Wall Around Marcos and Ana's House

The security around Marcos and Ana’s house was not the best.  Ana is our nurse who oversees the ministry’s medical clinic.  Marcos is our pastor for the Camotan church.  He also does the buying and bagging of our Embrace food bags.  In front of the house they were satisfied with the security although the top part is just a chain link fence but it is very high.  The back side backs up to the medical clinic.  One side also goes directly into the property for the medical clinic.  It is the last side that ran parallel to a vacant lot that was the problem.  When it is grown up with weeds, the people generally stay out because they are afraid of snakes!  But they recently cut down all of the weeds and Marcos and Ana became more concerned and did not like to have them both be gone from the house at the same time, which obviously is necessary to do at times.  So we made the decision to put up a security block wall.  The project is costing about $2000 US and we are borrowing money from another area; believing that either someone will help with this project or that I do well on my northern fundraising trip to be able to cover the expense of this project.  It is projected to take 3-4 weeks to complete the project.  The need for security is not only for Marcos and Ana’s house but also for the medical clinic and this project will cover both needs!

Long Term Housing Apartment

The outside of the apartment got a paint job and is ready for use.  We will be starting a new place on the webpage site to allow people to go on-line and communicate their desire to use these facilities.  If you have time to take an extended time away from home, please consider this as an alternative to your summer break (for teachers) or your winter months (for retirees)!  A minimum of a one month stay is required but it is sure to give you a memorable time to really have some hands-on with the ministry.

Well Update

The well excavation is still ongoing.  The well is at a current depth of approximately 132 feet deep.  They have to run the pump for about 30 minutes twice a day to get the hole pumped dry.  We need to tap into a strong vein of water!  The minimal test of having adequate water supplies is to be able to pump for a minimum of an hour and a half up to 2 hours without pumping the hole dry.  And that should have been done in the dry season before the rains started, since the water table has obviously risen now since we are into the rainy season.  The funds toward the contract price have almost been depleted.  I talked to the boss before I left Guatemala in mid-August (to do my northern fundraising trip) and he is believing to be able to get another 30 feet dug before I return to Guatemala the end of September.  We both believe that this last 30 feet will give us the increase on water that we need.  The funds will be totally depleted after this last 6 week time frame to accomplish that 30 feet goal.  By contract he is responsible and obligated to continue to work until the water is found; but time will tell whether he will be committed to do that….after the funds are depleted.  We may need to renegotiate our terms to keep them motivated to work.  Please continue to stand with us on this effort to have a good working well for the ministry, to provide the much needed provision of water for all the ministry’s workers and activities.

Samaritan Project Update

We finished houses #4-6!  Six families now have formal housing, a safe place for their families to live.  We continue to look for more sponsors to be able to continue to make this same difference for other families!

Mercedes is a single mom who is raising three children.  She is one of the recipients of these last 3 houses.  I want to share with you some comments made by Mercedes concerning her house....in her words.

“Sometimes when I get home and look at the house construction, I cannot believe that it is actually going to be my house.  I ask myself, how is it possible?  I prayed and asked the Lord two years ago to give me a house to raise my children....and now I see that He has answered my prayers.”

“Everytime it rained I had to stand there and push the water out of my house with a broom.  My children woke up wet so many mornings from the night's rain.  I asked myself how long do we have to suffer and live like this?  I don't have to live like that anymore! “