Finishing the Construction Work

(This post was delayed because of wifi/internet problems)

Friday, March 1^st

Today is our last day of work here at Oasis. We started off the day a bit earlier so that we can get our work done by mid-day. Xochitl shared Psalms 103:1-11 reminding us of God’s love for us. We finished off devotions with Randy leading us with the song Bless the Lord Oh My Soul. We can see God’s hand at Oasis and the great things He has done and continues to do in each of the girl’s here.

Sensory Therapy Room

Enclosures for the new water heaters.

2 Casa's interiors painted

We cleaned up our work areas and headed towards Atitlan to spend time debriefing as a team. The road to Atitlan was rough but the scenery was beautiful. In the midst of all the beauty there’s a constant reminder of how much poverty exists here in Guatemala. We drove by a school as kids were walking out and it reminded us of how in the midst of all those children there are those experiencing abuse just like the Oasis girls.

The team shared highlights of our time here in Guatemala. Dennis shared a difficult experience she had with one of the girls and how she was able to handle it with God’s wisdom.  With girls now going to Foster homes there is more new faces this year which makes it a bit more challenging. We realized that some of the girls who are new are still in the beginning steps of healing. Some of the girls are cutting as a means to relieve inner pain and the counselors are diligently working with these girls. This is a reminder for us to keep praying not only for the girls here at Oasis but also for the Tia’s (house mom’s) and the staff that continue to work daily with each girl.

As a team we feel blessed to have the opportunity to serve the Oasis home. Our hearts desire is that you would experience what we’ve experienced. God’s love is so tangible. Our hearts break for what these girls have experienced in their short lives but at the same time we recognize how blessed they are to experience the healing power of our wonderful God by being here at Oasis. We ended our day praying for each other.

Xochitl & Dennis.

This morning I awoke to roosters and the always present barking of at least a half dozen dogs. Its music to my ears because of my love for Guatemala. Its like no other place I've known. As I stagger down the stairs to the team room I am awed by the beauty of the sunrise beyond the volcano's.

The Lord has provided another perfect working day for us. After breakfast and devotions we all go back to our assigned work positions. At the end of the work day most all cabinet fabrication is complete and final touches of paint are drying.

The drywall sanding in the new Sensory room is done and painting begins. We also finished the enclosures around new water heaters behind the staff house. After a good day of work I get to the favorite part of my day, the part were I play soccer and basketball with Oasis girls. The constant laughter from the girls does my heart good.

Delicious dinner with the Casa Ester girls

In the evening we are invited to Casa Ester for what will be my first baby shower. After surprising the guest of honor we are informed we will be playing games. Little did I know that 2 team members would be selected to be dressed up and made to act like babies. I was fortunate to be nominated as our teams infant. The pictures will say it all. We also got a briefing on the current and future state of Casa Ester from the director. It sounds like they are desperate to expand this facility due to future need. I saw several girls I had not seen in a couple of years and met several new girls as well. I see God moving here in a big way. I will take what's left of my dignity and go now.

Caleb & Kory selected to be dressed up as babies, with the expectant Mom/Director

Kory

Random thoughts from the desk of Greg Stoesz

This is my first trip to Guatemala in 3 years.  A lot has changed here but a lot has stayed the same.  The International language of laughter is strong as ever.  The international language of tears is also strong here.  The other day I was listening to the girls play basketball, it was all laughter.  No matter how bad or nonexistent our Spanish might be, laughter transcends.  New to me this year is the lock down on photos of the girls.  It makes sense as the severity of the abuse and the aggressive pursuit of justice here, the need for security increases. 

The other night we had dinner in the individual houses here.  A girl that I sat next to has cutting lines on her arms.  It wrecked me to see that outward expression of internal pain.  I felt like I failed her.  That night my tears were for her.  Tears transcended that night.  

Tonight, we got the blessing of incredible lasagna but more important to be able to worship with the girls.   Two girls were not doing what they were supposed to do.  They were removed and talked to, only one of them returned to the room.  I witnessed tough love.  They were not respecting the boundaries they were given, and they were removed.  I have no idea what was said to them, but I know I witnessed Grace for the one who returned.  Worshiping our King is the same no matter the language.  Raising kids is the same no matter what the country.  

It is so easy in our Minnesota bubble to think that worship and following Christ is only one way. It looks different here.  Sanctification looks different here.  

Work projects are coming along well.  I think we have a good handle of finishing up what we have been given to do by the end of the week.  

I had lunch today with a young lady that I have known since my first trip 9 years ago.  She is now working here at the Oasis in the kitchen and it is a good thing for here and her family.  It was very special to me that I could get a firsthand account of what God has been doing in here life and in her heart.  The maturity and outlook on life that she now possesses was a blessing to here.  We laughed and we cried together. 

I miss my wife while here, brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it, 4 more sleeps honey.

We are doing good things here, things that make the Lord pleased.  I know that because this trip stirs the enemy.  Please continue to pray for us and out families.  

Tomorrow brings another beautiful day with more work, more opportunity to lift someone up with a smile, a "Hola". A high five.  It can be that simple.  

Thank you for reading my thoughts. This tired man needs some downtime and sleep.  

Greg

Zapote Visit

Tuesday morning at The Oasis dawned with a beautiful blue sky and a few puffy clouds. We thought of, and said a silent prayer for you, our faithful friends and supporters trapped on the frozen Minnesota tundra. Hang in there.

The work here continues in earnest. Members of the team are installing wiring, framing and hanging sheet-rock, painting, and cabinet building.  Everybody is working together and unified in our efforts to fulfill the jobs presented to us.

Source of Hope school at the base of Volcano Fuego

One of the needs Kids Alive presented to us was to photograph all the kids out at Source of Hope school out in the remote village of Zapote. Caleb and Tim were sent out along with Jenny from The Oasis to join with Meaghen and Anna who work out there at the school. Together we were able to corral and photograph all 225+ kids for their sponsorship photos.

These kids are amazingly bright, happy, and so friendly considering their circumstances and environment. Many live in tin and wood shanty's with dirt floors and yet you wouldn't know it once they have their school uniforms on and a big smile on their faces. The efforts of this school, their staff and missionaries to share Christ to these kids, and then the resulting change in their families is so heartwarming and encouraging to see. God is really changing this village in this way. Please pray about and consider sponsoring one of these beautiful and precious kids. You can do this at www.kidsalive.org

It's hard to describe the joy of sponsoring a kid on the mission field and then actually being able to visit them in person. Both of us were able to do that on this visit after photos were finished, giving them some family photos and a small gift. We really value this interaction and come away very blessed.

Caleb with his sponsored girl, Anna translating.

The drive out and back to Zapote took us right through the area hardest hit by last June's major eruption of volcano "Fuego".  The nearby village of El Rodeo was destroyed by a quick-moving pyroclastic flow — a mix of hot lava, pumice, ash and volcanic gas moving down volcanic slopes at speeds as high as 200 mph. It was fortunate that the flow did not come down towards Zapote but instead went more southeast, tragically wiping out villages and killing hundreds. There are close to 3000 people people unaccounted for and presumed buried. Some families left Zapote following the eruption, and KAG missionary Meaghen and her husband Raul had to relocate their home in the nearby city of Escuintla.

Pray for the people of Guatemala who are grieving and trying to rebuild. Pray that their hearts would be turned to their heavenly Father who grieves with them. Pray for those that are ministering to them in their trouble, and working to show compassion. 

Thanks also for your daily prayers for us. Can we also ask your special prayer support for Nora, one of our Team hosts, and a young mom of a 2 month old. She went to the emergency room yesterday with medical problems and is still not feeling well. Please lift Nora up in prayer for complete healing. We are thankful for all of you!

E-O!
Ever-Onward!

Work Week begins!

Today we got down to our construction part of the trip.  This week will now be days of building and upgrading the Oasis.  We began the morning with Dan leading us in a short devotions as we looked at Jesus' life and compassion He demonstrated.  This was right after we met in the "team room" to find and make our own breakfast.

Team Room Devotions

Good place to remind that all should be doing their own dishes, but no problem with this team as good group of servants.  We then proceeded to the "bodega" where we met Brian and got to see long time friend Doug Johnson.  It is in the bodega that we get the game plan for the week of duties from the staff at the Oasis. 

Work-week planning in the Bodega with Brian

Doug Johnson, still teaching the value of "man-hugs'. 

As we settle in to what jobs meet up with our skills, we determine the best teams will get the most done and what makes sense.  Some of us are available to do whatever they think we can handle.  The first work morning is always exciting as this is when we get to see physically what gets built.  The rooster's crows and dog's barks wake you up followed by the sun, and the then the best part of waking up, girls laughing and running around before they go off to school.

Our team projects consist of making numerous cabinets, painting the complete inside of one of the Casa's, (girls house), gathering in town a number of the items we need to complete work, and another group that will frame, build and paint a sensory room for the Oasis.  

Reviewing the remodeling of the "sensory room".

We also had Tim, our team photographer and video expert, went into town to discuss and video the court and a judge who rules over many of the decisions made for what becomes of the court ordered girls future.  He had a very strong and positive response for how the Oasis has had great success in rebuilding and redeeming the lives of these girls and their families.
Our hope is to complete the painting of the Casa, complete the cabinets, film and complete photos of all the children at the Source of Hope school in Zapote , finish the sensory room and then complete as many of "the list" that still needs to be done at Oasis.  This list is a long one and we will attempt to get to as many jobs as we can.

We also got a nice introduction to the behind-the-scenes of how the Oasis is so successful in redeeming and rebuilding these girls.  We saw how the girls come from the courts via order from a judge who hears of these girls abuse.  It breaks your heart to hear of girls who have had family members abuse, to murder, to prostitution, to kidnapping for organ sales, to even more unthinkables.  We thank all of you for any and all support for this great need.  There has even been child birth at 10 years old and these 10 year old girls are now moms.  Since 2009 to 2019, Oasis has gone from 36 children to 100-110 - 3 missionaries to 15 missionaries - 7-8 times more support of social workers and psychologists. Staff of 17 to 80.  It is good to see God at the center of this all and these folks do such a great job.

We ended the night at dinner and a devotion from Caleb that again engaged our spirits to think and dwell on Gods word and compassion.  We all agreed that compassion is something we all need and need more of.  Psalm 86:15, Zachariah 7:8-12, and Colossians 3:12

Randy

New Sunday Experiences!

Buenas noches!

Today the team experienced several things that we hadn't done before. Church, obviously wasn't one of them, but getting there for me was. The rest of the team went to the Galilea church as we have done for many years, but I had the opportunity to go to the Nazaret church, where the Oasis girls go, to meet one of the girls that my wife and I began sponsoring 10 years ago. She just recently left Casa Ester, the Kids Alive Independence home for older girls. What I thought was going to be a van ride with the girls turned out to be a mile or so walk down to San Lucas and then ride a "Chicken Bus" to their church. Just let me say, it was like being in a NASCAR race. Three lanes wide at high speed around lots of curves. All in a normal day in Guatemala. Church was great, but a malfunction of their video projector meant the worship pastor had to lead us in a rousing "sing-along" for 45 minutes before the message. I recognized some of the tunes from youth camp 50 years ago. It was really enjoyable.

Guatemala Chicken Bus

I met the team back in San Lucas for lunch and then we went to an open house at Casa Ester. Many of the girls there have gone to beautician or massage school, so the open house was to let them earn some extra money as part of the independence process. We helped them out by purchasing a manicure, two haircuts and several shoulder massages. Manicures and massages BEFORE we start work tomorrow didn't make sense, but it was for a good cause.

Dennis getting her manicure.

Chris getting a trim from Paola

Caleb with Odeth and Candy at their craft table.

From there, we went to a small town our team hadn't been to before called Pastores. The town specializes in handmade leather goods. Probably 50 or so shops all making boots, hats, belts and anything else leather. It was an enjoyable change from the Antigua shopping run we have done in past years.

Well, tomorrow the real work begins. They have a new room for us to build and wire in the main building, cabinets and cribs to design and build and painting to be done. A full week for sure.

As a side note, if you're wondering about why the photos with Oasis girls in them seem to be poorly taken, let me just say it takes great skill to do that. For safety of the girls, many of whom are high risk, Kids Alive policy won't allow us to show any faces. So when you see lots of legs, arms and backs, you'll know why.

For the team. Neil