Guatemala, January 23, 2001 early morning

Dorothy, we are not in Palmetto anymore.
The team from 1st Baptist Church of Palmetto, Florida as well as friends from throughout the southeast arrived safely in Guatemala this evening. It was clear to us as we left Guatemala City and headed for Antigua that though the signs might be familiar, we are in a whole new world. While we could eat at McDonalds or Taco Bell, play games at Chuck E Cheese, shop at Ace Hardware or buy a car at Nissan, the brightly painted school buses loaded with people, the motorcycles whizzing through traffic and the heavily armed police officers on every street corner, remind us that we are far from home. We travelled about an hour from Guatemala City to Antigua and marveled at the traffic, the houses, primitive by our American standards, the mountains dotted with cell phone towers and the people walking carrying huge burdens on their backs. It is clear that Guatemala is a country of contrasts. While we are staying in a hotel with running water and indoor bathrooms, just a few blocks away, there are people in great need. Howie, the missionary with Florida Baptist Children’s Homes has been very helpful in getting acclimated to the country. After dinner, his reassurance that the sounds we heard outside the hotel were firecrackers and not bullets and his reminders to use bottled water when we brush our teeth and not to put toilet paper in the toilet were mixed with encouragement about how the work that we do this week will make a huge difference in the lives of the people we meet. Guatemala has the highest malnutrition rate of any country in the Western Hemisphere. While the people have plenty to eat, the food is not high in calories or protein. Children are literally starving even though they have full bellies. The Malnutrition Center currently serves about 75 children, but with a ratio of eight children to each adult worker, the extra hands that we provide will be welcomed. The construction team will help to build five houses for single mothers or families where the father cannot work due to illness. Currently, they are living in shacks. The new houses, which by American standards would be metal sheds, will provide not only a leak free roof over their heads, but a stable living environment. We have all come for a variety of reasons. Some of us read the book, Radical, and it challenged us to do something outside our comfort zones. Others of us came because our hearts broke when we heard that there were children who had no mother’s arms to rock and comfort them. Others came hoping to use the talents and skills that God gave them for the betterment of their fellow human beings. But, all of us came because we want to glorify God in our lives and share His love to those we come in contact with. As much as possible, we want to help you be a part of that experience, so keep checking back this week and follow along. Your prayers and love are much appreciated.