Total bug bites- 17
Total Spanish words I can say correctly- 4ish
Mode of transportation- White Panel van with no windows (aka a stalker van)
So I have been in Guatemala now for a little over a week. And let me tell you it is such a beautiful country. The landscape of Puerto Barrios is green with mountains on one side and the Gulf of Mexico on the other. The people are welcoming, friendly and super understanding when it comes to my broken Spanish speaking.
This week we got our feet wet on what our work for the next month will look like. Each week we will be doing a variety of different ministries, all very different and challenging in there own unique way. Some of the major projects that we did this week:
> Visited the local orphanage. Since a lot of the orphanages in Guatemala have closed, we visited one of the ones that is still open and run by local nuns. I got the chance to hold a beautiful little girl, (named Angelee) who was the most curious little baby I have ever met, watching everyone that was walking by. It was so amazing to get to start off the week holding such an innocent child that does not have the luxury of having parents to hold and love her everyday of her life.
Angelee
> Visited the children’s hospital. We split up into groups and visited the different hospital wings. We sang to the children, talked to them, and prayed over them. It is a place of a lot of hurt and pain, so it was really cool to get them smiling and laughing at our broken attempts of singing in Spanish.
> Visited a nursing home. This was a really cool experience because many of them were just excited to have somebody visit them. My team and I sang for them, played animal charades and just sat with them. I was sitting in the back of the group while my team was performing and one woman just came and sat next to me and grabbed my hand not wanting to let go. So I put my arm around her shoulder and put my hand on hers and she seemed so content to feel connected. One of my teammates painted her fingernails and she was so excited, she was like a giddy little girl! It was so awesome!
The Woman I sat with all afternoon
The Nursing home
> Visited the prostitutes in the bars. We went into the bars one afternoon and got into conversations with the prostitutes, giving them a bag with some cookies, other treats, and a little verse about how much they are loved. One lady we talked to opened up very quickly and told us that she didn’t want to be working in the bar, but she had no other way to make money to support her children. It was really hard to see the brokenness in her eyes, so we prayed for her and each gave her a hug as we left. I pray that God does a mighty work in the hearts of each woman we talked to.
> We also picked up trash along the street, visited children and families at the dump, went to the local park and played basketball and other activities with the Guatemalans, played music at the local markets, as well as visited lots of churches.
This week was jam packed with people and different ministry opportunities. I am so thankful because God reminded me in the best possible way why I am here. At times I seem to forget, but when I got to hold that little old woman's hand it reminded me that moments like those are why I am here. Getting to give individuals to love of Christ in any way I can, even if it is just in sitting with them, it is so worth it.
The Scenery
