Quick Follow-Up to the April Trip

Last entry, until the next team heads down... Just thought I would let all of you know who were following our journey that we had a very nice ending to our transformation trip! Our last day in Guatemala was spent in Antigua as a sort of "debriefing/transitioning" time back into the States. It was a wonderful opportunity for us to enjoy one another's company and take in some more of the Guatemalan culture. Antigua is definitely more for tourists, but we were able to continue to give back when we went to dinner at a place called Kids Restaurant. It is run out of a school the first Friday of every month and it is where the kids cook and serve the food. The profits then go to benefit an organization called TESS Unlimited that helps babies born with cleft palates. Also while we were there, our hosts, Dylan and Missy, surprised us with a hour's worth of Salsa lessons! There was a lot of laughter and sweat in that dance studio! :-) 

Overall the trip was an amazing, eye opening experience for us all and we were all very lucky to be able to experience it together and grow! Thank you to all of you who prayed, donated, and read this blog! It really meant a lot to us all!

Here is a link to a video that the one missionary, Dylan, made of our work time: http://bit.ly/1iVKz1A .  I hope you enjoy getting a glimpse into our week!  Thanks again Missy, Dylan, and Jon for hosting us and helping us grow in our Faith! 

Thursday--- last day on the job...

Today was a lonnnnnng day! While we didn't accomplish every single project we were hoping to, we did accomplish a good bit of it! Today we finished the shelves and pretty much all of the wall was finished (this took ALOT of hard work!!!) When we came this week, the home had no roof and was only cement blocks, by the end of the week we have waterproofed the home, built the roof, put up shelves in the tienda, the bars on the windows have been started and the retaining wall has been started! A lot of sweat and prayers went into this project but it was great when we got to say out goodbyes to the Maria's tonight an hear how thankful they are. (The older one is still very sad to be leaving her home though, which is understandable since she's been living there for 90 years!) Below you'll see some pictures of our work day. 

(Anna-Marie sawing)

(Missing drilling the shelves)

(Mary-Lou sweeping)

(Dylan laying blocks)

(Anna-Marie and Derek helping with the wall)

(Ron splitting blocks with a machete! His wife will need to get his honey-do list ready because he definitely has the muscle to get them done now!)

(Jon helping with translation)

(Working hard!)

(Pouring the cement into the columns was the biggest roadblock of the day!)

On top of visiting with the Maria's, we also were able to visit with another SARF family. They have four boys! We brought them some food and Mary-Lou gave them some candy, bracelets, an a cross! 

Today will most likely be our last post as we are headed to Antigua tomorrow and then heading for the Airport Saturday! Thank you all for your prayers and support! It's been an amazing, eye-opening experience that I'm sure will stick with each of us for the rest of our lives! To find out more about the Serving At-risk Families (SARF) ministry or to see how you can help, check out www.servants.org ! 

God Bless!

Wednesday--- still 'plugging' away

We got moving and out the door at a decent time this morning! Today we were finishing up some of the leftover work. We also started on the retaining wall and the shelves for the tienda. Ron and Dylan mostly tackled the demolition of the roots of a tree that was right in the way of where we wanted to put the wall. They also began building the wall with the help of Chema towards the end of the day. 

While clearing it out we met a little friend (which we later found out was poisonous... But don't worry, everyone who handled it had gloves on.) 

 Mary Lou finished up waterproofing the outside walls of the home and also did the waterproofing of the windows. 

Jon (Mono) and Chema worked on the rebar so that we could pour more cement columns for the retaining wall. 

Team Carpentry (for the building of the tienda's shelves) consisted of Derek, Anna-Marie, Missy, and I! We hit a few road bumps but with teamwork and ingenuity we overcame them and started to get on a roll until the storm clouds rolled in and rained on our progress. 

(I was definitely doing more than just pictures... Don't worry guys... ;). ) 

Overall, another successfull day. Today was originally going to be the last site day but our plans for helping with a bible lesson at a school were foiled since tomorrow is Guatemala's Labor Day and schools are closed. However, the team is very exited that this will hopefully enable us to get some other projects completed at the Maria's before we go. Today was also a bit sad as it was our last day getting to work with Chema. He truly was an amazing man to work with and watch. He was so knowledgable and hardworking. Definitely a testimate to why everyone should respect their elders! 

More tomorrow! Time for showers and dinner... And possibly Dice! ;) 

Tuesday--- working hard, making progress

First off, sorry about the missed post yesterday. I had one started but then we were able to hear the Brobst's and Jon's story and eat some yummy snacks which lasted pretty late so we all headed to bed. 

Today, Ron and I finished up the base coat of waterproofing the house. Ron also helped with some carpentry and cement work with Jon and Derek. Derek and Jon also finished the roof.  Missy and Anna-Marie finished painting the roof beams and then after lunch they (and me) sealed the wood we will be using to make shelves for the tienda. Mary-Lou worked with Chema to do the top coat and she also "machete-d" some tree branches. Poor Dylan was stuck doing a lot of running today to pick up more supplies. We again hit some hiccups, but overall accomplished a lot. The first day we walked in to see what we would be doing and Dylan was giving us the long list, it was hard to imagine it remotely coming together, but piece by piece we are seeing the fruits of labor and it is so wonderful to think that sometime in the future, the sweet Maria's will be able to call this place home. 

We might get a chance to play Dice tonight, update tomorrow on how bad Derek gets beat! ;) 

Anna-Marie and Missy painting like champs

Mixing concrete

Supervising...

Almost done the second coat

Wearing a true chapin (Guatemalan) hat... Stole Mono's when he wasn't looking... ;)

Sunday--- Our Day of Rest

Fourth day here, where has the time gone?! Today, the Lord's Day, we were able to take rest and have ALOT of FELLOWSHIP! Some of us took pleasure in sleeping in a little later before we headed up to the squatter village of Linda Vista up on the hill of Villa Nueva. We also had some time to explore the home and yard where we are staying. Here are some pictures of our free time in the morning:

(Volcanic ash that accumulated in the crevices of the palm tree)

(First good picture of a native bird)

(Deek tiring Cate out, or the other way around)

Our hosts, Missy and Dylan, attend a church up in the village of Linda Vista (Beautiful View) that is led by Pastor Jorge. The service was full of praise, worship, and prayers. Of course all of these were in Spanish, but we were lucky enough to be able to borrow headsets from the local Children's Home that Dylan was able to translate the entire service for us. The music was beautiful with or without the translation due to the talented musicians that make it happen. After the service, we met some of the people who attend, some of whom were familiar faces as they attend the Celebrate Recovery classes that the boys and girls attended on the respective nights. After the service and fellowship, we were able to go on top of the one building to take some pictures of the view. Unfortunately it was a little foggy, but it was breathtaking just the same.

(Part of the Praise and Worship Team)

(Pastor Jorge and Ron)

(View from Linda Vista)

(Another View)

(Two carnivals are going on, but it is not overly frequented by the locals due to the cost)

(Anna-Marie and Mary Lou enjoying the sights from up top)

(Team Pic)

After church we changed and went for lunch at Pollo Campero, which is like the Guatemalan equivalent to KFC, but with table service. It was delicious, and we actually went back later in the day for ice cream (and flan.)

After lunch, we made our way to meet one of the SARF families, The Chinchillas. We hit a few road blocks (literal ones as they were paving many of the roads on the way) but God allowed us to deliver a basket of food and enjoy some time with the family. The mother Jaceline and some of her other family members spoke with the team while other team members went out and enjoyed some time joking around and playing bubbles with the kids, Jairo (7) and Alejandra (6). Everyone was so kind and it was like they made us all feel like we were close friends, opening up their home and sharing their drinks. Guatemalan hospitality is really something to behold!

(Mono "Monkey" Jon getting his hair done by Alejandra)

(Giving the kids, Jairo & Alejandra, candy... and toothbrushes)

(Anna-Marie teaching the fine art of Bubbles)

(The team with the Chinchillas and their extended family they live with)

After a day full of seeing the country (and a quick trip to Walmart...yes Walmart!), our team sat down and some of the experienced members, Jon and Derek, taught the team the game "Dice".  The King of Dice, Jon, was defeated easily the first game by first timer, Anna-Marie, FOR SURE!

(The Team learning Dice.... this was not a game for those not awesome at Math)

(Champion Anna-Marie taking down King of the Dice, Jon)

Today truly was a blessing and a great time for our team to get to know one another. I can't wait to see how God continues to build relationships and use us while we are down here.  Thank you all for your continued prayers!