Oh man, I am BEHIND on updating this blog, huh??
After quite a few additions and sadly a few deletions, our team for the January 2010 trip has been formed. Once I get photos for the prayer cards, I will post pictures of the team members so you can be praying by face as well as name.
We are excited about this trip. We have 19 members, some return members, some new members, all hand picked by God members :-) We will be sponsoring the construction of 2 homes and 2 greenhouses on site. The greenhouses are a new project Carlos has developed. Families from surrounding villages move into the homes that will be also be built on site, they will work for the mission, the kids will go to school in the village and will help the mother tend to the crops in the greenhouses. They should be able to get about 3 harvests per year. They will split the profit 50/50 with the mission. This is a great way to make money for the family while teaching the kids a skill they can use as adults to feed and support their own families. I think it's a great project and I'm excited to see it grow over the next few months and years.
We already have our plane tickets and are now fundraising for the rest of our individual trip costs. Josh is doing a great job of leading the fundraising crew through quite a few chicken bbq's at local events. He is also working on another fundraiser at SoBo's restaurant. The people that own SoBo's also own a restaurant in Antigua and apparantly have adopted a child from Guatemala so they definitely have a heart for that country and have been very supportive of our teams.
Be praying that God would supply funds for the team members and be praying for our hearts to be opened to everything that we will see and experience and for the people we will encounter.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Monday, July 13, 2009
Interest Meeting
For anyone out there in blog land that lives in the Salisbury area that is interested in getting more information about the upcoming January Guatemala trip, there will be an interest meeting on Sunday, July 26th at Bassett Furniture in Delmar.
It is important that we get our team formed and committed as soon as possible. There are some financial deadlines that hit a little earlier for this trip. So if you are considering going on the trip, this meeting is important to attend or contact Danny H.
If you are interested in going to Guatemala but January does not fit your time schedule, we are also talking about forming a summer team for summer 2010. Please contact Brenna J. if this interests you.
God may be calling you to Guatemala. Are you willing to listen and take the step in faith?
It is important that we get our team formed and committed as soon as possible. There are some financial deadlines that hit a little earlier for this trip. So if you are considering going on the trip, this meeting is important to attend or contact Danny H.
If you are interested in going to Guatemala but January does not fit your time schedule, we are also talking about forming a summer team for summer 2010. Please contact Brenna J. if this interests you.
God may be calling you to Guatemala. Are you willing to listen and take the step in faith?
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Story One
This past Sunday was our panel discussion for the church. I asked the team members, if they could only share one story with people, what would that story be? It got me thinking about my own one story. I don't know that I can narrow it down. But I wanted to share ONE of my stories to begin.
The team was busy serving food at the dump on Wednesday, there are hundreds of women and children waiting in line, some patiently, others not so patiently. Dogs are meandering, flies are everywhere, there are yells and screams and laughter from playing kids. I am walking around talking to the kids, showing them their pictures on the camera, just interacting. I see one boy approaching me with urgency. Before I can say anything, he wraps his arms around my waist and squeezes. I hug him back and he runs off to join his friends. He knew what he needed - a hug, a small token of love - found a way to get it. His immediate need for love was fulfilled and he could continue on with his day.
Such a small things I gave him, almost insignificant, yet did I make his week? Being able to hug someone? He didn't know me. He didn't even stick around for me to talk to him. I can't even say I got a good look at his face. And yet, I touched his world and he rocked mine.
The team was busy serving food at the dump on Wednesday, there are hundreds of women and children waiting in line, some patiently, others not so patiently. Dogs are meandering, flies are everywhere, there are yells and screams and laughter from playing kids. I am walking around talking to the kids, showing them their pictures on the camera, just interacting. I see one boy approaching me with urgency. Before I can say anything, he wraps his arms around my waist and squeezes. I hug him back and he runs off to join his friends. He knew what he needed - a hug, a small token of love - found a way to get it. His immediate need for love was fulfilled and he could continue on with his day.
Such a small things I gave him, almost insignificant, yet did I make his week? Being able to hug someone? He didn't know me. He didn't even stick around for me to talk to him. I can't even say I got a good look at his face. And yet, I touched his world and he rocked mine.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
A Shared Memory
Well, we have been back from Guatemala ten days now, and I am still having dreams each night of being there serving and working. Don't misunderstand me, this is not a bad thing. . . .it's a good thing! I do not want to forget the people nor their physical and spiritual needs. The memories instill compassion in me and create a desire to continue to pray for the people of Guatemala and to want to return each year to minister. The day we went to visit the school in the village, a large group of children showed up in no time at all! Several team members played futbol with them, some shared photos with the kids that were taken last year, some handed out candy and gum, some handed out "body stickers", but we all just loved on the kids. It was incredible! After a while some of the children began to leave, as it was getting late in the day. I was standing alone at the rear of our small bus and I noticed a small boy who was heading back to his "home" by himself. I estimate this little fellow to be about 5 or 6 years old. As I watched him go up the dirt road, he was running, but what struck my heart was that every few strides he would begin to skip! Kids only skip when they are happy and content. I watched him until he was out of sight as I was thinking many things to myself. Here is a little boy who, according to what we in the USA consider standard, has NOTHING, and he is happy and content and has joy in his heart. A handful of Americanos shared some candy, gum, time, and love for a little while, and God blessed this little guy in ways I could never have imagined!
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Borrowing thoughts
I was reading the Logan's blog this afternoon (link to their blog is in the column on the right - they are full-time missionaries in Guatemala) and I thought that many of their thoughts were very much what our own team discussed last week - ideas of community and being extremely content with what little they have because they have their family. I want to encourage you to read this entry on their blog. It makes me sad for our country and long for the years when my own family would sit on our front porch in the evenings and talk to our neighbors....
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Day Seven
I know this is a little late but I feel it is important to document our final day at the mission. It was our last day on the construction site so we were raring to go and yet we ended up sitting around until almost 9:00am before we got going. We were waiting on the paint and Carlos. I have to say that I was very impressed with how on-the-ball everyone was this week. We very rarely had to wait at all this week. It's been great! So we got to the site and we had the biggest crowd of kids yet. Apparently news has spread that the Americanos were in town! :-) We gave away lots of candy and then got to the painting of the houses. We FLEW through the painting with the help of quite a few of the kids.
After we finished painting, we all pitched in and cleaned up the yard area and got down to the dedication. We gathered the first family together and Steve prayed an awesome prayer over the house and the family. The mom started crying and saying thank you, that she has never dreamed of being able to have her own house, and to be able to have her whole family in beds (we also gave them beds for their new houses) and not have to sleep on the floor. It was pretty emotional! Then we moved over to the second house, the house of the mudslide victims. Again, Steve led us through an awesome prayer and the mom had tears just streaming down her cheeks the whole time. Then it was time to say good-bye. Sometimes it is difficult to comprehend how fast you can fall in love with a family. Mayli, the oldest daughter in house 2, was crying which just made it harder to say goodbye. It was like a big mass of hugs for about 5 minutes. I'm tearing up just remembering it.
After lunch we got back on the bus and traveled about 40 minutes in the opposite direction to the town of Gualan and the village of Limones. This is where the 4th house is going to be built (3 houses will be in El Modelo). The village looks very much like El Modelo with the difference being that there are hills and trees. But the level of poverty is very much the same. Many of the families in this village are victims of the massive mudslides this past summer. While we were waiting for the family, more and more kids started gathering around us at the school. There are about 100 families in the village and each family has 5-7 kids so we had a few hundred kids gathered around us. Zulema (our translator who was amazing all week!!) took charge and started singing and playing games with the kids. She saved us! We had so much fun playing with these guys and we ended up having enough candy to be able to give every single person at least 1 piece. In fact, we left with candy! We couldn't give it away!! The family is a grandmother, a mother and her 7 kids. SEVEN KIDS!! We gave them presents and candy and took pictures. We had Zulema explain who we were to the family so they weren't totally freaked out :-)
Angie was very concerned about the amount people in the size of house. More about this in a bit. We were taken out to dinner to El Meson as the second half of our cultural experience. It is a wonderful restaurant. We were served family style and let me tell you - we ate well! We had a chicken broth soup, nachos, baked potato, corn on the cob, more meat than you could eat and ice cream. It was SOOOO yummy! Over dinner, Carlos came by to see us and Joanne brought up the idea of expanding the size of the house for the family in Gualan. And he said, if we sent the money, absolutely we can increase the size. YAY! Good idea, Angie!
We had an amazing week. It was truly God blessed. Thank you for all of your support and prayers. We appreciated everyone's thoughts and prayers more than you will ever know. Please continue to check the blog and team members will be posting their own thoughts and feelings as they process through everything we experienced and saw. We'll be posting pictures and video as well.
Dios bendiga
After we finished painting, we all pitched in and cleaned up the yard area and got down to the dedication. We gathered the first family together and Steve prayed an awesome prayer over the house and the family. The mom started crying and saying thank you, that she has never dreamed of being able to have her own house, and to be able to have her whole family in beds (we also gave them beds for their new houses) and not have to sleep on the floor. It was pretty emotional! Then we moved over to the second house, the house of the mudslide victims. Again, Steve led us through an awesome prayer and the mom had tears just streaming down her cheeks the whole time. Then it was time to say good-bye. Sometimes it is difficult to comprehend how fast you can fall in love with a family. Mayli, the oldest daughter in house 2, was crying which just made it harder to say goodbye. It was like a big mass of hugs for about 5 minutes. I'm tearing up just remembering it.
After lunch we got back on the bus and traveled about 40 minutes in the opposite direction to the town of Gualan and the village of Limones. This is where the 4th house is going to be built (3 houses will be in El Modelo). The village looks very much like El Modelo with the difference being that there are hills and trees. But the level of poverty is very much the same. Many of the families in this village are victims of the massive mudslides this past summer. While we were waiting for the family, more and more kids started gathering around us at the school. There are about 100 families in the village and each family has 5-7 kids so we had a few hundred kids gathered around us. Zulema (our translator who was amazing all week!!) took charge and started singing and playing games with the kids. She saved us! We had so much fun playing with these guys and we ended up having enough candy to be able to give every single person at least 1 piece. In fact, we left with candy! We couldn't give it away!! The family is a grandmother, a mother and her 7 kids. SEVEN KIDS!! We gave them presents and candy and took pictures. We had Zulema explain who we were to the family so they weren't totally freaked out :-)
Angie was very concerned about the amount people in the size of house. More about this in a bit. We were taken out to dinner to El Meson as the second half of our cultural experience. It is a wonderful restaurant. We were served family style and let me tell you - we ate well! We had a chicken broth soup, nachos, baked potato, corn on the cob, more meat than you could eat and ice cream. It was SOOOO yummy! Over dinner, Carlos came by to see us and Joanne brought up the idea of expanding the size of the house for the family in Gualan. And he said, if we sent the money, absolutely we can increase the size. YAY! Good idea, Angie!
We had an amazing week. It was truly God blessed. Thank you for all of your support and prayers. We appreciated everyone's thoughts and prayers more than you will ever know. Please continue to check the blog and team members will be posting their own thoughts and feelings as they process through everything we experienced and saw. We'll be posting pictures and video as well.
Dios bendiga
First thoughts after returning home
By God's grace we returned home safely early Sunday morning. I drove into my driveway in Pocomoke at 3:15 a.m. Needeless to say I was extremely tired! Since returning I have been catching up on many things, such as REST and SLEEP, and spending time with my lovely wife. I have spent a little time with Jenny, Phil, Ryleigh, and Tatum, and have talked with Melanie and Amy by phone. I hope to see Melanie tonight. Not sure when I will see Amy, as she lives in Orange County, California!
There is so much to process. You can view photos and videos of third world countries and imagine what things are like, but until you experience it, you will not completley understand. At least that is how it has been with me. When we first arrived in Guatemala I stated to my fellow team members that what I was seeing was pretty much what I expected. But once we actually began our mission work and began to interact with the people we came to minister to I soon realized that my preconceptions were not on target. There is so much need both physically and spiritually. The people, from the small children to the adults, embraced us with love, acceptance, and respect. I was amazed at the courtesy and manners displayed by the children. North Americans have so much and they have so little, yet they showed no signs of greed when we would give them toys, candy, gum, food, whatever. . . Not only did they thank us for these small gifts, they were content with them and in many cases would go to share what we gave to them with other children.
In my heart and mind are many, many stories of my experiences. Every time I share them with friends and co-workers I become extremely emotional. God was in the midst of every day, every minute, every thought, and every experience we had. While He was blessing the people of Guatemala through our efforts to serve, He was blessing all of us immeasureably! I am so thankful that Soul Discovery has partnered with the Hope of Life Mission and that we go to Guatemala every year. We have built, and are building, personal relationships that will last lifetimes. To see the people, especially the children, remember those of the team who have been before was nothing short of amazing! Those of us who were "first timers" bonded with several children and adults, and so look forward to seeing them again. What I witnessed, and was part of, was love in action at it's purest form. The Mission is on a mountain with the Orphanage being all the way to the top. The roads we walked on to get to various venues on the mountain are steep to say the least. Every time we went up the mountain to spend time with the children, they would begin shouting, "Americanos! Gringos!" as soon as they could see the tops of our heads coming up the road! We had such fun playing with the children! They loved the "shoulder rides" and "futbol".
I want to thank ALL of the "veteran" team members who helped this "rookie". Their assurances took away any anxiety that I had. Brenna, you and Danny are to be commended for the great job you did as our leaders! Throughout the week I witnessed the love of Jesus in all of the team! I intend to write more later and include some of the specific experiences that impacted me. Like I said, I am processing. Please continue to pray for the people of Guatemala, Hope of Life Mission, and for the Soul Discovery Mission Team. Seek how God wants you to contribute to this ministry, whether it be to join the team, provide money, or simply pray.
There is so much to process. You can view photos and videos of third world countries and imagine what things are like, but until you experience it, you will not completley understand. At least that is how it has been with me. When we first arrived in Guatemala I stated to my fellow team members that what I was seeing was pretty much what I expected. But once we actually began our mission work and began to interact with the people we came to minister to I soon realized that my preconceptions were not on target. There is so much need both physically and spiritually. The people, from the small children to the adults, embraced us with love, acceptance, and respect. I was amazed at the courtesy and manners displayed by the children. North Americans have so much and they have so little, yet they showed no signs of greed when we would give them toys, candy, gum, food, whatever. . . Not only did they thank us for these small gifts, they were content with them and in many cases would go to share what we gave to them with other children.
In my heart and mind are many, many stories of my experiences. Every time I share them with friends and co-workers I become extremely emotional. God was in the midst of every day, every minute, every thought, and every experience we had. While He was blessing the people of Guatemala through our efforts to serve, He was blessing all of us immeasureably! I am so thankful that Soul Discovery has partnered with the Hope of Life Mission and that we go to Guatemala every year. We have built, and are building, personal relationships that will last lifetimes. To see the people, especially the children, remember those of the team who have been before was nothing short of amazing! Those of us who were "first timers" bonded with several children and adults, and so look forward to seeing them again. What I witnessed, and was part of, was love in action at it's purest form. The Mission is on a mountain with the Orphanage being all the way to the top. The roads we walked on to get to various venues on the mountain are steep to say the least. Every time we went up the mountain to spend time with the children, they would begin shouting, "Americanos! Gringos!" as soon as they could see the tops of our heads coming up the road! We had such fun playing with the children! They loved the "shoulder rides" and "futbol".
I want to thank ALL of the "veteran" team members who helped this "rookie". Their assurances took away any anxiety that I had. Brenna, you and Danny are to be commended for the great job you did as our leaders! Throughout the week I witnessed the love of Jesus in all of the team! I intend to write more later and include some of the specific experiences that impacted me. Like I said, I am processing. Please continue to pray for the people of Guatemala, Hope of Life Mission, and for the Soul Discovery Mission Team. Seek how God wants you to contribute to this ministry, whether it be to join the team, provide money, or simply pray.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
