Monday, December 31, 2012

Orphan's Heart Team Arrives in Guatemala

I can think of no better way to end 2012 and begin 2013 than by spending time with some of the most amazing kids on the planet in one of the most beautiful countries in the world!  Saying that we are blessed is an understatement!!!

Our team arrived in Guatemala City yesterday in several different shifts, and is representing the great states of Alabama and Florida. As with every team, God has prepared the way for people to serve and has brought together a unique and talented team with an amazing range of skills and abilities.

We began our first full day in Antigua with team worship and a GREAT word by Pastor Paul from Psalm 84, challenging us to walk in the Lord's strength day by day as we follow Him, knowing that there is absolutely no better place for us to be than where the Lord has called us to serve. We were then blessed with the opportunity to travel to the Filadelphia Coffee Plantation or some local Mayan ruins near Iximche, Guatemala! Iximche was the capital of Kaqchikel Maya from 1470 to 1525. What an amazing experience!  After a beautiful afternoon in Antigua, our team headed back to the hotel for dinner and some time of sharing (WOW! time).

What a great time...to not only reflect on what we experienced and what God showed us today, but also to be able to do that through the eyes of our fellow team members. Here are some of the highlights from the evening . . .

WOW . . . "We survived zip lining today with wind gusts up to 30 mph!"
WOW . . . "My wish was for my whole family to be able to travel on a mission trip together and my mom and dad and grandma and grandpa and seven siblings are on this trip!"
WOW . . . "On the way back from the Mayan ruins we got to drive by and see the homes I helped build on a past Orphan's Heart mission trip!"
WOW . . . "It is only the first full day of the trip, and the heart to serve is so evident in every person on this team!"
WOW . . . "The love and kindness behind every Guatemalan smile is so overwhelming!"
WOW . . . "What a shopping experience in the market!"  (The vendors ask each person walking by, "What are you looking for?" How often do we try to avoid making eye contact and hurry by if we are not too interested in buying anything?  Do we not do the same with God? Is He not also standing there asking everyone, "What are you looking for?" But like the shoppers in the market, we too hurry by, trying our best to avoid eye contact; but just like those vendors, God has something (has everything!) for us all, and He is willing to give us His all if we will just stop.)

As we close our first day, we look forward to tomorrow with anticipation . . . our first day with the children!!! God is so good!!!

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