I can’t believe how quickly the week in Sumpango went. It was full of amazing experiences and left little time for sharing those experiences with you our supporters so I apologize for the tardy entry. I believe I left off with a promise of more information regarding our time at the orphanage. I mentioned that we, the gringos, took over as substitute teachers for the residents and students at the orphanage school. The main reason for the take over was to free up the nuns and the teachers for a training on how to be a trauma competent caregiver. The training covered how a child’s brain develops differently after experiencing trauma, explaining typical behaviors, and tools for supporting children who have been through traumatic experiences. The teachers reported the information was transformational. They would not only use what they have learned at the orphanage, but also at the other schools where they teach in the community.
While our time of teaching felt chaotic and disjointed at times, it was a really special time. Many of the kids don’t think about the future let alone dream of anything outside of what they experience in day to day life. They were exposed to 10 different careers over 3 days, and though they didn’t have traditional homework or tests during that time, they engaged with the material that was taught. One of our ministry partners overheard kids in the neighborhood talking about what they learned and what they wanted to be when they grew up while playing in front of her house. It was cool to hear her perspective and excitement about the service we provided for the kids and the teachers.
The bunk bed project successfully concluded with a Gospel message on Tuesday night and a class on making healthy nutrition choices Wednesday night. Wednesday is always a special night as the kids and parents learn about nutrition together before receiving their beds. The kids are encouraged to thank their parents for attending the classes so they can have a new bed to sleep in and the parents are encouraged to treasure and protect their children as they’ve learned in the classes. We pray for each family and there is an opportunity for them to say a few words about what the training has meant for them. There are many tears and much laughter as we celebrate together. For some of the kids, it will be the first bed they have ever slept in. Once the service is completed and families have received their certificate of completion for the classes, a parade of beds moves from inside the church into the streets of the city. It is a beautiful sight and this year was no exception.
Between Wednesday night and Friday morning, a nasty virus had worked its way through the majority of both the American and the Guatemalan teams. The plan was for Thursday to be a retreat day for the Guatemalan team hosted by the American team, a worship night in Antigua lead by a Guatemalan worship leader not on the Sumpango team, and then Friday a group of about 12 to climb the volcano Picaya. A modified version of the retreat occurred for those feeling well enough to participate, everyone made it to Antigua for the night of worship, and we ended up with about 6 people making it to the top of the volcano on Friday morning. Though it wasn’t exactly what we had planned, I believe God showed up and was glorified through it all. Personally, I had a cool experience during the worship night and then on Picaya that I will likely expand on further in my personal blog.
It was an incredible week. I feel honored that God chose this team to do his work in Sumpango and show us the ways he is working in and through the Guatemalan team we partner with to bring light and hope into the community. I was blessed by each smile, each hug, and each conversation, no matter how much Spanglish was required. God is good and he faithfully demonstrated his power in my weaknesses and our team’s inadequacies to show each one of us to trust more deeply in him. As most of the team returned to Minnesota and a few of us stayed for a second week of ministry around Lake Atilan, my prayer is that we don’t lose sight of what a great God we serve.
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