Dreams coming true...

If you remember an earlier blog where I spoke of my dream of reaching the mountain area of San José Pinula, then this blog will make more sense.  

We have a team coming to visit us in July that has accepted the challenge of taking the gospel to this unreached area.  So now the job is ours to plan it all and see that it flows smoothly.  Let me take the opportunity here to ask that you take a moment to pray for us, that the Spirit of God would begin to move on hearts and prepare the way for us.  The first step in getting ready for this trip was getting the proper permission from the school supervisor.  On Thursday our mission was to take a copy of that written permission to each of the schools we plan to work with.

The day started out chilly, but that is what to expect before 7am.  Alfonso, Chrissy, and I were each prepared with a fleecy sweater, water, and a snack since we didn't know what time we would be back.  The schools are an hour and a half away (if all goes well, meaning there are no overturned trucks or buses, no washed out sections, no car trouble, etc).

As we turned off of the paved road and onto the bumpy dirt road the reality of what we were doing sunk in.  We were leaving civilization.  No more gas stations, no more cell phone coverage, no more of the usual culture we were accustomed to.  Even Alfonso, who is Guatemalan, felt as though he were entering another world.  We were behind a truck loaded with cinderblocks.  The truck was plugging along despite the uphill climb.  The road was full of ruts, rocks, and sharp curves.  As I peered through the window at the cliff on one side of us I breathed a quick prayer of thanks for my 4-wheel drive.  The furthur we went, the fresher the air.

We passed men on horseback.  Horses and mules are a main source of transportation as even the public bus rarely passes through.  It is not unusual to see horses and mules tied alongside the road.  We passed farms of all types.  Prosperous farms that give work to the community and are owned by rich elite.  Also poor farms owned by the local families which provide for their families.

The poor communities were thrilled to welcome us.  take a look at the pics below to get an idea of how our day went.

The outhouse at Río Frío school.  notice the door is just leaned onto it.  and YES, we used it!  when nature calls, you gotta do what you gotta do.

The first school we visited... Río Frío.  As you can see, not all of the students have desks.

The outside of Río Frío school.  Less than 40 students attend this school.  It is very prmitive, although not the most primitive I have visited.

The soccer goals at the Río Frío school

After Río Frío we went on to a larger school.  El Carmen is a school of a little over 100 students.  We were forced to park on the road, parking as far in the ditch as possible.  Although it is not a high traffic area, large trucks come by carrying broccoli crops into town. 

The young daughter of one of the mother's who came to cook along with an older student (presumably her brother).  Notice the rubber boots the boy is wearing.  Typical in this area.

As in many schools, the children are given a snack (which is more like a meal) every morning.  The snacks are prepared by the mothers.  As in all of this area, the children suffer from poor nutrition.  Many do not have breakfast before heading off to school because there is simply no breakfast available!  A doctor comes to the health clinic once every 3 months.  EVERY 3 MONTHS!  Even so, there is little medicine available even when the doctor is there.  In each of these areas a Health Vigilante goes around to the homes to take weight and measurments of the children and hand out vitamins when possible.  These children do not recieve check-ups.  They only see a doctor if very ill... and since one only comes around every 3 months quite often by the time the doctor arrives they are very ill indeed!

A mom preparing the school snack over a fire.  The smoke stung our eyes as we said hello.  The poor ladies were wiping tears from there eyes... and not tears of joy! Tears from the smoke.

tomatoe sauce bubbling over the fire

El Carmen school principal and Health Vigilante for the area.  

 There are few churches in the area.  In all of our driving we only saw two small Catholic churches. 

Over all it was a productive day, full of God's favor.  We spoke to four schools and made arrangements to bring the team in July.  We even got permission from 2 of the schools to begin visiting once a month with a program of morals and values (the same program we take into public schools in the town). 

We also want to take doctors and nurses into this area.  If you want to help us with that please let me know.  We would love to supply the schools with vitamins for the children and shoes for their feet.  There is so much to be done in this area, we are only starting.  Keep this in your prayers.  The harvest is white, the workers are few.  Pray with us for more missionary and volunteer help.  Pray with us for the resources we need.  If you wish to donate towards helping these communities or bring a team of people to help us for a week or two, please see our website. 

www.crossculturejesus.org