Today our group got it's first real introduction to the culture of Guatemala. We walked from the ministry house where we stay to a church not far from here. Walking through the streets our group of 13 Americans led by Kevin did get some stares and strange looks from the people of the neighborhood. No doubt they wondered who we were and what we were doing in their neighborhood. But when we came around the corner to the church we could not have been more warmly welcomed by the people of the church. Many in our group commented about the warm welcome and the friendly smiles they received which made them feel right at home. But the worship itself sure didn't feel like home to most. Of course many could not understand the Spanish, but the style of worship is so much different than our normal experience. People in our group appreciated the passion people expressed, the prayer that grounded the service, the joy in praise, and the dancers that supported the music. It was a great experience for everyone. But even though it was so different we were all reminded that we are one. We were worshipping at the same time people were back home and God heard all of our prayers, all of our praise and spoke the same Word to all of us. What an amazing realization of how big the kingdom of God truly is. Thank you for all of your prayers. Everyone is staying healthy and enjoying their experience. The group is more well rested today, which is good because tomorrow we meet the missionaries, visit some homes and really start to get busy. Happy Father's Day to everyone back home.
Today has been an eye-opening experience for our team. We began our day with devotions after breakfast. Devotions were led by one of the Guatemalan missionaries, Carlos. Carlos burst into a song of praise during his devotions and touched many of our hearts. We then visited a ministry focused on "street boys", called Only a Child. The boys live 24/7 in this ministry and work by crafting beautiful wooden boxes. They attend alternative school on the weekends so they can receive an education. Many of the these "boys" are in their 20s and are still working on their junior high education. This ministry is started by a man who was a pastry chef in Boston, George Leger, but now he works full time with this ministry. The boys have to follow strict rules in order to receive their lodging, food, and education. The team was then introduced to the Guatemala City dump. This is a very large dump where people scavenge for anything that they can sell for money. People f
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