Guatemala is immediately different from the States, but a bus ride through city and farm is easy. Headphones on, nook in hand, you find ways to shut it out. But now you know their names. This week will prove for some the greatest challenge they have faced, and leaving just may be the hardest part. Of course, there are many more that are remembering other trips, other missions, other times and other names. It’s hard to argue against God’s sovereign nature to a regular missionary. Each trip you set out to be changed and to get uncomfortable. You do the things you may not usually do: dirty diapers come to mind for me (a 25 year old male with no children). Of course, God never hands you transformation, you have to get down and dirty for the good stuff. So there we are, quiet, looking out the windows, wondering what tomorrow will be like. Of course, you always adjust; within 5 minutes there were stories and laughing.
No matter how many times I do something new, I always forget
how hard it is to be clueless the first day of work. Unfamiliar waters are
challenging. There’s always too much information and you feel pulled around
like a child at the mall: you’re just trying to take it all before the next
room. This does, however, make day 2 very special. You start getting
comfortable; you’re looking ahead to the next move, anticipating, strategizing
and adding flare. On day two personalities come alive.
If you’re familiar with Billy, you know he isn’t much for
words, but he is always memorable. Zach and Timothy had a blast with him yesterday
and did everything they could just to keep a hold of him today. He managed an
escape twice this morning, but he’ll need a better plan for jail break if he’s
gonna get off Alcatraz. His Houdini act was not the biggest surprise, however.
Amidst noise and the attempts to babble, Billy may have gotten his first words
out. We’ll keep you updated on his progress. Maybe he’ll be greeting the
missionaries one day!
I work with the Bunnies and Chicks. I remember going through
emails prior to our trip thinking, “The oldest group is only 4?” I wasn’t
prepared to work with such young kids. As silly as it sounds, I felt like kids
this young would be too fragile and kind of boring – to all of you nodding your
heads thinking, “You foolish ignorant man,” I know – but these kids have opened
me up wide. I am loving my mornings with them. They love balls--throwing them,
bouncing them, rolling them. I managed to get them doing dribbling rotations
with a soccer ball as big as them (they will be the future of Guatemalan futbol).
It’s amazing how quickly these kids are willing to open up. During our WOW!
time last night Lori noted the open-armed acceptance of these kids. They are a
wonderful example of why Jesus thinks we should be like children.
All of the groups were noticing attitude changes in the kids
today. Maira and Abelino were all smiles on the swing this morning. Samuel
joined us outside and had the biggest grin and heartiest laugh. Dulce and
friends joined the two Curtises with a painting task. And my favorite story,
Ana Lucrecia - who has very recently joined the Center and has a difficult time
adjusting – has been laughing and loving through the sobs.
Many of our team members have taken the opportunity today to
learn some of the more intimate workings within the Center. Laura Beth has been
itching to put her FFA training to the test in the chicken coop and garden. Ron
is typically weary about visitors in the hen house, but Laura Beth has worked
her way in! As they toured the garden, Samuel attempted translations of several
of the local vegetables trying to relate them to what Laura might already know.
Of course, Samuel is an eater, not a cook, so we’ll leave the translations to
the pros next time. Good luck Laura Beth!
Taylor, Mikaela and Mariana also joined in on some unusual
chores. They were invited to help cook tortillas! Sounds simple, right?
Apparently not. Their attempts were followed with many disappointing “no
bueno”(s) and a quick lesson from an 8 year old with a real talent for
tortillas. They managed to add 4 tortillas to the stack; of course they’ll be
eating “practice” tortillas for the remainder of the trip (breakfast, lunch and
dinner). They loved their experience, and it goes to show that there is always
a new challenge waiting for you on mission!
On a special note, there are many siblings here at the Center,
and this makes for an interesting dynamic. Family visitation is difficult
enough with many families living in farm lands as far off as 10 hours by public
transportation. The kids have a difficult time of restoration ahead of them,
and for some that means holding onto memories of siblings. Our older kids are
always eager to see a brother or sister playing outside, but their beloved do
not always reciprocate. For the younger kids, constant interaction is necessary
for memory, and when they go weeks without seeing or spending time with a
brother or sister, some of those memories may fade. We’d like to ask that you
keep siblings in the Center in your prayers tonight and this week. They have a
tough road ahead of them through recovery and the return home.
It has been a memorable day. As we pack up at the Center to
head home, and undoubtedly sit in silence for a few minutes, I’ll leave you
with a line from one of my favorite authors:
“Sleepiness seemed to be creeping out of the ground and up
their legs, and falling softly out of the air upon their heads and eyes." JRR
Tolkein The Fellowship of the Ring
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