Debra Storer

It is rainy season and in this part of Guatemala the sun seems to shine every morning with rain beginning in afternoon or evening. The rain can be misty or full bore torrential. None the less, it has produced good crops, beautiful flowers, and lush countryside. It has also produced rutted streets and necessitated work crews to shovel and scrape away the runoff soil.

Mission Impact has another team from California arriving this Saturday. This group of 12 will build a 2 room house, 12′ x 16′ for a family with 8 children. The approach to their land is very steep so some if not all the workers may have to use a horse to get there. Selecting one family from the group of six was more than a little challenging. Although several met the criteria, only this one holds title to their property.

Hopefully, after this team I will be able to take time for language study. I’m excited about that possibility.

The vehicle I was driving during the accident in May has been declared a total loss. Unfortunately, the owner had to come to Guatemala in person to procure the title and sign off on the case, which means no dental ministry until another vehicle is purchased or rented. Thank God for his provision in resolving this issue.

Thank you for taking time to read this update and for praising our Lord for ministry to His children in Guatemala and throughout the world.

Good Morning from Villas de Lameseta!

These photos show my current residence while house and cat-sitting for another Mission Impact staff person on leave. At 7000 feet elevation (approximately) the weather is quite pleasant - sunny days and cool evenings. All these houses are cement block with no heat, so I broke down and purchased a ceramic heater to use in the evenings. The house is nicely furnished and the cats tolerate my presence.

It is about half an hour’s drive to the Mission Impact Office so it’s good to be able to work from here. Both electricity and internet service are fairly dependable.

We’ve made much progress in getting the administrative files in order - lots of team effort and flexibility - to quote a Haitian proverb, “men ampil, shay pa lu” = many hands make light work.

Looking forward to the Servant Teams - especially Wisconsin!

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It’s been a full week with training in Mission Impact month-end procedures and learning how the various programs such as Quickbooks, eTapestry, and Wells Fargo work together. Fortunately the place I am staying has a computer room set up that allows desktop computing as well as my laptop.

A bonus to the week was a trip to Santa Faz in Zone 6 of Guatemala City on Thursday. Santa Faz is a community built on the side of a ravine - mostly tin and cardboard structures. After Huricane Mitch part of the ravine was cemented in an effort to stabilize the sides; however, with the last rain portions of the cement slid down taking with it several houses.

The purpose of the trip was a dental clinic conducted by Don & Peggy Orth. They saw 30 patients on Thursday, performing several root canals, many extractions, and some cleanings. They drove for 1 1/2 hours to Santa Faz and worked nonstop (with 15 minutes for lunch), drove 1 1/2 hours back to San Pedro El Alto, sterilized instruments, packed for the next day and did it all again. And for some reason they say they are “retired”! I was tired at the end of the day and my job was hand-holding!

Enjoy the photos and let me hear from you…Debra

Proximos Pasos Exterior

Proximos Pasos Foyer

Proximos Pasos Courtyard

Proximos Pasos Neighbors

Mission Impact Appropriate Technology Cistern

San Pedro el Alto

San Pedro el Alto is a small enclosed neighborhood on the outskirts of Antigua where the Sprechers and the Mission Impact Office are located. Fuego is an international learning center here with extra space so Don & Peggy Orth (dentist & nurse combo) and I are staying in the main house. They will be in Guatemala another month and I am looking for a permanent situation. What a blessing to wake up to site of Fuego Volcano in the near distance.
Last night was my first opportunity to drive and we made it home safely!!! The Orths have a small 4 wheel drive vehicle that they use on their dental excursions and they will allow me to use it while they are out of country, so last night I drove us into Antigua. Interesting differences between driving in Guatemala and the States include:

No center lines - Stop signs located on buildings on the far side of the approaching street - parking on both sides of the street - tumulos (speedbumps) that are huge - motorcycles weaving in and out - people jumping off the buses as they slow down - lots of noise (honking) and lots of fumes.

Spent last week at the Christian Spanish Academy - testing into grade D (from A-G). It was great to be remembered by a couple of staff members who were also there in 1993. Fortunately, I am able to understand quite a bit and will be able to practice speaking with the housekeeper here. My teacher also loaned me the Spanish versions of When God Whispers Your Name and The Purpose Driven Life, to increase my vocabulary.

Was warmly welcomed by the Mission Impact Staff (my new family) at the September meeting on Friday and the “girls” are getting together for spaghetti dinner tonight at Lauren’s. It’s a good opportunity to connect before folks go on home leave at the end of the school year or for the holidays.

Time for church so I will sign out - thanks for your interest and emails. Hope to see you soon in Guatemala!!!