We began construction today. Three roofs, three trusses, no major injuries and a lot of help from the children of the La Toma school. They helped us hammer, drill, cut wires, prep wood, pick up lumber and learn Spanish one word at a time all day long. We are constructing classroom and we are building relationships. I wonder as I watch the team set the trusses up…which ones of these little ones will one day be teaching in this classroom and sharing the story of when it all began…
Sometimes construction is about hammers and nails, sometimes it is about relationships. Today was a lot of both. A few of the children were truly our helpers and co-laborers all day long. They worked hard. They are strong and want to learn.
Sarah McGinley...on the roof again!
And the team worked hard.
Some doors opened today and it is possible I will travel to meet the new students our church has sponsored. Some of them are from a remote village pretty far away but we are making arrangements to meet in the middle. This is a great opening and I am excited about the possibilities.
Claudia, me and Hania. Hania is the Principal this year. This role is rotated every two years so Ana, the Principal from last year is back in the classroom teaching students!
We reconnected with friends that teach at the school. Due to Ash Wednesday this week there are really no classes until Thursday so that is when we will be teaching.
Marta with "Queen" Dulce who was named Miss Carnival today
Today was all about celebrations, beauty pageants and enjoyment! This includes packets of flour being dumped or sprinkled on other’s heads as often as possible throughout the day.
Los ninas lined up for the celebration! Muy bonita!
SCRIPTURE: But now I urge you to keep you your courage because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed.
OBSERVATION: Sometimes the “vessels” are destroyed, but God protects what needs to remain and continue.
APPLICATION: Sometimes our vessels (institutions, dysfunctions, thought patterns, etc.) have to be broken down and removed. When God is involved, this leads into a new way and a new freedom. Becaues the ship was destroyed, Paul and his fellow travelers encountered the grace of God. Out of chaos, fear, wreckage and destruction everyone was transported into a new place and met the power of God.
PRAYER: Gracious God, please protect your image in each one of us and hold us in the safety of your hands. When life is like a shipwreck and chaos and fear is strong… please show us the way to Hope. Give us the courage to continue and trust in you. I love you. Thank you for so many times you brought me safely out of the shipwrecks of life.
We spent the morning hours preparing for our work. Some were drilling holes in the plates for the roof. Others were practicing songs Sarah McGinley has prepared for us to sing at church today and later with the children of La Toma.
Maria
Maria is a team member from Columbus, Ohio who is fluent in Spanish, a native of Peru. She helped us go through our stories and correct the computerized translation (it does not know culture or normal speaking!). This took some time and will help us communicate well tomorrow when we share the stories with the children.
Maria has lived in the USA for 40 years. She is living with family members in Ohio now that only speak Spanish so she is living espanol every day; a big help to us right now!
“Be humble. You do not live here and you do not know.” I shared this message in an earlier post. It is consistent. It popped up again this morning as we were going through the story of the leper (Luke 17:11-19). In translating the story from English to Spanish there was a problem….one we could not see without other eyes…of a different culture. Today Maria provided those eyes.
Ready to go to worship: Howard, Todd, Dudley, Sarah and Debbie
We worshipped at Felix’s church this afternoon. It was wonderful to see everyone. We walked down to the school and looked at the fabulous work the teams before us started with the classroom construction. The TN teams have been coming here for many years. When they started there were 3 classrooms. Today there are 15 and over 600 children come here for their education.
The classrooms we will be roofing
One block at a time…one team at a time…one year after another.
Pastor Felix and Mike Gaines
We cannot come to this country and interpret the culture or the language with our own voices. We have to have the voice of the people with ours.
Los ninos at church: Dora, Estelle, Laura (with child), Laura, Harrison, Bryan and Stephanie
Every day God places people in our path and we are invited to listen and to learn. Wisdom will often come from what is right in front of us. If we are too quick to interpret, we miss the gift. If we are too frightened to engage, we miss the blessing. I Corinthians 13:1 says it best, “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging symbol.”
Translation needs both courage and humility. God, please give all of us an extra measure of both. This is my prayer tonight.
Although saying “yes” seems to come too easy to many of us who are overcommitted…the truth is that saying “yes” is very hard. Saying “yes” often means risk, vulnerability, possible failure and possible greatness that is beyond our control. And sometimes saying “yes” hurts. So why do we ever say “yes”..to relationship, to God’s nudges, to anything???
Jack and Sarah Neal
7 people said “yes” to the nudge to come to Guatemala for the first time this year. Sarah and Jack Neal started getting the “nudge” several months ago. The deadline for signing up for the trip passed and they weren’t on the list. The nudge persisted. I said, “there will be another trip…another chance…” The nudge persisted. Someone had to cancel; Sarah and Jack Neal are here.
Dudley said "yes!"
Dudley Berry has never been on a mission trip and never out of the country. She has been waiting for a time when at least one of her children could drive so the daily life of the Berry household would continue in her absence. One of Dudley’s children now drives. Dudley is here.
Randy said "yes"
Randy Odom has enjoyed a busy career and has traveled to over 10 countries serving in the military. He is also a local pastor with the United Methodist Church. Randy took early retirement this past year. He’s always wanted to go on a mission trip but his work schedule didn’t allow it. Randy retired. Randy is here.
Debbie said yes!
Debbie Kleinschmidt is a multi-cultural lady with a heart for respecting others in every circumstance. She lived in Singapore for several years and is well versed in the hows and whys of understanding other cultures. Debbie wanted to come on the trip. She signed up. Family needs emerged that required her deep attention. Debbie cancelled. The nudge persisted. Debbie signed back up. The family needs persisted. Her husband stepped up to help more. Debbie is here.
Todd said yes!
Todd Officer is a husband and father of two small boys, henry and Graham. Being away from his family is no small thing – for any member of the family! Todd has a heart for missions. He leads our Missions & Outreach Committee at church. He brings books to our attention: The Hold in Our Gospel; When Helping Hurts; Toxic Charity. Todd can’t stop pushing just a little more for a faithful and humble relationship with others. In the middle of family life, work and commitments….Todd said “yes” and Todd Officer is here.
Michael said "yes!"
Michael Jones is a gardener. Acutally, Mike is the garden angel. He lives among the gardens on the North Campus of our church. He plows, plants, weeds and harvests. Michael has never been out of the country. There are several reasons why Michael could “not” go on this trip but the invitation was stronger than every “no”. Michael said “yes”. Mike Jones is here.
Every person has a time and a place to say “yes”. Yes means risk. Things might be hard. Things might be amazing. Life might be different. We might be different. Saying “yes” to the inviations of God are consistently about relationship, consistently transforming and consistently a step of faith. Adventura with the Divine. I am so thankful people keep saying “yes!”
We arrived safely after a long, but easy day of travel. Funny how you arrive with all your senses anticipating the sounds, the smells the beauty…the people! Just a few hours of flight away from the USA and we are transported into more of the “Americas”…the land of Central America..the culture of Latin America…the country of Guatemala. My favorite part of the flight was looking out the window as we were descending and seeing the National Palace in Guatemala City. I actually recognized what I was seeing! The flag, the parque central, the Palacia, the Catedral…familar to my eyes and my spirit leaps inside my preoccupied body: you are here!!
Summer Turvey happy to be back in Guatemala!
Sunset on the road in Guatemala
The sunset entertained us during the 4 hour bus ride to Mazatenango. Our cameras were glued to the windows to catch its beauty…as if we could. Our cameras….our cameras. We take pictures becuase we don’t want to ever lose what is unfolding before us. We take pictures because we want someone else to see and experience this with us. We take pictures because this is …. is not our ordinary life. When I come here I have this deep sense of Wisdom speaking, “be very humble, this is not your home and you do not know.” Even after several trips this past year, that voice is still with me…resounding loudly in my spirit, offering caution, discomfort and hope. Caution because I need to be reminded. Discomfort because I am a visitor here. Hope because if God is willing to bring me here and allow me to be, then God has more to reveal.
Bill, John and Dudley
Our team is made up of many from our church – with 7 people here for the first time. Other friends from Ohio and Columbia, TN churches are also part of this group. We are a total of 23 people. Today we will worship (thankfully, worship is in the afternoon in Guatemala!) with the local church where our project is located. It is already a beautiful day with birds singing, sun shining and beauty all around. I have just finished a true Guatemalan breakfast which I have longed for since September.
Bienvenidos! Welcome to Guatemala!
The blessing of return; the blessing of a “home” away from home. Bienvenidos! Estoy feliz estar aqui.
Life in the Deep End 