lost her baby. We went to her to hand her a bag of gifts (specially packed for those who had lost their babies. It had no baby items in it) and she refused. The man explained to her in her Mayan language that it was for her. She took the bag then went to thank me and I held out my arm in the traditional Mayan greeting of mutually patting each others upper arms. As I turned to go away she pulled me strongly into a hug and kissed my cheek. This is rare for Mayans. I hugged her back tightly.

I started to cry and had to move away. Even if I could have spoken her language, I didn't know what to say. As I think about it now, I hate that I moved away from her so quickly. But her grief was becoming mine and I didn't know how to handle it. How ridiculously North American of me to think that I had to hide my tears from her. I wanted a simple fix and there isn't one. That baby is gone.

Later I was thinking of an episode of the show Call The Midwife. In the first episode a new nurse-midwife, from a good area of town, is working in the poor area of London. She sees things she had no idea about and she struggles with dealing with it. As she talks to the head nun, she says "I didn't know people lived like this." The nun replies, "But they do. And it's why we're here."

And although that is a big part of why I'm here, I'm also here to spread hope. God loves each one of His suffering children, and I believe that we are all suffering in one way or another at some point in our lives. If I hurt this badly for the people, how much more does He hurt for us, and want the best for our lives? So that is what I need to focus on.

Friday Praise and Prayer.

I wanted to start this over a year ago. Better late than never?!? ;)

Praise for this week:

• I was able to visit some friends in the Antigua area of Guatemala. It was nice to have the fun and food associated with good friends! I was also able to meet with other Directors of Children's (and an adult!) Homes and gain some valuable information and advice.
• Two friends with Children's Homes were certified last week! Praise God! One is also for children with special needs, and one is for children who are HIV+ and children with missing limbs.
• I was gifted a new baby doll change station and a large bag of clothes for the girls. :)

Prayer for this week:

• Paperwork certification with the CNA. The process is slow, and that is normal, but it can't hurt to have a few more people praying it through!
• David, a mentally challenged guy I met a month ago (and I have been helping on and off with his dressing change and care). He has third degree burns to at least 12% of his body and the healing process has slowed down.
• Wisdom for me personally in the next steps.

Hope you all have a great weekend!

David helping me with the shopping.

How do you make me cry? Gift me an extension cord.

In May I had a visit from Bob and Georgette. They are missionaries here in Guatemala, and they live about 4 1/2 hours away. I have know them for a few years now, and they have been good friends.

On a trip to the City a while ago, I visited them and started to whine about some of the problems I have been having here at the house. I was whining just to whine, not to ask for help, but all of a sudden Bob was looking at their calendar and saying they could come in the next couple of weeks. I was thrilled!

I started a "to do" list and as soon as they got here, they jumped in and got started! Well.... I'll be honest. Bob got started and Georgette and I started to catch up on things. Until she realized I had some trim and touch up painting to be done, then she got right onto that!

Bob had a really good helper (my puppy Leia) the whole time he was here. :)

Bob is one of those guys that knows something about pretty much everything! He fixed my pool pump (which took considerable time) and showed me how to clean it and add chemicals, and made it sparkly clean just in time for the inspection from CNA! He even bought me a big jug of chlorine to help maintain it.

He also fixed leaky sinks, replaced old parts, fixed stinky sinks, put up my shower curtain rods (they kept falling down), hung pictures, hooked up my dryer, got the hot water going to the showers (after having to make a trip to the City to get the system (and they paid for it! what a blessing), changed locks in the doors, took out light fixtures, hid open electrical wires, put up screens on my windows and a hundred other things that I can't think of right now. It was so nice to have someone here who was so dedicated to making everything work. 

 Hot water!!!

 Goodbye ugly, mouldy kitchen!

He needed some tape, and was thrilled when I handed him purple duct tape! I know what to get him for Christmas this year! :)

An hour after they left the first time, CNA showed up that morning to do the inspection! So I was happy that they had been able to get so much done and have it looking so good. :) CNA left a list of things to change and when they came back the second time Bob was able to knock off that list too! I was truly amazed at God's timing for their trips.

When I told a friend of mine that they were coming, she asked why they were coming to do this for me. I laughed and told her I guess it was because they loved me. ;) When I told Bob and Georgette my response, Bob said I was wrong. They did it because of God. He called me to start this Home, and they want to serve Him in that way. And they did it for the kids. So they would have a beautiful and functioning Home. 

So pretty much I didn't matter at all! But they do still love me anyway. ;)

 After we were done, we went to one of my favourite restaurants for dinner. 

 Georgettes cappuccino! 

They are such good friends! And the food was amazing!

One night after they had gone to bed, I happened to walk by their bedroom door. I could hear them inside praying together before they went to sleep. I admit that I stood there listening for a bit. They are such a great example of a Godly couple, and I am so glad He brought us together. 

Thanks so much for you help Bob and Georgette! Can't wait for the next visit! :)

And the reason why the electrical cord made me cry was simple. During the first visit Bob noticed that I didn't have one. So he brought one with him. And it was so thoughtful and sweet, that out of all the things they did for me and the Home, him gifting me the electrical outlet was the last straw!

How to take a picture of an electrical outlet.

The gov't left me with a list of things that need to change in order for me to be certified. Then I am to take a picture of the changes, and send them by e-mail. This should be a simple task. But I ran into some troubles when it came to the electrical outlet.

 Oops, should have turned the flash off.

 The inside of Leia's mouth.

 While pushing Leia out of the way, I forgot to turn the flash off again.

 Flash off, puppy eating plastic covers.

 Get out of the way Leia! 

Never mind, I'll just crop it.

I'll be home for Christmas! Or maybe just for June.

I'm headed North!

I am excited to do a quick trip up to B.C. in June for 3 weeks. I have time while paperwork is being processed and a few pieces of furniture are being made.

If you would like to get together with me to hear more about Treasures of God Children's Home, or if you have a Bible study or group of friends that would like to hear more, please e-mail me at naomi.heye@gmail.com

There will also be a fundraiser in Kamloops near the end of June and I will post more information on that as details become finalized.

I look forward to seeing family and friends as well!

Blessings.

Waiting. And waiting. And waiting. Oh wait, they're here!

The title of this post is a summary of the last 2 months.

I wanted to write a post about the wait. And how hard it is. How the waiting feels endless. How I feel like I am doing nothing productive and how useless that makes me feel. How I wished things would move faster (aka: on my timeline instead of God's). But thankfully I don't have to bore you with those details!

Yesterday morning my friends left. They were here for 2 1/2 days to bless me with some needed repairs and good company. About an hour later I got a call from a friend of mine who I met here. She and her husband are also opening a children's home in the area. The CNA had just left her house, and she suspected they were on the way to my house.

To say I freaked out would be an understatement. I felt completely unprepared (even though I had been preparing for this for 6 months!) and scared as anything. My heart rate and breathing increased, and my cleaning lady started feeding off my fear and she started shaking! Poor thing! We had talked about it so much, and now it was here. She knew how important this visit was. After literally running like a chicken with my head cut off, I stopped us both and said "we need to pray". So we did. And although I was still scared, I was able to think more rationally and stop running like a crazy lady. :)

They arrived about 15 minutes later, after I was able to put on some nicer clothes and get the coffee on. I will admit. I called a friend to ask her how to make the coffee.

There were 4 ladies. A CNA rep, a social worker, a psychiatrist, and the secretary of a local governing agency. We sat down to do the interview first and it lasted about an hour and a half. They all asked different questions about the staff, the kids, the equipment, the programs, etc. I felt like I answered all the questions well. As always, I made jokes as I was so nervous. Thankfully, they were accepted well. For instance, one of the bunk beds I have is very high so they asked how I would get an immobile child into it (the mattress is above my head). I jokingly told them I would just throw her up in there! Thankfully they all laughed. ;)

Then we did a walk around of the house. They seemed to be happy with the place. As always, there are things to improve, but nothing earth shattering. They asked a few more questions and they each wrote and explained to me their suggestions. All in all, they were here for 3 hours.

They told me they liked the house, and said it was just minor things that needed to be changed. They said I was ready to receive children (once authorization was complete). I asked about the 2nd inspection, and they said it may be before or after I am certified. I have to send in pictures of the changes that I make.

So although there is no set time frame as to when I will be certified, I am thinking maybe August? I am glad to have that part over. I was worried about it, and anxious for it to be done.

Thank you for all your prayers. I was praying for favour with those in charge. This house is the Lord's and I want it to be used for His glory. He is control, which technically should take the pressure off me, but I guess I like to think I am a little more important than I really am! ;)

And to end, since I didn't get any pictures of the inspection process, I will leave you with a picture of my new and super cute puppy!

Success!

For the last few months, I have been working towards getting the home ready for the inspection.

The house had not been lived in for a long time and needed a lot of repairs. Finding the right people to do this, who would do it right the first time was a bit of a time filler. 

I had to find professional staff (Pediatrician, social worker, physical therapist, etc) that were trustworthy, available and willing to work with children with special needs. Due to the remoteness of this area (one of the reasons I chose this area) there are less professionals available. For example, there is no pediatric neurologist in this province. So we will have to go to the City (about a 4 hour drive from here). But I am pleased with the people that have so far agreed to be part of the team. This job was made much easier by recommendations from friends in the area. 

I have been slowly accumulating and buying all the things I need for the kids. 

The bunk beds were made by a volunteer in November.

I tried to learn more office skills! These are receipts that I put in my handy folder.

 I had a visit from my mom and she brought some great toys for the kids.

I did a few home repairs.

 I had some clothes donated, and bought others.

 I found a cute shower curtain.

I had some good quality help to paint! More on that in another post. :)

And I did a hundred other things that you wouldn't really want to see pictures of. Including becoming a non profit organization (association) here in Guatemala. That paperwork alone took 3 1/2 months to complete and I needed it before I went any further. At times the work was hard and stressful, at times it was fun to think of the girls that would soon be living here and what they would think of the things I had for them. At one point I really couldn't see the end! And though I am not at the end, this picture shows the culmination of this work:

The CNA has my papers!! They are the governing body that will do the inspections and give me the license to take in children. How exciting!!! They don't let me know when they are on their way, but I anticipate about a month, give or take. After 2 inspections, if everything is satisfactory, I will be open for business! Estimated time line is 3 months, but it could easily take longer than that. 

Please be praying for me, the government, and the children still waiting to live here. When I think of the abuse and living situations that they are living in right now, I become anxious to physically help.

Thank you for all the prayers, encouragement and support that got me through this process.