Sara and Paula

In February of this year, there was a team of men that came to minister to widows for the week. One of the days they were out looking at a 12x12 house. As they were leaving, Chris saw a  home across the way and remembered a lady who had come to our door looking for help with her house.  Her name is Sara.  He didn't know much about her situation but remembered that she lived in that house so the guys decided to go over and talk with her.  Turns out Sara is a widow.  19 years ago her husband left to go to the US to work and has never been heard from since.  Sarah was pregnant with her daughter Paula at the time and has done all she can to make a better life for them.  Amazingly, Paula is still in school (she works during the week and goes to school on Saturday) and between the two of them working, they managed to buy a small piece of land to hopefully one day build a  house on - one that wasn't made out of plastic and wood slats.  Right there on the spot the men decided to build a house for this sweet lady and her daughter.  Their lives are forever changed.  Not only did they get a better home, they now have running water and electricity too.  What a blessing!

Sarah is one of the nicest and most talkative Guatemalans we have met.  These gals are great and it's neat to see God answer the prayers they have been praying for so long.

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Stoves

15 stoves arrived 

To date, we have put in over 50 stoves!  What's the big deal about a stove?  The primary benefit has to do with health and safety.  There are lots of little ones running around and we have seen first hand the burns a fire can inflict upon a small child - falling into it or pulling scalding liquid onto themselves.  It's horrible.  Most people here cook over some sort of open fire.  Some use blocks with a grate, the top of a 50 gallon drum, or just a plain old open fire on the ground.  Alot of times we walk into a home or kitchen and have to walk right back out because of the smoke. Many people here suffer from eye and lung problems due to the smoke they inhale from cooking on a daily basis.  If you have ever been here, you know what I'm talking about.   These stoves burn the smoke so there is less smoke and a chimney for ventilation.  The secondary benefit has to do with efficiency.   They use 60% less wood which means less trips up the mountain.

Last summer there was an article in a local magazine about ONIL stoves made by Helps International. We bought a few as a team project to see if they would work well for the people here.  They worked great!  Our friends from Word Fellowship Church, New Jersey and Church For The Beach, Florida saw the need and have raised funds for more stoves.  Between these 2 churches and a few donors, LOTS of families are cooking safely and more efficiently.  We are also able to provide work for our friend, Arturo, who installs each one.  He's got a wife and family.  It's a blessing for many!

Before 

After - much safer for these guys

Church For The Beach and Arturo 

Word Fellowship

Rain and Cold

The rainy season is in full swing here.  There is a nice tropical storm hanging out over Guatemala - last year we had one hang out for almost 2 weeks.  Not only does this make me seasonally depressed but sad for many of the people around us.  Here, rain = water in the house, soaked bedding, clothes on the line that don't dry, pneumonia, mold, mud and misery.  There is no drainage system so some people literally have water running through their homes. Not only are the living conditions rough but it's prime time for pneumonia.  The average temperature with rain is 60 degrees.  With the dampness and altitude, babies and young children can get pneumonia so easily and several babies in the 12x12 families have died since we moved here.  Life in the rain is difficult, especially for those who do not have adequate housing.

Been Awhile

We live in the clouds

Yikes!  It's been almost 2 months since a post here - sorry!! Lots of things happening, as always, but lacking the inspiration to write about it.  I have started several blogs about different things but can't seem to finish them.  The hardest part has been to share something. Here is a little something about what's been going on with us and hopefully there will be more to follow sooner rather than later - say a little prayer that we get out of our duldrums.  :)

Several weeks ago, everyone but me (I can't afford to get sick, ever) got typhoid fever.  It was rough but not as bad as I had imagined typhoid would be.  It was something I meant to have us all get vaccinations for but was never able to get to the health department before we left.  I've heard stories of people getting really, really sick and being in the hospital for weeks and sometimes dying so I would say that it was on my list of greatest fears.  Thankfully, God is merciful because I didn't know what the boys had until the worst was over and they were on the right medication.  Had I known, I would have been in full panic mode.  It made me very thankful that we don't live out in a jungle somewhere where there are worse things to get!

This is Jon with a bad tooth.  Last summer the poor guy had an accident and broke one of his permanent front teeth in half - not good for him on many levels.  He has endured a painful root canal and 3 replacements.....and it's still not right.  This has been a small ordeal because after the root canal experience, Jon doesn't ever want to go to the dentist again in his life.  We found a dentist in the city (an hour away) who can correct the root canal and replace the resin part of the tooth.  "Good" dental care, by US standards, is expensive here and requires a trip to the city and a little Valium for Jon because  there isn't any laughing gas anywhere in this country.  By the time we are done with this tooth, we could have fed a family in need for a year.  I am adding dental care to my list of things I took for granted when we lived in the US.

Jon, Jed, Hannah & Victor help build a kitchen

We've had a couple of visitors recently.  We love when people come, it really lifts our spirits and gives us lots of encouragement.  Plus it gives us a break from life here and lets us be and do "normal".  This is a shameful plug for guests but who needs Disney or North Carolina when you can come to Guatemala?  If you come here, we promise you will have the experience of a lifetime and pictures to prove it!   Not only that, but you get to hang out with the crazy Steed boys - never a dull moment. :)

Jed is 5!

Our last pic together at 4 

On April 9th, Jed turned the big 5 and we can't believe it.  It's good for him to be 5 because there was way too much in that brain of him to stay 4, not to mention all the questions he asks.  I don't know what it is about the 3rd or last child but they are smarter than ones before them.

He LOVES Miss Sylvia and talks to her in Spanish!

These are some pictures from his party at school.  They do preschool parties a little different here.  In the States you can bring in cupcakes and call it a party but here, it has to include invitations,  lots of food, goodie bags AND the kids all bring presents for the birthday child.  It's crazy and I feel bad for the child who had the first party because we didn't send in a present.  The teacher kindly explained the custom to us.  :)

Pancakes and Lice

This is my little 1-year-old friend Esdrys but we call her Essy for short.  She is Vanessa's baby sister and I am taking my turn watching her today because her regular caregiver has company in town and so Vanessa can go to school.

I started my day out wanting to complain about something insignificant.  Then Vanessa knocked on the door and less than 30 seconds later, I got a little perspective.  I am to spend my morning with one of the sweetest babies in the world who has lice in her hair and fleas jumping off her clothes.  As Essy eats pancakes, I comb out the lice and boil water to kill the lice and fleas on her clothes.  My thoughts turn to her mother who is heavily involved in drugs, prostitution and who leaves her 4 children home alone for weeks on end to fend for themselves.  I can't tell you how sad it is and if I let myself go down that road, my heart will be heavy and I will be in a rut for the rest of the day.  Instead, I am thankful that God crossed our (the Steed's and Schmidt's) paths with this family and our families get to love and care for these kids when their mom won't.  None of my silly complaints compare to the problems this precious little girl has.

On a lighter note, I can't help but to feel itchy and would love some more lice kits.  :) 

Miriam and Marco

Last week we celebrated Miriam and Marco's new home.  They are a sweet family and have 2 children (Selvin and Kelly) -  I can't ever get over baby Kelly and her cheeks.

Kelly is a almost as big as her mama

Miriam is Melvin's sister - see Melvin here -  both families live on the same property down the street from us.  (Melvin's new house is in the process of being built and will be done in a couple of weeks).  During the construction of Miriam's house, Marco was there every day working hard.  Normally you don't see the men much but Marco doesn't have work right now.  He could have been out doing all kinds of things but he was right there, with Selvin by his side, doing all he could to help.  I am always touched at the ceremonies because the families get bathed and wear their best clothes and shoes.  Sometimes their best look like rags to us but to them, they are proud.  For Marco it was pants that were too big and a shirt that was worn and thin and too big, worn white sneakers.  He wore the best he had for one of the biggest blessings his family has ever received.  This family doesn't have much.  But it doesn't really matter.  What matters is what our hearts wear and their's were clothed in gratitude to God for His amazing blessing. 

Marco and Selvin helping the crew

New home

Old, tiny corn stalk shack

Their small bed for the four of them to sleep

Old bathroom

Inside their new home with plenty of light

Their new stove and those cheeks again