Lunch!

 

Lunch time can be crazy at the center! That is one time that we really appreciate having a lot of people to help. There are quite a few kids that have to be fed by people, so at lunch it is all hands on deck! The kids, as you can imagine are always quite eager to eat so we have a tough time getting them to patiently wait for their food, but once they get it they scarf it down! Some of them even get 2 or 3 helpings! And when we are done and have all the kids down for a nap, there is always a huge mess :)

People on the trip!

There are two other church groups that have come with us this time. There are also four interns. We have gotten to meet new people from all over Florida, and one from Michigan, and even one from Canada! Everyone is split up between the different age groups of the children and also the construction site, so we have really gotten to know everybody and have become like family! The kids have benefited from it too, because there are actually enough people this year to take care of all of the children..plus enough to do construction!

The Older Girls

The Younger Boys

The Younger Girls

Wednesday Update

I hate blogging too!

We are having a wonderful time in Guatemala!! I have been working with the Canarios (canaries...which are the youngest children). I have been bonding with Madelyn. She only came to the center a week and a half ago so she is not entirely used to it yet. She has been very sad the whole time and no one had been able to make her smile or engage in anything until Leslie and I started working with her. We got her to smile, laugh, and speak. She even started responding when I asked what her favorite animal or color was, although she only pointed to those. It has been a great time and I am praying that we are able to help Madelyn become more comfortable in the center.

~Rachel~

Josh trip to Gutemala

Having an awsome time in Gutemala. The work is great, the scenery is great, the people are great, and most of all God is great! Went to build a house and had so much fun. I have never had so much fun working before. The kids at the Malnutrition Center are fanomanol!! They are so young and so sick but can fend for themselves for the most part.  Cant wait to tell everyone all the stories when I get home.

I hate blogging!

So I have been having a great week with the kids! I am working in the bunny room, which is the younger toddlers! The two kids that I have gotten especially attached to are Santos and Telma :)

Whitney

"You Make Beautiful Things"

I knew that God made beautiful things, but I never thought that I would see that through malnourished children, half-finished, one-room houses that are lined wall to wall, and 5:30am walks. Each of the children I have encountered have been over-joyed to see us! They love all the attention that we are giving them and are excited to have people to play with. On the way to the malnutrition center are these unfinished houses that are lined up the mountain. They're not much compared to our homes in America, but these people are so happy and so thankful for what they do have. In the mornings we get a group together to walk around Antigua. Sure, waking up isn't always the easiest, but we get to see a considerable amount of the city. Its a nice way to interact with some of the people here as well as get a glimpse of what God has made Himself.

Great First Day

The first day at the malnutrition center went great!! On the way to the center we waved at everyone as we passed them and yelled "ola".  I was amazed at how almost everyone smiled so big and waved back. They looked so serious or unhappy before we waved.

Enjoyed playing with, feeding, and just loving on the kids today. Seeing so many of the kids that we saw last year, only much healthier looking. They have grown so much.

Ended the day with another trip to the market to finalize all the kids purchases. Some of the vendors their were so friendly. The Guatemalan people in general seem to be such friendly people. They have so little, yet they are so happy. Our "secrets" to happiness and success may be way off the mark in America. I want to start working on finding happiness in every circumstance I am in. Can't wait for tomorrow. Exhausted now and heading to bed.
Laura

The story of the Red Block

Well today was my first day really working with kids and needless to say I'm not very good at it. So God decided to send me a huge blessing in the form of a giant red lego block. It all started when Whitney was holding a small girl who was throwing a fit and crying and could not be comforted. As a joke I picked up a red block that was sitting next to them and said "Here now you have a red block and everythign is all better." Well as soon as I handed it to the girl she stopped crying and just sat there with the block. Well this was quite astounding so we decided to try using the block on some other kids. Every single one of them that was crying immediately stopped as soon they came into contact with the block. So this little magic device was dubbed "The Block of Happiness!"
Matt

My awesome day

It was an exhausting time. it was a wearysome time, it was a heartbreaking time and it was one of the most wonderful times of my life!

Sandy

day 1 guatemala

Day 1 of the trip to Guatemala, we've met the other two church groups who will be working with us throughout the week. looks like its going to be fun getting to know everyone while were here serving God building homes and helping at the center. Time in wait for the plain consumed with playing cards and getting snacks. Marvina and Howie are with us again and we even get to work with Cynthia Gunter the wife of the Ron who will be joining us Wednesday. Overall we expect good things and ask for continuous prayer while were gone.
kevin

Deja Vu All Over Again

We are at the same terminal we departed from last year.  Same Starbucks.  Same freezing temperature.  Same Peanut game in progress.
Once we arrive in country and get settled, look for our regular updates here.  We'll share them on our face book pages and you can find them on the church website.
Pray for us  ...  this group needs a lot of prayer!