Guatemala June 14th-20th, 2014

Women of Compassion & Springdale Community Church

Day 3:

Today was our first day at the Malnutrition Center. 

Our day started much earlier than it did on Sunday.  We ate breakfast at 6:45am, and then Jacob led us in our morning devotional.  The devotional was based on the series that our church in Kentucky is currently doing called,“Sent”.  “Sent” has helped us prepare for this trip by teaching us what a mission is, and what it is not.  The biggest take-away was that as missionaries we have to become weak to ourselves, and allow God to do His work through us.

After the devotional we all loaded into the bus and headed for the Malnutrition Center.  The trip was fairly uneventful until we got about 15-20 minutes away from the Center; we ran into a roadblock.  This was a first for Orphan’s Heart, and it put us about two hours behind schedule, but at least they allowed us to pass. When we arrived at the Center, we were greeted by the three summer interns, one of which was Courtney, daughter of Shannon, a member of our mission trip. It was such a touching reunion between mother and daughter as Shannon ran off the bus to greet her daughter. 

Next, we unloaded all of the donations that we brought with us from home, and man was that amazing!  It was incredible to see the vast amount of diapers, wipes, surgical gloves, clothes, shoes, and gifts for the Nannies that everyone had donated. We were given a tour of the facility, and then we were dropped off at the rooms where we would be working.  My partner, Karen Anne, and I chose the “Dolphin” room.  This is the room where the most fragile and special needs children are.  I’m not sure how my partner felt, but I was so glad that this was the assignment I chose.  It was both heartbreaking and amazing all at the same time. Our Nanny’s name is Zoila.  She doesn't speak any English, and we speak very little Spanish, but we managed to communicate the needs of the children.  Love and care crosses all language barriers.

At first glance, this room looked like any other room in any other daycare center across America.  However, when we learned the ages of the children, the effects of their malnutrition were apparent. There were three little girls with pigtails, who are all about the same age (2 ½ - 3 years old), but none of them were as big as my daughter was at 18 months.  All three of them were also way behind in their development – none of them could walk or talk.  I thought back again to my daughter at that same age and she was already using three-syllable words, could recite the Pledge of Allegiance, and knew all of her colors in Spanish.

Heartbreaking.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, there was a 2 ½ month old baby in the same room.  He was at the Center (along with two other siblings), because his mother died in child birth. Orphan’s Heart is trying to make care arrangements with the family, but at present their future is unknown.

Okay, so we’re not supposed to pick favorites, but it is so hard when children in their circumstances cling to every bit of love and care that you can give them in the short time we have here.  Two babies who really pulled on my heartstrings came into the Center at about the same time, they are about the same age, and they are in about the same shape developmentally.  One is a girl and one is a boy, and both of them are about a year old.  However, neither of them can sit up unassisted, they can't roll over, and they were both so emaciated that it was an emotional feat to change their diapers.  Have you ever seen a person who used to be overweight, but they lose so much weight that their skin hangs on them?  That is what the skin on these precious babies looked like.  

That was the heartbreaking part; but now for the amazing part.  Despite everything these munchkins have been through, some of these children could warm the Arctic with their smiles.  Even though not one of them can speak yet, they are still able to communicate by playing follow the leader games, sharing their toys with you, or motioning for you to pick them up.  It was a delight to love these little angels, and to feed them, and to clean them.  Why is it that we always get so much more in return, when we give with our whole hearts to others?  I pity the person that never gets to have that kind of experience. Please continue to pray for all of the children, especially for one who is in the hospital with a liver deficiency.

Another “Wow! Moment” as Kristen calls them, was having group devotion time with the Nannies.  A handful of us took turns reading Bible verses in Spanish to each of the Nannies.  The verses were primarily about dedicating yourself to the care of those in need, and finding strength and peace in God when the going gets tough.  At first I think the Nannies got a big kick out of a bunch of American women trying to read Spanish verses, but when the words started to sink in with them it became a very emotional time for the Nannies.  Some broke down in tears, and many gave us their prayer requests. (Please remember Marina in your prayers, her mom had a stroke and the doctors have told her there is nothing more they can do. Also, please pray for Blanca, the nurse at the Center, she is pregnant with twins and is having a lot of pains so she had to go to the hospital yesterday.) In the end, every one of them thanked us for that time together in prayer. I hope I get the opportunity to do it again tomorrow because it was extremely moving.

Like all mission trips, things have surely been put into perspective for us.  And, as with all mission trips, we are all humbled by the experience.  Thank you God, for continuing to put us in situations where we see all the blessings that surround us, and enabling us to be able to bring some of these blessings to your children.  Please allow us to touch the lives of the people of this community, the children at the Center, and the Nannies who care for those children, in a profound way.  May the effect of our time and talents reverberate long after we are gone.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.