Today we started the day at breakfast sharing scripture and preparing for another day of serving in Guatemala. After breakfast we headed up the the mountains along with Julia and Juandi's team to Santa Clara. The ride up there, the view was completely amazing. The mountains and the lakes are completely picturesque. It doesn't even feel real that we are actually in Guatemala and surrounded by such beauty. As we arrived in Santa Clara, we had to get off the bus and cram into a van to to to the school in Santa Clara. As we drove up the hill to the school, the children ran out of the school in such excitement to see us. We conducted a field day, played soccer, painted nails, and taught the children Red Rover. It was such a blessing to see how happy the children were with just the presence of us. After we left the school, we headed to a church in Santa Clara to prepare for VBS. As the children began to arrive you could hear them at the doors of the church awaiting in anticipation to come in. As the children began to pile in one by one the church began to fill up and children were outside listening through the windows to the songs and message that was spoke. The message that we taught was on God the Provider and how He provides for our every need. When we started to pass out the paper bags for them to decorate and make their own for the craft, we began to realize that we didn't have enough bags for each kid to decorate. We then collected all of the construction paper that we could find and started folding them into bags in an attempt to make a bag for each kid. Which was proof that GOD does provide even in the most unexpected circumstances.
What continues to amaze me in how simple the life is in Guatemala. They are not consumed with facebook, cellphones, tv's, or blogs and their lives are still filled with so much joy. God is seriously changing my heart and teaching me to put things into perspective. I honestly just feel so small in comparison to the size of this whole world that God has created. As I'm sitting here feeling the wind as the thunderstorms begin to roll in, I am so thankful to be apart of this mission trip, which I was very nervous about. But once again God provides and shows me that He is in control. I serve such an amazing Father and I am a grateful, loved, happy, and overwhelmed child. My heart is truly full.
Even after all the exhaustion of the day our team is truly blessed and overwhelmed with the people of Guatemala and have fallen in love with the hearts of each of these children. Please continue to pray for each of us and pray that we be the hands and feet of Christ in all that we do. Please pray that we shower these kids with the love of Christ so that they may know Him even more.
I'm so glad it is going well. It would be totally insufficient for our response to be: "Wow, I am so glad I don't live like this." Instead, we need to come away finding great value in their culture and in their lives, even in poverty. What can we receive from them that can help be the foundation of a relationship of mutual trust and appreciation? Continue to pray to see things as God sees them.
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