The sun came out today. I know that to all of y’all living in the glory of Indian summer nights / golden autumnal days this may seem like a small feat, but to us here in tropical storm-land, even the five minute smile El Sol gave us was pure bliss.
In case you haven’t guessed yet, it’s been raining here… like, a LOT. Every day, in fact. The streets have flooded, sewers overflowed, creating a [scarily fast] current carrying trash, tree branches, and (at times) pushing my team around as well. It’s not an uncommon sight to see the six of us gringos marching in a straight line with leaking rain jackets pulled tight around ourselves. (Dear Mama, if you’re reading this… I’m mostly dry. Really. <3) We’re really ready for some Vitamin D, that’s for sure.
I’m behind in my blogs, so forgive me if this one is preternaturally long. I want to make sure I keep y’all updated on everything that’s been going on.
Distribution happened last week. We gave away three wheelchairs to three beautiful little boys who quickly stole our hearts.
Thomas and Pablo. Yeah, kind of love at first sight for them.
He was much less happy to be with me, let me tell you. 🙂
After fitting them into their wheelchairs, our team had the chance to pray over them. It broke my heart to see the dedication of the parents to these children. Regardless of how hopeless each child’s situation seemed, both families were absolutely in love with their boys. I prayed a blessing over each boy before they left, one that my parents prayed over me every night before we went to bed…
The LORD bless you and keep you. The LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
Rodger and his "malo mano" (bad monkey), Jorge.
Distribution day opened a lot of doors for my team. Two of the translators for the boys’ sponsors actually work for WYWAM, so on Sunday we were able to team up with them for a homeless ministry. We—along with about ten WYWAM staff and other missionaries—went to the dump next to the open market and invited the homeless men and women to join us for worship. God is SO abundantly good to us. We were able to minister to twenty-or-so men, women and children. We were able to pour into them the truth of God’s amazing love for them and his incredible purpose for their lives. The LORD opened the door to speak to several men after the service, to pray for them and speak truth over them.
The LORD continues to bless us in the fabrica (factory) as nosotros assemblamos la sillas de ruedas (we assemble the wheelchairs). We’re picking up Spanish quickly out of God’s graciousness as well as necessity. We’ve begun English lessons in the morning as well as devotionals. We’re developing ever deeper relationships with the specialistas and really are beginning to feel useful to the workers in their…well, work.
I’m working with Ilse in the office, helping input all the data from the last ten years of wheelchair distributions. It’s slow going, but hopefully, once we’re done we’ll be able to use the statistics to track the factory’s distributions and output. The men are building shelves and drilling holes and generally using all manner of power tools doing many manly things. The other girls are also inputting data or sewing with Blanca or helping Paulina assemble the wheelchairs.
On our down-time, we’re learning how to salsa (check out an upcoming blog of Chrissy’s for video proof)… learning how to make traditional Papillon (a Guatemalan stew with chicken, potatoes, carrots and cilantros)… taking hip-hop classes (taught by a German tourist, no less)… We’re feedbacking (Yes Mike and Stacey, EVERY night, I promise) and giving testimonies… (Pray for me, I go tomorrow! Yikes!) And life is amazingly, unbelievably blessed.
So, yeah, that’s the update for now. Dinner’s almost on the table (French Toast… yum!)…. The rain hasn’t started again… My Team is blessed and blessed more.
Praise the LORD for everything He is doing in Antigua… in Guatemala… in this beautiful house… in our Team… in each of us. He’s SO GOOD.
"Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. " -1st Thessalonians 2:8
