A few
days ago, I went out to the village to meet with my families. It was
a meeting that was supposed to take place about 2 months ago, but due
to schedule conflicts, it didn't. At any rate, it gave me the
opportunity to dive further into the lives of the families which I
serve. Some of the things I learn, I learn by way of stories in
which the people actually share something with me and know they are
sharing it. Some of the things I learn are learned by
deduction...and accounts from other missionaries.
One
of
the
first
things
I
heard
upon
arriving
Wednesday,
after
everyone
was
all
settled,
was
“You
kept
your
word.
You
did
what
you
said
you
would
do,
and
here
is
the
evidence.”
The
government
here
is
apparently
notorious
for
helping
once
or
twice
and
abandoning
the
people.
The
people
who
I
am
serving
didn't
expect
me
to
come
back.
I
guess
when
the
bar
is
set
that
incredibly
low,
two
months
late
doesn't
seem
like
such
a
big
deal,
but
that
doesn't
mean
it
should
be
acceptable.
Later,
as
I
was
dealing
with
my
two
8th
grade
girls
and
their
mothers,
I
had
a
chance
to
ask
them
what
they
want
to
do
with
their
lives.
(I
actually
had
to
give
them
real
money
to
pay
their
school
fees
which
is
why
I
waited
until
everyone
else
had
left.)
The
girls
are
Wendy
and
Mercedes,
and
they
each
have
a
different
story
and
a
different
dream.
I know I have mentioned Wendy before on my blog, and perhaps I
mentioned her in a newsletter as well. She and her little sister make
baskets out of pine needles, and the family offers all sorts of
handmade goods in their store along the side of the highway. They
are renting the house they live in. Although poor, most of my
families at least own their land. She admits that her parents don't
have the money to pay for her education; so she's grateful for the
help she receives through the program. Her little sister is also in
school. Wendy told me that she'd like to graduate from college,
possibly as a lawyer. While I would applaud any moral career choice,
Guatemala needs more female professionals, especially in the legal
field, especially sympathetic to the needs and culturally-placed
limitations of the Mayans. I would love for her to accomplish her
dreams; I think it would be a wonderful step forward for that entire
region.
It's possible that I haven't mentioned Mercedes before, but if I had
to pick just one person who I am doing this for, it would probably be
her. Mercedes is the oldest of three children. Her little sister
has some sort of undiagnosed condition (despite medical exams by
American and Guatemalan doctors and blood tests which were reviewed
in Switzerland) which appears to be some sort of muscular dystrophy.
The young girl, Clara, is unable to talk or walk and usually
struggles with holding her head up straight. I already knew all of
that, but what I didn't know is that their father is an alcoholic.
(Perhaps it is because he feels powerless to help his youngest child,
but I'm not going to make his excuses for him.) This I learned
because Mercedes showed up on Wednesday with a failing grade in one
of her classes.
Passing is a 60, but I ask 70s from all of the kids because I don't
want to get to the last semester and have anyone fail the entire
year. So, I asked her why her grade was so low, and she told me it
was because she didn't turn in a project. Why didn't she turn it in?
Because she didn't do it. Why didn't she do it? Because dad had
drank all the money in the house; so there wasn't any money to buy
the supplies for the project. Okay...that probably also means that
there wasn't food for meals or any number of other important things
that people spend money on.
If
I
ever
needed
a
reason
to
keep
going,
it
would
be
for
Mercedes.
Her
mother
is
exhausted.
She
actually
looked
a
bit
younger/less
exhausted
the
other
day,
but
she
still
looks
like
her
years
are
numbered.
With
the
father
unable
to
make
objective
choices
concerning
if
people
eat
or
not
in
his
household,
I
can't
believe
that
he'll
be
the
one
caring
for
the
family
when
his
wife
finally
gives
out.
Luis,
Mercedes
and
Clara's
brother,
is
13.
He
has
finished
the
6th
grade
and
decided
that
he
does
not
want
to
keep
studying;
so
he
is
now
working
as
a
day
laborer.
When
there
is
work,
he
works.
When
he
works,
he
can
buy
food
for
the
family.
When
there
is
not
work,
people
go
hungry
without
another
income.
Basically,
Mercedes
is
going
to
be
her
sister's
caretaker
the
rest
of
their
lives.
Unless
Mercedes
can
get
a
good
job
or
marry
well,
she
will
have
a
very
difficult
life
(even
without
her
sister
to
care
for).
I
can't
guarantee
that
she
marries
well,
but
I
do
know
this:
if
Mercedes
can
finish
her
education,
she
has
a
better
chance
at
a
good
job.
(She
wants
to
be
a
secretary.)
By
staying
in
school,
she
also
has
a
better
chance
at
meeting
and
marrying
an
educated
man
who
would
also
have
a
better
chance
at
getting
a
good
job.
I fear for the kids in my program. I read all too often in the
newspaper—and hear stories from other missionaries—about what
often happens in many Guatemalan households. I fear for Clara. I
fear for Mercedes. I fear for Wendy. But mostly I take solace in
the fact that there is a merciful God who is watching out for them
and all the other kids.
Language
Learning
As I mentioned in July, one member suggested that it might be
interesting to learn some of the Mayan language--Kaqchikel--which my
families speak. I apologize that I forgot your lesson in the August
newsletter. In July, we learned “Matiox” (Ma-TEE-oush) which
means “Thank you.” This month we're going to learn the logical
follow-up: “You're welcome.” I am not sure how this looks
written; so I will only be able to give you the pronunciation.
In English, we say “You're welcome.” In Spanish, we say “De
nada” (which literally translates to “of nothing”). In
Kaqchikel, we say “Ma-hoon ri ba-noon.” They laugh every time I
say it, but they insist that it's the correct response.
The
Care and Keeping of a Missionary
I
received
a
lovely
e-mail
from
Hope
this
month
letting
me
know
about
a
musical
mission
group
that
was
in
Guatemala.
Unfortunately,
I
wasn't
able
to
attend
any
of
their
concerts,
but
I
was
really
thrilled
to
get
her
e-mail.
Thanks,
Hope!
Anyone
else
who
would
like
to
write
to
me
for
whatever
reason
can
reach
me
at
asimmer@gmail.com.
As far as my prayer requests go, I'm okay as far as health care
goes. I'll be able to have my appointment when I have my visit to
the States. However, my friend did not get his visa; so he will not
be visiting with me. He believes that God must have other plans; so
we'll see what those are!
Thank
you
for
all
your
support.
Your
prayers
help
keep
me
going,
and
your
donations
help
children
like
Mercedes
and
Wendy
get
educations
to
better
their
own
futures
and
those
of
the
people
around
them.
You
can
stay
up-to-date
(more
or
less)
with
my
blog
at
http://GringaOnTheGround.blogspot.com.
It's
just
like
reading
the
news
on-line,
and
you
don't
need
to
make
an
account
or
sign
up
for
anything.
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