by Jon Keehn | Oct 3, 2016 | Bitácora, Pensamientos De Los Misioneros
Por Mayra Duran
En los últimos meses he estado leyendo una novela histórica de un libro fascinante, el cual no me había decidido a leer ya que contiene casi las 1,000 páginas. Cuando comencé el libro, sentía que no avanzaba y cada capítulo se me hacía eterno. Ahora que llevo más de la mitad del libro, no quiero que se termine y trato de disfrutar cada capítulo lo más que puedo. Creo que no hubiera descubierto lo extraordinario que era este libro si nunca me hubiera atrevido a dar el primer paso: leer la primera página.
Al pensar en esto, me recordé que tres años atrás tenía el deseo de hacer algo por Melvin, un chico que vive en la aldea con parálisis cerebral, quien pasa la mayor parte de su tiempo en cama sin poder caminar ni hablar. Con toda la intención de ayudarle, le preguntaba a Dios si había algo que pudiera hacer por él. ¿Y saben qué? No recibí respuesta alguna. No me animaba ya que era un reto grande. Pero fue hasta un año después que decidí hacer algo por él. Así que me animé a dar el primer paso y fui a visitarlo. La primera visita fue todo un desastre, hasta lo hice llorar con lo que llevaba preparado. Estaba un poco frustrada y sólo era la primera visita. Sin embargo, Dios tenía todo perfectamente calculado.
La siguiente semana un grupo de Estados Unidos visitaba El Faro y eran perfectamente lo que Melvin necesitaba: fisioterapeutas. Y fue en esa semana que la ayuda perfecta llegó a la casa de Melvin. Los fisioterapeutas nos mostraron a su familia y a mí algunos ejercicios para trabajar con Melvin. Actualmente, después de dos años, él recibe fisioterapia dos veces a la semana con el propósito de ejercitar sus músculos y huesos. Su familia ha visto grandes cambios fisiológicos en el cuerpo de Melvin y en su forma de ser. No cabe duda que Dios hace todo perfecto en Su tiempo pero nos invita a dar pequeños pasos para poder contemplar sus maravillas.
¿Hay algo a lo que Dios te ha estado llamando a hacer y no lo has hecho? ¿Qué te ha detenido para dar el primer paso? Muchas veces esperamos confirmaciones de distintos tipos cuando Dios nos invita a tan sólo dar el primer paso. Creo firmemente que la vida de Melvin ha tenido un gran cambio y todo gracias a Dios, pero Él necesitaba que alguien diera el primer paso.
“Él conoce cada uno de mis pasos; puesto a prueba, saldré puro como el oro. Yo siempre he seguido sin desviarme el camino que él me ha señalado. Siempre he cumplido sus leyes y mandatos, y no mi propia voluntad. Cuando él decide realizar algo, lo realiza; nada le hace cambiar de parecer. Lo que él ha dispuesto hacer conmigo, eso hará, junto con otras cosas semejantes.”
-Job 23:10-14
by Tonito | Jun 25, 2015 | Salud
Escuchando por primera vez
Healing the Children es una organización que ha venido a Guatemala durante 8 años para ayudar a los niños sordos dando audífonos para aquellos que lo necesitan. Este año tres estudiantes sordos del programa de Educación Especial en El Faro recibieron la invitación para ir al viaje médico para un examen de audición gratuita, en Puerto Barrios, Izabal. Mayra Durán, misionera que dirige el programa de educación especial en El Faro, viajó con sus estudiantes y sus padres el 6 de noviembre al viaje médico. Pasaron por cinco estaciones diferentes: En primer lugar, la limpieza de la oreja. En segundo lugar, la prueba de audición que se realizó por un médico que también era sordo. En tercer lugar, el ajuste del audífono. Entonces, la educación que incluía una breve lección sobre cómo utilizar los dispositivos correctamente. Y, por último, vieron a un doctor para ver si había alguna infección en los oídos. Dos de los tres estudiantes recibieron su audífonos. Uno de los estudiantes no era capaz de recibir un audífono porque la prueba mostró que estaba completamente sordo. Sin embargo, gracias a Dios por esta oportunidad y fue una gran bendición tener esta comprobación médica de forma gratuita.
Delmi es una niña sorda que vive con su abuela a dos horas de El Faro a pie. Su abuela está enferma y no puede caminar muy bien, pero ella hizo el esfuerzo para llevar a Delmi a su prueba de audición. Delmi puede escuchar ahora! Delmi y su abuela están tan agradecidas con Dios porque ella puede oír ahora con su oreja izquierda. Tener un audífono le permitirá comunicarse mejor y continuar estudiando. El próximo año Delmi se iniciará asistirá a El Faro para aprender a leer y escribir. Ella está muy emocionada!
El ministerio de sordos en El Faro ha creado una conciencia en los pueblos que hay esperanza para que las familias puedan comunicarse con sus hijos sordos. Se ha abierto muchas oportunidades, incluyendo el aprendizaje de la lengua de signos y también ser capaz de recibir los audífonos a través de la ayuda de las organizaciones increíbles como Healing the Children. Si desea saber cómo puede ayudar o si usted desea donar a este ministerio, póngase en contacto con Mayra Duran en mayrasofiaduran@gmail.com
by elfaro | Jul 23, 2014 | Sin Categoría
El Faro was PRIVILEGED to have some wonderful people come long-term to El Faro to serve and and be God’s hands and feet. We are sad to say goodbye, but know that their adventures are just beginning and that God has so much in store for them. In a sense they are all are going “home”, but they will always have a home and family at El Faro supporting them. These wonderful members of El Faro left in June and are already getting adjusted into their new routines. Here is a update on what they are doing and what their future plans are. We know that all of them had an impact with those who came to El Faro and we encourage you to please pray for them. If you would like to contact them, we are also providing their emails and they would love to hear from you.
Montserrat Gonzalez
Montserrat, or ‘Montse’ as she was so affectionately called, came to El Faro in 2012 when our staff was small. She had spent much of her life in different ministries around the world before settling at El Faro and began a number of projects including physical education, English classes, bringing food to the elderly, and the Moringa Project, just to name a few. She was a natural teacher to all of us and touched each life she came in contact with. She was a constant friend to everyone in the village and established very beautiful relationships with many of the villagers. Her presence became a light of hope to many of the suffering and hopeless.
She has been called back home to Leon, Mexico where she has been able to spend quality time with her father, nieces and nephews, and children at an orphanage where she has been helping for years. She currently is teaching robotics using legos to kids from difficult neighborhoods.
Email: montseglezv@gmail.com
The Baumann Family
Debbie, Naomi, and Leonard came to El Faro for their first time on a short-term mission trip in 2011 That one week would changed their lives as they felt called to serve long-term. They traveled back to El Faro for a month in the summer of 2012 to see what life at El Faro would look like and also for confirmation that this was the step their were supposed to take. After many confirmations, they came for their one-year commitment in 2013 and instantly captured the love of everyone at El Faro.
Debbie became an English teacher at the local school as well as gave one-on-one classes to people of all ages in the villages. She became a “mom” to many of the missionaries and volunteers at El Faro who needed advice, prayer, or just someone to talk with. She returns to her previous job as a teacher at Kankakee Trinity Academy. Email: debrabaumann2@yahoo.com
Naomi learned Spanish very fast and was able to be involved in many ministries including hospital visits, physical education classes, helping with short-term missions teams, and the dental assistant to Wendy. She made many friends with her outgoing character and was even part of the El Faro girls soccer team. Naomi is now enrolled in Kankakee Community college pursuing a nursing degree to be able to do medical missions in the future.
Lenny was a small and shy boy on his first trip to El Faro, but this past year Lenny grew so much in his character, maturity, and also, his height! If he wasn’t in Bible Club, he was helping on the ropes course, traveling with teams to the villages, or challenging friends at El Faro on the basketball court. He is continuing his high school education at Bradley Bourbonnais Community High School. Email: lennybaumann6@gmail.com
by elfaro | Jul 23, 2014 | Sin Categoría
Every June for the past five years the El Faro staff anxiously awaits the news of two things. First, we, especially the girls in the kitchen, await the results to see if our favorite soccer team, Los Comunicaciones, win their tournament. And secondly, will the soccer team choose El Faro to do their preseason training again. In June this year not only did they win for their fifth consecutive year, but we also received the call that we would be welcoming them back.
The team arrived in full force on July 1st complete with players, trainers, and assistants. From day one the team got to work focusing on their upcoming season and tournament. On a daily basis the team began training early in the morning at 5:30 followed by breakfast and a break. Training commenced again at 10:30 followed by their lunch and another rest. Finally in the afternoon at 4:00 the team would always be on the soccer field doing their final training of the day and it was always a treat for the villages who could come and watch the team train. The children especially enjoyed the presence of ‘Los Cremas’ and helped collect stray balls and work the sidelines helping in little ways. Having this team come to El Faro every year is a huge blessing. Our soccer field took years to develop and having Los Cremas come and use our field is a huge encouragement. In addition, the team feels safe and likes our facilities which helps bring positive publicity and also lets us know that our customers are pleased.
Carlos Figueroa is a midfielder for the team and had been to El Faro three times. He told us that he likes El Faro because of the tranquility one experiences during their time here. “Everyone that works at El Faro is friendly and El Faro has everything we need to train”. His favorite memory during his three years with the team was when he and two other players spoke in front of the El Faro youth group. The team enjoys teaming up with organizations that work with kids to inspire them and help show that they can achieve their dreams through their stories.
Another team member that came back for his third time but with a different position was the new head coach, William “Willy” Fernando Oliviera. Originally from Uruguay, he played soccer professionally for 17 years as a forward and for the past three years had been the assistant coach. This year he came to El Faro leading the team to set a physical basis for two upcoming competitions. During their time at El Faro his team is able to feel unity because of the beautiful and natural atmosphere and that they are able to have privacy.
The team had a good and solid two-week training at El Faro and feel fully prepared to face their upcoming tournaments. It was a wonderful time also for the El Faro staff and villagers to get to visit with them and have a chance to share with one another. We wish the team a great tournament and hope they know they have a huge support team in Punta de Palma cheering them on!
He told us that he likes El Faro because of the tranquility one experiences during their time here. “Everyone that works at El Faro is friendly and El Faro has everything we need to train”. His favorite memory during his three years with the team was when he and two other players spoke in front of the El Faro youth group. The team likes teaming up with organizations that works with kids to inspire them and help show that they can achieve their dreams.
by elfaro | Jul 23, 2014 | Sin Categoría
The town of Puerto Barrios is a town that doesn’t have much that meets the eye. Driving through one can notice the lack of care for the streets and people with the amount of garbage, poverty, and extreme heat everywhere you go. Whenever we have teams come, they must pass through this town and many can’t wait to arrive to the dock to take the boat to El Faro and leave Puerto Barrios behind. There is a place, however, that has become very special to us and has begun to shine bright amongst the darkness in Puerto Barrios. We first walked into the doors of the Children’s Hospital in 2011 when we needed a place to perform surgeries and we had a connection with the director there. We formed an instant relationship with 
the hospital and since then we have been able to use their facilities and staff for three successful surgery teams. For each surgery team many of the El Faro volunteers and missionaries have gone to assist in translating during the surgeries and also visit and pray with the patients and their families. Nelita Saravia, a missionary at El Faro, had been on several of these surgery teams and after the last one she saw the huge need of ministering to the patients and families at the hospital. Beginning this year in February, Nelita and a group of girls have traveled by boat every Monday to Puerto Barrios to spend their mornings at the Children’s Hospital. On a regular weekly visit they target certain areas of the hospital to spend their time and love on children and their families.
Malnourished Area: In this area the girls talk and pray for mothers who have babies and young children in the hospital due to malnourishment. Some mothers are new and have been at the hospital for a week while others remain in the hospital for up to two months while their child gets back to normal weight. The girls are able to hold the babies and play with the children while encouraging the mothers.
Neonatal/Nursery Area: The El Faro girls have had the privelege of helping the “nannies” of the hospital with the job of bottle feeding the newborns from one-day old to two-week old babies.
Newborn to Two-Year Old: In this area there are a number of patients with different medical needs. Many of the children are not in the hospital for a long period of time and so the mothers don’t necessarily stay with them all the time leaving them under the watch of the nurses. The El Faro team is able to help hold and care for the children and help the nurses in any way they can.
Young Boy and Girls 3-14 years: Once the El Faro team gets to these rooms the party begins. Things get a little crazy with coloring books, puzzles, games, balloons, and of course, bubbles! In these rooms the children have little to entertain themselves with so it is wonderful having visitors and being able to have fun in the hospital even though they are going through physical problems.
Many children throughout the day sit in their hospital bed with little to do so when
the El Faro team comes in it is quite the treat. This ministry has really grown and whenever we have teams or volunteers they are also able to visit the hospital with the team and love on the patients in lots of different ways including playing games, coloring in coloring books, reading, or just talking and praying. The team also makes it a point to visit and minister to the nurses at the hospital. The nurses have a hard job and usually don’t get much credit. The girls on the team are able to talk and pray for the stresses and personal problems the nurses might have and also encourage them. We know that it is God who has opened the doors to the hospital from the very beginning and we are thankful for all the opportunities that are springing up now to be able to go every week. Please pray for the wonderful team from El Faro that goes there every Monday so that they will be used and make an impact on the patients, medical staff, and administration of the hospital.
If you are interesting in the hospital ministry and would like to receive the hospital newsletter, please subscribe HERE
by elfaro | Apr 21, 2014 | Sin Categoría
The El Faro Soccer Academy has taken a new turn this year with many new amazing things happening. This year we have a new coach, Brittany, and she has completely taken over the girls side of the academy. Brittany and Gavin were married in August of last year and came down together with a joint mission and heart to strengthen the academy and work even more with the kids involved.“We’re implementing more structure and formal training this year so that we begin to walk and talk the culture of soccer” says Gavin.
There is more structure and now each student in the academy has their own pair of soccer cleats. This is hard to maintain with their feet always growing, but so far everyone has cleats and socks and is now so excited to play not having to worry about their feet getting stepped on or slipping. “In addition”, says Gavin, “we have new balls and practice jerseys that are helping us look the part of a team.”
The younger boys academy consists of 35 players. The older boys practice once a week and roughly 15-20 of them. The younger girls academy consists of 15-25 girls, depending on the day. The older girls academy consists of 15-20 girls and they practice once a week as well.
Gavin and Brittany have also started training two young kids from the village who show much potential in soccer. “Kike and Santiago is such a new labor of love for me. They both posses extraordinary talent and natural love for the game.” The purpose is to grow them into faith-filled players and provide them with the opportunity to receive one-on-one mentorship, professional level training, and attention. The academy includes physical training, bible devotions, nutrition and dietary instructions, body development, academic requirements, and lots of footwork and ball work. There are tons of challenges with not having materials needed and each player learns differently, but so far a huge success with Santiago and kike as they are pushing each other and hungry for more.
Besides soccer, Gavin and Brittany have team activities throughout the month usually consisting of swimming in the ocean or watching a movie with snacks. This year they also had the first team sleepover. This was an amazing experience and so much fun. For many of the kids it was their first time spending the night away from home. There were a variety of activities planned throughout the event. Some of the activities included a water balloon fight, scavenger hunt, swimming, video games, and a movie.
“It was an emotional experience for me tucking all the kids in to bed at night. I realized how much love I have for each and every one of them. My heart was overflowing with love.” The camp was a lot of fun and is something we plan on doing twice a year. It was a great bonding experience for all of the kids and we look forward to the next one.
Goals moving forward for the soccer academy are getting shorts for all of the students and also shin guards to complete the uniforms. Gavin and Brittany would also like to get more training materials to help the kids try new things and push their bodies and skills. This summer we are looking forward to film training session and individuals training for the players to learn to see the complete field during games and learn through video how and where they can improve with the ball.
by elfaro | Apr 21, 2014 | Sin Categoría
A great need that we have seen throughout Guatemala is the lack of Biblical training for the pastors in both rural and urban areas. Many of the pastors have the heart and desire to lead churches, but they can only do so much with the Biblical knowledge that they have. Last year through a meeting set up by Bob Smith, who traveled to El Faro last year with his family on a short-term mission trip, we were able to meet an amazing organization that is doing big things around the world. Global Action, among many other things, has an amazing pastors training program is in 4 countries around the world. After visiting El Faro to give a presentation, El Faro knew that this was a match made in heaven.
We have a total of 30 people involved in the 11-month program including local pastors from the villages, pastors from Livingston, and many of the El Faro missionaries and staff. It is an intense bible training that includes bible interpretation, old and new testament, as well as how to write a sermon and other great lectures that help train and equip for the field.
Each month all the students come to El Faro where they have a 3-day intense workshop lead by a teacher that travels to Guatemala from different parts of the world. Being such a diverse group of students, it is amazing to see how God is using this opportunity to build community and also understanding among each person involved. The program lasts a total of eight months and we are already seeing a huge difference going into our third month. Please keep each person involved in your prayers as they grow in the Bible and understanding in order to strengthen their ministry.
by elfaro | Apr 21, 2014 | Sin Categoría
When we had our medical team in February from Maranatha, optometrist Dr. Dario Aldana was hard at work for two reasons. Firstly, there are always a lot of patients that need their eyes checked for glasses. And secondly, Dr. Dario was searching for candidates for an eye surgery team that he was planning for March in El Faro. Cataracts and Pterigons are common eye problems here in Guatemala that have an operable solution. Many people in our area of Guatemala don’t have the means to afford a surgery and sadly lose their sight completely. Just because someone has lost sight, however, doesn’t mean that they still can’t receive the operation.
This was the third eye surgery team at El Faro and we couldn’t have been more blessed by such a wonderful group. Dr. Dario, Dr. Bob, his wife, Susan, Mary, Mayra, Brittni, Cindy, and Larry made up the incredible team this year and God was able to move through each one to touch the lives of so many people.
The doctors do not charge for the operations and bring down donated medicine and surgery equipment. Located in one of the apartments in a dorm here at El Faro. 8-10 patients are seen on a daily basis and then spend the night with a family member at our facilities. The following morning the patients are awoken by huge smiles from the team members as they take off the bandages to see the improvement and to give the follow-up instructions
On the last day of surgeries, a woman showed up who was deaf, mute, and now blind due to cataracts. She communicated through touch with her son and she knew she was going to receive an operation for her eyes. The team was scared not knowing how she would respond to the initial injection to begin to numb the eye. She didn’t move an inch and laid down calmly allowing the doctor to prepare her for surgery. The next morning when she was having her bandages removed there wasn’t a dry eye in the room as she looked at the doctor and began to sign to her son that she could see. Being quite the personality, she pointed to her other eye to tell the doctor that she was ready for her next operation.
May of the patients had lost jobs and had spent years confined to their houses. As the walked to the dock by themselves, all of them had a new sense of pride and a new hope that they didn’t have when they first arrived to El Faro. We are so thankful for this beautiful team of such talented people who helped change the lives of so many.
To see pictures of the Fort Hill Eye Surgery Team, please click HERE
To see the video of this team, please click HERE
by elfaro | Apr 21, 2014 | Sin Categoría
Many of the people in Guatemala that have operable disabilities never have the chance to receive a surgery that can ultimately change their life. El Faro had the chance to partner with our wonderful friends from Medical Mission Group this past month for our fourth surgery team. From our first mission with them, our relationship with the Children’s
Hospital has been wonderful thanks to our dear friend Dr. Velasquez. Dr. Velasquez is one of the head surgeons at the hosptial and the staff graciously opens up their doors to us each trip to use their facilities and nurses, something that very few places would allow.
We had patients travel from far and wide just to have the opportunity to see if they could qualify foan operation. One group of three families traveled two days to El Faro after hearing about the free operations and all Three of their children had the chance to be operated.
The first day ofscreenings gives the doctors a chance to see what type of cases there are and also to help build the weekly
schedule. This yearwe ha cleft lips and pallets, hernias, masses and cists, burns, and gallbladders that needed removal.
Throughout the wonderful team of surgeons, nurses, and volunteers worked diligently on the many patients that came through their operating doors. Some of the MMG doctors had been here before and it was nice being able to work with them again. As for the rest, it was nice getting to meet new people and see their gfts and action.
One special case included a young boy named Axel. He is 12 years old and had a mass on his face since he was young. Now a teenager, his facial problem has begun to affect him in his studies and self esteem. He was a wonderful boy to be around and the doctors were able to operated to reduce his facial mass. Because he was one of the patients that traveled from so far, he spent the last night at El Faro with his family and the doctors. Because of the way he touched so many lives, all of the surgery team pitched in to buy him a playstation, which they gave o him on the last night.
At the end of the week the team had performed 58 procedures on 45 patients. El Faro is so thankful for the wonderful team at MMG and the partnership that we have.
To see more pictures of MMG, please click HERE
To see the video of the surgery team, please click HERE
by elfaro | Apr 21, 2014 | Sin Categoría
Maranatha Chapel is a small church from the outside with a huge heart for missions on the inside. Their impact worldwide is evident through the number of missionaries and projects they support around the world as well as the diverse cultures that make up the church. El Faro is truly honored to be able to host them each February as we team together to provide medical care to the villages around El Faro. This year was their eighth consecutive year doing this medical trip, but as always, it was unique in many different ways. Fifty people from the states traveled to Guatemala where they teamed up with an additional fifty Guatemalan volunteers, doctors, and missionaries to stay at El Faro as a base and go out into different villages to set up medical clinics. The clinics are set up as the following:
-Patients line up to be seen by a nurse in triage who marks down what medical needs they have to designate which doctor to go to.
-After triage, each patient will pass through a tent to receive both vitamins and a parasite pill. Many patients going through triage show a concern for their children who have worms, so this is a important tent to help ease the parents concerns. -Next the patients are led to the doctor they were assigned to according to their needs. This year we had an amazing group of doctors including dentists, general medicine, pediatrics, optometry, and dermatology. -After visiting with their doctor, the patients drop off their prescription at the pharmacy and are sent to the spiritual clinic while their prescription gets filled. -At the spiritual clinic each person and family has a chance to receive prayer and learn more about God. It is a beautiful opportunity for people also to talk about their personal problems with people they can trust and who care for them.
-In addition, we have special tents set up for additional activities. 
The beauty salon is a place where women and children go in to get not only to receive a lice treatment, but also a chance to get pampered. Each person get their hair washed, the lice treatment, their nails done, and then once the lice treatment is washed out, they get their hair down complete with ribbons, bows, and flowers. 
We also have a photo session where families are able to take a photo together and then take the printed photo home. For many this is the only photo that they have of themselves and we have seen how people go home to hang them in thieir houses. 
The construction team is always working hard throughout the day and this year the brought smiles to many of the children of the villages. The team constructed two full swing sets and fixed things at the schools. Another very important place is the children’s ministry tent. There are always a multitude of kids that while their parents get seen get very antsy. The children’s tent is always full of songs, laughter, story telling, and lots of other activities to keep the children busy and having a good time. 
The first day we traveled to a village that we went to the year before. Creek Chino. It is a forgotten village as it is located next to a very popular tourist site, Livingston. There is much poverty and a huge need for medical attention and we knew that we needed to return. The second day we took on a challenge to actually set up a medical clinic in the large town of Livingston, only accessible by water. This was a challenge because being such a large tourist attraction there are lots of people and they only have one small medical clinic that is very limited in what they can treat and provide. We set up clinic in a public boys school and at the end of that day we had seen a total of 800 people. The third day we traveled to the village of San Miguelito and we ended the medical trip like always with a clinic at El Faro. In just four days we saw a total of 2300 people, the most we have been able to see in one medical trip. We are so thankful for all of the doctors and volunteers who took time off to help those who are sometimes forgotten in Guatemala. Lives were not only changed physically, but also eternally.
To see more pictures, please click HERE
To see the video from the team, please click HERE
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