Feet Washing..

Today, as I drove to work, I was listening to the radio host who was giving some “news of the day.” Well it is news, but sometimes they add in other things that are pertaining to the Christian world, because after all it is a Christian radio station. What they mentioned was about the pope and how he broke the regular tradition and on Thursday, he washed 12 inmates’ feet and kissed them. This in itself is surprising to many. Some may look at it, thinking what in the world, as others are in “awe” that he would put himself down to that level to do something that is beyond peoples mind. This was an act of humility as the radio host said. Getting into work, I decide to read about it and see peoples comments. Many of the people, as expected, were pleasingly astounded that a pope would do something like this. My first thought, was “ummm” and also remembering Guatemala, of course.

 We got to wash kids feet, that were dirty with the dust they walked on. We got to wipe them clean and give them something new in return. As others were saying that the feet washing from the pope was an act of humility, I agree it was, but not only that. I was also remembering and reading about when Jesus washed his disciples feet. Usually, it would be a servants job to clean the feet of the guests after walking through the dirty, dusty roads, but at the last supper Jesus took the towel, poured water into a basin and started washing His disciples feet. This story can be found in John 13:1-17. 

Through this act, He not only showed humility, but also expressed pure love, and the foundation for true servant leadership. This foundation has become a model for Christians today and forever. So as we reflect on this story, and things we do, we need to remember what Jesus really wanted us to remember from this story. This is written in verse 16: "Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him." Keep having a servant heart and showing humility as Christ did. You will continue to become more like Christ. 

First days..

The day started off just like like any other. Well no, I can't say that, since it started off earlier than it would back home. I didn't have any problem with it, as I was prepared for early mornings and late-nights. Up until this day, we didn't encounter anything out of the ordinary. We stayed at a hotel overnight the first day, had great food but saw very little of Guatemala City as we merely drove through it. After a satisfying breakfast, we set out on our journey to Hope of Life which was a 3-4 hour drive. Once we got there, again, we didn't have too much that would wow us. You could feel that the team was getting a bit antsy, wanting to get right into work. However, looking back, I know God was letting us come into this slowly. Perhaps if it was too fast, it would have been quite a shock.

After lunch, we were initially suppose to take a tour of Hope of Life, but that quickly changed when Carlos, the founder of Hope of Life, suggested giving us a tour, but on the following day. So instead, we ended up getting into the cars and driving off to Pueblo Modelo. This is a village that consists of about 5,000 people who were moved there by the government since their village was destroyed by a hurricane, causing mudslides.  Having heard that within this village, its residents used tarp or whatever they could rummage from the dump to build their homes, I still wasn't prepared for what I would see. As we started to drive up closer, we noticed a huge line of people in anticipation of receiving food bags that we were to pass out. Later learning that there were about 800 families which would receive these bags. There was no fighting or pushing...just waiting... waiting for their turn for food.

As we stepped out of the car, immediately, a girl ran up to me and another team member, hugging us both, and quickly grabbing a hold of my hand as we started walking. This was my first "wow" moment. Sounds silly that such a small gesture made it "wow," but it was the simplicity of these children that struck me. I'm aware of the fact that kids love attention...someone to just hug them and love them, but this was still my first moment that really made me realize that this was all truly happening. We are here, doing what we came to do, show Christ-like love and service to these people. These children, were just like any other children...they loved hugging, getting attention, and taking pictures.

 After having finished the food distribution, we headed over to the school. We got the opportunity to see where these people lived. These homes they had, you can't even consider them houses. You can judge for yourself what to call them...

 Visiting the schools that these children attended, was next. We learned that the government schools go up to solely, the 6th grade. This particular school has about 500 children that attend on a daily basis.

 After walking around, and spending some time with the kids that followed us up to that point, we had to head back to Hope of Life. We had a little of time to get cleaned up and head for dinner, which, to our surprise, was Fiesta night! Fiesta night usually happens when a group is leaving at the end of the week, but it was that night, as there was another team from the previous week, that was leaving the next morning. The night was memorable! Three of our team members got to meet their sponsor children! What a touching moment that was! If you have ever doubted the effectiveness of child-sponsorship in the life of a child, I am here to testify that these donations are life-changing for these children! :) Words can't describe what I felt, as I witnessed this first sponsor-child meeting, through tear-filled eyes.

This picture is of some of us before we headed down to Fiesta Night!

There were numerous moments we experienced throughout our days, but one post isn't sufficient to capture it all. Until next time :)

First thoughts on returning to America

As few days passed since my return from my trip, I have had people tell me to write, which would help with the re-entry process and also to share with others about what our team has seen and done through the week at Hope of Life. This trip was God given to me, whether some will believe it or not. He has provided for this trip through friends and family who really truly blessed me. I am so thankful for that!

As this trip was coming closer, I was so excited and waiting anxiously for the trip to come. Even though, I knew that I would not know anyone who was coming, I just prayed for it and for our team. I also started praying for the re-entry process that would come after. Though I did so much research and probably read and watched every video out there about Hope of Life, nothing really prepares you for what is to come during it. My heart already broke just seeing children dying, and people living in poverty, but truly, I look back and realize that I really didn’t understand it till I seen it first-hand. Like I mentioned to some people before, the verse James 1:27 "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep onself from being polluted by the world,” has hit me what it really means when I was there in Guatemala. And for that I am thankful for, because this is where Christ’s heart is. He loved the children and took care of the poor, and my heart yearns to do that even more now than ever before, because our team got to do it first-hand.

The people in Guatemala have captured my heart! My body is home, but my heart is still there.

I can’t really put it in words yet, and I don’t know if anything I say will make sense, but I’m trying. One of my team members, Savannah Spalding has said it perfectly, “Right now, He wants a brokenhearted child of God who is longing to be a vessel, pouring out His love into the lives of others. So again, I pray a prayer that I never dreamed of uttering. I pray that I'm continuously broken for Him, never content with what the world deems as accomplished, but always searching for what my God wants to accomplish through me.”( http://isaiahsvoice4.blogspot.com/2013/03/guatemala-new-shoes-jesus.html?m=1

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I am so happy that God gave an opportunity to serve with 30 people who have become my family! I love them all a lot and am glad that they will be able to understand these emotions. I hope that in next posts, I will be able to put it in words to explain all that we did and saw. I pray it will encourage you as well. God bless you all, and until the next time! J

"Intense love does not measure, it just gives." Mother Teresa