Trinity Goes to Guatemala: Day Three: The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is his name.

The post title is Exodus 15:3. In a home visit today (a visit to a shanty in an area outside the Guatemala City garbage dump) a seven year old boy told a group of us that his favorite Bible verse was Exodus 15:3. At first, it struck us as an odd verse for a young child, and then he explained why he liked it. He said it reminded him that God was like the head of a family and the head of the family would always protect him. Folks here need a warrior; we all do, but in Guatemala the need for warriors is painfully acute. We witness God as a warrior in many places today.

We had a full, eye-opening day today. Our days begin with devotions led by the Guatemalan missionaries. Today it was Ana's turn and again, like aways, the Guatemalans are outstanding worship leaders. Her lesson was based in Jesus's words, "I am the living bread," and as usual, we found examples of her message throughout the day. After devotions we visited Only a Child Ministry. It is a ministry that reaches out to homeless boys who need adult males to care about them, and Guatemala is in no short supply of boys who need father figures. Unfortunately, drugs and gangs have more appeal to increasing numbers of homeless boys in the city. George Leger's ministry embraces those who desire a path for a future through education, employment, and faith. His boys are the ones who make the boxes that eighth graders receive each year at Trinity's eighth grade graduation. George took the time to again to tell our Trinity team about his faith walk and calling to Guatemala, and gave us a chance to get to know the boys and the boys to get to know us. George, his boys, and the ministry are an inspiration.

After Only a Child, we went directly to the cemetery the overlooks the Guatemala City garbage dump. For veteran, Guatemala team members, you cannot begin to image the changes that have taken place in the 12 years we have been going to Guatemala. And for those of you on the team last year, you would still be stunned by the changes that occurred this past year. In places the garbage is higher than the cemetery which use to be a promontory overlooking a network of deep ravines which make up the dump. It was stunning. Because the dump is as high as the cemetery, the vultures are closer. Delainie probably put it best when she described the scene as surreal. People picking through the garbage use to look like the size of ants a few years back; now they are just feet away.
And this is all relevant because of the hardship it represents and because Groundwork serves the people who live and work in the dump.

This afternoon we divided into three groups to visit and pray with Guatemalans in their homes. My group went back to an area outside the dump called La Liberad. I had the privilege of visiting a woman I had first visited 12 years ago; it was her son who selected the Exodus verse above. There is so much I could share about these home visits but for tonight I just want to share one quick story. Ana, the woman we visited this afternoon, was the woman 12 years ago that had had a baby kidnapped from her shanty about 10 months prior. At the time, American adoptions of Guatemalan children were common. However, the adoptions were ended in part after unscrupulous individuals stole children and sold them into the legitimate adoption system. We talked at length tonight about the suffering that has taken place at the hands of these criminals... the families that were left to mourn the loss of children, the children left without families, and the families that never had the opportunity to adopt children from Guatemala. Our eyes were opened at every turn today.

I would like to write more, but I need to get the light out; the mosquitoes are hunting and my roommates and I do not wish to be dinner.

We are all well and blessed to have this time in Guatemala with Groundwork and with each other. Thank you for your continued prayers and interest in our faith walk this week.

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

P.S. I added photos to yesterday's blog this afternoon. I will try to upload a few for today now, but it is taking an exceptionally long time. If it takes too long, I will do it tomorrow. Thanks for your patience.