The team is working at Monti Flor today, which is the site where Pray America is developing 6 children's homes, a shoe factory, 2 schools, staff housing, a chapel, and I'm sure much much more to come. The property sits just outside of Chi Chi on a beautiful hill. They have avacado, apple, and lime trees. The housing is gorgeous adobi and dark wood, with rich colored walls. We'll be sure to upload pictures when we get back to the states. Today we'll work on the shoe factory, and probably again tomorrow.
It's exciting to think that eventually this hill will be teeming with kids. The construction seems to happen quickly here, which not only testifies to the wisdom behind the planning and finances, but more importantly to God's hand through it all. We look forward to seeing all he has in store for the children that are soon to come!
Arriving at the site yesterday, there's already been a cement floor and support beams put in place. The rain starts as we begin to work.
Lord, please help the rain to stop so we can give this family a house that doesn't have a floor covered in mud.
The walls go up pretty fast - the guys went a little quicker than the girls since we didn't have to drill pilot holes before nailing them up - but whose counting?
Every little bit or so the sun peeks out as some of the girls play soccor with the kids, keeping them occupied and happy.
Everytime we see one of the women of the family, we smile and say "Buenos Dias" or "Hola!" They smile in return with very kind eyes. You wonder what must be going through their heads - and hope that they are really feeling loved.
The walls are up, we break for lunch and eat with the family. It's a great time of communion - just sharing food together.
The Lord answered prayer as the sun came out before the roof went up. Between that and the saw dust made from the cutting, the water on the cement floor was pretty well soaked up.
The bunk beds went up along with the door and the window, and then it was time to decorate it with some things we brought: stuffed animals, tons of shoes, food, umbrellas... and a lock. Candy lined the walls.
And then came the time to share it with the family. There were many smiles and the kids went wild when they saw all the toys and shoes and goodies.
As we were building, one of the girls in our group was sharing a psalm with the family, hoping that they make the connection that this is a gift to them from God. And the end of the translation, the woman replied, "The words of Jesu Cristo are beautiful."
I think they got it:)
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EXT. GUATEMALA - CHI CHI - DAY
A sea of people bobbing around. Short, beautiful, latin people everywhere. The street is breathing with them.
Brightly colored "chicken" buses loaded with people speed by. Dangerously.
People are everywhere. Selling peanuts, bracelets, baskets, clothes, food, anything. Just selling.
Exhaust fills the air, black thick smoke in the wake of the buses. Choking the nostrils. A cool breeze is a welcomed relief.
Colors are plastered, bright, vibrant. Reds, yellows, greens, blues, oranges.
The place is alive.
INT. MISSIONARY FELLOWSHIP CHURCH - CASA DEL REY - DAY
The Eternal group is gathered together in a room filled with other missionaries. This is Sunday morning fellowship, a second sermon in a three part series on prayer.
Key point: God's power is bigger and more powerful than our faith.
PASTOR
(extremely summarized)
We pray, but do we really believe that God can do great things? That there can be miraculous answers to prayer? Our faith has nothing to do with God's power. Jesus said the faith of a mustard seed could move a tree, a mountain. Not our faith, but the understanding that God is great and powerful and can do absolutely anything he pleases, according to his will. Let us have the faith of children. Let us have an understanding that God is so much bigger than we could ever dream. Let us pray in awe of God's goodness, knowing that His will be done, that the world may know that He is God. That He is our King.
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After 2 hours to Dallas, about an hour for some quick rest and lunch, 2 1/2 hours on the flight to Guatemala, and an hour and a half or so getting through customs - we reached our destination!
There was, however, a slight change in plans, as one hot pink bag went missing from the bunch of 20+ bags on the way to Guatemala - maybe it got lost somewhere in Dallas, we don't know. All we know is that we're learning very early on how to be flexible and go where God would like to lead us.
After another 3+ hours in the large twenty-person van to Chi Chi Castenago (we had a couple tasty pit stops along the way) and after some crazy hairpin turns, we made it safely to Manos de Jesus, where we'll make our stay.
Dinner at the house was a very welcomed and delicious meal - meatloaf, peas and mashed potatoes, for those of you wondering...
And then it was showers and bed for all. Tomorrow the Market in town and then to work!
Pray that we would be open and willing to be used by God as He sees fit. We thank you all for praying for us and praying for our work here. May God be blessed by these women and children gettin' a little lovin'.
G'night
Just set an e-vite about the packing party on July 1st at the Church office. The Wednesday night small group is going to help as well. Please view and respond so we will know that we have enough help. thanks so much!
ps... information on our dinner is soon to follow, how does a potluck sound?
34 days left!
pps.... please pray our my boys, Luke and Jett. Jett has a fever of 104.6 and the doctor is sending Luke downtown Charlotte to a specialist for a knot on his arm.......
please pray for protection and that the enemy would be removed from whatever he is trying to do......
1 Corinthians 16:13
Heather
Kevin and I are super excited to help out with the eternal Yardsale in Baxter this Sat. All Monies will go to Guatemala to help build a house!! Come out if you can..........
I've been tasked with creating a blog for our upcoming trip to Guatemala. I was wondering how to mix it up a little and make the blog interesting to come back to for updates. Being a writer of screenplays for many years, it seemed like a no-brainer.
So be aware that you'll have the opportunity of reading some upcoming posts in a friendly script format, like so...
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INT. APARTMENT - DAY
MICHAEL is sitting at his computer, squinting at the screen and typing away. He starts talking to himself.
MICHAEL
I would like to personalize this blog. Make it unique. What better way to do this than by posting in a screenplay format?
To Michael's surprise, the COMPUTER talks back.
COMPUTER
What a novel idea Michael. But who knows how to read a screenplay?
MICHAEL
But it's simple. All you need to know is that each scene starts with a scene heading. (Int.) for Interior and (Ext.) for Exterior. Then follow it up with the location and time of day. Next comes the action/description lines and the character names and dialogue. Easy Peazy.
COMPUTER
... whatever that meant.
MICHAEL
Exactly.
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Thanks to all who have and will visit - your prayers and support not only mean a great deal to the widows and orphans of Guatemala, but also to our team.
It's a blessing and a gift. Thank you.