So this is my first blog since month one, Due to the loss of my computer charger, I’ve been unable to write a thorough blog. So for my first blog back I thought it well to catch everyone up on month two and three of the race with a good ole photo blog
Month Two- Guatemala
Debrief- Antigua
One of the most beautiful places I have ever been. With historic architecture, great food, and friendly locals, this will be a spot that will forever be on my list of places to return to. This was also a place of much healing for me and many of my squad mates. We had debrief secession where we talked about the first month and how we were doing as a team. We also had secession’s that revolved around being open, honest, and vulnerable with each other so that we may break chains of our pasts and finally take steps forward into what God has for our future.
A delightful lunch with my teammates
Mt. Pacaya
Santa Cruz Del Quiche
Agape in Action
This month was all squad month so all team were together living in one big World Race community. The first week my team and team Homeward Bound were stationed at a day care where most of the teachers have been on strike since December. It was a pretty wild experience because with the language barrier we were very unclear of the daycare’s expectations of what we needed to do. The first two days we thought we were just there to play games with the kids and help with lunch and cleaning. In fact they expected us to prepare lessons and activities to teach the children. After this it was a much better experience for us and the children. However we didn’t get to finish out the week because most of us got sick most likely because of the exposure to the children we weren’t used to.
The second week we worked in San Pedro, the next town over, building a road for a piece of property that in the future will be used as a youth camp and a place to hold wedding ceremonies.
On one of our off days we got to visit Lake Atitlan
Month Three- El Salvador
Mission to El Salvador
This month looked very different than the first two. For the first time our team was on our own with no other teams with us. This month from day one was a huge growing and learning experience. We worked with an organization call Mission to El Salvador, Their mission is to shine a light into the darkness of poverty, violence, addiction, and exploitation that exists in El Salvador by using holistic, Gospel-based efforts to alleviate spiritual and physical poverty in the lives of those we serve in a way that both benefits them and respects them as individuals.
Their logo and Website
http://www.missiontoelsalvador.com
We had tons of projects like installing this grate over a drain
Painting
Replacing this old asbestos roof with a new metal one at the boy’s orphanage
I got to do a little carving
But best of all we got to work with the homeless this month. Every Tuesday and Thursday the doors of the ministry are opened and people can get off the streets that showers, brush their teeth, get some clean cloths and eat a hot meal. It was amazing getting to minister to these men and women. We built some very strong relationships with these people and it was very hard to leave them at the end of the month.
Here is one of them.
This is Don Carlos. He is in his 80’s has no teeth and only about half a tongue (communication was a struggle at times) He would come in early on the days we would do ministry and we would play dominos and checkers with him for hours on end. He would tell us how to paint and do our different housekeeping jobs correctly (you could say he was our supervisor). I even got to perform the Heimlich maneuver on him one day when he began to choke on some chicken he was eating. This man has a place very close to my heart and at the end of the month it was a very sad good bye to him.
Central America was a dream. But now it’s on to Eastern Europe for a new culture, new adventure, and new ways to share the love of Jesus with the world!!
