Guatemala, January 26, 2011

The sky was gloomy and overcast and matched our moods as today was full of transitions at the Malnutrition Center. Problems with drainage and plumbing will require a trench to be dug in the floor of the Canary Room (Bed Babies). While we Americans helped to move cribs, supplies, clothes and babies, we wanted to question why things couldn’t be done differently. Why do they have to dig up the floor? Why can’t they go a different direction or drill the trench under the floor? But, we tried to keep silent and not rock the boat anymore than it was already rocking. The cribs and babies were all moved to the room where the older children ate their lunch and where the television is located. Because that room is smaller, some of the babies who were ready to promote to the next level were also moved and that had a domino effect pushing other children up to the next level as well. Some of the ones who moved were William, both Santos, Marta, Brisilla, Marilee, Wendy, Vilma and Edmundo. As a result of the transition, naptime was almost nonexistent as the children who missed their caregivers and rooms cried and kept the rest of the children awake. Several lay down on the floor and kicked their heels and beat their heads in frustration. It was hard to see them suffer so, but impossible to make them understand everything would be okay. A new child arrived today, another Santos. He was accompanied by his mother, grandmother and aunt who left weeping with sorrow. There are some times in life and particularly on the mission field, when the sorrow just overtakes you and like the toddlers, you want to lie down on the floor and kick and scream Why do things have to be this way? Why do things have to be so hard? Why do children have to suffer? Thankfully, we serve a God who can take all those hard questions. Sometimes, He doesn’t give us the answers we want, but always, He holds us while we cry. We can depend on the fact that He loves us and does what is best for us, even when it is hard. We just have to trust and hold on to His promises. An incident with Christian today illustrated that fact. Because so many children had been moved around, there were not enough cups of milk at morning snack time. We did not realize that Christian was overlooked until he started to cry. He was surrounded by other children drinking their milk, but he had none. The worker for his room, Dora, said to him in Spanish, “It is okay, I will be right back with your milk.” Immediately, he stopped crying and patiently waited until she returned. He trusted her to do what she said she would do. And we can trust God to do the same. In spite of all the chaos and upheaval, we still had many sweet moments with the children. Billy who has been isolated because of a rash enjoyed a few moments of being held and looking out the window. He is always smiling despite many physical difficulties. Wendy is happy in enjoying her new surroundings with more children and room to roam. The babies continue to grow and thrive. Daniel and his mother are adjusting to the new surroundings and she is very helpful in the baby nursery. The teacher in the little school is making a big difference in the older children. Today, they learned about Queen Esther and how each one of them is a child of the King. They wore the crowns they made in craft class proudly. This evening, our group went out for supper and enjoyed a time of celebration. We can have joy in the midst of our sorrow because our Father, the King, is still in control and will take care of our troubles in His timing.
The men continued their work on the construction sites, installing a new stove in the remodeled house, finishing a new house and pouring a slab for another one. The dedication for the new house was very special. It is hard to think of how much we have and how little the families have. As one of the dads in the group told his eight year old daughter, the house is smaller than her bedroom. Yet, the families are so grateful for the work that the men are doing and the impact it will have on their lives. The men are also building relationships in the community especially among the children who love to play soccer. The men have delayed their return to the hotel in the afternoons for a time of play with the children. The pranks continue, but so does the work. The labor is much sweeter when it is intermingled with laughter.