Video chronicling the week

Click the following link to watch the video on youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtEdEviU-cU

Back in the States

With one voice, this blog was contributed to by multiple members of the team.  Whether we were at Hogar de Vida, villages, or clinics, we were serving as one under the name and Lordship of Christ.  The trip took us out of normal element and opened our eyes to so much need.  Seeing the need for love and compassion, we responded with all that we could and prayed God would do abundantly more than we could ever imagine.  

Now, we have safely returned to our homes, schools, and jobs.  We would like to thank you for all your petitions and prayers to God on our behalf.  The hope is that as you've read this and get to talk to us, your faith will be encouraged by the stories and all you've taken part in through prayer and support.  

In addition, with returning, we have a challenge before us.  We've heard the Word and became doers in Guatemala.  However, God does not just call us to an active faith when we are away from the regular and comfortable.  Now, we need to be ever aware of the need in our own neighborhoods.  As one body with you, we need to be doers of the Word to respond with love and compassion that God has first shown us.  May we bless God's Holy name and have one holy passion. 

God bless,

BFC Guatemala Team

Day 7 – Friday 2nd

This was the last full day at Hogar de Vida. The Frenchs and Dentinos went to Canilla to visit and help in the clinic in the Fickers' home. Then, of course, we had fun with the kids, which included a camp fire with s'mores.  Here are brief reflections from our final day and trip. They are brief because there is so much to share.

Reflections from John Zimmerman's evening Bible Studies:

It was truly a privilege to have daily devotions with the teenage boys at Hogar de Vida this past week. Prayers were answered for the sharing of God's truth and the building of relationships with these nine young men, and I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to impart some of His truth with them. We had six devotions with the boys, ranging from the gravity of our calling to knowing what God's will is for us, to finding a Godly woman and ending today with being men of integrity. I'm thankful the boys engaged in these devotions, but also thankful to the Lord for teaching me through these discussions as well. A Dios sea la gloria!

Reflections from Trip Leaders:

Chuck: Thank you all for your prayers and support. We've had an excellent trip and accomplished much of what we came to do. After only seven days at Hogar de Vida, the BFC team and everyone at the home have become family. Despite language and cultural differences, the love of Christ has firmly knit us together. Though we're leaving tomorrow, many of us are already looking forward to our next trip to Guatemala.

Pastor Lyall: I thank God for the opportunity to serve with this team at Hogar De Vida. It has been a honor and a privilege to see the team serve with such passion, hard work, selfless service toward the children at the home and in the aldeas. It is always a joy to see how God brings a team together to serve effectively through the variety of skills and personalities of each team member. Pray for us to continue to hear what God says and do it! Dios les bendiga!

We leave for Guatemala City at 8:00 am. There is a scheduled stop in Antigua for shopping and lunch. The plan is to stay at a seminary over night to catch our flight first thing Monday morning.  This might be the last post from Guatemala.  Look forward to seeing all our friends and family soon. We would appreciate your prayers for safe travel.

Additional Pictures from the Week

Day 6 – Friday 2nd

Today, the team completed work projects and hung out with the kids. It was hard work with concrete and “hard work” snuggling and playing games. Everyone has been working really well together as the Body of Christ.

Stories from the day with the kids:

We decided to start the day with the little ones coming over to the team side of the orphanage and dyeing bandanas. They put little stickers on it and then were able to help with the spray bottle of paint. As a bit of explanation, the orphanage has two different areas to it; the team side which consists of a kitchen with a large table, three bathroom and four bedrooms. The side that the kids live on has a large play area, kitchen and then all of their bedrooms. Anyway, we typically play with them on their side, but today the little ones enjoyed playing on our side. We colored, played with balls, did puzzles and read lots of books. At one point this morning, I was attempting to make gatorade and was surrounded by little ones who really wanted to help. We also brought out the balloons in order to make ballon animals. The kids love this and actually found it to be great fun to pop the balloons. The older boys caused a few tears as they popped the little girls balloons a few times. The little ones love to crawl into our laps; they may run around for a bit but before too long they find a free lap. There is one little girl that is very cute (pictures would never do her justice), but a little firecracker. She is 3 years old and has a smile that would melt anyone's heart, but my goodness she is opinionated. She, at times, wants my help and then at other times will push me away so that she can do it on her own. She is a lot of fun! We all have our “favorites”. After lunch they came back over to play for a little bit and then we went over to their side for story time, sang some songs and then broke out the jump ropes and bubbles. Before long we were pushing the little ones on swing, going down the slide and running around after the kids. They are fun, but tiring (though I should not complain, as I was not pouring cement).

Stories from dinner:

We had surprise guest for dinner tonight. We had two oxen come through the yard!! This apparently happens all of the time here:) We are now getting ready to go and watch a movie with them. We will have a new experience as we will watch it in Spanish with English subtitles.

In addition, to the surprise of “the meal on the run” (oxen), we presented a laptop to Sebastian and Orella. They've been praying for two years for a laptop for their son, Luis, for his 18^th birthday and college. However, high school in Guatemala is private and costly. Due to this cost, they were not able to have extra funds saved up for his birthday in June. So, the team was able to purchase the laptop in the states, which saved money compared to extra costs here, and then cover half the cost as a gift. Sebastian and Orella were very grateful to God and that He used us to answer their prayers.

Praise:

We received wonderful news today! The critically ill baby (Paulina) we saw at the clinic on Tuesday and sent home with hope of only a miracle to survive is alive and fairly healthy! Our team is rejoicing in God's powerful healing and love for this small child and her mother. What an awesome testament that our God is able to do more than we could ever ask or imagine!

Day 5 – Thursday 1st

How quickly the time flies! Each day has an unique adventure. We've completed work projects in the morning. Then, in the afternoon, the team and kids went to the “public pool,” had a lesson on the Good Samaritan, and did crafts.

Stories from morning work projects:

After breakfast the team worked on completing a new sidewalk for one of the buildings. With as much rain as Guatemala sees, having a sidewalk is a very nice thing to have. Pouring concrete here is a bit different than back home. While there are more hands to help, its a much more manual process. It also gets hot pretty quickly. But with the guidance of the experts, the team was able to dig, form and pour the sidewalk in the morning. We also prepared a separate area in the orphanage for pouring more concrete tomorrow morning. It is a covered clothes line area for the children's clothes (muy importante en Guatemala). We also cleaned up a drainage area around the kitchen area where we are staying. During heavy rains (like last night), the kitchen gets some pretty serious flooding. We hope that we've seen the last of the flooding – gets pretty muddy in the kitchen!

Stories from afternoon:

Given the work that was done in the morning, the team voted to visit the local swimming pool. A great time was had by all! After a morning of pouring concrete, nothing feels better than a cool swim. When we returned, the French's lead a devotion with the children and we all spent more time with the children.  Some even snuck out to the local market area for treats for the kids. Evening devotion included a testimony by Norman and Vicki. It was great to hear their story and to just spend time visiting. They have been a true blessing and already feel like family.