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.