Guatemala Trip - Day 6

Day 6: Another amazing day! The day began again with breakfast followed by our devotional time in the sermon on the mount. We studied the passage which talked about reconciliation, anger and murder. We were challenged to walk through the day realizing that our relationship with God is impacted by our relationships with one another. Keeping short accounts with others. Confessing our sin against others to them and asking for forgiveness. Offering forgiveness for those who ask (and even those who don't).

After breakfast, we headed to Verbana to begin painting. At 9:30 the first group (consisting of Pedro, Ethan, David, Josh and Jake) headed to the ravine to visit a child's home. It was obviously an impacting moment for them, as they came back basically speechless about what they had seen.

While they were away, we involved ourselves in painting. God gave me a brief opportunity to talk with Becca and Kristin. It was very exciting to talk with them, and I am certain that God is going to use them both in the future. I pray that they would listen to some of the things God laid on my heart to share with them, especially Kristin. I pray that she would see her value in Christ, and that it would be evident in her speech and actions.

When the first group returned, the rest of the team (Walter, Jim, Becca, Kristin and I) was able to make a trip to the ravine to visit another home. We drove through the neighborhood at about 10 miles per hour – because the roads were small, congested, and rough. As we entered the neighborhood we were met with a number of obvious gang members, but there was no interaction. We drove the closest place to the home that we could, and we parked and walked the rest of the way. Many steps down with houses all around (and when I say houses, I use that term in the loosest way possible). We got to the bottom of the housing area, and were met by a fence that had just recently been installed because a young woman and her child had fallen off the bottom ledge into the ravine. Then it was time to take the stairway back up, and up, and up. We finally arrived at what I can best describe to you as a shack with 4 walls and a wet dirt floor (it has been raining since Tuesday). The walls were corrugated steel, as was the roof. Inside was one bed, a stack of wood and miscellaneous sundry items that had little or no value. Outside the door area was a bucket of bread- soaked by the rain of the day, and a bucket of corn with flies all around. Back inside all five of us, the social worker, Ruth and Alex (AMG workers) crowded into the room joined by the woman and her daughter. We offered her candy, rice and beans, and a beanie baby for the little girl. We made a few brief comments about her daughter (Kenya), and then told her about the love of Jesus that compels us to give of ourselves to others. When asked if she were a Christian, she replied that she was not. We pray that she will come to know our Savior as a result of our visit. While heading back to AMG, we had to again drive the dangerous roads of the city, and one man was walking down the street toward us with his hand firmly planted deep in his pocket. He walked right up to, and then past the driver. I was certain he had a gun in his pocket, but the Lord protected us.

Back at AMG, we unloaded from the van, and the little girl hugged the girls on the team, and then hugged Walter. His heart was clearly broken as he held the little girl and cried. It was a very touching scene. Most of us were crying. Here is a large grown man bawling because of the conditions of this little girl's home life. For almost an hour he could not even talk. God is really working on him. Jim was next in line to hug Kenya. With tearfilled eyes, he held her in his arms. This group is very emotional, but due to the things they had seen, they held it together rather well. By the way, after Jim, she walked by me and they encouraged her to give me a hug – she just looked at me like she was scared. I think I might have said something at her home that made her think I was there to take her. Anyway, me scaring kids is no new thing.

After lunch, we got back to work, well, kind of. After our extended lunch and reflection time – which ended at 1:00, we only had about 2 hours to paint. I got rapped up in a variety of things, watching a movie (Butterfly Circus), talking to kids, taking pictures, showing children pictures, handing out candy (and more candy), blowing up balloons for kids to play with... on it goes. Not really work but boy was it a lot of work! I even got to see Diego, the boy that Harrison cared for so well when we were here in December. He remembered Harrison, and asked about him. We took pictures. I gave him some candy and a special balloon, and said goodbye.

At 4:00, we began to prepare for the USA vs Guatemala AMG Soccer game. In the mud, barefoot, and much older than most of the guys, I was out there with the rest of the team playing soccer. For almost an hour and a half we ran up and down the field. I scored twice with 2 assists, but came up short in the end as AMG Guatemala took the first annual competition win at 6-5. For most of the game we had the lead, but I guess all that matters is the numbers at the end of the game. Following the game, we had a time of prayer and then of course, group photos. The guys were hilarious – they loved us taking time to care for them by playing with them. We had worked alongside them all week, and now we were playing with them. Bonds were made and sealed today. I have a number of new friends that I look forward to seeing over and over again.

Following the soccer game, we came back to Thelma's, had a wonderful dinner and wrap up session. While skyping with Dee and the kids after dinner, ash began falling from the sky. At 7:00 pm Mount Pacaya erupted sending ash all over the local area. We also found out that a tropical storm is brewing, so we might be in for an interesting couple of days. Only God knows, but this I know, in God's hand is the safest place to be, so I am at rest.

It is about 11:30 PM local time (1:30 AM Chattanooga) so I believe it is time to go to bed. I am looking forward to another great day tomorrow.