We are exactly one month away from departing to Guatemala City! A dedicated group of students and parents are traveling to Guatemala the week of Spring Break (April 6^th – 13^th, 2012) and will be partnering with Hope Renewed International (www.hoperenewedinternational.org), a local relief organization in Guatemala City.  We are very excited about this opportunity.

While in Guatemala, we will be visiting several orphanages as well as performing community outreach in the ghetto La Limonada (which translates to “squeezed lemonade”), the city dump, and a women’s prison.  Our main project will be working with a local church to build a community center in the ghetto.   We will also be bringing relief items including clothes and shoes, dental supplies, school supplies, and toys.  This trip provides an opportunity to meet the physical and spiritual needs of a community that is in desperate need. 

We are excited to be apart of the ministry and work of Ashley Williams (Twitter feed@AshleYnGuatE) who has been laboring here for sometime and allows others to be apart of it.

Check back for updates!  We depart April 6th!

“My Girl” by Heather Jarmacz

 Sadness in her eyes,

What is it she sees?

Her eyes flow,

covering her cheeks with something I can’t know.

She hides her face from all as if she thinks she is alone.

I take her in my arms; she tries to disappear.

I stroke a wet cheek and lift her sweet chin

I look into her eyes pleading ~ ‘Baby, let me in’.

Silent sobs and quivering chin it’s hard to know where to begin.

I gently rock her as if my own and give her the one thing that feels to me like home.

That sweet song sung through the years I gave to my three to replace their sad tears.

‘My Sunshine’ I sang, that is what you are.

Yet my heart sinks and my eyes swell because tomorrow you will be so far.

I cannot know what your mind will collect;

it is Christ’s love I wish to reflect.

Something was taken before you arrived.

In the womb there was struggle to keep you alive.

Praise God!

You are here; you are blessed to have Mama Carmen near.

Fragile Babe, what is your name?

My prayers are for you, just the same.

Your eyes took me in, this I can know.

For you gave me your smile in my heart you will go.

Nameless to me, to my home,

Where I wish I could call you ‘one of my own’.

Heather Jarmacz

God Moment

After one year of planning and preparing, it is hard to believe that today is our last day in Guatemala City. It has been amazing to watch a group of high school students give so generously and eagerly to the people of Guatemala. So often we think of serving and self sacrifice as an obligation and something that we “should do”. What I saw in the students and adult leaders as they served and gave generously of themselves was pure joy. I would like to thank all of the parents for allowing your children to serve with me in Guatemala. Each day I have given thanks to God for every person on this team and their unique contribution to this mission trip and their willingness to go where God has lead them.

One lesson that I was reminded of this trip is that things don’t always go the way we plan. That God uses all situations for his glory. We needed to change “our” schedule because of an unexpected illness. Through that one change we were able to visit with prisoners during Holy Week who have never received visitors. One woman shared that just the night before she had cried herself to sleep because she thought God had forgotten about her because no one had ever visited her in prison. Because of that one illness, our change in the schedule, she was reminded that God had not forgotten her. In addition to this woman, we had been trying to contact a company to purchase water filters to distribute in the dump. Many businesses close for Holy Week here in Guatemala and we did not think we were going to make this happen. Once again we were able to experience a “God Moment”. Henry and Adam “stopped by” the water filter shop and the owner of the shop just “happened” to be in checking his emails. He was able to get an employee to come in on his vacation to get us 20 water filters to distribute in the City Dump. We serve a mighty God hand He is present and working hard in Guatemala.

I have been given a message to pass on to the Guatemala Men’s Trip team. Pastor Willie needs some hard working gringos to come back for at least two weeks! If you could get a date to him, he would like to start preparing a schedule for you to build a school. He sends his thanks for all of your hard work and requested that we take pictures to show you the fruits of your labor. He also sent thanks for the donation for Julliene’s funeral. They were able to pay for 5 years rent at the cemetery and distribute Bibles in Julliene’s name.

And to Arms of Hope, Ashley has said there are many places for us to serve women and that fall would be a good time for us to come back. (The women in the ghetto continue to talk about our day spa.)

Please keep praying for us. (Especially, for good health and healing of upset stomachs as we travel home.) I look forward to sharing with all of you when we get home!

Sandy Jackson

No Se’

Tomorrow will be our last day in Guatemala, the hours we have spent here have flown by faster than anyone would have wished. Every hour of each day has been full of smiles, laughter, tears and a lot of broken spanglish. I cannot believe our week here has ended so soon, even living on “Guatemala time” has gone by fast. But I am so grateful, along with everyone else on our team to have had this opportunity to come here and give more than just our money and more than just our words. All have us having given our bodies to God to use to work in the lives of these people beyond what we believed to be our own capabilities. I came here thinking about how much we were going to help these people and what I could do to help change their lives, or make there day a little better. But I have come to find that the people here have impacted my life leagues beyond what I could ever do for them. The children in the dump who have near to nothing have shown me joy truer than any child on Christmas morning. The women in the prison, their families have left them behind yet they have more strength in their faith than I have had in and out of the trials in my life. The people we came to give hope to have given me so much hope in return and with all the Spanish I know, I have done my best to make sure they know this too.

Being surrounded by this culture we have all been forced to find new ways to communicate, even us who know some Spanish struggle through conversations when Ashley isn’t there. My Spanish has gotten better of course, my teacher will be thrilled, but all week it has been a big challenge for me. There are only a few other students on the team who know Spanish, so I have been asked over and over again “What’s she trying to ask me?”, “Can you tell him that…” or “Ask her if…” which of course I love, I want to help and am always eager to no matter what form it may be. But my four years of high school Spanish has only gotten me so far, and most of the words go right through my head. All week I have been stressful and nervous about what I am saying and if I am wrong, or what if they don’t understand me or I cant help this person talk with someone else because I don’t understand the question.

These feelings have been crawling around the back of my head all week, up until last night the team sat around and everyone shared our greatest weakness. This is what I said was mine, in the current conditions I felt like I just wasn’t able to help people as much as I wanted and it was really getting at me even though I knew it shouldn’t. But everyone was grateful for what I was doing and thought it was my greatest strength. As we went around the circle this seemed to be a pattern; what everyone thought was there greatest weakness was also their greatest strength. That is how God is working in us through this trip; He is taking us out of our comfort zones, challenging us individually in all our areas of weakness and showing us that through faith we are capable of anything. Each person on our team has brought something unique to the table, and so important we wouldn’t be able to function without it.

That’s when I realized that what I was doing was more than I thought. I realized, every time we went somewhere when I would begin to speak Spanish it would bring smiles to the faces of the children, men and women. That there was someone there who knew their language even if only a little. I have always been one to connect easily with other people and talk with them about anything, without knowing Spanish I would never have been able to use that gift God had given me. I think know about the times with the children in the dump, I was able to understand them and them me. We were able to organize games or tell jokes and I made sure everyone knew what was being said so everyone could share a laugh. But it was the visits to the prisons that I realized were the most important. I was able to connect with those women on such a deep level, that would have been uncomfortable to reach in English. One woman asked me about Christianity and if I was a believer and asked me some questions on what it means to follow Christ. It was the most incredible conversation about the Lord I have ever had. It was patchy because there were parts each of us could not understand, but the effort we both gave in understanding each other pulled me into this conversation that I didn’t want to ever end, even when it was time to go.

These women in prison are very commonly wrongly accused or in jail because their husbands or family members have been involved in gangs. No one ever comes to visit them, so for years they have been led to believe that no one even cares about them anymore. This week is the holy week in Guatemala, the ‘Semana Santa’, and it is the week everyone gets a visit. We got to go and visit with some women that haven’t had anyone come for them in over thirteen years. The woman I was assigned was a perfect fit for me; she was funny, crazy and loved to talk. I got to spend my whole evening with this wonderful women, between jumping around and helping others learn more about their own women this women, Claudia became my new best friend. She told me that her family has forgotten her and never visits. So I told her for as long as I am here, I am her family. With this she put her arm around me, pulled me close and told me, “Gracias, gracias, gracias…”. For most of the rest of the time she would not let me go, we walked around the common area where they stayed and showed me the small number of things that made up her life. Anytime we would get near other ladies she would hold me tighter.

I tried to help one woman selling bracelets add up her profit, this lady tried to put her arm around me and Claudia practically through a fit, she kept yelling “She’s mine! She’s mine, let her go!” I kept telling her compartir; you need to share. But oh no she would say, I don’t share you! So for the rest of that day, I stayed really close by and that’s when it became special for me. It was Hilary, Heather and I with our Ladies and I was the only one who spoke Spanish. I talked with Claudia and translated for the others. By the end of the day we were laughing so hard my stomach hurt. We were telling jokes, teasing and Claudia flipped out on Jamison when he took my fork. Within hours I had myself another mother that was more protective and possessive over me than… anyone else. Then all of a sudden it was time to go, and just like that it all hit me. I had become so close to someone in a matter of hours with only a number of words and now I had to leave. The thing was, I could leave and she can’t. She has to stay there for four more years, and probably wont ever get a visit again in those years, and here I am standing there realizing I am most likely never going to see her again. All it took was one look and we both understood. Our hug goodbye lasted a century, and ended with her running of in another direction telling me to wait! Ill be right back! She came back with paper and pen and I wrote down my address for her so we could write letters. The only issue is she doesn’t have money to pay for stamps, and the prison might not even let her send them out. I walked out of that prison holding back tears having a big conversation with God about how I want to be able to keep blessing this woman through all of her life.

There are about a million more things I want to say but its late, and I have rambled long enough. It is hard though; Guatemala is pretty incredible.

Goodnight, God bless, and have sweet dreams.

Katie N.

 

Student Guest Post by Olivia Eilers-”Marina”

This week in Guatemala has been many things. It has been a time for hard labor and construction work, a time for intense play with the energetic Guatemalan children, a time for listening to incredible stories from incredible people, and a time for growing closer to each other and to God. Every morning and night we spend together as a group. In the morning, we prepare for the day by studying and talking about Romans 12. At night after dinner, we gather upstairs to recap the day’s events. The last couple of days we have focused Romans 12:4-8 and discussed our gifts, our strengths and our weaknesses.

For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your[a] faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Throughout our discussions, many of us constantly agreed that communication is a great struggle. First of all, it takes courage to speak to a complete stranger. Second of all, it takes courage to attempt communicating with a person who speaks an entirely different language than you! Even though I take Spanish in school, I also constantly struggle to understand and communicate with the people here.

Today we visited the women’s prison for the second time. My first time at the prison I sat in silence; I was speechless because I had no clue how to encourage these women when I could barely speak their language. I left the prison that day frustrated because I had been afraid to speak up and worried that I had missed out on a great opportunity to connect with these women. However, God gave me a second chance.

Our plans changed spontaneously when we decided not to go to Panajachel. Instead, our group leader Ashley suggested we return to the women’s prison. I was immediately apprehensive. Once again, God was putting me in a place completely out of my comfort zone where I had had so much frustration with my inability to communicate. God had a plan for me however.

When we arrived at the prison, our group leader Ashley introduced me to a woman named Marina. Marina, I discovered, is from Colombia, which is also my birthplace. I was adopted from Colombia when I was eleven weeks old, and every year as I grow older, I have found that I long to return to Colombia and find out more about my birth family and the country and culture in which I was born. I had no idea that I would have the opportunity in Guatemala to meet a Colombian.

Despite the language barrier, I found that I could understand Marina’s Spanish and that I had enough knowledge of the language to be able to speak to her. I told her about my adoption and a little bit about my life, and I asked her questions about her life and about Colombia. Marina is 51 years old, she has no children, and her brothers, sisters, and parents live in Colombia still. She has been in prison for over 3 years and she has about 10-12 more to go. Because her family is so far away, she cannot see them. Because the Guatemalan prison system charges her money to make a call, she cannot even call and talk to her family because she has no money.

She needed someone to visit her, spend time with her, and listen to her, and I was thrilled to meet someone from the country in which I was born. She talked with me for hours, she brought me to meet the other women in the prison from Colombia, and she helped me pick out a present for my mom. By the end of the day, I felt as if I had been adopted all over again. At lunch, she made sure that I had food to eat, she yelled at the lunch ladies for not bringing my food fast enough, she demanded they make me a cantaloupe milkshake, and she even made sure that I had “salsa” (ketchup) to go with my “Papas Fritas” (French fries).

Ashley joked that we could be family, and we wouldn’t even know it! I told her that she was “Mi Madre Colombiana” (my Colombian mother). When it was time to leave, she followed me to the prison door and went as far as she could so she could say goodbye to me. Her hug and kiss goodbye was one of the tightest and one of the most meaningful I had ever felt. I went out the door, walked a little ways, and turned around to see her waving goodbye to me for as long as the prison guard allowed her to. I waved, and turned the corner to go out of the prison. And the next thing I knew, I was sobbing.

I never imagined going into that prison for the second time that I would form such a strong relationship with a stranger. I went into that prison hoping to encourage, help, and love the women, and in the end, I was the one that had been encouraged, helped, and loved. Marina was not a Christian, and yet she showed me so much compassion and love and she did not judge me. It was hard for me to leave the prison that day knowing I was leaving Marina in such a lonely sad place, and that there was a possibility that I would not see her again, It breaks my heart to think that she is alone now. I don’t know what will become of her, or if I will ever see her again, but I know God has a plan for her life. I left the prison today grateful because God helped me to use my gift of encouragement and communication in Spanish, and that he had given me the opportunity to use my gift with mi Madre Colombiana, Marina.

~Olivia

 

Approximately 23 Minutes

Today started with hot dogs for breakfast, which was surprisingly very good, regardless of the ketchup shortage. My group then made our way to the dump while the other group headed towards the prison. While Mr. H and the boys helped with construction of the community center, the girls helped with the coloring and the somewhat successful making of puppets with the kids from the dump. There was much scribbling and we found out that 24 colors in a little crayon box really produce a much larger spectrum of color.

Next, we boarded the bus with Eddy the bus driver and went to switch with the group from the prison. This is something that I was really looking forward to, as I thoroughly enjoyed the prison visitation yesterday. The visit today also proved to be just as exciting and meaningful.

What really stuck out in my mind was the fact that many of the girls in the prisons thought that us “gringos” were scared of them because of their pasts. They were so surprised when we would tell them that we were not actually terrified of their many tattoos and their gang signs. I, for one, could not even see them as scary criminals because in our conversations, they were just like us. Two girls showed us their dance moves, and others enjoyed making cool bracelets and other crafts. We painted bedroom walls together and we even played a heated soccer game together, (unfortunately the Guatemalan girls kicked our American butts.) They were just like any other young women that we might come across in the F-M/J-D/Caz school districts; they just had made some bad decisions in their lives, in many cases due to the environment they have had to grow up and live in.

After the painful loss of the “Gringos vs. Prisoners” championship fútbol game we had the opportunity to talk with one of the isolated prisoners named Dulce. Her story of restoration and her newfound freedom from drug addiction was very moving to all of us. Please pray for her strength.

We once again boarded Eddy’s bus to return to the dump. There we gave food baskets to the families of the children that we spent time with yesterday. We went into their homes and prayed with them. It was truly something that I will not forget.

After dinner we made plenty of fond and giggle-filled memories. Nineteen crazy Americans + amazing cheesecake = crazy animal noises. Katie was the horse, of course. Hanna Lee made for a pretty spectacular turtle and I had a very surprising moose interpretation. Our Guatemalan friend Alex preformed a penguin dance that had us laughing for approximately 23 minutes.
It has been a very long day and I am sure tomorrow will bring even more great things.

-Briana “Nonnie” Winslow

 

Student guest post by Hilary Masters-Day Three

Hey Eastern Hills community!

So today was our third day in Guatemala City, and by far a way more comfortable experience than the beginning of our first day. We started our day with once again a delicious breakfast of fresh fruit, yogurt and pastries given to us by one of our hosts who surprisingly is Dutch, Henk. We then had our morning devotions to which I must congratulate Ashley, she has made me stray from the American way of thought, don’t always be too wary to help and be kind.

Now the day really begins. We ventured to our bus and then to the dump. There they have started building a community center. This was where we held our little shopping session for the people. Thanks to you guys we were able to bring numerous clothing items, toothbrushes/toothpaste, toys, shoes and food. Individually handing out the items, seeing the clothes I had once worn, was very personal and heartwarming. Even though we could only give one or two clothes per group, seeing that they were so grateful was very much a learning experience.

Afterwards was McDonald’s with some of the children. Blanca, a woman living in the dump who helps out Ashley, told us which children were able to go and we were each assigned a child. I know nothing except gracias, hola and buenos. Doesn’t help much with verbal communication. But a smile goes a long way. And in this culture the people are so much more accepting, my little girl, Jessica, was smiling the whole time and what really got me was when I’m assuming her grandmother gave me a hug, thanking me for taking her.

Despite heavy traffic we made it to the prison around 2. Of course we were all a little precarious…going to a prison…who knows what could happen. Ashley of course kept the really frightening information about some of the inmates from us until after our visit. Once we’d been patted down around 3 times we were split into 3 groups. Jamison, Felicia, Carly and I were placed in the group that talked with the women who had been saved. We were placed in a room probably the size of walk-in closet. Very cramped. It was us four and about 9 other women. Ashley was off and about showing the other groups their activities, leaving us to get to know the women. Through teamwork – Carly and Felicia – communication was difficult but possible. Jamison and I were hopeless. Tone and hand motions though can keep you up with the conversation fairly well. We went through names, ages, kids, and reasons they were locked up (sadly for most it was extortion).

The interesting part then began when Ashley came back and we had a real fluent translator. Testimony time. Something I had been fearing before the trip began. The prison women went first. Many of them had been involved in activities that I’m not quite sure I can post on the internet. But what was so inspiring is that they found Jesus, while in jail. You’d think that prison would be a place of depression and sadness, but for some of these women it was a place of some protection, although most missed their children and families. Although not exactly exuberant about their situation they had accepted it, and come together. I think that by giving time off the streets was the time they needed to get to know Jesus. I gave them a condensed version of my path to God and Carly, Felicia and Jamison did the same. We all prayed together, Korean style, and I just felt so guilty but pleased at the same time. These women were praying for me. Me, a middle-class American with no drug, gang or alcohol issues to speak of. But yet I was the one who hadn’t come to accept God like they had. Just seeing that they were the ones that were more content with themselves than I was, was something I won’t ever forget

However I’ve written a lot and its getting really late. Also Jamison wants his computer back, so I’ll say Buenos Noches! And watch for tomorrows’ blog.

Dios te bendiga (God bless you),

Hilary

Student Guest Blogger Adam Jackson-Day Two

Today began with a peaceful awakening at 7…. Well at least for me. We were treated to a wonderful breakfast of Eggs and beans by the wonderful Dutch owner Hank. Ashley then led us in a bible study where we read about being a human sacrifice in Romans 12. From there we traveled by bus to watch the championship soccer game down in the ghetto. Unfortunately we lost, but that didn’t dampen our spirits. While at the game in an attempt to integrate us gringos into the Guatemalan population Ashley had me sit on rock next to a man. Unbeknownst to be, the rock was covered in soot. It took me 5 hand wipes to clean off my hands to the point where I could see the skin.

Then we were split into groups and each group went to a different job and we rotated. In my group we had Nate, Katie, and Hilary led by Heather. Our first job assignment was to go into someone’s house where they had recently had an addition, and seal the wooded walls and break down the concrete floor so new, leveler concrete could be poured. We worked on this task for about 3 hours and we were able to clear ¾ of the 10’x10’ concrete floor, and get the initial coat on all of the walls. From there we went to lunch. We were all very tired and excited to see what our next assignment was. My group’s assignment was to work on building a house for a family. Nate and I were in charge of nailing the boards in place with the help of Alex, a Guatemalan who’s house we make “home base” for the day.

We worked in some rather extreme conditions, such as being on top of a 9’ latter with one foot on the adjacent building hammering the end of a crow bar. Don’t worry, no one was hurt. While we were doing that, Heather, Hilary and Katie were treating the boards that we were going to put onto the wall frame. From there we went to go on home visits.

We were planning on going to the other side of the Ghetto, known for being more influenced by gang activity, but we were forced to change our plans when on the way there when we ran into some drunk guys, and someone known throughout the ghetto for assault. We got out of there rather quickly back to the “safe” side of the ghetto and sat in the home of Salvador, a man whose house collapsed and we were sealing the recently rebuilt portion. Everything turned out alright, the only problem is that we couldn’t go to the house that we originally planed on going to, and rather went to a few other houses.

The first house we went to was the sister of a friend of Ashley who was accused of a crime, and sent to jail for 30 years. Another house we went to was that of a women whose husband cheated on her and she kicked him out. In the final house we visited a family, and they told us the story of how God put an end to the domestic abuse in their family. After that we went to play with a bunch of the ghetto kids, and enjoyed playing games with them such as “finger jousting” and having thumb wars.

After, we went back to Alex’s house and heard his testimony about how he came to see God, and the effects that God had on his life. This was one of the most interesting, and amazing times of the day, because we learned of the hardships that he faced, and how he felt the hand of God guiding him along his way. After that we traveled back to Dos Lunas, and had the wonderful meal of Tacos, Nachos, and chocolate cake. That was some of the most delicious food that I have ever eaten. We then took the time to reflect on our days, and share how God impacted our lives throughout our days.

-Adam Jackson

Day One, Something Beautiful

“Something Beautiful” by Needtobreathe

Its 5am day 2 in Guatemala City and I can’t sleep. Even though I am exhausted, I can’t stop thinking about yesterday. On the plane we were talking about what we were looking forward to…and I was listening to this song “Something Beautiful” and I said I just wanted God to reveal something beautiful while we were here. I was pumped and excited, but then what may seem to some as they read, some “discouraging” and less than beautiful things happened.

One, there is not a lot of natural beauty in Guatemala City. It is like any other large urban center, busy, loud, and polluted. The landscape is dotted with ghettos that have formed. We are staying in a comfortable hotel, but in a walled complex surrounded by razor wire with armed guards at the entrance of the community.

“Man in the Suit”

We pulled up to the hotel and started to unload the bus and check in. An older Guatemalan man in a nice suit and tie walked up and offered to help the ladies with their bags. They were very thankful for his help. Then “the man in the suit” as we have named him, left, and he left with one of our female leader’s bags containing her spending money and passport. I find all this out after the fact…I did not see all of it happen…other than the man walking down the street as we approached the hotel.

When it was discovered, the owner of the hotel was furious and yelled, “he is not with me!” as he got in his van and tore after the culprit, but he got away. The local police and security were notified and a good description was given…but nothing may come of it.

As we went about our day, it was easy to see why people feel compelled to steal…because there are very few ways to financially sustain one’s self or their families.

“National Cemetery”

Then our guides from Hope Renewed International (HRI) came and took us on a tour of the city. Our first stop was the national cemetery that over looks the city dump, where the rich few own their family crypts, and the poor have to rent space in a wall. If you don’t pay the rent, then your remains are tossed over the side into the city dump. It is the largest cemetery I have ever visited. There were many young people remembered in the cemetery as a witness to the violence that wrecks this city.

“The City Dump-Something Beautiful”

I saw many beautiful things in the place that I least expected, the city dump. The dump is a busy place, where people are working hard to find their chosen treasure. Some find plastic and sort it, and sell it to a private recycling company, others cardboard, others paper products, and others anything they can find of value. We visited the community of people who live in the dump proper, and make their homes out of anything they can find, and put a tin roof on it.

We walked through the narrow dirt ally way constantly hopping over the shallow trench filled with raw sewage. We made our way to the community center that HRI is building, and where we will be spending some of our week. We met smiling kids playing with toys they have found in the dump inches from the open sewage, and we are welcomed by the community with polite greetings of “Buena’s” and “Hola’.

“The Community Center”

We come to the community center, and it is truly becoming the center of the community. There were people everywhere, all volunteers, all working together and building this thing together. We met Blanka, a women who was born and raised in the dump, lives there with her family as they work to find paper to recycle each day, and is now the volunteer that HRI entrusts to oversee the building project. Blanka gives so much credit to the grace of God for taking care of her and her community. She thanked us for being there over and over again.

It was the end of a long work day for everyone in the community, and many of them started to gather at the community center (which is basically a two story wood frame building with a poured floor at this point). Then all of a sudden they all rushed into the lower floor with a buzz and excitement in the air! I asked what was going on to one of the HRI volunteers, and they told me it was time to sign up to work on the community center for the next day, and they all want the opportunity to be apart of it…so they all rush in hoping to get a spot on the work list!

Something beautiful.

I was so overwhelmed by how little these people had, and how much they were working to improve their situation, and gave all the glory to God…and I was ready to give my life away to be apart of how God was restoring a people and a community. In my enthusiasm, I grabbed a long wooden plank, and was trying to carry it down the street, and I slipped and fell in the raw sewage, and at the same time scared the little kids with a glancing blow from the plank.

“Gringo Grace”

My feet and legs were covered in the most fowl substance I have ever encountered, I scared the kids, and made a fool out of myself…and had it all happened in the states, there would have been roaring laughter at my expense, but not here. They people were so gracious, they did not laugh, they did not get angry for endangering and scaring their children…they relieved me of my board (probably so I wouldn’t cause any more damage), and we left with smiles and waves and “hasta luego”.

 

Thank YOU Mrs. Jackson

One year ago, I sat around a table in Freedom of Espresso with a couple of women from the Arms of Hope ministry at EHBC, Sandy Jackson and Elizabeth Snow, and their hearts and passion for the mission of sharing Christ’s love in Guatemala City was contagious. It was there that we all caught a vision for a Student Community lead trip to Guatemala City.

The past year has been a journey of relying on God for resources, for the right partners in Guatemala, and for the right team to come together…mixed in with a whole lot of hard work.

Most of that hard work was done by Sandy Jackson. Without Sandy, the trip would not have happened. But she is not the only one…

Big THANK YOU’s to:

Our Eastern Hills Community for supplying almost 1200 pairs of shoes on Barefoot Sunday, and for buying countless hotdogs and pancakes!

The hundreds of financial supporters from Eastern Hills Bible Church, Berean Bible Church, friends, family, neighbors, and complete strangers that heard about what we were doing and wanted their dollars to be apart of it.

Sue Sturgeon, and her team of hot dog griller, runners, and cashiers that started the fundraising process last summer.

Dennis Murphy and Applebee’s that hosted pancake breakfasts.

Arms of Hope ministry members, who sorted those 1200 pairs of shoes, and gave us funds to take down with us to bless orphanages.

ALL the people that knitted squares so that we can help women in prison make blankets to give to their kids on Holy Week…a very big deal!

Eun Lee and her Promise Land team that organized the craft bags we will give to kids and orphans.

Coast 2 Coast screen-printing who helped us with the coolest team shirts ever!

Mark Noble and the communications staff at EHBC.

Heather Jarmacz who coordinated with:
Home Depot for their donations of gift cards that we used to purchase materials and tools for our building project…

And Veterans from www.toysforgod’skids.com who hand made wooden toys for kids and orphans.

Students who donated their Playstation games and consoles.

Ella Pipes for donating her entire stuffed animal collection ☺

Hebert family for the soccer balls…they will help us make friends quick!

Dr. Gregory Mohr, DDS for the hygiene products and t-shirts.

AWANA students who donated almost $1,000 in coin, and Jacquie Edsall who rolled it all!

Kathy Schreiber, David Blanding, Nicole Watts, Kent Gillis, and Cathy Robinson, who encouraged, coached, and supported our trip administratively along the way.

To anyone I have forgotten who gave to make this trip happen!

And to our team of students and adults for their creativity and hard work over the past 6 months!

I am overwhelmed by what God has done already and I can’t wait to see what he has planned for us this week. Stay tuned for updates!

-Jamison

 

Your Creative Best

Your Creative Best
4.16.11

“Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.”
Galatians 6:4-5 (The Message)

When I was in high school and I thought about how my friends and me would spend our Spring Break…the best ideas we had were to spend the week in Cancun or Daytona Beach. The thought of spending our week giving our lives away to people living in the ghettos of Guatemala City, or caring for orphans, never crossed our minds…much less spending the preceding 6 months spiritually and logistically preparing for said Spring Break. But that is exactly what our team has done.

Our students and adult leaders have “taken responsibility to do their creative best with their lives”…their time, talents, and treasure…for months and months in order to make this trip happen…and now here we are in Guatemala City.

I am proud of our team, in awe of the hundreds of people that have come together with their time, talents, and treasures to make the trip happen, and completely humbled that God has invited us into the restorative work He is doing in the lives of people in Guatemala through organizations like Hope Renewed International.

As we land today, I think of all the people that God has called together to make this trip happen for our team.

 

One week away…

One week from today, our team of 19 adults and students will be boarding a plane to join in the redemptive work of Guatemala City…

 

We would appreciate your prayers for:

• safe travel – to, from, and during our trip
• good health for everyone,
• that we be effective in our mission of loving God and loving other people,
• that our eyes and heart be open to God’s leading,
• that we may experience God working in a mighty way through service
• that any fears and anxieties that team members and their families are experiencing be replaced with a sense of peace that only God can give
• and for peace, comfort and smooth transitions for the family members of the team while we are away

 

Guatemala Spring Beak 2011

We are exactly one month away from departing to Guatemala City! When I say we…I mean our dedicated group of students, parents, and adults…all banding together to give our lives away for a week to the people living in poverty in Guatemala City.

 

We have partnered with “Hope Renewed International” (www.hoperenewedinternational.org), and we will be joining them and what God is doing in the lives of people who live in the Guatemala City Dump, La Limonada (one of the largest slums in Central America), the women’s prison, and children living in various orphanages. Our team will be splitting our time between these different people, as well as the building of a Community Center.

 

I am very excited to be apart of the ministry and work of Ashley Williams (Twitter feed @AshleYnGuatE) who has been laboring here for sometime and allows others to be apart of it.

 

Check back for updates! We depart April 16th!

 

Jamison Davis

When my dad came home one night last spring and told me that the plane tickets had been purchased for this trip, I didn’t know exactly how I felt. I had put off thinking about whether or not I really did want to go on the trip, and was wishing I had taken the opportunity to say no. As time went on, and meeting became more frequent I learned to accept the fact that I was going to be spending Thanksgiving week in Guatemala. When we headed off for Newark, NJ I began to feel something different. Although a large part of me wished that I would be able to stay home and hang out with my friends and family I was excited to go.

I was given the privledge of creating the name for this blog, and ‘Forever Changed’ was the first thing that came to mind. As this incredible week comes to a close I feel forever changed. I didn’t spend the week sharing the word of God with the people of Guatemala. I demonstrated the Romans 12 calling to be a living sacrifice. I never felt like a missionary, rather I felt like I was living out the desires of God through a few odd jobs. I know that the people I encountered were able to see Christ through our work. The experiences I have had leave me forever changed in the hands of the Lord. Thanksgiving is a time when we a Christians give thanks to God for all that he has given us, and I can’t think of any better way to spend that time than demonstrating what I am thankful for… The love Christ has for us. Preston

It was shocking to find out that I would be spending my Thanksgiving in a forgien country helping people I had never seen or met.  The whole thing kind of hit me in the face when we walked out into the G-mala airport terminal where I saw beggars, cripples, and other scary things I wont mention.  As this week has progressed I have found myself getting more confortable in this new setting.  It was very furfilling to help the orphens of the places we went to.  Seeing the absolute poverty these people live in has made me angry with myself.  Not in a bad way though, it has helped me realize how fortunite I am to live in a country like the US.  The most memorable experience I had was when I assisted DR. Moore in pulling 50 gross teeth from the poor people in the ghetto.  It was really cool to get to pull my first tooth.

Overall, this was an experience I will never forget.  I now appreciate everything that I have 100 times more than before.  This trip has changed my life dramatically and I think Thanksgiving tacos here are a heck of a lot better that Thanksgiving turkey in the US . Drew

I can remember when i found out that a group of dads and sons were going to Guatemala and i immediately decided that this is for me. After being here for one week I definitely know that this is for me.

This trip has opened my eyes to what  some people are living with compared to what I have it is amazing.  some of the people here eat just beans all day and everyday while I am eating eggs for breakfast and all of these differnt kinds of food for lunch and dinner.-Curtis

I went on this trip not knowing what to expect. I thought that it would be just another mission trip. I was totally wrong. It has forever changed my life.

This trip really opened up my eyes to how life really is, not the little perfect place that i call home. People down here are by the worlds standard very poor. They only have one or two pairs of clothes and many eat just beans and torillas three meals a day. Yet even though they should have nothing to be hapy they are radiating with joy. What this trip has really tought me was to worship and thank God for what he has given us, him. Tyler

After my mom going and coming back home from Guatemala, God was telling me that I needed to go to make a change. Hearing hear stories that have helped people seeing the eyes of god, to sad stories, and stories of joy showed me that I needed to experience the power of god in Guatemala. After the ladies came back to Syracuse, mostly all the husbands and other fathers of the church wanted to create a group to go down to Guatemala. After I heard that i knew this would be fun, hard, life changing experience.

After having almost 7 days in Guatemala. I did not expect the events I have seen in the past week. The event that changed my life was going to church Sunday at  Mount of Unity in Guatemala City. Seeing the joy of people around me with worshiping the Lord, and us as a group not use to the excitement of the power of the lord that the people show down in Guatemala. Even not really understanding the songs the people in the church were singing, I was crying from the power and joy of the lord. That event showed me that even in a place where people don’t have much and live in dirty homes. They still follow the lord and the lord loves them and everyone in the world as much as us. They were a lot of other events that have changed my life forever but that was the climax to my journey.  Josh

As we prepare to leave Guatemala today, I do so with mixed emotions.  I have grow to love this country and the people.  They are so humble, have so little, yet live with so much joy and  worship God with so much authenticity and passion.  Despite much work being done by those faithful followers, there is so much work to be done in the orphanges and La Limonada.  We have made a small difference in answering the cry of the orphan and meeting the needs of the poor.  It has been awesome to see God’s hand work in a mighty way during the past week.  I have come to understand that when you live without much, without a cushion, you are blessed to see God meet your needs.  It has been a humbling and life changing experience.  Thank you to Ashley for guiding us through it.  Praise be to God for making it all possible.  Jonathan

What an incredible week to be broken and humbled for the needs of the people of Guatemala. What made it even more real was to have the privilege of experiencing it with my son Preston. We both will need time to process the events of this week. But together we have shared something special that had we not made this trip would not have happened. Thank you God for using the poorest of things to allow us the experience the richest of your blessings. David

This week has been filled with so many rich experiences that I will take with me forever.  From the children running up to us at the city dump as we handed out bread and candy, to meeting Nehamiah at Mama Carmen’s orphanage, to the families we met in the ghetto of La Limonada…all were memorable.  Our guide, Ashley, showed us how to love unconditionally and let our faith lead us to serve those who have so very little.  What will stay with me most, is the incredible faith demonstrated by so many of the people we met here in Guatemala City. Peter

We began the day early up at six o’clock for morning devotions. We were reminded by Ashley from Romans 12:13 of the challenge to practice hospitality. Before the day ended the reality of that challenge would unfold as we celebrated our Thanksgiving meal with a group of ten children from the Mayan Village of Santiago.

We left Hannah’s Hope promptly at 6:30 a.m. and began the treacherous three hour journey to Panajachel. Oscar’s Indy Racing style driving in a top heavy van was a little scary. Pushing the limits of the “microbus” we continued on, many kilometers over the speed limit down the winding mountain roads. Quicker than expected, we arrived safely to the mountainous western region of Guatemala, home to the Mayan people. Panajachel was much more beautiful than any pictures could describe. For a short time, we all had to play the role of tourists, immersing ourselves in the breathtaking beauty of the volcanoes around us. After quickly dropping off bags off at Kaqchiquel Hotel we headed down to the lake to negotiate a boat ride across. Within minutes, Ashley had secured us a ride to and from the small village of Santiago for just $60 round trip. The boat was all that could be expected from a small town in Guatemala. A few fearsome team members put on lifejackets. Although they were laughed at initially, their heads were in the right place. Twenty-five minutes into a forty minute boat ride, we all heard the boat engine cut out and shut off. Ashley quickly assured us that only one other group had almost flipped, as we watched the ‘captain’ switch gas tanks. Logic would tell someone to get enough gas before you crossed the lake, but our minds were quickly devoted to shifting weight around, and prevent the boat from capsizing. On our way again, we soon docked at the small town of Santiago. Santiago is small lakeside Mayan town bustling with activity. The children of the town ran to the dock as our boat arrived trying to sell some of the traditional handmade items common to their culture. The children shouted Ashley’s name in joy as they saw her arriving with a group of gringos. Ashley is regular visitor to the town frequently, bringing mission teams with her. We were met by a young Christian Mayan man, Juan, who served as our driver while in town. We loaded our suitcases full of soccer balls and gift bags on the back of a small 1/4 ton pickup truck and all twelve of us jump up in the back standing together. It must of have been quite a seen for the town to see a bunch of gringos driving through the streets on the back of a pickup. After a short drive outside of town we turned down a dirt road that led us into a small community of Mayan families. The community is a cluster of small built wooden frame houses covered with tin roofs. The area had been destroyed back in 2005 from a mudslide and the community was still in the process of being rebuilt. The children ran to our truck with excitement. We began to hand out gift bags to all the children. The soccer balls were soon to follow and before long the area was filled with children playing soccer. We joined in playing and were on the receiving end of being taught how soccer is really suppose to be played. In the community is a man named Felipe whose life has been changed by Christ and is supported financially through Ashley’s mission work. He is testimony to God’s grace as he came out of a background of gang activity and is now following Christ. In the middle of the community sits a small yellow church building as their place of worship. Despite the conditions the small community struggles with financially there is a joy and radiance  based not on material things but on the incredible hope found in knowing Jesus Christ. As the time got close to lunch we gathered together around the truck to make out way into town for lunch.  Ashley has a tradition of inviting ten children each time she visits to go into town with her and enjoy lunch together. The opportunity for the children to go into town and eat in a restaurant is something they never get to do. It was our privilege on Thanksgiving Day to drive into town on the back of a pickup with 10 children to share a Thanksgiving lunch. We unloaded the truck in town and joined together around a large table at a restarant for a meal of chicken, rice and guacamale. Juan, our Mayan driver, led us in prayer in the Mayan dialect thanking God for His many blessings. Although separated and missing our families on this traditional American holiday of Thanksgiving, we could not have hoped for any greater way to celebrate than gathered around a table with the Mayan children sharing a meal together. The joy of the moment transcends all the worries of this life and brought perspective to all of us what is really important in life. It is a Thanksgiving we will never forget.   Following lunch we said goodbye to the children and they headed back to their home. We shopped the streets and eventually were invited into the home of our driver Juan. A simple home consisting of a single room. We met his wife and extended family. Their graciousness and hospitality was humbling to us.  We returned to an area along the lake and played more soccer before heading back across the lack to our hotel. Arriving safely back at our hotel we spent the rest of the late afternoon resting and shopping the many shops lining the streets. We joined together in town as a group for dinner and returned to our hotel for a night of rest. Weary from a busy day, we all overcome by the wonderful privilege of practing hospitality in the simplist of means but blessed beyond measure by the grace of God.

David and Preston

We woke up this morning to devotions in Romans 12. It was about being living sacrifices for the Lord.  The rest of the day we would be continually reminded of this decision.  We began by traveling to La Limonada, the getto, to help put up the tin roof at the church, Mount of  Unity, which we helped purchase 50 pieces of tin ($1,000) that will cover about half of the roof on this new church building.  We also began back filling in a wall which is up against the mountain with dirt.  The dropoff was about 15 feet.  We worked along side the pastor and other men from the church and spent the time conversing with our brothers in Christ.  They have an authentic joy and peace about them that is truly inspriational.  One man was 62 years old and worked for 4 hours straight digging without stopping while other men were climbing across the beams of the building.  The work was tiring but a true blessing.

At the same time, some of us got to see Dr. Mohr in his work. It was a long day’s work as we pulled nearly 50 teath in 3 and 1/2 hours.  One women had her last five teeth removed.  Tyler, Drew, Ashley and Preston all got to pull teath. It was a lot of fun.

After the long work every one got to eat the best steak of our lives. This meal that was fit for only a king was made special for us by the pastor and women of the church.   Despite having so little, the people in La Limonada freely give all they do have to make us feel welcome and genuinely appreciated.  Our hearts have grown to love La Limonada and we feel part of this church.  On Monday evening Dan offered words of encouragement that stirred a lot of Amen´s.  On Friday night, we have been invited back and Dave Harris will be preaching.  This church is truely our brothers in Christ.    We have lived Revelations 5 worshiping with other tounges and nations and seen a small glimpse into heaven. 

Before leaving the getto, we stopped at Sarahs home and was welcomed in.  She had been preparing for our visit much of the day.  She is a single mom of seven children.  Her dad left her at a young age, her mom died when she was 12, her husband left her, one son was shot and another son is in prison.  Despite this, she lives in thanksgiving and praising God.  Her faith was sooooo strong.  She makes about $10 per week make shampoo.  Ashley made us aware of several needs upon leaving.  That night we returned to Sarah´s home with new clothes for each of her children as well as money that amounted to over 6 months wages.  She broke down in tears as we did.  We were humbled to be the hands of Christ in helping both orphans and widows this day.

After our bellies and hearts were full we went to the dump.  It was an eye opening and humbling time.  We saw people come out of the trash itself.  People living in cardboard boxes and kids in abandon cars.   They had litterally nothing but radiated with joy.  During the time in the dump, we stopped and prayed for the people.  This was a powerful reminder of ¨To Whom much is given, much is expected.¨ 

We returned home to Hannah´s Hope to play with the children while several went back to La Limonada for more dental work and the Wednesday evening worship service. 

Tyler and Jonathan

“We have different gifts according, to the grace given us.  If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith.  If it is serving, let him serve.  If it is teaching let him teach.  If it is encouraging, let him encourage.  If it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously.  If it is leadership, let him govern diligently.  If it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.”    Romans 12  verses 6,7,8 and 9

This is the passage Ashley led us in during our morning devotions today.  How appropriate as we got ready for a second day of serving the orphanage at San Geronimo.  Unfortunately,  none of us felt particularly gifted in stucco wall repair!  We worked diligently through the white, chalky dust clouds created by our constant scrapping and chiseling of the green stucco.   At day’s end, we had made significant progress on the wall.  Some of Ashley’s friends will continue to work on the wall over the next few days with the hope of having it completed by Friday.

During the day, several of us went back to Mama Carmens to visit Nehemiah and present the additional money for his surgery to Mama Carmen’s adult daughter.   They were all very thankful and pleased as Nehemiah will finally have the abdominal surgery he so badly needs.  If all goes well, he should have the procedure completed by the end of the week.   An answer to prayer…we were able to meet a specific need of an orphan we encountered and who moved us all.  God is good.

Peter

After breaking our backs on the wall the first day, we were hardly looking forward to coming back.  But we stuck it out and worked our tails off.  Due to the hurricane of dust and green stucco I found myself with a throat full of wall residue.  Now I have a sore throat and can barely talk [thank God for cough medicine].  After a total of 16 hours on the wall, we finished with me feeling happy having  concurred my fear of heights by working 20 feet above the ground on the ladder.  Our Guatemalan friends were a big help and are fun to talk to, even if we don`t speak their language [hand signals and yes goes a long way].  When we were finished, we went back to HH for our favorite  ‘shower races’, an authentic Guatemalan meal [we have gotten our fill of rice],  and then crashed for the night.  Overall the day was hard on our delicate, soft, American hands but fulfilling in our heats after helping so many.

Drew

We started the day with devotions covering Romans 12 and John 13 discussing how Jesus washed the feet of is disciples and discussed how we are in Guatemala to be a living sacrifice.

We set out on that day to repair the playground wall at the San Geronimo orphanage. The wall was stucco finished, 15ft tall and 100ft long in need of repair due to water damage and mold.  We quickly learned that this was a day to humble ourselves and serve the orphans and nuns by doing a job they wouldn’t expect American Missionaries to do. The job was extremely tedious, we had to slowly chip off the stucco paint with a hammer and chisel creating only a small mark in the stucco with each blow of the hammer. It was a great experience to work next to our son’s and to see them work so hard serving the Orphans of San Geronimo.

We rushed back from San Geronimo, showered, ate and headed out to the Ghetto to go to church at Monte Hebron (Mountain of Unity).  We agreed that we needed to take ourselves out of our comfort zone, and this was an evening to do just that. We where the first American’s to go to Church in the Ghetto.

The pride and excitement was clear as Willy (Music Director, Deacon, Elder and Interim Pastor) greeted us and showed us around his Church and their building project (more on that later….). This service was like none other we had experienced. A 2.5 hours service with dancing and praise. The message from the Pastor was how God has blessed them all, but the inflictions in their life (debt, sickness, anger) are from the devil trying to make them look away from God (It was powerful to see how this message applied to the congregation and our group equally). The authentic passion and love for God that came out of the Church gave us all a feeling of both relief and guilt. Relief that despite extreme poverty these people are happy and God is very present, but guilt that we have so much and don’t serve with the frequency and emotion like the people of Guatemala. God is very close to them and they have no doubt. The stories and miracles that have been occurring in the Ghetto are amazing.

A typical Guatemalan in the Ghetto will make 12 dollars a day, yet they are building a new Church and have already started 10 other churches in Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua (one with over 2000 members). We expected to feel sad for these people that don’t have homes or possessions like we have, however, just the opposite feeling came over us. This wasn’t a night for us to serve the people in the Ghetto, but we where there for them to teach us a deeper meaning of praise and service.

Tomorrow we are off to finish the wall, do work on the guest house and play with the Children of Hannah’s Hope.

Curtis & Dave

Started with, what I thought would be a routine, morning at church.  Boy, were we in for an event.  As we parked in the dirt parking lot we saw hordes of worships filing into the church.  It seemed each was happier than the next, each smiling and offering our Gringo tribe “bienvinedos”.  Ashley guided us to our seats positioned in the center of approximately 2,000 worshipers.  At our seats, each “gringo” was separated by an empty seat.  This empty seat would soon by occupied by an interpreter enlisted from Ashley’s extremely large circle of Guatemalan friends.  When the music started, the worshipers (2000!) began to sing songs familiar to us, yet sang in Spanish.  The closest thing I can compare this situation to is a roller coaster.  The walk in is the clickity-clack pull up the initial hill and the sound of the song leader and two thousand Christians praising “Cristo” as the descent from the top of the first hill.  It was without a doubt one of the most moving experiences in my 41 años of life!  The words to the songs were projected on a screen above the full band and choir accompanying the music, which helped my Spanish singing skills immensely.  As I sang, the woman to my right was weeping uncontrollably giving me concern that my singing is, in fact as bad as I had feared.  It turns out that Guatemalans worship fully and without reservation, something this gringo hasn’t figured out yet.   The sermon’s message was about being sincere, honest, authentic, intentional, and patient.  These attributes were very evident in this congregation, no doubt.

Following church, the 12 amigos, Ashley and several of her friends went to a local park and ate lunch.  Sometime during lunch an impromptu soccer match broke out.  It was niños vs. los padres.  With the exception of Tyler, we must of looked pretty silly, as I haven’t played soccer since 5^th grade.  The locals seemed impressed, or at least were amused.   Once we to tired to play, or were done embarrassing ourselves we all piled back into our 15 passenger bus and drove to a park in the neighborhood of Mama Carmen’s orphanage.  Were we played with her orphans.  It was another touching moment of the day.  More soccer was played  and fun was had a the various seesaws, etc.  Once we again too tired of playing e went to Mama Carmen’s and distributed beanie babies, shoes , soccer balls, and Jerseys.  While there, the plight of a 3 year old named Nehemiah was brought to our attention.  Nehemiah’s temperature was extremely high due to an infection in his stomach.  He required surgery that would cost nearly $2,000 of which $1,000 was still needed.  We laid hands on this young boy and prayed as a group.  We were deeply moved, especially Peter who led the charge to pledge the balance of the funds the next day.  We left Mama Carmen’s and immediately began making arrangements for a wire transfer.  Later the next day, we returned to Mama Carmen’s with a check for $2,000 and Nehemiah’s surgery was arranged.

As you can see the roller coaster ride of emotions never stopped that day.  One thing was certainly  God was in charge and in the front seat of the coaster with us.

Dan

Hola!    We arrived safely to Guatemala City with our 19 bags of cargo and a few personal belongings.  The flight was uneventful and on time; thank you God.  Ashley met us promptly at the airport and we loaded our gear and donated supplies on top of a 15 passenger van driven by Oscar.  It was on the short ride to Hannah’s Hope when it became apparent that Jesus was alive and well in both Guatemala and in Ashley.  We and many others had prayed that God would bless our mission trip and it didn’t take long for those blessings to begin.  All of us will be sharing experiences of God working here, and I was asked to share this one.  On the ride I mentioned to Ashley that I had brought a few dental supplies and would happy to help relieve someone in any dental pain.  She immediately told us that she knew a young man with a bad toothache who needed a tooth extracted.  After dropping off most of the team, and our belongings, Ashley, I and a few others went to the ghetto La Limonada, the poorest, most dangerous place in Guatemala City.  As we drove down the steep, narrow streets into the heart of the ghetto I began to pray hard because I was way out of my comfort zone. Through the discomfort, not one of us felt fear. We trusted Ashley and more importantly knew that Jesus was with us.  As the streets became narrower, we crossed over a bridge looking at a river polluted with sewage and garbage. Our hearts started breaking for these people.  Walking behind Ashley through the narrow alleys we felt like disciples, walking the streets of Jerusalem with Jesus. When we arrived at this small two room house we were kindly greeted by a small family and Derwin, the young man who shook my hand and sat on the bed.  As Preston, Josh, Dan, and Dave assisted I took out the first of three teeth that were never on my schedule but were on God’s.  Two more women came forward with the same affliction.  Words cannot describe the experience of helping these people. We all knew that we had just received the first of many blessings from our Lord. About 20 people came into the house to watch the action, which probably they had not seen before.   As we walked out of the house we were surrounded by these people looking at us gringos, wondering why we were there.  As we entered Ashley’s house where she lives and ministers, we began to see how she is truly a living sacrifice allowing God to use her to transform the Ghetto.   She knows why she is here.  After only being on the ground for 2 hours we knew why we were here …….  to live out our faith  as a living sacrifice.  Please continue to pray for us ….. Forever changed,

Greg, Alex, Josh