Updates in real time (almost), of our trip to Guatemala!

Saturday Feb 24: It’s our final full day in Guatemala. This morning Rita and Geoff wanted to show us where they started their ministry a decade ago, in the small mountainous village of El Salitrillo. By now, we’re used to the drill of getting around in the back of pickup trucks with dusty, winding roads, and amazing views! We arrived fairly high up in the mountains at a school built by the Doppenbergs that serves the children of the village. We emptied out of the trucks and Geoff picked up a load full of children gathered from the village centre. The first thing the kids did when they piled out of the truck was give us hugs. We’ve never met. This is solely a testament of the presence of the Doppenbergs in this community, and it’s amazing. Our VBS team helped lead us in songs and our Bible Story team performed the skits from the last 3 days. The children loved them. We then sang Happy Birthday to one of our team members. Then we were graciously served their version of cheesecake, made with corn flour, cheese and sugar. Afterwards we walked down to the village with 2 pinatas and a trail of kids. Seeing the kids whack the pinatas and dive for the candy in the dusty dirt was quite a spectacle. We handed out some fruit and drinks, said goodbye to the kids and walked back up to the school to hear from one of the teachers, who is also a pastor. He is so thankful for the school and the opportunity to teach the students their lessons and also about God. A village leader spoke about the civil war and how they fled to the mountains. The area was just all rocks when he arrived. Today he said that he is so grateful to God for all that DIG has done in his village. It is a reminder that God has not forgotten them. They blessed us with a prayer for our team and for DIG. We left with hugs and tears. Although they may look different, come from different places, eat different food, and speak different languages, we serve the same God and that makes us family.

Once back at the Centre, we enjoyed an afternoon of free time and another trip to the ice-cream shop. Dinner was a more traditional Guatemalan meal, made by Wendy, her mom with some help from the rest of the family. It was fantastic. They have treated us to fabulous homemade meals throughout the week and made us feel like family. After dinner, our routine is to talk about our highs and lows, where we laugh and cry and share our stories from the day. We also were able to enjoy some birthday cake tonight, and a short debriefing by Peter as we prepare to heading home tomorrow…

We praise God for an incredible and emotional week, one that’s hard to put into words. We pray that the Doppenbergs’ DIG ministry continues to make a big impact in their surrounding communities. We are thankful for our team and how well we worked together this week. Please pray for safe travels as we journey home again.

Friday Feb 23: Our last trip up to the little village of Pontezuela. Our morning began with more stoves to install, radio Bibles to hand out and medical check ups to perform. In addition, some of our team was invited to help with the construction of the medical/dental clinic that the Doppenbergs are buillding. During one of our stove installations, our medical team was able to follow up with a fellow whose hand had swelled up incredibly due to a spider bite a few days earlier. The team was pleased to see that the swelling had reduced significantly and he was smiling. Because there are no existing medical records for each person, a significant amount of troubleshooting is required to diagnose conditions. Two of the more common conditions we’ve seen are malnutrition and the effects from smoke inhalation from having open fires inside their home. Once they are diagnosed, finding a solution without access to simple things like clean water, and a healthy variety of food can be difficult and sometimes heart-breaking. Over the past week working along with the Doppenbergs, we were able to perform check-ups on 75 residents, install 58 smokeless stoves and hand out radio Bibles to each of those households. Connections were made with families from the homes we visited and some of us even made our first ever tortillas. The work crew from the clinic also made some headway, as members from our team learned how to pour and spread concrete, construct rebar posts and create a level out of water and a long tube. We’ve come to know the Doppenbergs as a caring, compassionate and competent crew when it comes to what they do, and we hope and pray they can continue to make a big impact in their community for years to come.

After lunch, we hosted our third and final day of our children’s VBS program. Everyone pitched in to make it a fun and memorable afternoon for the kids. We laughed and sang, performed skits, played games, ate snacks and crafted with over 100 kids….and at the end, we high-fived, accepted hugs of appreciation and sadly said ‘adios’ to our new little amigos. This was the first ever VBS program the kids had ever experienced and when they were asked if they enjoyed it, there was a resounding ‘SI!!!’ What an amazing and memorable experience!

For prayer requests, please pray for the Doppenbergs as they continue to work with local communities to reduce malnutrition and respiratory diseases among the Mayan people. Also, praise God for the amount of work we were able to accomplish this week in the community of Pontezuela. God is good. Gracias!

Thursday Feb 22: The air was crisp and clean as we woke up to another day of sunshine with a few clouds decorating the local volcano. The views as we traverse the mountains up to the village of Pontezuela are spectacular. Full shout out to the Toyotas and Doppenberg drivers that carry us up the windy and dusty roads of the mountains until it feels like we rise above the clouds. This is the “everyday” commute as they go about their ministry. It’s day 4 and we are starting to become familiar with things that once seemed so foreign. Our stove installations are more efficient, riding in the back of trucks is the new norm, and having a large unknown number of kids attend VBS doesn’t paralyze us!

This morning we installed 14 smokeless stoves, handed out 14 solar Bible radios to those families and the medical team addressed a variety of health concerns for the residents. After lunch, our VBS program kicked off day 2 with singing, praying, and activity rotations. We had approx. 40 more children attend than the day before and our crew was there to greet each child with a smile and lots of ‘hola’s’. The Bible Story team demonstrated the parable of the Good Samaritan, with Peter translating and teaching a few English words to the kids. The games team gave the kids a good workout with their Sharks and Minnows tag game. The kids loved putting stickers all over their patient pineapple drawings and juice boxes and fruit were enjoyed by the children during their snack session. One of the highlights from this afternoon’s session was the bubble machine that Geoff brought out for the kids!

We came home exhausted from a great and fulfilling day. Thank you to our prayer partners - your notes have been encouraging and uplifting to read. We continue to covet your prayers for Geoff, Rita, Gabe, Wendy, Luke, Kate and little Dezmond. Their work is so rich and meaningful to the Mayan people of Guatemala. They are truly making a difference in their community.

Wednesday Feb 21: We got to sleep in today for an extra hour, which slowed the pace of our day a bit. We took a short trip out to see the stove factory and listened as Geoff explained the manual process for creating the concrete stoves. They currently have the capacity to make up to 30 stoves in a week. The process is very physically demanding as the main materials they use to create the stoves are concrete, rebar and clay tile. They are able to locally source all other materials, creating jobs in the local area.

Following the stove factory visit, we came back to the Centre of Hope. We were given the opportunity to visit the on-site school for the blind, another ministry spearheaded by DIG to address the needs in their community. The school enrols about a dozen children, who are excelling thanks to the expertise and care of the teachers, and specialized curriculum. We were able to listen to students reading using braille textbooks, watch them as they punched braille letters into paper, and engage with them, either by making bracelets or playing with bell balls.

After a quick lunch, we went back up the mountain to the village of Pontezuela to orchestrate their first ever children’s Vacation Bible School program. We weren’t sure how many children to expect, but we had all hands on deck! We ran a 2 hour program consisting of worship songs, and a rotation of 4 stations: games, snacks, crafts and a Bible story. We were excited to see that over 100 children responded to the invitation! The whole afternoon was filled with smiles and joy as we shared the love of Jesus through our theme, the Fruits of the Spirit. This evening at supper, as we spoke about our highs and lows, many of our team told stories of how they connected to the children despite the language barrier. A few members of our team were deeply touched when one of the children participating offered to give them a piece of chewing gum, a selfless act of kindness for someone who has so little.

This day has truly been a gift we will carry in our hearts for a long time to come.

Tuesday Feb 20: Today was another early start with a truck ride up to the village of Pontezuela once again. We had an opportunity to install more smokeless stoves, give them a solar powered Bible that they could listen to and offer medical exams. Even though these are common tasks, each day is so different and each person’s circumstances unique. What touched us as we observed the Doppenberg’s at work, is how kindly they treat each person they encounter and how humbly they go about their work. They assess each situation carefully and thoughtfully. They listen to each homeowner and consider their requests. They are respectful, humble, and so incredibly kind. They make tough decisions and they go where most people won’t. They are passionate about representing God in all areas of their work; and this is their life. It was a difficult day for the medical team. There were a number of situations that needed to be navigated; from exciting, positive pregnancy tests to end of life care suggestions; the day was emotionally draining. Please pray for the medical team as they navigate each family’s specific needs and grapple with the reality of the limited resources for the Mayan people.

Monday Feb 19: We started bright and early with a thrilling ride up the mountains to the Mayan village of Pontezuela. It was our first day to see Geoff, Rita and their family in action. Once we learned the basics of how to install a concrete stove, we got to work. It took four strong individuals to carry the stove to the house, which always seemed uphill! The homeowners would prepare the location for the placement of the stove and we would have to cut a hole in their blackened roofs for the pipes to route the smoke outside of their living quarters. Along with a new stove, villagers also receive a solar powered radio Bible and a medical check-up by the Doppenberg’s daughter-in-law, Kate. Some of our team’s medical members were able to help assist her in diagnosing and data recording. We were also able to interact with the children of a local school, where one of the ovens was installed. It was such a treat! After a quick lunch, we split into two groups. Some of us went back to installing stoves while others helped in the construction of a medical clinic. Overall, it was a very eye-opening and emotional day for us as we saw firsthand how God is working through the Doppenberg’s DIG ministry.

We thank God for travelling mercies and scenic views. We ask that you continue to pray for continued growth and safety for our team members as our work has just begun and it can be both emotionally and physically challenging at times! In Gods Grace, the DIG team.

Sunday, Feb 18: Praise God for worship among believers! We had the pleasure starting our day by watching the Mountainview Live stream with the Doppenberg’s. We were also blessed by a powerful sermon delivered by Pastor Peter in person. Today was our “rest day”. We got to enjoy their outside oasis, and got acquainted with the many furry friends on the property. We got the opportunity to see Geoff and Rita’s village and enjoy some ice cream as a team. Some of us walked back to the property others took a tuk tuk, and some enjoyed the comfort of a truck bed. We rounded out the day with dinner and our “highs and lows” of the day which is a daily occurrence here at the Doppenbergs. We got to hear from every person here what the best parts of their day were, the very few lows shared were mostly about the rooster that woke us up at 4 in the morning. All in all - a GREAT day! God’s mercies and grace continue to surround us, and we pray His presence is made known through our week. We ask that you also keep us in your prayers and we will keep you in ours! In God’s Grace, The DIG team.

Saturday, Feb 17: What a day of travel! We started Friday evening, at the church for a prayer of blessing over the team and final rally before the big push of travel. Today consisted of far too many customs lines and far too little hours of sleep on the plane. We ended our travel day in Guatemala around 10:45 AM, where we were greeted by Geoff and John as well as a few others who drove us back to their beautiful property. There we settled in and enjoyed the freshness of their pool, while we all got to know the Doppenberg’s and the property we will call home for the next 6 days. God granted us travelling mercies and we all arrived safe, He is so good!

Friday, Feb 16: We are set to leave tomorrow morning at 1:20 AM on our first flight to Mexico City, then from Mexico to Guatemala, where we will land around 11:45 AM our time. We are praying for the Lord’s travelling mercies for our journey, and we ask that you pray for the same! We will keep you updated here for anyone who wants to follow our exciting trip! In love and God’s Grace, The DIG Team!

Why DIG? / What is DIG?

 Dream Invest Grow

DIG aims to end the cycle of poverty and malnutrition in rural Guatemala through community empowerment. DIG’s humanitarian volunteers work on sustainable projects that build long-term dignity and hope within these communities by offering a hand up instead of a hand out. With a focus on community well-being, DIG provides education opportunities for Mayan youth, medical services for families, and sustainable farming and nutrition systems for entire towns. DIG works alongside Mayan community members at the ground level to determine long-term solutions. Through DIG’s purposeful travel programs, volunteers can create unforgettable personal experiences while making a long-term impact on these communities.

DIG is run by Geoff and Rita Doppenberg, the son of Bill and Leny Doppenberg, brother of Judy Van Geest and cousin of Mike Huinink and Dan Huinink. They are on a humanitarian mission to help the Mayan people. (Humans Helping Humans).

DONATE:

We have 27 people that will be experiencing this mission. The funds we are raising is to offset the cost of this trip and pay for the materials used for the work being done in Guatemala e.g. Smokeless Stoves.

You can donate to help the group or a specific individual (options 2 or 3).

Donate through the Bridge App (GROUP ONLY).

Look for “DIG - Guatemala Mission” in the list of charities.

DONATE via e-Transfer (Group or Individual)
Step 1: Please send the e-Transfer to: treasurer@mountainviewcrc.org. Please indicate DIG in the text box, if you are donating towards a specific person, please add that person’s name Eg. ‘DIG - John Doe’

Step 2: Please fill out the following form or send us an email with your name, and address. This will allow us to make the deposit and provide you with a tax receipt for your donation.

DONATE via Cheque (Group or Individual)

Step 1: Make cheque out to ‘Mountainview CRC’. Please indicate DIG in the comment/memo line, if you are donating towards a specific person, please add that person’s name Eg. ‘DIG - John Doe’

Step 2: mail or drop off cheque to Mountainview Church, 290 Main St. E., Grimsby, ON L3M 1P8

To learn more about DIG check out their website www.dreaminvestgrow.org

“What can we bring to help?”

Please note that we have a very strict policy of ABSOLUTELY NO HAND-OUTS. We know your heart is in the right place, but we ask that you trust our experience that shows that handing people things for free does not empower them. In fact, it belittles them and fosters a sense of dependency. Books like “When helping hurts” or movies like “Poverty Inc.” explain this at length. Even in cases of extreme emergency we will provide food or medicine to people in need, but we do ask that they “pay it forward” in some way.... If you really want to do something, we highly suggest the following:

1) Collect money from friends and family to help our work. Or collect money and we can go shopping when you are here to buy supplies. School supplies like pencils, notebooks, pens, pencil crayons (coloured pencils for you Americans), erasers, etc are all in huge demand here. Purchasing things here (as opposed to bringing them from home) is cheaper and helps the local economy.

2) If you really want to collect items... collect the above school supplies. Other things we always need are medicines- acetaminophen (Tylenol), gravol (dramamine), children’s tylenol, ibuprofen (advil), Naproxen (Aleve), Benadryl liquid (children), Benadryl tablets (adult), Children’s vitamins (iron free), women’s prenatal vitamins, iron supplements for women, tums or other antacids, antihistamines (Claritin), baby formula powders, baby bottles, etc.

3) Children do love stickers and it’s fun to colour with them so, stickers, colouring books and crayons/coloured pencils/paints are always welcome.

4) The Doppenberg family always appreciates when people bring us treats, we cannot get here.... Chocolate bars (candy bars), candy, brown sugar, spices, gluten free flour.