Las Conches | Las Conoas |Guatemala City | Antiqua

We hit the ground in Guatemala at 1:00pm, when we were promptly derailed from the schedule and redirected from touring the surgery center to going directly to Las Conches. Team 1 evangelism was on fire and they wanted us to come be a part of it. Talk about exciting! Little did we know, they planned a welcome party for us. When we arrived many of our friends were there – The Rodriguez family, Jessica (elder), Luci, Juana (Claudia’s mom), and a swarm of kids calling out, “Crystal!! George!!” My heart melted in that moment and never stopped for the rest of the trip. We got to work right away evangelizing in Sector 2 near the Minta home we built last year. The boy in the yellow shirt is Dennis Minta. The little girl on my back is Claudia’s daughter whose house we built in 2010.

We began the day with an evaluation of the progress at the medical clinic and school in Los Canoas. We are building a security wall around the clinic and then stocking it with supplies and medicines. Today is Dani’s 11th Birthday, so our next stop was to his house to give him his presents. Eudilia (Dani’s mom)told us that they had been counting the days since March hoping that we would return. In March we sponsored a water filter for them. They said is working well, and that they were happy with it. Miss Jessica and her pal Veronica (in purple) made an appearance too – I loved seeing her again. Jessica is a handful! Michaela lead the charge on delivering food baskets in Sector 3. Emma Rodriquez, single mother of 3 whose flame had gone cold was reignited!

Michaela leads the way

Us with the Rodriguez’-

Veronica & Jessica

Sunday Service at Shalom Church was a special treat – One of our own, Pastor Luis Sura, gave the sermon. Even tough I didn’t understand the words, I understood the message. At church we were visited by Dani, Elvis and some of their friends. Afterwards we changed clothes and went out to Las Conches to pray from the Mountain Top and spend some time with our friends there. Angela (the photographer), Dani and Caterine were with me the whole time. Then it was back to seminary to make more food baskets, PB&J’s and gift bags for Charlie’s lunch. Each day we would give out food baskets & PB&J and each night we’d make more.

Grace Roberts

Angela

Grace, Michaela & Margaret Ann

Me, Grace, Luis and Shelbi did hard labor at the school, shoveling and hauling dirt. Thank goodness for our little helpers! We are building a kitchen and an office for the high school principal so that she can lock the books inside. The last books purchased were stolen because there was no secure place to keep them. The children are all getting taller and appear healthy. A water filtration system was installed at the school in 2010 and the new government started a school nutrition program in March – it appears to be improving the children’s health overall. Dale (Dentist), Rachel and Anna Rachel set up a 3 day dental clinic (Mon-Wed) at the school and saw 179 children . Additional dental trips are needed to see the other 150 children.

Josque, Grace, Mercedes & Edwin

Sara (today’s leader), George, Shelbi and I did what we could to help. George and Shelbi did the heavy lifting of 82 lb blocks up to the top of the wall.

Today we got to work on Anyuly’s house. Anyuly is a 9 year old girl with renal failure. She is on dialysis (from Shalom) and awaiting a kidney transplant. The doctor will not do the surgery unless she has a more sanitary place to recover so we are building that place! Sara (today’s leader), George, Shelbi and I did what we could to help. George and Shelbi did the heavy lifting of 82 lb blocks up to the top of the wall. During evangelism time, Paul, Shelbi and I visited several families and delivered food baskets to an area of Sector 3 where I had never been. The level of poverty was overwhelming. And yet, there was hope and faith found there.

Today I was suppose to be helping Colon and Nick paint Esther’s house next door to Idea Carmen whose home we built last year. The project was next door to where Anyuly (princess in pink) is currently living, so my interest was in spending time with her today. God willing Anyuly will survive to have her surgery in 4 months. Her elder Aunt is the planned donor. Should there be a reason that she cannot donate, Anyuly’s younger Aunt Amanda, age 8, wants to donate her kidney. (Amanda is the girl in blue) They are both being kept home from school to protect them from becoming sick. If you look to the left of Anyuly you can see the sun shining through a large hole in the wall next to her bed. It is next to the dog I gave her and she named “Cristal”. Her little cheeks are swollen from fluid retention. Her little cousin Randy is showing that he had 4 teeth pulled at the dental clinic – he was a good boy! Then there is her other cousin with silly makeup. Before we left Esther arrived home and taught me how to make tortillas from scratch – fun.

The second half of the day ½ the team took a tour of Charlie’s lunch, a food program for children under suicide bridge in Guatemala City. Colon put together a skit for Zacheas was a wee little man. Courtney, Michaela and Grace acted it out while Bekah played the guitar. Me and George sang along and videoed the performance. The children really enjoyed it. The girls were curious about Courtney’s blond hair.

Today we were in Antigua. I was feeling quite emotional and overwhelmed by the experiences of the week and needed some alone time. So while the others went to zip line, I stayed at the Coffee Plantation for some much needed decompression time. I laid on this lawn, watched the clouds in front of the volcano, watched a bird float on thermals, prayed, meditated and relaxed to worship music.

Our last day. Today was a very difficult day emotionally. The lady sitting over my left shoulder is Juana. She broke my heart today. Her pain and suffering is beyond anything that I have known. Her heart is so completely broken and she only wants to feel the fire for God and serve him, but right now she cannot. What could I say or do except pray. Together , through tears we did. For years I have been coming to visit and have seen Juana. This year we became friends and sisters. The finale was the Guatemalans vs. Gringo’s soccer game. Gringos won – to our surprise! Saying Good-bye is so hard. If it be Gods will I pray that he will send me to Las Conches again.

George & Dani