Day two in Guatemala ~ Wednesday, August 12th, 2009

PLEASE SCROLL DOWN AND READ DAY ONE FIRST IF YOU HAVE NOT READ IT YET…

I woke up @ 5:00 a.m., showered and headed over to the dining hall to make coffee for everyone. Greeted the girl’s as they came down the hill to go to class

Breakfast of pancakes and fresh, local fruit

I led our morning devotional on God’s Guidance and Presence. I shared that I knew God had called me to this mission and guided me to Guatemala. Austin, my 14 year old son, shared that during Church camp a few weeks earlier as other kids would feel God leading them to pray at the altar, he would feel God instantly tugging at his chest to go up and lay a hand on them and pray with them. Austin said that a few more kids came and laid hands on him while he prayed for the other kids and he felt their 4 hands, but he also felt a “5th Hand” and he knew it was The Hand of God. (proud parent moment to say the least… Thank You GOD for your guidance and presence in my son’s life). Charles shared a prison ministry experience and how he feels God’s presence when a convicted murderer hugs him and tells him he loves you. Pastor Steve Shared Psalms 46 (look it up).
At 8:00 a.m. we began our first work project building shelves in one of the storage rooms in the dining hall. The shelves went up quickly and easily thanks to team work. Jeff Rash and I worked together as though we had been doing it our whole lives. What a Blessing he was to me, the rest of the mission team and the girls this whole week.

They were very sturdy too!

On day two @ 9:30 a.m. the girls came out of class for recess and on my way to join Austin, Jeff, Pastor Steve & about 15 of the girls on the basketball court

God turned my head to the side and I saw a new face sitting all alone on the porch swing and I knew God saved the seat beside her for me.

First time I saw Lucia

I sat beside her and asked her name and knew Lucia was the reason God called me to Guatemala. My family grew at that very moment.
Lucia has a smile that could light up the world and a heart full of Love for people and for God. She is shy and reserved at first, but to see and hear her laugh is worth the wait. Lucia is 14 years old, her mother is deceased, her father is unknown & her godmother is unwilling or unable to take care of her.
I also Talked with and connected with Estefany, Carol, Caroline, Yaneth and Virginia

Carol

Estefany

Virginia (& Velveth)

Yaneth (Newest girl at Prince of Peace)

Caroline

Lunch was an awesome Guatemalan Treat… Chicken Enchiladas w/Fresh Made tortillas, pico de gallo, guacamole, apple pastries & fresh squeezed lemonade!!!!!!!

You can't get this at any restaurant around here

With the shelf project finished just before lunch, it was time to start the next project. This one would be a little more challenging and rewarding. One of the Independent Living homes for the older girls had a Gable issue. The stucko kept flaking and falling off and they tried resurfacing it, but it still didn’t adhere.

Our project was to take bent and warped tongue and groove 1″ x 6″ x 10′ boards and cover the gable the best we could. It took a few days and a lot of sweat, cooperation, planning and working on ladders, scaffolding and even ladders on scaffolding, but we were able to complete it with Persistency and God’s Help.

Long way to the top from there

TEAMWORK (shoulder to shoulder with Jeff all week)

Starting to see that light at the end

SUCCESS (the studs on 4' centers made it much more challenging)

Break out the brushes

Grateful it was brushes not just brush

We had the opportunity to choose casa a or casa b to have dinner with the 15 or 20 girls that live in each house (4 of us went to one, 4 of us to the other). I was invited by Lucia to Casa B at recess earlier and of course, I accepted. The house was clean and humble, but inviting, fresh vegetable soup and cornbread, hot tea and the best pineapple I have ever eaten was excellent, but failed in comparison to the company of the girl’s during and after dinner. I sat with Lucia on one side and Marjorie on the other.

Lucia (warned you about the smile

Marjorie (also has 2 older sisters at the home)

With amazing teamwork and speed the dinner tables were cleared, chairs stacked and kitchen clean. We shared a time of devotion with the girls… Incredible praise and worship music and testimonials, surely God is in this place. We sang Come, Now is the Time to Worship in English while the girls sang in Spanish, then Lord I Lift Your Name on High and we ALL sang in English, what an incredible Blessing. I will never hear those songs without remembering that night and those girls. Again, Thank You God!

Karina, now a teacher at the home, shared her testimony. She lived at the home nine years, her Mother died when she was 5, abandoned by her father, her aunt tried unsuccessfully to take care of her. In and out of the home a few times until she found the Prince of Peace at the Prince of Peace Home.

Austin shared his “5th Hand” experience with all the girls. I shared how Overwhelmed I was and how thankful I was to be accepted so quickly and shown so much unconditional love by the girls after being there less than 2 days. Thanked them for sharing a small part of their lives with us and opening their homes to us. Too many long tight hugs and sincere smiles to count from girls that have little more than that to offer.

Back to the bunkhouse for mission team devotional led by Pastor Steve “psalm 78″ (again, look it up) We all shared 1 thing from the day, most had trouble following that rule. Austin had a little girl run to him, jump in his arms and kiss him 3 times on the cheek (Virginia)

Amber had a little girl (Anay) help her paint and clean up brushes for hours while the other girls played.

Pastor Steve was touched by Karina’s Testimony.

I shared about Charles pushing 3 girls at the same time on the swingset and getting more enjoyment out of it than them, even though they were in Paradise and smiling so much it looked painful.

Another awesome day in God’s creation comes to a close. I wrote this in my journal at the end of day 2 “Life will be different when we return home – Do not go on a mission trip that God has called you to if you want your life to remain the same” I don’t think I fully understood how true that was when I wrote it, but I do now.

Thank you for taking this journey with me, day 3 and the following days hold more projects, more hugs, a trip to Antiqua and a trip to the top of a mountain to bring fresh fruits and veggies to families with no electricity or running water along with a great Worship service and my favorite shopping experience ever.

May God Bless you as He has so undeservedly Blessed me with this trip. Please be in prayer about sponsoring one of these girls. $1 a day is all it takes to make a difference. Please ask me for details on how you can do this.

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