So, the family has been in Guatemala now for about 2 weeks. We have spend a lot of time (and some $$$) trying to get our house more like a home. But the house is comfortable even if we don’t have a dining room table or living room furniture. We are using an outdoor picnic table and chairs and it is working fine for right now.

We were truly blessed to be be able to get internet access so quickly. It usually doesn’t go that smooth or that fast here and I have to send out a special thanks to Pat Dirrim and Pablo Parker for their help. No way I could have made that happen without you all.

Peter Odulana has been gracious enough to allow us to drive his Suburban while he is in the states. That thing is a tank! People seem to really watch out for you when you are driving that. A big thanks to Peter.

Our first team was from First Baptist Lenoir City with Pastor Scott Williams. They were a fun team and we worked in Sembradores, mainly doing VBS with the kids and an eye clinic at the church and the community center. I had the privilege of sharing the gospel in the church on Thursday night during the feeding ministry. That was the same night we said “good bye” to the Scott and his team and the church had a nice farewell celebration for the team.

This week we are working with a team from Pat Dirrim’s home church, Grace Fellowship in Atlanta. This is a team of seasoned veterans of  Guatemala as most of the team has lived in Guatemala and/or has adopted Guatemalan children and it should be a great week. I know it started with a “bang” for me.

Beth had come down with cold-like symptoms and was not feeling well so I left the kids and her and went to church with the team at Union Church. This is a church in the heart of Guatemala City, serving the English speaking population of the surrounding area. I rode to the church with Joey Harris and his family. After church we headed back toward our city to prepare for a day with the team in Antigua.

As we were entering a main road from a very dangerous and poorly designed entrance ramp, it happened. A car that had rapidly passed us on the left was merging with the rapidly moving traffic on the main road and Joey was behind and accelerating so we could merge smoothly. Suddenly, the car in front of the car in front of Joey, inexplicably just stopped. The car in front of Joey stopped but it was too late for Joey and he could not stop in time. We slammed into the car in front of us, a newer subcompact, and I saw pieces of his vehicle go flying out into traffic. As we came to a screeching, crashing halt, I braced as I figured we would be rear ended by other rapidly accelerating traffic from the ramp.

The little car we hit and Joey's Toy

But no further impact was felt and Joey looked at me at said, “Now what?”, to which I suggested we call someone who spoke Spanish much better than us. The driver of the other car approached our vehicle along with his passenger. He seemed to be apologetic for having to stop short and he assured us that they were both okay. I asked everyone in our vehicle if they were alright and other than some nerves and maybe a bruise or 2, everyone escaped injury.

It took a few tries but I finally got in touch with Sandra, one of our magnificent bilingual missionaries and she said she would either get someone to us or she would come herself. Not long after that, Katie Parker called and said she was with Fernando (Our Director of Missions) and they would be on the way. And then…it started pouring. It was too dangerous to stay in the vehicles because of the chance of other traffic crashing into the cars. So we all stayed in the median, getting soaked and awaited the arrival of translators, police and the insurance agent.

This is the insurance response van

Yep, in Guatemala the insurance agent comes to the scene of the wreck. The have nice vans with emergency strobe lights and a comfortable area to do the paperwork.

Soon the scene was brimming with all sorts of people. What would we do without our bilingual missionaries? A HUGE thanks to Sandra and her family, Fernando Sr. and Jr. and their families, Pablo, Oso, Katie, Rachel and as my daughter would say, “er bidy else”. Everything was worked out, the tow truck came (for the little car, the Toyota was fine.) and everyone continued on their way. Unfortunately Joey missed out on Antigua, but there is always next week.

Our Traffic Officer

So it has been some time since my last blog. A lot has happened and we have been pretty busy with the teams that were here during the spring. But now we have several weeks before the next team arrives so I have some time to reflect back on what has been a hard spring. (There is still a lot a work going on here. The feeding programs continue team or no team and our list of children in our programs is growing every day. There is also the day to day administration of the Clubhouse with things such as inventory, data entry and cleaning.)

I am going to try to relate several of the incidences in the order they occurred as best I can remember. And then you can decide for yourself if these are just a series of unrelated events or if something else is going on.

Shortly after arriving here in February, I met the man who was the Guatemalan overseeing the local workers building the youth camp, Clubhouse Camp Calvary. This camp will be a place for teams from the U.S. to stay while they minister to the surrounding villages where the name of Jesus Christ has never been heard. It will also be a training camp for young Guatemalans, teaching them to reach their own people with gospel of Christ.

This man had a seemingly meek and mild disposition. Kind of a “hat in my hand” kind of guy. But that soft exterior hid a much different interior. While he was supposedly bending over backwards to help us as soon as we were off site he was mean and abusive to the local workers. And these are the very people we are trying to show the love of Christ. It came to a point to where Mike had to let him go. Only then did we find out how badly he had been mismanaging the building of the camp and due to that the camp was already over budget.

The next Monday as we arrived to camp with a team from the U.S. ready to get some real work started we were disappointed to find several expensive and needful tools had been taken. The fact that we were going to have to find the money to replace the tools was bad enough but it also meant at least a day’s work was lost because of lack of proper tools. I don’t want to plant ideas into my reader’s heads but I think that as you read on you will begin to see the many parallels to the story in the book of Nehemiah. With the struggles he faced as he worked to complete the rebuilding of the wall.

A few days later the tools had been replaced and we were making some good progress. The camp was really taking shape and it was happening pretty quickly. We seemed to be back on schedule. We finished the day and we were starting to load the tools when Mike came running and said “We gotta go now!”. The panicked look on his face let me know something was seriously wrong and as we loaded up the vehicles I hollered at him “What’s wrong?” He told me quite simply, “The mission house is on fire.”

So we loaded up and headed out but then the truth hit me, we are at best, one hour and 15 minutes from the mission house. By the time we get there, it will all be over. And here we are racing over roads that are full of potholes and speed bumps (called tumulos here). So I was riding with Pat and he was calling Shane who was at the mission house and I was calling Zach who I also thought might be close to the fire scene. Finally, Pat gets through to Shane who tells him it was a grass fire in the lot next to the mission house and the fire department had the fire contained and there was only damage to an exterior plastic drainage pipe at the mission house. I relayed this to Mike so that we could all slow down and collect ourselves. By this time I imagine the stress level for Mike was off the scale.

That night, as I laid down for some needed sleep I made the stupid mistake of asking “what’s next?” Just then, I felt an incredible pain in my lower left calf. It started out like someone had stuck a pin in my leg and then it started burning like it was on fire. I jumped out of bed and hit the light just in time to see a scorpion disappear over the edge of my bed. I was mad. I tore the room apart looking for that accursed  creature and I was going to rip it to shreds. Oddly, I never saw it again…yet. The scorpions down here for the most part are not extremely toxic. The just have a very painful sting. I have been stung by a hornet and I would say it was very similar to that. I had made the mistake that night of not checking my bed. In my fatigue I just plopped down on top of the covers and I must have rolled over on the scorpion. I am not making excuses for the wretched thing, if I find him, he’s dead.

The big one hit next. Carla, Mike’s wife and the real brains behind Clubhouse Guatemala was diagnosed with an aggressive type of breast cancer. What a hit. I so admire the way Mike and the family handled it. The day they got the news, they secluded themselves into their living room and just had a time of praise and worship. Wow, what a witness. That is how we are to handle adversity.

Now Mike and Carla had to make a lot of plans. Carla needed to get to the states for treatment. But both of them insisted that the work of Clubhouse Guatemala MUST go on, no interruption. God, in His amazing foresight, had already assembled a team of people who could make sure that happened. It won’t be easy. It won’t be the same. But the work will continue and we will pray for the Parkers quick return to Guatemala.

A few days later we are back out at the camp. Mike is there directing things and again, a lot is getting accomplished (even with Mike there.). About 1PM I see Mike motioning me to come to the truck. I get close and I say sarcastically “That’s OK Mike, just sit there, I will come to you.” to which he replies “I can’t get out of the truck”. The look on his pale face told me something was not right and I immediately regretted my sarcasm. He was shaking and had become emotional which, if you know Mike, you know was not like him. He told me he could not think straight, he was very weak and needed to go.

Now a bit of a side line. Mike has this nice, blue KIA flatbed truck that he LOVES. He uses it for hauling stuff but he is very protective about it and he doesn’t let anyone drive it. I think maybe Fernando Jr. has driven it once or twice, just to move it or something brief like that.

So it was decided that Fernando would drive Mike back to the city for some care in Mike’s truck. I would ride along…for support? Anyway. Mike suddenly realizes that it is the last day of Bible School for the kids and Fernando is supposed to give the gospel presentation. Fernando tells him that someone else can do it. But Mike, suddenly thinking clearly, says “No, this is just Satan trying to keep you from sharing.” “You are supposed to share and you will, Satan will not win, Jim will drive me.”

Well that surprised everyone, most of all me. I have driven a straight shift but it is not my transmission of choice and this was Mike’s baby. But it was necessary so we prayed (for Mike and his transmission) and off we went. I have to admit, in all modesty, I did a great job. Mike accused me of “popping” his clutch but he was just jealous of my abilities. As we closer to town Mike started to feel better. It seems that his blood sugar probably got a little low and once he got some drink and food in him he seemed fine. I imagine the stress also contributed to his symptoms. I hope he will also see a doctor while he is in the states.

This has been too long of a post so I will wrap up. In the next few weeks I would be at the hospital 4 more times. A team member turned his ankle playing soccer, A team member fell and hit his head and dislocated his shoulder at the mission house, Mike’s daughter katie sprained her ankle falling UP the steps at her house and then finally one of the missionaries here, CC Harris, cut her finger on a broken glass while doing dishes.

So, a long line of delays and setbacks and yet I see the protecting hand of God as well. Work on the camp is continuing steadfastly forward. Missing tools have been replaced. The fire did not damage the house. I suffered no lasting damage from my sting. All the folks who went to the hospital have recovered or are recovering and  we are still excited to see what God is going to do in Carla’s life.

I want to end with some verses that I read in my quiet time this morning. This is from 2 Corinthians 1:9-11

We felt like we’d been sent to death row, that it was all over for us. As it turned out, it was the best thing that could have happened. Instead of trusting in our own strength or wits to get out of it, we were forced to trust God totally–not a bad idea since he’s the God who raises the dead!

  And he did it, rescued us from certain doom. And he’ll do it again, rescuing us as many times as we need rescuing.

You and your prayers are part of the rescue operation–I don’t want you in the dark about that either. I can see your faces even now, lifted in praise for God’s deliverance of us, a rescue in which your prayers played such a crucial part.

And with that, I humbly ask for your continued prayers.

PS. I asked Mike to look over this blog before I posted it for accuracy. He said I had an event or 2 in the wrong order but overall I had it close. He also told me that Ray Parrott one our board members fell last week down the stairs and hit his head and has bleeding on the brain and now has vertigo. He goes Monday to see if they will have to relieve pressure. We ask prayers also for Ray.

So less than 24 hours after landing in Guatemala, Mike assigns me the task of riding with Mr. Joey Harris (hereafter referred to as “Joey”), Carla, Angela and Katie to the repair shop to pick up a vehicle there belonging to the Parkers. I am to drive the car the short distance from the repair shop back to the mission house. Did I mention this was not optional but an order, an “assignment”?

Being the faithful servant I am I cheerfully agreed to the task (again, like I had a choice). We arrived and got the vehicle with very little fanfare. Joey leaves us in the vehicle he is driving after assuring me we (he and I) would do some running around “later”. So the ladies and I get into the vehicle with me driving, my first time ever in Guatemala. I am instructed by Carla (is that first in command or second?) to stop by a certain store who’s name I cannot spell or pronounce (something like “pies”) which is on the way. I dutifully obey and maneuver into the parking lot.

But alas, this store does  not have what we need and I am questioned as to whether I feel I can “handle” driving to Walmart. Of course, not wanting to appear a sissy I announce I am ready, able and willing. So, we pile in and off we go. It has really not been bad as it is not near rush hour and other than the occasional vehicle darting quickly into your lane (without signaling) all is progressing smoothly. You also have to watch for the occasional motorcycle making it’s own lane in the middle of whatever other lanes might be marked on the road. One such motorcycle (with driver and passenger) made such a move, passing me on the left and then darting over to the far right lane. This turned out to be a huge error for said motorcycle, driver and passenger.

The motorcycle darted over into what turned out to be the blind spot of a nice blue compact car. Have you ever seen something bad coming and there was simply nothing you could do but just watch it unfold before your eyes? The blue compact decided it needs over into the far right lane which is currently occupied by the motorcycle in her blind spot. I think there is some scientific theory that stated 2 objects cannot occupy the same space and it was proven before our eyes.

I slowed down as I didn’t want to run over the motorcycle, the driver and/or the passenger after she knocked them over. She hit them with the right rear of her vehicle. I vaguely remember something coming from Carla’s side of the car and I think she nearly pulled the door handle off. Luckily, between the passenger’s and driver’s valiant efforts, tragedy was averted and the bike remained upright and I think there was no serious injury except perhaps to some of the undergarments involved. The driver of the blue compact pulled over and as we passed her we noticed she was a shade of white that is not commonly found in native Guatemalans.

The rest of the trip was without any major incident until it came time to cram a new bike, 2 carts full of groceries and 4 passengers into a Volvo. But that’s a story for another day. Next I hope to talk about today’s activities at Paso a Paso. Time to head back to Julian’s surprise birthday party.

Later

Ok, I need to update you on some adventures from the past few days. Now, I want to preface this first story with a reminder. I am not a rookie traveler. I have been to Europe, Africa, Central and South America including Hungary, Romania, Paris, London, Tanzania, Nairobi, Kilimanjaro, Venezuela, Panama and Guatemala and a few others. Now, I am not bragging, I am just setting the story.

At this point I did something I had never before done while traveling. I am in the Knoxville airport (which is actually in the city of Alcoa) and if you have been there you know it is not the largest airport and so I easily found my gate (12) after making my way through the tight security and waited on them to begin loading. I was fortunate enough to be assigned one of the first loading zones. I gave my ticket to the gate keeper and made my way down the ramp and onto the plane. I located my seat which to my pleasant surprise, turned out to be an exit row (giving me a lot of leg room for my massively long legs). I stowed my carry-on bag in the compartment above my head and placed my briefcase under the seat in front of me. As I sat down and buckled my seat belt I heard the soft chime of the intercom and a voice announce “Attention! Passenger Jim Neubert, please return to the front of the plane.”

Well, I was concerned about this newest development to my just starting adventure and raised my hand to indicate I was on the way. But seeing I was coming without my luggage, the pleasant voice felt obligated to announce “Mr Neubert, please bring all of your belongings, you are on the wrong plane.”

Now, it seems to me, something more discrete would have been in order. Slip me a note, whisper in my ear. But no, she had to announce it to the whole plane. And thus everyone had to stop their forward progress while I began my walk of shame to deplane. You know, those jets hold a lot of people and when you are one of the first ones aboard, there is a long line of people scornfully looking at you when you have to walk that “last mile” and delay their departure.

And it only made me feel slightly better when I found out at least 3 others also had to trek the walk of shame. What happened was the plane before our plane was running about 40 minutes late. And our plane was 40 minutes late. But the signs all said “On time”. So, if fact, they were loading the flight in front of ours which departed out of the same gate. And I could not make our what flight they were calling because of the “Charlie Brown-adult-voice-like noise that came over the intercom.

But anyway, it was a first for me out of the many flights I have taken and a less than glorious start to my adventure. God truly has a wonderful sense of humor, especially when He is working on one’s pride. About 40 minutes later I was sitting in my correct seat on my correct airplane and just a little more humble of a “world traveler”.

Next post…Jim’s first driving experience in Guatemala. And as a teaser, it involves a motorcycle and a car attempting to share the same space. Until then, keep those prayers coming. Thanks for reading.

jim

I am embarking on something I have never done before. Tomorrow I get on a plane and head to a foreign country leaving my family behind. A country whose native language I cannot speak and whose customs I will have to learn. A place where I am not even sure where I will sleep, eat or work.

But all of this is not new to me. I have been blessed to travel to many different countries. And in doing so I usually had to leave my family behind for a while. And not speaking any language except English (and a questionable version of that language) I have always had to depend on others for translation, accommodations and help with just about everything else.

No, what it is that I am doing that I have never before tried is blogging. While I have been well acquainted with html, php and other languages of the World Wide Web, I have never had my own blog. I never felt like I had anything of interests to blog about. And while I still don’t see why anyone would much care what I am doing, I feel like I owe it to my financial and prayer supporters as well as other family and friends I have left behind, to update them on occasion on what I am involved in and how life in general is going.

So, here I sit, the night before I leave for Guatemala, writing my first entry. I am filled with excitement, apprehension, and a lot of things in-between. I am not the least bit worried about travel or anything like that. But I can’t help but worry some for my family. I have a strong wife and my kids are very independent. However, I just wonder what things will come up that are the type of things I would usually handle but now they will have to deal with these things without me.

I know God will protect and provide but I know I will miss them all (even Roby) terribly. But then I have the pleasure of knowing they will join me in Guatemala in a few weeks along with several from my home church.

So sleep may not come easily tonight but I know I am beginning what God has had planned for me since even before I was born. And I am truly looking forward to this next “big adventure”.