We've been back from Guatemala for over a week now and I'm sorry for the delay in this post. I've blamed it on the editing/sorting of over 600 pictures but really I've stalled because I'm not sure how to convey what we experienced into words. I didn't want this post to be a daily account of our activities but rather a small glimpse into what God allowed us to be a part of for our short time there. I'll give it my best but please know that these simple words don't do it justice.
Our team was made of up 15 people ranging from the age of 18 months to over 60. We represented two different churches and two different denominations, a fact that had no impact on our time and our work in country. I love serving with fellow believers when Christ is our sole focus! My parents were kind enough to watch Dash the ten days we were gone and while we missed him, God was so gracious in protecting him and our hearts while we were away. Josh was able to go with us because of the foundation laid by our good friends the Leathermans. They have been working in Guatemala and with Guatemalan missionaries for over six years and have always taken their young children with them. The Leathermans run a non-profit organization called New Beginning Resources, and work closely with the people in Santa Cruz del Quiche and San Pedro, the two towns we spent the majority of our time in.
A normal day consisted of work projects in the morning (building, painting, digging) and then vacation Bible school in the afternoon. We'd return home to the dorms in Santa Cruz, have an authentic dinner provided by a wonderful local woman and meet with Guatemalan missionaries. Every part of our day was special in its own way but I particularly liked the stories the Missionaries shared every night. They have all witnessed the miracles and steadfast love of Christ and provided a real life glimpse at the faithfulness of God. Story after story of God's protection and sovereignty, especially as most of them remained in country during the 36 year civil war. While many people fled during this time, Grace and Juan (founders of the Utatlan Evangelical school in Santa Cruz) stayed and continued to educate and house hundreds of students. They trusted their protection to Christ alone.
It reminded me so much of Job when God reminds/rebukes Him, saying, "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation?...Have you ever given orders to the morning, or shown the dawn it's place?...Do you send the lightning bolts on their way? Do they report to you, 'Here we are"? (Job 38: 4, 12, 35) and of course Job responds, "I know that You can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted." (Job 42: 2)
No plan of yours can be thwarted! The people we met on this trip were living proof of this.
The majority of our time was spent in the small town of San Pedro, 15 minutes outside of Quiche. We worked closely with Arnold and Claudia, the founders and directors of a small church and Christian school. Click here to see videos and pictures of the schools opening earlier this year. Also, coming soon will be an opportunity to sponsor students attending the school, so be sure to check the NBRI website frequently. After spending time with the students/teachers who attend the school and church I can guarantee you'd be making an excellent investment, not only in a valuable education but in the hope and possibilities an education can lead to . Arnold and Claudia are amazing people who have truly dedicated their lives to Christ in their service to the church, school, and small town of San Pedro.
VBS was so much fun and with each new day our numbers grew and grew. This was probably attributed to the fact that we served a hot lunch everyday which was evidently a treat to many of the students who would stuff their pockets full of meat to take home to their families. Josh was old enough to participate in VBS and the Guatemalan children LOVED him. So much so, that they really smothered him if he was sitting down for too long. In fact every where we went Josh really opened doors for us. He provided us many opportunities to talk to people in the market places, town squares, and along the street. He was along side for the entire week, digging drainage, serving food, and singing wacky songs to Jesus. I'm not sure if he'll have memories from this trip as he grows older but I'm so thankful for the opportunity to expose him to new places, people, foods, and customs. I'm even more thankful he was given the chance to see our love for Christ put into action through service, which did require some selflessness on his part.
Overall, it was an incredible week and very difficult to leave. God was so gracious in answering our prayers concerning the language difference. I was amazed at how easily and quickly the years of spanish classes came flooding back into my mind (although I guarantee I wasn't conjugating any verbs!) We pray and look forward to our next opportunity to go, hopefully, back to Guatemala!
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