Day #5

Our day has been full of delivering Christmas gifts.  We started in a village called Paso Del Credo, also known as "pig city," due to all the pigs that wonder around everywhere.  It is nothing to see them wandering in and out of houses.  This village is one of the dirtiest and poorest villages in Guatemala. Located in Chiquimula, we see a way of life that is absolutely heartbreaking.  They have a well that has been dug about 25 feet by hand.  The well is still not functional because they have no way to pump the water up to their homes.  Therefore, they continue to use the nearby river as their only source of water.  They bath, wash dishes, cook, and drink from the same place.

Paso Del Credo

This is how they drink their water from the 

river. That just dig a hole right next to the river 

and drink up.

Kids from the village 

Little baby girl down by the river with her mom.

It's not odd to see children, as young as 5 years old, working to take care of basic needs. 

This little girl carried this bucket of water,

 on her head, up this very steep hill, 

back to her home 

This is the hill she had to climb 

with the bucket on her head 

This little girl just collected the tiny fish they 

had caught in their fish trap! She came climbing up

with one of them in her mouth! 

After touring the village, we had all the children line up, by boys and girls, to receive their gifts! 

After all the gifts had been given out, a woman from the village began thanking us for not forgetting them. She told us this was the first Christmas that these kids had ever had gifts. Think about that! Our 

poorest people in America have been on the receiving end at Christmas time at least once, if not all of their life.  It's amazing how just one little Christmas bag has caused this village to be grateful that they were not forgotten. It is truly the biggest blessing to give to others.  

Our next stop was the village of Blancha. Here children lined the railroad tracks to see what was in store as our big, yellow school bus pulled up loaded with Christmas bags!  

Our last stop was the village of El Canal.  This was a fairly small village that ran along side a canal.  This water was very dirty, but that was still what they used for washing clothes and basic needs.  They only have access to fresh water every 8 days.  

Bath time 

I think back on past Christmas years and how much money is spent.  I remember how my mindset was gifts, gifts, gifts. Gifts for my kids, gifts for my family, gifts for teachers, gifts for friends, and even gifts for people I really don't even know that well. Always searching for the right gift, trying to balance not spending more on one than another. All the while saying the words, "Christmas is really not about the gifts....it's all about Jesus!"  I knew this to be true, but my focus and actions didn't show it.  This Christmas has been different than any other in my life.  It feels really good to take a year away from all the busyness and allow my actions to center on the One that Christmas is truly all about. I'm not in any way saying gifts are wrong.  I just know for me....I needed a real reflection of Christmas and I found that in the people of Guatemala.  All praise and glory to God who provided the way.  I feel I have been blessed more than anyone who we have served while here.

Day #4

Today we began our day riding to church with all the orphans on one bus! It's always amazing to me how these people fit so many into one vehicle! It's always a blessing to be with these kids and experience a church service here in Guatemala! Even when you don't know what they are singing it is always the sweetest spirit.  We sang a song for them and Derrick brought a simple, but powerful message to open.

Church building

 

wonderful worship service

On the way to Sunday school

Since it was Sunday, everyone had a free day to spend however they wanted! We decided to take some of the gifts we still had to the Hope of Life village. On our way, we stopped at the river and had some cute little guests join us!

We were just going to walk around but these little guys had something else in mind!

They got into a splashing war

After a little time of cooling off, we walked the streets of the village going house to house. This was a first for all of us because we normally have a translator with us and today we were on our own! I think we managed fairly well with our limited Spanish. The great thing about this place is knowing that God's love can still be shown, even through language barriers.

With each house we passed,  we picked up more and more followers!

By the time we reached the end of the street we had a hard time getting them to go back home.

It was really sweet and such a wonderful way to spend our Sunday afternoon.  With a quick stop by Kelly's house and a visit to the hospital, we completed our day.  With each passing day, the desire to help these people grows stronger and stronger. There is just something about seeing the poverty and need here. You could watch a video, dvd, commercial, or even be told about it by someone who has witnessed it for themselves, but it still will not have the impact of seeing it for yourself.  Once you do, you almost have a sense of responsibility combined with desire to help in some way....any way! I encourage anyone who is able, to take just one international mission trip, and your life will never be the same....it will be better!

Day #3

Today we started in a village where we were able to share with the kids our reason for being with them and the message of Christ. We sang songs with them and shared the representation of Christ through the candy cane. After all this, we passed out Christmas gifts to all the children! The expressions on their faces were priceless!

                                                     Children leaving the church with
                                                                         their gifts

Emily couldn't stop smiling! 

Such a doll! 

We stopped back by one of the family style mission homes. These homes are located in the Safe Haven village within Hope of Life. This village consists of 3 houses, where families have moved in with their own children, to provide a family atmosphere for the orphans. Each family is given 7-10 children from the orphanage, so that these kids have a place to call home, and people to call mom and dad. They are provided with a place where they feel loved and have the same structured environment we have in our homes. One specific couple we visited today was from Virginia. Their names are Patti and Phil Monk, and they have 3 boys of their own, along with 7 kids from the orphanage to complete  their family! Please keep these families in your prayers. They depend solely on the funding of churches and individual sponsors to be able to do this work here! 

We toured several other places at Hope of Life that we didn't get to see last time. Starting with the new Jerry Falwell Center. This is a place designed to be a teaching center for pastors to receive training. This training will equip them to serve their villages better. 

After lunch, we went back to the warehouse to pack more Christmas gifts!

We had to make one last stop by the hospital for our daily visit with the rescue babies! They were so happy to see us and have some play time.

Hermino ran straight to River for a hug

Delmy on the left and Angie on the right

Delmy and Miriam 

Baby Christopher

Tonight we had a movie and pizza party at the orphanage! This is always so much fun for the kids! They just love to sit in your lap, hold your hand, play with your hair, or give you a hug! These kids have so much love to give.  

The house parent I spoke of earlier, Patti, made a statement today that shed a new light on something I have heard many times. She said she watches how love truly does cover a multitude of sins! Having these children who have no one else, come live in a home where love is poured on them,  truly does heal deep wounds that are within each child from the different backgrounds they come from. Only God can do something like that!

Day #2

A coloring book, colors, a toy football, beanie babies, little toy cars, silly bands, a necklace, hair bows...pick two or three and ask yourself if they would bring you joy at Christmas? In the village of Santa Cicillia, we watched in amazement at how these simple things brought smiles and happiness to children!

Marby, 2 years old

This is Brian! We found him playing with his little 

Matchbox car all by himself as we were leaving. He was so happy

to have one little car! Cortlan ran to give him a Jesus necklace! 

Shaley, age 9, with Selena

Yohanna, age 2, loved her beanie baby

Allandrea,  and her sister Tametzia 

enjoyed the sweet "God loves you" bracelets made by 

Pete and Michelle Williams girls, Kaylan, Ashley, and Carrie 

We met Hannah Victoria, age 25, who was severely malnourished! Hope of Life collected all her information so that they could return and help Hannah receive the nourishment and medical attention her fragile body needs. Please pray for her and the Hope of Life team that will follow up. Pray arrangements are made that will benefit her physically and spiritually. 

Hannah Victoria, age 25 

My heart just breaks for these people. I feel like I could walk these roads, day after day, delivering whatever I could, and never get tired of it! I wish I could do more than just offer a few items, hugs, and smiles. Our job while here is to love on these people and let them know they are important to God. Hope of Life constantly follows up with these people after mission teams go through. They have an established relationship, and continue to make new ones all the time. So our actions, while here, will result in the people hearing the gospel. I pray that our small acts of kindness and love pave the way for their hearts to receive the message that matters most! 

Village family 

Our next stop was the dump, where we fed families that literally have nothing. These people stand in  line waiting to be fed with plastic bowls and bottles they have found around the dump. Once they have their food you will find them sitting on the ground, eating with their hands. There were many familiar faces we saw while there. 

These 2 girls, Sada and Dulca, we met in June. 

They are sisters and we were able to give them 

Christmas gift in June! They remembered Selena!

This is the same cutie we met at the dump 

last time! Her picture from 6 months ago 

is on my first blog posted! 

Dulca eating with her hands, like all the other children 

While walking through the dump, we came across a 19 year old girl named Clara, digging for plastic or anything she could possibly sell for a little money. Everyday that she goes there she makes around 60 cents. She wants to attend a school to become a firefighter! She had to take a series of tests to be accepted, which she did and passed them all! She attended the school for 6 months and had to drop out because she didn't have the money needed to take the bus back and forth each week. After learning of her situation, Selena felt led to give her the money she had to help her with the expense.

The dump 

Clara working at the dump 

Clara was so thankful 

The Rosetti's with Claraa

In accepting her gift, we had the opportunity to ask if she knew Jesus Christ as her personal Saviour. Gerber, our guide, translated to us that she had actually gotten saved only two months before! Selena told her, "Do not give up!" God is so good. Please pray that Clara will continue to see how the Lord loves her and wants to show her his hand of blessing! I pray that in her decision to follow Him, she would see how he will always provide for her. That she would know the truth of Jeremiah 29:11, that God has a plan for her life....and that includes a plan to prosper her! To God be the glory!!