Since being back in Guatemala from my most recent states trip, my schedule has changed a bit. For the mornings, I am in the office working alongside kids, answer emails, translating letters to/from sponsors, and running around getting work done around the orphanage that needs to be done for the day. In the afternoons, I get into a rhythm of going out in ministry with We Help Children working with kids, teens, and leaders outside the orphanage walls. Occasionally, it ranges from hospital visits, schools, and other children’s homes. A couple times, it’s revolved around a new adventure to check out other ministry possibilities. Most of the time it is held within the tin shack villages.
These villages aren’t what we think of as US villages, with bikes lining the sidewalks, neighbors out chatting and a cozy coffee cafe on the corner. These are filled with families (usually with multiple children) living off of maybe $5-10 daily. For some families, that estimate is high! They eat what they can afford, their water (if they have access in their house) is flowing out through a pipe onto the dirt road outside, and stray dogs, covered with flies, fleas, and scars, are making themselves comfortable on their doorsteps. Teens ride around on their bikes with loose chains, torn-apart seats, or broken spokes. Some kids have the availability to go to school, while their parents never learned to sign their names. Toddlers run up to their mothers to get a quick sip of milk between activities, while throwing their trash in the streets on the way there.
Our team is different almost every time we go. Sometimes we have 8 people, with two cars all sharing seats so everyone can fit. Other times, it’s two of us working with a single leader of the community. But, there is always a group. We are together, working as a team to make a small impact for the community. No one goes alone.
I am usually with the Guatemalan leader of We Help Children ministry. We will sit down with one of the ladies of the community week after week to start building a relationship, gaining trust, and having a contact person if anything was to come up. We take the hour we are given and begin training these women on how to lead and guide their community. We teach them about families, scripture reading, prayer, finances, their testimony, and the list goes on. These women in who we train will be the head over that community and can help us to minister to their village. We, in turn, continue to support them by bringing donations, helping lead events, and be a source of prayer for them and their village. Our weekly visits turn to monthly as they get further with their training and can begin to help themselves with ministry, teaching, and growing. We do not hope that the Guatemalan village will be dependent on American leadership, guidance, and finances, but we want to show them what it takes to build their village and lean on their own leadership. Guatemalans building up Guatemalans. What’s that saying about teaching a man to fish?!
The other members of our team are doing ministry with the kids, while the parents are learning. By the time we leave for the village, the car is usually packed to the top with balls, puppet, bubbles, parachutes, cones, art supplies, speakers, and candy. They don’t so much follow a set list of activities to do for the day, but get a feeling for what would be best for the kids. Some respond well to the parachute, while others want to color. The bible lesson for the afternoon ranges from a felt board with a kids’ bible reading where the kids get involved by adding things to the board as they are mentioned, to puppets asking the kids questions and explain new ideas to them. Most of these kids have never heard any mention of Jesus, so it’s a high honor to be able to share it with them for the first time.
If time allows for it, I will lead an English class for some of the parents there. Knowing English will provide them with more job opportunities, such as working in a call center, driving a taxi, or in some type of tourism (hotel, restaurant, shop). They are eager when it comes to these classes. I’ve even got excitement from a few of the older kids while joining the class too, getting to work alongside their mother. I think we have a little too much fun with accents and pronunciation!
When the day is over, we all have stories to share that touch our hearts. Maybe it’s a tearful mother of 4 receiving a bag of rice for her kids. A 9 year old accepting Jesus into his heart for the first time. An older sister holding her toddler brother’s hand throughout the activity. Or a testimony of healing shared by a grandmother. Each and every time, we start and end the outreach in prayer, thankful for the opportunity to be light to these communities, and thankful for an afternoon of success and safety. It’s definitely a learning process. We’ve failed at some points, we’ve taken risks, we’re continually looking for areas of growth or improvement. And we do it all to win hearts, make a difference, and change the life of that one. We do it together, as a team, each within our own roles, gifts, and abilities.
(har)Perseverance on a mission 