Day three turned out to be a "hard labor" day. The paint crew finished the three bedroom apartment by lunchtime and after doing the lunch dishes for 100+ people headed to the ditch digging crew to fill in the ditch which contained the simple sewer lines (which just end up draining into a "field"). The bike rack crew ended up pulling wire through a different ditch located in front of the school. The cabinet crew continued assembling the cabinets and the paint crew will eventually varnish them.
Sheila and Oscar had their birthdays this week and the neat thing is that everyone comes to celebrate and sing happy birthday. There is enough cake for everyone and hugs are plentiful! How awesome is that for an abandoned and abused child - to feel the love of a family and God - what more is there in this life?
As we continue to interact with the children and staff and see more of the Guatemalan people outside of the school, their appears to be such an air of contentment. They have so little, but they aren't "seeking more." They don't continually want - want - want. They have their family, shelter, food, community, church. Unfortunately, there is a 50% unemployment rate, which then increases the crime rate as desperation for food ensues. I truly believe God has blessed this home to use each and every child here to make a difference in this country. There is one young lady which I personally will continue to follow as she wants to be a pediatrician. She begins this journey on Friday, taking 18 classes. The school is confident of her ability and intellect to be successful with her dream and this workload. They will pay for her education as everyone is family here and that is what you would do for your child.
Some of the kids from the school went to another Children's home to help out with needs. That home provided the children with a garbage bag for their belongings and a space on the concrete floor to sleep. BUT, it also provided food and safety for the children. This Home has been so blessed by God through donors who just continue to give without reservation. It is enlightening to see how "frugal" the school is with every penny.
Greetings from the USA! Thank you Dan for sharing this site with me and THANK YOU all for serving our brothers and sisters in Guatemala!I have enjoyed reading about your trip and also about your "Journey with God" since you left home. Many people may wonder the importance of going out of the country to play with the children but once you have held and loved "one of the least of these" you will want to do it again and again! Thanks for sharing your hearts, time, talents and finances and I know that you are much more richly blessed by what you are receiving than by what you give. The pictures are wonderful and you can see the love of God on each face and I can only imagine Gods face as He looks upon each of you :)It must please Him greatly to see the church as it is supposed to be, the Body, His hands and feet at work, not just a building. Enjoy the rest of this trip and may the Holy Spirit reveal everything that God had for you to learn on this journey. I know that you will leave much behind, including a piece of your hearts as you leave. Safe home and God bless you all! Kate Frederick
ReplyDeleteP.S. I hope you all navigated your trip better than I did trying to leave this message for you!