Guatemala – Day 5: Today being Sunday, we have the day off and have it planned to explore Antigua. But first we join together in worship. After a time of singing, Pastor Greg from Cornerstone Church in Inverness, Florida, shared with us a message about how we all have “Potential”. I have included some of the points shared below:
1) Potential is not something you gain, but something you use up.
2) There is incredible potential in all of us…given by God.
3) These children at the Malnutrition Center were created by God with incredible potential. He knew they would be born poor. He knew what their physical, spiritual, and emotional handicaps would be. But He has a plan for every one of them. They are not where they are by accident. God’s plan for them is to help them realize their potential. We also are a part of God’s plan in being here this week. Every day 25,000 children die of hunger. Imagine waking up tomorrow to find out that all the children in your town have died. In some small way, we get to play a small role in changing that statistic.
4) God has created incredible potential through the center’s workers…for their lives, their families, and for the kids.
5) Perhaps one of the greatest sins of the church today is being ‘content to live without using the potential God has given them’.
6) Finally, love the kids…don’t pity them. They are special, and God created them for something special.
After worship, we loaded two big green machines (WWII Trucks – think M.A.S.H.) that carried us to the Filadelphia Coffee Plantation and Resort for zip-lining. Those that did not want to zip-line got a special tour of the plantation and its facilities. Those who went zip-lining chose either the high or the low zip-line. We then mounted the green machines to climb a steep and winding road with numerous switchbacks up a mountain overlooking Antigua. The views were breathtaking. Once the high zip-liners arrived at our destination, we saw first-hand the 393 feet high zip-line that stretched 1700 feet across two mountains. Several of our group members nearly backed out of the fun, but mustered up the courage to take a leap of faith (as Pastor Greg would say). The lower zip-liners were still high in the mountain and they went through a series of 7 lines.
After coming down off the mountain, we headed for McDonald’s for lunch. It is the finest McDonald’s I’ve yet to see, as it includes McCafe (with baked goods and coffee), McInternet (which includes free access through four computers), a playground and a courtyard with fountains, sculptures, lighting at night, and a great view of one of the volcanoes.
Next we head to the market for gift shopping. Many of the market’s items are handmade and if you’re lucky, you might catch one of the locals painting a piece of art or weaving a piece of fabric as you shop. Treasures to be found include jewelry, handbags, ornaments, clothes, rugs, table runners, hand-made crafts, pictures, and much more. There was sure to be something found for everyone.
LeeAnn and I took the entire afternoon shopping as we have many children, family, and friends back home to bring back gifts to (even some for Christmas!). Instead of walking back to the hotel after shopping, we gave our sore feet a rest and rode the tuc-tuc which is the local 3-wheel, motorcycle-like taxi.
After dinner and wow time (our time of sharing with each other our special moments of each day), Howie took a group for an evening stroll back to McDonald’s for coffee, dessert, and fellowship. There never seems to be a shortage of food. No one here can say they will go home starved.
Thinking forward to a return trip, several in our group have already been discussing plans for a trip next December. We love the ministry here at the Malnutrition Center, we love our wonderful leader, Howie, we love being around each other, and we love Guatemala! It seems so many of us are becoming close friends very quickly. This is amazing to see how God can bring people together from different places and unite them in friendship and service to Him. Speaking of service, break time is over…we head back to the center tomorrow!
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