Hope for Ek Balam

Business around Ek Balam

2011-06-15T12:35:00.000-07:00

Just a few pictures to show the businesses that are going on in EB

Flordinda selling a hammock

Andrew buys hammock from Armando's family

Rosa doing some inventory

Rosa's Ropas (clothing)

VBS Pictures

2011-06-14T12:28:00.000-07:00

A couple of pictures from our recent VBS in Ek Balam.

Kids responding to Jesus!

Vonda with the kids.

Life around Playa

2011-06-13T14:24:00.000-07:00

Here are some picutres of my life and ministry specifically in

Playa.

Ministering at the prison

Willy & Deb traveling from E.B. to Playa

Salsa dance ministry

Pictures of Alfredo's Journey

2011-06-04T15:00:00.000-07:00

Here are several pictures of Alfredo's journey over the past few months.1st time on a bus!Alfredo giving his fingerprints.

In front of Angel Notion.

Hernia oppertaion at Angel Notion.

Dolphin Discovery day trip

Alfredo's sisters 1st time in the ocean!

Alfredo standing!

Pictures!

2011-06-03T14:52:00.000-07:00

You have been hearing lots of stories, but now you can see what I have been up to:

Here we are passing out 1st Aid Kits.

Medication being dispensed.

Dr Eduardo at a dental clinic.

Diabetes check up by lalo

Hope you enjoyed these! More to come!

April Update

2011-06-01T19:04:00.000-07:00

FIELD TRIP! -You may remember, last August, praying about the van (now a school bus) that was donated to the school. The Director (Don Carlos), recently got permission from the government to take the kids on their 1^st field trip ever , on April 1^st (no foolin’… ha-ha-ha!)! For almost all of the children, this 2 hour drive to Tulum, was the farthest away from their homes that they had ever traveled! They had a great afternoon visiting the ruins and learning about their own culture. Imagine how exciting it must have been to walk on that soft, cool sand and step into the ocean and SPLASH away! Don’t you just love “first-times”!

Vacation Bible School Week with Vonda was off the charts! With her organization abilities, some Spanish skills, and a strong passion to work with kids, she captured their attention every day! Each day, they knew there would be Bible stories, creative activities, Spanish worship songs for kids & games (it was the 1^st time they ever played “chicken-chicken-turkey”, which is the Mayan version of “duck-duck-goose”! They also had a blast experiencing their 1^st “Easter/Resurrection egg hunt” – FUN!) . At the same time, this program was so diverse, that they stayed on their toes with anticipation. In fact, we sent invitations to the homes, saying that the first group would start at 1:30 p.m. and after the first day of fun, they began arriving BEFORE us! We had 20 to 50 children between ages 3 and 14, at any given time. P.T. L. for the help from Gabi & Tere, two young adults from the village! Once again, they did a fantastic job translating for us!

Let me share a few highlights of the week with you: first of all, seeing about 45 pairs of little hands go up, when we asked , “Who wants to go to heaven someday to live with Jesus forever?” that was the BEST! When I told them that the angels were celebrating in heaven, one child said, “they are all around us too!” (Thanks to all for your prayers!)

The stories they wrote about what they learned and enjoyed the most were precious! Some wrote about how Noah’s family obeyed & were saved from the flood (one child wrote, “even the smallest little ants got on Noah’s Arc. Jesus loves & adores me & is my Savior.”) Others wrote about how we will have problems; but Jesus is always with us & can calm our storms too (another child wrote, “the best day of my life was when we did the drama in the boat, because I was a disciple & I want to do it again”). Some wrote about how we are to share our blessings with others, just as Peter shared the fish. Hearing their stories & knowing that they learned something filled Vonda & my hearts!

On the final day, I asked the kids to bring a flower for Vonda, as an expression of appreciation. When they arrived at the park, I asked where their flowers were (they had all forgotten… kids will be kids!). I told them to hurry up and return with a flower. In that moment, there were about 50 kids running in all directions back home (it made me giggle)! One by one, they returned to me from north, south, east and west, with big smiles & holding their beautiful flowers up to the video camera! It was so sweet to see them handing Vonda their gift, as she handed each child a well- deserved certificate of participation. Hearts were melting and dripping with love & joy that night! Vonda also had given them each 2 Jesus fish necklaces as a gift (1 was to give to a friend of theirs & share Jesus at the same time). It was a God-incidence that the closing celebration was on “National Children’s Day” (April 30^th)! Also, that they were on their Easter vacation that week! Bless Vonda’s heart abundantly for all the preparation, effort, and money that she invested in the Ek Balam kids!

Just before our trip to the village, I heard of a 30 year old man named, Rafael, who lost a lot of weight and was at the point of death. Rafael told me that he thought God was punishing him for not going to church… but I assured him that our Father is not a punishing God! A couple of hours after praying for his stomach, intestines, muscles, and ear; I stopped by to bring him a bible. He said that he could hear clearly again out of the ear (it had been muffled)! He happily received the Lord that day!

The update on Armando is that he is on the waiting list for a job at the ruins. His oldest son broke his arm, a couple weeks ago. Although it has only been a few months since his wife passed away, he is doing better. He said that he must keep moving forward at church and not return to a vice. He knows that God is trusting him with the responsibility of raising his 4 kids. I handed him a photo, of his mother with the family that gave a C.P.R. course, last November. Armando said he remembered that they bought a hammock to help with the medical & transportation bills. Andrew (C.P.R. trainer) wrote a letter to tell him, that his 2 year old daughter collected $200 USD in birthday presents for Armando’s family! Armando agreed that we will have problems in this life; but “ni modo” (oh well), God is with us & He is the only option we have to get through things. He said that the words in this letter were very special. I’m the fortunate one who got to see his expression of appreciation for Andrew’s family!

Once again, I want to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for your prayer support. Missionaries truly can’t survive out on the field without it! I also couldn’t be doing this work, without financial support. Please continue to pray about partnering with me in this way. Health insurance has gone up this year, so even occasional gifts when the Lord leads, will make a big difference! I really appreciate all of you & will keep you in my prayers too! :)

Visitors

2011-05-30T12:37:00.000-07:00

March 2011

I brought my 101 year old great Aunt Lucille a little piece of Ek Balam & she absolutely LOVED it! She even has a picture of Guadalupe (my adopted mom), who made the little hammock. My Aunt Clem flew me up to Massachussettes to "grandma sit" while she took her vacation. It was such a blessing to be able to pray over & minister to my 94 year old grandma! I was the only one in the family who could take the time out of the normal daily routine to be there. This reminded me that being a missionary is the BEST work ever! My aunt's friend was drawn to come to the house and introduce herself. She was so excited to meet a missionary! I told her it was a divine appointment, because she received Jesus in her heart that night!

The Oregon men's group is asking me to do a little more research on the land, before they go ahead and make a decision. Prayerfully, I will have some time to check into some of that when we go to the village next month.

I have a prayer request for the proposal for financial assistance, from the Federal Government to be approved. Marta, (my Dentist’s sister) who is a grant writer affiliated with the Fed. Gov’t, came with us for the follow up meeting with the Community Board Members. She explained a prerequisite to the agreement with the Gov’t is that they would be willing to set aside a portion of the land to be protected from animals being hunted and trees being cut down. There were 9 men who opted to donate a portion of their land to be conserved. We drove through 5 kilometers of overgrown dirt roads to take measurements of their land with her G.P.S. machine. At the end of the day, the Board Members signed the proposal request. We will have a response from the Gov’t in May. Prayerfully, they will be sending money for us to get started on a few projects that they will approve!

Alfredo Praise

2011-05-28T12:36:00.000-07:00

March 2011

Alfredo has a praise report: "I've discovered my hands & voice! I am grabbing and reaching for many things now. My therapist & mom have caught my attention with these flying, shiny bubbles! They put other things in front of me to wake up my sense of touch like oil, shampoo, baby powder, shaving cream and putty! It makes me smile & it's fun! I like to wave, & practice moving my fingers a lot. Everyone says I'm more alert now. Maybe I just got THEIR attention since I've been making new sounds & saying a few words every now and then (just to see if they are listening to me... and they are!!)! Oh, I am starting to crawl, and with a little support, I can stand with the strength of my legs now too! Some day, I will do many things on my own. My mom loves me so much, that she is taking me to these therapists in Cancun, and practicing with me at home, also! My mom was so happy today, because they told her that I'm improving! I'm proud of her too, since she is learning how to use a cell phone, cook on a real stove, and she even took a cross-stitch class! She loved it! She likes learning too! Thank You Jesus for all that You are doing in our lives! We love You!"

Growing team

2011-05-27T12:35:00.000-07:00

February 2011

Eduardo, the dentist, recently shared his heart with me, about E.B.. He said that he has missed out on opportunities to make a difference in small villages, in the past. He has been called and now he is ready! He & his wife, Geidis, would love to buy a piece of property to build a small house & be able to visit on a regular basis. They want to put their time & energy into the people of E.B.. We have been brainstorming ideas, & have put in a proposal for financial assistance, from the Federal Government. It was important for us to discuss our ideas with Goyo, the head of the Community Board. Interestingly enough, we found out that out of 15 projects that Goyo & the Board Members already had for the village, almost all of them were on our list too! Sounds like confirmation to me! We explained to Goyo that we only want to help them if they are interested & that we are not wanting to pressure them. The idea is to combine their current lifestyle with new civilization, so that we can learn from each other. Marta, Eduardo’s sister who is a grant writer affiliated with the Fed. Gov’t, came with us for the follow up meeting with the Community Board Members. She explained a prerequisite to the agreement with the Gov’t is that they would be willing to set aside a portion of the land to be protected from animals being hunted and trees being cut down. There were 9 men who opted to donate a portion of their land to be conserved. Lalo then drove us through 5 kilometers of overgrown dirt roads to take measurements of their land with her G.P.S.. At the end of the day, the Board Members signed the proposal request. We will have a response from the gov’t in May. Prayerfully, they will be sending money for us to get started on a few projects that they will approve.

A special thank you goes out to David from Maine for being one of our drivers and also for donating medical supplies & vitamins, which are of great need!! Eventually, we might even turn Leity’s medical supply section of her house, into a real pharmacy!! Thanks again for your heart to help David!

Expansion

2011-05-26T12:10:00.000-07:00

January 2011

One of the long term goals for Ek Balam has been to build a worship center, which could become a church in God’s timing. Dani, Andrea, Lalo & Mauricio have accompanied me on several day trips to E.B. to do research on purchasing land. There are several lots for sale; but many of them don’t have titles. I have seen about 8 different pieces of property in total. I know that God has already chosen the right spot from the beginning of time! Luis, the leader of the bible study, is a lawyer and has offered to help with paperwork when the time comes. Bless his heart. Please pray with me for His wisdom & for all the details to work out in His perfect timing.

After my Pastor & a few others from Lighthouse Church, came to visit to the storage palapa that I’ve been staying in for the last few years (thanks to Guadalupe & Don Andres, my adopted parents), they decided to set aside $1000 for a “missionary palapa” to be built in 2011! God is good! A few of us have been brainstorming with the villagers, as to the best way to design this “casita” (little house). In many ways, it will be similar to the palapa that I live in now (in PDC)! We plan to add a second bedroom, so that there will be a place for visitors to stay at too!!

New Opporutinities

2011-05-25T12:08:00.000-07:00

January 2011

I have decided to get involved in a Jail ministry in PDC. This ministry has been in my heart, ever since I went to the jail in Cancun a few years ago. I felt called to visit a friend of a friend a couple of times, to share the good news with her! The bible study in Spanish (that I have been going to for 2 years) invited me to join them. This ministry began 3 years ago, and there are about 140 inmates participating now! The Holy Spirit has a way of drawing people. One man was working in the Carpenter’s area, watching the ministering team walk by every week. The group was always friendly with him as they passed by, on their way to the courtyard where the service is held. One day, he decided to attend, and now he shows up happy to sing, clap and worship the Lord! There are a few inmates, who lead us into worship once everyone has arrived. One plays the guitar, another plays the organ, while the others sing. It was a joy to hear their voices. The leader of our bible study (Luis), is doing a teaching on the beginnings of the Christian walk. He asks a few of us from the group, as well as the inmates, to read scriptures, pray & give testimonies. I like the way Luis gives many a chance to be involved. Testimonies are always encouraging & strengthening to both those who share and those who hear! I enjoy seeing their expression of emotions & praying the words God gives me throughout the entire visit. In the end, each person receives some bread (both spiritually & physically), along with either a roll of toilet paper or another toiletry. They are always so excited to shake our hands, smile at us, & exchange a few words. I know that God’s love is flowing through us to them. I believe that many of them now have new hope & will have a rock to stand on when they are released from this jail! Bringing some light into a dark place is a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

Liboria

2011-05-23T12:02:00.000-07:00

January 2011

Last night, I asked Liboria (Alfredo's mom), “when we met 5 years ago, did you ever imagine that you’d be staying with me one week a month in Playa?”. They had been staying with her 3 sisters; but Norma has moved back to E.B., Sandi found a boyfriend and moved to Cancun, and Mini is living at the hotel where she works. God had it all planned out, and this week, they are staying with me for the first time! Liboria’s response was that not only did she never imagine coming to Playa; but that she doesn’t know how she could ever thank me enough for all I’ve done for them. She said that if it wasn’t for me, she’d still be sitting in that little house in E.B. not knowing what to do with Alfredo. I told her that her gratitude, and prayers were more enough for me!

Anyways, I get blessed just being able to watch his process of learning how to eat with a fork, turn over on his own when face down, crawl & even stand up (with help of course). We had a lot of fun together, making some tactile stick items that the “daily living activities therapist” asked us to make. These tactile sticks of different textured materials, will help improve the elasticity & stimulation of his skin, while he practices grabbing them. We realized that we have something in common: doing creative art.

Christmas season

2011-05-22T12:32:00.000-07:00

December 2010

Brownsville, Texas here we come… with 2 cars, a trailer, 2 kayaks & 2 small dogs! Holly & Steve Taft are moving to Mexico (missionaries bringing a discipleship program to Playa). They asked me to be their interpreter at the border. After almost 5 hours of paperwork & going back and forth to several offices, we made it through with a green light. If that wasn’t enough excitement for us, a few seconds after crossing, there were 2 guys shooting window cleaner at the front window & climbing onto the car with big smiles, in hopes that we’d pay them for this service! In “just” ten days, we drove through several cities and small towns, all the way from Oregon to Playa! Mission accomplished! PTL!

‘Tis the season to be jolly! Angel Notion had their annual “Toys for Tots” event! For almost 2 weeks, several volunteers were holding Barbie dolls and soccer balls in their arms, while explaining to the passer-byers that for only 50-100 pesos ($5-$10 USD) they could support a child, this Christmas! This side street off of 5^th Ave. was quite festive, with Christmas trees & lights, a slide show of past missions on a big screen, special needs children singing & signing to Christmas carols, popcorn popping, and a “chubby” man with a white beard, all dressed in red, inviting people to sit with him and have their photos taken. On the morning of Dec. 24^th, 10 trucks from a small nearby town were sent off to the farthest ends of Playa, full of toys to be delivered in the streets. Some of us had the privilege of connecting hearts of elderly people & families in need, with the tourists who chose to “adopt” them! One family from Canada bought a small fridge, toys, food & blankets to a single father. Tears rolled down his face when his 2 small children excitedly opened their surprise gifts! The children were so anxious to show the Canadians their bedroom & all their artwork on the wall! Once again, Lavana and all who participated in this event, have brought smiles to many faces (thanks to all the volunteers for bringing the gift of happiness & to Jesus for the gift of JOY and eternal LIFE!)!

Growing Alfredo

2011-05-21T12:30:00.000-07:00

December 2010

Many of you have met “baby Alfredo”, who was born pre-mature & has been very ill ever since. Well, he is now “growing Alfredo”! About 7 months ago, this 4 year old boy was diagnosed with cerebral palsy by a Doctor in Playa (via Angel Notion). Eduardo, the dentist who periodically goes to E.B., recommended that we take him to a rehabilitation center in Cancun (C.R.I.T. Foundation: Center of Rehabilitation for Infants/children of “Teleton”). There are many professional doctors and therapists working with about 900 children, with a variety of handicaps. This foundation is well known in Mexico & is funded by the state government, events & donations from large companies. There are 17 CRIT locations within the country, right now. After an interview, it was decided that Alfredo’s family would only have to pay between $.50 and $1 USD per appointment. Liboria is very comfortable with the genuine concern, friendly attitudes & high level of respect from all of the people within CRIT!

Each month, I drive them to & from Cancun for 3 consecutive days (thanks to Kate, who has let me borrow her car for over a year now!). Alfredo’s mother, Liboria , has been meeting with professionals in areas such as: social integration, pediatric, nutritionist, neurologist, psychologist, & human communication. Alfredo has been meeting with therapists in areas such as: speech, physical, visual stimulation, swimming (water exercises), & daily living activities. It has been such a blessing to be able to watch both of them improve & grow in many ways! Alfredo’s muscles are developing, he can sit in a chair, he can say “mama” & is using hearing aids now! P.T.L. (Praise the Lord)!! I am so proud of Liboria, because now she can follow the schedule & is leading ME around the building. She communicates directly to the doctors with confidence & asks questions when she has doubts. She is now learning how to use a cell phone (thanks to Kate for the donation!). On top of all this, I get to watch them experience many things for the first time, like using a stovetop, going on an escalator & getting on a big bus! Liboria travels 3.5 hours by bus to Playa & is becoming a “city” girl at the age of 27! We have also made time for some fun activities like eating at a restaurant, going to see the dolphins, & attending bible studies & church services. Her 2 daughters (8 & 9 years old), came on their school vacation for a week, to play in the sand and swim in the ocean for the first time! What a blast!

Angel Notion had another mission with doctors from Michigan, and Alfredo finally got his hernia operation, in November! All went well and he recovered quickly, PTL! His parents were trying to get the surgery done in Valladolid City since he was 2 years old; but each time that they brought him in for a consultation, they were told that he was not ready. They were so relieved by how fast, easy, and successful the procedure was in Playa! Most importantly, he is not experiencing the pain that he used to when he coughs (which is quite frequent!). Thanks to Dr. Manzana, Lavana & all the employees at Angel Notion for making a difference in Alfredo’s life!

Liboria brought a hammock to the “Hamaca Arte Store” in Playa to pay her part of the operation ($3000 pesos total). It hasn’t sold yet, so we will go to other stores & schools to see if they would be willing to display her hammock.

Ana, Peter & family have decided to help the children in the village. On their first visit to E.B. they heard about the mal-nutrition infants & toddlers. They have been sending money to purchase baby formula, baby bottles & soy meat. Recently, Ana told me to put some of the money towards the operation for Alfredo! This family has decided to continue to support the children in the village – MUCHAS GRACIAS!

God connections

2011-05-20T12:24:00.000-07:00

December 2010

God never ceases to amaze me, in how He connects people. Through my Pastor’s friend, we were introduced to Andrew Price via cyber-space. After several emails, he decided to take a trip to E.B. with a plan to teach CPR & First Aide to the villagers. One November afternoon, I met Andrew and his family, walking down the street, in the center of town. I introduced them to Leity, who we later gave all the extra medical supplies to, along with tri-fold CPR 1^st Aide information (in Spanish).

Just a couple of hours later, there were people in the government building waiting for us! We set up real quick and got started. Willy, a young man from the village, helped me to translate. Another local volunteered to be the “dummy”. About 40 adults and 40 children attended. They were quite attentive & some even took notes! Their laughter was a good sign that they were interested and having fun! Andrew’s wife, Amber, gave the teaching on how to give CPR to an infant. At the end of the training, Andrew commented that he came to teach them how to be part of saving someone’s life on earth; but also, he wanted to share with them how their lives can be saved eternally! He gave a salvation message and we passed out some “tracks” in Spanish. Every family received a 1^st Aide kit to bring home! PTL! As a closure, we asked some review questions & the 1^st person to answer correctly got a t-shirt! That was a great way to confirm that they learned a lot! Everyone went home with smiles on their faces! Thanks to Andrew & Amber for choosing to spend part of their vacation serving the Lord and for collecting the medical supplies! Hopefully, we will be able to do a follow-up at least once per year.

Good things for those who love Him

2011-05-18T12:20:00.000-07:00

December 2010

Florinda , Armando’s wife, was transferred to 4 different hospitals and was in intensive care (in and out of a coma) for about 2 months. She had an operation, in order to clean the infection from her stomach. When I visited the family, Willy translated my prayer into Maya for Florinda’s mom. We read Mark 2: the story about the man who was lifted through the roof, and when Jesus saw their faith, He healed him. The family drew closer to the Lord & their faith grew through these hard times. The day after her brother-in-law, Pedro, told the family to think positive and pray, she spoke a few words and became more alert & stable for a few days. When the infection spread to her brain and other parts of her body, the doctors said there was no hope. Three family members began texting me for encouragement and prayer. I was blessed that they reached out to me, that they were seeking God & claiming scriptures over her life. It was an honor to be part of their prayers, growth & unity. At the same time, it was heart-breaking to not see the miracle that we were praying for to come to pass. Unfortunately, Florinda passed away just before Christmas. It’s hard to understand why a 35 year old woman would leave behind 3 small children & an infant; but we know that God’s timing is perfect and He is in control. It is comforting that the family knows that she is in heaven now without pain (she and Armando accepted the Lord about 10 months previously, just after his motorcycle accident!). Thank you, ENE, for purchasing a hammock from this family, you have helped them to pay off Florinda’s hospital bill!

Willy, her brother-in-law, was really affected by Florinda’s illness. He came to Playa with me, in November, to look for work in order to help the family. On the bus, he opened up and shared a lot. He is thankful that the Lord has given him the strength to be alcohol free for over 1 year. He said that often times, people get closer to God when they have struggles; but he has just decided to follow Jesus in good times and bad! He also talked about reading his bible more and wanting to be baptized! We arrived to Tulum and went directly to the Lighthouse Church service, which he enjoyed very much. God is always turning things into good for those who love Him!

Bus update

2011-05-15T12:16:00.000-07:00

November 2010
The new mayor, Gregorio, became the chauffeur for the 1^st school bus in E.B.. He began driving 4 handicapped children to the special needs school in Temozon (20 minutes away). He was also transporting 15 kids to the secondary schools, every day since September. Some kids have returned to school, just to be able to ride the yellow school bus! Isn’t that awesome!? PTL! Well, the bad news is that it only lasted 1.5 months. The government had agreed to pay for the gas; but then when the new President came into office, he said he was only willing to pay half. The parents are pitching in, a total of 100 pesos per week. They still need to raise 600 pesos (about $60 USD) per month, to be able to start using the bus again.

This special needs school has been helping these 4 children to learn & grow, since they inscribed a year ago! At age 13, Jose is now standing, on his own and walking with a walker- a huge accomplishment! Ronda, Vonda & Cindy (from Oregon & Idaho) were so excited to be there to see Jose walking & to be greeted with a big smile and bear hug from Maria-Imelda, Jose’s sister! These ladies purchased a hammock from Jose's mom, to help with the expenses for their education (every hammock purchased makes a BIG difference, so thanks ladies!). Some of you may remember a couple of years ago, a mission team purchased a tricycle for them, because they were using toddler bikes to strengthen their legs. Their grandfather used to ride with Jose into the woods to look for firewood (before passing away 2 years ago). The two handicapped girls, Maria and Celena , are improving little by little. Please be praying for the gasoline to be provided so that these children can continue attending this school!

Opening doors

2011-05-13T12:12:00.001-07:00

Sorry it has been so long since I have posted! To bring you all up to date on what is going on in my life I will be posting a few separate blogs straight out of my journal from the past several months. Starting with November..

I saw Arnufo (plays guitar at 7^th day Adventist Church) in the park and he stopped to chat with me. He wanted to thank me for all my help, through the various projects that have been done over the years! He mentioned how useful the work boots & shoes have been. He also said that the hammock sales have helped the families a lot. Then he told me that about 50% of the men have a drinking vice. Celebrate Recovery (AA) would be a great asset to EB.! Pray that there is an opportunity to bring this ministry to EB!

Meaningful visits

2010-08-27T13:38:00.000-07:00

We stopped by Liboria’s casa to agree on the time to head back to Playa. Alfredo has appointments at C.R.I.T. Hospital in Cancun twice a month now. Her husband, Paulino, will stay home to work in the farm. It’s the season for planting seeds. He mentioned that there are some vegetables that they can’t grow, such as tomatoes and habaneras, because they require more water. Good news… now that the political office is changing, there is a chance that the government will assist in getting the community farm up and running again. The new mayor, Gregorio, put the watering system on his top ten list. Let it be so, Lord!

Paulino invited us for lunch the next day and we accepted the offer. Their custom is to serve the guests first, so Lalo and I sat at the little wooden table and enjoyed the coleslaw and beef with handmade tortillas. Paulino said that he hadn’t been reading his bible, as he was before. I asked him if he’d listen to an audio bible if he had one, and he said that he would. (He now has one.) The following day, we picked up Liboria and Alfredo on our way out of the village.

Building reltionships & building the business

2010-08-25T13:37:00.000-07:00

Lalo’s new inventory and accounting forms are helping to make the bookkeeping easier. We keep finding ways to do things more efficiently. Having the computer really is a Godsend (thanks to Holly, Steve and Hindrik). Rosa and I are learning together. I have had the opportunity to express my mistakes to her, which opened the door to talk about how the enemy comes to kill, steal, and destroy. I explained that, we have to choose who we will listen to and what we will act on. She understands how the enemy tempts and tricks us.

Prayer request

2010-08-23T13:36:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately, the van, that had been donated by a church in Oregon and transformed into a school bus by Don Carlos, is still illegal. Lalo called several customs offices in Cancun, only to find out that at this point there is nothing we can do to legalize the vehicle. Apparently, it’s not legal to donate a vehicle that entered the country with temporary permission. The only hope that we have is that once in a while, the government offers an opportunity to legalize illegal vehicles.

Let’s pray that that door opens soon! Don Carlos, the other teachers, and the entire village were so excited to have their 1st school bus. Father God, we know that You have a solution to everything and we will wait on You.

Seeds that produce fruit

2010-08-21T13:32:00.000-07:00

Eduardo, the dentist, donated another dental chair for the clinic. Lalo hauled it out to the village for us. Out of the 3, it’s the best quality. We have lots of equipment; now we just need to get him and his wife, Hades, to come back to provide service. They have had a busy year. About 9 months ago, Eduardo and I got together to chat. He told me that he was thinking about moving from Cozumel to Playa, so that it would be easier for them to travel to E.B. on a regular basis. He said the dental missions are what fulfills him; unlike any other activity that he does. I agreed, ”yup, that’s what following God’s plan for your life feels like. It’s a wonderful thing”. That day, Eduardo received the confirmation he needed, and went back to the island to begin planning this transition. I’m very proud of him for taking this big step of surrendering his plans, in order to seek God’s plans for his life.

Actually, Eduardo is the first person I led to the Lord about 3 and a half years ago. I remember that day he told me that he had done a dental mission once, and really enjoyed it. At that time, my E.B. mission was still in the beginning stages, but I told him that he may end up doing it again! It’s amazing how God orchestrates things.

All in His time

2010-08-19T13:29:00.000-07:00

One of the highlights of the trip was being reminded that His timing is impeccable! On Sunday, we stopped at Armando’s casa to deliver 500 pesos ($50) from their hammock that was sold last week in Playa (thanks to Melanie from Germany). His wife’s countenance changed in an instant. She had been trying to sell nuts and candies to help with the kid’s expenses, since her husband had the motorcycle accident 6 months ago. (Since then, he has been free from alcohol, praise God!) He has not been able to work; therefore, saving money for the hospital visits has been impossible. He now has the money to be able to travel to Merida City for several screws to be removed from his ankle, on Wednesday (3 days later). It costs 250 pesos round trip, so he even has enough for the next appointment. After all of the screws are removed, he will be able to bend his ankle and walk much better. God is so, so good!

Armando’s brother, Willy, has been going to AA for 9 months, and is set free from alcohol, also. He has kept himself busy with reading the Bible, exercising and taking English classes. I gave him an art frame, to remind him that Dani has promised to come from Playa to give him free art classes as a reward. Willy is looking forward to this 1 year celebration, in August.

A big thanks!

2010-08-17T13:27:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Eva and Tini from Belgium, for donating a brand new wheel chair to the village. We went to visit Feliciana, an elder of the village who has been ill for some time now (her eyesight is her main concern). She already has a wheel chair, so we decided to store it at the clinic until someone else is in need. Her daughter said that she is still using the solar bible. She was happy to have visitors and wanted to know when we’d be back to pray with her again. Feliciana has such a sweet spirit. Many of the mission team members have prayed for her over the last few years, and she has not forgotten that!!

Walking by the Spirit

2010-08-15T13:00:00.000-07:00

We were invited to Maximiliano’s birthday party. He brought his solar bible to me to show me that it’s still working, and to tell me how much he uses it and enjoys it! His expression of gratitude really touched me. I believe he actually went home to get it and show it to me! Thanks to Jay Smith for donating those from West Side Church, Oregon! So, I went for lunch and left with something much more satisfying.

During the party, Gregorio asked Lalo and I for a few minutes of our time. He informed us that he is running for Mayor in July. He asked for our opinion in regards to his top ten goals for reform. He wants to create a better ambiance at the entrance of the town and the park area. His plans include re-building the government building, which the pre-schoolers are currently meeting in. He didn’t seem to have a plan for a new location for them. After expressing concern for this, he said that there was a piece of land in another location, where they could consider building a small school. I told him that along with medical services, this would be a priority on my list and that I would pray about encouraging a mission team to come and build a school. (Anyone interested in this project? The last classroom that a mission team built with the villagers cost about $4000 USD.) Gregorio will be submitting his plans in a couple of weeks.

Healings!

2010-08-13T13:13:00.000-07:00

The Lord sent Augustina to Lupe’s casa, so He could begin the healing in her wrist. She had fallen and broke it a month and a half ago. About an hour after praying, the swelling went down and she said the pain lessened as well. She had come to find out if I had brought any men’s shirts this time, and left with a touch from God!

Update on Rosa

2010-08-12T15:08:00.000-07:00

On a recent trip to Ek, Lalo filled his truck with several bags of clothes, and other items that were donated to the village. I had already notified Rosa by text (yes, she has a cell phone!), so she was eager to see the “goods”. Thanks to Jose, Andrea, Karine, Tere and Carmen for a total of 211 new items for the tienda (store). Rosa is getting used to pricing the clothes on her own now!

Lalo made a new excel sheet which made recording inventory much easier and faster! Rosa is involved with every decision, and she was definitely in favor of this idea! I admire the simplicity of the village myself! He also created the accounting and layaway forms. This was very helpful, since computers are not Rosa’s; nor my strong point. The three of us brainstormed about possibly making a sign for her store front. She requested it to be blue.

The Lord had me give her a new bible and I read 2 Corinth 9.6-14 & Mark 12.41-44. After reading about tithing, Rosa decided to give 10% to both of the churches in the village (5% will go to the Catholic Church and 5% to the 7th Day Adventist Church). She doesn’t attend either one; but felt that it would be fair this way. This was when she shared with me that her husband has been attending a Jehova witness bible study on Fridays. I explained to her that they have changed the context of the Holy Bible & that they don’t believe that Jesus is God. She was surprised to hear this. I read a couple scriptures to her like, John 3.16. I told her I’d be praying with her that the truth will be revealed to Alonzo, and we closed in prayer.

More business ventures in Ek Balam

2010-06-25T13:10:00.000-07:00

During this same visit, Holly’s assignment was with “Estetica Gabi” (hairstylist). This was the second trip that Holly & I took to the village to train Gabi. This time, they met several times over the 4 days that we were there and Gabi got to experience 3 more haircuts. Holly suggested to Gabi to look into the cost of the hair styling school in Valladolid. She continued to train her on how to run a hair salon, along with several techniques including combing, parting, trimming with tension, and angling the comb. I was the fortunate one that Gabi got to practice on!! Three hours of having my hair combed, was like heaven on earth! She needed to get comfortable with holding scissors and a comb at the same time, along with using the right pressure. Then, she even cut my hair! (She can practice on me anytime!)

It was a double blessing for me because I got to see another young woman learn how to “fish”, while being able to be the connecter of a foreign woman sharing her passion in Ek Balam! I love to see the interactions and lessons that both woman are teaching each other. While Gabi was learning about her new business, she was seeing how God is in the center of all things! At the same time, Holly was learning how to be resourceful in a simple lifestyle, along with a new level of patience. That’s the first sign of a good teacher, of which she truly is! I’m fortunate to be a part of many first experiences and to observe growth amongst foreigners and villagers. Thanks Holly, for offering your time, resources, and talents; for showing God’s love; and for giving Gabi an opportunity that will make a difference in who she becomes!

Actually, now there is a difference in her eternal life too.. Yes, she and her mom both now have Jesus in their hearts and lives! On my following trip out to the village, I was drawn to her casa by the Holy Spirit; or talvez (maybe) it was my own desire to give Gabi some practice with combing hair (Or talvez a little of both. Ha-ha!)!! I was too late! She was “practiced out” because she had just finished with her third brothers’ haircut when I arrived. She, her mom and I began talking about the young man who is visiting her from another small town, once a week. He is courting her in the proper way. Her mom informed me that either she, or one of Gabi’s siblings is always around when he is there. They would not be allowed to go out for a walk after dusk, just the two of them, for example. There are very specific regulations for courting and dating within the Mayan culture (including marriage proposals). Gabi did say that they would be allowed to be at the same function at night, however. I find their traditions to be very respectful and interesting! This led right into my personal advise for finding out if he is the ultimo costilla (“last rib“.. A common saying that they use, which goes back to the beginning when Adam’s rib went to Eve)! Prayer, seeking wisdom and confirmations from God are first and foremost, being that He is the One who creates & molds every match made in heaven (like: Holly & Steve)! We talked about many other things like a person’s character & interests; but most important is his relationship with the Lord. I reminded her of the Pastor’s message at Leity’s wedding (you know.. The 3 strand rope story). When I glanced over at Paulina, Gabi’s mom, I asked her what she thought. She said, that I would know more about these things because I read the bible & understand more than she does. That’s what opened the door to them receiving the free gift of salvation. They were interested in having the Holy Spirit enter their bodies so that they could have that Spirit to spirit communication, which will help them to understand more of the bible too. God’s timing is perfect!

Rosa's Ropas

2010-06-07T15:50:00.000-07:00

I know it has been a while since I have blogged, to bring everyone up to speed let me go back to April 9th and share this story about Rosa's Ropas.

Holly & Steve Taft (friends from Oregon) and I arrived with a car full of ropas (clothes). The Lord had given each of us an assignment for our stay. Mine was with Rosa’s Ropas. She was surprised to see several bags of new inventory being unloaded (thanks to Claudia, Grisela, Krystal and others who donated). It had been 5 months since we got clothes donated and she was excited to see that the merchandise was in great condition.

After one year of being open for business, I sat down to share with her, that I believe God has a new plan for her tienda (store). (Thanks Elena for the confirming word you gave me!) He told me that she has learned a lot about running a business and that it was time for me to step back and give her more responsibilities. He trusts her to be in charge of doing all of the pricing on her own. She broke a smile at that!! I told her I’d be giving her the pricing markers for her to be able to start with the 300 pieces that we dropped off. She was excited and nervous at the same time (a common reaction to change, for all of us!). She said she didn’t know if she could do it; but I told her that I, along with God, have confidence that she is ready for this! That little smile squeaked out again! I explained that instead of me doing the monthly accounting and showing her the checks and balances, that she would be showing me now. She seemed to be comfortable with this, however, she wasn’t so sure about learning how to use the computer and excel spreadsheet. I told her, “si, se puede. (yes, you can)! Gabi will also be learning at the same time to be able to do her hair salon accounting, so you can help each other.”

The next day, I handed her the markers and told her to pray that the Lord would help her to price each item. She wanted me to help, but I just encouraged her because I knew it was time to let go (it can be hard for a teacher to let go of markers!! Hee-hee!). Later that afternoon, she was proud of herself for completing the task. As always, a few interesting conversations were opened up in-between all of this training. Rosa needed to come clean about a layaway situation. We had previously decided that no merchandise would leave the store unless it was paid in full. However, one woman somehow got out the door with several items without paying, a few months ago. She promised to pay Rosa a month later, as she was escaping. It caught Rosa by surprise and she didn’t know what to do. Over the next few months, she paid several visits to “the escaper” to ask for the money. One excuse after another was followed by promises and more promises. The good thing is that I was able to see Rosa’s honesty through this situation. She could have easily covered it up and I would have never known. She chose to do the right thing instead.

At one point, Rosa was comfortable enough to ask me some questions about American values. She had met a European girl who had told Rosa that in her country, there’s a lot of sexual promiscuity (pre-marital sex etc.). She went on to say that if a married person gets bored with his/her partner, it’s common for them to go find someone else to fulfill their needs. Rosa told me that in E.B., this is not acceptable and that if it happened, that person would be insulted by the entire village (to the point that he/she would practically be ex-communicated). “In this small town, everybody knows everything”, she said. She added that divorce is extremely rare. Rosa was very curious to know what it‘s like in the States. I told her that in all parts of the world, there are sects of people that think and behave like her European informant. However, Christian values differ. Ephesians 5.3: But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. I am so glad that Rosa has opened up more and more over time, allowing me to speak truth into her life.

At the end of the visit, I shared with her that the Lord wants them (the villagers) to fulfill their own purposes and feel a sense of esteem for learning something new that they can do on their own. It’s one thing to bring free clothes to the park and its another thing to brings funds to a village and for a family to have a source of income (a percentage goes to Rosa, while a percentage goes towards the village goals, that the women will vote on). So, one woman has now learned how to “fish” and she loves it! I expressed to her how proud I am of her and I believe she is pleased with herself, too! She was happy about the increase in the percentage that she will now be receiving as well!! Thank You Father, for all that You are doing in, through and with Rosa!

La Harranah

2010-02-03T12:13:00.000-08:00

In between all of these interesting conversations, “La Harranah” was taking place! It all started at 4 o’clock in the morning with the squeal of two pigs. This is a traditional celebration in the state of Yucatan. A 6 piece band marched down the street & hand-made fireworks were set off to announce the fiesta. They ended up at casa #7, where they set 4 pots of “relleno negro” (a black sauce made of spices & chilies served with chicken and pork) into the underground pit. Men were stirring away, while the women added salt, and all the while, the band entertained us all. I enjoyed sitting back & observing the excitement on their faces, in their voices & laughter! The meal of the day was “chicharron” (deep fried pig fat) with refried beans. (Pass.) It was a cold rainy day; but that didn’t stop them from hanging a tarp across the street to dance under! Women wore their “huipeles” (embroidered dresses) and men wore their traditional white clothing & cowboy style sombreros. Lalo and I got up and snapped our fingers and kicked our feet like 2 outsiders trying to fit in on the dance floor! I’m not sure if those standing by were laughing at or with us! At about 10 a.m. the next morning, the band resumed their position at the pit, while they removed the pots from the “oven”! It was a bit spicy, and quite flavorful. Lalo wasn’t as brave as me.. (sorry Lalo ☺)! We escaped before the pig head was paraded through the center of the pueblo, marking the end of “La Harranah” until next December.

On our way out of town, I was asked to pray for Florencio. His family members said that, “he just isn’t right, although the doctors can’t explain why at any given moment he acts as if he is drunk”. They admitted going to brujas (witches) for “help”. He repented, asked Jesus to enter his heart, and broke all curses in His name! Please keep Florencio in your prayers.

Coming together

2010-01-29T12:36:00.000-08:00

We had a conversation with Mario, a local, who is organizing the first dental mission from a University in Mexico City. Acting as the coordinator of these volunteers, Mario is arranging for their transportation, home-made meals, and overnight stay at “The Cabanas” (a rustic hotel in E.B., which is run by 12 local families). Next weekend, they will be using the 2 dental chairs that were donated by Eduardo & Alma, and compressor that was donated by a church in Oregon! It warms my heart to see people from E.B. doing their part to unite with outsiders & make it easier for them to donate their time and services. At the same time, it amazes me to see how God orchestrated so many people from so many different areas to make it all happen! I believe that new doors are opening.

That evening, we were blessed with home-made tortillas and garlic shrimp, by Luther & Mariam. Luther is from Mexico City while Miriam, his wife, is from Switzerland. About four years ago, they decided to build a palapa adorned with bamboo. They gave several villagers jobs in their bamboo factory. Not only did it help these families financially, but they discovered that they were created with artistic abilities! Over “hot cocoa de olla”, I found out that Luther would like to help other people in the village to discover their hidden talents! His vision is to see the primitive lifestyle of E.B. preserved, while helping to create an opportunity for families to offer their own handicraft or food products out of their palapas. This way, tourists will get a taste of living the simple life as they walk through the entire town, visiting & shopping! What a great way to help the people increase their economy while building them up on a personal level. I would like to encourage anyone who has a creative bone in their body to come and share your skills with the village.

In need of a doctor

2010-01-22T14:58:00.001-08:00

I met Lalo on Thanksgiving Day at the Griggs’ casa. I had asked him to make “café de olla” (coffee prepared in a clay pot with cinnamon sticks and molasses - MMM!). Little did he know, he’d be asked to haul a dental chair to the village 5 weeks later. Lalo has a heart to lend a helping hand. He is the Coordinator of Volunteers at Angel Notion (A medical clinic, which is a non- profit organization in PDC).

Our first stop was to visit Alfredo, a 3 year old boy who is in need of medical attention. I wanted Lalo to meet the family to find out if a doctor at Angel Notion can help him. Lalo’s suggestion is for a General Doctor to come out to E.B. to see Alfredo, as well as others who are in need of a Doctor.

We arrived at casa #7 at dusk. Is there a doctor in the house?? I managed to walk into a clothesline, which happened to be a barbwire…OUCH! Actually, I didn’t feel much; but the blood dripping down my face called for some gauze and hydrogen peroxide. Thank God, I had recently brought some to casa #7! While Lalo gently cleaned the wound, I prayed for His peace. Everything that I experience in E.B. gives me a deeper understanding of the intensity of their needs. The closest doctor is 20 minutes away and costs $45 just for a consultation. If I had needed stitches, this would be do-able for me; but not as much for my Mayan friends. Although I already knew this, now I know how it feels to be in the situation. It’s a bit scary. Yes, perfect love casts out all fear… and, also, I was fortunate to be surrounded by 3 caring & comforting friends (Lalo, Lupe & Angel).

Let’s pray for a doctor to be willing to move out to E.B. or at least to make a monthly medical visit!

Rosa's Ropas

2009-12-21T14:42:00.000-08:00

“Rosa’s Ropas”,the thrift store, is in business!! Rosa is becoming a real business woman with her enthusiasm, desire to learn, and level of responsibility. She decided to start a short term hold and lay-away option for the clients. All items are priced, inventory is in order, and accounts receivable are accurate. We now have an excel program backing up the books. I’m so proud of her! We have a lot of fun together and great conversations.

One day, the door opened for me to share my testimony. They asked me why I was so lost and empty and I told them it was because I didn’t have Jesus in my heart! Rosa’s husband was listening to all the details of my story very closely. Seeds were planted in fertile ground! Rosa showed me a new level of acts of service! At 6 months pregnant, she spent 6 hours preparing lunch for her husband one day! It started at 6 a.m. with searching for a pollo (chicken) to purchase for 15 pesos ($1.50). Of course, it was alive, so she had to kill it, remove the feathers, and de-gut it before boiling him up!! All that work for 1 meal!! That’s amor (love)!

Spirtual Growth

2009-12-08T11:07:00.000-08:00

I was led back to live in casa # 7 with Gaudalupe (Lupe) and family (some of you may remember the story of how I was led there in the fall of 2008)! I believe that she and her husband, Andres, will become spiritual leaders in the village some day. They have commented that they like the perspectives and teachings that I share with them. It touches their spirits as truth! They pray with me before meals and bedtime. They do devotional reading and meditations with me. Their ears and eyes are wide open, as well as their hearts. They ask for prayer when in need. For example, Andres’ sister, who is 40 years old, had to spend the night in the hospital at 6 months pregnant with twins. After putting it in the Lord’s hands, they felt peace. They are hungry and thirsty to go deeper with their Heavenly Father.

During the Friday night bible study, Lupe said that they are like babies, learning and growing. We were discussing the power of the Holy Spirit in Acts 1. I shared a personal experience that night: A few nights ago, I was walking home to my palapa, crying over the fact that my IPOD was being charged and I’d not be able to sleep without my Christian music. I thought about finding comfort in food instead; until the Holy Spirit asked me what the TRUE source of comfort is! The tears stopped! I went to my bed (hammock) and felt His peace come over me, and fell into a deep sleep!! Lupe and Claudia said, “Wow, you can talk to God. You are much closer to Him than us!” I explained that they too can have this intimacy and conversations with the Living God! Some day Lupe will be leading this bible study!

The hammock/solar oven exchange got me into Almi’s casa, which led to her prayer request for a healthy pregnancy. She too is expecting and in her late 30’s. (Due in October!) She opened up to ask me about church and baptism. I shared my beliefs on water and Holy Spirit baptisms. We agreed that the church is the people versus a building! Later in the week, she hosted the solar cooking workshop. We cooked refried beans in about 5 hours… LISTO (ready)!!

Again, the relationships that God is building are so vital to the plan God has for Ek Balam.

Rosa's Ropas

2009-12-01T16:47:00.000-08:00

A few months ago, Elaine had the brainstorm to start a thrift store with all the clothes that have been donated. One day, we set up a table under the gazebo in the town square park. Word spread like wild, holy fire and women were swarming in from all directions! In just 2 hours, we made enough money to pay for the dentists to fill up their gas tank to get back home after a day of pulling and cleaning lots of teeth!

The women knew that their purchases helped to make this dental mission possible. I believe that being part of a team gave them a sense of significance, and once again brought value to the services provided. Rosa turned into a shopping guide to all the women that day. Due to her passion shining through, we agreed to open the thrift store in her casa...And so began Rosa's Ropas!

We have had quite a few giggles while pricing the merchandise. It’s interesting to see her preference in styles. Only a few women will where shorts or pants due to their culture. Men rarely wear pants without pockets. “Hotch oots” (its good in Maya), she says as she tugs and pulls on some items. She pointed out the fact that the way they scrub clothes by hand, determines the quality of material. She has been selling quite well out of boxes and piles of clothes on garbage bags. I love to see the people lined up, waiting for us to finish the next batch of inventory so they can shop ‘til they drop just like women know how!! “Compralo” (buy it), Rosa says when she knows they really want it! She has started a lay-away plan for higher priced items. I am pleased with her accounting skills.

One of the highlights of this visit was painting the huacales (vegetable crates in Maya) to provide a way to organize the items. It turned into a family project. Alonzo, her husband; Modesto, her nephew; Pedro, her brother; all came with paintbrushes in hand. Doors opened, and they came out with some interesting questions for me about moral issues. I was surprised at how comfortable they felt to bring up these topics. It turned out to be a great opportunity to share!

Rosa's Ropas has been another confirmation of how well it works to build relationship and watch God move!

Please pray! Elaine will be bringing a group of ladies down next week! Pray for safe travels and lots of open doors!

Cooking Classes

2009-11-23T10:33:00.000-08:00

Elaine Smith (my partner in this co-mission:) brought along 4 solar stoves with the last team from Oregon. The women exchanged a hammock for a stove. The good old fashioned way of “purchasing” an item adds value it. Introducing something new can be a bit challenging. There was quite a bit of doubt as to how the sun could cook up a meal in this crazy contraption! We remembered that a couple of years ago, several women said they would like to attend cooking classes. Perfect timing to convince them that this solar thing really works!

Dorotea, was thrilled to be the hostess of our first cooking class! A spanish women (who was working & visiting Ek Balam for a couple months) volunteered to team up with me on this project. Together, we women gathered up the chaya leaves (similar to spinach) in Dorotea’s backyard. A little bit of water, one bullion cube, a bag of arroz (rice) and a handful of leaves turned into quite the dish 4 hours later! Well, it was finished off on the open fire during the fifth hour due to an afternoon rain shower! Hey, it worked!!

These solar stoves will especially come in handy after a hurricane. It takes 3 days of sunshine for the leñas (logs) to dry out in order to cook on that fogata (campfire)! In the meantime, four families will be enjoying gourmet dishes while the rest of the village will be eating bread and cookies (which is what they ate after the last hurricane hit)!

For the second class, my Spanish friend taught a group of ten, how to preserve mango marmalade in a jar! If we can get them canning, that would make a difference and add variety to their usual meals of rice, beans and tortillas!

I plan to continue these classes because it provides an opportunity to teach about nutritional diets; as well as a social time for women to connect. Dorotea had once mentioned that she is home alone with 6 kids because her husband is a construction assistant in Playa Del Carmen. Since he only visits 2-4 nights a month, she gets pretty lonely out in the far corner of the village day after day! These classes provide the perfect environment her to connect with other during those lonely times.

Elaine is coming with a team to Ek Balam in the beginning of December and they will be bringing more solar stoves. If you would like to help this mission by purchasing a stove for the women of Ek Balam please contact elisa@thecause.org

Insurance Program

2009-11-19T15:02:00.000-08:00

The meeting with Governor Don Carlos concerning setting up the insurance program finally took place on the last possible day! The Director of the Elementary School (also named Don Carlos) shared our future goals to build a kitchen and lunch room. With this seed planted, getting official permission and legal documentation will be much smoother, when the time comes.

I thanked the Governor for his help in building the classroom (he installed windows, doors and electricity) and commented that, “we make a good team”! He then responded positively to my request to proceed with the health insurance plan for the village.

I have my work cut out for me now! There is a list of documents that I will need from each person, including a birth certificate. Due to the fact that many people were born at home in a hammock, while the neighbor cut the cord; many do not have this document. When there is a will, there is a way. It will happen in time and with patience! I’m excited!!

Hammocks of Hope

2009-11-17T11:29:00.000-08:00

When I picked up a hammock from Marie, she told me that it had been 7 months since her husband passed away. She shared with me that it hasn’t been easy and that she needed strength. Marie is a single mom of 2 small children and has become a maid at one of the hotels in town to be able to provide for them. We asked the Holy Spirit to come to her in strength and power that afternoon, and of course, He did! She knows that now she can draw on that Power each and every day! Did I say that, God is good?!

It’s amazing how the hammocks, the cooking, and the store, provide the reasons to visit certain people; at the same time, the doors opened for deeper purposes of our time together (time and time again)! And not just for them; for me to learn and receive too! While retrieving a hammock at Sabina’s casa (house), she really touched my heart! She came to me with a huipil (typical Mayan dress) in her hands. Making an assumption, I asked, “cuanto es” (how much)? “800 pesos” (about $75 USD) she said. “But, it’s a gift from me to you”, she continued. “BASH” (what – in Maya), I exclaimed! Her daughter then interpreted from Maya to Spanish, explaining that Sabina hand stitched the flowers on it herself and with all her heart she wanted me to have it. “PERO… pero” (but… but), I said with my hand over my heart as I looked back up at Sabina. Celestina continued to interpret that Sabina will never forget the time that I had prayed for the burn on her arm to be healed. She said that it hurt so much and then the next day it had new skin and was healed, thanks to Jesus and my prayer!! WOW… I’ve run out of words! I have a new Sunday dress to wear now ;)!!

Augustina was sitting by the door in the sunlight, reading her bible (the one that was given to her during one of our outreaches), when I arrived asking for her hammock. She showed me the bag of medicines that she’s been purchasing for some time now. The doctors obviously haven’t figured out what is really wrong. We prayed once again for healing, for doctors to come to the village on a regular basis, and for the Lord’s favor with the insurance program.

A restaurant in Playa Del Carmen will be displaying these hammocks under little palapas (thatch huts) that are surrounding a cenote (natural swimming pool in the jungle). Each hammock will come with a 5X7 photograph of the woman holding that very hammock that she made by hand. Taking these photos was half the fun for me! We have some natural models in the village!! Strike a pose ladies!! We hope and pray that when people find out that the purchase is to help these women to pay for medicine and their children’s school uniforms, that they will sell like hotcakes (or tortillas ☺)! We also hope that the hammocks can be sold at other locations in PDC.

Thanks for your prayers!

PS If you are interested in purchasing one of these beautiful hammocks contact elisa@thecause.org

Stepping Out

2009-11-04T12:14:00.000-08:00

Hola! Well, this is a miracle! Debi Morris is writing a blog! What will she do next!?

I took the first step into the Jordan River (a step of faith, so to speak)! On July 5th, I hopped a bus to Ek Balam on my first FULL TIME missionary trip! Exciting and adventurous! After waking up to the roosters, the Lord gave me a download of His plan of action (P.O.A.) for the 2 weeks. He prioritized my agenda:

1. To be Spirit led as I encourage my Mayan friends spiritually, while pouring out God’s love!
2. Meet with the Presidente del Municipal (governor) to ask for his support with near future projects: building a “nutrition center” (kitchen and lunch room) at the Elementary School & secure free medical insurance via a governmental program called, “Seguro Popular”.
3. Prepare for “Grand Opening” of the first thrift store in the village.
4. Organize cooking classes using our new solar stoves.
5. Purchase hammocks for a restaurant in Playa del Carmen.

With His faithful guidance, I set out to follow the POA each day! Loving and encouraging people, comes naturally for me, so that part bubbled and overflowed everywhere I went ;)! I was invited to a first communion. After the misa (church service), we prayed together and she thanked Jesus for entering her heart and becoming an intimate part of her life! God is good!

Keep checking back for updates from Ek Balam.