House Church and a Mission Team

The mission team from Georgia
P.C. Sarah Sever

Sunday, June 7

The teachers usually have their own house church in the loft of Greg's apartment and have thus named it Upper Room.  This week because of the mission team that just arrived in Huehue (14 people), the interns (5 people), the volunteers (4 people), AND the teachers (12 people), house church was moved to the school.  So we set up chairs in rows and had a more traditional church service!  Laura, a woman on the mission team from Georgia, spoke after an amazing worship set led by Greg, who has, as correctly described by Marcos, the voice of an angel.  Seriously.  

Laura spoke about being spiritually dry and relying on God through that time, even if you don't hear from Him because eventually you will.  She's one of those people you can tell is very in tune with the Holy Spirit, just by the way she talks about Him.  Afterward, all the women on the mission team broke up into groups of 2 to pray for everyone individually.  Super sweet! 

Anna and I ended up praying with Laura and another woman from the team.  I asked them to pray for trust, something I've struggled with for basically my whole life, but especially over the past year.  Let's talk about how God spoke through Laura...  She talked about how much God loves me and thinks that I'm beautiful.  She said God has a very specific plan for me, and it may not be what I think it is. Laura got a distinct image of a fishing hook and talked about how God is trying to reel me in, that He is always seeking after me, waiting for me to give in and let Him take over.  These are things I know in my heart, but my head doubts constantly.  Laura's reminder that I am not only needed, not even just wanted, but that I am a chosen child of Christ came at just the right time. Even now, rereading my journal, I know in that moment I didn't fully grasp the sincerity and truth spoken in those words.  

I am chosen. 

The Paccos

Later, I spent some time at the Fund, then Anna, Marcos, and I journeyed to the Paccos.  Basically, it's a Guatemalan version of a thrift store that also has food.  There are several people with piles of clothes on tables or truck beds or hanging from long rods.  SO. MANY. CLOTHES.  In order to find any "treasures," you have to seriously dig through the mounds of clothes.  Don't worry, after much digging, I found a nice gap t-shirt and the most amazing, African-looking pants.  Anna found a really great sweater that she ended up wearing a ton.  Marcos was so picky and kept talking about how excited he was to shop at Target and Old Navy in the states....  He left empty handed, no surprise..

Around 8pm, the teachers and mission team had a bon fire on the roof of the house (This was safe, I promise!).  We talked and continued to get to know each other, made s'mores, and prayed.  We did A LOT of praying!  We prayed for healing in the lives of the teachers, the children, and friends- each needing healing in a different way.  It was such a beautiful night.  I haven't been a part of something so obviously Spirit filled in a long time. Or maybe I haven't had my eyes open to see.  Either way, I soaked up every minute and stayed in that place as long as I could. 

Today was exhausting- in every form that it comes, but I feel full and ready to take on tomorrow.

Daughters of Purpose

June 6, Saturday

The kids having a bit of fun trying to "capture the flag" 

Today was such as great day! I started off the morning with a bit of reading, Marcos lent me Kisses from Katie (It's about a girl who now lives in Uganda- Great read to add to your list and it has pictures!).  A few hours later, Megan and I headed to breakfast with some of the other women teachers.  Becca made the most delicious pancakes I think I've ever had! There was fresh fruit too!  Things I love.. yummm. It was really nice getting to know Becca, Megan, and Carrie better.  They are all hilarious and so passionate about what they do!

Marcos's attempt... :)

Megan and I went to the market to find hair ties, bananas, and turtle food-- you know the normal stuff.  A woman, named Leslie, who drives a bunch of the kids around passed us as we were walking back and ended up giving us a ride back to the house before we headed over to the girls' home called Daughters of Purpose.  These girls are so funny!  Granted I only understood about three words of any conversation, but their personalities shone through all of that.

Regina and I watching everyone
climb the flag pole

Daughters of Purpose houses girls from birth to about age 18.  Many of the girls in the home have faced unbelievable abuse, mostly from within their family.  Several of them now have babies to care for beyond just themselves.  Megan seems to know when they needed a shoulder to cry on, some tough love, or a giant supply of fun. Basically, she's super awesome!  While at Daughters of Purpose, I did a bit of braiding, some dancing, watched the Parent Trap, and got to know a bunch of the sweet girls.

Later, I went out to dinner with Marcos, Anna, Dani and Elia (like Ellie) to a fun restaurant with live, authentic, Guatemalan music.  I thoroughly enjoyed it and the food too!  Back at the house, the first ever interns that More Than Compassion has hosted arrived and were eating their first meal in Huehue (more on them later!)

Anna is a volunteer from Spain.  She's staying at the Fund for three weeks, she knows four languages well (Spanish, English, Catalan, and German) and knows parts of others, and she's amazing!

Dani and Elia are dating and working as phycologists at the Fund.  They are also from Spain and have poured everything they have into caring for the kids at the orphanage.  Once again, people that naturally exude love and compassion, which          
                                                               I can understand without being able to speak the same
                                                               language.  It's really something spectacular.

Friday Already!

June 5

Snack time break at the School of Hope

Parts of Guatemala remind me of Uganda, like the guards standing outside gated restaurants and houses, some of the food is basically the same, the intensity of the sun, the relevance of time, and the amount of hardships the kids have been through.  Other things are very different from Uganda, like the language barrier seems greater in Guatemala, the dirt isn't dirt- it's sand, normal clothes seem perfectly culturally acceptable for the most part, and white people are gringos versus mzungus.

The snack time bunch! Every day the younger kids sit in a circle together

Besides the cultural food, which is egg, rice, bean, hot dog, and tortilla heavy, there are several chains that we have in America.  I mentioned Taco Bell earlier, but there is also a Domino's Pizza and I saw a McDonald's to name a few.  At just about any tienda (Tea-en-duh or store), you can get a bag of Doritos or Cheetos with a Gatorade or Coke.  Paiz, a Wal-mart like grocery store, carries toaster strudels and graham crackers among many other American type foods.  It's pretty crazy what you can get here!  I think it makes it a bit easier to be in a place like this, because so much familiar food is readily available.

The day didn't hold too much- both of Marcos's classes earned a movie day, so we watched Avengers 2 with Advanced and The Blind Side with Beginners.  When school ended at 1pm, we walked with the kids back to the Fund, short for Fundacion Salvacion, which I'm pretty sure means Salvation Foundation? (Correct me if I'm wrong!)  It is the orphanage where the majority of the kids who attend the School of Hope live.  We ate lunch with the kids and then I played with some of the younger girls on the monkey bars and swings.  They had a blast pretending to need help, yelling, "Teacher! Teacher, help!" And I loved every minute of "rescuing" them!

Between lunch and 4pm, we walked to the grocery store and got all the supplies for chicken tacos!  On the way, we stopped to walk around the local cemetery!  It is incredibly colorful!!  Almost like they celebrate the lives of those who lived.  Marcos and I were back in time for him to tutor one of the older boys.  Dinner was delicious and then it was back to the Fund for a movie night. They showed Paddington, in Spanish. I was lost. But it looked funny and the kids enjoyed it, so that's what counts!

Back to the Beginning

Heidi and Anna

June 2-3

My flight from Rochester to Guatemala was an interesting one.. It started with a great farewell from my housemates, Heidi and Anna.  They even left me toooooonnnnsss of pictures and a few videos on my phone, so I wouldn't forget them (The next time we'll all be together is the middle of August). I hopped over to JFK and spent the night in the lobby.  I was not previously aware that baggage is not held over night.........I am very aware now.  An early flight got me to Atlanta, where I bought myself a delicious chicken biscuit doused in Chick-fil-a sauce.  And then boarded for GUATEMALA!!  I flew Delta, which was a real treat because they still serve drinks and snacks on every flight.  On my Atlanta-Guatemala flight, I even got a sandwich and piece of Hershey's chocolate!

Sunrise on my way to Atlanta

After fumbling my way through customs, I found Marcos with his friend Francisco.  We stopped at a mall for some Taco Bell, one of Marcos's favorite places to eat.  The level of development within Guatemala City definitely surprised me.  It's basically a more trash filled American city, kind of similar to Buffalo, NY but way bigger.  Francisco took us to the bus station, called a Holcones (whole-cone-ayz) bus, and five hours later, we made it to Huehuetenango (way-way-ten-on-go)! Most of the trip we talked or slept.  The view wasn't great since it rained most of the way... It is rainy season after all.

Street view as we drove to the bus station in Guatemala City

I stayed in the same house that the majority of the English teachers live in.  The teachers live downstairs in three bed rooms and then there are three more rooms upstairs for mission teams when they come.  I was introduced to a few of the teachers still up and then went to bed to rest up for school the next day!

The living room view from the dining room at the teachers' house

Lake Atitlan, Guatemala

Okay, Folks!  Sorry I haven't been so great at posting updates..  I've had a hard enough time trying to find the time to journal about everything, but no worries, I will back track and post things when I get home!
 
This weekend Marcos and I plus a friend, Anna, have been at Lake Atitlan.  It is sooo beautiful!! We went kayaking, did some shopping, and lots of eating!  Such a satisfying day...

Marcos and Anna, a girl volunteering at the orphanage who is from Spain.  

I had a wonderful first full day in Huehue!  We started out the day at Greg's (one of the teachers) apartment for worship, a perfect way to start the day.  I met Teacher Marcos's students- third grade advanced and fourth grade beginners. They're a lively bunch! I taught both classes an art lesson about watercolor.  I spent the afternoon at the orphanage, which they call the Fundacion or Fund for short.  I got lots of hugs and played on the swings and monkey bars with some of the younger kids, while Marcos tutored a couple students.  Later, all the teachers went to eat dinner at one of the teacher's houses-dinner was DELICIOUS! And I loved getting to know the teachers.  I'm really excited for the next two weeks!!  I do really wish I had a basic understanding of Spanish, but I'm trying...


I'm having a hard time loading pictures right now, but will work on it later!

Off to Guatemala I Go!

I leave for Guatemala in exactly ONE WEEK!  I'm SO excited to meet the children I've seen pictures of on Facebook and heard many stories about from several of my friends.  I have art lessons planned, clothes washing to pack, and brand new supplies to take to the kiddos.  I have a few more things to take care of before I leave, and then I'm off!

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who contributed to the cost of my trip and for all the prayers, too!  I've ended up with more than I needed, so the rest will be donated to the school and orphanage where I will be helping.  Thank you so much for furthering education in Huehuetenango!!



Trip Details:

Leave Rochester, NY on Tuesday, June 2 at 7pm
Arrive in Guatemala City, Guatemala on Wednesday, June 3 at 10:30am

Volunteer at the local orphanage
Teach a few art classes, help with English lessons
Make some food
Spend quality time with some amazing kids and some awesome teachers
Learn and see lots of new things

Leave Guatemala City, Guatemala on Wednesday, June 17 at 1:20pm
Arrive in Rochester, NY on Thursday, June 18 at 10am



Thanks again!  I'll keep you posted during the trip!