On Thursday we also went to La Pinada to work in the feeding center. It was amazing. There were so many children there to get a meal. The little feeding center was packed out! They each got a meal of some sort of rice/black bean mixture and all got one vitamin. Several of the children remembered us being there on Sunday for church.
We passed out little goodies to most of the children and they loved it! After we finished feeding all the children we told them the Bible story of David and Goliath and they loved it too! They thought the acting was hilarious.
After the story we walked through this little mountain village. What I saw was heartbreaking. The first little house we stopped at is right next to the church/feeding center. The woman has a newborn and it is so cute. The lady's husband is very, very abusive to her. Just that morning, he was seen kicking and yelling at her. We stopped to pray over her and her children and she just wept.
The next house we stopped at was a mother and 8 children. Here in this village they are only allowed to run water for an hour, and only every 2 days. They keep their water in huge barrels. There were flies swarming all around the water and this is what they drink, wash, and cook with everyday. The week before we came, a team from Knoxville came and started building them a new house. It will be all concrete and will have 3 rooms. How awesome!
The next house was a man and his 4 children. We never knew where his wife was or if she was alive. He was so proud of his home and showed us in and was just very happy. We prayed over him and his family and you could tell he was so proud to be able to show off his blessings. Even though his home was made of cardboard and tin, you never would have known it by his words.
The last house we stopped at was probably the one that broke me the most. It was a woman and her 4 children that lived there. The woman wasn't at home, she was out working to provide for her babies. They had no electricity and only one room, one matress. The kitchen area was outside of the room and was swarming with flies. The woman goes out during the day to work and leaves her children there to wait for her to return. Her youngest was probably 4. Most of the children in the village stay at the feeding center during the day.
Pastor Scott and I got off by oursleves again and started talking about grace and how awesome God's grace is. He hit the nail on the head when he said that it was only by God's grace that I was born in Tennessee and not on a mountain in Guatemala. It really got me to thinking a lot of "why's". Why do I have the things I have? Why do I have a nice home, a nice car, a nice closet filled with clothes? Because of God's grace. But it doesn't mean that the people I grew to love and care about didn't have anything. Because they had love, hope, happiness, and God's grace as well. They were protected and loved and held in their Maker's hand...and they knew that.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Friday, August 7, 2009
Day 6: VBS
Thursday
We went back to the school in San Mateo for the last dya of VBS. On Tuesday we had taken pictures of all the kids and also made frames for them. On this day we brought all the pictures to pass out. These kids were so excited to get their pictures.
While I was at the photo place the night before I printed off a couple of pictures of Edgar and me. His smile was so big when I gave them to him. He was so happy and held them so close to his little body. I told him to put them in his backpack and he took off running through the play yard and stuffed them far into his backpack. I love that little boy so much. He was so much fun and I just loved being able to love on him and hold him and to remind him that he is never alone.
We went back to the school in San Mateo for the last dya of VBS. On Tuesday we had taken pictures of all the kids and also made frames for them. On this day we brought all the pictures to pass out. These kids were so excited to get their pictures.
While I was at the photo place the night before I printed off a couple of pictures of Edgar and me. His smile was so big when I gave them to him. He was so happy and held them so close to his little body. I told him to put them in his backpack and he took off running through the play yard and stuffed them far into his backpack. I love that little boy so much. He was so much fun and I just loved being able to love on him and hold him and to remind him that he is never alone.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Day 5: VBS
Wednesday
It was another great VBS day. We made salvation bead keychains in crafts and Alex and Brian went to each class to share the Gospel with the children and teachers. It was so awesome to feel the presence of God in each room and watch the children listen so intently.
I got to play with Edgar for a really long time today. We colored on the sidewalk with chalk and sat together for a really long time. He had some extra Q's (money) and ran off to the tienda (store) to buy a snack. When he came back, he had a bag of chip like things. He sat in my lap and would pull out two at a time and hand one to me and keep one for himself. It was so special just sitting and sharing a bag of chips with a little boy that captured my heart.
We also started building a chicken coop for a family in San Mateo. We provided a single mother of 5 children with 20 baby chicks and 100lbs of feed. She will be able to use the eggs to feed her family and to sell to others in the village, as well as raise more chicks and eat the chickens when they get bigger.
Pastor Scott shared with me today that it's a good thing when you give away what you can't keep in order to gain the things you will never lose. Something to think about....
It was another great VBS day. We made salvation bead keychains in crafts and Alex and Brian went to each class to share the Gospel with the children and teachers. It was so awesome to feel the presence of God in each room and watch the children listen so intently.
I got to play with Edgar for a really long time today. We colored on the sidewalk with chalk and sat together for a really long time. He had some extra Q's (money) and ran off to the tienda (store) to buy a snack. When he came back, he had a bag of chip like things. He sat in my lap and would pull out two at a time and hand one to me and keep one for himself. It was so special just sitting and sharing a bag of chips with a little boy that captured my heart.
We also started building a chicken coop for a family in San Mateo. We provided a single mother of 5 children with 20 baby chicks and 100lbs of feed. She will be able to use the eggs to feed her family and to sell to others in the village, as well as raise more chicks and eat the chickens when they get bigger.
Pastor Scott shared with me today that it's a good thing when you give away what you can't keep in order to gain the things you will never lose. Something to think about....
Donna and Rigo
Donna and Rigo are two special people that are staying in the mission house with us. Donna is from Georgia and Rigo is from Guatemala. Donna and her husband are in the process of adopting Rigo. They started this process months ago. Guatemala has since closed off all adoptions to American people. So Donna and her husband didn't lose Rigo, one of them had to move to Guatemala and become his guardian until the adoption process was over.
Donna has quit her job and left her family to come live in Guatemala and take care of her little boy. They are the sweetest. Donna has such a heart and such a blessing to our team. She starts our laundry, swaps it over, and made us cookies when she knew we had long days.
Her heart was so heavy while we were there. Her daughter was back in the states, pregnant with her first grandbaby. Her husband was home working and her son in school. She was missing her family and ready to give up. We prayed for her so many times that she didn't lose sight of what God had in store for her and Rigo.
Rigo had a huge breakthrough half way through the week. He is very quite and wasn't really sure of us crazy Americans. One night before bed I took in a huge coloring book to give to him. Donna stepped out of their room and stood outside listening. She told me before hand to not be surprised if Rigo acted like he didn't care, was rude, or just didn't say anything at all. Rigo was on his top bunk and so I stood and leaned up to give him the coloring book. I talked to him for a few minutes and told him that I wanted him to have it. He smiled this great big smile and said "Thank you, I really like it" We talked for a few more minutes and I told him goodnight and he told me goodnight and gave me a hug. When I walked back outside Donna was standing there with tears streaming down her face. She said that was the first time ever that Rigo had ever said Thank you for anything. She was getting so discouraged because this little boy didn't trust anyone, didn't show appreciation for anything, and he finally understood. It was amazing.
Donna has since come home with Rigo and they are now back in Georgia with the rest of their family!
Donna has quit her job and left her family to come live in Guatemala and take care of her little boy. They are the sweetest. Donna has such a heart and such a blessing to our team. She starts our laundry, swaps it over, and made us cookies when she knew we had long days.
Her heart was so heavy while we were there. Her daughter was back in the states, pregnant with her first grandbaby. Her husband was home working and her son in school. She was missing her family and ready to give up. We prayed for her so many times that she didn't lose sight of what God had in store for her and Rigo.
Rigo had a huge breakthrough half way through the week. He is very quite and wasn't really sure of us crazy Americans. One night before bed I took in a huge coloring book to give to him. Donna stepped out of their room and stood outside listening. She told me before hand to not be surprised if Rigo acted like he didn't care, was rude, or just didn't say anything at all. Rigo was on his top bunk and so I stood and leaned up to give him the coloring book. I talked to him for a few minutes and told him that I wanted him to have it. He smiled this great big smile and said "Thank you, I really like it" We talked for a few more minutes and I told him goodnight and he told me goodnight and gave me a hug. When I walked back outside Donna was standing there with tears streaming down her face. She said that was the first time ever that Rigo had ever said Thank you for anything. She was getting so discouraged because this little boy didn't trust anyone, didn't show appreciation for anything, and he finally understood. It was amazing.
Donna has since come home with Rigo and they are now back in Georgia with the rest of their family!
Day 4: VBS
Edgar found me first thing. I brought a small toy with me to give to him and when I placed it in his little hands he gave me a huge hug and told me that I "gave him two hearts." I just wanted to cry. This little boy who had never met me before Monday had grabbed my heart and it was very clear I wasn't getting it back.
The teachers were much more open to us. We had prayed the night before that God would open their hearts and would recieve the messages we were giving to the children. Those kids are the coolest little people. They love everything we do with them. They are learning the songs so well and LOVE the crafts we have for them. It is so sweet to watch them. They smile so much and give so many hugs. I want to just bring them all back here.
Before we left the states we all got together and made Salvation necklaces to pass out to the girls. They LOVED them. We made a little chart for the teachers with the colors and meaning of the colors along with the plan of Salvation so that they would always have it close by to explain and to use to lead others to the Lord.
We also took some time on this day to walk through San Mateo. It was very eye opening. I live in a nice house, with so many nice things. I have a bed. Many of these families had only one bed with tattered sheets and blankets. Yet, they all had smiles on their faces. Gives you something to think about....
The teachers were much more open to us. We had prayed the night before that God would open their hearts and would recieve the messages we were giving to the children. Those kids are the coolest little people. They love everything we do with them. They are learning the songs so well and LOVE the crafts we have for them. It is so sweet to watch them. They smile so much and give so many hugs. I want to just bring them all back here.
Before we left the states we all got together and made Salvation necklaces to pass out to the girls. They LOVED them. We made a little chart for the teachers with the colors and meaning of the colors along with the plan of Salvation so that they would always have it close by to explain and to use to lead others to the Lord.
We also took some time on this day to walk through San Mateo. It was very eye opening. I live in a nice house, with so many nice things. I have a bed. Many of these families had only one bed with tattered sheets and blankets. Yet, they all had smiles on their faces. Gives you something to think about....
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Day 3: VBS starts
Galatians 6:9: Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
That verse was my theme for the week. We started out Monday at San Mateo. The kids at the school were so great. They welcomed us with open arms and were so loving. The teachers there were not really sure what to think of us. They sort of just let us do what we were supposed to do and didn't really interact with us much.
I met a little boy named Edgar. He sat next to me for a really long time. He never spoke, never touched me. Just sat close. He finally went home at the end of the day...long after he was supposed to leave.
That verse was my theme for the week. We started out Monday at San Mateo. The kids at the school were so great. They welcomed us with open arms and were so loving. The teachers there were not really sure what to think of us. They sort of just let us do what we were supposed to do and didn't really interact with us much.
I met a little boy named Edgar. He sat next to me for a really long time. He never spoke, never touched me. Just sat close. He finally went home at the end of the day...long after he was supposed to leave.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Day 2: Antigua
After church we headed into Antigua to shop and purchase things from the locals. We had such a great time seeing the city but it was also very eye opening. Many of the children you would see walking the streets were not just there for the day. They lived on those streets, abandoned and alone.
We ate lunch at Pollo Campero-a Guatemalan Kentucky Fried Chicken. It is the rainy season in Guatemala right now and we got caught in a huge monsoon rain storm. It even hailed for a few minutes. Huge baseball size hail pieces and heavy, heavy rain. It lasted for about 30 minutes so we took cover in a shop for a little bit. The store owner was not very happy we were taking up his space so he made us buy things and then get out, so we ran to the restaurant we were going to be eating. Needless to say, we were all drenched!
We ate lunch at Pollo Campero-a Guatemalan Kentucky Fried Chicken. It is the rainy season in Guatemala right now and we got caught in a huge monsoon rain storm. It even hailed for a few minutes. Huge baseball size hail pieces and heavy, heavy rain. It lasted for about 30 minutes so we took cover in a shop for a little bit. The store owner was not very happy we were taking up his space so he made us buy things and then get out, so we ran to the restaurant we were going to be eating. Needless to say, we were all drenched!
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