Thali and
Randall Clower, physician assistants from the Tri-Cities, Washington have been
traveling to Guatemala for several years, leading small groups from their
church (Richland Baptist Church) to spread the gospel to remote villages,
provide medical clinics, find clean water (see “A Cup of Water” blog) and help
the people of this land. Thali was
raised in Guatemala and hitchhiked out of that country into Texas in the early
1980’s, where she eventually met and married Randall Clower.
As you might
imagine, there is a special place in her heart for the Guatemalan people,
particularly those in the more rural, mountainous towns and villages. During these repeated visits, they found
that in one mountainous town prostitutes and other women who cannot afford to
have a baby, throw their newborns in the latrines and garbage dumps to die.
This touched their hearts, and the hearts of those who traveled with them.
In November,
2011 the Ezra Project was formed to provide a home for these women and their
babies (Ezra-project.org). The new home will be called “The Isaiah 58
Home”, from Isaiah 58:7 “Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and
that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked,
that you cover him…” God has done amazing things in a very short period of time
as He moves this project forward.
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| the land for the Isaiah 58 building |
·
Approximately 5 acres of land acquired from
Christian man named Francisco. The land
in in a semi-rural town of Guatemala.
·
After 20 years of attempts by local residents to
build a road, this milestone was achieved once local government learned of the
home’s purpose.
·
A road to the land was built in 24 days with the
help of the Mayor (who is a Christian)
·
During our August visit, the beginning of the
rainy season, the road became impassable, so the Mayor donated about $10,000
worth of gravel and services to allow this road to be accessible year round.
·
With a lot of inspiration from our Lord,
conceptual floor plans have been prepared for the building, which is designed
to be constructed in four phases.
·
Detailed drawings for Phase 1 were prepared
during the August visit, and the land was leveled to prepare for construction
of this building. As part of leveling a
spot of the house, an overgrown mound, which in time past was used to sacrifice
children during the Mayan years. Now,
instead of being used for human sacrifice, this land will be used for protecting
lives. Phase 1 will house a boy’s and
girl’s dorm, plus a water purification and office area, and a multipurpose room
for meals, worship, instruction, and indoor recreation.
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| construction of water tank storage building underway |
·
Much of the time during the August visit was
centered around building a safe water system on the property; a work still in
progress. As part of this process a small building to house water holding tanks
was designed on sketch pad and construction well underway by the time I left on
August 17.
Check out
the Ezra Project website for more information about this project, and this
ministry, and how you can help.
