Movies day 2

Today we were taking the older kids from both Limón and Mandarina to the movies.  We watched Evan Almighty in Spanish in the morning and Tita thought it would be better to watch Despicable Me in the afternoon.  My favorite part of the day was the movie in the afternoon.  The muchachos joined us at the movie theater.  The muchachos are a group of ex gang members from the ghetto that are trying to make a better life for themselves.  They have become Christ followers and work in a workshop in Mandarina School learning a trade so they can make an honest living.  They are young men who have witnessed and committed terrible acts of violence who want better.  They want a relationship with God.  I have to say, I was a little nervous that they would think the movie was silly.  After all, they are really tough guys.  You wouldn’t believe how loud they were laughing and how much they enjoyed the movie!  It was reassurance to me that in their heart is still love and laughter.  The story behind the movie was perfect for them also because it is about a mean/evil guy who ends up falling in love with 3 little girls that he ends up adopting.  It was a good visual for them to realize that everyone can change if they really want to.

Great day!

Tomorrow – Antiqua for some R&R!

Hasta,

Danielita

God is present always and everywhere

Today started in two different directions for the team.  I (Danielle) got the opportunity to visit our sponsor child, Daniel, in the safe house where he is living with his mom and 2 brothers.  Daniel’s father was extremely abusive and it was a very dangerous situation for the family.  She made the brave decision to flee and go to the safe house.  This is a very brave act because if she is found by her husband or has to return to the ghetto, there will be serious consequences to her and the boys.  I am very moved by her strong desire to protect her children.  While I was visiting Daniel, the rest of the team went to Mandarina.  Tita met them there with some of the teachers.  She took them to a spot overlooking the whole ghetto and asked them to pray over the ghetto.  It was a silent prayer and the team tells me it was extremely powerful.  I was sorry to have missed it, but I wouldn’t have traded my time with Daniel for anything!

After I returned to Mandarina the team was having fun playing with the kids and I prepared for the women’s bible study.  The girls all helped with the bible study and it was so good!  I am glad that God put this in our path.

After lunch, Peter got a chance to go out in the community and work with the muchachos.  He was very tired from all the hard labor, but he was very thankful that he was able to have that opportunity.

I am truly in awe of God’s glory and omni-presence.  This morning in particular as I was away from the group experiencing God with me and they were experiencing God clear across the city at the exact same time!  He is so good!

Ok, the team made me post the following picture.  They were making fun of me because I made such a mess eating my sandwich.  Nice…

God bless!

Danielita

Hearts were squished

Today was an awesome, emotional day!  We took the kids to the movies and it was so amazing to see the joy on their faces when the movie started.  Over half of the kids had never been to the movie theater before.  Wow, this is amazing as I think about how many times my children have seen a movie in a theater.  We were able to watch Despicable Me in Spanish twice!  It was so cool to hear the kids laughing at the funny parts!  This is a picture of the kids waiting for the movie to start!

After the second group watched the movie, we were blessed enough to be able to attend Grupo de Vida which is like lifegroups or church home groups.  This is held in a different home in the ghetto twice a week.  It is lead by a man named Shorty.  Shorty grew up in La Limonada and like many here, had a life filled with bad choices.  He has since devoted himself  to Jesus and to planting churches in La Limonada.  It was a very powerful service with about 30 people inside a home that is smaller than my living room.  The worship was so heart-felt and vibrant.  No one cared whether they could sing on key or not.  They were just worshipping God!  There were people standing outside because there was no room inside.  To see the hunger for God’s word in this place that is so filled with evil is amazing.  There is hope here.

Unfortunately while we were at the second movie and Grupo de Vida, Cyndi was home with an upset stomach.  In her time with God at the house questioning why she had to be home and not with us, she wrote a beautiful poem that I would like to share with you:

In La Limonada, as I walk through the street,

I see many faces of the people we meet.

I see their small homes, some broken, some worn,

I see their possessions, what little they own.

I smell the pungent aroma of sewage all day,

And ask how they can live in this way.

Why is it like this?  What can we do?

What would you do if it happened to you?

The sadness they must feel, the anger, the fears,

Enough to flood all the streets with their tears.

I expected to hear crying and see signs of depression,

I expect to see sorrow, and expected aggression.

But instead I heard laughter and sounds of joy,

As children played with their only toy.

I saw friends and families working as one,

To make the best because life must go on.

The schools in the ghetto offer the kids love,

They offer them hope from the one above.

They do all they can with all that they’ve got,

But I know it’s not easy, because it’s not a lot.

I have much respect for the teachers here,

For what they must see all thru the year.

Soon I will return to my life back at home,

But how this has changed me is still yet unknown.

Why is it like this, I do not know.

I can not understand why they just don’t go.

But where would they run to? What would they do?

What would you do if it happened to you?

Buenas noches!

Danielita

Great First Day!

Danielle here.  Today started in Limon.  After arriving, we were debriefed on a mural that Tita had asked us to paint in the little kids’ class.  After a short prayer (I’m not going to lie, part of the prayer was that we would complete the mural and have it look somewhat good!), we got started.  I think it came out really well, if I do say so myself!

After the morning session of school was over, we were able to visit Cyndi’s sponsor child, Manuel and my sponsor child, Carlita’s house.  It was a very moving, emotional trip.  Amazingly the rain held out until we were safely back in the school and the bottom fell out!  After lunch we were able to finish the mural just before it was time to pack it up and head home.

I am so thankful to be back again especially with 4 people who have never been here before.  I love to see the barrio through their eyes and see how they react to what they are experiencing around them.  I am always amazed at the joy I see in their faces despite their circumstances.  Renegade joy.  See Donnie, I was listening!

God is so good!

Thank you to all of you who are praying for us.  It means a lot to us!

Hasta mañana

Danielita

We’re here!

We have arrived safely and are just chilling in the house and will go to the grocery store in a few minutes. It is raining like crazy! Will blog more tomorrow!

A blessed last day!

Today started with the rest of the team going to Antigua and me going to the ghetto with Tita. Tita and I continued painting Mandarina with the Muhachos. At one point I was painting and looked around and was right in the middle of them all. We shared paint, laughter, and they even painted their hands and put their handprints on my shirt. Such a cool souvenir! After we painted we got to go to lunch. Lunch with my girl, Yeimi and her sisters! They came to meet me at Mandarina and they were dressed in princess dresses. TOO CUTE!!! When I told them I was going to take them to Pizza Hut they screamed like I was taking them to Disney World. It reminded me that our kids are so blessed! When we were on our way to Pizza Hut I asked Tita to call Yemi’s dad to join us. He is part of the carpentry workshop at Mandarina and he is trying to turn his life around. Shorty, Yeimi’s dad Venico, and Nery came to Pizza Hut to enjoy lunch with us. As, we sat around eatting pizza I looked around and was just amazed at the way God worked. A year ago I would never of imangined I would be having lunch with Venico and now, as Tita would say WOW!!!! The kids ate, and played the smiles on their faces were priceless! Venico shared with me some prayers he wants me to pray for him. To have him open up to me and show me his heart was another priceless moment.

Saying goodbye to La Limonada and the people there is always very emotional to me. As we left, I cried and prayed. Tita played one of my favorite songs by LeeLand, Tears from the Saints. Every time I listen to it, I am reminded of all the people who are lost and are in need of God in their hearts.

I know that I am blessed, but sometimes God gives you a little kick in the butt to remind you! We are blessed by God to share what we have with people who are less fortunate. This day is etched in my heart and I will never forget it!

Wow!

Day 3  began with all us ‘gringos’ accepting an invitation from Shorty and Tita to join the ‘muchachos’ in their morning devotional. The muchachos are current and ex-gang members who are now learning carpentry skills at the Mandarina school. The thinking behind the carpentry shop is to give the muchachos hope by providing an alternative to the never ending cycle of gang violence and hopelessness existing in the sorrounding community. Not only do they receive training for a new trade, these young men receive spiritual teaching in an atmosphere of unconditional love and acceptance.

Little did our team expect the Spirit to move so powerfully. Tears and laughter flowed, spirits soared and the Lord was worshipped by both gringos and muchachos. Even though most of the muchachos spoke little or no english and most of the team spoke little or no spanish, the message was universally understood. We preached, sang and prayed in both english and spanish and the Holy Spirit did the rest. Wish everyone could’ve been there just to see how God’s language is universal and sometimes the best communication is accomplished without words.

Grace and peace,

Casto

A great day!

Day 2, Joel, Casto and I finally arrived…without our luggage, but ready to get here! Today started with helping Tita shop for one month of supplies/food for the schools, which took three hours and filled two vans. Went to the ghetto, hugged a bunch of beautiful kids, met a Pastor named Shorty and guy called Blackie, who have stories that make my faith look so small. Then some of us painted, some of us played with kids on a make-shift soccer field. My head is full of ideas on how we can help make this a brighter place!

Donnie

My first look into La Limonada, Day 1

Hola!  Our morning began with the news that the rest of our team had a flight delay out of Raleigh and wouldn’t make their flight to Guatemala.  At first we thought Donnie was playing a joke on us!  Today was our first day in the ghetto.  Elysia and Jennifer are frequent visitors to La Limonada, but it was my (Denise) and Nathan’s first experience.  We spent the day at Limon, the original school.

After helping with breakfast we took the kids down to the field or campo.  All 4 of us played kickball with the kids, using cement blocks for bases.  We all had a blast and got very hot and sweaty.  Jennifer and Nathan then went back to do some painting at Limon.  Elysia and I then had an intense soccer game with the older kids.  Elysia was a mean goal keeper and I had a nice head shot.  It was muchachas vs. muchachos and the boys won.

Before lunch the 4 of us did some home visits with the Limonada staff.  This gave me my first true look at the ghetto. Elysia got to visit her sponsor child and pray for her.  I cried when we walked into their home- I was so saddened to see their living conditions.  We then got to visit my former sponsor child who doesn’t attend school anymore.  He was sick in bed.  I was able to give him some gifts, including a picture drawn by my son, Anthony.  I had the chance to pray for G. and his family.  G’s family had 4 baby chickens running around the house and they were dyed pink, purple, and blue.  What a fun sight in such a depressing environment!

After lunch we all did some more painting.  Our task was to paint balloons in the stairwell near the entrance.  Nathan and Jennifer took the pm classes to the field to play soccer.  Elysia and I continued with the painting and enjoyed socializing with Tita and the teachers.  After a long and hot day we left.  The driving out here is crazy and not for the faint of heart!

Our dinner was yummy tonight- pepian con arroz (rice, vegetables, and chicken in a sauce).  We hear the rest of our team got a flight in tonight.  We eagerly anticipate their arrival.

Blessings,

Denise L.

We are here!!!

We made it!!! After a very eventful day we made it! We have been up for about 18 hours and are  completely exhausted! Our day started out with Jennifer leaving her pack back with her passport in her car at the hub. So, keeping with tradition (Todd Fisher), Jeff had to go back and get it. She made it to check in with 10 minutes to spare!

So, finally we are off! We get to ATL with no other problems. UNTIL… we take off in ATL! We were in flight for 30 minutes and the pilot comes on and tells us we are turning around and going back to ATL. Seriously!!! At this time you look around and see panic on peoples faces. Mine and Jennifer included! Coming back into ATL was horrible, turbulence, turbulence, turbulence!!!! All I have to say is thank GOD for barf bags!!! Yes, I filled one up! GROSS!!!! After sitting on the tarmac for about an hour and half  the plane was finally fixed! Now, we are Guatemala bound! We made it!!!! YESSSSS! Praise be to GOD! If you haven’t figured it out yet, I hate to fly!

We had Pollo Campero (Guatemala KFC) for dinner. Good stuff! Now, we are relaxing and getting ready for tomorrow.

We can’t wait to see all the kids in the morning! Hugs and kisses for all! Then we are going to pick up the rest of our team. It will be great to have everyone here!

That’s it for now! We will post about our day tomorrow!