Lutheran Church of St John Groundwork Guatemala Mission

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...

If you hear reports on the news of an earthquake in Guatemala we want you all to know we are safe.  About 6:30 this morning we were waking up, getting ready for the day, sitting and visiting when the earth started to shake.  It shook quite hard for about 30 seconds.  Some in our group jumped under the bed to be safe.  Some sat around and talked about how hard the earth was shaking.  Harrison blamed Steve for shaking the bunk bed to try and get him up.  And Hayden was the only one who didn't feel it because he was still sound asleep.  There was no damage here in Guatemala City and we are all OK, although a few people had rattled nerves.  We heard news reports that is was a 6.7 centered south and west of where we are located.  We have seen some pictures of minor damage in some places.  We pray that there will be no loss of life and that God would protect His people.  Earthquakes always remind me of Psalm 46:1.  "God is our refuge...