July 11th...meeting Marvin & Ronaldo

Day 4 ~ July 11^th~ Meeting Ronaldo and Marvin

I have to say this was probably one of the best days of my life so far. I was picked up at the hotel by Sergio and Jim around 9:30 am along with Carl and Diann. We headed out to visit my sponsored student Marvin’s home and also attend the annual All Kids Birthday Party in Agua Escondida.

It was about an hour drive to where Marvin lives and where the party was going to be. Unfortunately we weren’t able to visit Marvin’s home. When we arrived at his house we discovered the structure had collapsed and there was nothing left but the base of the home. It was a very small home; you had to walk a wooded steep path to get there..it was literally in the middle of nowhere…there was not even any neighbors. It had been an extremely small home, I am gonna say probably one room, possibly two.

After several phone calls Sergio was able to track down where they live now. We arrived at the house to find they were not home. They were already on their way for the party.

So we all headed to the party along with two other members of the Mayan Families Staff; we weren’t there long when Marvin and his family arrived. His mom and him and his brother and sister came up to me. I tried talking to them but no luck because of the language barrier…of course Marvin hid behind his mom’s back haha. He had the sweetest little spirit about him though.

Not too long after Marvin and his family arrived Ronaldo and his family showed up. And of course I had another shy one on my hands, which I fit in well with because I am so shy sometimes.

Every so often I look over and Marvin or Ronaldo would be standing not far from me just smiling...they are both just so adorable.

It was amazing to be a part of the birthday party and to witness how excited the children and even the adults were. There was a clown and also two piñatas, one for the boys and one for the girls. Even the adults raced to pick up the candy. It was funny to see but also sad in a way.

This birthday party is something the families look forward to every year. Each of the families receive a food basket to take home with them also. I can’t tell you how many kids and adults came up and hugged us and thanked us. They were so grateful over such a simple birthday party. We forget way too often how blessed we truly are.

After the party we walked down to where Ronaldo lives so I could visit his home. We got to his home around 3:30, it was already dark in his home and you could barely see anything. So just imagine how dark it is at 7 or 8 at night. It is a sad situation but Ronaldo and his family are happy and they are full of joy..and I plan to do everything in my power to make life a little easier for them

July 10th ~ Guatemala 2016

Day 3 July 10^th ~ Guatemala 2016

Sunday morning we got up and walked down to the boat deck to take a boat ride across Lake Atitlan.  We went to Santiago and had breakfast, the food was amazing. Then from there we went on to San Antonio and visited a pottery place, such amazing talent. I can’t even draw a stick man, haha.

I met two little friends in Santiago, two beautiful little girls. All we could say was “hola” and “Como te llama” and I am sure that is not spelled right. They would look at me smile and giggle and wave..so happy to see a new friend, they melted my heart…I know it doesn’t take much to do that these days.

We also met Samuel; he was our guide for the day. He told us a little about his life and the way he grew up. We have it so good here, if only we weren’t too selfish to realize it. He is married to an American lady and they have a beautiful little boy named Thomas.

After we returned from the boat ride we came back to the hotel and a few of us ventured out shopping. It is so heartbreaking to see so many children having to work. You are bombarded with people trying to sell things to you. It can be annoying at times but sad to think that this is their life, this is their dependency, this is their food, their rent money, and this is their survival.

Sunday night we went to Sharon and Dwight’s home for dinner with them and some of the staff. It was an amazing time. We watched a few short videos of the work that Mayan Families does. They do amazing things here in Guatemala.

I am so blessed to be here. I do miss my family but I am loving my time here. I am already looking forward to when I can return.

July 9th Guatemala 2016

Day 2, July 9^th Guatemala 2016

We got up bright and early Saturday morning to leave Guatemala City and head to Panajachel. Panajachel will be our home till next Saturday. A beautiful home with so many stories to tell. It is hard to explain how a place so beautiful is yet so heartbreaking..I won’t say sad because the people here are so happy and so full of joy..they are full of laughs and smiles.

As we traveled to Panajachel we saw so many sights. There are stray dogs literally everywhere, fruit/vegetable vendors on every corner and all down the road. Children running down the sidewalk with a backpack on and a smile on their face. Chicken buses everywhere you look and decorated so beautifully and uniquely. So many familiar sights, for a minute it looks like home in the US…then you pass children selling things on the street..elderly people who can barely even stand much less walk trying to make it down the road and some even selling things, hoping to make some money…a home with a tarp roof…homes made out of adobe…dirt floors…then you realize this is nothing like home.

Riding down the roads here almost feels like a life or death situation haha…the roads are very narrow and at times it seems impossible for two lanes of traffic to pass each other…there is a lot of swerving and horn blowing. Your life depends on that driver, you learn a lot about trust that is for sure.

There is a lot of riding in the back of trucks here…it is quite a fun experience, but you have to remember to hang on or you may go flipping over the edge, haha

The people here are so friendly and they will do anything to help you..yes shouldn’t it be the other way around..us helping them? But don’t forget what I said..the people here are happy…they may struggle..and they may do without but they are happy.

I wish I could put into words what I have seen and what I have felt. It has been amazing and it has been heartbreaking all at the same time.

I wanted to write more but I am heading out soon for a day with my boys. I have so much to write about but it seems my mind comes up blank when I start typing

July 8th

July 8^th – Day 1

I don’t even know where to begin to describe this experience. The first day and night of the trip I felt so many emotions and after about two hours of being in Guatemala I was done and ready to come home. It is quite funny, the parts of the trip I was so nervous about turned out to be the easiest parts..and the part I wasn’t worried about in the least was the reason I wanted to leave.

Things are so different here. When we came off the airplane in Guatemala and walked into the airport the heat literally took my breath away. There is no air in there so it was extremely hot. It took us about an hour or an hour and a half to go through customs and get our baggage…we were all drenched in sweat by the time we made it outside.

I wasn’t ready for outside like I thought I was. At first I was like, I made it, I got this. But then I started to look around and all I saw were people set up everywhere trying to sale things for a little money. Your heart can’t help but break for them, cry for them, scream for them. But there isn’t anything you can do…because if you say yes to one then you need to say yes to them all. You can’t just pick one, how is that fair. But how is it fair to say no.

My heart wasn’t prepared enough for what it witnessed and so it caught me off guard. It was broken…I was broken…and I wanted to leave immediately….I wanted to race home...back to a country where people receive help….a country where people receive government assistance…a country where young children don’t have to work just to help their parents survive…a country full of selfishness…a country full of spoiled rotten kids and adults…a country full of hate…a country that is focused more on popularity and wealth and self.. I wanted to run from it…but God said no! He brought me here….He brought this whole team here...and here we will stay…and here we will love…and here we will care…and here we will help…and here we will change the world one person at a time…but only through Him…always through Him.