OUR TEAM:

 

VIDEO FROM THE WEEK:

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Hola desde Guatemala! (Hello from Guatemala) :) We have arrived safely and all is well! We apologize for the delay in getting this update to you. It took us a little longer than we anticipated to get the internet up and running.

 

SATURDAY, JUNE 11 and SUNDAY, JUNE 12th

We arrived in Guatemala late on Saturday night and after a good night's rest, hit the ground running on Sunday morning! Our day started with worship at Casa (the children's home). It was such an incredible thing to worship with God's people in another country and in another language. Sunday afternoon, we loaded up and headed out to Patzicia, a nearby village. We partnered with a local church for community outreach through a Block Party. The Block Party included face painting, inflatables, games, cotton candy, hot dogs and most importantly, over 500 people heard the gospel of Christ! Our team did a great job of reaching out to the children and loving the people of Patzicia. Its amazing to see God work-despite language barriers. Our students are learning more everyday to love the people God puts in their paths-the love of Christ can be shared even through something as simple as a smile! As we prepared for the trip, we reminded ourselves that flexibility is key. Yesterday proved that to be true. :) The block party lasted a few more hours than we had anticipated...3 more hours to be exact. :) We are learning that in Guatemala, life is a little more laid back than what we consider to be the norm. Our students handled it well, though and jumped right in to serve and do whatever it took to get the job done!

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MONDAY, JUNE 13th

Today we got an early start and headed out to our first day of Vacation Bible School. We went back to the village of Patzicia and led a VBS in one of their local schools of over 1,000 children. We were so grateful that God opened the door for this awesome ministry opportunity. When we arrived at the school, they basically handed the school over to us (yes, all 1,000 of them!) and our team was given 3 hours to do our planned activities. We rotated in and out of all of their classrooms to lead them in activities including Bible Story, Crafts, Music and Recreation- such a great opportunity to reach out love on these precious children. We were not sure what to expect or what it would even look like to get anything accomplished in such a situation but God worked through it all and everything went pretty smoothly! We are excited that tomorrow we will be returning to the same school for Day 2 of VBS. The children were really excited to hear we would be back tomorrow. As I type this, our students are scattered all over the children's home loving on the children here. They are doing an incredible job and allowing God to work through them! As you are praying for our team, here a few specific ways you can pray: 1) Pray for the children (and their teachers!) at the school in Patzicia. Pray for them as we have one more opportunity to love on them and to share Christ with them. Pray that God will soften their hearts to the gospel. 2) Pray for our team-pray for strength and wisdom as we minister to the people of Guatemala. Pray for health and energy-we have several more long days ahead! 3) Pray for the children at Casa as our team works with them. That's all for now. We will continue to keep you posted. For all of the concerned moms out there-you will be happy to hear that everyone is doing well-we have not had any major health issues since we've been here! :)

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TUESDAY, JUNE 14th

Hello again from Guatemala! We are currently winding down from a long but great day! Our day started out with Day 2 of VBS in the village of Patzicia. The children were really excited when we arrived this morning and were really looking forward to the activities. During the Bible Story, we handed out wordless books to all of the children and also helped them make salvation bracelets. We talked through the gospel as they put them together-so all 1,000 of them heard about Christ! I don't know how to describe the VBS other than its one of those situations that you walk away thinking, "I don't know how in the world all of that just happened but it was evident that God was working and amazing that it all ran so smoothly!" We then headed back to Casa for an afternoon of hanging out with the children at the children's home. Tonight for dinner, we had a genuine guatemalan meal...lets just say the students were lining up for seconds before the entire group had even been through the line.....I think they liked it! We ended our night by hearing Papi's testimony. (Papi is the founder of Casa and also the father to all of the children here). As I reflect on what God has done so far this week and anticipate what He is going to do in the coming days, I am reminded that we serve such a huge and mighty God. He is at work and just as real here as He is in our normal, everyday lives. God has brought us here to share the love of Christ. He has filled us with His love so that in turn, He can love other people through us. As you continue to pray, please pray for all of the students and teachers who heard the gospel presented today. Our prayer is that they will respond to Christ and that it will filter into their homes and families. Pray for us tomorrow-we will be doing some work projects at Casa and spend another day just loving on the children here! More updates to come! Thanks for keeping up with what God is doing this week in Guatemala.

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15th

Today we completed day 4 of our mission trip. Everything is still going great! We spent the morning doing work projects at the children's home. The projects consisted of painting, yard work, electrical work, cleaning and maintenance. After lunch, we spent the afternoon finishing up some of the projects and once again sharing the love of Christ with the children here. As the week progresses, our students are beginning to build relationships with some of the children. Its great to watch and see them grow to love the children God has placed in their paths this week! Most of the children here have come from difficult situations and are in huge need of love and attention. However, despite their situations, it is amazing to see how God has changed their lives. Many, because of their circumstances, have learned to lean on Christ and trust Him for their strength They are smiling, playing with their friends, going to school, and even loving on us! Many of them have found the joy that comes from a relationship with Christ and it is so humbling to witness their love for life despite the hardships they have faced. After dinner, we worshiped with all of the children at their Wednesday night service. It was, again, a blessing to worship in another culture and in another language. God is working-here, back home and all over the entire world. What an incredible thought! After worship, we had a bonfire and served s'mores to all of the college students here. They were super excited about that. It was a great opportunity to reach out to the older students because a lot of our time is spent with the younger children. After that, we decided to call it a day! Tomorrow we will be going to Antigua to do some shopping and eat at a local restaurant. I always like to close with some specific ways you can pray so here they are..... 1) Continue to pray for the health and safely of our team-we are doing our best to stay rested and healthy! 2) Pray for the people we will encounter tomorrow-that we will show God's love wherever we go! 3) Pray for the work still to be done at Casa. We've seen God do so much but we know He isn't finished with us yet-He is working in our lives and in the lives of those around us. More updates tomorrow!

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THURSDAY, JUNE 16th

Thursday we spent most of the day in Antigua shopping and sightseeing. After shopping and bargaining with vendors (you would be proud of your kids-they did a great job!) we went to a local restaurant for a late lunch. We then headed back to Casa and spent the evening watching a movie with the elementary aged children. Since we were gone most of the day, the children were excited to see the students they've grown to love over this past week! The movie was in spanish with english subtitles so that was interesting. :) However, the children loved it so that's all that matters! We then headed to bed to get rest for our last full day of work.

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FRIDAY, JUNE 17th

Today was our last day at Casa. We spent the morning doing work projects around the children's home and then spent one last afternoon with the children. Tonight we will be grilling hamburgers and having dorm parties for some of the older students. Pray that even though its the last day and exhaustion is beginning to set in, our students will give it their all. Pray that they will be sensitive to opportunities God gives them and that they will be intentional as they minister to the children.

As i think on this past week, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for all that God has done and I am humbled by the opportunity to be a part of His work around the world. When I think about the precious children and adults in Guatemala whose lives were touched this week, I am reminded that we are all created by an awesome, amazing God and that He cares for every single one of us. I am thankful that He is just as much present in the states as He is in every other place in the world. I praise God that His love is more than we could ever comprehend and that His faithfulness is higher than the heavens. "For your faithful love is higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches the clouds. God be exalted above the heavens, let Your glory be over the whole earth." Psalm 108: 4-5

My prayer is that lives will forever be changed because of this week. I pray that our team will not walk away from this trip just thinking that it was an awesome experience but rather we will walk away having grown more in love with our Savior Jesus Christ; that we will sense more than ever before the call that God has placed on our lives as believers to make His name famous; that every single day our lives will reflect the love and compassion He has shown to us and that we will realize we were not created to live for ourselves but rather to bring glory and honor to Jesus.

As you pray, please pray for all of the children who heard the gospel this week. Pray that they will hear God's voice and recognize that He is calling them to respond to His gospel. Pray that it will filter into their homes and families and the people of Guatemala will be reached for Christ!

Thank you for your prayers and for keeping up with us all week! Pray for safety as our team travels back to the US tomorrow!

 

SOME PICTURES FROM THE TRIP: