Guatemala 2024/25

  Romans 12:13 "Share with the Lord's people who are in need. Practice hospitality." It became quite obvious how rich our family is.  We don't drive $100,000 vehicles, my kids don't have the newest Air Jordans, we don't have memberships to the local ski hill. BUT, we are so so rich compared to so many others in the US, and especially around the world.  That means we have more to give.  Our family is looking at ways to make changes in order to be more generous with our financial blessings.   Matthew 25: 35 "...I was a stranger and you invited me in." If you know me, you know that I have a huge heart for people in our country who speak English as a second language, especially new arrivals and those who have come under horrible circumstances. I have been aware for several years now that our county does not have an ESL program for adults.  No, we don't have a huge population or a glaring need for it, but we do have "strangers" who live amon...

Before heading to Guatemala, I felt that God had a plan for me to minister to the house parents at Casa Bernabé.  I pictured watching the children to give the moms a break, possibly doing dishes, sweeping, etc.  While I did in fact get to help in this way...help with physical needs, I soon discovered the spiritual needs were much greater and God was calling me to something deeper. My friend, Alicia, who also had a growing heart for the house parents, had a strong conviction to pray with and for them.  She would feel God calling her to pray with someone and she'd pull me along to translate.  At times I felt so inadequate.  Was my Spanish proficiency sufficient?  What if I said something wrong?  What if I translate the meaning wrong?  Doubts and fears swirled in my head. Why me?  A rich gringa from the US? As the first day passed on, I started seeing the power of the Holy Spirit with my own eyes.  People were brought to their knees in tear...

We ate like kings and queens in the orphanage!  The staff did their best to make meals that we would like and they did not disappoint. Each day, approximately 3 staff members and rotating teens from the homes start cooking between 4-5am.  During the school year, the teens finish between 8-9am, but during winter break they worked until at least 12-1pm. Part of the design of the orphanage is to ease the burden of the house parents.  Every day, at meal time, a bell rings, and children climb up the stairs to the kitchen where they are given components of the meal to assemble in the home.  They return the empty containers at the next meal.  This is a huge help for the house parents.  Cooking for 15+ people x 3 meals a day would equal most of the day in the kitchen.  This frees the house parents up to spend more time with the kids. Homemade bread by the teenagers in vocational training in the bakery.  Best bread EVER! Omelet with ham and American cheese...

When we landed at the airport in Guatemala City, we were greeted by the orphanage's bus driver and his sweet ride. How many gringos can you fit on a school bus? All of our luggage loaded into the back of the bus Some of our teammates hopping a ride in the village The buses in Guatemala are really cool!  They all have different decorations.  In the picture above, the bus has chrome trim and a lift! Motorcycles are probably the most common mode of transportation.  Due to traffic and narrow roads (and probably other reasons I don't know of), they are the easiest way to get around.  Motorcycles can weave around through buses and cars.  It was not uncommon to see a family of 4 on a motorcycle, actually! Many people sell fruit out of their vehicles on the side of the road. Police car

January 4th and 5th Saying goodbye was harder than we could ever imagine.   Hannah and I got to participate in a birthday party for one of the little boys.  He is a walking miracle as he only has about 5% of his liver function.  His belly is extremely distended and his future is very uncertain. Look!  Caleb doing something other than mixing concrete! Timmy saying goodbye to "E" after the last soccer game. Arriving at the airport to head home

January 3rd The family did the usual painting, playing, and serving.  Unfortunately, I was in bed all day. I have hundreds of bug bites and some of them seem to be infected. My legs and arms are swollen, there is blotchy redness everywhere and many of the bites are forming blisters. It has been unbearably itchy and painful. I started antibiotics last night and am hoping for some relief soon so that I can get back to doing God’s work. I’m resting today so that I can get back at it tomorrow. Elevation and icing has helped the most so far. Creams and oral medicines (like Benadryl and ibuprofen) are not helping. 😢 During the day, a portion of our team was able to return to Jocotillo and build a house for a mother and child that we had met a few days prior. In the evening, Casa Bernabé put on a program for us to thank us for our service.  I am so glad that I crawled out of bed to go because it was the most beautiful gift I have ever received.  Each house presented a song or a...