We have arrived at our first city! My team and another team (13 of us total) are paired up this month in Puerto Barrios, Guatemala. We are 6 hours from Guatemala City, where we flew in, and 30 minutes from Honduras. After a walk with our packs, a bus, train, shuttle, sleeping at the airport, flight, van, and then a 6 hour bus ride, we arrived in Puerto Barrios! Total travel day: 27 hours.
It’s worth it where we are staying! We have beds, running water, toilet, and a cook.
Our transportation around Puerto Burrios
This month we are working with Paul and Hilda. They have so many ministry opportunities it’s ridiculous… in a good way! With that, every day looks different.
Throughout the week, our teams will go to the orphanage, play soccer in the park, visit the children’s hospital, old people’s home, the bars where the prostitutes live and work, and the dumps where children work to gather anything recyclable to get money for their families.
I love how our teams have a kindred spirit. Not everyone is a musician, but everyone has such a heart for worship. We have a couple guitars and I brought a travel-sized cajon. We will be playing music in the streets and wherever we go to gather people together and build relationships. Music is a common language in every culture and I love how we can use it here!
It feels like we have been here for ages, but it’s only been a few days! Yesterday was our first day at the orphanage. When we walked in, there was only a few kids and most were zonked out because it was nap time.
There was 1 girl by the door crying. As we walked in, I was unsure what to do or which kid to go to. I went to this little girl and started talking to her. She was so shy she wouldn’t even look up at me. Finally she was able to give me a High 5. I led her over to a chair and sat her on my lap. Her pants were soaked with urine as I felt it leak through my pants. We played a game that I was taught when I was little called, ‘Rowdy, Rowdy.’ It took a few times to even get a smile. Then she started laughing, but she still wouldn’t look up at me. The next minute she gave me a big hug and was smiling, talking, laughing, and saying, ‘Again! Again!’ well, ‘Uno Mas! Uno Mas!’ She even began making fun of my Spanish and would put her hand on her hip and say “Hooooooolllllllaaaaaa!”
As we began to play chase, her friend came over. They never left my side the entire time. Literally……. 
Lollia on the left, Lacy on the right.
At first I was afraid to get dirty. After a minute freak out, I stopped seeing it because showing love was, and has to be, more important. I didn’t want lice, but while Lacy hugged me and put her hair in mine, I couldn’t stop hugging her. I didn’t bring that many clothes and Lacy sat on me with her urine-soaked clothes. I wouldn’t be able to shower for a while, but when Lacy and Lolia wiped their snot-filled noses over me as they laughed I would do anything to keep them laughing.
As we worshipped together this morning we sang, “There is no end to the affection You have for me.” I stopped singing and was asking myself do I really think it’s true.
I believe it more each day. If I can love Lacy covered in pee and only have spent a few hours with her, how much more does God love us. I felt God say, “I know you and love you, mess and all.”
I can love Lacy and others with His love the more I understand and receive His love for me. I can love the ones hard for me to love when I choose to see and love like Him.
I love how God shows me a fresh and new side of His love. He delights in me and He delights in you.
