Friday, June 3, 2011

June 2 and 3, 2011 Guatemala Construction Trip Day 4 and 5

Day 5 and 6, July 2nd and 3rd

These past two days were tough and wonderful at the same time. They were tough because we knew that our week was coming to a close and our time with the people in Guatemala was limited. On the other hand, they were both days filled with the Spirit of the Lord as we finished 5 more houses for the people in the dump.

After we finish each house, we pray for the family that lives there and each time you can see the appreciation and joy in their hearts after receiving a brand new remodeled home A few families were in tears! This past week we have seen 12 new remodeled homes for the people in Guatemala that will provide shelter for about 50+ people, and after the last two days we did not want to come home because of the houses we had seen that were still in need of roofs, walls, doors, and etc. There is still so much more work that needs to be done in the dump which makes our time here seem too short.


Wednesday evening we had time together with Pastor Saul and some of the families we had built houses for, and our time consisted of more prayer and gratification. For some reason the way that these people pray for us stirs up emotion that grips your heart. Every time we gather with them to pray, they desire to pray for us, and without understanding the words, you can feel the presence of the Lord in their words of appreciation and thankfulness. It's an overwhelming experience to be prayed for like that on a mission trip again and again. Their prayers magnify their hearts and how thankful they are for their new homes and for our group who followed a call to do what the Lord desired. I don't know if there were any salvations this year, but we most certainly know that the Lord is using and will use our time down here to change lives! The feeling of serving in this country has been more than humbling and places us down on one knee before the Lord as we return to the U.S. as servants of the King.

Thursday morning we went and finished our last homes of the week and began to clean up and clear out of the dump in Guatemala. Before we left the dump and departed to head to lunch, our group, Pastor Saul, Darwin and Ingrid gathered to pray once more for the people there. We have prayed for each family and the people here multiple times every day, but it still feels like we can do more, give more and pray more for them. Our interpreter, Ingrid, prayed and tears came to our eyes as she has a heart for us and the people in the dump. If I could bring some of these people back home to Georgia I would.  They are more of an encouragement to us than we are to them. It's funny how the Lord can do that with people like us on a trip because He knows what it is we need to see or hear so that we can further glorify His name.

I want to thank everyone who made this trip possible: families for letting their husband go for a week, Lakewood for partnering with Pastor Saul and making this opportunity possible, and the men and women on this trip for following a call and serving with their hands and feet.

In Christ, Mark Thomas

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Tuesday, May 31st, 2011 Day 3

On day three, we completed three more houses to bring our total to five. Construction is going well, and the families in the dump all know that we are here as they come out and watch us rebuild houses.

This afternoon one of our groups finished a house and gathered to pray for the family that lived in there. Instead of one of us praying for them, the woman that lived in the house just started praying for our team. She was unaware that we wanted to pray more for her. Of course most of them couldn't even understand what she was saying, but several guys said, “We didn't even know what she was saying, but you could feel that she was praying for us! It was in another language, but it was one of the best prayers I have ever heard in my life!" Our interpreter Anna Maria said that she had tears in her eyes as she listened to what they lady was praying. The lady in the home prayed for God to protect us, to send angels down, and that the Lord would meet all of our needs because we have given so much to her family. It was a different feeling to be prayed for on a mission trip but very powerful at the same time. It gave us a clear picture of how appreciative and thankful the people are here in Guatemala and their perspective on life.

The kids in the dump love to come by and play or try and talk with us. They are a joy to be around! They come by our site and interact with us, but somehow you can almost always understand what it is that they want after a few minutes of being with them. It just breaks my heart as we have learned this week that some kids have never really left the dump because it is their home, and they will probably never live anywhere else. The environment that some families grow up in at the dump has been the same for three or four generations, so the kids here are not even aware of any other way of life. Some will grow up and dig through trash and others will grow up and get involved with drugs because that is one of ways quickest ways to make money.

Tuesday evening we went to Pastor Saul's church, saw a beautiful building in the downtown area, and attended their church service along with about 45 others. We sang songs in Spanish the best we could and listened to some encouraging words from Robert Puckett on time and relationships and how they are related. After the service some of the members of the church and Pastor Saul laid hands on us and prayed for us. Again it was an unexpected moment for us as we were being prayed for again. It just shows the heart of the people here and how they are so thankful. They appreciate every bit of hard work and wanted to thank the Lord for all that we have given.

We pray and hope that tomorrow will be the same as our week has reached the middle. Pray for us that we can continue to work hard and serve where God leads.