Stoves

example of old cooking stove

photo of an onil stove

Since we have decided to work on the stove project, I thought I would post photos of an example of an old stove used by some families in Panajachel and a onil stove. With the onil stoves it decreases the risk of burns. They also are more efficient and use less wood.

Decisions

In my last posts, I mentioned the ideas we were discussing, to do for our mission project. After looking at the estimated costs to build a home, put on a roof, or do a cement floor, we are back to our original idea. Our original idea was to raise money for and help install onil stoves for families who need them. As I said after looking at the estimated costs for the other project ideas, we feel the stove project is the best choice. Working on the stove project, we, I believe can help more families, than with the other projects. I also hope to be able to spend some time helping in the medical clinic.
The more into the planning we get the more we feel that this is the service, we've truly been called to do. Since visiting Guatemala, the country and the people have been very much on my heart. It just seemed to fit, when I started thinking about what area of service He was calling me to, especially when the first thoughts that came to me was 'what can I do to help the people of Guatemala.'

Project Ideas

We are trying to decide on a project to work on for our mission trip to Pana. I would really like to spend at least part of a day or even a whole day helping in the medical clinic. We are also talking about working on some type of construction/reconstruction project, ie... a home, or putting on a roof, or maybe doing a concrete floor, to replace the dirt floor in a home. Many of the homes have dirt floors which for those families, who don't have beds, it can get very cold at night. Also, it is a very difficult situation for these families, during the rainy season, as many live on the side of the mountain and the rain waters run right through their homes. So that is where we are with making a decision about our project.
As far as researching flights, transportation, lodging, etc..., we are making progress and should have an approximate expense total soon.

Progressing forward

I met with my church's Outreach/Mission chairperson, last week. We discussed all the things that need to be done. Right now I'm getting information on the hotels that Sharon mentioned to me to decide which would work the best for us. Also, I am awaiting info on airfare from my contact at Velocity Tours. Hopefully they will be able to get us a good deal. The people at Velocity Tours were such a great help to us, when arranging, our very short notice, travel to Guatemala, to bring home our son. So far I have been able to get tons of information from my friend Marlene, regarding transportation, food, and hotel costs. Thank you Marlene! I hope to have an outline compiled of the approximate costs for the trip soon. Once I am able to get my husband still, we will be discussing and deciding on what type of project we want to work on while we are in Pana. I really would like to help out in the clinic at least one day or part of a day. There is also the possibility of helping with concrete flooring for a family or replacing a roof for a family, the possibilities go on and on.... So definitely something we need to sit down and discuss.

On a different note, I want to say Thank you Nikki, for designing this blog! It looks great! Now that we are starting to get our plans together and get a date, for our trip, set, I am really getting excited! When I started thinking about doing some type of service project, it seemed like Guatemala, though very much in my heart already, was placed on my heart even more so. That we will be able to follow this journey, that we've been called to go on, fills my heart with joy. It is such a blessing for us to be given the opportunity to return to Guatemala and do something to help the families.

The planning continues

So far we haven't had any response to the article in the Faith Promise booklet about the mission trip. So it looks like it could be a family trip after all but still a church sponsored function. I've checked on how it would affect the cost of airfare if we moved our date back to the end of March. Makes a considerable difference and the cost, flying out of Cincinnati seems to be the least expensive. Anita and I are going to get together next week to talk about all the things we need to do. I have also emailed Sharon, per Anita's request, to check on the feasibility of having one of the onil stoves at the church on display. So things are starting to move slowly.