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

We Made It A Year!!!

February 4th marked one year of us living in Guatemala.  There were times we didn't think we'd make it but God made a way for us and here we are.  We are not here by our own strength or understanding but by His.  Amen!

It's been an amazing year and one of the hardest, all at the same time.  I know I sound like a broken record but it is hard being away from home.  Guatemala is only a 2 hour plane ride from Miami but some days it feels like we are on the other side of the world and deeply miss the life we had in the States.  This past year we have had an overflow of love poured on us from "home" and it has made all the difference in helping us make this transition.  Not only does God full our hearts but he has used many others to love and encourage us.  We are so thankful for all the love we receive - visitors, cards, e-mails, phone calls, care packages, Christmas gifts, plane tickets, neat kids who ask for donations instead of birthday gifts to help us come home for Christmas, and friends willing to haul stuff here for us when they come to visit. 

    "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."   (NIV)  Romans 3:20-21

That has been our verse throughout our entire journey and life in Guatemala.  In my wildest dreams, I could not imagine how God would get us here and how He has provided all the days since.  I have to confess that after all He has done, situations come up and I still wonder how He will provide.  Back in October, I started thinking ahead to Christmas.  Not long after, we got a couple of e-mails asking what we wanted/needed for Christmas - it was more than we expected or could have imagined.  We wanted to make a trip home at the end of the year but lacked the funds.  In November, we got a call from some friends who told us that for their 10th birthday, instead of getting gifts at their party, they asked people to make a donation toward our travel fund!  I never imagined kids being so crazy.  :)  In December, some friends called to say they had plane tickets for us.  While in the States, most of our expenses were provided for and we were blessed with a van to get around in.  Way beyond what we imagined.

Not only are we blown away at our provision, but for others as well, over and over again.  Last month a team met a woman with a great medical need.  When they came back that day, there was an e-mail waiting from someone, who had no idea of the need,  saying that God told him to donate toward a medical need.  Last year we helped 2 families with food and this year they are covered.  School started in January so a whole other need has come to light for us.  Several kids that we know and love were going to drop out because they couldn't afford it.  From various places, the money has shown up to help them stay in school and a church gave us 2 computers that these kids can use for their homework.  The 12x12 Love Project had a Christmas campaign to raise money for houses. We started out with 9 families, hoped and prayed that they would get homes.  When all was said and done,  23 families with get homes this year.  There are several medical needs that have been provided for .  One of them was Kathy - you can read about her here.  She is doing awesome by the way.  She LOVES Chris.  Last week we went to look at some land with her mom and grandma.  We were walking and she ran up to Chris, grabbed his hand and then looked back at me and gave me a sweet little stare that said "I'm holding his hand."  So I kept my distance and let her have some time with him.  It was cute.  :)

We love the people here and the families we are connected with.  We love being able to love and serve others.  It makes up for all that we miss.  We are thankful to be here and see all that God is doing.  After a great trip to the US, we are ready for another year and all that God has for us.  He's already done come crazy stuff and it's only February.  :)

School Has Started!

La Escuela Ha Comenzado!  For our 3 boys and the rest of the country, school began last week.  The school year runs from January to October in Guatemala.  After homeschooling for a couple of years, we decided that it would be good to put the boys in school here for several reasons - learn Spanish faster, get them out of the house and for them to be/feel more a part of the culture here.  We chose a private school that educates with the intent of it's students going to college in the US.  With one week down, everything is going well.  We have adjusted to getting up at o'dark thirty and out the door by 6:30am.   Jack will do fine and Jon will do better once he learns a little more Spanish to know when he has homework.  Jed liked school the first day and then got over it.  I'm enjoying my newfound freedom too much to give in to his tears so we will persevere a little longer.  :) 

Ready to go!

Jack has ALOT of homework!

Jon wishing he didn't have homework.  :)

 

 

Not only are our boys in school and need lots of help with homework, so do the kids in our families.   Thanks to the folks at Remedy Church in Jacksonville, we have 2 computers set up in our dining room to help.  Marvin, Pamela and Wendy have been over every day to use them.  At first we didn't realize that they really didn't know how to use the computer/internet.  They could search for things but didn't know that when the search results came up, you could click on each site for more information. We had to teach them the basics and how to use wikipedia.  Now they can do most things on their own.  It's little things like this that can make a difference in their success at school.

Wendy doing homework