GUATEMALA - August 8, 2012

By the way, our surprise yesterday was a visit to the "Cerro de la Cruz" – or the Hill of the Cross--overlooking the city of Antigua.   The photo of the team was taken as a cloud covered us. Altitude there is 7451 feet.

 

Day 3 was a special day for the kids at the Daycare which shares the facilities of the MNC.  Our amazing rec team took a parachute and some bats and balls to play with them. They absolutely loved the attention!  This was the first time that an Orphan's Heart team has interacted with the daycare kids.  In our devotions we read Colossians 4:2-6, which talks about open doors for the Gospel.  Only God knows what will result from the door opened to Orphan’s Heart today.

Our team was able to get the siblings that are at the Center together for some mini family reunions. It is heart warming to see them run to one another and hug so tight as if they never want to let go.  The children so seldom get to see their brothers and sisters who are in different groups, except for when team members are here, because it is too hard for the nannies to do so as often as the children would like. ANGEL (Bunnies) and his brothers KEVIN  and ERASMO (both Ducks) were reunited yesterday on the playground and today during craft time with the Ducks and Squirrels.

KEVIN and ERASMO share a hug

VILMA (Canaries) and YOSELIN (Squirrels) also got in lots of hugs and kisses, as did ANA LUCIA (Squirrels), JOSE MIGUEL (Canaries) and GERMAN (Ducks) who were also able to see each other.

There was another round of haircuts today for those who lucked out yesterday. Even MARVIN from the Canaries got his hair trimmed up!  Samuel, our beloved bus driver, finished up the boys and even got one himself!

Sweet Marvin is now stylin'!

Both the new Canaries (EVELYN AND MELANIE) are doing well, although the transition was especially hard for MELANIE.  She had only been fed breast milk before.  She struggled through breakfast, but ate a great lunch.

The maintenance projects are going very well.  God has blessed us with a wonderfully talented maintenance crew this week!  The team members who are replacing the ceiling tiles are almost done with the back part of the Center. 

It's a dirty job, but someone's got to do it!

Cutting the new tiles to fit

Tommy and Mark have the murals in the older kids' new dining area (Comedor) finished.  The Bunnies and Chicks absolutely love looking and smiling at themselves in the mirrors that Preston and Greg put up for them in their play areas.

 "Presto" has finally finished mowing; Mark has “weed-whacked” everything; Joe has finished the hedges.  Painting is a never-ending job because of the size of the Center, but Greg finished painting the new cabinets in the new Orphan's Heart dorm.  Curtains have been sewn, curtain rods are being made from scratch, shelves have been built in many of the rooms, doors have been repaired and replaced.  There's definitely no shortage of work to do!

The team has been so blessed by all of our interpreters:  Alejandra, Olivia, Gabi, and Ana.  We couldn't do what we do without their help. They are a vital part of Orphan's Heart ministry in Guatemala.  One and a half years ago Olivia, who is 22, lost both her parents within a 2 month time span.  As she struggled with her grief, an Orphan's Heart team member listened to her story and told her that Jesus loves her.  Olivia believed that simple truth and gave her life to Christ.  Olivia said that she was “transformed” when she experienced the love of God, and she now has joy in her heart that she never knew before and wants to grow daily as a disciple, becoming more like Christ.  Just a few simple words shared with a broken heart brought healing and transformation.

Gabi and Marta

A great big thank you to the women of

Kathleen Baptist Church for the beautiful new crib sheets!

We can never have too many bubbles!

The team was so excited to share bags of "goodies" with the workers to take home to their children.

Bunnies and Chicks got to do "foot painting" for craft time.

The kids enjoyed water play time for recreation.

The Ducks and Squirrels are making a "coat of many colors!"

Ron's little ladies are laying up a storm!

What a beautiful garden we have at the Center!

Prayer requests:

Lucky's (Center administrator) mom, who is having complications from recent back surgery

Carolina (one of the nannies), who is having complications with her pregnancy.