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.

Escuelita Biblica

I have been attending a CAM church here in nearby Mixco, called Camino de Vida (the way of life). The people that I have met there are so genuine and were so welcoming from the start. And yes, the whole service is in Spanish. So great that I can attend and understand now, I am very thankful for that.

A couple of weeks ago they held their annual Escuelita Biblica, or Vacation Bible School, because school vacations here are in November and December, with the new school year beginning in January. I was grateful to be asked to participate, and the timing was perfect, as it began in the afternoon after my Spanish classes were over. The church is in the middle of a neighborhood, and I loved the idea that the children who lived in the surrounding area could attend even if they weren't church members.

The church had such a great curriculum that they were using - each day was a letter of the word "Jesus" and stood for a word that describes the character of Jesus, such as justice, friendship, service, etc. Each day also had a memory verse and a Bible story about Jesus that were the focus of the day. It was so great to watch the church staff pour into the kids and be a small part of what they were doing. Mostly I was the teacher's aide for the class of 4-7 year olds. They were all super cute (and energetic) and I enjoyed getting to know them and encouraging them daily.

On Saturday the church had an activity where they invited all of the families of the children to come and see a performance and hear what the children had been learning throughout the week. Then we took the children downstairs for a mini-celebration while the gospel was presented to the parents upstairs. A friend of mine's mom accepted Christ as her savior for the first time! It is amazing to me that the Lord can use VBS to call even parents to himself. What a great week. I pray that the seeds that were planted will continue to grow and that the children will continue to have people in their lives who remind them of God's great love for them.

I loved spending the week loving on God's children and am praying for continued opportunities to do so here. There are so many people who need to hear the message of a love that's unconditional. Please pray that I am able to continue to bring that message and for hearts to be receptive to receiving it.

John 15:15-17
I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other.