Last days

Well the last few days have been crazy.....we were so busy with ministry that I didn´t have much time to blog. We went to a school and a central park today and yesterday we went to another school and an orphanage. At the school, Mayra showed me the place she wanted me to create camp lucy, which is a soccer camp that I have been dreaming of starting here in guatemala. The ¨field needs alot of work in order to become a field but its perfect and I can´t wait to start making this dream a reality. I will type more about both days later but I have to go now. Thanks for you prayers!!

Dia 4

Today was such an annointed day and I feel so blessed to have been able to experience it. We went to Mayra´s church this morning, which is also the church of titi, willie, jessie, and haiti. We got there and did our dramas, and the crowd was sooo quick to respond and laugh and cry at our dramas. At the end tons of people came up for prayer and we were able to minister to them despite the language barrier. One girl personally apporached olivia to tell her how good of a job she did when praying, and told olivia that everything she said in prayer had taken her pain away. I got to speak a lot of Spanish to the point where English seems hard to form. After prayer they were singing and dancing so we all decided to join. The pastor even called me and olivia up to teach everyone a new song....yo tengo gozo gozo gozo en mi corazon! Which is I have the joy joy joy in my heart.

After church Mami cooked for us and the meal was wonderful. We were able to fellowship with our new friends and played double dutch and basketball. It was soo much fun. I have made very good friends with haiti and she has taught me so much spanish! I love it!

For the evening service we visited a church, and it was a phenomenal service. The whole church came p to prayer and in the process of ministering to others, I was ministered to. We went to pray for them, but they ended up praying for us! Randy preached an amazing message and the whole service was great! It truly was an amazing day...and now off to do some team bonding!

Day 3

As all of the others day 3 was such a blessing. We woke up extra early to have devotions and breakfast then we were off to a town called tecpan. About a month ago a tropical storm came through and most of the houses there were filled with mud and sewage up to the windows so the plan was for us to make the hour and half drive to tecpan in order to clean up the houses. But things rarely go as planned on missions trips. First we stopped to pick up about 25 people from Mayra´s church which was the team we would be working with and in this team was WILLIE AND TITI! It was so amazing to see them again and of course marlon was there as well. Its amazing how much a language barrier doesn´t matter because we played games and showed each other important aspects of our own cultures for the whole drive. The whole drive ended up being 6 hours!!! We went down roads that no school bus should ever go down and I held my breath afwe times.

We finally arrived and the poverty of this town is like nothing I have ever seen. I mean, the poverty in guatemala city is bad but it is nothing compared to tecpan. Most kids were dressed in traditional Mayan outfits and many went on the muddy and sewage filled streets without shoes. We gathered the group and started our dramas. The last drama requires everyone in it to fall on the ground at the end so our clothes were soon filled with the mud and sewage that was on the ground. After the dramas we passed out candy, toiletries, blankets, and some food. The people were so greateful and just as we started passing those things out the rain started to pour. So now we were wet and muddy. It was all worth it though because about 25 people came up for prayer....it was a blessing.

So after being soaked and dirty we got back in the bus for the 6 hour ride home. It went fast because we talked and played with our new friends, and even got to stop at pollo campero on the way home. It truly is a blessing to be unified with a team that doesn´t speak your language. I got to practice my spanish and they got to practice there English and it truly was a blessing!

Day 2

WOW! With every passing hour I wonder why I haven´t move to this country yet. Our first day was AMAZING!!! Lastnight all of the girls in my GIG and natalies bonded soo much. We talked and laughed and it really is amazing to not only impact the lives of people in Guatemala, but also the people on our team.

So this morning we woke up bright and early but we fell asleep at 9 so I felt sooo rested. The first thing we did was meet up with Mayra (who is the most amazing person in the world) and went to pastor Avalinos. The streets here are completely different than those in America. One street contains hundreds of dirt floor house and thousands of people. Most contain glass, and Pastor Avalinos certainly did. Right when we turned the corner to their street all of the kids shouted GRENGOS!!! and ran over and covered us with hugs and kisses and just love. After going inside to get everything settled, we went back on the streets and passed out some silly bandz. We brought hundreds of silly bands and half were given out within the first 5 minutes! After that we just got to love on the children. We played soccer and they taught us hand claps and we taught them ours and it was amazing. Eventually we went inside to get ready to pass out the food. We served them noodles and tortillas along with milk. The kids come from everywhere for the food and bring any type of container they have so they can take it back and feed their whole family. After this, Pastor Avalinos family blessed us by cooking us lunch. It was the yummiest lunch I have ever eaten. Meat, gaucemole, salsa, frijoles, and all kinds of amazing stuff. We ate and talked with them and then said our goodbyes. I did get to see Amado and Rebecca, which was amazing because they were here the first time I saw them 3 years ago.

After lunch, we gave a tour of the orphanage that we had painted in past years and headed off to a drug rehab. The rehab was great and we were able to give testimonies and do skits that really impacted the lives of the people there. They thanked us constantly for all of our love that we gave them. We headed off to dinner after that then came back to the hotel where I am now. It was an AMAZING day and I am so blessed. Thanks everyone!

Day 1

Well theres not too much to say about today. We woke up at 5 after a full 2hours of sleep and made our way to guatemala. We arrived safe and sounds and went to POLLO CAMPERO!!! I got to talk with Mayra which was amazing. Now were off to bed. Thanks for all your prayers!

Past trips

Well my sister and I have been to Guatemala twice already. We have been fortunate enough to visit the same orphanages and feeding programs both years that we were there, and see the same children. Not only do we remember them, but they remember us as well and always question if they will see us again, and I love being able to say yes. To help you guys get an idea of some of the stuff we do, I thought I would put up some pictures and stories from last trip. If this is too long andboring then please feel free to simply close out and go back to facebook =]]. The picture to the left is the first feeding program we go to every year. We normally pass out the normal beans and rice and kids come from everywhere bringing any type of containerthey have to fill with food. Every year I've seen a little girl name Erica (on the right) who broke my heart into to pieces. I remember seeing her with a trashbag full of containers to get food for her whole family. She was quiet and not as happy as most of the barefoot fun loving children, and my heart broke for her. I saw her the next year as well and was able to be with her for most of the day and it was a shame it took me so longto see her smile, because it melted my heart whenshe finally did.

We also are able to paint orphanages for the kids to make there rooms a little bit of a better and exciting place.

The second year we went back to the same orphanage to see Amado, rebecca, and lucy and painted desks. The orphanage had opened a school as well so the kids could learn and the desks were rough and unpainted. We were able to sand and paint the desks and when we took a break it always involved going out to play futbol with the kids. The kids there have the most

amazing spirits and hearts that I have ever seen. They have no

thing: they have to rely on feeding programs to eat and most walk on the glass filled streets without the protection of shoes. However, I have never heard them complain. They

don't resent Americans for our wealth instead lovingly welcome us and play with us, they teach us there language and show off their amazing country. While playing soccer, one little girl selflessly offered me a glass of water, and while I couldn't drink it I was amazed at her selflessness. I am truly blessed to be able to see these kids over and over aga

in. They have truly changed my life and I hope at some point I have changed theirs.

This year we get to go back to those same kids at those feeding programs. I cannot wait to hug all of them and play some soccer and feed their needs. We'll also get to meet up with the adicto a jesucristo team, which is full of friends that I can't wait to hang out with and work with. A tropical storm recently devastated guatemala and many homes are filled with mud and wastes. We have the opportunity to clear out the homes and give them a better living area. I can't wait to spend a week serving these amazing people. Thank you so much for your support and prayers. I plan on updating daily. Again, thank you so much!