Today was all about connections. Groundwork Guatemala is a relational ministry. They don't build houses, they build relationships and connections, and today that occurred in spades.
After devotions lead by Rudy, a friend of the ministry but new to us, we were off to Amatitlan and a day of activities in the small city about 45-60 minutes from the Cuidad (City). For the past two days we have been out in the country; today we walked among the poor in the city.
For Kelsey, Jeannie, and I, this was a long awaited day. It was the day we got to visit the homes of the children we sponsor all year. It is a very small gift each month to sponsor a child with Groundwork. That gift enables a child to go to school and includes the uniform and the required supplies necessary to attend school here. Today, for three of us, it was all about Joel (Sally), Karen (Kelsey), and Ana Victoria (Jeannie). We each spent time in the morning in their modest homes with their families, and in the afternoon they all attended our faith lessons. It is humbling how grateful these families are, because we know the gift is very small, but that gift is the difference between sending a child to school or not, and that is a deal breaker for any child, anywhere. It is especially critical for the extreme poor; without an education here is no hope of breaking the cycle of poverty that exists for too many families. Joel was sent out to buy a bottle of Coke and five crackers for us to share (and his father came home from his work in a nearby street), Karen's mother had prepared a nut candy for Kelsey and everyone in her group a bean tortilla, and Jeannie and her group was offered a "mystery" fruit drink and had the opportunity to make corn tortillas. It was "living a dream" to be a part of a young life/family so far away from home.
We ate our peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on the shores of Lake Amatitlan...looking better than usual from a distance, but still polluted beyond understanding up close. It is there, just like "the tree" in
Buena Vista, that we took a group photo with the Guatemalans in the ministry.
Then we were back to Gonzoles Park (a not-so-large slab of decaying cement between two cement block buildings) to prepare for the next round of adult, teenage, and children's lessons. I think by now there have been about 250 adults, 400 children, and 60 teenagers. It was daunting yet exhilarating to get out in the afternoon sun to give it our best knowing we were the face of Christianity from the North. Bruce and Gordy, again, did a spectacular job with the adults, Katherine, Emma, Riley, Rachel, Kelsey, Jeannie, and Sam excelled with the children, and I was blessed with the light-hearted/good-hearted comedy of Andrew, the many gifts of Emily which today included slamming limp cords inside tiny holes in the side of wet, slippery beads, and the unassuming, down-to-earth dependability of Michael. It was a great day and it ended as most days do here, in a tropical rain storm. We came home soaking wet, especially the guys, but happy and looking forward to another adventure tomorrow.
Each day we share our highs and lows. The lows usually involve frustration with the language (our problem, not theirs), and the highs are always the connections we establish. I hope the pictures capture our faith walk today. God was so good to us again.
Blessings,
Emma, Gordy, Riley, Emily, Kelsey, Jeannie, Sam, Bruce, Michael, Rachel, Katherine, Andrew, and Sally, connected!
Jeannie and Ana Victoria
Sam and friend
Emily and friend
Riley and Katherine (daughter and mother) passing out bananas to the kids.
Karen and Kelsey
Rachel and Emma doing what they do best, kids!
Sally, Riley, Andrew and Gordy with Joel's family. Joel has on the striped shirt.
Andrew and Bruce with Guatemalan missionaries and friends, Odi and Sandra (The size difference between us and the Guatemalans is substantial.)
