Day 7: Be Ambitious

Well, I end today with photo placement issues again.  Bear with the blog tonight.  We had another full day, as I hope you can see through these photos.

Verse from the teen lesson on self image

Debbie with coffee grower, roaster,and author  Caroline Godoy and her daughter
Caroline who served as a translator with the Trinity team about 6 years ago.

Andrea during the teen lesson

At the Mayan Ruins

In devotions this morning, César challenged us in whatever we are called to do, to be ambitious. We have tried to be ambitious this week in all things.  After devotions we had the opportunity to walk to the Mayan ruins, ride along to pick up coffee at Godoy Coffee and learn volumes about coffee growing and roasting, or remain at the mission house and prepare crafts for next week and clean.  We headed out in three directions and reassembled at lunch with all 27 of us for delectable left-overs around a table for 12.  We made it work.  In the afternoon we continued to help in any way possible and prepared for our last lessons here at the mission house in Guatemala City.  It is the smallest of the groups but definitely  the most intimate setting.  Again, our actors rocked the house, the vocalists led with pizazz, and the lessons rolled one more time.  For me, it was the most difficult afternoon.  I think I experienced a caffeine crash after a morning of drinking freshly roasted coffee (literally) along side the roaster.  Several folks were experiencing a touch of exhaustion and fatigue, but our issues all faded away once the children and adults arrived.  Most were families connected in some way to the garbage dump and it was another great afternoon of ministry.

Climbing a Mayan Mound

Olivia and Marina 

Emma and Amanda with the kids in the garage

Missionary Julian, Sally, and baby Julian
(Julian is sponsored by Trinity.)

Kelsey and Manuel's son Becker

Bruce with baby Angie and her mother

Jenna with Leidy and Leidy's family... Aracely, their mother, and Sandra

Alaina and baby Angie

Emma and one of her many young friends

Jim chose to sponsor Rene to help him finish high school. His mother is in the center.

Missionaries Manuel, Julian, Oscar, Ginny and Kevin, Carlos, César, Sandra and Aracely (Anna was ill today.)
Julian and Oscar are sponsored by Trinity.

It is always difficult to say goodbye to the Guatemalan missionaries.  It may only have been a week, but in Guatemala, in the settings in which they work, people bond in a hurry. Once you share these moments, walking away is difficult. In one of his comments on the blog, Pastor Ken challenged us to continue our enthusiasm for ministry when we return home.  It became a hot topic this evening as we reflected on our week here.  We are not the same people who arrived in Guatemala seven days ago. Time will tell where God will lead us as a result.

Blessings and good night.