We wanted to write a letter to all of our friends and family that have been supporting us to inform you that we have postponed our trip to Guatemala. We had scheduled it for December 20th and had been raising money for everything we hoped to get down there. Unfortunately the Chikungunya (seriously, who named this disease…?!?) has spread in Jicaro, Guatemala and most of my family, our students, and workers have gotten it. Our contacts have called us and told us not to come. Down below we put a link to the CDC describing this disease if you’re interested in the symptoms and treatments. This disease causes fevers, vomiting, and attacks the joins. Some of my family down there can barely open door knobs because their hands are in so much pain.
After some research, a ton of prayer, and talking to mentors here, we have decided that we have no choice but to postpone the trip. Our grandma travels there to meet us and because older people are even more susceptible to this disease, we don’t want to put her in any harms way. Although most people have the sypmtoms for 7 to 10 days, others have them for months and we don’t want to put my grandma in the possibilty of getting it. Secondly, we can’t ask our helpers there to come out with us into the villages and give their 100% when they are so extremely sick. Lastly, with the amount of people in the villages that have it, we don’t think we could reach as many people if we went now verses a few months from now.
We want you to know that we were extremely bummed out to realize that we won’t be going this month, but we know that despite our plans, God ALWAYS has a better one. All of the help and donations that you have all so generously given to us will be saved for when we do head out, hopefully in a couple months.
Please stay tuned with us!