FUN!!!!

I don't want that title to be misleading. We have had fun the entire time but today was set aside for relaxing. We first woke up and had pancakes and eggs courtesy of Mike and Chelsea. Then we had our morning devotion time. We all just talked about what moment/event really stuck with us. I think for a lot of us it was just seeing how these people give thanks to God when they have so little.

We then were off to "Cables Extremo" or ziplining. When we got there we were surrounded by the jungle. There were flowers everywhere. It was so pretty.  After we got suited up a guide took us up a 25 minute hike to get to the first zipline. We got to see a family of monkeys and an animal that was in the raccoon family. We also had to go across 6 swinging bridges with only 6 people at a time. There was also a beautiful waterfall. It was an amazing hike. Then it was time to zipline. There were 8 ziplines in all that eventually took us back to the bottom. The view was so amazing. When we got to the bottom we had to walk across a bridge like structure and moving swings. This provided great laughs and enough humility to go around. It definitely was an experience we will not forget.

Lunch was on the books next so we all went home and ate our last meal with all of the RHI team. We still hadn't delivered all of the soda tabs that we collected. We were planning on taking them on Thursday but it rained so bad. So a group of us went to deliver them to Lucia. She uses these tabs to create beautiful bags. We went to her house and visited with her, her sister Rosa and Rosa's children Sebastian and Thomas. We gave them the food from the market and then gave Lucia the bags and bags of tabs that we had collected. She was so thankful and started crying. This was very out of character for her. She said that for half of a bag of tabs she would have to pay 20Q. So giving her thousands of tabs saved her so much money. Later we saw her in the street and she said that she could not wait to get started making purses. She was so thankful. Thanks to all of you that helped us collect these tabs. It truly was a blessing.

Next it was time to shop. We had been waiting all week for this. Or at least the girls had. Thankfully the RHI team helped us to barter and haggle. There wares are very beautiful and colorful. We then met up for dinner with the Everswicks family. This restaurant served steak, chicken, and pork. It really specialized in meat!! The menu was hilarious in how it translated items into English. We also had a very loud musical street performers come and play. It was interesting and entertaining. It was a great time of fellowship together. All in all it was a great day. It is going to be hard to say goodbye tomorrow and we are so thankful for this time that we have had.

 

Work, coffee, soccer, and RAIN!!

Hola! Well we had plans today to go and work on Lucia's house. However, there were some complications concerning what we were planning on doing and the RHI team said that they needed to have more conversations before we did anything there. So instead we went to some other homes to finish some projects. One group went back to Cassimero's house to put up some more gutter and play with the kids. Another group went back to Amelia's to help with a leak in her faucet, the structure of her home, and holes in her roof. While we were there looking at her back room the roof almost fell down on us. We were limited in what we could do because her house really needs to just be rebuilt. It is so piecemeal that it isn't safe. However, the RHI team would have to have talks with the landlord to get permission. Even then the landlord may decide to raise Amelia's rent because the property was improved and then Amelia wouldn't be able to afford to stay there. It is a very hard balance between helping and hurting here and the RHI team does an amazing job of walking that line. We would just want to come in and fix everything and make it "better" for them but in the long run it could be much worse. The other group went to Katarina's home to work on her house also.

It was then time for lunch. We came back and ate with the RHI crew. Then some of us went to the coffee shop. It smelled so good in there. The owner is from the States so we got to talk to someone in English!

Then it was time for soccer. We were playing with the kids again. Some of us played soccer and some of us just played with the kids on the playground there. And then the RAIN hit. We waited for a long time for it to slow down and finally just had to go. The streets were absolutely flooded. It was like driving in a river. Thankfully Michael had a fire going at the house and everyone could warm up and dry off. The RHI team said that it doesn't usually rain that hard. It just made us think about Amelia's house and all of her leaks and how she survives this. Things are seen through different eyes.

Fajitas were on the menu for dinner and then a break before the real soccer (futbol) game. The guys were planning on playing against Cassimero, Marvin, and some of their friends but the rain kept their friends from coming. So the guys divided up into two teams, old guys vs. young guys. It was a really good game. The old guys won by one (depending on whose clock you are using). It was a lot of fun.
This was our last full "service" day today. It was busy and hard to say goodbye to these families that we won't see again until Glory. Thank you Lord for all of this.
 

Tortillas and a party

Today was such a fun day. We started out with an easy breakfast of cereal and then had our morning devotions. Lynn spoke to us about showing love to the unlovable and loving when it is hard, whether it be in our team or with the people here. It was a great reminder midweek. Midweek. I can't believe that we are already there. We really only have one more day left to serve while we are here. It is going to fast.

After devotions Katarina came and showed us how to make tortillas. This is how she makes her money for her family. She makes about $2 dollars a day doing this. Let me tell you, we were not good at this trade. Her tortillas were flat and perfectly round. Ours were not round or flat and full of cracks. When we added guacamole and beans they were all delicious. We were also able to talk to her some and pray for her and her family before they left. It was a sweet time.

We then divided up again and went separate ways. Some of us went to Amelia's house to deliver the candles that we bought for her. She was very thankful to God. Others went back to Maria and Cassemero's house to move the stove that we had put in. They realized it would be better in a different spot. After this we went out to lunch at a chain restaurant here. They served fried chicken and fries. It was really good.

We then went back home and had a little break until the afterschool program. Today the kids were making crowns to wear. We divided up again and went to the different classrooms. The kids loved seeing us. Many just ran in giving us hugs and huge smiles. It was awesome!!

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Then it was home again to get ready for a party!! With the help of RHI Maria and Cassamero paid there final payment for their loans that they were under. They have worked very hard to do this and the weight that was lifted from them was visible. We had spaghetti and cake in the shape of a zero. We decorated our house and had a piñata. It was so much fun. We also sand songs in English and Spanish and prayed for this sweet family. Maria gave her testimony and it was very powerful to hear her journey and the hardships she has been through. She shared her times of doubt and how God has been faithful. They are now waiting to hear back from doctors regarding their daughter's surgery on her leg. Yet, they give God all glory and praise. As we prayed and sang we got a glimpse of what heaven is going to look like. All peoples praising the most high God. It was a really sweet time. It was so awesome to be able to share this monumental event with them and celebrate alongside them. What a great time!! Praise be to God!!

 



 

Tuesday in Guatemala

Today was quite a busy day. We woke up this morning and had eggs and pancakes made by GR and Lynn. They were awesome!! After we washed all of our dishes in the Pila we had our morning devotions as a team.

When devotions were over the RHI team came over and we headed out to Maria and Casimero's home to work on some projects. This sweet family has three daughters and one son living in a one room house. We wanted to put in a new stove for them and a gutter system so that the rain wouldn't just run off of the tin roof. It was such a great time of fellowship with them. They had a new puppy and some baby chicks and all of the kids enjoyed playing with the animals. Casimero bought us drinks and snacks. It was humbling to see them bless us. The girls colored with their daughters and put stickers on their nails. Some of the boys started playing soccer with Casimero. When we got the projects done they were so very thankful. Maria started cooking right away and made us tortillas on the new stove. It really was an awesome time with this sweet family.

Putting on a gutter

The old stove

 

Maria making tortillas on the new stove

Putting in the new stove

Inside their home

 

We then went back home to eat some lunch and take a break for a little while. It has been very nice to have these break times built in to our schedule. It gives us a time to process and rest. It was then time for ....what else? more soccer!!! We joined up with many of the kids that the RHI team ministers to in the after school program. We divided up into teams and played with the kids. It was awesome to see many of the same faces that we saw before. The little ones especially were very excited to see us. At the end Christian shared a verse and prayed with the kids. It was awesome to see our kids reach out to them.

 



Next it was time for our first family visits. The RHI team visits their families once a week to fellowship, talk, and give them food. This isn't food isn't meant to be a main meal, but a supplement. Many of these families do not purchase fruits and vegetables but instead stick to the typical beans, rice, and tortilla diet. So the RHI team tries to provide them with some other nutritious food for the week. We split up into teams of three and went to Amelia, Dominga, and Sebastiana's homes. It was hard to see how these families live every day compared to how blessed we are. They were so appreciative of our visit and for the food. We were able to pray for them and just talk to them about their relationship with Jesus and their daily lives. They are constantly praising God for the things that they have and how He loves them. To be totally honest, it wasn't easy to see. There is a part of you that just wants to fix it all. Wave a wand and make their lives easier. And yet their faith is so strong in the midst of their trials. Their love for Jesus come out in all that they say. It truly is humbling. We have so much in the States and yet our gratitude is so little compared to theirs.

After the visits, we went home and then had dinner with the RHI team. PIZZA!!! It was a great evening of fellowship. It has also been really great to see Lynn spend time with his family. He has loved hugging his grandkids and just coming alongside Emily and Rick. It has been really special to see the reunion that they are having together. After dinner the RHI team left and then our team played some vicious games of Spot It and Dutch Blitz. There was so much laughter, yelling, and trash talk going on. It was awesome!! We really are becoming very close as a team and it is a privilege to work together.

It really was a great day!!!
 

Day 2

Greetings. We have had another great day here in Guatemala. Today we woke up and had a great breakfast of scrambled eggs and local bread. We then had our morning devotion as a team. After this we all went for a walk to the local market. This is where the RHI team buys their produce. They do this once a week and deliver it with rice and beans to the families that they serve. We bought fresh carrots, pineapple, broccoli, cucumbers, and bananas.


After the market we had a "teacher trade" time with Nicholasa and her family. They make bracelets as one of their main sources of income. We all sat outside in the beautiful weather and learned how to make beautiful bracelets. It was very humbling to say the least. These kind ladies can make these so fast. It was like watching fingers fly!! It was a great time for us to learn something new and praise these lovely women for their skills.


We then had lunch and then a break. After the rest time we were able to go to the afterschool program that RHI does for several of the kids. We first helped with a craft. The kids decorated crowns to go along with the idea of Jesus as King. Then the kids divided up by age level and then we rotated among the different groups. Rachel was able to read a Spanish book to the younger kids. After the small groups we got back together for songs, Bible verses, and a story. We were able to lead the music and sing the two Spanish songs that we learned. Then it was time to go. We will be going back to this school on Wednesday and helping again. As you can see from the pictures, the kids were to cute and receptive to us. It was great to spend time with them and just love on them.

It was then time to go back home. The guys worked on a plumbing project at the house and worked on putting a light switch in outside. We had another great dinner with the Everswicks. Then we had a great trip....ice cream!!! We all piled into the truck and went and got some ice cream. It was delicious!

Tomorrow we have another busy day of projects. It has been such a joy to help and come along side the RHI team and serve each other. We really are a great team and are enjoying our time together. Please continue to pray that we all feel well and have joy.