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Missionary News from the Davis Family in Guatemala
June 11, 2007
We just wanted to let you know what we have been doing in Guatemala since we arrived May 18th. The Stukenbergs ( the family who runs the home) left 5 days after we arrived. We used the time before they left to learn as much as we could (or relearn from our time last year) about running the home--where to buy the best fruits and vegetables in the market and for the best price, how to run the generator, how to check and clean the water filters...and so much more.
It seems so much easier this time, we knew what to expect. There are also less children because within the last month, 9 of them have been able to go with their new families. Two more children will be leaving in the next couple of days. We are so happy for them, they have all been waiting for a long time.
We have been teaching the kids a song in English so when the Stukenbergs come back we can sing it at the park (the townīs center). People here love to hear English songs. The Sunday before the Stukenbergs left, we went to the park. We sang some songs, had puppets sing a song, and performed a couple Gospel dramas to draw people. After a crowd had gathered, Matt preached and Tom Stukenberg translated. It was a lot of fun to share with such a large crowd. The kids love singing and acting out dramas. Michael and Melanee have filled in by taking parts in the dramas that were played by children who have left. We are looking forward to more of these outreaches.
Our typical day consists of getting breakfast started around 7:00a.m.. We are only cooking for 16 people now until the Stikenbergs return. The kids all have jobs to do before breakfast: sweeping their rooms, cleaning bathrooms, and helping in the kitchen. After breakfast, we have a time of Bible reading. Then there are kids who wash the dishes and help clean the kitchen while the others get started on their schoolwork.
Matt helps with schoolwork for awhile and then takes care of things around the house and yard. There is always lots of work to be done. Right now they are working on digging a new well (with shovels and buckets!).
Tina works on the laundry and helps with schoolwork until around 10:30a.m. when itīs time to start the lunch preparations. Everything is made from scratch-thereīs no openning a jar of spaghetti sauce or a box of hamburger helper-so meals take at least an hour to prepare; and that is with help from some of the kids. They love helping in the kitchen. We may not have convenience foods, but we have lots of wonderful fresh fruits and vegetables.
Afternoons are spent playing outside if itīs not raining. We are in the rainy season now. If we have to stay inside we read, play games, sew, work on cleaning project, work on songs, etc. Then itīs time to shower and get started on supper preparations. Melanee said that it seems like our days revolve around food! In a way they do because so much time and energy is put into meal planning, preparation, and even purchasing the food. Meal times are not rushed, but rather enjoyed. After every meal we stay around the tables to read the Bible and other inspiring books. The children can all speak English now and love having the Bible and other books read to them. The youngest to the oldest will sit quietly listening intently.
About twice a week, usually on Wednesdays and Saturdays, we all pile into the van and go to Santiago, a town about 5 miles away, to shop in the market and check our e-mails and news from the States at an internet cafe. Everyone should experience shopping at the market--the smel of rotten fruit, sharing the cramped, narrow aisles with dogs scrounging for scraps, haggling over prices (and then keeping them straight), looking through produce to fing the best quality, and then carrying it all out by hand-there are no shopping carts. Itīs a feeling of real accomplishment when you are finally leaving with everything on your list and you have paid the correct amount and received the correct change.
We are looking forward to going to surrounding villages for Gospel outreach when the Stukenbergs return. We want to allow God to use us anyway He has planned for our time here. We are so excited to be here and be used by Him. Thank you so much for making this all possible through your prayers and support. Itīs a wonderful thing to all work together for the Kingdom of God.
In Christ, Matt, Tina, Michael, and Melanee
Prayer request
Our renter told us at the end of March that she had to move out of our house, we had been renting it out for almost 2 years. We had been praying about whether we should sell it or not, so we took that as a sign and put it up for sale. We only signed a three month contract with a realtor. It expires the third week of July. We just want Godīs perfect will. If He wants us to keep it, we are praying that it doesnīt sell and He will make a way for us to pay for it. We have been able to make the last 3 payments--praise God! If He wants us to sell it, it will sell.
We really desire a home to come home to. It would be so nice to be able to leave our things in a home when we leave on a mission rather than having to always move things around and depend on family and friends to store our things. It has been 2 years of living in this manner. Please do not think we are complaining we are just asking you, our family and friends, to pray about this with us. Thank you so much.
August 7, 2005
We are extremely busy running the orphanage while the Stukenbergs are gone to Wisconsin for their daughter's wedding. They left July 18th and should return on the 23rd of August. We are getting a crash course in running a children's home! We are in charge of 24 children ages 3-15. We have 3 volunteers helping us (all guys)--a 17 year old from here, an 18 year old from the Dominican Republic, and a 19 year old college student from Massachusetts. They are all a big help; we couldn't do it without them!
My (Tina) days consist of cooking, meal planning, watching kids, and more cooking!!! Matt's days are filled with taking kids to the dentist, going to the courts and lawyers for the adoptions that are already in progress, making sure the children are doing their jobs, helping with school work, helping me in the kitchen, disciplining (mostly rowdy little boys), and a number of other things.
Our days start at 6:30 in the morning and don't end until 8:30p.m. We get a little time in the afternoon, but not everyday--it just depends on what is going on that day. I don't think there is anything to prepare you for this type of work. It is very physically, emotionally, and mentally draining. We rely on God's strength and His grace--it certainly isn't in our own strength.
Micheal and Melanee help wherever is needed, mostly supervising the smaller children playing outside and helping the children with their English school work. They seem to enjoy most days, but they have days they wish we were back home in Horicon (as do I). We know we are here for a purpose and we have great joy in doing God's will for our lives. It is just hard sometimes to be so far away from all your friends and family and the comforts of home.
Our budgeting skills are being put to work as we plan meals, pay bills, and do the shopping for such a large household. It is such a huge responsibility and we want to be good stewards while the Stukenbergs are gone.
We started Spanish lessons with a tutor coming to our house, but it is just too hard to plan a set time each day/week with so much going on. We will resume our lessons after August 23rd when the Stukenbergs come back. Until then, the children here love teaching us and get very excited when they hear us speaking Spanish.
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