Time Does Fly

Hard to believe my stay is coming to an end. Four more days here, leave for Guat City thursday and fly out early Friday. As I sit here looking at a gorgeous sunrise my mind races with a list of things that I would like to get done before I leave. The thing is, just like at home, the list here never ends, just changes. And although some of the things on the list may be the same, they are different. Storage bins for the babies clothes, not the cute little bins you see in catalogs. Just square sturdy plastic bins that will have a piece of masking tape with childs name on it. They will be stacked underneath the counter space where the babies and toddlers are bathed in sinks. Storage space is a challenge if you are raising 48 children. The bins work very well but have just been worn out over the years. I am hopeful that Claire and I can find them nearby today. They have been on list since I arrived. The dungeon, that has been renamed "Wonderland" is much better than it was but could use a lot more help. Thankful for the ladies that helped with that project this month! It is area that clothes, shoes, extra toys, and all items donated are stored and organized so they can be accessed as needed. The thing is, a great deal of time is spent throwing out torn, tattered, and soiled clothes. I won't get on my soapbox about that but have witnessed same thing when I helped with warehouse donations for the Fires we had in Bastrop. The time and energy it takes to organize and go through is one thing. More importantly is having a child or family come for assistance that has Nothing, and giving them the same type of torn, tattered soiled clothes they are wearing breaks my heart. I realize something is better than nothing. But if it was my family, my child, my dear friends, I would be so grateful for clean clothes for them to put on. The kids here are hard on clothes, all ages of children here have one drawer and maybe one little area for shoes. So whatever you can store there is what they have and is worn repeatedly so they wear out quickly. Okay, enough on that, you get my jest, thanks for letting me share. Here or there our list go on and on, but is that what really matters? We all know it doesn't, but have to have reminders from time to time to get back on track. Usually that involves loosing a loved one. But it also happens here. The most important thing I can do here is play and love on the kids and continute to build amazing relationships with them. Not just with the kids, but the workers, Mama's, interns, and the Bogg's and Patlan's that keep this place running smoothly. So that is what I will do with my remaining time here. While they kids are in school will try and get things checked off list, but come 1:00 I will be hanging with as many of them as I can. I am so grateful for my time here and the wonderful friendships I have formed. I am thankful I have not had to deal with any illness while I have been here. Prayers that continues this week and that all travel goes smoothly Thursday and Friday. I always say I am going to share more stories when I get home but I never do. This time I truly hope to share a few since I have not blogged much this trip because of computer issues. Thank you for your prayers and for keeping up with my journey. D

Challenging

Blogging has continued to be a challenge for various reasons so my apologizes for those keeping up. School started today so very busy the beginning of the week with painting, organizing, cleaning, at the school. Gathering school supplies for the 35 children at the Home that attend school. Plus making sure everyone had shoes and clothes for school. The cost for a child to attend school for a year is $450. That comes to $50. a month for books, supplies, teacher salaries and maintaining the school building. Fifty dollars a month is not much at all for all of those expenses to be covered - but paying for 35 children to attend from the Home is quite expensive. Please consider making a donation to the buy a book campaign for $25. or get a small group, your church, your close friends, your neighbors, whatever works to contribute funds for one child to attend school. http://eaglesnestint.org/new-day-school.html Funny, funny thing happened when I went to help the smaller girls get to school. Adorable little Lizzy went to pick up her back pack and it was so heavy she had to bend forward or I am certain she would of tumped over backwards!! It was hilarious and we all started laughing. No way she could of carried it so I was the lucky one that got to walk her to school and carry it. Hoping you can look at facebook and see the photos!! The days are full with projects but I always make time to play and love on the kids. They love riding their bikes back and forth on the rocky drive - probably not even a fourth of a mile from one end to another. So they go back and forth, back and forth and have so much fun. Thankful for the folks that have purchased the bikes and helmets - it brings the kids much joy. The workers that maintain property and make sure everything is working properly love the children. So sweet to see them help the kids ride a bike, comfort them if they are upset,or give them a hug and just love on them. They work hard here and most have been with Eagle's Nest for years. Again, hoping you can check out facebook and see some of the photos.... So thankful for my time here but hard to believe I only have 15 more days. Makes me sad to think about it so I won't. Will make the most of every day and cherish the time I have here. Grateful for support and prayers that allow me to be here. Love and Blessings Denise "It isn't what you have in your pocket that makes you thankful, but what you have in your heart" Author Unknown

Grublets

Greetings from Eagle's Nest. Went to Chela today, little over an hour away, to run errands and take friend out for birthday lunch. Fun day, lots of laughing! Favorite part of day was stopping by with bags of groceries for the "grublets". Grublets is an endearing term that Larry and Claire, the couple that started Eagle's Nest, gave them probably close to 20 years ago now. (I have written about them in past blogs) It is a family that lives in poverty on the outskirts of Chela that I was lucky enough to meet four years ago when I started serving here for longer than a week. It has become one of the highlights of my time here every year. The mama and two young kids were gone when we stopped by today, but the two middle age boys and oldest girl were at home. The next to oldest daughter has gotten married this past year and now lives at the coast. They boys said it was a long way to go but they had gotten to visit her. Felis asked the boys if they went to school and thankfully they do. She asked if they could use some school supplies and of course they can. It is our intent to go back in a couple of weeks and take that along with clothes and more food. They live next door to a tire shop and the owner of the shop lets them live on the land in return for gaurding his land. The do not have running water or electricity and are always very dirty. When we drove up and they realized it was us they saw us they just ran out with smiles and open arms. Sometimes it is hard to see someone that dirty and want to hug them, but I could hardly wait to put my arms around them. The older boy was trying to ask us about someone and I said Claire's name and a huge smile came on his face and he said yes, yes! Felis told them she was her daughter and that she would be in Guatemala soon and hopefully will be able to go see them. They are always so appreciative when we take food and/or clothes by and they always say God Bless You. Many thoughts go through my mind after seeing them. How blessed I am is an understatement. "Blessed' doesn't even get close to describing what I have had in my life compared to what they live in day in day out. Yes I know poverty is in the U.S., but for most of us it has to be found by driving Out of our neighborhoods and looking for it and how often do we/I do that. It is hard to look for it from the comfort of our homes and busyness of our lives. It is easy to forget about it when you don't have to see or face it. As I have said before, you don't have to look for it here. I pray that not only I, but many of you, drive Out of our neighborhoods and look for it; and for our hearts and lives to be changed because of it. It is a gift, priviledge, honor, duty, command, and desire - to know, love, and serve those that I can. Thank you for keeping up with my journey here. .."Whatever you did for one of the leaset of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me" Matthew 25:40 (Please go to my facebook page to see photos of visit with the Grublets today. A picture is truly worth a thousand words)

Trying to blog

Well I am finally able to blog on my computer but can't get the photos to load. It may be time for a new laptop... Will just share a few brief stories and hopefully you can look at my facebook page and see the photos. They tell the story better than anything I could write - because remember - I am not a writer. Just sharing from my heart. Being here is such a blessing and I am so grateful for all those that make it possible. The kids have been busy with crafts, face painting, water ballon fights, dancing, soccer, and many other activities with teams that are here serving. I recieved a very special gift from Juan Carlos tonight - a beautiful painting he did. I do hope you can go to facebook and see it. I will frame it and proudly hang it on my wall. Many of the kids are very artistic. It was great to see them use their imagination and create some awesome things this week. A five day old baby boy was brought to the home late this afternoon. His name is David Andres, we will call him Andres, and he weighed 5 lbs 1 ounce. He is truly a beautiful baby! Lucky me got to hold him for quite a while after he arrived. Then I took him up to Felis and she weighed him and gave him a bath. Everyone is very excited to have a baby here.. I am so thankful for Eagle's Nest being able to provide a loving enviornment to babies that are abandoned for whatever reason. He happended to be left at the hospital down the road. You can imagine I will be hugging on him as much as possible while I am here. The wind here has been crazy! It is always worse at night! Weather channel said 27 mph for Solola, where I am, but we are on the very top of a mountain so I would venture to guess the winds have been 30 mph at least, probably gusts up to 35 or 40. They can knock you over at times. Thank goodness for ear plugs or I would not be sleeping a wink!! I will try and post every couple days and hopefully can get the photos to download. Thank you for your prayers and keeping up with my journey here at EN. Love, Denise

Plan B

Good morning from Guatemala!  I am making a quick post here for those that don't have Facebook account. I am having technical difficulties and am not able to access blog via laptop.  As of know the best option to see photos and post is to go to my Facebook page. Hopefully I will be able to get the issue resolved so I can share stories. All is going well here. It has been very very windy! The kids are doing wonderful. They have many new babies and the older kids will start school next week. So thankful to be able to serve here again. Love, Denise