Two Weeks

Dear Team Guatemala 2010,

I just wanted to encourage everyone after two weeks at home. First I'd like to say that I've never been a member of a more positive and supportive team! From the moment we assembled, you each assumed your God-given roles and lavished your gifts upon everyone you came in contact with!

It's a tough climb down from that "high" mountain in Guatemala which is filled with 24/7 plus "purpose". I would like to encourage everyone wherever you are in those emotions. Back in "civilian" life, being snowed in, etc. can take its toll on everyone, especially after "more purpose than we may have EVER felt squashed into one week in Guatemala". My thoughts are this:

1. Read your Bible or other uplifting reads.
Phillipians 4:8 "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."

2. Find a new purpose in your community (if you don't already have too many). Ideas include:

Wicomico Mentor Program: 1 hour a week (during school hours) in a county school with an at-risk kid, Henri Parker at hparker@wcboe.org...tell her I recommended you.

Big Brothers Big Sisters: anytime once a week hanging out with your little, http://www.biglittle.org/.

STARS after school programs (in most schools) always in need of volunteers for homework help: 3:30-5:30 Salisbury Middle contact-Sarah Rushing srushing@wcboe.org...tell her I recommended you.

Kidmo or Youth (Soul Discovery, Sundays 10am, Brenna or Ken, brennacjohnson@gmail.com)

Saturday soup kitchens (Grace UMC, 326 Barclay St. Salisbury) Just show up any Saturday around 10:30-11 and help serve.

God is totally incredible! LOVE YOU ALL!
Mel

Journal entry 1/20/10

Team Guatemala is made up of an incredible group of people! Today I was with the planting crew in the morning. We had an easy planting day minus watering at the top of a hill, but Nicole and I conquered that mountain...and found an easier way down; we climbed UP to a walkway!

After lunch, our whole team traveled to El Modelo. On the way I saw a sign which said "Disponible." I had been singing "I am available" to myself in preparation for our next assignment. I knew it would be difficult because I had heard the stories of this village. Singing always helps me communicate with God.

Later along the journey, after seeing more signs, I realized the billboard which said "Disponible" was "Available" in English. Duh! I had been thinking how close the word looked to disposable. This realization kept me humble and was a gentle reminder that God didn't need ME to help these people....rather He was giving me the privilege to love them. What a privilege it was!

El Modelo was just as I imagined from the many pictures, but it was much vaster. The people began crowding around the bus spying the food bags on top. The pastor of the town aided us in identifying mothers of each family so we could evenly disperse the food bags. Sadly, we were told some children had been taught to lie for more food and it was hard to deny them.

Joanne, our trip leader, took Chrys, Tom, Alexis and I to see Alba, a mentally and physically challenged, young girl. We arrived at the house to find Alba maneuvering to us as quickly as she could on her knees and then her FEET! We neared the house and heard a baby crying. Entering the house, we found a baby lying on a twin bed. No one was in the house.

After holding the baby and getting him to sleep, we investigated. We deduced that the baby belonged to Alba's younger sister. The mother was finally found and returned declaring that she had gone to play cards with the boys. The floor was dirty with a knife, screwdriver and assorted trash items scattered across it. No extra diapers could be found, and the only available water was out in the Guatemalan sun. We bathed Alba with baby wipes and found some clean, cooler clothes for her to wear. The bus had been waiting for us so we left iced water bottles and a couple bags of food. We alerted the mission and the pastor of the village to the situation.

Before leaving we visited the two houses Soul Discovery had built last year. One mother had pictures of the team members on her wall along with large gold letters spelling “Jesus” painted beside them. She encouraged us sharing that she prays daily for the team who built her home.

Back at the mission, Jim closed the day with a talk on humility: "Your attitude should be that of Christ."

(Readers, please know that I do not mean to belittle the way the people of El Modelo live. Guatemala has poverty that is incomprehensible to us as Americans. This poverty can create unimaginable desperation. We must try to imagine how it feels to walk a day in their shoes....)

JK1 (a.k.a. Jim Keitt) After a week back home

Like last year, this trip presented many challenges and experiences that will certainly affect my life, the lives of my fellow Team Guatemala members, and the lives of the people of Guatemala that we worked with and ministered to. I have a new respect for the characteristic of being "flexible"! In some of my correspondence with people since my return I shared with them that I believe that God appoints people to be in specific places at specific times to do His specific will. I believe that about Team Guatemala. Some of us began the week as long time friends, but some of us began it as mere aquaintances. Before long we had all become a very close "family" and I am so blessed to be part of this family. We range in age from 13 to 64, but there was no evidence of "generation gap". We all went on the trip because we were all called by God for His purpose, and even though the things we did may seem insignificant in the large scheme of things, they were nevertheless important because God sent us. This may sound like I'm tooting our horns, but I'm not. I give all praise, thanks, glory, and credit to God, and pray that through our efforts His will was accomplished.

I learned so much about the hearts of my fellow team members while there. I witnessed hard physical work and I witnessed BIG LOVING hearts! "Agape" love is perfect love. It's the kind of love that God has for us, a love that expects nothing in return, a love that is given period! If we were all honest, we would admit that we don't always offer this kind of love. How easy is it to love someone who is lovable and loves you back, but how hard is it to love someone who is unlovely or can't or won't love you back? The love that I witnessed my team giving to the people of Guatemala was definitely agape love, from Alicia comforting a young hurting boy to the "G-unit" bringing dignity and compassion to a near 90 year old ailing grandmother and a dozen or so grandchildren or to the Team Guatemala Choir led by Melany attempting to lead the residents of the Senior Home into worship (or even me entertaining a young Mayan boy with my lame "magic" tricks. . . well, he did laugh!).

Leaving was a mixed bag of emotions. We were all ready to get back to our families and loved ones, but we were sad to leave, as well. I'm already praying and looking forward to our next trip! Anyone reading this who has never been on a mission trip, I respectfully ask you to search your heart and see if God is calling you to be a part of this ministry that Soul Discovery Church offers.

Day Eight (January 23) - Travel and Reminisce Day

What happens in Guatemala - Stays in Guatemala (Or does it?)

The "Land of Not" Game (Nicole - not fun, epic fail)
Gravity is stronger here because we are closer to the equator (right, Jess?)
Excavators make great carnival rides. "Six Flags over Guatemala"
To speak Spanish, just add an "o" to the end of every word, i.e. correcto (Ken)
It IS okay to paint your fingernails and wear a cover-up, even if you are a guy.
Trees WILL roll down the mountain if you let them, right Jim K? (As you wish!)
Peanut Butter!
Beware of the "huggy man"!
Nicole has a thing for old men and the sea.
Check your bed the first night or you might find a tarantula the next.
"Uno" (the card game) is called "One" in Spanish.
Devotions are always better in a hot tub.
The singing ketchup man.
Ken is always willing to help - unless a bug crawls up your shirt - right Angie?
Don't get on the bus last - you'll get a "jump seat".
The proper way to say hello in Guatemala is aloha.
The "WOW" factor
If you send an old man out for ketchup on Tuesday he may return with it by Friday.
Never give a Guatemalan child "After-bite." You may go deaf from his screaming!
If you have a bag of candy & gum & stickers, the word "alto" does not mean "stop"!
Team Grandma, aka Grandma Crew, aka G-ma Team, aka "G-unit"
You can't take Nicole anywhere without her tending to delayer.
One must always remember to climb the trees with Angie to collect parasites.
If you offer to buy Shaggy Jimbo icecream, be sure that you have money.
Nine women can live in and sleep in one room and share one bathroom for a whole week.
If you tie rebar in Guatemala, don't expect it to STILL be standing even when you are finished.
Bring brown/tan socks to work in so they stay the same basic color by the time you leave.
Room 10 is the scorpion room. BEWARE!
Great zapato at the warehouse! Better mice (raton) than a snake :)
You know your bug bites are bad when the seniors go back to their room to offer you medicine :(
If your eyes are bigger than your stomach, don't worry. Josh or Sam will eat it.
Doing dishes is bad for your back. Just ask Rick.
You need to be in shape to worship at a Guatemalan church.
Never give an orphan a drink packet (Kenny) or a jerky package - they'll eat the preservative (Rick).
"Santo, santo, santo, yo quiero verte" OR "Bano, bano, bano, yo necesito"
Never give a guitar to a former senior rockstar.
It is gun to watch the guards faces when given sour mints.
Put bug spray on you as soon as you land in Guatemala.
It's okay to work contruction in $400 Dolce sunglasses but don't set them down at the orphanage!
Shop around before buying hot sauce, especially if the bottles are covered in dust.
It is okay to lookout the window of the bus but don't stick your face out the window... Talula.
It takes many Gringos to get keys out of a locked room.
Planting can be "dam" fun!
You may think you're going to Guatemala but you are really "going to the moon".
If you EVER need ANYTHING ANYTIME ANYWHERE, ask Lori. She's got a spare.
Guatemala Rule #1: Memorize the weekly itinerary and follow it exactly as written.
Guatemala Rule #2: Ignore rule #1.
How do you say "wow" in Spanish?
Don't rely on mini "Spanish Phrases for Dummies" books for communication purposes. You won't get far.
If you're trying to speak Spanglish to Guatemalan children and they start talking really fast and laughing, yes, the are making fun of you.
Some people's bedrooms are spicy!
Be sure to ask Sam where the Mississippi River is located and Jessie where the North Pole is.
Morning mountain yoga.
"Blogging" daily without internet access.
Do you this the tarantula is still hiding behind the nightstand?


Thank you for your daily prayers while we were gone. They were strongly felt. Please continue to pray as we process everything we saw, did and felt while on the trip. We will continue blogging as we process through and post pictures. Please clink the link on the right (photos of current and previous trips) to see photos from various team members. And continue praying that God will be working in the hearts of the people we touched and interacted with. And for you - is God leading YOU to Guatemala?

Day Seven (January 22)

Day seven brought about some mixed feelings among the team members. It is our last full work day here ans tonight we will need to start packing to go home. We have to leave here by six am so we can get tot the airport. There is another team flying in tomorrow so the bus has to be there to pick them up. Unfortunately for us that means we have to get to the airport much earlier than we planned.

The started with another yoga session lead by Chrys. Jim D was there again and I believe she was joined by Margaret and Sarah but either stayed very long. I would have been there but I was working on a blog. (That´s my story and I am sticking to it!)

The warehouse crew was once again going to the warehouse. Surprise surprise! Josh made the mistake of calling them the Grandma Crew. You can imagine the reception that name got. Joanne, Nicole, Margaret, Angie, and Terri were not happy. He of course was referring to the team that went out to visit the grandma from the dump NOT a reflection of their age. So we changed it to Team G-ma instead.

The planting crew spent the day at the school. While there they saw several of the kids from the orphanage during their break time. Several girls were still wearing the make up and tiaras they got the day before. Jim K. Lori, Steve, Preston, Sarah, Lori, Katelyn, And Chrys made up the planting team today.

Team Mel – Stayed up at the mission house today for a little RnR. Sam and Jessica weren´t quite up to full strength today.

Team Construction – Alicia, Josh, Jim D, Rick, Jay, Ken, Thomas, Alexa went back up to work on the hospital. The Tomexakens (Thom, Alexa, and Ken) were happy to be together once again! The work site at the hospital is constantly changing. You can hardly recognize it from one day to the next. Today was no difference. We spent quite a bit of time today working with the rebar on a load bearing wall at the center of the hospital. We had created a large wooden frame deep inside the base and built a rebar grid system that will eventually be covered with cement. On top of the grid system we attached over forty huge pieces of rebar – some stretching almost 15 feet high. Partway through attaching the bars the whole thing began to shift to the left. The guys working with us thought it would stand on its own but apparently they had miscalculated. After several attempts to upright it. We worked on strengthening the frame work and then add two sets of rebar the whole length of the fram to hold it straight. Next we disconnected and reconnected the rebar lengths to the center braces. We were just about to finish connecting the final pieces when the center braces came apart from the frame and whole thing slammed down to the ground. A look of amazement was on everyone´s face. God certainly was watching that no one was standing where it fell. It was also a good time to break for lunch. When we returned, they had figured out the problem and a couple of guys worked during lunch to set it back up. This time they put five or six diagonal braces through out the system. (Just like Jay had suggested earlier - BTW) We worked until around three.

Team G-ma, the planting crew and most of the construction crew took the rest of the afternoon either at the orphanage for some final play time with the kids or went down to relax by the pool.

After a fantastic dinner by Salvador and crew – they went all out and created a selection of Guatemalan delights complete with several traditional Guatemalan deserts. During dinner, we all got involved in a little game that started at the construction site called The Land of NO. You´ll have to ask a team member how to play! We were treated to Angie´s turn at devotions after dinner. Rather than a traditional style of devotions, she went around the group and spoke to each team member and told how they inspired her during the trip. Everyone was inspired to see how they look from another point of view.

On a side construction note, we walked up to the mission house around 930 and they were still working on concrete and may continue into the night including Giovani (our driver for most of the week) They really want to get things going here with the hospital. I am so proud that we were able to be a help in this project here. Carlos spoke to us the other night and informed us that we were the first group to actually come through with the donation we pledged. Quite an honor I think!

Off to showers and packing for our trip home.

Ken

Day Six (January 21)

Greetings again from the Tarantula Room here in beautiful Guatemala.

Day six began with – wait for it – MORE CONSTRUCTION. Chrys lead a small group in some yoga over on the patio. Still don´t know how they can bend like that! Jim D and Terri joined her.

Once again we did a shuffle of team members and went off to our various mission sites. Josh led the construction crew down at the hospital. The crew consisted of Alicia, Steve, Jay, Nicole, Rick, Preston, Thom, and Sam. No more digging in the foundations but they did get to play with Rebar!

Joanne and her group went back down to the Warehouse and sorted medicines checking expiration dates, etc. She was joined by Sarah, Terri, Chrys, Mel and Alexis. Afterwards they went to play with the babies in the nutrition center. They played until lunch but were told not to come back anymore during this afternoon or evening. Seems there is a virus going around with some of the babies so they didn´t want anyone else inside for a while. Goods News however, the young Mayan boy has gone back to his village but will be coming back in a few days for a check up.

Jim K (aka JK1) was the driving force back at the Mission house planting team. He was joined by Angie, Lori, Jessica, Katelyn, Margaret, Jim D., and myself. We were greeted once again by a LARGE pile of palms waiting at the mission house for us. Planting went pretty smoothly (No rolling any trees down the side of the mountain this time – Jim). Almost thirty more plants were planted today around the Mission House. It is starting to look like we are in the jungle up here!

After lunch, SOME of us got a little free time. Turns out they ran out of stuff to pack in the warehouse and we´ve filled all the holes they´ve dug in the rock here to plant the rest of the plants. So we shifted the crews AGAIN and some of the die-hards (Jim D. and Lori) went back to the construction site joined by a few of the planting crew while the rest took a needed break at the mission house. Well, some people rested. Rick, Mel and I zipped up to the orphanage and asked Alex (the guy who runs the orphanage) if we could take the (our)kids down to the pool for a swim. He wasn´t there but he called and we got permission to go as long as they had their homework done. SO we said we´d be back in an hour to get them once they were done. Very soon Marilis, Erika, Jorge, Victor AND Maria, Brigido, Margaro, and Julio were splashing around in the pool.

Ken

Today, Thursday, we had some free time in the afternoon because the planting team didn´t have any more holes to put the trees in, and the warehouse team had finished their work there for the day. The Molinas kids had been asking us if we could take them to the pool WHENEVER we saw them. Today was their day! The Ceta kids came too and fun times began! All eight kids had a blast playing with the Ken Johnson and Trenary family, and Sarah and Jessica. Lucas´ son from the construction site, Jorge, joined in the fun too. The group played volleyball in the pool, a little soccer outside of the pool, and jumped from hot tub to cold pool often.

Oscar, one of the mission workers treated the kids to some frozen coconuts poolside with straws inserted in the tops. These coconuts were soon split with machetes and eaten in a frenzy, especially by Victor. He was covered in coconut! They also enjoyed some snack bars and jerky. The only near casualties of the afternoon were Jorge thinking a preservative packet from the jerky was wrapped candy, and Victor downing a drink packet of Crystal Light without the drink. Kenny and Rick´s shoulders were usually found with a kid on them.

When pool time was over, we headed up to the orphanage to join the rest of our team members. The whole team split up and played various sports and games, painted fingernails in a makeshift salon, and colored and made paper airplanes. Fun was definitely had by all! Then came PIZZA PIZZA. The kids were really looking forward to it and SO excited to see its arrival. Pizzas and Pepsi disappeared in an instant. Our last treat at the orphanage was a performance by a group of the kids. They danced and sang five spirited songs for us to multiple standing ovations.

A quick stop through town for ice cream and sodas, and then it was time for the long awaited hot tub devotion night. Sam was feeling ill so I stayed at the mission house…...

Love from Guatemala,

Mel

Day Five (January 20)

Hola from the beautiful mountains of Guatemala! Weather is HOT! We had three crews working in the morning.

The first crew was the construction crew made up of Angie, Alexis, JimD., Sam, Rick, Steve, Chrys, Ken, Thom, and Sarah were at the hospital worksite. They had very hard and heavy duty work and brute strength was needed. The crew was down in a pit moving piles of dirt, rock and gravel. They also dug several trenches and worked with the rebar for the columns.

Another crew made up of Jim K., Katelyn, Josh, Nicole, Margaret, Preston, and Mel did landscaping or planting as they call it here. They had to plant trees on the side of the mountain between the tank house and the orphanage and it was very, very steep indeed. So far over 50 trees have been planted with many more to go.

The third crew, Joanne, Lori, Terry, Jessica, and Alisha (a young lady done here for a seven month mission), worked in the warehouse. They packed 110 bags with 3 ring binders, scissors, folders, booklets of graph paper, and notebook paper. The Guatemalan Public Schools are currently on Summer Break and will be going back to school on the 29^th. Packing these bags will allow 110 students in a small remote village the opportunity to go to school. The students are not allowed to go to school unless they have all their supplies. Two teachers in the group were very excited about this packing as they will be distributed at a village, El Modesto, near Zacapa. They were very excited to get done early and go to the Nutrition Center and rock the babies to sleep. They found that the Mayan boy they met earlier in the week was able to go home to his family and will just need to come back for check ups. They were pleasantly surprised to see that some of the other children that touched there hearts in the short time we have been here had their families there for a visit. (Dale, Lori says to watch out because she and Jessica have each felt their heart strings being pulled by two little boys, Carlo Alexandra and Horsio.)

In the afternoon we traveled to El Modelo, a little village in the desert. The village is made up of many makeshift homes, adobe homes and some homes constructed of cinderblock, such as the homes built by the team last year. There we distributed over 300 bags of rice and beans. The highlight of our time was playing with the children and giving gifts and candy. We stopped at a house in the neighborhood to check on a 20 year old mentally and physically challenged girl, named Alba, in the neighborhood who Joanne, our team coordinator, cares for. We found this girl ill and a baby there with no one care for him. We found the mother for the baby and brought her back to the house to care for him. Alba was given loving attention by Preston and Josh. Then Angie and Melanie bath her and changed her into clothes that better suited the weather. While attending to Alba a boy living few doors down came to ask for help for his mother. We reviewed her medicine, and prayed over her. The team then went to visit the homes that they constructed last year. It was a grand reunion. On the wall of the first home hung pictures of the team from Soul Discovery that built the home because the mother prays for the team daily. The mother next door planted flowers and had added a nice little pathway.

With empty bags of candy and hearts full of love for the people we headed back to our compound. We truly felt like we were the hand and feet of God doing both work and sharing ourselves with those with the least. We were truly blessed.

- Terri and Preston Frallic

On a side note here in Guatemala – we have had more ¨issues¨ with little friends this year than I can remember in past years. The room that Mel and Rick are living in is now called the Jungle Room. They have killed, from last count, at least four scorpions and more spiders than we can count. There is a skunk living somewhere on the guys side of the mission house. No one has really ever seen him, though Alicia does swear she saw a small black critter running by one night, but we have certainly smelled his presence.

I honestly believe that Angie is becoming an insect magnet! If there is one anywhere nearby, it´ll find a way to either land on her or walk directly at her. We have also started a new contest. We call it connect the dots. The goal is to take the bug bites on your legs and see if you can connect the dots to make a picture. Margaret swears there is a cross on her leg. Josh and Thom are bringing up second place for the most bite marks. Lori´s legs are so bad we had to make a new category for her. She refuses to let anyone take a picture of her legs but I can honestly say that I am OK with that! The other day we commented on how white her socks were. Unfortunately she wasn´t wearing any socks! Just bandages! OOOOOPS!

Nicole awoke on day two to a lovely little tarantula lieing in her bed. Dead of course but now each night she goes through her little routine to make sure there are no relatives of his. And speaking of tarantulas – Lori and I came across one that was a good three inches across in the room with the computer. We have now dubbed it the tarantula room! More critter chat should be forth coming!

-Ken