Just this week in Barrio la Cruz Enrique was able to plant all the coffee plants that were purchased for his farm. There will be pictures and a post to follow. Another great reason  for the rain!

There has been a lot going on in Pastores. The children have now finished their first trimester of school and there was a group of children who did extremely well, in the top 10%  of their class. Of course there were a decent amount of children who still need to improve. It has become a struggle to tell the child that they need to try harder when the parent can not be of much direct assistance. We hear constantly ‘how can I help my child in school when I never went, or I don’t know anything?’ But we are at least telling the parents to encourage their children, to follow up with the schools to see how they are doing, find someone else who can help them and of course to let us know to see how we can help. We hope that has time goes on, the children will improve more, the parents will take an interest and we will have people to assist in the community.

 The first Saturday in June we will have a meeting with all the people in the program. For the families who children excelled they will receive a supplement bag of food and supplies and the children will also receive a supplement bag of school supplies. We hope that this will be an incentive for all to do their best.

 We continue to follow up with families and see the overall well-being of the family, there is much to be done. Also, we have met with more families about stoves and filters and hope to have more training underway soon. We have two men coming to spend some time in the community the first week of June. We will visit families, talk with others about filters and fire safety and meet with all the children and also will be doing a distribution of toothbrushes to everyone in the community.

Please continue to support Paso a Paso as our needs are great, and if you would like to be a new supporter please email us and let us know in what way you would like to help.

He shared that he had never requested a Braille typewritter. He knew that he was still waiting on the Braille Bible as well. He realized that the day he received the typewriter and that God would provide the Bible that he became at peace with being blind. He had thought prior, that maybe he hadn’t received them because God would restore his vision.

After several, several years of asking, writing calling and much prayer Rolando received the 20 some books he was missing to complete his Braille Bible! He had aquired several books, mostly the new testament over the years but was never able to get the other books. We had tried very hard to get them to him and even had groups that were responding saying “they are on the way” but for Guatemala we know that can be years! But just last week a fellow missionary who had also spoken of Rolando had received the books in Braille that he was missing!  Rolando now says, it is easy and peaceful to accept his blindness, God has now provided everything he needs.

Praise God for his faithfulness and for meeting his needs!

This past January marked my first visit to Guatemala in support of the Missionary organization, Paso a Paso. The home base for the missionary work that is conducted in Barrio La Cruz is Antigua Guatemala (commonly referred to as just Antigua or La Antigua). This beautiful city in the central mountains of Guatemala is famous for its well-preserved Spanish New World Baroque architecture as well as a number of spectacular ruined churches. It has also been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

I found that Antigua and the surrounding communities retain a flare for the historic. At times it seemed as if I had stepped back into history. However, this sleepy colonial town of some 45,000 current inhabitants offers many modern amenities that suited my many tastes.

Speaking of tastes, those who find their way to Antigua (I hope you will do so in support of Paso a Paso), will notice a nice variety of restaurants serving tasty and traditional Guatemalan food as well as international flavors. There was even a day where I found myself shifting my glances between the steam from my rich Guatemalan coffee to the ever present steam rising from nearbyvolcanoes; making my first experience in a Guatemalan coffee shop a very memorable one.

Walking along the city’s cobblestone streets I found enjoyment among the locals and tourists who were looking for unique gifts and keepsakes as well as the essentials of daily life. On most days we visited the Antigua Market, primarily because it is the location for the main bus station to catch the bus to Barrio La Cruz, but to also check out the hundreds of stalls selling everything imaginable. This market is a colorful, if not chaotic, gathering place, where especially on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays, a wonderful array of goods can be bought and sold, including the unique crafts of the local Mayan men and women.

I have never seen a more vibrant and colorful place than Antigua and Barrio La Cruz. Everything from what the people wore, sold, ate, lived and worked in, consisted of every bright color you could imagine. I would say that my trip was most stimulating to my sense of sight above all the others.

I previously mentioned the bus station and its location next to the Market. It is really not a station in the sense that it has a building or terminal but rather it is a large dirt parking lot or field that is constantly in motion with arriving and departing buses. These buses which are retired USA school buses, have been converted, painted and adorned with every conceivable color pattern and then loaded with an array of products from lumber and food stuffs to animals and luggage and of course passengers. The buses have picked up the unofficial moniker, “Chicken Bus” (yes, one day, I even rode with the chickens). The transportation network is very efficient and it is not uncommon to see a bus every 4-5 min passing the same corner. Upon boarding, do not expect the bus driver to stop and wait for you to find a seat or even come to a complete stop for you to exit, before they speed off to the next stop.

In addition to the “Chicken Buses, there is a truly unique mode of public transportation called a Tuk-Tuk. These are really a motorized rickshaw and are useful for longer distances, rainstorms, and nighttime travel. While these are a form of a taxi (you hail one like you would for a real taxi) please note, they are not really very comfortable nor are they roomy. Tuk-Tuks are designed for taking you to destinations within the city. Make sure to have the driver quote a price before departure.

Guatemala is one of the most beautiful countries I have ever visited; filled with amazing people who were extremely kind and very compassionate. While I tended to be in tourist mode, the people were the real reason I was there. My daily visits to Barrio La Cruz enabled me to see God at work and I found myself being used in meaningful ways.

January, in Barrio La Cruz, is the month that Paso a Paso works hard to manage all of the needs for the 120 plus children who are dependant on your support for school supplies and tuition fees. Unknown to me at first; school is in session from late January through September, with October through January off for harvesting crops and performing other income producing tasks for the family. There are no child labor laws in Guatemala and no compulsory education past the 3^rd grade.

Obtaining an education in Barrio La Cruz is a luxury for the children and their families. None of them can afford to pay for the school supplies they need or for the fees to attend. It is a huge undertaking to acquire all the supplies and ensure that each child supported has the right amount of paper, number of pencils, rulers, etc.

There are several hundred children in Barrio La Cruz. Not all of them can be supported because there just is not enough money to do so. As such, Paso a Paso relies on a form of needs determination that I call, “Support for Performance.” Essentially this boils down to a case by case assessment of a child’s expected and realized school performance coupled with attendance requirements. Presiding over this effort is, Rolondo, a popular and influential Christian Pastor, who with the assistance of a volunteer (a former recipient of school support from Paso a Paso), ensures that each student and family adheres to the requirement’s of the program.

Program requirements require that parents and children attend compulsory meetings prior to and during the school year. These meetings, held in a local church, are attended by the families, dressed in their, Sunday best.” 

While I was in Barrio La Cruz, I witnessed many instances where Pastor Rolondo held a form of court, in that he would find himself listening to pleas for support and re-instatement of support (for those who were dropped from the program due to non-compliance with program requirements) from mothers, fathers and even the students. Pastor Rolondo is an incredibly compassionate man and loves every one of the residents of Barrio La Cruz. Pastor Rolondo’s relationships with his community is truly amazing in that he accomplishes so much and does it with so little; doing so without the aid of sight.

Completely unexpected was the day that I found myself in Barrio La Cruz attending what I can only describe as a, “Ladies Sewing Circle!” Actually, one of the Paso a Paso missions is to aid local women in becoming more self sufficient by teaching them the skills to produce dolls, from which they sell and receive a modest profit. Please check out the Paso a Paso website and look for yourself at these wonderful, hand-made, dolls. The women who make these dolls are all hard working mothers and daughters who enjoy each others company during these business meetings and who proudly display their dolls for inspection by Paso a Paso mission Director, Stephanie Cady.

Latin America is home to its own style of food and I personally consider myself a connoisseur of Latin American foods. Therefore, I could not wait to taste the authentic cuisine of Guatemala. I have already described the Guatemalan people as compassionate and kind. I also discovered that they are also very hospitable. Each visit to Barrio La Cruz somehow seemed to include time for a meal. Pastor Rolondo’s mother produces the finest and tastiest tortilla’s I have ever eaten. She does so, on a stove funded by and built by, Paso a Paso, replacing a stove that can hardly be described as such. In another example of a Paso a Paso mission to make women more self sufficient, Rolando’s mother produces about 500 tortillas’s each day. She sells these to community residents; at 5 tortillas’ for about $.08 cents. Check out the Paso a Paso website for more information on these stoves and how you can help a family become more self sufficient by providing for the materials and if you are able to, building one.

The community of Barrio La Cruz is located a short 20 min. “Chicken Bus” ride up a winding canyon, populated by separate communities that seemed to blend into each other but were yet, distinct in their own business and social culture.

While the mountain climate is somewhat cooler than expected for a Latin American country, any walk around Barrio La Cruz’s streets will cause you (and certainly me) to work up a sweat. This community is situated on a pine forested mountainside concealing corn crops and coffee plants. The views from anywhere in town is amazing and the vistas are constantly changing as the sun moves across the sky, influenced by smoke from the cooking fires, steam coming from the forests and of course, the volcanoes.  

Of particular note in Barrio La Cruz, were the beautifully blooming Poinsettia plants. While the poinsettias that I am familiar with are typically plants with heights of less than 3 feet, poinsettia’s in Barrio La Cruz are trees, reaching heights of 20 feet!

I found that the service industry is alive and well in Barrio La Cruz. I witnessed women with loads of firewood strapped to their backs, a man leading a pack horse loaded with corn for sale, homes opened for the sale of homemade frozen fruit bars and other homes opened for the sale of fruits and vegetables. And then, there are several small stores that appeared to be located in the living rooms of several homes.

On my last day in Barrio La Cruz, I witnessed something that really touched my heart. We visited the home of a young woman and her boot maker husband. They have a three year old son who is bright, handsome and intelligent but is, sadly, physically disabled with symptoms similar to muscular dystrophy but apparently are not. On the day of my visit, the young boy was receiving physical therapy from a professional therapist. The therapist was paid for her services (she visits several times each week) by an un-named local Guatemalan donor from another community. Proof positive, that when the works of missionaries are become an example, other acts are the result.      

I was in country only 8 days, Subtracting 2 of them as travel days, left little precious time to do the Lords work. Somehow, all that I did was openly appreciated. I am thankful to Paso a Paso and especially all of the residents of Barrio La Cruz who enabled me to participate in and experience opportunities that enriched me but more importantly, can only help to further Gods work.

I am counting the days until I can return!!!

What a blessing to return to Guatemala!  The people are so gracious that it makes  serving so rewarding.  This year I was able to participate again in  preparing the school supplies to be distributed to the children.  The week before the distribution the parents were required to attend a meeting.  At that time, the guidelines were explained again on how it is determined who receives sponsorship and what is required of the children, e.g., passing their classes, attendance, etc. in order to continue receiving support.  All were excited to see Stephanie and express their appreciation.

On another day, several ladies gathered at the church to talk about the dolls they have been making.  Last year several ladies were introduced to doll making and are progressing very well.  A pattern book was donated along with some different types of yarn and the ladies had fun developing new ideas for doll clothes and hair color and styles.  They also spent some time cutting out doll patterns so they could take them home and work.  Check out the large dolls at http://www.flickr.com/photos/14597608@N08/sets/72157623125964334/   and small dolls at  http://www.flickr.com/photos/14597608@N08/sets/72157623001328207/

Each women receives all the profit from the dolls and it is used to help support their family at home, work and school; in addition to giving the women a sense of self-worth. By the women selling just 1 large doll a week, it is equal or more to a week worth of income.

We had several opportunities to spend time with Rolando and his family.  He continues to minister to the people in and around the community. To some his blindness would appear be a hinderance; however, God continues to use him in mighty ways and he walks up and down the mountains much better than most sighted people.  He knows everyone and I mean everyone by their voice.  Through Charles Stanley’s ministry, we were able to obtain 40 messengers (they looks like the old transitor radios).  Each messenger contains 35 sermons in Spanish and is capable of being charged either by electricity or by solar power.  Our hope is that over the next several months between Rolando and Stephanie they will be able to provide the messenger to the people in and around the community.  There are many people who are not able to make it to church or who cannot read and this will be a great tool to help them grow in the Lord.

Another highlight of our trip was to visit the property that Rolando’s family owns which is partially planted with corn and coffee plants.  In Guatemala if the land is not fully planted when the parents die, the children do not necessarily get the keep the property.  To help provide for Rolando in the future, we felt it was important that the property be fully cultivated and planted.   It will be done in the spring.   Thank you Lord.

Thank you everyone for your prayers.   I hope you will plan a visit to Guatemala in the near future.  You will not be disappointed.  You will not only be blessed but will be a blessing.

written by: Marge Stearns

If you have never seen the hills that Barrio la Cruz occupies, then it is hard to have a standard picture in your head.  There are very few houses that can be found on those hillsides, but there are plenty of homes.  Most houses are makeshift construction of bamboo, and corrugated sheet metal (if you can afford it).  The floors are usually dirt that has been hardened and flattened by the barefoot children and hard working parents that rise to the sound of the free roaming roosters each morning.  The house we were looking at that morning was no exception.

I have to admit that I have never really worked with concrete, but I had seen it done in the states many times.  I had a hard time picturing how I would get a cement mixing trailer or a set of barrels and buckets up the side of the mountain to “properly” mix the components into the correct proportions for making a solid concrete floor.  No cement mixer, no barrels, one bucket, and three people to carry twelve 65 lb bags ¼ mile up the side of the hill.  That quarter mile started to look more like 5 miles, and the hill felt a lot more like a mountain with one of those bags across my shoulders.  We carried all the bags up to the home and where the kids, none older than 14 years, had accumulated all the sand, and rocks that were going into the mix.

All of the family’s worldly possessions were piled between the makeshift kitchen and the open latrine that is their bathroom.  We mixed all of the concrete on the open area in front of the house, and the kids carried the mixed concrete into the house with the same plastic bowls they had eaten from that morning.  Before long all of the concrete was in the house, and starting to dry.  The chickens were more than happy to walk around to test out the wet concrete and make their mark.

The dad, Marco, provided most of the know-how, and more than his share of the manual labor.  He usually has to go away to find work, keeping him away from his family for varying periods of time.  The mom, Yolanda, not only made a meal for all of us both days, but also went step for step with me carrying the concrete bags up the side of the hill.  That would be much less amazing if she were not half my size, or she actually wore shoes while she was doing it.  The things that families in Barrio la Cruz deal with on a daily basis pale anything most of us have ever experienced even during our most financially or physically trying times.

Making the floor only took us two days, but it was clear by the looks on their faces that it had made a huge difference to their family.  I was so thankful that we were able to help them, and I truly hope that their life and their family are healthier, safer and more enjoyable because of what God allowed us to do that week.  Perhaps there will be another week and another floor somewhere in our future.

As the bus pulls out, I see all kinds of things, young women with children looking for food, work and men. Dogs, drunks and children eating out of trash from the night before. All the mothers carefully holding their little ones hand while they carry another on their back just to make sure they can go to  market or go sell their products. As the bus leaves and I look around I felt like I really took in yet another glimpse of the lives of the people we serve here in Guatemala. They are hardworking, simple and loving and some really searching for what else there could be in the world, but they are open and willing and searching…

Marcial Making boots in his living room.

After getting off the bus and doing yet another sewing lesson given by a very patient lady. I went to visit Marcial. Marcial, a bootmaker a father of 6 shared with me more about his life as a child and it really made me realize more why Paso a Paso focuses on the small children. Marcial grew up very poor and never had the opportunity to attend school. When he was at the age to attend school he had to go and work in the corn fields. He spent many days weeping wishing he could go to school. He says he never wished that he had the other children’s parents but that he just had different parents, where he could go and learn to read and write. By the time he was 9 and his father would come home drunk and beat his mother and siblings with father wood, he said, he promised when he was a father his children would go to school and they would study as much as he could possible afford and he would treat them with respect. At the age of 15 Marcial has learned to read some letters and numbers and now he can read and write basic Spanish that he taught himself. All of his school age children have been in Paso a Paso’s program but Marcial never takes advantage, he saves his extra money to pay for his own children’s books and to allow his daugther to take an extra course because he wants to see them succeed.  They are a wonderful family to work with and it is rewarding to see the children do so well. We are hoping we find other fathers and families like Marcials to set good examples for others.

Breysi is in and out of the hospital weekly, but they refuse to admit her until she is in critical condition, then they send her home. She returns home, with lots of prescriptions that sometimes work and sometimes do not. But can cost up to $40 a day! This is impossible when their families income is about $250 a month.  So Breysi doesn’t take all her medication, has side effects, bleeding from the mouth, nose, her stomach and face swell and more. All while she has these problems Breysi still does her best to attend school or do her school work at home, she says she doesn’t want to miss the chance to study! What a heart she has, even in her illness I can see her joy. But her joy and hope seem to be fading a little.

Just this week Breysi said maybe it is better if she just died, then there would be food for her family and her siblings. She said, everyone is suffering just so she can get better and it is just not happening. How sad that a 10 year old is having to worry about their own fate and their families as well. This is just not the way a child or anyone should have to live.

Please pray for Breysi and for her family and for the right doctors, the correct medicine and relief.