Month: November 2018

Arrived to the city late in the evening and Doctor Kenny picked me up and dropped me off at the Caprizzio Hotel. Arose early and headed for Escuintla. This town is pretty much ground zero for Fuego relief work and the base of our operation. I am with a young man named Makko and he will be with me today. We went to Alotenango where some new homes have been built for some of the Fuego victims. This town is on the back side of the volcano. We passed through Los Lotes, ground zero, and drove around the base of the mountain. I wanted to see what other NGO’s were doing Shelter wise. After the look see, we went to another camp where many people still are living. Several days ago the government moved all out of the camps and sent them back to their land and home remnants. In less than 24 hours the volcano erupted again and they moved everyone back to the camps. There is no dignity or privacy in these camps. And know one really seems to know what direction CONRED is going. I think the situation is worse now than before. From there we went back through Escuintla and headed north to the property we are considering. We now have a legal survey and that will allow me to walk the property but I first must gain permission before entering the land. I like the land and I hope we can negotiate a fair price. There is much work that will have to be done before anything can be done. I met a Cuban doctor here today. He is a surgeon that specializes in neck, throat and abdomen surgeries. For now I won’t mention his name. He is seeking citizenship here in Guatemala. He made $20.00 a day in Cuba and was allotted rice and beans each month just like everyone. If you want meat,sugar, milk etc. you have to buy it. When I get back I’m gonna suggest our family doctor cut his rates down to $20.00 a day…… yeah right. He is very humble and is a new believer. Not sure yet what happens tomorrow but I will push hard to enter the property. Things are moving in a good way but it’s hard to be patient. I must always remember that it’s His work not mine. Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Kenny

CI/GMSM are jointly headed back south again. We are hoping to finally get our plan of relocating several families moving forward. Our desire is to purchase property to build 10 homes on. That means 10 families will have a new beginning. We have found property and have paid to have a survey to see exactly where the property lines are and make sure the title is clear. Now that all that is complete I can walk the land knowing where all sides of the property are. We are hoping to make an offer on this trip and put down some earnest money. Should be an interesting process. PTL that we have some great locals who are helping us through this process. Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Kenny

Last week brought an opportunity that was made possible by what Give Me Shelter Ministries has done over the last 12+ years in Mexico and Haiti. We have invested time and resources into pastors who truly want to serve their people. By building a continued trust and relationship with these pastors it has opened up so many opportunities through out each country. Conscience International and GMSM sent funds via Pastor Felipe Hernandez from Nuevo Laredo down to FBC Oaxaca. From there their group traveled south to Ixtepec where the first wave of migrants from the Guatemala border were headed. They along with a small church in Ixtepec were able to bring aid to about 2000 people. Food, water and hygiene products were distributed. This small village is next to Ixtaltepec where we continue to build latrines due to the damage of the earthquake well over a year ago. As this was taking place we also sent Pastor Harry and a helper up to the north of Haiti to check out the damage from the resent earthquake and to see if we needed to consider aid of some sort. He went to Port des Paix and visited several small communities. When he came back, he felt that the damage was minimal and things were already being done response wise. The consensus was to stay focused on the roof project in Cayette. How blessed we are to be able to send out our brothers and sisters to do mission in their countries with out having to be micro managed every step of the way. That’s true investment.
Kenny