Pray for a burst of energy!

Hi, all. This is just a quick request for a burst of energy as we are on the home stretch of our time at Casa Bernabe. We finished 4 more quilt tops yesterday, and have plans to finish several more today. The guys are divided up with Bob leading the men who are finishing wiring the rebar to hold the blocks in place and Norm in charge of grilling hot dogs for lunch today (I'm sure you're all surprised by that ;-), as one of the things we decided to do is host a luncheon for all of the kids and staff today at lunch time. At 5 pm the kids will perform their final holy week skit, and then tonight will be the despodida - a celebration the kids put on for guests. We have been joined by another team of 6 ladies and a team that is just a mother and daughter, who have all volunteered to help where-ever we need them. Pray for wisdom, strength, energy, and that we would see God's hand in all we do. Thanks, all!

Busy Days

The past couple of days have been really busy. We seem to finally be hitting our stride with accomplishments. We have taken over the all-purpose room for our sewing. So far I have set up all of the machines we brought and made sure they are working correctly, and checked two of the machines that are already here and succeeded in getting one of them working. I also altered three aprons to better fit the diminutive size of the sweet ladies that are cooking for us. Dawn has put together several quilt tops, so that project is moving right along. The rest of the ladies have been working in various areas including helping in the baby house, pulling weeds, and helping the guys with the re-terracing project. At the end of the day yesterday the guys from our team offered Tony the friendly challenge that if they were able to get all of the blocks moved and laid by 3 pm today, Tony owed us ice cream, and if we didn't succeed we owed him ice cream. At 2:45 pm Max came flying into the main house to announce that the job was done, so Tony owed us. He was very happy about that, as he really wanted to get in on a soccer game this afternoon. The soccer game took precedence even over taking a shower. Montezuma seems to have subsided for most of us, though Norm was sick again, albeit not and bad as earlier in the week, and Sarah has had a few episodes. Tonight there is a rousing game of Bananagrams going on, and a couple of the ladies are still sewing.  There's pizza in the oven for an evening snack, and I expect that we will all be happy to hit the hay tonight after a couple of long days.

A Day off Campus

Our day off campus yesterday was great! We started out with a cold cereal breakfast, and everyone was ready to go and the bus was even here waiting for us at about 8 am. We had discussed doing some singing on the bus, but we were all enthralled with the view as we were taken on the scenic route to Antigua. Our first stop was a scenic overlook with a view of one of the volcanoes. We were blessed to actually be able to see the top of it, as it is usually shrouded in mist. The next stop was at a cross that is a monument on a hillside overlooking Antigua. Once we arrived in Antigua, our first stop was at the bank to exchange currency. That took much longer than expected (we though we were now on Guatemala time - but even Tony said it took a long time), so by that time we were finished it was lunch time. At that point, our group split and headed in different directions. Bob, Jared, Grace, Lauren, Max and Mary decided to do a volcano tour, so rented horses to go up, then walked back down. Of course, they stopped and got some marshmallows along the way so they could try roasting them on the hot lava. The lava wasn't hot enough to brown them at this point, but they did get pretty gooey according to the reports.

The other group that consisted of  Norm, me, Dawn, Erich, Hunter, Nan, Tony, Wayne, Sarah, Terry, and Ann opted not to do the volcano tour. Hunter was still not feeling great, but he was determined NOT to miss the trip to Antigua, and Nan got a visit from Montezuma, as well - but again, refused to miss out on our one day away. It turned out fine, as they both ate lightly and we allowed them plenty of opportunities to sit down and rest. We took Tony to his favorite restaurant for lunch as part of his birthday celebration, and enjoyed a delicious meal that included omelets or scrambled eggs, or sandwiches for some as well as some wonderful desserts. I tried an almond torte with a kind of whipped cream that is more tart than sweet and almond syrup. Tony had an American favorite - apple pie and ice cream. After that we did a short tour of a ruins of a basilica in downtown Antigua, then checked a few jade stores, but nobody found anything they couldn't live without. The highlight was following the scent of freshly baked cookies to a small bakery, for a little treat. They also offered smoothies. Ann and I tried the mango smoothies, and they was awesome! We concluded our afternoon by doing some shopping in the Artisans market, and even did some bargaining for the few items we bought. By that time was nearly time to return to the bus, so we headed back that way. Dinner was a late evening stop at Pollo Compoyo - a chicken restaurant similar to KFC in the U.S. that Bob particularly enjoys. At that point we were all ready for a good nights sleep, so went in search of our beds.

A Full Day

It has been a full day. Hunter and Norm spent most of the day sleeping/resting. Norm is finally on the mend, and was able to eat a bowl of cream of chicken soup tonight. Hunter felt well enough to take a shower but eating still doesn't feel like a good idea. Pray for a good nights rest for all and a fun day on our one day off campus tomorrow.

Max reported that the guys were able to remove some of the terracing today and get a start on replacing it with the concrete block that was delivered. I made an ironing board cover for one of the ironing boards that didn't have one and helped some of the girls chooses fabric for either a dress or a blanket. One girl, Debora, who is eight shows quite an aptitude for machines. She helped me figure out how to thread the new sewing machine we brought. Two of the houses needed help with coverage, and Terry, Nan, Grace, Sarah, Lauren, and Ann helped with that. Dawn helped nurse our sick ones, and is putting together a quilt for one of the boys, Favien. That's all for now.

Prayers needed!

This will be quick! We need your prayers, desperately! Norm and Hunter are both sick with nausea and all that goes with. Hunter woke up in the night and made life interesting in the guys dorm for awhile. They have both been sleeping on and off all morning and still not starting to feel like they are recovering. Erich was up with him for several hours in the night, after two poor nights sleep, so he is running on fumes. Tomorrow is supposed to be our day in Antigua, and we hope they are all rested and well enough to join us!

We had one adult lady and several 10-year-old girls interested in learning quilting this morning. Good - but time-consuming to teach bi-lingually. Thank God that Mary paid attention in all those spanish classes she took. She has stepped up to the plate in a marvelous way to translate for us. We are so grateful for her ability! That's all for now.

Alleluia!

Casa Bernabe worship team

The sword illustrated



 A few of the kids.

It’s late afternoon on Sunday. The light is on indicating that there is fresh coffee, of which there seems to be no lack. We had an energetic worship service this morning which even included a few familiar songs, though the language was different that we are accustomed to. The message focused on the uses of a sword, and concluded by emphasizing the importance of the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God. During the service the aroma of cooking food, notably chicken, wafted up to the all-purpose room that serves as a chapel on Sunday mornings. Last night we fell asleep to the sounds of the worship team practicing. During the church service it truly came home to me that kids are much the same everywhere – some shy,  some more outgoing, some fidgety, and some engaging fully in the moment like the four little girls who danced with abandon during the worship singing this morning. Tony is here in the main building where we are housed, and as I listen to him talking to the kids, I notice how comfortable he speaking Spanish after five years here.  I am a bit surprised that there are quite a few words of Spanish that I actually understand, but it is far from enough to actually be able to string a sentence together. Pretty soon we will go and inventory the items we brought with us, and begin moving them to where they need to be. God has been so good to us to bring us this far, and we look forward to how he will use us this week. Already we know that Dawn and I will be teaching quilting classes everyday this week – two 2 –hour classes each day. Edgar, one of the primary staff here, also came to us while we were at lunch and let us know that they need coverage in the baby house tomorrow so one of the house parents can attend an all-day class. Tony will go in the morning and order the blocks to be delivered so the guys can get started on the re-terracing project. Pray for Gods leading as we go about our days, divine appointments, and for restful nights sleep as we have two dorm rooms, one for guys and one for girls. (Snoring might be part of the scenario.)

We're Here!

March 23, 2013

It’s between 1 and 2 in the morning, and we are now boarded on our plane at O’Hare airport. We had a good ride down from Madison to Chicago with plenty of interesting conversation. I think we will have quite the opportunity to get to know each other better on this trip. Tim Aure and Merrick were with us at church and prayed with us before we departed. Things went smoothly with parking the cars at the park and ride, and we all were able to get checked in without getting bumped to another flight. I think I might be ready to sleep once the flight takes off. Not sure as there was an extra cup of joe this afternoon to add to the adrenaline that tends to pump when faced with a new and exciting experience.  That’s all for now.

It’s 7:32 am Mexico time, and we are relaxing in the airport. A few of the guys have a card game going, and some of the girls have a tile game going. Mary and Ann are sleeping, Mary on the floor and Ann across some benches. Those who were hungry have gotten something to eat, and now we are just waiting. So far we have not had any complications with getting the totes through. Pray that God’s grace continues to see us through. Security was a bit tighter coming into the airport here in Mexico City, but we made it through with just a few people having to open carry-on bags .

It’s now 4:46 pm and we are starting to get settled in at Casa Bernabé. We arrived around 1 pm and were immediately served a delicious lunch that included a wonderful cauliflower dish made with cauliflower from the garden, rice, a very tasty guacamole made with fresh avocadoes that Bob has been looking forward to and telling us about,  and the fresh tortillas that we’ve heard so much of. Today has been a day of food, as we were also served meals on both of the flights we were on, which was unexpected.  After lunch Tony took us on a tour. We got to see the houses where the kids live with their house parents, the workshops, and the garden, amongst other things. After that we had orientation with Sarah from Casa Bernabé, and shared a few of our thoughts for plans for this week. Now some of our young people are out playing with the kids, and those who need it have a little time to rest, and several of us are feeling the need to do so after a long night of travel. Signing off for now.

Introducing the Westhoff family!

Today we have a guest post from my sister, Dawn Westhoff. She, her husband Erich, and sons, Hunter and Max are all part of Team Guatemala. Dawn writes:

Guatemala.  When Norm asked the youth group what their goal was, that was the answer he received.  This will be Hunter’s fourth mission trip and Max’s third, and they wanted to experience another culture.  Having Tony at Casa Bernabé made it a natural choice.  Unfortunately for them, Hunter’s track record meant mom and dad were going to tag along.  You may remember a trip a couple of years ago to an Indian reservation in Oklahoma that resulted in a broken leg, surgery and two pins in a leg forever.  Typical teenagers, they may look at us funny, but really I think they are glad we get to go as a family.  Erich and I are excited to see them in action, since they know what to expect when we get there. The mom part of me knows they will also bless those they go there to serve.  I know they bring their hearts ready to work, play and share of themselves for the good all of us.  Previous mission trips made changes in attitude, introduced them to different types of people and reinforced some of the lessons and values Erich and I have tried to instill in them.  We are so proud of Hunter and Max that they see a bigger world out there and are motivated to use their time and talents to bless others.

 I have to admit there is a part of me that hopes they come home with a different appreciation for the life we have provided them.  Another part knows they will come home with blessings that will affect the rest of their lives.  I go hoping to share my love of quilting/sewing possibly be able to teach those interested so they gain skills that improve their lives

This experience has been a bit of test to my faith. When I ran out of steam to create fundraisers I had to go on faith that others would see the value of the mission and support it just for the sake of supporting, not in exchange for goods or services.  As a local business owner we daily get asked to give to a wide variety of good causes and I struggle to be the one asking.  I can only thank my many friends and family that did not have to be asked; just found a way to be supportive.  From sewing machines, fabric and supplies that just kind of showed up; to the checks that were filled out and mailed in; to coming to the harvest dinner, donating a silent auction item or participating in the basket class.  I feel very blessed to have such wonderful friends and family.  I can’t wait to get there, except for the bug thing I have recently been informed about.  Oh and the NEED for Immodium.  Okay, so there are a few things on my mind so pray for me; that I may have patience, wisdom, physical and mental strength for the challenges we face on the trip.  I promise to take some pictures and let you know how it goes.  You’ll probably have to ask me to stop talking about it……

9 Days and Counting!

Last week someone asked me if I had started packing yet. The answer at that time was "no, not yet." However, if they asked me today I would be able to say "Yes!" Today we reach single digits in the countdown, and the excitement is building! We are still accepting donations to take with us to Guatemala - some to meet specific needs that they have at the orphanage and some to help us with the sewing projects we have in mind. Several donations of fabric came in last Sunday at church, for which we are very grateful. We also have a commitment for one iron, and are hoping for at least one more. A couple of the houses at the orphanage listed irons and ironing boards on their needs lists, and we will also need them when we are working on our sewing projects. Another piece of great news - we have commitments for nearly $4000 towards the gardening project. The guys better start lifting weights if they are going to be ready to sling concrete block!

Re-terracing the Garden - what does that look like?

Those of you who have been around farming very much are probably already familiar with terracing, but if you don't spend much time in the country or on a farm, you may not be. Lucky me. When I was in 6th grade I had to do a project that included making a model of a farm, and it had to include terracing. Terracing is what some farmers choose to do if their land is hilly. The objective is to keep the good black top-soil from eroding down the hillside. The soil underneath the top-soil is typically harder and more stony, so plants don't grow as well in it, so it's important to keep the top-soil where it belongs. So - if you see a hillside that looks like it has giant stair-steps - that is because it has been terraced. [If you know more about gardening than I do, and that is entirely possible, and can give a better explanation, feel free to leave it in the comments.]

To the right you can see a picture of the terraced garden at Casa Bernabé. If you look closely, you can see that the upper terraces, all except the lowest one, are made of wood. Because of the moisture in the climate of Guatemala the wood terracing rots out quickly, so a lot of time is put into maintaining and replacing the terracing. If you look closely at the lowest terrace, you will see that it is made of concrete block and rebar. This was done as an experiment to see if it would be more durable. So far, that has proved to be the case, so now our friend, Tony, would like to replace ALL of the terracing with concrete block and rebar. Part of the objective is to free up the time that has been spent maintaining the terracing so Tony can work on other improvements at Casa Bernabé.   This is the big project that the men on our team are hoping to accomplish while we are in Guatemala. Tony has estimated that it will cost about $6,600 to complete the job (remember - the garden is 2 acres!). We are still in the fundraising process, so any funds you choose to designate for this purpose would be a great help!

And now...introducing Mary Jackson!

Q: What is your motivation for going to Guatemala?

A: I've longed to go to Guatemala for years. I want to travel out of the country, see new places, spend time with you all, and make a difference in children's lives.

Q.What do you hope to accomplish while you are in Guatemala?

A: I want to reconnect with God. I've been struggling with a lot of unsettling questions about God and Christianity, and I've been praying that He leads me to a place where I can leave all that behind. I want to rediscover what I loved about God in the first place.

Q: What else would you like people to know about you?

A: When I was six years old, I was convinced I was Spanish because I was born in California. "Never mind my blonde hair and blue eyes, you may call me Maria."

Prayer request of the day:

Pray that we will have enough space to carry all of the donations that are coming in. Donations are a very good thing - we just don't want to leave anything behind due to lack of space.

Introducing...Norm and Donna Bucholtz

We are Norm and Donna Bucholtz. Norm is, by default, the team lead and I, Donna, am his better half. In an effort to help you know a little about each of us, we will answer just a few questions about ourselves.

First - Norm!

1. What is your motivation for going to Guatemala?

My motivation for going to Guatemala has changed since we first started planning this trip.  Back in January of 2012, it was to lead a team of our youth to Guatemala.  Over time, we opened the door for anyone who was interested to go to Guatemala, not just youth.  My motivation changed from leading a youth missions trip to leading a team. Then, my motivation became to build a team spirit among our team.  In reality, I was not motivated to go to Guatemala as much as I wanted to help a team go to Guatemala.  

2. What do you hope to accomplish while you are there?

 Now it is my desire to be available to serve at Casa Bernabe in whatever capacity I am asked to serve.  I won't know until I get there how that might be.  

 
3. What else would you like to tell people about yourself?
As much as our team may be willing to serve, we will probably receive more than we can give. I hope to help direct our team in how they might serve, in the future, as a result of their experience in Guatemala, so my vision doesn't end when we return from Guatemala. I also hope our team members will learn to trust God for his provision.  We could not go to Guatemala without His help.  These last few weeks before our departure have been very exciting watching how God has provided.  He deserves all the glory!

Now Donna (me!)
1. What is your motivation for going to Guatemala?
Ever since Monona Oaks Community Church started sending short-term missions groups to Guatemala I have wanted to go. Up until now, I have not had peace that I should, but this time when the opportunity came up I had a very clear sense that it is now time for me to go. I'm thrilled by this, as I get to be part of the same team that my sister and her family (who you will meet later) are.

2. What do you hope to accomplish while you are there?

One thing that was recommended to us it to go without expectations, so I'm trying to be open to whatever possibilities come up. However - that being said - I am an inveterate planner, and a lot of details have come together in ways that lead me to believe that a big part of what I will be doing probably involves a sewing machine. We have had 3 donated to take with us, along with sewing supplies, fabric, batting, etc, so the possibilities just in terms of sewing are wide open to us.

3. What else would you like to tell people about yourself?

I would like to tell you that I love the Lord, I love life, and I'm really, really, really excited about going on this trip! Also, please keep our entire team in your prayers. We have organizing to do to be prepared to leave our jobs to go on this trip, we ask for good health for all of us through the duration of the trip, safe travel and for the final phase of fund-raising as we near our departure date. Thank-you!

Seventeen Days to departure!

Getting ready for this trip to Guatemala has already been an adventure, and we haven't even boarded the plane, yet! What started with the expectation of being a youth missions trip has expanded to include several adults, and the team has now become sixteen people who have worked together, met together, and prayed together for this trip. Part of our hope is that we will be able to serve the people at Casa Bernabe and be a blessing to them. Fund-raising has also been part of the adventure. Each member has been responsible for the funds for their own passports and immunizations. Beyond that, we have been like the 3 musketeers - all for one and one for all. Using a combination of fund-raising activities, letter writing, and keeping our churches informed of our progress, we have so far raised about $13,200 toward the cost of our trip. We are still short about $1900 toward the total amount needed to cover flight tickets, room and board at Casa Bernabe, and one night in a hotel to account for an overnight layover on our flight home. We also hope to raise funds to contribute toward the project of re-terracing the 2 acre garden that our friend and missionary, Tony Breunig has worked so diligently to install. Additionally, we have had some very exciting events in the past several months. Several of the ladies on our team are knowledgeable at sewing, so were very happy when three sewing machines were donated along with fabric, quilt batting and fiberfill, and sewing supplies. We are allowed 2 pieces of checked luggage for this trip, and we have all committed to reserve at least one piece of checked luggage for the donations that we will take. We have several projects in mind, including quilts, bags, and pillowcase dresses that we are looking forward to.

If you follow our blog, in the next several days the members of the team will be introduced. We will also let you know about specific needs as we become aware of them. As our trip commences, and if the internet holds out, we will try to keep you up to date with our current happenings. We also ask your on-going prayers for health, spiritual growth, and for the needed funds to make this trip happen. If you feel led to help contribute, gifts can be sent to:

Monona Oaks Community Church
Attn: Team Guatemala
6200 Monona Drive
Madison, WI 53716