Mackenzie Staples

      Today was our first full day in Guatemala. For the first half of the day, we went to church at Caminos. We decided to walk there. While on our way, being women, we had to stop and check out the pretty garden. Angela wanted to take a group picture, so she set her camera on a ledge and put the timer on. While on her way to make it in the picture, she slipped on a rock and fell down. When the picture took, everyones jaws were to the floor in amazement!
      When you first walk into the church, you are given a name tag with your name. They want to make you feel as comfortable as you can while you are there! For the service, the music was sang in both English and also Spanish. Then the preaching was the same way. Pastor Mike would preach in English, then Antonio would translate into Spanish. This was very interesting to witness. They don't care where you are from, or what you have done. They want to make you feel as family like as possible!
      For the second half of the day, we went and spent time in the dump. While there, we made home visits to the residents. The first house I went in was all teenagers. Their parents were at work trying to make money to support all five kids. While talking to them, we asked if they knew Jesus. None of them did, and they did not seem to interested in the idea of knowing him. Please continue to pray with us that they will feel led to come to know Jesus as their savior.
      The second house I went in was the one that left the most impact on me. We were sitting on a bed, and there was hardly any room to move. The mom, Blanca, had never accepted Jesus. She had a fiance, and also a four month old named Nicole. This was the CUTEST baby I had ever seen! While we were talking to Blanca, we asked her the same question we asked the teens: Do you know Jesus? She said no, but that she went to the women's bible study held every Thursday night. She said that she would really like to know Jesus, so she prayed the plan of salvation. The reason this left such a huge impact on me was not because she accepted Jesus. The fact that it was POURING rain outside this metal sided/roofed house did not matter to her. She was still praying at the top of her lungs to be heard, to make it know that she was accepting the best gift ever offered.
       Thank you for all the prayers you have lifted up for us. We appreciate it very much! Please continue to lift us up as we head back to the dump tomorrow to start a women's bible study with 50 ladies. Pray they will learn what they need to get out of this, and that they will start something huge in the dump. Thanks again!(: