Guatemala, June 4, 2012

We made it! Most of this week’s team caught a 7:30am flight from Orlando into Miami, where we met Howie for our flight into Guatemala City. There were a few team members that were apprehensive about flying/motion sickness but the power of prayer and Dramamine got them through! They were even able to look out the windows. We got through immigration and customs without mishap and then we were off to lunch at Pollo Campero (Think KFC or Popeye’s but better). It’s on almost every corner in Guatemala City. We spent the rest of the day getting acquainted with each other and the hotel and taking naps.

Sunday started off with a great time of worship led by Stephen and Thomas. It was a little strange for some of us to not be at our home church but it was a sweet time spent with the team. We were soon after loading into old army trucks and heading to a plantation for Coffee Tours and Zip Lining. Most of the team went on the zip line which allowed one of the greatest sights as we flew across a valley over coffee plants. There again was some apprehension that was cleared by prayer and screaming… All landed safely with very large smiles. McDonald’s for lunch and we were off again, this time to the market. The craftsmanship and colors that are everywhere you look is astounding. We all had a good time bartering with the vendors, with Olivia and Alejandra’s translating help, of course. There was a festival in Antigua for a local church and it seemed everyone was out in the city wearing their best suits and beautiful white dresses. People were laying greenery and flowers in the streets for “carpets” that a processional of the church’s relics, one of which is an image of Jesus, carried by church members would pass over. These carpets were laid much in the way people laid their robes and palm fronds in the street for Jesus during the Triumphal Entry.

            This morning we finally got to see the beautiful children that we would be loving on in the coming days. We did a quick tour around the center to orient ourselves. As Howie walked into a room with older children, they immediately got up from their seats and started to climb on him and call out his name. It was so cute and wonderful to see the kids love on him as much as he loves on them. All of a sudden, it was all hands on deck. Babies were rocked, fed, changed, and chased/herded. Toddlers were sung to by our resident strolling minstrel, Stephen, (the kids love the guitar!) played ball with each other, and snuggled up to our team. The older kids played on the playground, watched videos, and did crafts. All captured our hearts. Each child is fed lunch then cleaned up and put down for naps. Those working with the older kids help feed the 19 babies lunch, since the older kids don’t need much help during lunch. Once the babies are fed and cleaned, those workers help get the older kids down for naps, changing diapers, brushing teeth, and changing clothes. As soon as every child is down (about 1:30), the team has lunch.

At 2:30, we started projects around the center. Most of the guys are currently doing some much needed lawn care, some are organizing the supplies that were brought from the States (Thank you to everyone who donated items!!), a few ladies are washing dishes, some are washing all the toys in the center, Jessy is sharing/leading a bible study with the female staff members, and I (Abby) am writing to you. Soon the children will wake and we will again be working in the rooms, playing with the kids and getting them ready for dinner. We will leave the center at 4:30 to head back to Antigua.

This is just the start of a week that will change each of our lives, please continue to pray for our team. Pray for safety during travels and physical labor, rest in the evenings, and good health so that we may be used to the fullest. Pray that, despite the language barrier, we may impact the lives of those we encounter, may they see Jesus in us. Stephen reminded us this morning that when we are feeding these children, we are feeding God; when we are cleaning them, we are cleaning Him; when we love them, we are loving Him. Pray that we remember that and are able to get ever closer to Him in each action.