Taking the trash out in Guatemala

We have three teams staying in Puerto Barrios from our squad. We are staying at Casa Verde ministries with a couple of ywam teams. Our contacts here are mama Hilda and Paul. They are both amazing servants of God! Paul, originally from Florida, has been here for 7 yrs and mama Hilda is from Honduras. Our leader, Jen, who completed the world race 2 yrs ago, helps with our ministries, including hosting the radio show. Another leader, Christian, 22, is from Guatemala and does practically everything to serve the locals. This amazing man of God… he es mi amigo. They just started renting a house that has 22 acres behind it. The owners want to sell it to them for a million dollars. Mama Hilda and Paul have dreams of building a youth center, but there have been a lot of complications. The previous owner was murdered because he was planning to build on the land. Please pray for favor over them as God gives them the land and the ministry grows! 

Ministries we are participating in include the following: partnering with churches, street and neighbor hood evangelism, park ministry where we get to go play soccer and hang out with kids (The soccer has been pretty competitive too), helping paint and maintain special needs school, hanging out with the kids at orphanage.

The dump is also another ministry we go to which I will talk about in a little while. 

Intersection 

We had a night where we went down to the sea port and interceded for a church family member. We were initially going to go to the house, but the father was drunk with his friends and our host didn't think it would be a good idea to go over there. We started praying and interceding for the family and the city at the port instead. The presence of God came; There was a heaviness in the atmosphere. People were praying hard for the family and city as if it was their own family and city.  The pastor's mother in law then asked for prayers for healing over her allergies to certain foods. She has been on a strict diet that is not common for the culture. We all laid hands on her asked how she felt. She said —  As we started praying again, she became filled with the Holy Spirit and fell over. We continued to pray after a couple minutes we asked how she felt and she said peace. She then stood up and was healed. We prayed for her husband too. After all the praying, we turned around and faced every direction of the city N,E,S,W and released every blessing we have ever received into the Guatemala City.   

 

We went to the city dump. It was hard…

seeing mountains of trash everywhere. It was the smell, the mud, and the Lil ninos running around like it was Disney land. This is all they knew.However,They found so much joy in the littlest things from hand made sling shots, to kicking little soccer balls around, to having us pick them up and swing-them in circles. These kids, with mud on their faces, with clothes that they just found, with empty stomachs, showed me how to love and have joy. 

1/22/13

 

Yesterday I had the privilege of working in the dump with some families. I am humbled and changed for ever. I worked 3 hours digging through the trash looking for plastic and glass bottles and card board. This little girl Stephanie showed us how to work hard. It was amazing to ask the little kids their dreams. She said she wants to be a teacher and teach kids how to write. Her little brother Luzbe is so talented and will one day write so many books because of his creativity and hard work. Their dad bought us a taco for lunch. I was amazed at the generosity. The family only makes 160 quezals a week, that comes out to be 20 American dollars. wow just even as I write this my heart is heavy. I had a knot in my throat for the first 30 minutes of working in the dump. As I dug through dirty diapers ,half eaten food, and everything else you can think of. I was praying I would not find a baby. I was told that it happens from time to time because abortion is against the law and mothers do it them selves. My heart lightened as we had fun and joked around with the kids and as we worked harder it made it more enjoyable. All I know is that when I was 4 and 9 I was not digging through the trash. Living in America is a miracle in and of its self. I pray this opens your eyes and helps you be thankful for everything. I believe God is doing something in this place. You can see Gods beauty the juggle surrounding the dump. I pray you can see God in the midst of your trashy situation. Also know and believe that God is healing and taking the trash out of your life. 

 

I love you! continue to pray for our team, we have until the 31st in Guetamala. Also I am still raising support next deadline is April 1st 11,000 I am 9,200. If you can give monthly please do by clicking support at the top of my blog.