Wonderful Wednesday: Dedication Day

                 Our morning started out with a bang. A volcano in the distance rumbled and we saw ash puff out, which was really neat to see. After that, Bill Fennema wrapped up the week by leading us in devotions this morning, while including the other devotions from earlier in the week. Shortly after devotions, we went outside to take pictures of the group in our theme shirts, and went off to the village, La Alemada, for dedications. 

                    12 new homes were dedicated to our new Guatemalan friends. We split into 2 groups, and both dedicated 6 houses. One group was led by Pastor Isabel, the local pastor in the village, along with Kirk, a missionary that works closely with the groups and translator. The other group was led by Pastor Max, a pastor friend of Grace Ministries, and Josh Suruy, the translator that works with most groups. Dedications consist of presenting the family with food, household goods, and Bibles, as well as prayer to bless their new homes. We close dedications by singing the Doxology in Spanish, and lighting firecrackers. The dedications were very powerful and emotional, and it is a very special time for all that came to serve and those that are receiving the home.

                    After getting back from the village, we went to another village very close to the mission house, and did more food distribution. It was bittersweet to complete our last task of loving and serving the people of Guatemala. The smiling faces at the food distribution, along with hugs of gratefulness, was a great way to fill our hearts and minds with precious memories of our time in Guatemala. It was a great week and we all feel blessed to have had the opportunity to come here.

-Joy Petersen, Mary Wells, and Kyle Bennink

Taco Tuesday

     The day started with devotions led by Jan Timmer. They were about trials and sufferings, and were a great way to start the day. Before splitting off into two groups, we went down the hill to the school, and talked with teachers there to help them practice their English. The work that the teachers and leaders are doing is absolutely amazing and inspiring. 

    The majority of the team went to Tava, the village that was made from the refugee center of the displaced families, from the eruption of the volcano Fuego, that happened in 2018. In the 97 degree weather, we painted the inside of the Ark, which is going to be a library for their kids. We helped distribute fresh produce to around 140 families there. and held a Vacation Bible School for the near 100 kids there. 

    The remaining members of the team went back to the village to finish the 12 houses. All fronts are completed, including doors, windows, and hardware. We are looking forward to dedicating the houses tomorrow, and are so happy to have been blessed by these families. 

Scott, Jace, and Becky

p.s. We had lasagna for dinner, not tacos :)

Birthday Monday

     We started off this beautiful Monday with a great devotion from Becky and Kyle about going out of your comfort zone, living in the moment and trusting God's guidance to lead you. With this year being different than any other, we felt that their message was truly thought provoking and provided a great challenge for us all. After devotions, we split into 3 groups, one group going to VBS at Lazaro's church, one group going to the market to purchase gifts for dedications and another group going to the village to finish building the remainder of the houses.  We have completed 6 homes with just a few final touches on the remaining 6. We only had one losing battle to the sheet metal resulting in just a few minor stiches. No need to worry, the victim is doing just fine!

    The story for VBS was the feeding of the thousands which tied in perfectly with the food distribution we did later in the day. We handed out 150 bags of staples ranging anywhere from food to blankets to soap. The masks couldn't hide the joy on their faces.

    Upon returning to the mission house from food distributions, we all had to get our COVID tests in order to be able to return home. Lots of prayers were being said, and we are so blessed that God answered those prayers and provided us all with NEGATIVE test results. We will get the official paperwork tomorrow morning, but there is a huge weight that has been lifted off our shoulders. To celebrate, we all had cake and ice cream for Scott Eisel's 50th birthday and Joe Hendriksma's 14th birthday! What a very happy ending to a wonderful day. We cannot wait to see what great adventures tomorrow will bring with the light of Christ leading us along the way. 

- Abby Eisel, Steve Petersen and Kris Gortsema

Sunday Funday

     Today we experienced Antigua and what God is doing in Guatemala which tied in nicely with Tico's devotional. He discussed how in Hebrews 12:1 that we need to fix our eyes on the LORD and persevere. We saw this firsthand in the market where many Guatemalans had to battle over the last year with the pandemic, Tico also discussed our verses this year in Galatians 3 and how we're all united in faith as children of God. Overall today was a restful and relaxing day.   

     Challenge: Matthew 11:28, so with all the craziness of COVID-19 we want to remind you to seek out God to guide you through these tough times. Lean on all your brothers and sisters so that together we can all glorify our Father.

By: Jan, Braden, and Ed

Lots of activity today!  

Saturday-  After breakfast and devotions, we went to the El Tejar dump to pass out food and spend time with the families living there. We were able to see first hand the daily lives of these people.  As we arrived a truck was making a drop into the dump. those who live there all have assigned jobs to go through and sort items or scavenging for anything they can repurpose, eat, or use for daily needs. They also find bottles, glass and metal to return for scrap. These people are on the lowest rung of poverty in Guatemala, only earning about $12 per week, per family!  We were able to gather together and pray with them. Then we passed out meals to everyone. These people are quite amazing. I could not fathom living the life that these people do, but every time I get to experience this it is extremely overwhelming with emotions. To have nothing and to be so grateful but full of life. I will never forget visiting them. I feel blessed being able to be apart of their lives even just for a short period of time. God bless the families of the El Tejar dump.

We then spent the day completing houses we started yesterday and each group began at least another home.  We have nearly completed 9 houses at this point, on track to meet our goal of 12.   Thank you to all the house sponsors, as the families have been so grateful for the support.  

Before dinner, our groups young people were invited to worship with the Grace Youth Group from the nearby town.  When we arrived, we were warmly greeted by the area youth and their leaders.  Fortunately some could speak English.  We each paired up with a local student to get to know them and make a connection.   Afterwards we played charades with the group.  After we spent some time together, we were treated to a traditional Guatemalan dish- Chicken Pepian.  It was delicioso!

Before heading off to bed, our team assembled nearly 300 food bags to be provided at food distributions later this week.   Looking forward to a day of rest tomorrow!   Thank you for your continued prayers this week.  

Chris B, Renae & Rob 

February 19, 2021

     We started our day with devotions, led by Scott Eisel. His devotions was really well worded and a great encourager for us all. Later we sang the song "By Faith", which went very well with Scott's devotions and really was a great way to start off the week, reminding us all that no matter the circumstances we need to trust God and have faith. 

    Shortly after at about 8:30 we left for the village, La Alameda, which was around 15 minutes away from the mission house. There we unloaded our tools, met the families and started work on the first houses. We split into 3 groups, each reaching our goals of having one and a half houses done by the end of the day. Vacation Bible School had a great turnout, with at least 100 kids! We did crafts and played games in a large outdoor courtyard/soccer field. The kids had a blast and so did we. We taught the story of Joshua at the battle of Jericho and made trumpets with the kids to help them understand the story. 

    We all saw God in our own ways today, in the children's laughter and smiles, in the beautiful scenery, and the welcoming community! They are so happy we came to Guatemala and we are so grateful for the opportunity to help the people of Guatemala. It is such a blessing to be able to serve, and be able to show God's love to the people. We are constantly reminded of our theme, "One in Christ", and our verse, "So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:26-28).

-Eli TeHennepe, Steve Moelker, Beth DeVries

Arrived in Guatemala!

 We arrived!  Flights took off with out a hitch, caught our Grand Rapids to Miami flight this morning, followed by a rushed run to the next concourse over to make our flight to Guatemala City.  If you have ever been to a busy city, imagine one twice as choked with cars, motorcycles and "Chicken Buses" (brightly colored retired school buses used as public transport, that act like they own the road!)  Traffic from the airport to the Mission House took a little longer than average, but we always have interesting things to see on the way.   

Most of us are tired and a bit weary from the long day, so we are off to get a restful nights sleep.  Breakfast early in the morning, followed by devotions and our first day of building in the village.   If you would like to see where we are on a map, search Tehar, Chimaltenango.   Or click the link.   

https://goo.gl/maps/4w24K8Jx7HmzZEYx8

Stay tuned for nightly updates from the team!  

Rob & Ryan 

Dedication Day:

Dedication Day is typically a highlight of this trip, and today did not disappoint.  Most of us would spend $420 at home without giving it much thought, but for the recipients of these $420 homes, it is a life changing gift. The gratitude and appreciation that they felt towards us was overwhelming.  One mother, who only sees her husband once a month, as he is away earning money to support his family, gave a teary and emotional Prayer of Thanks to God for this Blessing.  There was not a dry eye in the house.  On the other side of La Canoa, the other group's first house was donated to a family that we built for last year.  God humbled us in this moment as this was donated in honor of Duane Door and he was a part of the original building of their first house last year.  Many tears and emotions were shared by all as we know our Brother Duane was smiling down as he continues to be making an impact with the many people of Guatemala, with whom he loved deeply.  Halfway through the day, Josh and I (Ed) took a slight detour to visit a family we blessed from last year.  The warmth and excitement that ensued as we walked in the gate and they recognized us cannot be explained, truly grateful for the fellowship we have through Christ and the work he has called us to do here.  We prayed over them and shared a moment of gratitude as we explained how we had prayed for each other throughout this past year.  I was left in awe as they prayed over me and named my wife.  Just knowing that God was able to use us to plant a seed and that He connects us over time and many miles.  The day wrapped up with several of the Families gathering together to to thank us again and provide each of us with a handmade gift.  While these homes may have been life changing to them, this experience was without a doubt life changing for each of us.  These Families will forever live in our hearts. It was clear the Holy Spirit was blowing through this beautiful and windy village and we were so thankful for everything we were able to experience through God's grace and strength.  We covet your prayers as we travel home and encourage you to continue to keep the people of Guatemala in your prayers throughout the year.

Becky Joy, Ed, and Scott

Tuesday

Today was a day where our group split in two. A majority of the group went to the refuge camp to help paint one of the buildings that had been built for people affected by the volcano eruption two years ago. The rest of the group went to finish up the remaining houses by building the fronts of the houses, the windows, and the doors.

At the crack of dawn a group of four people went down to the school below the mission house to help make breakfast for the kids. This consisted of making eggs, sausage, oranges, beans, and a protein drink. After that, the rest of the group came down and we started passing out the breakfast for the kids in grades kindergarten-8th. The younger kids loved the warm protein drink while the older kids weren't as big of fans. After that we checked out the brand new school that has only been open for two months. We got the privilege of going in the classrooms, answering questions the kids had and participating in classroom activities. Getting to spend time with the kids was a great start for the morning and laid out the footsteps for the day ahead.

We had nine houses to finish up with six people before tomorrow's dedication. When we arrived we had four boys that helped unpack the truck with work supplies for the day ahead. They also followed us around and were willing to help with whatever they could. One thing we were very thankful to God for was that there was a nice breeze that while we were working.

While the first group went to finish up houses the rest of us drove one hour and thirty minutes to the refugee camp. This was located in Escuiuntla. The ride there was unsettling as we wound in and out of the mountains with cliffs on the edges, but God has blessed us with wonderful drivers who got us there safely. Once we got there we talked to Gary Deleon who runs the camp and we were able to ask about the lives of the people living there. The camp consisted of people who's houses and farms had been destroyed by the volcano eruption two years ago. The government funded wooden houses for people to live in while they found them more suitable living conditions. There were four families assigned to each wooden house. After a year of people living there, the government created colorful houses for all the families to live in; however, they still don't have running water or electrical in some houses. Now that the wooden houses aren't in use they are planning on making them a food hall for the school. This is where we come in. We painted the house with teal and green to bring a little happiness to the people of the village. At 1:30 pm, a group of us went to another wooden house that wasn't in use anymore and we conducted Bible school. During Bible school we taught them about the calling of the 12 disciples. Next each grade separated to different rooms and we gave them crafts. The crafts were bracelets that the kids can use to remember the lessons we taught them today. After that a group of us played soccer with a few boys and ended up giving them a brand new ball. Lets just say they were all smiles.

Tomorrow is a very big day for us and the people we have been able to bless. We are all thankful God has given us this opportunity to bless the people of Guatemala.

Monday, February 24,

We started our day out with devotions lead by Tico. He gave us encouragement for the work that we were going to do in the village that day. Tico shared with us how much the pastors appreciated our work in the village.

In the morning a few of us went to the market to shop for house warming gifts. As always we weren't disappointed with the sights, sounds, and smells of the market.

The rest of the group went to the village to work on houses and bless the children with VBS.  All of the houses were coming along nicely, and at VBS, the crowd was small. The kids still loved the story of the lost sheep, and they loved doing a craft. In the village and VBS we had to wrap up early so we could do Food Distribution. For the food distribution we were in Santa Cruz Balanya, which is across the highway from San Jose Chirijuy, which we had served at in February 2017. It was good to see some familiar faces. Emily Vlietstra led the 500 member gathering a heart-felt prayer. The families that we gave food and hygiene kits to were very grateful and would go up and hug you, it was very emotional. We were also grateful to share with them in Gods name.

We are getting ready for a lasagna dinner, fellowship, and a good night of rest

Thanks for the many prayers, they matter so much to everyone and everything that is happening here.

Owen Bennink, Paige TeHennepe, Adam Jager

Sunday February 23, 2020


Today was a day of rest from our job sites. We split up into two groups and went into Antigua. One group started with riding quads, while the other group went to the market to check out the local goods. We joined for lunch at Mono Loco. The weather was extra sunny and hot, it's not common here to wear shorts as Guatemalians are very modest, so we all wore pants as well.

Riding the quads here was different in that we got to experience riding the cobblestone streets for many blocks. We first stopped at a chocolate museum to learn how they make chocolate and buy some for ourselves to enjoy. From there we went two miles uphill on a steep winding path to the top of the mountain. At the top of the mountain was an organic farm to table restaurant. We walked through the gardens to check out the view below.    From the top of the mountain, we could see Fuego, a semi dormant volcano that spews steam every couple of minutes.

In the market we learned how to bargain for local handy crafts. There were many beautiful textiles, hand made items and creative souvenirs.

Back at the mission house after our dinner we gathered for worship time. We were able to hear a testimony from Kirk, the missionary here in Guatemala that helps coordinate mission work in the area. He moved here 18 years ago from Oklahoma when he felt God's calling. After speaking he answered some questions about how the local village pastors use the gift of the new houses to connect with those in need while sharing the faith.

It was a great day of rest and learning about other cultures.  Looking forward to tomorrow!


by Katie Koster, Emily Vlietstra, Rob DeKock

After breakfast before heading into the village to pick up where we left off yesterday, as a full team went to experience the true reality of the life here in Guatemala.  We visited the local waste disposal area a.k.a the dump.  In the world we live in you could never imagine families living inside an area like this.  But the reality is, it is a real thing.  We went and spent time with the families there, passing out sandwiches, juice, chips and other snack items.  There was even small impromptu football/soccer game with the kids.  It was amazing to see such love, acceptance and happiness from the families there without having anything or knowing when or what their next meal might be.  Because they must salvage from the mounds of items other people have disregarded to find just that.  God bless these people, may their happiness and smiles never fade.  Also may He help us take away from this experience that happiness is not about material possessions, it comes from inside the heart, the mind, and most importantly your faith.
Chris Biggs

After going to the dump, we went back into the village and continued working on the houses we had started the day before. After lunch, a small group of us went to the local church to host Vacation Bible School, VBS. This was a really cool experience because we have the opportunity to work in the same village as last year, so we had the chance to see some of the friends we made, and check up on them. Lots of the kids from last year came back to VBS, and when they saw those they recognized, their faces lit up, and the biggest smiles formed on their faces. For our story, Josh, our translator, used those of us from the group as actors in his "skit," and told the story of the Feeding of the Five Thousand. We bought 5 little rolls, and we used the bead fish as the props, and the kids got really into it, and really seemed to enjoy it. After the story part was done, we did a craft and colored with them. Once the scheduled part was done, we took the outside with soccer balls and jump ropes, which they loved. After playing with the kids for about an hour, it was time to pack up. After many hugs, and many "see you laters" we piled back into the van to meet the rest of our team and head back to the mission house. Overall it was a great day, and we can't wait to go back and see the kids on Monday.
Becky Hendriksma

What a great day in Guatemala!  Honestly everyday spent here is a great day.  God shows up here around every corner, in the midst of moments spent in worship, van rides, building houses, playing with little ones and relaxing after dinner.  It isn't that God isn't present everywhere else.  It isn't that grace is less in days spent in Grand Rapids, or Detroit or Northwest Ohio.  Every person that made the choice to spend a week in this small community also, maybe unknowingly, made the choice to be more aware of the presence, mercy, justice, and heart of God.  We could see Jesus in the eyes of the mothers at the landfill this morning, we could hear him in the voices of the twenty or so kids who hung around our building sites all morning, and we could feel him in the hugs grateful recipients of His grace and love coming from us.  The mountains are beautiful, the roads winding, and the fellowship is great, but God's plan wasn't to bless us with those things along.  He wants in, he wants more, he wants us.  No matter how much we serve we can never out do God.  As much as we love we can never love others as much as he does.  As much as we receive we will never be able to translate the amazingness of God's grace to people better that he can himself.  We are thankful and overly blessed to be here, to be used and to be made ever more aware of God's grace.
Jamie DeVries

    Happy Friday from Guatemala! This morning our devotions addressed our theme this week which is "Run Your Race" based on Hebrews 12:1. Ryan talked about running our own race as we run this weeks race together. He encouraged us to uplift each other in prayer and to encourage one another to step out of our comfort zones throughout the week.
    We got to drive on the new bypass that was being constructed for many years which made our travel time to the village much quicker. The village we were heading to was La Canoa, the same village we worked in last year. This made many who were here last year excited to meet with some of the families we connected with last year.
    The team divided into three separate groups and went to three different work sites throughout the village. The first day is always challenging trying to remember the building process correctly. Once we started to remember the holes were dug, the posts were set, and things started to roll a lot better. Once we got to the second house it was like old hat. Today we were able to get three houses ready for concrete and three houses ready for steel.  The families are so grateful, we had some of the village teenagers help dig some holes and they were awesome and super fast. One young man was so fast digging the holes we couldn't set poles or get more holes marked out quick enough. Great problem to have for sure and what a blessing to have them work with us on their homes.  We also had a "first time" thing happen today, one of the crews, we won't mention who (Ed Taylor) hit a grey water line while digging a hole for one of the posts.  Fortunately it was just grey water and not a sewer pipe, Ed got right on being a plumber and fixed it up.  Nice work Ed Taylor you are the man!!
    After lunch we hosted a vacation bible school at the local church. Around 50 kids came to hear a bible story and make some crafts. They were very respectful and excited to come spend time with us. After our story and crafts we played some street soccer and had a blast jumping rope. It was hard to say goodbye at the end of the day after having so much fun and making so many new friends. We're blessed to be here and please continue to pray for the team throughout the week.

Bill Fennema
Maci VanderLaan
Kris DeKock
   
   

Safe Arrival

Hello from Guatemala!  It was a long travel day - we are thankful for safe travels and for answered prayer.   As I type this update, most people are wandering to bed at 8:30 pm local time, seeking some much-needed sleep and looking forward to waking up to begin learning what God has in store for us as He works through us.   Thank you for your prayers!

Ryan

Wednesday Dedications (Jan.)

Today was dedication day. We returned to the homes that we had built and spent time with the families and prayed with them. We gave them house warming gifts, but more importantly we gave them a Bible, a children's Bible, and an audio Bible. We reminded them at every house, that we did not come to Guatemala to build them a house, but we came to share the love of Jesus Christ with them. Multiple people gave their lives to the Lord and some rededicated themselves to Christ.

After an emotional morning in the village, we headed off to the dump to serve pizza to the families that make their living within it. The families that we served find their primary source of income in the dump, not as paid laborers, but by refurbishing and recycling things from the dump. The families were overwhelmed with joy and gratitude for the food and gifts that they received.

We ended our night by sharing how the week had affected us and the ways we saw God at work. We worshiped together and expressed how we need to continue encouraging each other when we return home. We need to continue stepping out of our comfort zone and keep our candle burning.

Run the race God has set before you.
-Rayanna and Justin Oetman

Tuesday (Jan.)

      Hola from sunny Guatemala!
      Today we had another excellent day that started with breakfast, singing, and devotions that were led by Sarah Westhouse. Sarah challenged us to seek out the meaningful tasks that are a part of our sometimes seemingly meaningless days. After devotions, our team split into two groups. One group went to Tava, which is the refugee camp where many survivors of the volcano eruption were taken last year. They worked on painting the new library and put on Vacation Bible School for the kids. This was complete with three pinatas. The other group went into the village and finished up the houses that we have built this week. Unfortunately this week we heard about a woman that died in a house fire. We were called to help the family with funeral expenses and a casket. The family was very grateful for the help that was provided for them. Today was emotional for us all as we helped them tear down the burned house and move all of the woman's possessions. As we were tearing the house down we noticed a cross nailed to one of the house posts. This strengthened our knowledge that she was a Christian and comforted us that she is now in heaven with the Lord.
       On a lighter note we were all able to hangout with many kids and stop for Ice cream on the way home. Over all this was a very rewarding and good day. It gave us the opportunity to follow God's calling and continuing the Lord's work here in Guatemala. Tomorrow we look forward to dedicating the houses we built this week ,and serving a warm meal to the families who live in the dump.
       Thank you for all of your prayers and support!

       Aly Tanis & Rachael Bosse

Monday (Jan.)

Monday

Monday morning started with a time of group singing and devotions from Steve.  We split up into two groups.  One headed into the village to continue working on the houses and one group went to the market to purchase our gifts for the house dedications.  The group in the village worked on the houses, wrapped up the concrete and a group of them worked on VBS. The group that went to the market were able to meet up with everyone else in the afternoon to finish up the houses.

A number of us were blessed to be able to go to the visitation for the lady who passed away unexpectedly in the fire yesterday.  We were able to meet and pray with the family.  We also held our food distribution tonight at the local church.  So many families were blessed!  The smiles were amazing.

The cooks made an amazing supper and we once again enjoyed each others company.  Its been an amazing week loving on the people of Guatemala!

Thanks for all your prayers!!!!!

Dan, Betsy, Seth, Jamie, Cambree and Jolie Harkema

Sunday (Jan.)

This Sunday morning, we woke up at our usual time, but instead of our usual work day we headed to Antigua to have a day off of work. We split into two groups, one heading straight to riding quads up a mountain. The other, went to the market and shopped. Half way through the day, us groups met up and ate at Mono locos, a restaurant in Antigua. We enjoyed a nice meal, then split up again switching spots.

Our quad excursion consisted of riding through the streets of Antigua and heading up a mountain. We stopped at a little chocolate factory and were taught all about chocolate. We then heading farther up the mountain to a restaurant that overlooked the city of Antigua. We headed back and had a scenic route the way down the mountain.

The market consisted of many vendors with many handmade items for sale. We spent about 2 hours at the market then headed back to the Mission House. Once we got back to the Mission House, we put together care packages for the families that we built houses for. We then had a jam session to the guitar. After the long jam sesh, we ate a great dinner. Tico led us in devotions, focusing his message on challenging us 'to go'. Tico received a phone call stating that a woman in a village close to the one we are in this year passed away unexpectedly. Her family could not afford a casket however the Lord always provides. After an emotional prayer, the team gathered more than enough funds to cover the price of the casket.

-Mike & Malia Brink

Saturday, January 18, 2020

Day 3 - Saturday 

    Woke up to a beautiful morning of misty rain, which was a surprise to most because of it being the dry summer season. Today our team split into two groups, one headed to the refugee camp established after the devastating 2018 volcanic eruption and the other group went back to the village to continue the building projects. 

    The village group split into three teams, two building teams and one concrete team. The building teams accomplished alot today! All twelve houses are near completion; thanks to all the local children who were eager to lend a hand! In the afternoon, a small group did another successful day of VBS. Around 60 kids showed up to do a craft, hear a story and play parachute games. The concrete gang worked hard, finishing seven floors under the guidance of Josh, who works for Grace ministries. One floor was accidentally decorated with a set of puppy paw prints across it! 

The group that went to the refugee camp had the task of sanding and priming a building that will be re-purposed as a library and held a VBS for the 150 living in the refugee camp. The weather in the camp was a warm 96 degrees with no breeze, but the team persevered and got the job done! It was amazing to see how much God has accomplished in the year since we last visited.

-Quinn and Zoey Grassmid, and Gillian Van Duine.

Day 2 - Friday

Friday, January 17, 2020

We are all thankful for a mostly seamless travel day to Guatemala. The large group of 38 from Michigan made it without a hiccup, while the lone traveler from Dallas (who has never left U.S. soil) somehow managed to encounter every flight delay known to man. But in the end, everyone made it safe and sound.

It was only a 20 minute commute to our villages, which was a blessing in itself. The views have been breathtaking, especially so for our first-timers who were not aware of the beauty of this country. What has been even more breathtaking is the smiles of the children we have been blessed enough to spend time with. Our group of 39 total split up into three groups to build homes in different places throughout the village. There was plenty of people on job sites building, which left ample opportunity for others to building meaningful relationships and connections with the families.

In the afternoon after lunch, a small group broke off of the building sites to help with VBS at a local church. We were pleasantly surprised with the amount of children who were there that we were able to share the story of Noah with. After the story was shared by Josh, a local Guatemalan, a take-home craft was done with the kids to remind them of the rainbow and it's symbolism for God's promise. What followed VBS was what might have been the most epic street soccer game ever played, complete with roadblocks for traffic!

The group is blessed to have a Vet along with us, who's expertise was direly needed to relieve a puppy from pain due to a wire collar. This puppy then managed to melt the hearts of the whole team, but especially Aly's, who could've very easily brought the dog back to the mission house to make him the official mascot.

Ended a great day with a full belly, thanks to a pair of wonderful kitchen staff and the world's best coffee. Looking forward to what God has in store for the rest of the week and the connections we have made and are going to make.

Brad and Tonya DeVries, Ada VanderWeide, and Aly Partridge