PCBC Team in Guate

At the beginning of August, the PCBC team came with Buckner to Guate! A trip more than a year in planning. It was so great to welcome members of my church to this beautiful country! I knew about half of the group already, and I made some new friends quickly.

The first couple of days we were in the capital - first we worked with girls in a government orphanage of 900 children. Not a typo. 900. It is not my favorite place, to be honest, it's a tough place to visit. But I know how much those kids need hope and how much it means that Buckner is ministering there. At the end of the long day, we visited the special needs toddlers to drop off some blankets that some PCBC members so thoughtfully made and sent. Again, not easy, but they so appreciate love and hugs, just like the rest of us. I immediately encountered a tiny little friend who could only walk while holding someone's hand - an event that I bet does not occur too often in his day - and he quickly grasped mine and took off. I took him around to visit the friends who are not so fortunate to be able to leave their beds, and at each one I said "Hola lindo! Buenas tardes! Dios te ama!" (Hi sweet child! Good afternoon! God loves you!) and put a hand on their shoulder. By about the fourth bed, I heard a tiny echo from below "Hola lindo! Buenos tardes!". My little amigo was greeting his friends too. And he continued to do so around the whole room. A sweet moment that I will not soon forget. I pray he has plenty more visitors to hold his hand and more opportunities to encourage his special friends.

Sunday was an exciting day as I took my 18 North American friends to my church here, where I am normally the only one not from Guate. My pastor here had invited Sam Silva, the pastor with our team, to preach. It was great for them to meet some of the people who have been so welcoming during my time in Guate, and I was very grateful as Sam thanked them for taking care of me all of these months. It has been such a blessing to worship and serve with the wonderful people there. In the afternoon it was off to Antigua to eat lunch and sight-see. I always enjoy taking people there for the first time - it's breathtaking!

Two mornings we worked with HELPS International, installing stoves and water filters in homes of predetermined families on the side of a mountain in Alotenango. These stoves really do change lives as they use 30% of the firewood normally required (a great expense) and the smoke is filtered through the roof (a major health hazard). It was great to meet the families and children and pray for the Lord's provision and presence in their lives. The last day we had a cumulative birthday party complete with piñata! The mayor of the town came too and gave each team member a certificate of thanks.

Constructing the Onil stove 

Party!

We spent a full day at a new Buckner church partner in Alotenango - ministering to children and families through sermon, testimony, and VBS. In the morning we had about 125, and in the afternoon....425. Word gets out in a small town in Guate too! I pray that many doors are opened for the church there and for the sweet pastor who cares so much for his pueblo.

We also ministered to two local schools in partnership with the Buckner Community Transformation Center in Jocotenango. We had Vacation Bible School and plenty of soccer. I enjoyed meeting many kids who are receiving classes, health services, and family support from the CTC there.

On our last day we headed back to the city - to my CTC! We spent the afternoon with 60 of my favorite kiddos on the planet! It was so good to see them after a few days away from classes. The group had songs, stories, crafts, candy, and, of course, soccer. An impromptu limbo game even broke out using a large tree branch! I'm glad the team got to meet some of my little loves.

I sent them off on a plane at 5am the next morning - tired and thankful for such a wonderful week. I pray that lives were changed - here and at home, seeds were planted, others were watered and that the team never forgets their faithful service here.

Matthew 9:37-38

Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Psalm 57:9-10
I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;
    I will sing of you among the peoples.     
For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

Ready for some futbol?

Over a month without blogging?? Sorry :/ asi es la vida.... My second team from Park Cities came at the end of March. They ministered to Jocotenango, more or less a suburb of Antigua, to lead a soccer camp in partnership with the Buckner Community Transformation Center that is located there. The team rented out part of a local soccer complex called Jocofut. It was a treat for the kids, as they came from nearby schools during the day and the camp counted as their gym time for the week, and many will never have a 'camp' experience of any kind.

The team was made up of Damon Berry, Minister of Sports Outreach, Roddy Willis, Assistant Minister of Sports Outreach, Chris Dell, and Scott Balo. They had prepared a great week of activities despite their small numbers. We had one group of kids in the morning and another in the afternoon. Each group also had lunch provided for them. I was the Buckner representative and was in charge of the schedule and the finances.

The guys began each day with warm-ups and drills, then scrimmages and other fun games for practice. Next came the much needed water break, Bible story, and break-out discussion groups. They even prepared skits for a couple of the stories - the prodigal son skit was priceless, and the kids really enjoyed it. It was great to see the guys imparting Bible truths to such large numbers of kids, as the groups varied day to day - I believe over 350 kids passed through the camp by the end of the week!

I got to spend some time with some of the younger girls, and I loved that about 10 minutes into our scrimmage they asked "Can we go play in the shade?". My kind of team!! So a little duck, duck, goose was in order (or more accurately - pato, pato, gonso!).

We also got a special visit one day from the PCBC pastors (Jeff, Miller, Brandon, and Randy) who were in Guatemala to visit many of our ministry partners - it was so great to spend the afternoon with them and talk about their vision for ministry in Guatemala! I am so thankful for their support!

The last day of camp we had a big pizza party to end the day. Each group received something from the team - the young kids got Upward basketball jerseys, the middle group received PCBC t-shirts, and the oldest kids each got to take home one of the soccer balls that we had been using during the week. PCBC bought the balls from a great site that has the gospel printed on the balls in spanish - themissionball.com. Awesome idea.

On our free day we ventured back to my favorite spot, Finca Filadelfia, to take the coffee tour and relax. Then we headed to the market and out to dinner with our great team of translators! They were really so helpful, we were blessed to have them.

I had so much fun getting to know these guys, seeing their heart for loving on the kids of Guatemala and sharing Jesus' love with them daily, and discussing missions and the church. I hope many more are inspired by these men who gave up a week of work and family to come show love to the least of these - I know they left an impression that will last.

Verse for the week - Luke 15:7
I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

This is love.

1 John 4:9-11 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

So I had been excited for quite awhile when my good friend and Buckner employee, Brynn Anderson, told me she would be leading a group to Guate at the beginning of 2012. We have both been serving with Buckner for some time, but never together. Then another good PCBC friend, LeeAnne, told me she was coming here with a dental team. And just a few weeks ago, 2 women from PCBC who have taught me a ton about serving, Karen and Susan, wrote to let me know they would be in Guate soon. Imagine my surprise and excitement when my slooowww mind realized they were all coming on the same trip!! And to top it all off - what was the focus of their visit? The Los Cerritos CTC! They were coming to love on MY kiddos! I love when the Lord's plans become so clear to us - even to those of us who take awhile to catch on ;)

Brynn & I

The team arrived on Tuesday the 21st and I met up with them Wednesday morning at Los Cerritos. It was so wonderful to see so many familiar faces and meet new people who had come to ready to serve. I was so impressed with their organization and focus. The theme of the trip was 'Your body is a temple' and all of the activities revolved around health and hygiene - information that is definitely lacking in many parts of Guatemala. It may seem strange, but there are many children/families who don't know how much impact proper hygiene can have on their lives. And when you don't have access to appropriate medical care, this knowledge really can make all the difference. The team came with lessons on germs and hand-washing, avoiding spreading illness, bathing and hair care, teeth brushing and care, and healthy eating. All of these were tied to the truth that the Lord cares for you and created you perfectly and you need to care for yourself. What a way to impact those kids now and for eternity!

Theme Banner

Healthy snacks only!

Bible story

Cliff-side tooth brushing

Sonrisa!

Healthy teeth

Shiny and clean!

Free professional haircuts!!

On Friday, dentist Dr. Bill Sadler and his hygienist, my friend LeeAnne, arrived at the CTC with portable dental chairs, cleaning tools, and syringes and anesthetic. And where did they set up? My classroom! They worked from 8 to 3:30 cleaning, correcting, and pulling (!) teeth, along with Cynthia, the head of health services for Buckner Dallas. What a blessing to this community - free dental care from an amazing Christian man for families who have almost no access! I was so impressed with the upbeat attitude of them all, even though many of the cases they saw were severe. They repeated this process Saturday at the Jocotenango CTC. And then, after a full day of work, Dr. Sadler led us all in devotion and song on the bus back to the hotel! "His eye is on the sparrow and I know he watches me...". Even I got to be a small part of the dental clinic, painting fluoride on children's teeth to seal them from plaque. Some women from the community helped us out with this - what a neat experience to watch them serving in their own neighborhood! It was also great to meet Eric, who has started a company that is the "TOMS of toothbrushes" - buy one and give one to a child in need. Check out his website and help send toothbrushes to children around the world: http://smilesquared.com/mission

Team Fluoride 

LeeAnne hard at work

Dr. Sadler & team

Watch out, kids!

During those 4 days, as I walked around and saw the smiling faces of my students (and their mothers), and I saw the team members giving hugs, holding hands, making crafts, brushing teeth, cutting hair, washing hands, sharing snacks, and smiling, I just kept having one thought in my head - This is Love.

Thank you to the team for leaving jobs and family for a week to love others as you have been loved - may He bless you abundantly! I hope more and more people like you are able to experience the joys of serving for Him in Guatemala!