International Ministry: Guatemala 2016

I was back in the Guatemala City Dump, in a school on the edge of one of the communities. It's a place I have been many times, as we had visited the last few years as well. I was helping volunteers as they situated themselves for the beginning of our first day of camp for the kids. Suddenly, something collided into my left hip. I looked down to see little arms wrapping around my waist, and at the location of impact a familiar face smiling up at me. One of my little friends that I have had the pleasure of knowing since he was 5 years old melted my heart as he there stood, 9 years old and growing so much taller. It always gets me choked up when I think about the privilege I have in seeing these kids year after year.

In 2013 I set foot in Guatemala for the first time, after having gone to Colombia for similar trips the three previous summers. This country immediately captured me from the beautiful landscapes to the even more beautiful people. This past June I was blessed with the opportunity to return to Guatemala for a 4th consecutive year. So many people contributed to sending me, and I thank everyone who did. Several others also donated towards our projects and I thank you as well! I hope this blog post serves to give you an idea of the investment you made.

Before you continue further, if you have not read my post from a couple years ago on the history of the people we serve in the Guatemala City Dump and La Limonada I suggest you do by clicking here.

We began with a project we often bring on our trips; an eye glass clinic. In these clinics we fit individuals for reading glasses to assist those who cannot see close enough to read, thread a needle, or do other handy work around their homes or even in order to generate an income. However, we often meet people who are looking for long distance glasses, who we cannot fit for glasses as we are not optometrists. One of these people was a women who I saw walk in and sit across from my friend Aby, a language interpreter in Guatemala who joins us during our time there. The woman was squinting as she sat and began to speak with Aby. I continued to serve the guest in front of me until moments later my dad, who had been elsewhere most of the day, was sitting with Aby and this woman and was praying with them. He had his hand on the back of the woman's head as he prayed. I later heard the story from my dad. The woman walked in seeking glasses for distance vision, as hers was poor and causing her terrible migraines. Aby was explaining that we did not have glasses for distance as my dad joined the pair and the conversation. My dad affirmed what Aby had shared but asked to pray over her. He prayed for healing of her migraines and healing of her vision. After this first prayer the woman reported that her migraine she came with had vanished. My dad and Aby prayed over her two more times, for healing of her poor vision. By the end of the third prayer the woman could see across the room and outside into the distance, pointing out things she could not see before and without pain. While we did not have what she was looking for, faith and power of the Spirit called upon in bold prayer instead eliminated the need that she brought to us in the first place.

Once again, I coordinated english camps for kids in the Guatemala City dump. Kids and volunteers had a great time learning new english words in fun ways while also spending time together. The volunteers loved the kids well and it was apparent that the kids enjoyed the volunteers too. This year was the first time I was not teaching a group of kids, as I was coordinating and assisting the activities, which was hard for me since I love to continue working with the same kids year after year. But it was a joy to equip my teammates so they could teach and love these kids well. We are not always the ones on the frontline of the ministry, sometimes we are supporting those who are. The behind the scenes is just as important so those who are on stage and hands on can be used by God. And, the best leaders are those who raise up new leaders. Fortunately, I was still able to spend time with some of my little friends - who are not so little anymore - from the last several years, and see them grow, so full of zest and love in life despite circumstances which was enough to cause my heart to overflow with joy.

While some of us were in the english camps, others were in a village installing water filtration systems, solar panels, and stoves for families in poverty. Water filtration symptoms bring cleaner, safer water for drinking and cooking. Solar panels brought hours of electricity and energy into the homes. Stoves allow safer methods of cooking and heating homes with lower risks of destructive fires. This group spoke of the vibrant love extended to them by the people in the village and the gratefulness shown to them by those receiving these gifts.

After gang lines fell apart last year while we were in Guatemala, barring us from access into the community, we were able to visit the neighborhood of La Limonada again. La Limonada is a one mile long river ravine that is home to over 60,000 people. Poverty and gang violence are a constant source of tension for those living here. A woman name Tita Everetz has established academies for children in La Limonada, providing education that exceeds the public schooling offered to them and a safe place for children and parents to come for support. We visited one of these academies where our talented Salvadoran friend, Fredy, played music and spoke on a Biblical topic of the month in the school. They all made crowns as a reminder that they are princes and princesses in Kingdom of God. Lastly, another member of our team, Josh, completed his Eagle Scout award by raising money for kids in this academy to all receive backpacks. The kids faces were illuminated with excitement when they realized they would each get a backpack, and they proudly wore them out of the school. While La Limonada experiences so much heartache, violence, and pain our visit is always a reminder that hope is also alive in this community, and Jesus is raising up His army of those who refuse to crumble and allow evil to prosper.

Our last day we brought some of the kids from La Limonada to an amusement park. We did this with a different group of kids last year, since we were not able to go to Guatemala, and it was humbling to see the look on the faces of these kids as some of them not only left the neighborhood for the first time but also had all the fun of an amusement park at the tips of their fingers for the day. We decided to do this again this year with a different group of kids. There were other groups of kids from schools at the park that day as well. I was with my friend Gloria, another interpreter in Guatemala that serves with us, as we supervised four children during their time in the park. It did not take long to remind me of the devaluing of lives that takes place in Guatemala City simply due to street address. Gloria and I were in line with our kids waiting for a ride. As we waited, groups of kids from schools would look at the four kids with Gloria and I and pushed past them in line - some of them turning around afterwards to give them a dirty look. After about a dozen kids had cut in line, Gloria and I said something to the adults with the other children who also looked at us and the kids from La Limonada to tell us they did not care. Gloria and I were infuriated and worked hard to keep other kids back, forming a barrier between us and our four kids from La Limonada once we reached metal rails that marked out the waiting lanes. I've been aware of the way many in Guatemala City sub-humanize people in the dump, La Limonada, and other poor areas but I've only worked closely with people and organizations who have like-minded visions and ministries to help restore hope and dignity in these populations. To see how others treat these kids, as though they were less than them, broke my heart and was a reminder of the importance of even some slight, kind gestures such as a smile or a hug. Even if these kids are overlooked by other humans, they are not overlooked by Jesus. They are loved deeply by Him and I hope they know that - I hope we showed them that.

During this trip we were also joined by our Salvadoran friend, Fredy, who has joined us a couple of times before. Fredy is one of those guys who has so many God-given talents that he could be a one-man church. Fredy loves God and loves others so well that everything else comes naturally. It was a pleasure to serve with him again. Two of my other friends from San Salvador joined us, traveling across country borders just to spend a day with us. My friend Abraham and his friend Henry spent our eye glass clinic day with us and stayed through dinner. They drove to Guatemala City at 1am, arriving at 5 or 6am so they could serve with us, join us in fellowship, and then drove back to El Salvador around 8 or 9pm. Javier took a bus the following day, arriving while we were out on projects. Javier joined us for dinner and then spent the night at a nearby hotel to be ready to go back to El Salvador early the next morning. I was overwhelmed by the love of these friends, who truly went out of their way just so we could spend a few hours together. Our interpreters in Guatemala are also a huge blessing to us, joining us year after year to serve with us and bridge the language barrier. These gorgeous girls take time out of their schooling, jobs, and time with family to join us and we do not take that lightly. I am so thankful for the friendships I have in Central America that are centered on loving Jesus and loving the people Jesus loves.

Lastly, two more Salvadorans were part of our team that week. Jairo and Ismael had never left El Salvador before coming to Guatemala with us, and they left their comfort zones behind to take this leap of faith. While I did not get to spend a whole lot of time with these guys, I was so impressed by them from the time I did spend with them. Both are soft spoken but incredibly powerful vessels through which the Holy Spirit was actively at work. It was fun to watch them gain confidence in the way God could work through them as they served wholeheartedly, not shying away from anything. These new friends were a gift to us and I'm honored to know them through this experience.

Returning from Guatemala is never easy. God granted such a quirky team that was dynamic in only a way he could have orchestrated. So many wonderful things happened again this year and it was sad when that book closed. I look back and praise God for the ways I saw Him touch all of their hearts and show them new things about how He can use them to bring His Kingdom to earth, here and now. Even though this was my 4th time here, God continues to show me new things too and remind me that I never have anything "figured out." It's a privilege to return to the communities in the Guatemala City Dump and La Limonada and witness the resiliency and hope that is bursting out despite still being in the midst of extreme poverty, addictions, and violence. The relationships I am able to build on and the new ones I form are precious gifts from the Lord that I take with me and ease the aching in my heart for Guatemala the rest of the year when I am back in the United States. Please continue in prayer with me for the incredible people of Guatemala and the work God continues to do as we have returned home.