Hope

Guatemalans live closer to the edge than most Americans.  To keep their families safe, healthy, and fed, it takes strength and a level of faith most have never had to muster.  Here, tears surface in an instant, sometimes without warning.  The sense of being in this together as a Christian community is compelling.

In devotions this morning, Guatemalan, Sandra said that if she could be an animal, she would like to be a butterfly, because a butterfly goes through stages in the process of acquiring its freedom.  She likened the process to the stages of faith acquisition on the way to freedom in the Lord.  Christians go through many stages; we ask the Lord to change us so that we can be free.  She asked us, how are you changing?  Jeremiah 29:11 was the basis of her answer and our faith lessons this week.  "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, "plans to proper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  Hopefully, these few photos will illustrate the hope we found during our day in Guatemala City working in the ministry house with the kids and adults who live next to the Guatemala City garbage dump and a glimpse into their future.  I am having a little difficulty with the blog tonight so it will be short with fewer photos.  I need to post it quickly before I lose it again.

Tomorrow we will head to Antigua, Guatemala before leaving on Sunday.

                                 Groundwork and Trinity, minus the photographer, Kevin

                                                      Man talk, ministry style