Heading Home

Well, here we are. We’re back from the Atitlan region in Guatemala City and I am sitting downstairs on the couch, trying to find some way to sum up our trip into a nice little package for you. I feel blessed and thankful that so very little went “wrong” on this trip and so much went “right.”

Yesterday was a travel day. We got up in the morning and enjoyed breakfast together and headed out on a boat trip on Lake Atitlan before we boarded a bus for the 4 hour trip back to Guatemala City. The lake and the mountains were beautiful. The weather was perfect. We all stand much more amazed of God’s creation than we did before we came. I understand a little bit better now what the Father means when he says that “even the rocks cry out” to him. They truly do. He will have the glory due his name.

You know the team unity that we’ve been having you pray for? God has been faithful in answering as we felt he would be. I firmly believe that I can speak for the whole of the team in saying that each of us feels a special bond in Christ towards the other. It really is pretty astounding to me what little bickering went on between our team. I think at some point during our trip I heard every one of our members mention how well we “gel” together. That in and of itself is a success. The Lord has called us to love one another and to fight that fight well is a product of your faithful prayers. Thank you :-)

I just want to take a moment and share a passage that has been on my heart during this trip; actually it has been on my heart for quite some time.

“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters, and you who have no money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.”

He has invited each of us to a feast, not one of abounding food, but of things much greater. He has invited us to have delight in our souls, delight that comes from Him, our Father. I believe that God had a specific place in His heart for the Guatemalan people when he breathed these words through His prophet Isaiah. He knows that many people who read this are thirsty. They have no money, their feet are cracked, and their bodies are tired. Their bodies are tired from the hard labor they do to scrape up barely enough money to provide for their families. And yet God has promised them that they will not be hungry or thirsty, that he will provide for them in an even better way and that perhaps they have the opportunity to know a great God better because the wool of materialism hasn’t been pulled over their beautiful eyes. Their eyes will see God, because his promise to them is faithful. Their hearts will know Him because He has shown them much, much love. Honestly, I have never felt more sure than I do right now that God will redeem the lives of those who suffer injustice, that He really does have a plan to prosper them and not to harm them. I believe that His will will be accomplished whether or not my team or I is obedient to it. However, it is my joy and prayer that we would be involved because we are a chosen people who God intends and desires to use. If you are reading this blog, you have been used by Him for a great purpose. Please don’t think you have only done something small and take my word that I have seen from the faces of the people we have been able to serve that what you have done is incredibly big.

Further in the passage it is says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven and to not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread to the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

It really does not get much more beautiful than this. I have been learning, on this trip, and in the past year that God does not allow anything to happen without being filtered through His heart of love. Not only that, He uses everything that happens to His people for good. The rain and the snow…the good things and the bad things that have happened to these people, He has promised that He will not allow any of these to fall to the ground without serving to the water the ground, his people, and make making them flourish.

I have much more to say but let me just tell you one more thing for now. I want you to know how beautiful the people that you have supported to go on this trip are. I assume that you know this because you have chosen to give in order that they may go. I encourage you to delve even deeper into their lives. You will see Christ in each one of them; I have.

Love,
Michelle

P.S…. Our last morning started with a guys team ambush of our fearless leader, Juandi. However much to our disappointment, he screamed like a girl repeatedly shouting “Seriously, guys. Seriously.” But the baby powder mixed with his daily use of Secret deodorant (yes that Secret, “tough enough for a man, but made for a woman”) left him smelling fresh by the time it was all done. :-)

Last Day of VBS

Hey lovely people,

I only have about five minutes to type. Today was a really fruitful day. The houses we're woring on in the morning are coming a long really nicely. This is what it looks like...we're so proud for them and their new home :-).

We'll be going back to do some more construction in the morning; hopefully we'll have it basically done.

Today was our third and last day of VBS. The kids were very attentive (as much as you could expect :-) ). We told the story of Joseph that we shared with the orphans that first day.
After the VBS we were able to do the Happy Feet. Thank you to all of you who provided shoes!! We were able to give out about 300 pairs of shoes. Some of the kids have never had a pair of shoes. It was such a blessing.

Sorry this blog is so short! I will try and update again tomorrow. Thank you for praying so faithfully! Continue to pray for our health. Everyone who has been feeling sick has seemed to recover quickly. Haley is feeling better but now Juandi isn't feeling so hott. Pray our tummies stay healthy :-).
More later!! Michelle

Construction and VBS Day 2!

Hey friends of mine,


I am excited to find a few minutes to sit down and tell you how today went. I'm currently fighting my ADD with all my sweet teamates around me. For those of you who know me, that might gilve you a good laugh :-).


Today was a great day. It was our second day doing constuction and VBS. At the constuction site I went to, we were able to almost finish one entire wall. I have personally found it so rewarding to work so hard for something I know will one day become the home of a wonderful guatemalan family. I think each of us sensed the beauty He bestows in those who serve him. It reminds me of a verse Juandi shared today:

"How Beautiful are the Feet of those who bring good news, proclaim peace, bring glad tidings of good things, proclaim salvation, and proclaim to Zion, "Your God reigns!"

Each and every one of you are included in this group. You are beautiful to Him regardless of whether or not you choose to serve Him. However, choosing to serve Him is choosing to embrace who He says you already are. Our team is so thankful that you have chosen to do just that. I assure you that He is working here!

We continued doing VBS today. However, we went to a different area and were able to share His love with a different group of kids. It was both rewarding and beautiful to see their faces and hear them praising our God!
Please continue to pray for us!

Pray for Haley. She seems to be having the same stomch issues that Robby and Matt had. The guys are feeling much better, but please pray for Haley. She has been such an awesome asset to our team and I know for sure God is going to continue to use her.

Pray for tomorrow. It will be our last day of VBS with our last group of kids. Pray that we would continue to learn how to express the love of Christ though our actions.
And lastly, something has been pressing my heart. I am certain that God wants to use the prayers of people our team may not be expecting to pray. He already has. Pray that those who have been crippled by fear, pain or pride would be lifted from their burdens that they may petition to the One who listen, the one who loves, the one who cares...
Can't wait to see yall in a few days!

Love,

Michelle

Second Day at Orphanage

I can’t believe we’re already 5 days in! The trip thus far has been eye-opening, enjoyable and growing. The remainder of our trip we will be in the Atitland region both doing construction and organizing a VBS for kids in the region.

We left Antigua late New Years afternoon to head back to where we have been staying in Guatemala City with Tony and Andrea. Last night we spent the evening there packing up our bags for the 5 hour trip to the Atitland region.

We had an awesome worship time together last night, a perfect breath of fresh air.
Shannon talked to us about breathing in the peaceful air of Christ, the one who gave us the breath of life. He reminded us that God is the one who gave us the ability to live and breathe. He shared Genesis 2:7: “So the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living being.” He told us to keep in mind that the only reason we have breath in the first place is because our might God gave it to us. He also reminded that since it was our might God who has given us breath, that this breath is sacred, holy, and full of peace. He encouraged us to grant ourselves moments during the day to breathe in deep and drink in who God is.

We did just that.

Each of us took a few minutes to communicate to one another what the Lord is stirring in our hearts during the trip. I found each and everyone’s answers encouraging. There were common themes in what each of us said. All of us bragged on one another and how well each of us gets along. Thank you for your prayers for team unity. We seem to all be enjoying each other’s presence. I feel I’m making lasting friendships; what a blessing…an awesome gift from God. It reminds me of what Robby and Ben shared with the kids from the orphanage our second day here in Guatemala. If you remember me sharing, they talked about how the body of Christ is meant to be a family, one with many different members with varying personalities and gifts. We are finding and seeing the beauty in what that means. A lot of us also talked about how the children from the orphanage’s joy was so apparent and how greatly that ministered to us. Each of the kids were ecstatic to spend time with us. One woman told us that one of the children couldn’t not even sleep the night before in anticipation. The time we spend with the kids was so meaningful to them. It showed us that God’s intention for the life of his children is one full of “love, joy, peace…” These are things we had the privilege of seeing in these kids.

Yesterday was mostly a travel day. It took 5 hours of driving down long, meandering roads to get here. It is absolutely beautiful here. Our motel is right off the lake. I will post pictures soon J. When we arrived, the pastor we’ll be working with the remainder of the time showed us where we’ll be eating our meals and explained that we will be doing construction in the mornings and VBS in the afternoons.

We’ll be heading out for breakfast in about an hour before starting our day. Here are some things you can be praying for:

Continue to pray we would stay healthy. Robby was not feeling well yesterday

Pray for energy and that the love of Christ would shine from us to the people around us.

Love!

Michelle

First Day of VBS!

Hola from Belynn and Stephanie! We woke up on Sunday bright and early to begin our first day of construction and VBS. First of all, let me just describe how incredible the view is here in Lake Atitlan. It is unfathomable to think that anyone could look at this view and not acknowledge that there is a God. Words or pictures cannot describe the magnificence of His creation. After being stuffed with a delicious Guatemalan breakfast, our team was split up into 2 groups in order to build a house at two different locations. The size of the houses were literally comparable to a small college dorm room. This is supposed to house a full family. It made each one of us grateful for our own living conditions back home. Our first order of business was to sift through dirt in order to mix cement to make concrete. Making this from scratch opened our eyes to the difficulty of this kind of manual labor. Although we had an idea of the type of construction we would be taking part in, the gravity of the living situation was still shocking. We worked half the day making concrete and stacking cinder blocks.


After eating lunch at the church children began to pour into the sanctuary and we began VBS. We talked about being adopted into God’s family and the love He has for us as His sons and daughters. We spent the remainder of our time interacting and loving on the children. Even though there was a language barrier we were still able to communicate through smiles, games, hugging and time! Our objective was to help these children, but we felt they gave more to us than we could give to them. Our time with them was an eternal blessing!