Tour, Orphanage, God's timing!

On our first full day, my morning started around 5:30 am as did most other days since I had to make sure the rest of our team was up. J  Breakfast was always around 7:30 am. After breakfast, our team, along with a few other teams had the opportunity to go on a tour with Sean, who is currently volunteering, at Hope of Life. I have previously described the Hope of Life ministry from the first time I was there, so I won’t go much into details. But we toured the warehouses, Elders home, Special needs home, St. Luke’s (hospital- where the baby rescue center is currently), and the orphanage. It was refreshing to be back and to witness what has been renovated since I was there last. For instance, the hospital was still under complete construction back in March, however now the first and second floors are open. They are still working to finish the rest of the hospital, and they are hoping to have it all completed soon.

After we finished the tour, we headed over to the Rancho for lunch. After lunch, we got to spend time up at the orphanage! Many of us brought things to do with the kids so we all kept busy! I brought some beads to make bracelets and necklaces. Others brought coloring books, uno cards, stickers, nail polish, etc. The children sure appreciated all the activities we had for them! After I finished making necklaces and bracelets with the children, I went over to the playground to play with a few of the children, solely to spend time with them. It was so nice getting to know more of the orphans during this trip, since last time we didn’t get too much time with them. Then something occurred which brings a smile to my face, I finally found where the younger children were set! I found Emilio, Diego, and Christina, all whom I met back in March when they were still recovering at the Baby Rescue center!  They are doing so well and I miss them every day!

After some time there, we headed back to clean up before dinner. Since we still had some time, some of our team went to visit the various ministry areas or down to the Rancho area before dinner.  Dinner was great as always! After dinner, we had some Spanish lessons from Hugo! Unfortunately, I had to miss some as I had a interview during it.

That evening, as I reflected back on what God was doing, I was simply amazed at how perfect God’s timing is for every aspect of our lives! In the short time I spent in Guatemala, God sent people my way that I had the privilege to met and connect with, instantly.  Deep down, I saw this as God-given relationships that were created.

Regarding what I had already explained in the previous paragraph, I wanted to share an excerpt from my journal for that particular evening:

“God is amazing and His timing is perfect for everything. All things work together for the greater good for His glory, even when things seem messed up at times, He still shows me that He is there through everything. I am so thankful for it! He continually gives grace and shows us mercy, as we should to others.  It hurts me so much when things are out of control, but how much more it hurts Jesus when we act the same to Him...”

There were numerous things going through my head, and I am so thankful God was able to show me what He was doing through that day and every day! That evening ended with an entire-team prayer.

Stay tuned for our time in a village! Until next time… God bless and always feel free to ask questions, or comments! J

Our Arrival and Baby Rescue Center!

Back again! On August 11^th, our team set out on our journey to Guatemala from Newark airport. Everything went smoothly through security and our plane ride to Guatemala City was smooth as well. We got in about twelve in the afternoon and met Hugo, who was our translator and waiting for our team outside. Before driving out to Hope of Life, we stopped for lunch at Pollo Campero. Then our journey continued out to Hope of Life which was about a four hour drive through the wonderful views of Guatemala. Everything is so beautiful now! When I was there back in March, it was dry and brown, not much leaves or other greens. This time around, it was full! The scenery was magnificent for sure!

March

August

As we got in to Hope of Life, we went straight up to the mission houses to place our things in the rooms we were going to be staying in. We had some time before we needed to be down for dinner, so we had a chance to go to the baby rescue center to play with the children. The baby rescue center which is now located inside the St. Luke's hospital on the first floor.

It was so nice to be able to be back there once again. It was amazing to see the children I already knew. They all grew so much and look so much healthier from the last time. But there are also a lot of new children who are sick, very sick. But thanking God that Hope of Life is there to provide them medicine and also the get them back into health.

Angie

Sweet Demli!

Hugo says Hello!

With Yolanda and Esperanza

Some of our team members got to wash the children, change diapers, and feed them. It was a nice start to our time in Guatemala.

Among the kids I saw that day, that I already knew were Yolanda, Esperanza, Hugo, Delmi, and a few others. Esperanza has this little afro growing on top of her head… she is just a beautiful baby! Love her to pieces!

My heart leaped with joy being back again! But then again, it was like I never left. But at the same time, it felt like this is where I belong. Being around these children on the first evening reminded me, we are here to serve and to show Christ’s love once again through everything we do! 

“Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” 1 John 4:11

God’s blessing to you! Until next time… feel free to comment or ask questions! J

The Return to Guatemala

It has been almost a month since my return from Guatemala, and it has bittersweet being back. By bittersweet, what I mean is that my heart is still there. My body may be back, but my heart is completely there with the people of Guatemala. It aches quite often and I can’t do anything about it. What I can do is just pray in those moments for the people who have touched my heart in so many ways!

This trip was another blessed trip to Hope of Life in Zacapa, Guatemala. Most know that I was there back in March with another team. If you asked me right after the trip, I would have never guessed that I would be back there just exactly five months later in August. All I knew was that I would be going back and was hoping it would be soon. When people asked me when I would go, I told them, “As soon as I can!” I really felt like God is calling me back there.

About a month passed when a friend told me that she was going to take a group, to Guatemala! She asked me if I would join, and I agreed right away knowing that this was God’s answer to my question of “when.” God was working in my friends’ heart after telling her about all that God was and is doing in Guatemala. It was amazing to see how God has opened her heart for a country, she has never been too.

The team consisted of people who were close to me. I was excited that I was able to share this next trip with those who are the closest to me! I knew that God was going to be doing huge things through this trip and huge things in their life.

Our team :)

We got to be part of a lot of incredible things that includes feet washing/Toms distributions, giving out food bags to families, feeding at the dump, baby rescue, spending time with the orphans, among many other things. I will try to share all that we did with posts to come. I pray it will encourage you and open your hearts. God bless, until the next time! :)

Day 5-El Mitch,Feeding Center at the Dump (Teculután), Baby Rescues, last good-bye's till next time, and a Big Reality Check!

Unreal. That is what I can say about our last full day at Hope of Life. The day started out uneventfully, but whatever else we did that day seemed unreal. It was definitely a busy day, and to be honest, it wasn't until the next day what we saw, touched, and did, that really hit me hard.

Well what we did was an amazing opportunity for us and that was tour the hospital. We didn't have enough time to do it when we toured the rest of ministry earlier in the week, so, Carlos had lead that tour once again and told us once again, about how he dreamed about having a hospital, and now this dream became a reality. Initially, there was to be a two-story clinic that World Help donated. But, Carlos wanted do something bigger. As he prayed, God sent others who donated money to finish building it, and now there will be six floors and with a helicopter pad on top. This hospital will be free unless you’re in the top level. That level, as Carlos says, is for “VIPS”, those who have money. See the money that they will pay, will cover the rest of the floors. This hospital should be opening shortly in the coming months. 

Hospital

View from third floor of the Hospital

After finishing the tour, we went to another village called El Mitch to give out food bags for families and shoe distributions. Once again, we split up into groups, and I got to help fit shoe sizes before they went to get their feet washed and put the new pair of TOMS on. It was another simply amazing opportunity to serve these people, who have nothing.

As the kids were standing in line, I didn't realize that they may have stood there for a while, until a little boy was getting his shoes measured. He was standing in front of me, waiting patiently. As I asked someone to pass me a size, and as I turning around to fit him, he couldn't wait any longer for the bathroom and wet himself. His face, was in totally embarrassment and with my broken Spanish, I tried to assure him that it was ok and not to worry, with a smile. This just reminded me of how long they must have waited in line, because by the time we came, lines of waiting individuals have formed already. It is just simply amazing to watch these people wait in line for a bag of food and shoes. In America, we don’t have to wait hours and hours for a mere bag of food, we have the luxury of running into a store to buy almost anything. Same goes for shoes. Any color, style, any brand, right at our finger tips. Imagine just for a moment, if you didn't have that luxury… How different would life be for you?

After finishing up, and loading the buses back up, we head back to Hope of Life for lunch. After lunch, we headed to Teculután, which is one of the 78 feeding centers where Hope of Life serves hot meals. This particular place is not like another place we had been to. It was a dump. Literally a dump, where there is trash absolutely everywhere, where people live, and eat, and sleep. As we drove closer to it, our translator, Julio, who lived not far from that dump, asked us not to be afraid to show love to them as we do to others. They might be dirty and have nothing, but they still deserve to be shown God’s love and we were there to do just that. Julio was telling us a little more about the people and the culture and how they live in general, and what really stuck with me is when he said, “these people may not have anything, but are the most content people on earth.” Not one day will they say that they are doing bad. They still thank God for the life that He has given them. As I, and probably a lot of other teams members thought, how is it that they have nothing, live in a dump, and still be happy and thank God for all that they have? Many times, we complain about the smallest things, things that are non-sense, instead of thanking God. Why? Often times, I need to remind myself that no matter what is going on, I need to thank God more for things that happen in life, than complain because if those people that live at a dump are thankful in everything, why can’t we be as well? It really is a reality check. Though I’m not going to say that this is always easy, but I’m trying to get better at this.

This view of children, mothers, fathers was hard to fathom, until later (personally for me). I was ready to love on these people, no matter what. I got to serve very little of the food, but that for me meant that I was able to walk around and simply love on these people. I came upon this little girl, and immediately fell in love with her. As I was around her, while she sat on the concrete floor with her food, she gave me one of her hands to hold. She held onto it tightly and wouldn't let go.

Cutest little girl!

 Then her mother came up to where we were. I got to ask her mother, the child’s name and age. Her name is Kailee and she is three years old. This just stuck something in me because I also have a niece who name is Kailee and is two years of age. When the girl’s mother told me her name, I was a bit surprised because it is so different from others. It really isn't Spanish… But nonetheless, I had some connection with her, but can’t really explain why. After a bit more, she got in my arms and hugged me while putting her face next to mine.

This happened until we had to leave. While holding her, her mother moved her shirt over, and showed me that she was injured. It looked like something might have bit her, but when the mother tried to explain, I couldn't understand. I was so upset that I didn't know enough to understand! This just makes me want to learn more Spanish, so the next time I go, I can understand more of what people tell me and also so I can converse back. My heart broke for this little girl. Why do all these children have to live here? Why can’t they get a better chance at life, than collecting plastics and glass as their job?

Some of the kids that live at the dump

A home at the dump

As we left the food distribution, we went to walk around the dump to see more of where people lived and to hear more about how these people live. Then again, time came to leave. Some team members had tears in their eyes from all the sights. As we were leaving, Kailee’s mother was standing near the bus, as she watched us get on. I got to wave her a last goodbye, and with the mother’s smile on her face, I won’t forget these people that are close to my heart. My heart once again broke and a piece of my heart stayed there with Kailee and her mother. I do hope, one day, I will see them again!

Thank you to whoever captured this moment! It was Kailee with her mom wavy bye to our team.

We drove right to the baby rescues, after the dump. We drove into a town, then had to walk to the river, which we probably got to about a twenty minute walk. Since our team was big, only about 7 could go across the river to get the kids, while the rest were waiting on other side, to assist with help when they returned.

Arrived on the other side

Bringing the kids..

 It was a moment that, no one knew what to expect to see. As the boat was coming back to where our team waited, it seemed a bit chaotic. Some other people from our team came closer to the boat, to help with getting kids and bringing them to ambulance. As you can see from these photos, it was something you don’t see every day. We were rushed to get into the transportation to get to our other bus, and then to go to the rescue center. As we arrived to the rescue center, only a few people at a time could go into the rescue center to see how the process goes. Other team members who were in the ambulance, were walking out crying. It was hard to see and really feel these kids that could have been so close to death, if they were not found. I got to meet one of the boys who was rescued. He is 11 years old, who had the least of problems. He had a tumor on his lower back, deformities, and was also malnourished. He started crying when I approached him, and tried to cheer him up or talk to him so his mind was not on what was going on. It was definitely a tough seen to see. Here are some of the photos of the kids that were rescued... There was six in total.

16 year old- was 69 pounds

2 yrs 8 months- was 15 pounds

Her baby was 4 months old weighing at 5 pounds

Another one of the rescues

After finishing up, we had to head back to the houses to get cleaned up for dinner. We also got to say our goodbyes to the kids at The Rescue Center, elders home, and special needs home. We had only an hour to do so, and it seemed like it was much shorter! We came right in time when the kids were all washed up and eating their dinners. So once again we had to the chance to feed the children and just love on them. I immediately went to find Esperanza, and held her the whole time. This time, she was so much more alert than the other previous days, I loved it! As I talked to her, she was just smiling at me and looking carefully at me. I love that moment when you know the child is happy just by holding them and talking to them. After a little while, she ended up falling asleep on my hands. But when our time came to an end, I had to put Esperanza down and went to say my last goodbyes before leaving the rescue center.

Henry and Esperanza

Emilio and I on last night 

Love Diego's smile!

                                   


As we headed to dinner, I walked through the elders home and said my goodbyes to them. I came upon an elder who, actually knew English! He was such a sweet guy! He was like, your part of this group that is leaving tomorrow? I told him I was, and he was like, but we didn't have time to talk! I told him I really didn't want to leave either and would of loved to get to know him, and told him, that I will be back, hopefully soon!

Final night meal-so good!

Dinner time! This last night, we had some tilapia (which is a fish, for those who don’t know) and rice. Since it was our last night, the children from the Paradise home (orphanage) preformed some songs for us, and… we had a birthday party for Ana Paula who turned one, the next day, when we were leaving. It was a special evening and sad also because we were leaving the next morning.

Some of Liberty Students..

Tiffany, Laverna, and Taylor

With Aracely, and Ana-Paula

Right before the performance

After dinner, we headed back up the mission houses so we could get our stuff together and then, we had a bon-fire! That was an awesome ending to our time there! Hugo (our translator) provided marshmallows, and Taylor got a guitar, and we did some devotions, also praising God through songs! 

Our last evening get-together

What an amazing time we had that evening. Of course, on our last night, we didn't get much sleep, but who needs it when it is the last night, right? Joking about the sleep.. lol Anyways, I definitely want to elaborate on the how the rescue happens, but will be on the next post. Until next time! 

                                          

                                             “There is nothing worth living for, unless it is worth dying for.” 
                                             ― Elisabeth Elliot