ADISA

As we have mentioned, in an earlier blog, we have found a number of organizations in Santiago Atitlan doing good things.

ADISA is doing GREAT things.   Asociacion de Padres y Amigos de Personas con Discapacidad de Santiago Atitlan (Association of Parents and Friends of People with Disabilities in Santiago Atitlan) was started in 1997 by parents of a child with hydrocephalus who subsequently died at the age of 9.  They saw first hand the lack of resources available to children with disablities. 

ADISA has a number of programs to help this population including education, health care, early stimulation, education of the community, physical therapy, vocational training and job placement. 

Our family has been blessed to know this exceptional organization, the staff and the people they serve.  We have also been able to help ADISA as Hospitalito has partnered with ADISA to help with some of their health care issues.

Their web site is excellent and gives more history as well as opportunities to support their work. www.adisagt.com
from there you can click on Conozca nuestros productos  and then click on  www.novica.com

Holy Family

The 26th of December was the Feast of the Holy Family.  It is always interesting to hear what the priest is going to say about the readings on this day.  

However, we were really surprised when the priest announced that there were going to be 23 marriages during Mass.  This was not a Las Vegas style group wedding.  Each couple took their vows individually, exchanged rings, and had their blessing and applause.  Needless to say, Mass was a little long that day (more than 3 hours!), but the kids did very well, despite not being able to see much.  The brides all wear their traditional dress and then a white veil. 

Many couples here are together, but not officially married, so the priest was very happy that so many couples were getting married.  His homily was excellent and he remarked that we should look to the Holy Family as our model for marriage.  The Holy Family did have to endure many trials in their life together from doubt over an immaculate conception to living in a foreign land to having a child that they had to let go of.  

Loving God, help us to look to the Holy Family as a source of inspiration for our own marriages.

Christmas and New Years greetings to everyone!

Christmas crept up on our kids too.  We had been lighting a Christmas candle each day at mealtime that was counting down the days to Christmas and reading a little book every night that was also an ornament for our little tree.  Yet, when we were putting out cookies and milk for Santa, Elizabeth (who is almost 7) said, “You mean Santa is coming tonight!”  Then our kids who are 7 and younger slept until 6:45 on Christmas morning.  Quite amazing! 

We had a Christmas Day dinner with some of the other volunteers who are here over the holidays.  We did not make tamales which is the traditional food in Guatemala for this time of year.  We are going to learn how to make tamales this weekend, so maybe next year...

Christmas at Hospitalito

We went to the Hospitalito Christmas celebration the other day.  It was at a nearby chalet with a pool and big grassy area.  We played games and groups did skits.  The group that was in charge of the cooking made an incredible meal on an open pit BBQ.  They made grilled chicken, carne asada, chorizo (pork sausage), grilled vegetables, potatoes, salsa made from grilled tomatoes, and guacamole.  It was delicious.  

We don't eat a lot of meat here, so Julianne kept asking for clarification on each meat she was eating..."So this is the chicken's leg and this is cow and this is pig.  I like pig!"

Preparing for Christmas

We, and especially the kids, are looking forward to Christmas.  The holiday is creeping up on us here without TV and the Christmas sales that start in October (or before).  

The priest emphasized at Mass one day that Christmas does not begin until the 25th.  Now it is Advent, the time of spiritual preparation.  It seems that for many in the US, when Christmas finally comes, the Christmas season ends the same day.  It has been refreshing here.  Of course, the hardest part is that we will spend it without our extended families.

We did buy a small artificial tree which is decorated with a few ornaments, ribbons, and things the kids made. It is just right!  We are planning a Christmas Day dinner here with the volunteers that will be here over the holidays. 

 

P.S. The picture of the tree is not our "small tree" but the tree in the center of town!

 

 

Cold

Yesterday we woke up and it was 57 degrees inside the house.  (We do not have an outside thermometer, but it was clearly colder outside.)  We never thought we would be cold in the mission field especially after being in Ghana where we were always hot.  

 

It warms up beautifully during the day, but nights and mornings are cold.  We are at 5,105 feet so I guess the cold should be expected, but sure makes it hard to get out of bed in the morning especially with no heat to turn on!

Busy Time

It's been a busy time at Hospitalito.  The first floor of the new hospital has opened after years of work in planning and building.  As much of a challenge as it was to build the new hospital it will be as big of a challenge to run it.  As Hospitalito enters a new era, we are honored to be part of this and hope we are able to help in the challenges that lie ahead.  There are still many sections of the hospital that are yet to be completed and we are awaiting these areas with great anticipation over the next year or years especially the blood bank.

We have had a number of visitors who helped with the opening and moving everything from the old hospital to the new hospital.  Lynn Powe, a nurse, came for the month of November, taking Spanish classes in the mornings and working in the hospital in the afternoons.  She provided much appreciated support to the nursing staff.  We were also able to use Lynn's baby sitting services and enjoyed a dinner out. 

Linda Harris, an obstetrician, and Betty Kaye Taylor, a nurse midwife and ultrasonographer, both from Medford, OR and people who worked with us at La Clinica, came to help set up the obstetrical department.  They did a great job and helped with a number of deliveries and ultrasounds as well.  They brought us many goodies which we are savoring and took us out to a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner at a local restaurant that caters to gringos.  We had everything good and wonderful for dinner.  Julianne kept asking for more of the "chicken with salsa," translation turkey with gravy.