Monday's Memories

This morning I had the opportunity to see God in the faces of many, many Guatemalans in the Market.  The sites, sounds and smells were amazing but nothing beats the moment when your eyes meet a strangers and you both smile.   We were purchasing house warming gifts to be given on Wednesday during house dedications, shopping for gift giving is always extra special to me but this was fun on another level.  Shopping was followed by assembling hygiene packets for our food distribution tonight as well as putting together the housewarming gifts.  I'll let my amigos share about food distribution.  BEST.  DAY.  EVER.  (Michelle Vonk)

Today we had the chance to go to the Dream Center/Feeding Center.  The day began with helping in the kitchen getting a very healthy lunch ready for when the 45 kids arrived on the bus from school.  When the buses arrived around 1:00 we were greeted with many hugs and smiles from all the kids.  This made us all feel so special.  We then were able to help with serving them lunch and getting toothpaste on the toothbrushes after they ate.  At break time we played soccer with them on a very dusty field, but so much fun.  The kids were SO polite and appreciative of all we did for them. Sadly our day was cut a little short compared to other groups because we had the amazing opportunity to go back to the village in the evening for the food distribution. Seeing all the people from the village come through the line really makes you appreciate what you have back home! This was a very rewarding experience for the whole team to see the love of God show through not only our fellow team members but those we were helping and serving.
(Kris Dekock and Ethan DeVries)

Numbers 6:24-26  "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;  the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace."

We came to Guatemala to be the hands, feet, and face of God for the people we interacted with.  Building homes, interacting with the home owners, and leading VBS are ways that we have worked to be the hands of God.  Today as we gathered at the church to distribute food, hygiene products, etc. to 150 families that had been identified as families that would be really blessed to receive such help, there was evidence that several members of the group have found ways to turn the shining face of God directly upon people, especially children, in this community.  Those who are on the Guatemala service trip for the first time were positioned in front of the distribution tables to distribute goods, allowing those who were returning to be in the background, observe and report.  As the families filed into the area where the food was being distributed, the children, and parents broke into smiles as they recognized faces of the workers and eagerly gave hug and smiles of friendship.  As with God, they felt accepted, valued, loved and respected. Standing back to observe this was truly a blessing for all of us.  (Ron Grassmid)