Without my camera, it is hard to give you a description of life here at Los Gozosos…but, I have a few images from before my camera broke!
We maintain a schedule to give the kids stability and routine of what to expect, everyday. A brief run down is every morning, we wake up from either our tents in a construction area or from the school at 6 AM. (I sleep in my tent) We have a rotation of 2 people who get up at 4:45AM every morning to help get the kids dressed. We then clean up our area and help set out chairs and tables for breakfast. Breakfast is usually something light like fruit and bread at 6:30. As in most countries in the world other than the USA, meal time is causal and not rushed. The kids have exceptional manners. Although they might be hungry, they patiently wait for the blessing and prayer lead by Daniel. It really is incredible to see them with a hot plate of food before them and they do not even touch it until the blessing of the meal is over! We take our time and help feed some of the kids. Five of the kids have mastered holding a spoon and are able to feed themselves. Four still need help to be fed. One cool thing is that the orphanage is really wanting to foster development. So, we help the kids hold their own spoon and guide them throughout the meal. Christopher is the only one that does not join us at the table since he is fed through a feeding tube. After breakfast, everyone takes over a task: washing dishes, drying dishes, helping the kids brush their teeth, putting the table and chairs away, sweep and mop, and finish getting ready themselves.
Meanwhile during school, there are other tasks that we Worldracers are doing. One is chopping down a field of grass and weeds that are about five feet tall! We are chopping them down with machetes and are clearing the field for safety reasons. The director said that sometimes people hide in the tall grass. But, not anymore! It looks so good! Check out the rest of the groups blogs to see photos and videos!
Another task that we try to complete everyday is deep cleaning! The orphanage has three nannies that work 24 hours a day (with a rotation of 3 days on, 2 off and every other weekend). It averages about 3 kids per nanny-which is not bad at all! But, it is just so hard to imagine all the stuff they have to do every single day when we are not here! It is a lot of work! They maintain a high standard of cleanliness from wearing gloves when preparing meals to bleaching dishes after every wash to washing/line drying four loads of clothes a day! So, we come in and are helping with what most of us would consider, “Spring Cleaning”. Moving all the furniture, cleaning the baseboards, ceilings, drawers, washing windows, everything! We help cut up vegetables and help prepare lunch.
If anyone is not engaged in one of those activities, then we join in with the staff who have scheduled prayer time for the kids at 11. I am in just awe that the staff is so Godly and intentional about lifting these kids and this ministry up in prayer! It is a good realization for me and wake up to really devote everything to God in prayer.
School is normally over at 12:30. We wrap up our morning tasks and get ready for lunch. Same routine of setting out tables and chairs, washing the kids hands, and bringing lunch by the plate to the table. Lunch is their biggest meal during the day. We usually have peas and carrots, rice, bread (AND PEANUT BUTTER….lots, and lots of peanut butter.. Its “normal”…what can we say!), black bean paste and eggs. Lunch time is even more causal and filled with conversation. Same chores of helping brush teeth, wash/dry dishes, sweep, mop, ect afterwards. The kids take a nap for a little while. Racers usually finish up in the field or walk into town for supplies and groceries for the cook.
This is where my team, Night Vision, usually do our team building exercises. Monday and Wednesday, we have worship time together. This is not limited to just music, but also sermons, testimonies and laughter. Tuesday and Thursday, we have team work outs. This includes going for a walk/run, Zumba, P90X or some other video follow along program. *Side note: Super pumped/excited/blessed that I am in this team! One of my goals is to lose 100 pounds this year and I have the best support group EVER! It is every exciting to already see the change in me!* We normally spend time fellowshipping with the nannies, listening to amazing stories from the director or just be intentionally relational with the kids. Amazing how far a hug, laugh, game can really improve the day of a child….sometimes, they just need to be loved on.
Dinner time rolls around: same routine of setting out tables and chairs, bringing dinner to the table and fellowshipping. Dinner is usually smaller and the kids do not eat any bread or have drink at dinner. We usually have bean paste, eggs and tortillas. We can tell the kids are unwinding and getting sleepy. After dinner, we tackle the chores of dishes, mopping, cleaning then we have corporate worship time with the kids, nannies and the racers. They have little song books that they read out of in Spanish. Daniel is just incredible! He has memorized every single song in the book! (And, he is just now starting to learn how to read! INCREDIBLE!) They normally request us to play on our guitars and sing a few songs in English. We worship, pray and come before the Lord every night. It is a good time of fellowship and praise.
Afterwards, we get the kids ready for bed and say good night! They are usually in bed by 9PM. The Racers then have “feedback”- a time where we as a team reflect on the day, encourage, have constructive criticism, share stories and pray: a debrief of the day. After that, we get ready for bed ourselves and call it a day. Do it all over again in the morning! What a blessing!
Just a few side notes:
The temperature here is amazing. It is pretty chilly in the morning but then quickly reaches to a perfect 70-75 degrees. It stays nice until dinner time where it usually drops to 60s. At night, it gets a little frigid with temperatures in the 40s-50s. But, it is fine! The sun is always shining during day! (They have two seasons: rainy season and dry season… we are blessed that it is the dry season right now!)
The center of town is about a 30-45 minute walk. Not so bad! We have different side ministries that we do in town such as: painting a pharmacy ministry that offers discounts to the severely poor, jail ministry and city dump ministry.
This orphanage is one of the nicest that I have ever seen. They have such a love for God and his Children. It is a love that is quickly recognized in the way they conduct business, attention and care here. They have an incredible high standard of cleanliness, integrity and development I am truly honored to be here! It is a such a great and smooth transition into the Worldrace! I recognize the many blessings I have here.
A few things you can be praying for:
This orphanage is sponsor and donor supported. The government here does not have finances to offer aid or resources to this or any orphanage. With the special needs, medicine, attention and care that is required for the kids, it is hard to keep up with the demands with no resources. The founder and director is an American from West Virginia that has recently started making trips to the USA to gain sponsors. Please be praying that God will supernaturally provide.
Pray against spiritual warfare! A lot of the kids have came from homes that were abusive and neglectful. Some of the kids had demon possession and were offered to the devil. Some of the kids come from homes that practiced witchcraft and satanic worship. Pray, pray, pray for the kids. Pray for the full armor of God on each of them. (Obviously, pray for spiritual warfare with us Racers too!)
Pray for the director, secretary, nannies, cook and staff at the home. Pray for the principal, teachers and assistants for the school. Pray for blessings, patience, wisdom and love. Pray for the construction staff that is working to add onto the school. Pray for our night guard. Pray for all the staff and hands that come in contact with this orphanage, ministry and children.
　
Pray for health. With it being chilly, there are more sore throats, runny noses and inconviences. If one team member gets sick, we all get sick. If one child gets sick, we all get sick. Just be praying that God will protect us from sickness and distractions.
Pray for homesickness for us Racers. It seems…crazy soon…? But, already, it is happening. Pray that our hearts and minds will be fully devoted to being here. We know that God has intentionally placed us here but it is still hard sometimes. And, if I am just brutally honest, I am having a really hard time without my fiancé. I try to not think about missing him, but, I could really use your prayers for strength and endurance. Everyone said that time will just fly by.. But, it has been only 15 days and it feels like 150. Time is incredibly slow. Pray that I use that time wisely and for the Lord.
Pray for one of my team mates. She is having a lot of trouble back at home and it is especially challenging for her to be here in Guatemala and not at home helping with the situation. We know that the Lord has perfectly placed her here but just be praying that God will provide and comfort her family back home.
Pray for a heart of servant hood, humbleness and urgency with both D Squad teams here. Pray for our team leaders and squad leaders.
Pray for me.
