Sunday, April 11, 2010

So our group just did something that no one else has ever done

Note to self: Mini buses cannot park in the parking deck! We officially shut down all traffic trying to park because we had to go back out the entrance. I asked the parking manager if this had ever happened and she replied while laughing "NO!"




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Saturday, April 10, 2010

The last day

Our flight tomorrow is scheduled to leave at 12:31PM local time and will arrive in Atlanta at 6:06 PM. This has been such an amazing trip so please ask one of our team members to tell you some stories. Thank you for reading and please come to our Guatemala Trip share time on Sunday, April 18 to hear from the students and see more pictures/videos.

We finished up today by going to Antigua, Guatemala. It is a beautiful place as you will see in the pictures below:
























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Going to Antigua

If you look up pictures of Antigua, Guatemala (not to be confused with the resort town on the coast) you will find a town that reminds you of Savannah, GA or Chatleston, SC with a Spanish twist. The cobblestone roads make for a very bumpy ride and the public parks are flooded with people from all over the world.

We are going to this beautiful town today to let the students shop, eat, and see the city after a long but rewarding week.

Last night I was able to see a church meeting the people where they are. Iglesia El Camino, the church that we have worked with a good bit this week, took food the the Guajeros (spelling?), or the people that live in the landfill. The children and adults formed two long, twisting lines waiting for their one scoop of rice and leftover pizza, chicken, or hotdogs. I couldn't speak, or see for that matter through the tears, as I watched two year olds carry a bowl, cup, or a piece of paper that they found in the dump to get their portion. This is so real! Poverty is so real...not that I doubted, but it seems so much more real now.

The smell of burning trash, smoke blowing directly through the area we were standing, small children with clothes that do not fit (if they even had clothes), and trash blowing in whatever direction the wind carried it are just a few of the things that our senses picked up all at once. It was needless to say OVERWHELMING. But this is where these people live all day, everyday.

The day wrapped up with a special farewell service just for our group. We were presented with medals that read "Honor de Merito" and have our names printed on them. I couldn't believe that they were giving us medals (with their very limited resources no doubt). It felt backwards...they should have been the ones receiving medals not us. They are the ones living and serving here everyday year round.


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Friday, April 9, 2010

Pics from today




View one from the school.




View two from the school. The lot can be seen to the left where the future school will be.




View three from the school.



Looking over a portion of the dump. The houses we worked on backed up to this.



The medals our team received tonight from Iglesia El Camino, the church we worked with this week.

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More pics from today

The kids surprised us this AM with a short program complete with costumes, songs, and dancing.














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Pics




























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I may have gone a little overboard

Sorry about the blog last night. It was about 1.5 hours past my bedtime! I was trying to be descriptive to give you a mental picture of what we are seeing...it quickly turned into a short novel! : )

As I am writing this blog a gentle rain is falling and a cool breeze is hitting our faces as we are doing our quiet time. The guys are here:





Yes it is beautiful! And the girls are over by their rooms (see pictures from yesterday).

Today is our last day doing ministry here in Guatemala City (tomorrow we will all travel to Antigua). Please pray for our group to have energy, patience with each other, and love and comfort for the people around us (see 2 Cor. 1).

This AM our quiet time is based on Romans 10:13-15. POWERFUL stuff...how will they hear the Good News without someone telling them?

We will go to the school this morning and do our last day of VBS. In the afternoon we will divide the girls and guys to shake it up a little. The girls will be doing a VBS at a place called Tabitha (I think it is an orphanage for girls). The guys will finish the construction that we have been doing all week.

More to come tonight...hopefully more pictures.

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Some pics
















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Sorry for the typing mistakes!

I have been updating the blog for the week from my phone...it has a mind of its own most of the time! Our Ustream page isn't working properly, so we have been recording videos straight to the computer that will be used in our final video on April 18th.

My phone is acting up and the computer is actually working right now, so I will have to put pictures up later.

Today we sent our group in three directions once again: one group to Antigua, Guatemala to do a VBS, another group to a malnutrition center in San Juan, and the final group finished up construction in the dump.

The VBS Antigua group actually went to a small township outside of Antigua called Pastores (not sure of the spelling). We actually had to walk/hike the last 3/10 of a mile straight up hill. It was a scene that seemed straight out of a movie. This country is beautiful! These people are the same...and so friendly! On our way up to the "house," which should probably be called a lean-to actually, an older woman was walking in front of us up the hill carrying a huge basket on her head. To the left of us was a breathtaking view of mountains that are just turning green, as the rainy season is about to be underway. To the right were make-shift houses made by Guatemalans that were displaced from a hurricane a couple of years ago. The buildings are made of corrugated tin, cardboard, and anything else that will provide shelter. At the bottom of the hill is a beautiful city-park style town...complete with a church, government building, armory, and grocery store. From the top of this large hill you can see for miles. Tons of trees planted in perfect rows cover an enormous space on a neighboring hill/mountain. The clouds above seem to be waiting impatiently for the rainy season to begin, just waiting to unleash tons of water that will knock down the dust that is blowing in our faces. That may be too much description (or not enough) but this place is beautiful!

Two ladies (a mother and daughter) live in the lean-to that we did our VBS in. Fifteen kids quickly filled the small place (as did dogs and chickens). Our group led them in songs, told them a Bible story, played games, and let them color pictures of tortugas (turtles). The students today did such an incredible job...AGAIN!

Our group that worked in the dump was able to finish a ladies roof right as it started to rain. The lady told Greg Rowland that last night was the first night she has felt warm in her home...I cried when I heard this! People in the dump have nothing and are so appreciative for the little that we are able to do for them.

Our group at the malnutrition center got to hold babies and kids (10 years old and under) for a couple of hours. They got to love them and hug them and play outside with them. Several of the students fell asleep while holding the babies...we have pictures, don't worry!

Tomorrow will be our last day of VBS at the school. Today was incredible though. We took all of the kids (around 60 or so) to the lot where the new school will be built. We all joined hands and made a huge circle standing on the ground that will soon hold a building made of blocks and tin. WE PRAYED! Our whole group, the teachers, and the administration of the school took turns praying for what this lot will soon hold. We prayed for the kids standing with us and holding our hands to come to know Jesus as their savior, and that God would use this school to continue to pluck kids out of the cycle of poverty. It was a great time. Again, I have pictures.

Please pray for energy! We are tired but want to finish strong.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Thursday AM

Today is our 4th full day in Guatemala. I think we as a group have decided to stay for the rest of our lives, so you can come and visit us whenever...

This really has been an incredible trip! Our adult leaders on this trip, Bruce Eades, Alaina Morris, Paul Murray, Steve Murray, Allie Pohlmeier, Robert Puckett, and Greg Rowland ARE INCREDIBLE! They have been great examples they to our students of how to be servants. They have also provided tons of wisdom and experience on our trip! These seven are truly incredible DISCIPLES!

Yesterday our group went in three different directions: one group traveled to Antigua to do a VBS, another traveled to a malnutrition center about 40 minutes away from Guatemala City, and the remaining group worked on "houses" on the edge of the dump.

The short documentary (which can be watched on YouTube) called Recycled Life, shows what life in the dump is really like. Our group watched this at our second meeting, but were blown away after seeing it in person.





Above is a picture that I quickly took with my phone of some of the "houses" in the dump.

By the way, if you are not seeing any pictures of your child do not worry! I have tons on my camera that we will show when we return. I am using my phone for blogging so can't put them all on the blog.

Last night our group traveled to Mixco. A town outside of Guat. City. We were able to go to a church service where we got to sing one song in English. It was so cool watching our group get so excited about worship (because we could understand the words!). But it also convicted me about how I (and we as the American part of the Church) "do" worship. That kind of excitement should be continual as we worship our wonderful Creator!!

More to come later today...thanks for reading! Photos below:
























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Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Wednesday Lunchtime (more pics)

What an amazing trip! Here is what happened yesterday:

One of our groups traveled to a malnutrition center in a village outside of Guatemala City. The scenery was absolutely incredible with all of the "houses" built on the sides of huge hills. The roads here are pretty crazy! Drivers pretty much decide when and what lane to drive in at all times...something our team has joked and laughed about many times.

The malnutrition center is home to 17 beautiful Guatemalan babies that are at the center because their parents cannot afford to feed them. A set of twin girls (one of three sets of twins) weigh only 5 lbs. and they are 5 months old. Everyone in the group was in tears at the end of our time there.

Allie, our girls ministry leader, brought something to our group's attention...what the malnutrition center is to these babies, God is to us. He saves us from certain death! The babies would not still be alive without the people at the center.

The rest of our group worked on "houses" yesterday. The houses are on the edge of the dump (literally built on a hill that is made of garbage covered with dirt). They are made of nothing but tin and some wood. Again, our group is experiencing a whole new way of life.

Last night we attended a service for the 3rd straight day...Robert and I had the chance to preach! The church here reminds me a lot of the early Church on Acts. They are literally meeting everyday and giving to each other as the need arises.

This morning we had our third day of VBS at the school. The students are doing such an amazing job with the kids...the language barrier is not affecting them at all it seems. I am so proud of our students (your children) as I am seeing the hearts for people!

Our kids are being changed! Please continue to pray for our group.




























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Pics from this week

Blog coming later with more picture...prob tonight














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Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Day Three A.M.

Beginning of day three in Guatemala. Last night all of our guys on the team went to a bread and coffee service for the people that work in the dump. The air was filled with a strong odor of glue, as many of the teenage boys that were attending were high on glue. One big difference about this worship service than any other service I have ever experienced is that the pastor had a container of water sitting in the middle of the narrow but long walls of the building. The teenaged boys would walk to the middle of the meeting and allow the pastor to pour soap into their hands, that are black from digging through garbage, and water on their hands and head. This is their "shower" for the rest of this week.

No running water at the dump means that these guys haven't washed their hands since the last time they met in this dark dirty room. This is a great visual of the example that Jesus set for us when he washed his disciples feet.

Our team is experiencing a brand new culture. New foods, new people, new driving (ask one of our team members about this when we return), and a whole new way of life. Some of the things that we are seeing are shocking and probably life altering...we will all return with different outlooks on life and how to treat others I am sure.

Other highlights from Monday: Part of our group worked in the lot where the new school will be built. Others in our group went to Antigua (not the resort town but Antigua, Guatemala) to do a VBS there. Our men bought supplies that we will use for the rest of the week to build shelters for families that live on the edges of the dump (sometimes as large as 14 people in one "house").



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Monday, April 5, 2010

VBS at the school-Day Uno

Our first day at the school was our "test session" for the rest of the week. All of the students stepped up big time this morning and were ready to do whatever they needed to do to make it work.

The school is located about 3-4 blocks from the landfill...that i am convinced is one of the worst smelling, dirtiest places on earth. Buzzards are constantly swarming overhead and everything (outside of the school seems so chaotic).

The children that we were able to spend time with today are so beautiful especially when they smile! Their big brown eyes are screaming out for love and attention. Everyone that calls Lalewood Baptist home MUST come to Guatemala as soon as you can...it will rock your world! And I am writing this after only one full day.

Dr. Smiley was correct in saying that this place is complete abject poverty! I have never seen anything like it. Even the nicer buildings are some of the worst that I have ever seen. The people are filthy and seem to have no purpose...and they are everywhere! I am saying this not as a complaint or anything negative...just an observation.

The students and adults on our team have hugged and loved on so many people already. They are looking past the dirt and maybe even fears to share the love of God with the Guatemalans that we meet.

Day one is not even close to being finished right now but has already been overwhelmingly amazing! Parents, please pray for your children...that they would experience things this week that will leave them forever changed and wanting to serve our Lord even more!

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Monday morning qt

The students are now having a quiet time to get ready for today. It is perfect weather wise right now with the sun out and a cool breeze blowing through the courtyard where we are staying...see what I mean:


The seminary that we are staying in is very nice (compared to everything else around it) and we all got about 8+ hours of sleep last night. This should be a great day.

We will go to the preschool this morning to do our first VBS lesson. Our afternoon projects will include going to a malnutrition center and building a wall.

Last night was amazing by the way. We were able to go to a church service right outside the dump. Our students were very moved by what they saw...we will all no doubt return as changed people in how we see and treat others!

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Sunday, April 4, 2010

We Are Here!

After all of the meetings, months of planning, and anticipation we are finally here in Guatemala City, Guatemala. The rooms that we are staying in are at Seteca Seminary which is about 2 miles or so from the dump. Several of the students and adults are going prayer walking right now around the Seminary...being led by our fearless girl's ministry leader Allie!

We have already made several new friends that have played soccer with us, ordered pizza for us (supper tonight), and driven us around. Everyone is doing great so far and the first time flyers are feeling much better now that we are on the ground.

I will try to make some time tonight for everyone to get a chance to get on Skype or UStream...probably around 11:00PM or so eastern time. Please continue to pray for us as I know you are doing.

Waiting on the plane

We can breath a sigh of relief...we made it to the airport and everyones name was spelled correctly on their ticket. We are all on the plane waiting for the safety demonstration to begin...and another youth group going to Guatemala is with us from 12 Stone church. We should be taking off at 9:50...and landing in Guatemala at 1:20ish Eastern Time.


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On the way to the airport

We are rolling along in 15 passenger vans on I-85 right now on our way to the Atlanta airport. Our group is pretty hyper and excited for it to be 6:30am. Please pray for us today as we travel to and arrive in Guatemala. Pray for the people that we will meet in Guat. City.


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