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!

Los Cerritos

Also in January, a prayer request was answered that I had been praying about for awhile. Once we determined that I was only needed 2 days at CAG, I wasn't sure where else the Lord wanted me to serve during my time here. While there are a lot of opportunities and plenty of need, transportation presents quite the problem, and many of my contacts have ministries an hour away or more. Not the best use of time or gasoline. I asked our missions pastor what he thought about me partnering directly with Buckner International during my time here and he agreed it would be a great place to check into. One of their Community Transformation Centers is about 25-40 minutes from here (depends on the traffic). A CTC "is a central hub where children and families can receive social services, food, education, job training and build lasting relationships," and Buckner has 3 in Guatemala. They were born out of the idea of stopping the cycle that creates so many social orphans here. I met with the Buckner staff and they had been looking for someone to continue the children's ESL classes that they had last year at their Los Cerritos site, and it all seemed to fall into place.

Los Cerritos is a neighborhood located just off Puente Incienso - a 6-lane bridge that I read is the highest in Central America. The exit for the CTC is the last one on the bridge and then the buildings are right there on the side, with tons of tiny homes going up and down the sides of the ravine. It also has the unfortunate nickname of the 'suicide bridge' - I'm guessing that one doesn't need explanation.

It is run daily by 3 staff members - Patricia, the director, Karen, her assistant, and Christian, the doctor. They have been so kind and helpful since I started.

Front of CTC

Mi clase!

 I have 6 classes each day - which has thoroughly reinforced that I was not cut out to be a 'real' teacher. I really don't know how you all do it - repeating the same information over and over to various groups of kids who may or may not be paying attention. I get so tired! And sometimes my Spanish doesn't quite cut it; luckily they are patient with me. But I am really enjoying getting to know the kids and watching as they put their trust in me a little more each day. I know many of them have home lives in disarray and the CTC is a place of rest and peace. I also like that they are participating in such a positive extra-cirricular activity that can only help with their English classes at school and with their futures. And we have fun while doing it! You should see a room full of them playing "paper, rock, scissors"!

The 50+ students range in age from 4 to 15, so I have quite the adjustment when it comes to planning. I use the lesson plans from the last teacher as well as the internet and try to make the lessons interactive and fun. So far we have been having a new lesson on Monday and Wednesday and on Friday we review and read a story from a children's Bible, which I use as the basis for new vocabulary. For example, last Friday's topic was "In His Image" and we learned names for body parts. I want the kids to know the reason that I'm here, the reason that I'm teaching, and the source of the love that I'm able to share with them. I look forward to getting to know them more and being a person in their life that they can trust loves and cares for them.

Carmencita 

Junior

Ana, Estrella, Sharon

Julio

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,  that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
John 17:20-23

Something new

New year, new house, new job, new roommate...I have been busy! After the new year I moved to a little casita behind some other CAM missionaries. It is in a smaller, more closely guarded neighborhood and has some upgraded amenities - like a door to the bathroom and a water heater - woohoo! My CAM roommate also came the first week of January. Her name is Sarah and we had met before at a CAM conference in Dallas. She is from outside of Austin and is teaching 1st grade full time at CAG where I do speech therapy. We've only got one bedroom and one bathroom, but we're working it out.

Living room

Kitchen

Front door

View from the gate :)

Also in January, my parents were supposed to be coming to visit me. I was really looking forward to it after spending the holidays apart, but my mom tore her knee over Christmas and the doctor said that she needed repair surgery right away. We were all upset but knew it was the the best thing for her to get on the road to recovery. So, since I had already scheduled vacation during that time, we decided that I would make a quick trip home, to help my mom and see the rest of my family. It was such a blessing to see close friends and family and attend PCBC on Sunday. I was only home for 10 days but time filled with people that you love sure is refreshing for the soul. I am so thankful for the support that I have from so many. It was a super-quick trip, and I spent most of it with my parents, so if I didn't get to see you, I hope that I will get to the next time.

Good friends

More good friends 

Mi amiga Paulina

Before I left for that trip, I got to participate in the engagement of a dear friend, Allison, who I met here in Guatemala in 2010. She is from Illinois and has been dating Nino long-distance for some time and was coming to visit him on her vacation. He asked me and another friend to be part of the surprise - it was so fun to be part of their important event, and as you can see it was a beautiful evening.

I have started doing speech therapy (in English, of course) 2 days per week at CAG, the school for children of missionaries. I have 16 kids that I see in groups of one to two twice a week - it is definitely a busy day! It is also interesting to do therapy without a shelf full of books or 4 great speech pathologists right outside my office door, but I'm learning, and the internet is a great tool to find helpful resources. I enjoy my time with the kids and the knowledge that by serving these kids, I'm serving their families and their ministries too. And it is about 4 minutes from my house and has a gorgeous campus! I will take some pics of it sometime soon.

Thank you for your continued support and prayers - even though I've been here 4 months, the adjustment continues and I am continually learning more about ministry and about myself and how to truly depend on the Lord to provide all that I need.

Psalm 91: 1-2
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”

Thy hand hath provided

Christmas in a foreign country - sounds glamorous right? I thought so too. And for awhile it was - new places, new people, new traditions, Christmas carols in Spanish. Tamales and ponche. Tamales and ponche again. And again. Then the holiday nears and suddenly everyone is with their families and you're not. I'm sure plenty of people have experienced this - it's just hard to know how it will feel until you're in the middle of it. I was instantly very thankful for years of love and family at Christmas. And honestly, because I'm obsessed with Christmas movies, I kept thinking of that scene in Home Alone where Kevin prays to have his family back after all the action has died down. Christmas without your family is difficult, so no matter how normal or how crazy they may be, be thankful that you have them.

Paseo Cayala in the city

I had thought there would be more opportunities for ministry – but it turns out that most of the missionaries that I know here headed to the states, to be with their families too. Now I see why. And even more headed out of the city to other parts of the country to get away for awhile. Having only been here 2.5 months, doesn’t leave a lot of contacts.

But just when I thought hope was lost, and that I might spend Christmas alone, watching Elf for the third time by my tiny tree, the Lord reminded me yet again that He’s always with me and knows my needs before I do… Friends from my church invited me to go to dinner in Antigua with them. My friend Oscar took me to hear his dad preach at a beautiful Christmas service, full of great worship. Friends at the Christmas Eve service at my church told me they were praying for me and that I had a family there while I am away from home. My friend David asked me to watch the fireworks with his family at midnight on Christmas Eve. And my friend Berta invited me to spend Christmas Day (and the next couple of days) with her whole family at her home. Oh how the Lord provides. I’m so grateful that He cares for me, even when I doubt. I know from now on I will look out even more for those who need a temporary ‘home’ when away from family and friends, to show them the love that was shown to me. And I encourage you to do the same. What a great example of the fellowship we have in Christ.

Church with the Avilas

Antigua at night

Friends from church

Christmas Eve Service

Me & Berta

I did get to help a little bit with one ministry – a Christmas Eve dinner at Casita Benjamin (where I worked last summer) for families here near the city dump. A youth group sang carols and did a drama of the Christmas story for the kids. Then, of course, there were tamales and ponche for all. Next came presents for the kids and baskets of food for the parents. It was a blessing to bless others on such a special day, especially knowing they would have gone without those things otherwise. It was definitely good for me to spend the time thinking about serving others when I was missing home so much.

I pray that all of you had a blessed Christmas season – full of the things that really matter. I am so thankful to a Lord who sent His son to us so we never have to be alone.

And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19

Feliz Navidad: Christ is come

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
  and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
Luke 2:8-14

Feliz Navidad a todos!

En esa misma región había unos pastores que pasaban la noche en el campo, turnándose para cuidar sus rebaños. Sucedió que un ángel del Señor se les apareció. La gloria del Señor los envolvió en su luz, y se llenaron de temor. Pero el ángel les dijo: No tengan miedo. Miren que les traigo buenas noticias que serán motivo de mucha alegría para todo el pueblo. Hoy les ha nacido en la ciudad de David un Salvador, que es Cristo el Señor. Esto les servirá de señal: Encontrarán a un niño envuelto en pañales y acostado en un pesebre.

 De repente apareció una multitud de ángeles del cielo, que alababan a Dios y decían:

  "Gloria a Dios en las alturas, 

   y en la tierra paz a los que gozan de su buena voluntad."

Lucas 2:8-14

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

http://youtu.be/MyRzsX6c8V8
You Are The Light

A visit and an event

I had 2 visitors at the beginning of the month and I was quite excited to see them! PCBC's Missions Minister, Brandon Boyd, and the leader of the Guatemala committee, Randy Perry, came to visit me and to consult with ministry partners. It was so nice to see familiar faces! They had a lot to do in 2 days. They picked me up early the first day with some members of the staff of Buckner International and we drove through Antigua to Jocotenango to visit the Community Transformation Center that we partner with there. It has medical care, social workers, computer classes, and job skills training, with the goal being to strengthen the family unit as a whole. Next we drove up the mountain to Alotenango to see the satellite site where they are offering care to even more people from the community. We returned to Antigua for a great lunch and then drove back to the city and discussed plans for the following day. On that day we visited various ministry sites in the city and also ate lunch with the Glicks, my CAM missionary contacts. I enjoyed the fact that people on both sides of my mission were getting to meet each other and discuss the needs in Guatemala.

Another happy part of their visit was that they brought 2 bags with them that I packed before I left! I only brought 2 suitcases when I first arrived and it sure didn't seem like much when I unpacked them in my apartment. I am thankful to have more clothes and shoes and toiletries that are expensive to buy here. And my mom threw in some goodies like a can of pumpkin and Hershey's cocoa! It's the little things that make it feel like home, right?

The following Friday I participated in a large event with a ministry here called The Potter's House, or Casa del Alfarero. My good friend Berta works there and invited me to participate.Their office is right next to the city dump here, which is about the size of 12 football fields, and hundreds of people sift through the trash to find items to sell and to recycle, making about $2 per day. The goal of their programs is to remind the people that they are not trash, they are God's treasures, and to holistically help them towards a better future. This was one of 2 big events they are having during the Christmas season and took about 3 months of planning and donations. I arrived at 7:30am and was promptly placed in the back of a pick up truck and driven into the dump. I had visited nearby before, but Potter's House is one of few organizations granted permission to enter. We were dropped off in the canyon-like pit next to stacks and stacks of old cars and a huge mound of presidential campaign signs. Ironic how important those were just a month ago, and now they lie there in a torn-up heap. The organization had set up hundreds of folding chairs, a make-shift stage, and an area of tables for food.

My first task was to help unload 1200 bags of 'vivires', or food staples, from vans and pick ups. They were wrapped in brightly colored red and green bags and tied with string. Inside were beans, rice, sugar, etc. Next we counted and organized the snack for the day - a sandwich, pastry, and juicebox. There were just under 100 volunteers; I believe I was the only norteamericana. Soon the workers began to come and sit in the plastic chairs as the CDA staff ran around finishing the details. A preacher from a nearby church gave the message for the day - like I said, that they are treasures in God's eyes, not trash, and that he loves them no matter where they are. As I counted sandwiches, I wondered when the last time was that many of them had heard that message. He reminded them of the real meaning of Christmas, that we have a savior that came to earth to die for all of us, before we were even born. Afterwards he invited them to the front to pray. Many came forward and many cried as the CDA staff surrounded them. It was our turn next. The workers made two lines with the help of the staff and we handed each person a snack and a bag of goods, saying "Dios te bendiga y feliz navidad" - God bless you and merry Christmas. And they hurried over the hill back to their jobs - many afraid to miss an hour of work because time is money in the dump as it is everywhere else. When all was said and done, over 1100 people were served that day, just under the number that they had prepared for. I'm grateful to the Lord for His provisions.

I stayed afterwards for lunch with my friend and her co-workers. It was a blessing to listen to them discuss the fruit of their labor and how each one was impacted differently by the events of the day, whether in front or behind the scenes. For me, it was such a reminder of how we are called to love our neighbor and of the hope that comes only through Christ. Without CDA, those families wouldn't have that bag of food. They wouldn't have been reminded that God loves them and that the people of CDA do too. And they certainly wouldn't have heard the message that they are valued in the eyes of Christ, even if often they are not in the eyes of the world. I pray that you and I remember, in the Christmas season and beyond, that "God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us"(Romans 5:8). All of us. That's the message of the season, that kind of love. And I pray that we all take the time to pass it on.

Cristo ha venido! Christ has come!

John 13:34-35

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

(Photos compliments of Casa del Alfarero)