Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. As we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
-Galatians 6:9-10
Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.
-1 Corinthians 15:58
Ministry
I now been back in Guatemala for about a month and am settling in for the long haul! July and August were filled with great progress with the Casa, and after spending a few weeks in September back in the US and Honduras with family and friends, I am now back and have moved into a beautiful little house which I am renting from a friend.
We are preparing for our inauguration of the Casa on November 10th! Just 12 days away. We have been working this month preparing for the ceremony and inviting over 100 guests. I am so thankful for the continued collaboration with Saving Mothers and the Guatemalan Ministry of Health as we prepare for the opening of the Casa.
As we prepare for the inauguration, we are putting the things together which are necessary before the opening. I have continued to meet with Jes from Saving Mothers, with the Ministry of Health, and the municipality of San Juan as we work to have everything prepared from a legal standpoint. We have also been getting last minute equipment set up and I am happy to say that we nearly have all that we need from a clinical standpoint. We have also been preparing the outside of the Casa, cleaning out the garden, leveling the driveway/parking area, and painting the the outside of the building. While we painted the trim a sky blue, we hired a local painter to do our logo.
It feels like a slow and long process, but I am so grateful to work with a great team of people for such a worthwhile cause and that we are near to providing perinatal care and education to those who are in need!
New paint job for the Casa! We are thankful for our new friend Bernardo who did a wonderful job with the logo.
Working on the parking area and gardens.
Saving Mothers/ Casa staff meeting.
While our patients will pay a fee to help cover the costs of their healthcare, additional funding for the Casa is critical at this time for the continued functioning of the Casa. If you are interested in financially supporting the work of the Casa and/or receiving my fundraising newsletter, please do email me at annaghaas@gmail.com.
I am so grateful to each one of you who take the time to read about my life in Guatemala, who pray for me, and encourage me from near or far. I could not do it without you!
Personal
My tiny house is surrounded by coffee and avocado trees, as is the Casa (about 7 minutes walking distance from my house). Everyday I collect fallen avocados, and have eaten them with corn tortillas for 1 or 2 meals per day for about a month now. I didn’t think I would ever get tired of avocados, and being that they are so expensive in the US I rarely ate them. But let me just say, if you are in need of an avocado fix, please come visit me- I have plenty that I’d love to give away!
For the first time in my life I enjoy drinking coffee black. The local coffee is so fresh and has no bitter taste. Guatemala is one of the top countries for producing coffee, and this region produces especially quality coffee.
My house is slowly coming together. I am also very thankful that Kennet found me a vehicle for a great price! A 1987 Toyoto pickup that is perfect for my needs right now (namely moving my life from Honduras to here :)) Kennet helped me plant grass and flowers which a growing slowly (but surely.. I think). I have a bed and a closet that Kennet made from his own imagination (having never made one before) so I am very proud of him for that! I have a make-shift kitchen with a tiny fridge, a rice cooker, an electric skillet, a magic bullet blender, and very importantly (and yes, the first kitchen appliance I bought)- a Swirlio. I am hand-washing and line drying for the time being as I am buying all of my home appliances in Honduras for cost effectiveness, so once a month Kennet with bring me some appliances until I have everything. I will never again take for granted these beautiful things that I once thought basic necessities. No, they are something that most people in the world will never use and I am so grateful to have them and to be able to bless others with them.
Dogs. I have been missing my dog Acey a lot these days (he passed away shortly before moving here). San Juan is overrun with stray dogs and I would love to euthanize all of them and clean this town (and all of Central America) of these poor skin and bone sick dogs, but there are a few dogs here that are filling my need for a dog while I wait for my own, including the three newborn pups of my neighbors' (one of which I almost adopted when she got lost and ended up at my house). For the time being I've befriended Dolly and Tyson which I kind of consider my own anyway since they belong to my "San Juan family."
L-R clockwise: Tyson, Dolly, and the three new pups (bottom L I almost took as my own)
I have workout routine that Kennet and I created which I try to do about 4-5 days a week, running from here to San Pedro (the next town over), and then doing sprints, pushups, lunges, squats, carrying Kennet on my back, etc, on the road entering the San Pedro which I have duly named “The Hill of Death.” It is a horribly steep hill that the tuk tuk taxis even struggle to climb. When I feel like I am close to death, which usually only takes a few minutes, I then run back home. I basically have a love/hate relationship with that hill.
I have been attending Bethel church here in San Juan. The pastor is very kind and I learn a lot from his teachings. Being that Kennet (when he's in town) and I are the only ones there who regularly attend who are not local San Juaneros, it didn’t take long for the pastor to know us. One weekday evening we helped out with an evening service outside. Even in the rain they did not cancel! They are faithful to share God's word.
One of my favorite parts about when I lived in Honduras was meeting missionaries and learning about their work and collaborating with them. I have already met a couple from San Pablo and a lady in San Pedro and I look forward to how our churches and ministries can work together.
On the weekends it's very fun to explore new places around the lake. A couple weeks ago we went to a beautiful place called Jaibalito with Jes and some new friends who are temporarily living in the area! Jes has been a great help to me not only with the Casa but also in great places to have fun! This is the view from the hotel/ restaurant.
Kennet joined a San Juan soccer team and every weekend I enjoy watching the team play. The majority of the team consists of the family of Merlyn and Lesbia, my two co-workers who I consider my family here being that Lesbia houses me for the first 3 months of my life here. We've won 5 of 6 most recent games!
And on a last note, I'm glad they do not celebrate Halloween here. One, because I don't want to say that I hate Halloween, but I strongly dislike it. And living in a place alone where many times at night (like tonight!) there is no electricity and I venture by the light of my iPhone, I am glad there is no mischief night/ Halloween presence here!
As always, I would love to hear from you, and stay tuned for more updates!
