Relaxation in Antigua

Excitement abounds! The first warm shower in over a week for some of us. The relaxing, beautiful grounds of the Lutheran Center here in Antigua are most welcome. We will spend today learning a little about Mayan culture and some of the church history of the area. Not particularly relishing the thought of 17 hours by bus, plane and car tomorrow but sure am looking forward to being home

Dedication Ceramonies

Dedication CeramonyCross Presentation

Celso's Home

Beverly

Quilt  Presentation

House Plaque

Ribbon Cutting

Rosa's Gratitude

We gathered Wednesday in the 100 degree heat of Las Majades outside of Zapace, Guatemala for the Christian dedication of the two homes that the FIL crew finished during our construction mission trip.  Shade obviously was at a premium.  Once we had done as much as we could outside, we moved inside for the balance of the dedication.  After the Pastor's remarks, Jack Baker presented each family with an LCMS cross that he had crafted in his wood shop.  We also were pleased to present each member of both families with a quilt lovingly made especially for each person by the quilting ladies at FIL.  Celso's family had lost everything in a storm about 10 months ago so the quilts are going to be a special blessing for their family.  Because of a total lack of a decent bed (they were sleeping on some squares of foam rubber) our mission team chipped in to buy them three roll-up mattresses.

One of Celso's daughters--8 year old Beverly--caught our attention early on.  We determined that she could barely hear.  Because of this, she also had very limited speech.  These impediments caused school districts to refuse her entry, which will pretty much keep her on the bottom rung of life's ladder.  We were pleased to be able to make arrangements for a CALMS medical team to take a look at her tomorrow (Thursday) with the sincere hope that she might be helped in some way.  Her picture shows the two pieces of cut ribbon from their front door that have been crafted into a belt and a necklace for her by Chipeeto, the president of the local church board.  He is a very talented and dedicated man who was instrumental in the huge success of our GBS (Guatemalan Bible School).  We probably have already mentioned this but our whole team, and all of you that made contributions at FIL, should be proud of this.  We grew from just over 40 on the first day to 104 on the last day!  Without all of your coloring books and other donations, it would not have had the success that we did.

Moving up the hill to Rosa's house, we had a dedication ceremony for her home.  We have shown a plaque.  A similar plaque is placed on both homes to show the involvement of First Immanuel.  Each of you that donated a bag of cement, a wheelbarrow, pair of gloves or other donation were instrumental in making this possible.  You did not have to be able to understand Spanish to hear the gratitude and thankfulness of each family, but especially Rosa.  In her 90's, she had never dared to dream of such a wonderful home.  Our mission team chipped in to buy her a set of plates and dishes, which she needed badly.  Thanks again to all that helped make this mission trip a success.



Final phase of Construction - Electrical, Windows and Doors

Day 4 and the final day of actual construction.
Today both houses needed to be wired, the windows put in, and the doors.  I had a chance to meet my frend from last year Marcello who I helped replace the church roof.  He is also the one who put the roofs on last year.  However we did that this year, only Marcello put the windows and doors on.  As you can see in the photos the doors get welded to the rebar that is sticking out of the doorway.  It shows his helper welding the doors. 

Also my friend Nils, his cousin Diego and I wired both houses.  You can see in the photos how that is done.
We finished up the wireing, Niko added steps to the house and they are all set for tomorrows dedication.  God has blessed us with good weather 95 +. and we finished on time.

A note to the medical team.
Yesterday we took the wheelchair to La Avazanda.  What a ride!!!!!!!!!!!.  Many of you have asked me how the roads are and I replied great.  We very seldom travel on a dirt road.  From Glulan we keep climbing up, up, and up until we traveled on top of the mountains.  When we were close we turned off the paved road on a gravel road.  I thought it was an old gravel dirveway and would only go a block.  We traveled about another 3 miles on washed out gravel.  But not to worry we had a good 6 inches to spare from the cliff!1!

Thanks for following.

Jack Baker



One of the most exciting things Mary & I have ever done is to go back to Los Limonis on Sunday afternoon.  This is where we helped others from FIL build a couple of homes two years ago.  I have to say I had questioned how much we were helping an area just by building a home.  The difference in this area in just two years made my jaw drop!!  Many more homes have been built but the noticeable improvements in the economy were astounding.  Kids were in much better health; there are now several stores in the area so people don't have to go clear into town for supplies; they now have electricity availalable.  And water!!!!  There are now hydrants instead of plastic tanks that get filled occasionally.  There is water so people can grow their own vegetables through irrigation.  CALMS efforts in this area have obviously prodded the government into improvements to help the people long before they could have gotten them otherwise.  The lady we built for (Olympia) has added on twice.  It was really exciting to see how well they are all taking care of their properties.  I am now much more optimistic about the impact we can have through our simple efforts.  Rich Erickson

Last Day of Construction

What a glorious day today was!   The homes are complete and ready for tomorrow's dedications.  We had the largest group of children for GBS too.  We had 104 people who all had a fabulous time, making salvation necklaces, playing soccer and bursting a pinata. 

I even did a little bit of work today on the job site, mostly shoveling sand and rock as we had to dig a drainage ditch and clean up the yard.  It was wonderful to dig in and help out.

We just finished another fantastic meal catered by Professor Carlos's family and are enjoying a slight breeze and telling stories.
 
It's been a great trip and I feel so very blessed to be part of it.  I've made new friends and renewed old friendships.

Tomorrow we will head to the market and purchase mattresses; as this family of 10 have no beds to sleep on.  We'll also look for something for Rosa's family as well.  The afternoon will be filled with the dedication.

We are all very excited for tomorrow to come and see the completion of our work and the blessings our Lord has bestowed on these deserving families.  I pray He continues to bless them each and every day.

Mary

More GBS

Guatemala Bible School (GBS)

Hauling Sand to level floors

Day 3 of construction

Day 3 of construction or otherwise known as "pouring of the cement floor in the big room and All Work and No Play Makes Jack a Dull Boy"

We are right on schedule with our construction in face we are ahead of schedule.  As you can see in photos first mixing the concrrete outside, carrying it in in 5 gallon buckets, and starting with one side level because of a line strung for a guide line.  When it is all poured and somewhat set up you see my friend Niko, puting the finishing top on.  It is mortor mix and water to make a very smooth floor.

Upon finishing the floors earlier during the day, I had some fun feeding my dogs and talking to the neighbors.  I had met them last year when I was here.  The houses are close by the others we built.
There was a song playing next door from the movie dirty dancing "I had the time of my life"  It was playing in english then spanish.  I was singing the english version for ladies and they really laughed about that.  I also took the young girl

Day 2 Jack

Day of construction.  Mixing cement to pour for the two bedrooms.  The attached photos show the mixing of cement outside by hand on the ground.  Then carring the cement in 5 gallon buckets to the house and emptying the buckets.  As you can see in the photos the sequence Niko uses to finish the floor.  Both houses have the bedrooms finished.  Tomorrow we finish the large room as shown in day one photo.

Joy here is the dog that is with me every day at the house.  He waits until I get there and spends the entire day with me.

It still remains hot in Zapaca overr 90 each day. 

Will write more tomorrow.

Jack Baker

Day 2 Jake's photos

Pictures from Rich's viewpoints Day 3

Day Two from Rich's viewpoint

Some wasted time today.  We had today's portion of the floors poured in both homes by 10:30 and then had to 'kill' 4 hours until GBS started at 2:30.  But what a fun Bible School.  The kids love Joel & Marianela because of their Spanish and relationship skills.  And Dwight because he is always the 'gentle giant'; whether here or in the US.  It was fun watching him help the kids, even though he didn't understand much that they said he was always working going from one to the other to help.  The major project today (configuring tissue paper to cover crosses) was extremely well received, but we didn't give any thought to the fact that a breeze would be blowing through the meeting area.  Small pieces of tissue paper everywhere!! But it made the kids have even more fun picking pieces off the floor as they needed them.      Rich Erickson

Picture captions as we hope to get them entered;
1. Mary taking tortilla lessons from lady in one of homes built last year
2. It's how cold in WI?  I guess I don't want to go to the US afterall
3. Watching cement dry---Guatemala style
4. Dwight helping the kids
5. Kids collecting papers to finish crosses

The current home of the family we are building for; the Mom and three of the 8 kids on the one bed the family has; GBS on the first day. Starting with 6 kids at the start, it grew to about 50 kids at the end and we expect more tomorrow

A strenuous first day but a lot accomplished.  Roofs are on; elecrical boxes are in and the floors are ready for concrete tomorrow and the next day.  God is blessing us with a growing group at GBS (Guatemala Bible School since we don't think we are really on vacation).  It is exciting to see what God brings us tomorrow

First day of construction

Wihow, what a productive day.  It started when we met at church and I saw all my friends from last year.  They all gave me a hug and said "hi yak".  They cannot pronounce Jack.  We then divided up into teams for the two houses.  I  attempting to show you the varioous stages we do.  The masons have erected the walls and the beams for the roof were in place when we arrived.  What a suprise from last year when thew were not done until the last day.  We started with the roof, mortered the outlets, hauled sand for the floors.  See the picture of Rich and the ramp and wheelborrow we worked with.  After leveling floors we had to tamp the floor to get ready for tomorrows cenemt floors.
Bev, Joy I have been taking care of my dogs and candy for the kids.
Nancy, I gave a hug to Karla for you, me and all the medical team.
Tomorrow I will tell you what we do on day two.

[this is a side note for Pastor Raasch]  Do you think Pastor Scheck would be proud of US?  I believe he is working thru you and myself to help fullfil his dream of evangelism.  Even if it takes us to Guatemala!

Jack Baker

Hauling Dirt, tapping floor, GBS :)