James 1:27 is off and running...Feb 2017

The team gathered at the airport early Saturday morning (or late depending on if you went to sleep or not) for a 5am departure for Guatemala. The departure was bittersweet for me. I had anticipated a week of service with my sister and was excited to show her around and introduce her to the friends I have made here. But due a significant knee injury, she was not able join us on the trip. She still wanted to drop me at the airport and after a weepy good-bye (for both of us) she drove home and I found the rest of the team getting ready to check-in. The travel day was a blur of airports, cat naps, and traffic from Guatemala City to Sumpango where we would be staying for the week. We arrived safe and sound, most of us feeling like zombies, and organized our supplies and activities for the week. Betty and the pastors came to share a meal with us at the retreat center and introduce us to the ministries we will be working with all week. After dinner most of us went to bed, or at least tried with the assistance of ear plugs to drown out the mountainous, highway curve the retreat center sits on where the cars and trucks brake and honk throughout the day and night.

Sunday morning we had the privilege of hosting a carnival for the families that have received bunk beds in the past. There were games, a photo booth, and ice cream where families could enjoy having fun and spending time with one another. It was great to see all the smiles and laughter at the 3-legged race where I was stationed. During one race 2 moms had their legs tied together and their babies tied to their backs. They were laughing so hard they could hardly move. 

Our teaching for the new bunk bed group began shortly after the carnival. Typically classes are an hour long (a Guatemalan hour) but for Sunday morning we asked a local organization to come do the training on sexual abuse, which turned out to be about 2 hours. We separated the adults and kids so I tackled teaching on sexual abuse with the kiddos for 2 hours instead of the one we typically do.It was cool to see God’s hand at work during the training because I was certainly out of my comfort zone and at the end of myself. I had a wonderful team supporting and praying for me while I taught as well as providing hands on assistance for the crafts and activities we both planned and improvised for the 2 hours we shared together. The following night we taught about alcoholism and how it impacts the family dynamic. Randy shared his testimony with the adults followed by representatives from the local AA. They shared their stories and provided resources for anyone struggling with alcoholism. I wasn’t able to hear what was shared because I was in with the kids, but those who were there reported the stories were all very impactful and the audience was engaged with the stories. Deb and Rachel provided teaching for the kids and did a wonderful job making it age appropriate, relatable, and hopeful for the kids whose parents may be struggling with alcoholism. They also planned some great activities for the kids to experience what it feels like to be drunk without actually consuming alcohol. Our interpreter for the kids class also shared about her experience as the daughter of an alcoholic which really connected with the kids. 

Monday morning dawned bright and early with a 6am breakfast call before heading to the orphanage to teach classes about careers. It was a bit of organized chaos, maybe more chaos than organized but everyone survived and I think the kids learned a few things. We were able to adapt things today and it went a bit more smoothly. We taught about 90 kids each day through 4 interpreters and many conversations with Spanglish and charades. In future posts, I’ll share more about the orphanage and our experiences with the kids there but we are heading to dinner soon so I’ll have to wrap it up for the day.

Thank you for you continued prayers and support. Please pray for the families receiving bunk beds this year, that the beds bless their lives but also that the teaching and the gospel that will be presented tonight will transform their lives. Please pray for stamina and endurance for the last few days of the trip. Please pray for the pastors and missionaries here, that the retreat would bless them and encourage them. 

Hasta luego!