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Despite this,
Connie welcomed us in her quiet, kind way from the
start. She seemed to know everyone and had a remarkable
ability to find just about anything or anyone who could
be helpful to us. Her acceptance and trust of our
mission group from our very first trip on helped
tremendously and brought many others in from the
community to help us. We all learned quickly to look
forward to seeing her greet us on the first day and
tearfully said goodbye to her on the last. To my sons
and I, Connie represented all of the best of the people
of Guatemala – strong, quiet, patient, resourceful,
kind, compassionate and incredibly hard working. We
considered her a dear friend and will miss her very
much.
Connie had an amazing ability to find almost anything
and motivated everyone around her. One special memory I
have is how she helped find homes for the night for a
family from an outlying village. The family had brought
their tiny, ill baby to the clinic and the baby needed
special feedings every 2 hours. Connie helped with the
feedings herself and also helped find families in Nueva
Santa Rosa who took the family in and helped care for
the baby for the rest of the clinic week. In addition,
she helped organize visits to the baby’s village to take
supplies to the family after we had left. When we
returned 6 months later the baby was doing great!
My favorite memory of Connie is her greeting us and
waving goodbye to us as our bus pulled out on the last
day of each trip (see above photo). Thank you so very
much, Connie, for all you did to make us feel welcome
and for your kindness, patience and friendship to all of
our well meaning mission teams!
Pat, Lance and Tim Hale
Connie,
Me siento muy afortunado de haber tenido la oportunidad
de conocerla. Usted ha sido, y lo seguira siendo, una
inspiracion para todos aquellos de nosotros que tuvimos
la suerte de compartir parte de nuestro tiempo con su
constante e inigualable dedicacion a todas aquellas
personas necesitadas en la zona de Nueva Santa Rosa.
Voluntarios como usted, son en realidad, los que merecen
todo el credito ya que su ayuda y dedicacion no acaban
despues de unos dias sino que existen durante todo el
año. Recordare con mucho agrado todos aquellos momentos
y conversaciones que compartimos durante los ajetreados
dias de la clinica.
Me siento muy afortunado de haber tenido la oportunidad
de conocerla.
Manolo
In Connie's Memory
Joyce and I had only one opportunity to work at a
mission with Connie, but what an impression she made on
us! We will always remember her as a gentle, kind and
welcoming member of our group. At a recent "fund raiser"
we worked at a booth where people stopped to watch a
video describing activities of the work we do in
Guatemala. At the booth we displayed a picture of Connie
as a memorial to her. We were amazed by the number of
former "team members" who stopped just to share their
sorrow at learning of her death. Connie's infectious
smile and her dedication to our mission were comments
made by all who worked with her. We are saddened that we
will not be able to continue working with Connie. Her
legacy will be the Mission's continuing work with the
people she loved so very much.
Fondly,
Whit and Joyce
Butterfield
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