GUATEMALA - August 6, 2012

        It’s a new week and a new team, but the work is the same – expressing the love of God to the people of Guatemala, especially the children of the Malnutrition Center in San Juan, Sacatepéquez.  As the team walked through the doors of the Center today, they couldn’t help but be drawn to the children.  Some of the team have been here before and experienced renewed compassion for the children, especially those they remember from last year.  Little Billy and Gerson, who are still in treatment at the Center, made reconnection simple.  But some of this week’s team is new and some of the faces are new.  New children are here dealing with the difficulties of malnutrition.  Just as the children reach for your hand to hold so that they can walk with you, they take hold of your heart.   Telma runs to one of our translators, Alejandra, and gives her a big hug.  Before long, other members of the team have found a child like Telma who just wants to be held.

        Not all the work is to love on children, there are workers at the Center who have an obvious connection with our leaders from Orphan’s Heart.  With more than 70 children, the workers have their hands full, so the efforts of the group are more than welcome.  A team of almost 50 people comprised mostly of members of First Baptist Church, LaBelle, Kathleen Baptist in Lakeland, Cornerstone in Sebastian, and a couple from the Florida Baptist Children’s Home in Lakeland have come together to paint walls, build cabinets, replace ceiling tiles, put murals on walls, do yard work, put away countless diapers and supplies, cook,clean, and whatever else Howie, Marvina, or Cynthia deem necessary.  The staff of the Malnutrition Center enjoys the extra hands, but they too are in need of ministry.  Part of the work of Orphan’s Heart is to bring the Gospel to the workers and to make disciples of those who trust in that Good News.

        The work is sometimes fun – playing and interacting with the kids.  Other times it’s dirty (and often stinky).  The team will go back to the hotel tired, but every moment of play, every drop of sweat, and every diaper changed is making an impact.  Although Gerson and Billy are still here, others have gone home restored to health.  Just last week WILLIAM and ERWIN in the Ducks; JULIO, VILMA, ROSA, DANIEL in the Bunnies; SANDRA, VILMA and WENDY in the Squirrels.  It’s hard to say good-bye, but we know that is our work—to return these children to health and strength and return them to their families.

        They also take home the seed of the Gospel of Jesus.  The good news of hope that is found in Jesus has been sung, shared in Bible stories, and been fleshed out in the loving touches of the teams that join Orphan’s Heart on their mission to minister the love of God to the children of the world. 

        Well, Day One is over and done – hearts have been touched, muscles have been made sore, and hopefully the team has learned some of the reality of “considering others more significant than themselves” (Philippians 2:3-5).