Today was our first day of ministry in Guatemala. This week we will be working in the local hospital, where the mornings will be devoted to working with those who have Cerebral Palsy and the afternoons working with the elderly. Our ministry contact met us at our hostel, walked us to the hospital, checked us in to the volunteer’s office and then said, “audios!” There we stood having no idea what to do and very little Spanish to communicate with the nurses. We were gestured to wash our hands, and then some of our team went to wash beds and myself, Lindsay and Ashley went in to play with the children. I entered the room and there in front of me were about 12 boys and girls strapped in to wheel chairs and lined up in rows along the aisles….just sitting there. I had no idea what to do.
We looked at each other and wondered how in the world we were to play with them. They couldn’t speak, they couldn’t run or throw a ball….what in the world does play look like now? I decided to just go around, touch them, sing and pray over them. There was a girl in the back who looked sad, so I went over and held her hand and she grabbed hold of it and then started grabbing on my clothes and screaming to the top of her lungs. She scared me and I felt so lost for what to do so I just backed up and stood there. She was so distraught and I hated seeing her in strapped in that chair. I felt so bad and thought to myself, “this is so pitiful” and then the Lord said, “What they need is not pity, they’ve had enough pity. What they need is love.” So I sang to her. I sang: “You have a Father, He calls you His own. He’ll never leave you, no matter where you go. He knows your name. He knows your every thought. He sees each tear that falls and hears you when you call.” I rubbed her hair and just prayed that the Lord would bring her peace.
Then I found a book and decided to go read to another girl who was sitting there quietly. As I read a boy named Julio scooted his way over and took great interest in the story I was reading. I invited him in and watched as he pointed out his finger to turn the page and then hesitated. I said, “go ahead Julio, you can do it.” So he licked his finger and with a great big smile he slowly turned that page. And when he was done he laughed with such simple joy. He was so content and so happy just to turn a page. Then we got to a part in the story where it read, “Happy Birthday, Amelia” and he laughed so hard when I said this! It was hilarious! So I said it again and again for about 10 minutes straight and he laughed each time. He then grabbed my thumb and pressed it on the page and each time he did I shouted in a funny voice “HAPPY BIRTHDAY!” (I think he thought it was a button and the book made the sound haha.) I just loved how much joy Julio got from a silly sound and the chance just to turn the page.
Later, I went over to a girl named Delma who had braces on both arms and her legs were severely underdeveloped and deformed. I took a teddy bear and kissed her cheeks with it and she was so happy. Then I felt the urge to pray over her legs, so I sat there for about 20 minutes and massaged her legs begging the Lord to make them straight and strong. I want to continue this over the next week of working at the hospital, believing that the Lord will make her strong. Please feel welcomed to pray with me for her healing!
This evening we met our ministry contact Louis, who is so very funny yet so very kind-hearted and sincere. I look forward to hearing more of his heart for his country and what God has called him to do. Please pray for the people in the hospitals, and the nurses who are insanely overworked (they make 1USD an hour for 12hrs/day and then go home to care for their families). Please pray for our team Shadowfeet as we learn to live in community and work through the process of culture shock, language barriers, constructive feedback, patience and personal healing from insecurities and fears. Please pray against sickness and danger and any attack that the enemy may have up his sleeve. Please pray for continued provision as many of us are still fundraising in order to be fully funded. And above all else pray the GOD’S NAME WOULD BE LIFTED HIGH, AND THAT THE GUATEMALANS WOULD FALL DEEPLY IN LOVE WITH JESUS BECAUSE OF WHAT HE HAS DONE IN US.
Thank you for your support and love!
-Aisha
