On Friday, October 6th, my parents and I headed to Atlanta for a weekend of training and preparation for the World Race. On Sunday I said bye to my parents and on Tuesday, October 8th my squad and I hopped on a plane for Guatemala in great anticipation!
Launch Weekend consisted of training for both parents and racers and after the weekend, my teammate Haley and I feel much more prepared as logistics coordinators (basically in charge of getting the squad from country and country and planning debriefs). Also while at launch we were given a key with a word written on it to give away to someone while on the race. These keys are called journey keys and the word is specific to each racer. Mine said “Phil 4:13” so I got lots of words! I am excited to see who the Lord calls me to give away this key to! As the weekend went on my emotions went from nervous to excited to enter the unknown of this next year!
On Tuesday morning at 4AM, we learned that the training paid off and the Lord pulled through because as we were checking our bags, the squad was told we could not leave the country unless we have a return flight to America and a confirmation for that flight. After making a call, I learned that we happen to have a layover in America in January and the flight confirmation had just processed the night before! After that, travel went very smoothly and we arrived in Guatemala at 11:30AM (1:30PM EST)!!
We were picked up from the airport and after about an hour of travel we arrived at our ministry site: Los Gozosos. Los Gozosos is an orphanage and school for children with special needs ranging from age 1 to age 21! We are able to come to come allowed side the staff and help with meals, recess, dance parties, devotionals, bedtime, and so much more! We are doing life with these kids and even sleeping in their rooms with them! And they have done nothing but invite us in.
Here’s a typical schedule of our day:
5AM: wake up and help the kids bathe and get ready for the day
6:30AM: breakfast – help the kids eat and staff clean after
7:30AM – 1PM: the kids go to the school – we clean/do projects/personal time
11AM: prayer, worship, and Scripture reading with staff
1PM: lunch
2PM-4PM: recess with the kids!! So fun!! (They love soccer and swinging)
4PM-6PM: kids nap so we have team time to reflect and debrief!
6PM: dinner and a dance party
7PM-8PM: devotional, prayer, and worship with the kids!
8PM: bed time!!
The staff is very patient with us and teach us how to do the girls’ hair, about each kid and how much assistance they need, and as all of us try and learn to break the language barrier. This orphanage breaks the many stereotypes of special needs by challenging the kids to be independent and help around the orphanage, while loving them and teaching about who they are in Christ!
God is doing great things here as kids who were told they would never do anything but lay in a bed are walking, feeding themselves, assisting the staff, and praying to the Lord. The kids even take the time to pray for us!!
Please pray for the kids and funding for the orphanage! Some children are in need of dentists, some are learning to walk, and one child is waiting for the funds to come in so he can have brain surgery. I am really learning a lot about what it means to have joy and perseverance in the waiting and trials from these kids!! Thank you for your prayers and support!
Entrance to the orphanage!
