Another busy day in Guatemala

We started the day with a boat ride across Lake Atitlan to have breakfast at a village called Santa Cruz.  It was a nice break but then we got back to work.  Today we continued to paint the mural on the side of the mobile library, we saw sponsored students and our doctors saw more patients.  Rich and Jennifer went to see the house which Faith's team built in February and visited with the family.  The team gave out chickens and more shoes.  Mandy won the competition to grab the most chickens and Jeanne came in second.  It was quite a show for the families waiting to get their chickens watching us Gringos wrestling down chickens!

God is so good!  We have had many "God sightings" where we know He had to have his hand in the situation.  So much suffering and sadness on one hand, but so much love and hope on the other.  We are so blessed and we thank God for all that we have.  Enjoy the pictures!

Three Teams...Three ways to Serve

Today we split into three teams:  one team built 7 stoves, making a total of 14 built.  The second team of artists began painting a mural on the side of a trailer that will become a children’s library.  (pictures later).  The last team (2 doctors and 1 EMT) were able to see 40 patients and give medications for various problems.  Unfortunately we were down 2 today due to illness but they are bouncing back.  Please continue to pray for our team.  As usual it is amazing how the people here end up giving us far more than we give them.

Just when I thought yesterday was an awesome day, today came and realized that was just the beginning.... indeed, was the perfect opportunity to serve others in a lot of different ways.  We built the stoves in the houses of the most underprivileged people from the Mayan communities. It will shock you to know that a little room is the whole house and not to mention the floor of dirt, because they cannot afford anything else. Still they received us with smiles in their faces and all of them saying "matioshk" which means "Thank you" in the local language.
At lunch time we were able to help with a feeding program for the elderly in the same community where we built the stoves.
Later in the afternoon, we came to the office of the Mayan Families Organization to give out more shoes to orphan children and it was great to see their little faces being so happy with so little.
Pictures will tell you more, cannot wait for what the rest of the week awaits...
Written by Fernando Fuentes

Dances...Shoes...Healthcare

Today was a great day!  We traveled to a village called El Barranco.  We were the guests for several traditional dance performances from the Children's Dance Troop.  We enjoyed watching the Corn Dance and a favorite...the Monkey dance.  Then we gave out shoes for many precious dirty small feet!  Our two doctors and one EMT did medical checks on many of the children.  We finished the day enjoying pizza and devotion. Guatemala has a way of bringing perspective to our lives and God reveals Himself through this beautiful country and people.

We are so happy to finally be here, after our trip from the US to Guatemala City to Panajachel. After our arrival today in Panajachel where we will spend the majority of our week, some of us decided to mingle with the culture, or visit the lake, while others decided to go and do the famous zip lining which we heard was AWESOME!!  A few of the group enjoyed the ziplining for the first time while others enjoyed doing it yet again.

It has been great so far, but I have to say is very different from the USA, especially in the transportation system and some of us had the blessing of experience it all: from riding the famous moto taxi or "Tuk Tuk" -you can see some pictures later- to riding in the back of a pick up, simply fascinating!

Tonight we also had the opportunity to meet the directors of the Mayan Families who took us into their home for dinner.  It was a delicious local chicken dish with local vegetables, such as "Guisquil".
The weather has been great.  Although its the rainy season, they have not had rain in 2 weeks so the temperature today was much warmer than expected.  We'll see if it holds up! We are enjoying bonding with our fellow team members and getting to know each other better.  We know God has a great week prepared for us.  Please keep us in your prayers and pray that we will touch those in the greatest of need here in Guatemala.

Until tomorrow,
Buenas noches!

Our team of 13 will leave Friday afternoon, 7/25. Come along as we travel to Guatemala on this journey to serve God as we serve others.