7 New Kids Born in El Salvador! (the baby goat kind)

 7 New Baby Goats!

Exciting news this week! Our first goats that we delivered in June are now having their babies, which means milk for the families!!!

Some you may know about the GOT GOAT project here in ES.  In the beginning we wanted to deliver one goat at a time to the families in need as we received the goats.  We were finding that a lot of adults, children and babies had anemia, and there was a real lack of vitamins and nutrients in their diets.  Goat's milk  is the closest to that of a mother's milk.  Because their diets are so poor, women  loose their milk quickly and end up giving their babies sugar water!  The goat's milk is full of vitamins A and B-6, niacin and other nutrients like the vitally important potassium.  It is easy to digest, less allergenic and easy to keep.

After such an wonderful response of many family and friends back home, we found that we needed to spend more time thinking about who to give the next goats to and how do we ensure that they were taking care of the goats properly?  We are not in the business of just handing things out and moving on to the next!  We really want to equip people in the long run.  How to make what they have go the farthest it can, and think ahead about the days to come.

  

Pimpa and her 2 kids

Jake & Nicole with Esmeralda & Miguel and family

This is when we met Armando.   We got to talking about how the project could grow and be more effective. Armando has been working for awhile on a 'Co-operative Goat Farm' project and has had a lot of interest from various NGO's but no one wants to stop giving goats and focus on the farm idea. His idea is to have a farm of 25 goats, barn and enclosed area for feeding. One family would live and operate the farm with 9 other families living close by, who would all take turns caring for the goats. These 10 families together would be educated by Armando, how to properly care for and run a business of raising and breeding a better milking goat.

Carolina and her 2 kids

So we decided we would try out these goats.... We delivered 3 new goats to families in Las Brisas (that were already giving milk and due to have babies again soon).  When our friends Jake & Nicole Fluker came to visit with their kids, they brought with them $ from friends back home in Okotoks to buy goats for families in need of milk.  It was exciting for us because this time we had an expert goat farmer with us who was able to spend time with each of the families, showing them how to milk, feed and take care of their goats to ensure good production of milk!  This is what he would do as part of the farm, educating the families.

Learning to milk the goat

 The goats typically give around 1-2 bottles of milk per day. When given proper nutrition, vaccines and care, a well bred goat can give up to 5-6 bottles per day! Times that by 25 and all of a sudden you have a lot of milk for a lot of families! Once these goats start to have babies, we then can take some of the goats for future breeding and give some as gifts to other families.

We love the idea and would like to take his idea and make it a reality. What does that mean for us? We are hoping to start 2 of these farms. One up in the Victoria area, where some groups are building and 1 down here in the San Vicente area.  Each farm would cost $5000.00 That is including material for a small raised goat shelter, 25 goats, food, vaccines and education.  We are already getting close to having enough goats for 1 farm.

For those who have already bought a goat or donated towards the goat project, this just means that we would purchase 1 of these 25 goats on your behalf. Families will still be getting the milk, we just want to ensure that goats are not wasted and given to families who are not able to care for them. People can still purchase goats, t-shirts or give a general donation to the 'Goat Project'.  The goats we would like to purchase for these farms are $150.

Thank you to everyone who has donated, you are making a difference in so many ways! We are really excited to see communities join together in this project along with those of you at home. Together we are able to reach a much larger group of people.  

For now, enjoy the pictures and the smiles you have put on their faces!!

Much love,
kerrie-lynn

It's good, try some!

Mom & Dad McDougall holding new twins

We were fortunate to visit the family who is making the 'Got Goat' T-shirts for us.  We were able to see the shirts being made and the process it takes to put the logo on each shirt!  If you are interested in purchasing a shirt, please let us know at either kerrie@berstad.org or csmcalli@gmail.com.

Shirts being made

Silk Screening process

 

The Sowers of Jireh or Centro De Coser Los Sembradores

We have been very busy over the last few weeks. A month has gone by in the wink of an eye for us. We just got news that there is snow already in Canada. It seems so weird to me, feels like it was just summer. Over the last month we have had 3 groups from Canada come. First, Pastor Deve's team from Sarnia, Ontario came and filled their week with numerous activities. It was really exciting to show them all the new things going in the communities we have been working with for the last 9 months. They built 5 homes, visited our friends at the Exodo Orphanage and spent a day visiting and working with Compassion Canada and handed out food to 135 families in San Antonio. Check out their blog at http://www.semcelsalvador.blogspot.com/ to read more about their week. It was great to see the group in action and even though this was new for us, it went surprisingly well. And it was surprising for us realize that it took the five of us, Trent, Kerrie Lynn, Stuart and I and Phil to do the job that one man did in previous years; Pastor Jorge.  

The Sarnia team also brought down 5 Janome sewing machines to add to our sewing centre. What a wonderful thing. This has allowed our younger sewers a way to express their creativity. Daniella (15) is making all of our aprons and Diego (17) has created, designed and made his own tote bags.

In September I started showing Pimpa how to make quilts.
 We decided that the best plan would be to use second hand jeans as the majority of the quilt. 




















It is almost impossible to find nice cotton material here and we wanted for this sewing centre to be a ongoing, self sustaining, income making endevour. By using materials that the general public have access to, they will be able to continue making these creations on their own when we leave.


Since then Pimpa and 7 others have been very busy making quilts of all kinds. Thanks to our friends at home we have a constant supply of jeans and other fabrics being sent down with the groups. We also have a Special Needs group in Airdire cutting jeans for us, so they are in workable pieces. 


It is so cool to know how people have come together from there and here to make this happen. We are currently looking for more people to train in cutting and sewing. It is a bit difficult because right now, the pay is so little. But the sewers we have, know this and are happy to learn a new skill. Here are some pictures of the type of quilts we are making now.

All of this has been made possible by people like you who have supported this sewing program since the beginning. We are still trying to work on making tote bags out of used coffee bags.

If you have any ideas for us or would like to purchase a quilt or apron or tote bag, we are now taking orders, please e-mail me at Carie McAllister - csmcalli@gmail.com .

 Quilt Prices are as follows:

Crib $65

Throw $75

Single $85

Double $100

Queen $125

King $150

The Sowers of Jireh or Centro De Coser Los Sembradores is what we are calling the people that work in the centre. The Jireh, referring to Jehovah Jireh means Our Provider. Since we are employing people form the villages around El Salvador, that might not have other employment and enabling them to grow and learn, providing future opportunities, we are sowing the work of Our Provider! We are also doing a weekly devotional with everyone in the centre and praying for various groups. As you read this, please pray for unity within our sowers as different people from different areas come together to work as a team.

Luke 8:5-8

New International Version (NIV)

⁵ “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. ⁶ Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. ⁷ Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. ⁸ Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.”


Please also pray that we a yield a crop, a hundred times more than was sown!!

1st of 14 teams come & gone...

a massive ancient volcano crater lake - lago de coatepeque - stunning views

corn harvest season. grind em up, add water and fry up some tortilla's

well, the first of 14 teams has flown home. 


10 canadians from sarnia
5 houses built
1 tropical storm still raging
4000 el salvadorians displaced living in shelters
1 meter of rain. a lot... i mean a lot of rain - over a meter this week!
8 out of 12 people living here with a chest cold that won't quit...
1 trip to 2 compassion child sites visited
4 fluker's family visit
48 orphans fed supper
50 men visited at teen challenge in san salvador - drug rehab center
4 hour (much needed) nap on sunday afternoon - priceless


we are tired, but feel blessed by the team that just left as they showed our families much kindness and encouragement. leading up to this team we have spent two weeks viewing homes of families in great poverty. we have met and interviewed and taken photos of over 200 homes and families in the villages of san antonio and san felipe. the sewing centre is hopping. oscar is taking some good leadership there. carlos did a splendid job translating for the team and felipito got his feet wet with the first team and his new role here. all in all, we feel like it was a good first chapter to this new season of teams. we asked the team to interview and write a short note of the families they built for. a window into their lives. i thought i would include these in a blog so you can meet them too. thanks to Joy for writing their stories...
trent


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Maria del Ingles & 2 grandsons in front of their shed sized mud house.

Maria takes care of her 2 grandsons. she has some obvious mental conditions. she speaks incoherent at times. she jumps around and doesn't make sense most of the time. she seems well liked though in the village. everyone gets a kick out of her and it doesn't seem to be in a bad way. it seems they accept her for who she is. there are so many people here with untreated mental disorders. 

Her house was absolutely filled with stuff. it was smaller than an old single car garage. maybe 9ft by 15ft and looked like it was about to fall in any minute. you had to climb up 'stuff' to get to the top bunk as the ladder wasn't even visible! her new home will have a lot more room. hopefully "Horders", the TLC show will come and help her move in ;-)

These two boys are sure to have a healthier future as we learned first hand during these very rainy days. everything is wet. damp. smelling of mould and mildew. a new house is a brighter future for these two boys who have no mother to care for them… i'm sure God is well pleased as she cares for these orphans.

2 of Gladia's 5 children

A year ago Gladia’s life was changed forever.  Her husband died of heart failure leaving her alone with five children to care for. She sells fruit on the roadside, but it does not offer the means of support she needs. Her goal is to keep moving forward despite her many hardships, and provide her children with a better life.  As a child Gladia hoped to one day become a teacher.  That dream has been lost in the fog of day-to-day uncertainty.  

Her children attend school and can read and write.  This is very important to Gladia as she hopes they will do all that she did not. She is involved with her community, but is unsure how she can do anything to help support it outside of caring for her family.  If only this strong, hopeful woman could see what an influence she could have on the girls in her community, what an example she could be for the young married women.

Gladia believes she has nothing of value to offer herself.  Who might come alongside Gladia to pour into her life so she might do the same for others?

single mom - Theresa De Jesus Hernandez & 1 of three kids

When Theresa prepares food people come running.  She is a talented cook with a gift for feeding a crowd and making sure everyone is satisfied.  Her village knows her abundant skills, and often seeks her out for wedding and various events.  As a child she hoped to one day become a cook. Theresa is living out her dream and it shows.  She is a confident, strong woman with potential to become a leader among the women.  Perhaps she is so content because of the love and support her parents have given her, or maybe it is because she is using the gifts the Lord blessed her with.  Whatever the reason, Theresa’s inner joy is transparent. However, life is not without it’s trials.  Nine months ago her husband left her to care for her three small children, eight-year-old Jefferson, three-year -old Stephen and nine month old Chrissia. Alone and without a home they have struggled to get through each day.  After being abused for years at the hand of her unfaithful husband she is now free from the daily anguish, but at great cost.

The house she received means shelter for her family, and independence to continue to build a strong life.

single mom - Reina Guadalupe Hernandez & 1 of her 3 kids

When Reina was a child she had dreams of becoming a seamstress.  She worked hard until she perfected the craft bringing her dreams closer to reality.  Unfortunately, Reyna’s life did not unfold the way she hoped it might. 

Today she works as a maid, cleaning and scrubbing for others, while her children wait alone at home.  This job she toils so hard at does not adequately feed her family and often they are left hungry. 

This is not the life Reyna had imagined. This is a life of daily survival, and it is exhausting.  Reyna has not forgotten her childhood dreams.  She still sews and creates beautiful dresses using her eldest daughters designs, hoping for the day she can live her live with a purpose that instills hope in herself and her children. 

Her three children all attend school and can read and write. Education is important to this family.  Reyna desires a better future for her children, just as any mother would, and she believes the house that was given to her is the beginning of a new hope.

Ana Silvia Arebalo Montanas & Benito Mario with 2 of their 8 kids!

Benito has lived in his village his entire life.  The view he and his family experience each day is evidence of God’s brilliant creativity.  Unfortunately the house his wife and eight children lived in was a crumbling mess.   When Benito was told to tear it down in order to receive the new one he was hesitant.  Where would he put his belongings?  Where would he sleep?  What about the rain?  When pushed he finally agreed, and his family worked hard to prepare the land for his new home.  Benito and his wife of 28 years, Anna Sylvia, have eleven children.  They exude a simple happiness and contentment despite their hardships. The home built for them means so much.  Benito knew that their poverty would never allow for a beautiful home even though it was something he desired for his family.  What are his dreams for his many children?  A happy life with their basic needs cared for.  He believes the Canadian teams are a great blessing from the God he fears, and is thankful for all they have done to see some of his dreams come to pass.

inside wall of a house i built on my first trip 5 years ago with andrew, tyson & blaine.

What are we up to?? Read and find out...

Since no one has really written in a while, I thought I would put finger to keyboard and get some words out there. First off, I just came back a couple weeks ago from Canada, where I went to suprise my Dad for his 60th birthday. It was also a suprise for his wife Shelley and my sister Sarah and her fiance who were visiting from England. They all cried!! While I was there, my sister in law Teresa and my brother Daniel had their baby and I was honored to be in the birthing and delivery room as Teresa's coach. The week was amazing ending with selling our t-shirts for the Got Goat program. I sold almost every shirt we made and we are now able to buy 13 goats for families in need of milk for their anemic children. Check out our little trailer to see what we have been up to.


http://vimeo.com/25538595


Here is a picture of the goat shirts. We will be ordering more for the middle of October, so if you are interested please let us know and we will order you one in any size you want. (they fit small) They are $20 and with every 6 we sell we can buy a goat.

A few days after I got back, we were doing a key ceremony for two houses that the guys built while I was away. These houses were in San Felipe. The town where the 4 men that work with Stu and Trent are from. We were invited to Noe's house for lunch and then afterward to Robertos house for Atol, tortaitas and corn. We went out at 11 am and didn't return home until 7:30 pm. It was a long day, but I loved hanging out with our new friends and seeing what their family life is like.


At Noe's house we had beef asada and rice and salad. It always amazes me how people that barely ever eat beef or any meat for that matter want to use their last dime to buy us a nice meal. Sometimes it seems backwards to me. Especially having to feed all 12 of us. 13 when you count Carlos.

 We are blown away by the peoples generosity here towards us. I think that people see us as the face for all of you; that have given of your time, energy, resources and prayers, and boy are they ever thankful. Every other day someone is giving us something, from all sorts of fruit, to cream and cheese. Last week a women who the team from Bethany built a house for came up to us and said she wanted to give us a live chicken. Well sure enough, yesterday Trent came home with a live chicken to keep in the garage until it could be "taken care of" for supper. Today a friend of ours that knows her way around here told us the chicken needed to gain some weight, so she took it to her house to feed and care for it. Phew...

Back to San Felipe, after a humongous lunch, we went over to Roberto's house. Roberto's wife Isabelle makes this sweet quick bread called quesadilla. She wakes up at 3am 4 times a week to bake it in her forno oven that Roberto built for here. This oven could rival any high priced forno oven in Canada. The bread is the best I have ever tasted. We may commission her to make it for all the Canadians that come out here. We told Isabel that the next get together we are going to bring pizza dough and all the toppings to have a pizza party in her oven.


She also showed us how to make "queso fresco" (fresh cheese).

Right now it is harvest time. Corn harvest.. that means that every other day we get corn dropped off at our house. It is a lot of work to do anything with the corn. You can make the following. Crazy Corn, which sound weird, but is really delicious. It is corn on the cob with a mustard mayonnaise mix, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup and a parmigiana like cheese. You can make elote tamales and a fried tamale like dish called tortitas that you eat with cream and salt.

Luckily corn season will soon be over because corn here does not have the same sweet taste as corn in Canada. Do not get me wrong, I am not complaining I love that the people here want to thank us with whatever they can, even though we don't need it!

On to another topic, we have been trying to start up this sewing program. We were able to purchase 5 industrial machines to start and are working on getting 5 home machines that the Sarnia, Ontario team will bring in October. So far I have taught Pimpa how to quilt and we have completed our first rag quilt using cut up second hand jeans. Kerrie and I taught about a dozen ladies to cut using rulers and rotary cutters and we are on our way. Starting tomorrow we will have a location to put the machines that is not my house, and will be able to teach that many more! 

Once again, thank you so much for all your ongoing support, we couldn't do any of this without you! If you are interested in more information about any of these projects, please do not hesitate to get in touch with me. csmcalli@gmail.com