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 follow large numbers of dump trucks until they unload their garbage and then they search through the piles for anything worth recycling or selling for money. After lunch and more getting to know the missionaries that work for Groundwork Guatemala, we left to do home visits. We divided into three groups, two of our groups went into the "dump" area. These "homes" consist of metal sheeting roofs, blankets used as walls, dirt and concrete floors. Dogs and cats and flies were everywhere and the smell of the dump was overwhelming. We met with women and their children, talked with them, shared bible verses, and prayed together. The third group visited the home of one of the ministry's missionaries. His father recently had surgery and the team went and prayed with them. This family expressed their thankfulness for the ministry and the blessing it has been for their family. Their son, Cesar, takes a bus for an hour everyday to get to and back from the ministry. Today was a moving day for our team. The full day was closed with devotions and discussion of the activities of the day and plans for tomorrow. We are excited about the opportunities that await us.
This morning many of us experienced our first earthquake. It was a rather large one, but was focused in other parts of Guatemala so we only felt a little shaking. After a grab and go breakfast of fruit and cereal, Carlos led devotion. He reminded everyone to acknowledge the presence of the Holy Spirit and moved us with his beautiful singing. We took about an hour's drive to Gonzalez Park in the vans. Sharon got to meet her sponsor child this morning, which she enjoyed very much. A group of us also went to visit Pastor Steve's sponsor child Dulce before lunch. Her mother recently had a baby which Pastor Steve and Ellie both held. Next we enjoyed our sandwiches and chikys before we made the short walk from Gonzalez Park to John the Baptist Park. Many children there were playing and reading the books we brought with us, so we got to spend time with them before we started our faith lessons. Hayden and Ellie both had fan clubs and it was quite funny to see the swarms...
Thanks for the info about your day! We have been praying for you all. Everyone asks how things are going, its awesome to share this with them.
ReplyDeleteLove you all! Be safe!
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
ReplyDelete-Acts 1:8
We continue to pray for all your wonderful service and miss you
ReplyDeleteall. Thanks for the updates and for sharing your experience!