Sewing seeds of mercy and trust...

It has been awhile since the last blog...

It was partly because I wanted the life of my dear late friend to be known
but also because of the call I felt from the Lord to just BE...
to rest in Him and let Him be Lord of my life.

To be small and almost forgotten in the eyes of the world...
to trust that He has a plan even though I don't see it...
to take one day at a time,
 trying to love and serve Him in the ways He shows me each day-
this is the only task He has asked of me.

Sure life has been busy.
Of course there has been much "accomplished" with the elderly
other than feeding 120 of them each week.

There have been bathrooms installed for those in need...
or medical treatment and teaching for those suffering from diabetes...
or new beds bought for elderly sleeping on horribly deteriorated beds...
or new roofing put in for some who had rain coming into their homes...
or visiting the sick elderly in the hospital...
or attending funerals and consoling the families.

But beyond what we "do"...
it's why we do it.

*****************************
"When mercy encounters a person, 
 it brings deep joy to the Father’s heart; 
 for from the beginning 
 the Father has lovingly turned towards the most vulnerable, 
 because His greatness and power 
 are revealed precisely in His capacity 
 to identify with the marginalized and the oppressed. 
 He is a kind, caring and faithful God who is close to those in need, 
 especially the poor; 
He involves Himself tenderly in human reality 
 just as a father and mother do in the lives of their children." 

-Pope Francis

*****************************

It is for His Heart that we do what we do....
that hopefully something in our lives console the Heart of God
that is constantly so forgotten, offended, and unappreciated.

Of course, I want to give special thanks to a group
(from close-by to my hometown in MN)
who came to San Lucas to help with some construction projects this month:

Building a new kitchen for a poor elderly couple....

These metal sides were over 40 years old!

Any young kid loves a good demolition project!

This group knew how to work but also how to "chill-ax"!

The new dignified kitchen...

Many thanks to the Minnesota/Seattle group
who brought great energy, joy, and compassion to this small village.

May we continue to live each day not focused so much on WHAT we do...
but for Whom we do it for.

Sr. Clare Crockett, SHM

A dear missionary sister in Christ

and a woman who marked my life as a religious sister

had her life taken on Saturday night

in the 7.8 earthquake that hit Ecuador...

(Sr. Clare is the 3rd sister from the left)

Originally from Ireland, Sr. Clare Crockett (1982-2016)

gave up her rebellious life of partying and a promising acting career

to follow the Lord's call 

& give herself completely to Jesus as a religious sister.

She professed final vows with the Servant Sisters of the Home of the Mother

in 2010 and has been a missionary in Ecuador since 2013.

Anyone who knew Sr. Clare will never forget her-

her laughter, her joy, her passion, her surrender,

her sense of humor, her wittiness, her gifts and talents,

but most especially 

her love for God, for her vocation, for the Church, for souls...

An incredible woman of God who has left this world speechless

with her life and now in her death.

Dearest Sr. Clare...we love you now and eternally!!!

Please pray for us at the foot of His Throne

as you praise Him with Our Lady and all the angels and saints of God...

https://www.facebook.com/homeofthemother/?fref=ts

http://www.homeofthemother.org

Providence

I don't think that people use this word much, but for me-
learning of (God's) Providence changed my life.

By saying "providence," it really is an attribute to God's character:
His sovereign but detailed love and concern for each one of our needs.

This past week, I had the blessing to see God's providence
and tender Love reach out to these 2 elderly women: Paulina and Maria.

Back in January, I accidentally came across Paulina and Maria.

I was out looking for a few more elderly to add to the feeding program

and completely walked past their home without noticing them.

All of the sudden, one of them yelled out to me:

"Ay señorita, por favor- haz me una casa!)

("Hey lady, please build me a house!")

I went over with the other Guatemalan ladies who were with me

to talk to them and find out their situation.

Turns out these 2 ladies are sisters who never married.

They took care of their parents until they died

and were left without children or family after their parents passed away.

Below are photos of their house...

Turns out that their father built the house back in the 70s,

but now that they are orphaned and without husbands or children,

it would be impossible for them to rebuild themselves a dignified place to live.

I told Paulina and Maria that unfortunately I did not have money 

to build them a house, but I invited them to join the feedings on Monday.

Well..."providentially" within a few days of meeting Paulina and Maria,

I received a donation from someone specifically to build a new house!

I knew exactly where that money needed to go...

Last week, we had the joy to rebuild these sisters a new home...

Their new home!

Words cannot describe the joy to know that you have been sent

and used to show God's love and mercy

(which is alive and working in our lives each day)

to those who have been forgotten and shunned by society.

To see these 2 woman sit on a mattress for the first time

and joyfully bounce up and down on them....

To sleep on my own bed at night knowing that there is yet another person

in San Lucas who knows how a real bed feels...

To have one less person to worry about when the wind is strong

or when there are torrential rains....

It is such a gift to be led to the least of His brothers

and to witness the Love of God!

(Above) Teaching Paulina and Maria how to make a bed...

(Fun fact for the day:  San Lucas does not sell sheets anywhere in town!!!!

After searching high and low and not finding anything,

I finally came to the conclusion that 

probably because hardly anyone owns a mattress in town, 

that the stores figured it was pointless to sell sheets 

for mattresses that don't exist.

Go figure.  

My solution: take the sheets from my house :)

Words were not enough for them or for myself

to express the joy and deep fulfillment it is to give and to receive.

But there was one last problem:  Their "dresser" (below left)...

Definitely was not going to go with the new house :)

Thankfully, I was able to find them a nice dresser for a decent price (above right)...

AND a friend of mine (Butch Mueller)

had time to build them a stove.

These 2 sisters still do not have running water, electricity, or a bathroom-

but this has been a good start!

Beyond the material "things" 

that I was able to be an instrument to bring to Paulina and Maria,

it was yet again another consolation to see God's Providence at work-

His loving, intimate and attentive Hand directing our lives and hearts 

if we are docile and open to letting Him lead our lives

to give His love and blessing to others.

Holy Week...

Last week, we were able to do a few special things for the elderly
being that it was Holy Week:

 One of the traditions here in San Lucas
is to buy a HUGE sweet-bread roll on Holy Thursday

and eat it with a type of "hot chocolate" (made with water of course).

We were able to buy one for each elderly (about 50 cents per piece)

and they were so excited!

We were also able to make some special dishes that are little more time consuming.

Above is a photo of the "Chile Rellenos" process...
(Chile Rellenos is a mix of cooked ground beef and shredded chicken,
mixed with bread crumbs, minced carrots, onions, potatoes, and other vegetables
wrapped in a grilled and peeled red pepper
and then dunked in egg, deep fried, and served
with fresh tomatoe/cilantro/garlic salsa & rice).
One word:
DELICIOUS.

I felt so brave after watching the cooks, that I decided to try it out myself.

It took me 4 hours to make TEN chiles!...and that didn't include the cleanup!
They make it look a lot easier than it really is...
I can't believe they made over 70 per feeding!!!

 

(Above) Delivering the food to the elderly who can't walk to the feeding center...

and having fun carrying the food!

Miriam (pictured top right and bottom left) was a little camera shy  :)

But, after she grabbed my camera and started taking pictures of me,

I understood how funny it feels to have pictures taken of you in action :)

 (Above right) The delicious "Chile Rellenos"

...a definite must for those visiting Guatemala!

It's always joyful when everyone eats together...I love it when the table is full!

This past week, I wanted to begin my own tradition and make a type of dessert

that the elderly probably have never had.

Based on the frequent request from my local friends here in San Lucas

for whom I have made some birthday cakes over the past year,

I have discovered that the chocolate "devil's food" cake mix

served with strawberry jelly and bananas in the middle

and whipped cream on top is quite frankly

A. DEFINITE. HIT.

                 

It was quite the feat making cakes for 122 people throughout the week...

but knowing it was to celebrate Jesus' Resurrection

and to see each elderly practically lick their plate clean-

it was a joy.

Thank you again for all your support-

the love and attention has made an impact on the elderly 

and they humbly recognize and ask God to bless those 

who have allowed these gifts to be given to them.

Happy Easter to all and please continue to keep the LEAST in your prayers!

Walking in their shoes...

I have wanted to be a missionary since I was 12 years old...

 ever since my father brought me to Latin America 

and I saw the world and life in a whole new light.

It was then that I wanted to leave all my comforts

and give to those who have less than me.

But after more than 20 years pursuing this desire, I still question:

"What does it mean to be a missionary?!"

I used to think it was doing good things for others-

giving them things they "need" or offering them "treats" they never had.

Over time, I have learned that an important aspect of being a missionary

is realizing that you have been sent-

sent by someone to do their will...to follow their agenda.

But, if I reflect a little deeper about this...

and if I have been "sent" by the Lord to follow in His footsteps,

then I need to embody not only what He did with His hands,

but also what He did with His Heart.

And what He did was become one of us.

He took on our flesh, our sins, and our life.

He understood our weaknesses, our pain, our struggles  

and by being "tested through what He suffered,

He is able to help those who are being tested." (-Hebrews 2:18)

So maybe being a missionary isn't so much in the "doing"

but maybe there is also a great role and importance in the "being"...

This past weekend, we have had a few elderly who are suffering in their souls...

they are distressed and crying over domestic problems,

they are lonely and have lost their purpose for living,

or they are mourning over deceased children...

I have found that my role in being a "missionary" is not only feeding them,

but having the Heart of Christ and accompanying them...

putting myself in their shoes...

feeling their distress and pain...

offering them the little that I have: 

my heart and my desire to show them they are not alone.

Let us continue to take moments in our busy lives 

to share with others our time, our hearts.

We all form the Body of Christ and each time we share the little we can offer, 

we console the Heart of Christ

and build up / make the members His Body stronger...

Being generous with a generous God

Because of the generosity of you all,

the 4 Guatemalan cooks and I were able to 

"upgrade" the menu for the elderly 

and go a little "all-out" for them...

What does that mean?

Well...eating more than just chicken and rice every week!

Because of your help, we are able to "spoil" the elderly now

and give them a variety of food...chicken, (tender) meat, ribs, fish, etc.

And also rice, pasta, potatoes all served with fresh vegetables

and a fruit drink.

It has been a joy to see their faces light up each week

now that they are able to try meals that they may not have had in years.

Grilling the meat...

The final presentation...

Side note: mashed potatoes is a delicacy here in Guatemala

because you have to use butter and milk, which is very expensive.

The elderly love it!

As times goes on, relationships are being formed

and it is wonderful to see the elderly find joy and friendship with one another...

Another fun meal that the elderly love:

Hamburger patties with tomatoe sauce and "Russian" potatoe salad.

Many thanks again to all who have donated...

you are remembered in our thoughts and prayers!

January Eye Surgeries!

During the week of January 22-30, 2016

the hospital in San Lucas was able to provide eye surgeries

 through Dr. Chris Wallyn and his surgical team:

Dave Salo, Pablo Benedicto Santizo, and Cathie Wallyn.

Both Dr. Mike Merck and Dr. Wallyn have been coming to San Lucas since 1991

to help collaborate with the building up of healthcare and

to provide free eye care in San Lucas and the neighboring communities.

Before surgeries can start, the doctors have to evaluate everyone in need...

but this means going through a list of about 80 people

(which takes about 8 hours to do!)

After evaluating every patient, a surgical list is made

so that every person who is a good candidate for surgery

can be operated on during that week.

In this year's eye surgical brigade, 85 people were able to be examined,

31 cataract surgeries was successfully performed,

and also 5 other minor eye surgeries related to the pupil and eyelid were done.

Above left is a patient with a dilated pupil

which allows you to see the mature cataract (or inner lens) that'll be removed.   

 Above right is the cataract that was removed-

      Dr. Wallyn likes to compare it as trying to look thru a Coke bottle!

Above is a short clip of one of my favorite moments...

the humility of these people.

This man had already received sedation and he was STILL praying!

It is beautiful to see how the people instinctively 

call out to their God and Creator...they know that all good comes from above!

The surgical team: 

Ophthalmologist, surgical tec, interpreter, and nurse!

And of course....PABLO!

Pablo is an employee at the hospital

and we are deeply grateful for all his help this year. 

Pablo truly carries the spirit of Fr. Greg and makes everyone feel

right at home and attended to!

Last day of the surgical week...

some patients came back to have one last revision.

Many, many thanks to all who were involved in helping

restore eye sight to so many in need.

It was a very busy, but very blessed week!