Day 248: Today we were supposed to have a meeting with our ministry for the month, but when we arrived we found out that our meeting is actually tomorrow. On the way home we got lost and Kat Law announced “good news I have a map!” She then pulled out a map of Budapest, Hungary… won’t do us much good in Guatemala. We ended up taking a chicken bus home.
Day 249: In the morning we had a meeting with Nuestros Ahijados (our ministry). We had to fill out paperwork and then we were given a tour of the beautiful property. Nuestros Ahijados operates a school for impoverished children (to determine if they qualify for services, families are asked things like “how many people sleep in each bed, do you have a dirt floor, do you have clean drinking water?” They also run a clinic for malnourished babies, where we will serve this month.
Day 250: Today was our first shift at Casa Jackson (the clinic for malnourished babies). There are currently six infants, two toddlers, and one twelve year old living in the home. One of our little boys has down syndrome, but he is the happiest baby in the house. Two of our other little guys are two months old, but smaller than most newborns.
Day 251: We covered a full day at the clinic. I spent most of my time with Diego and Kenner, our two smallest babies. In the evening, we had worship in the courtyard at our hostel.
Day 252: Today was our day off, we took a trip out to Lake Atalian (The most beautiful lake in the world according to some rankings). Unfortunately, it was a foggy day so it was hard to see the volcanos that surround the lake. We were able to rent a private boat to take us around the lake. Our first stop was a natural hot spring (kids were bathing and women were washing clothes). Afterward, we went to three towns around the lake.
Day 253: HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY MOM! We went to church in the morning at a satellite campus of Saddleback (Rick Warren’s church). In the afternoon we went to climb a nearby volcano.
Day 254: Today was a rough day at the clinic. Diego is really sick and they spent most of the day trying to get an IV in him. He screamed the entire time. The nurses eventually gave up and passed him off to me to give him a breathing treatment.
Day 255: I worked my normal shift at the clinic. Some of our other girls have been serving at Casa Maria (the retirement home). Most of the girls work in the “back room” where those who are mentally ill or poor are forced to live. However, they bring the joy of Jesus there every day!
Day 256: Baby Jimena is learning how to walk! I also spent a lot of time with baby Christina today.
Day 257: Today we took a few of the toddlers upstairs in the clinic to finger paint. I think more of the paint ended up on them, rather than on the paper. In the evening we had “girls’ night in.” Kip made no-bakes and we all watched Dirty Dancing.
Day 258: Went to the market in the morning and worked at the clinic all afternoon. I was exhausted, so I decided to go to bed early.
Day 259: Day Off. In the morning I went to get my nose pierced! We spent the afternoon at the market and watched Dirty Dancing 2 in the evening.
Day 260: We went to church in the morning. In the afternoon I spent over 4 hours on Skype (catching up with lots of people from MI and CA)! At 10pm I was woken up and told the volcano was erupting… fortunately we were a safe distance away, and had an amazing view from our roof!
Day 261: Today I went with our contact Luis (and the girls who have been working with him all month) to visit two local school. We taught 5 ethics classes. The message for the week was on controlling you thoughts and choosing to think positive. I had my Guatemala debut in the short skit that was part of the lesson.
Day 262: Today I was able to experience a full day at the retirement home. We painted nails, played with balloons, sang worship, did aerobics, and colored. I also had to tie a man to a pole.
Day 263: Back at the malnourishment clinic. We had three new kids arrive today – two toddlers and a six-year-old. All three are severely ill and will probably live at the clinic for almost a year. We also celebrated Alberto’s birthday today… he turned 3 and Maggie’s birthday… she turned 24.
