Day 4

It never ceases to amaze me at how God orchestrates everything around us.  Nothing has gone as expected but we are continually blessed at the people he has placed before us each moment.  We may think we are doing one thing and the next minute it changes, but to God it has always been in the plan.  Being at a certain place, at a certain time, we have seen God work in many ways within our group and within this ministry.  There is no doubt we are all being stretched and grown in many ways.  All a part of God's plan! 

This morning began with everyone going in different directions!  It's hard to even cover all that has happened, but I can promise you it has been amazing!  We had men that went to clean a mango lot to allow bus parking at the Hope of Life site.  This was a last minute change, but a need that was here and we had a few hours before our bus left for the day.  So, our men jumped in to lend a hand!

Adam Pickering, Derrick Gates, & Donnie Loper

Guy Evans

A lot of our women and girls headed to the hospital to help bath the rescue babies.  This was such a treat to be able to scoop those babies up, clean them up, wash their hair, and give lots of kisses to their sweet little faces!

Alex...can you get any sweeter than this thing???

Kalie has fallen in love forever!  Please
pray for the day we leave because this
one is going to have a hard time

Stacy Miller bathing Dulce Maria

Olivia Miller dressing Dulce Maria

Dianna & Christopher

One year ago we met little Hermino at the hospital.  He has no mother and is at Hope of Life because he needed a hip surgery.  We fell in love with this little man and his shining personality, especially River!  We were blessed to meet up with him again in December and see how he had grown.  He was able to have his hip surgery in February and is now recovering from the procedure.  He had a cast that went to his waist and had traveled 3 1/2 hours into the city to have it replaced with a smaller cast.  So, when we arrived we weren't able to see him.  Finally, he arrived late yesterday so we were able to see him first thing this morning.  He is such a precious little boy and my heart melted when I saw him again!  I brought pictures of our previous trip where we had played with him and he really enjoyed looking at the photos.  Please continue to pray for a quick recovery for this little guy.  Also pray that he will have an easy time with his physical therapy that is ahead.  

Herminio...God bless his little bones! 

Herminio loved looking at his pictures

There were several people that made rounds at the elderly home.  These people absolutely love to just have you sit with them and spend time with them.  Even though Ipolito is blind, he knew he had company doting on him!  Morgan and Robin were talking with Chento, even though they don't speak Spanish, they were happy to let him just talk and talk!  Audrey, Selena, and myself met with Gladys, who is 70 years old.  She was sick and said she was ready to go.  She has been praying since she was 50 years old for the Lord to just take her home.  Her body has had fever for 3 days and she has problems with glaucoma in her eye.  Tomorrow she will be heading to Guatemala city to see a doctor.  She was in so much pain and was worried about traveling so far.  We prayed with her and told her that the Lord had not answered her prayer yet because he still wants to use her.  He definitely used her to bless our hearts today.

Kayla, Cissie & Allison with Ipolito

Robin & Morgan talking with Chento

Myself and Audrey with Gladys (Selena not pictured)

Kara, Maureen, Catie & Brooke went to Kelly's house (the special needs home) and helped bath all the children.  They did such a good job and no doubt were used in a big way there today. This was an experience that these girls will never forget.  Kara got a few surprises she wasn't quite prepared for, but I must say she "hand"led it like a trooper.

Kara & Maureen bathing Mario

Brooke and Katie bathing Mirza

Getting those teeth all clean! Good job girls

After our morning around Hope of Life, we went to the city dump to set up a feeding center.  You can never get adjusted to seeing this sight.  No matter how many times you go, it never gets any easier to see the poverty of these people.  When you see the same people time and time again reality really sets in that this is a way of life for these people.  A cycle that never ends.  Hope of life feeds at the dump 3 times a week.  I can see where this would become expected and it's not as life giving eternally as Jesus himself is.  I pray these people would not just be content with filling their stomach as much as filling their soul.  Food is needed so badly here.  People are hungry and starving, but I want to see their souls be fed.  John 10:10 says,  "the thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."  This is my hearts desire...to see these people have abundant, full life through Jesus Christ.

Michelle - June 2014 at the dump

Michelle - December 2014 at the dump

Michelle today at the dump

Two little girls searching for anything to recycle

Olivia & Cortlan pouring drinks  

The line at the feeding site

Sada & Dulca with Selena in December 2014
at the dump

Sada & Dulce with Selena today at the dump

No words....

Love truly has no end...

When we got back from the dump we had only a few hours until our pizza party/movie night at the orphanage.  The kids always love this.  To be served pizza and a movie is such a treat that they don't receive very often.  For us, we can run pick up a pizza and rent a movie on any random night we choose.  There are so many things we take for granted.  Each day truly is a gift from God.  Here are a few pics of how we ended our day.