Day Six: Amatitlán

Please forgive the apparent lack of organization today.  I am having trouble moving things around and will give up for the evening. The text is in the middle with photos on either side.

Bruce is a rock star after the adult lesson. He literally bends in half to give the women each a hug. The other photos is Emily and Victor with Sally and Joel savoring their time together.

Lake Amatitlán

Today was another great day.  Carlos led devotions and after we each recited Psalm 91:14-16 to the person next to us after inserting their name, we were a little weepy but ready to set off for a day in Amatitlán.

It is about an hour drive to the third ministry site. Amatitlán appears to be a smallish, poor city situated next to Lake Amatitlán, possibly one of the most picturesque, polluted lakes I have even seen/smelled.  It was an extraordinary day for all of us, but again for those of us with sponsored children, it was incredibly meaningful.

So many organizations provide opportunities to sponsor children around the world, but this is a unique situation.  Our team from Trinity can meet and talk with the many students Trinity church and school sponsors, but also visit the homes of the students some of us personally sponsor,  Today, Kelsey, Hannah, Emily, Lauren and I had that opportunity.  Emily and I sponsor brothers and their mother invited us into their humble but loving home and served us Salvadorian pupusas to thank us for sponsoring her children. Normally, we would not eat food away from the mission house, but apparently I do, because I am two for two. It is amazing to watch children grow each year and in a very small way make such a big difference for their families by supporting the expense of sending them to school.  It was extremely touching for all of us.  I was present when Hannah met one of her two new "children," when Kelsey was reunited with Karen, and when Emily lost it when Victor gave her the biggest hug ever! (He reminded her of her brother, Adam.) Their mothers are thanking God for us, the whole time we are thanking God for them opportunity to help them.  It is clear every day that "Mothers" (biological and sponsor mothers) and children are the same everywhere.

Our lessons today were interrupted by a bit of tropical rain, but there were about 400 women and children in Gonzales Park.  There is nothing green in Gonzales Park; it is just a slab of crumbling concrete, but when Groundwork pulls up, everything comes alive. I hope the photos do our day justice. It was a wonderful day with new and old friends... and many faith lessons planned and unplanned.

One last thought... the frustrating thing about blogging with photos from Guatemala is the country and the people are so beautiful. The photos never capture what we are seeing and experiencing because of its beauty.  So many of  people are extremely poor, hungry, sick, and living at constant risk of violence, but the photos rarely capture that.  We love it here; however, it is not an easy place to live.  The air pollution is staggering, the government corrupt, and in Guatemala City, we are surrounded by urban chaos.  However, I think that is what makes the experience so powerful. The American and Guatemalan missionaries here are fearless, and we are blessed each day to walk with them. They reach out in places you could never imagine. We witness and participate with them only because of their willingness to lead us into situations our faith walks likely would never go without them.  Again, today we are blessed.

Hannah and Daryln

Missionary, Aracely. Karen and Kelsey

Team photo at Lake Amatitlán

Lauren and Maria at Gonzales Park

Again, the photos are uploading in random spots and it is messing with my head, so I will stop for now.  (I will add more photos tomorrow and edit the rough spots.) We continue to be happy and healthy and grateful beyond words.

Blessings and good night,

Nate, Amanda, Kara, Kelsey, Bruce, Jim, Gordy, Meredith, Hannah, Emily, Olivia, Abby, Savannah, Lauren, Sally, and Delainie