Once upon a time there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his journal writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.
One day he was walking along the shore. As he looked down the beach, he saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself to think of someone who would dance to the day. So he began to walk faster to catch up.
As he got closer, he saw that it was a young man and the young man wasn't dancing, but instead he was reaching down to the shore, picking up something and very gently throwing it into the ocean.
As he got closer he called out, "Good morning! What are you doing?"
The young man paused, looked up and replied, "Throwing starfish in the ocean."
"I guess I should have asked, why are you throwing starfish in the ocean?"
"The sun is up, and the tide is going out. And if I don't throw them in they'll die."
"But, young man, don't you realize that there are miles and miles of beach, and starfish all along it. You can't possibly make a difference!"
The young man listened politely. Then bent down, picked up another starfish and threw it into the sea, past the breaking waves and said, "It made a difference for that one."
There is something very special in each and every one of us. We have all been gifted with the ability to make a difference. And if we can become aware of that gift, we gain through the strength of our visions the power to shape the future. We must each find our starfish. And if we throw our stars wisely and well, the world will be blessed.
Author Unknown
.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Water Purifiers
The HELPS Gravity Water Purifier is a practical solution to the need for safe drinking water, using quality components at a very accessible price. It is specifically designed to micro-filter a supply of safe drinking water using a simple two container system. A person simply pours the water into the top container where it goes through a ceramic purification element and into the lower container, providing up to 10 gallons of safe drinking water every 4 hours. It is manufactured of food grade polyethylene and it is hygienic, durable and easy to clean. It has a ceramic element that does not allow bacteria to grow because it is impregnated with environmentally safe silver and never needs to be sterilized or boiled.
The Water Problem
We often take safe drinking water for granted. Water from rivers, streams, ponds, or rainwater may be the only sources of water for rural villages in Guatemala. The water may be murky, with an unpleasant odor and taste, and it could be a source of disease, since 60% of all diseases are water-borne. Even clear and apparently fresh water may be polluted with microscopic disease-causing pathogens, and children are especially vulnerable.
A Healthy Alternative
The "ONIL" Stove is a method of cooking that is compatible with traditional methods. The fire is contained in a clay-fired firebox in an insulated, durable stove that sits off the floor, thus minimizing the risk of burns to small children. It is vented by a galvanized steel chimney and the stove uses an efficient burning technology that virtually eliminates smoke and deadly carbon monoxide in the home. Using the ONIL stove means longer life expectancy, safer child development, and more time and energy for families. It reduces wood consumption by 70%, resulting in a long-term benefit to the environment and a better quality of life for families. Women who use the ONIL stove gain the equivalent of two days a week in time saved from gathering wood. This allows them time for social and economic activities like cultivating a vegetable garden or making goods to sell to help support their family. There are over 40,000 stoves in use, Guatemalans are saving over 300,000 trees per year!
The Open Fire Problem
For centuries the indigenous population, the Mayan, have cooked their meals using open flame three-stone fires on the dirt floors of their one room homes. This traditional method of cooking is the cause of rampant medical and environmental problems throughout rural Guatemala. There are high instances of facial and hand burns due to children falling into these open fires while they were playing or learning to walk. The excessive smoke inhalation is the leading cause of death in Guatemalan children under the age of 5, according to the World Health Organization. The deadly gas carbon monoxide is twice the level considered to be dangerous. The inefficient burning of wood for three-stone fires requires the women and children to gather huge amounts of wood daily, contributing to Guatemala's deforestation at a level of 2% per year. The time lost to long treks to get the wood combined with the effect of carrying heavy loads has a detrimental health impact on women and their families.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Heaven Knows Your Heart
By Max Lucado
“Life is not defined by what you have, even when you have a lot.”
Luke 12:15, The Message
Who you are has nothing to do with the clothes you wear or the car you drive . . . Heaven does not know you as the man with the nice suit or the woman with the big house or the kid with the new bike. Heaven knows your heart . . .
When God thinks of you, he may see your compassion, your devotion, your tenderness or quick mind, but he doesn’t think of your things . . . And when you think of you, you shouldn’t either.
Light a Candle
By Max Lucado
You were chosen to tell about the wonderful acts of God, who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
I Peter 2:9
Uncontrolled anger won’t better our world, but sympathetic understanding will. Once we see the world and ourselves for what we are, we can help. Once we understand ourselves we begin to operate not from a posture of anger but of compassion and concern. We look at the world not with bitter frowns but with extended hands. We realize that the lights are out and a lot of people are stumbling in the darkness. So we light candles.
Humble Heart
By Max Lucado
The master will dress himself to serve and tell the servants to sit a the table, and he will serve them.
Luke 12:37
The humble heart honors others.
Again, is Jesus not our example? Content to be known as a carpenter. Happy to be mistaken for the gardener. He served his followers by washing their feet. He serves us by doing the same. Each morning he gifts us with beauty. Each Sunday he calls us to his table. Each moment he dwells in our hearts… If Jesus is so willing to honor us, can we not do the same for others.
Friday, November 12, 2010
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Changing Lives in Guatemala
http://oakridgeumc.org/outreach/ministries/120-changing-lives-in-guatemala.html
Jesus Changed Lives
I will live with them and walk with them. And I will be their God, and they will be my people.
2 Corinthians 6:16
Jesus Changed Lives
I will live with them and walk with them. And I will be their God, and they will be my people.
2 Corinthians 6:16
Helps International
http://www.helpsintl.org/
HELPS International, organized in 1984, is a US 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation that partners with individuals, businesses, corporations, local and national governments to alleviate poverty in Latin America. HELPS integrated programs include: medical care, education, community and economic development, and agricultural innovations in order to improve the quality of life for the indigenous people of Latin America. Read more about HELPS projects and check out the site links for volunteer opportunities, success stories, the needs of families in Guatemala and Mexico, videos and ways to donate.
HELPS International, organized in 1984, is a US 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation that partners with individuals, businesses, corporations, local and national governments to alleviate poverty in Latin America. HELPS integrated programs include: medical care, education, community and economic development, and agricultural innovations in order to improve the quality of life for the indigenous people of Latin America. Read more about HELPS projects and check out the site links for volunteer opportunities, success stories, the needs of families in Guatemala and Mexico, videos and ways to donate.
The Economy
Real GDP (2009 est.): $23.7 billion.
Real GDP growth (2009 est.): 0.6%.
Per capita GNI, PPP (2008): $4,690.
Natural resources: Oil, timber, nickel, gold.
Agriculture (13.4% of GDP): Products--coffee, sugar, bananas, cardamom, vegetables, flowers and plants, timber, rice, rubber.
Manufacturing (18.3% of GDP): Types--prepared food, clothing and textiles, construction materials, tires, pharmaceuticals.
Trade (2009): Exports--$7.2 billion: coffee, bananas, sugar, crude oil, chemical products, clothing and textiles, vegetables. Major markets--U.S. 40.7%, Central American Common Market (CACM) 27.5%, Mexico 5.9%. Imports--$11.5 billion: machinery and equipment, fuels, mineral products, chemical products, vehicles and transport materials, plastic materials and products. Major suppliers--U.S. 36.5%, CACM 11.4%, Mexico 10.3%, China 5.3%.
Real GDP growth (2009 est.): 0.6%.
Per capita GNI, PPP (2008): $4,690.
Natural resources: Oil, timber, nickel, gold.
Agriculture (13.4% of GDP): Products--coffee, sugar, bananas, cardamom, vegetables, flowers and plants, timber, rice, rubber.
Manufacturing (18.3% of GDP): Types--prepared food, clothing and textiles, construction materials, tires, pharmaceuticals.
Trade (2009): Exports--$7.2 billion: coffee, bananas, sugar, crude oil, chemical products, clothing and textiles, vegetables. Major markets--U.S. 40.7%, Central American Common Market (CACM) 27.5%, Mexico 5.9%. Imports--$11.5 billion: machinery and equipment, fuels, mineral products, chemical products, vehicles and transport materials, plastic materials and products. Major suppliers--U.S. 36.5%, CACM 11.4%, Mexico 10.3%, China 5.3%.
The People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Guatemalan(s).
Population (2009 est.): 14.36 million.
Annual population growth rate (2009 est.): 2.4%.
Ethnic groups: Mestizo (mixed Spanish-Indian), indigenous.
Religions: Roman Catholic, Protestant, traditional Mayan.
Languages: Spanish, 24 indigenous languages (principally Kiche, Kaqchikel, Q'eqchi, and Mam).
Education: Years compulsory--6. Attendance--41%. Literacy--70.6%.
Health: Infant mortality rate (2008/2009)--30/1,000. Life expectancy (2005)--69 yrs.
Work force salaried breakdown: Services--42%; industry and commerce--37%; agriculture--14%; construction, mining, utilities, transportation, and communications--7%. Fifty percent of the population engages in some form of agriculture, often at the subsistence level outside the monetized economy.
Population (2009 est.): 14.36 million.
Annual population growth rate (2009 est.): 2.4%.
Ethnic groups: Mestizo (mixed Spanish-Indian), indigenous.
Religions: Roman Catholic, Protestant, traditional Mayan.
Languages: Spanish, 24 indigenous languages (principally Kiche, Kaqchikel, Q'eqchi, and Mam).
Education: Years compulsory--6. Attendance--41%. Literacy--70.6%.
Health: Infant mortality rate (2008/2009)--30/1,000. Life expectancy (2005)--69 yrs.
Work force salaried breakdown: Services--42%; industry and commerce--37%; agriculture--14%; construction, mining, utilities, transportation, and communications--7%. Fifty percent of the population engages in some form of agriculture, often at the subsistence level outside the monetized economy.
Mission Trip Day 6: One would give generous alms if one had the eyes to see the beauty of a cupped receiving hand.
Best sleep all week despite those noctural bug bites! Thankful to have brought anti-itch cream and Deet mosquito spray! Barely heard the roosters this morning. I awoke to hear the team laughing upstairs. Richard, one of our team members, had shared a funny story apparently the night before...one that I still laugh about to this day. I suppose I can share it. ;) He said, "I was tickling all the children last night and next thing you know I grabbed a mother, I don't think she liked it very much!" Now, I don't know why this was so hilarious to me but I simply could not stop thinking about it. I laughed every single time it entered my mind to the point that I had to think about something else to control myself. I know it was harmless but I just imagined the look on that mother's face as she was getting swooped up by an American! HAHA! The mothers always seemed to blend in well with the children and I could easily see this happening. The children were especially becoming more and more vulnerable to us as the week went on, they held our hands, enjoyed being picked up, and loved being tickled!
We were amazed to witness such a beautiful sunrise that morning. It was definitely different than any other sunrise we had seen while in Paquila. The outside shower upstairs overlooked some of the community and from a distance, just between some of the trees, you could see beautiful hues of yellow and orange, gray and blue. It was a great way to start the day! Most of our days in Paquila were sunny and it rained every afternoon around 4pm.
Today was a really special day in Paquila! We were presenting the families with their sponsor pictures. This is a day we share with all of those who helped sponsor a stove for a Guatemalan family! Our manner of presenting this day was just as important as the gift of stoves. We were truly being the hands and feet of Christ. We wanted the families to know that these stoves were gifts from God and that very special people wanted them to have them. We not only presented a photo of the family who purchased the stove, we also presented a bible verse for them to hang next to their photo. John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, hat he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." Spanish Version: "Porque tanto amó Dios al mundo, el sombrero le dio su unigénito Hijo, para que todo aquel que en él cree no se pierda, mas tenga vida eterna."
For well into the morning, the team separated and delivered the photos by the direction of our guides. Some of the groups were larger based on how many sponsor families they had. The night before, we had secured all of our 5 x 7 photos onto colored mat board. It was a nice keepsake for the families and added a decorative touch. We also presented each family with a spoon and other utensils for cooking. There were very personal moments in each home, each time, and with each of the families. The families were so gracious and thanked us repeatedly for our work. We not only were able to share their joy with them, we also witnessed the families cooking on the stoves. That was the most rewarding part for us, seeing the stoves actually in action. It was awesome watching one family cooking corn tortillas. In Guatemala a meal is not a meal without a tortilla, they are virtually served with every meal. Tortillas go with just about everything.
That afternoon we visited the local clinic, market and school. The market was very close to the church and displayed a colorful display of fresh flowers, fruits, vegetables, and spices. Among the market was a local tienda, lemonade stand and even a machine that made local icee drinks...hence the pink mouths! Some of the merchants sold blouses, belts, coin purses, jewelry and spices. A stage was set up with sound equipment and music which worked well to bring the community together. Our next stop was the community health clinic. It was very small and only had one physican and two nurses. There were only a few rooms, one for patients, one for surgeries, and a pharmacy. As we entered, we noticed a small table with index cards displaying the patient names. They provided medical service, medication and basic health education to the community. We wanted to ensure that they had purified water, so we arranged to leave a few water filters there which would come in handy during the distribution of medicine. We also left extra medical supplies for them. After leaving the clinic, we walked to the local school and had an opportunity to hear about what the children learn each day and how often they meet. We left toothbrushes, toothpaste and school supplies for the children. I took the time to read some of the wording carved in the desk and it was awesome seeing the word Jesus inscribed with a heart around it. ;) "No one has yet fully realized the wealth of sympathy, kindness and generosity hidden in the soul of a child. The effort of every true education should be to unlock that treasure."
Later that afternoon, we headed back to the church for some fun surprises! Two team members blew up a large bag of soccer balls, some filled our red piñata with candy, and others grabbed large orange bags for a trash pick-up. We packed as much candy in our aprons and pockets as we could. The children were hovered by the windows anxiously awaiting what was in store for them. We all headed down to the soccer field, tied up the piñata and encouraged the children help with a trash clean up first. They did a great job and filled up several large bags of trash. We could hardly wait to surprise the kids so the team spread out among the large field and on the count of three, we all starting throwing candy up in the air. It was complete chaos but fun and enjoyable for the children. Some of the guys randomly started throwing frisbees and soccer balls out into the field and the children were running wild! We then asked everyone to gather by the piñata and Eddy, our main helper for the week, was the first to strike the piñata. It didn't take much force before candy flew everywhere and the crowd went wild again! As we left the field, we were sad to see that at least a hundred more of the locals were running down to the field and all I had left was a sad, red, ripped up Elmo. Our goal was to show these children how much we loved them and how special they had to been to us all week. We sure had some happy faces that day and it meant the world to those sweet faces!
"To the loved, a word of affection is a morsel; but to the love-starved, a word of affection can be a feast. "
— Max Lucado
We were happy to learn that the pastor invited us to a special worship service that night. They shared their gratitude and every emotion I had encountered this week was literally on my sleeve. It was one of the most emotional, yet bittersweet moments of my life. The community shared their hearts, their praise, their voices and every ounce of appreciation you could imagine. One of our very own guides, Marta, sang a beautiful song and it touched us all. The pastor and speakers poured their hearts out and tears of joy were all over their faces. Max, our amazing team lead, had an opportunity to speak to the community. He expressed how much we enjoyed being in Guatemala and how happy we were to help them. He gave each of us an opportunity to come up and express what this experience meant to them and we had our wonderful interpreter there to help us communicate what was on our hearts. Some of the words from the team were unbelieveable and will probably stay with me indefinitely. Everyone spoke with such emotion and it was special to see the community react to our words. Spencer, one of our team members, shared his experience and sang to the community. He also expressed that he had lost his father a week before leaving for Guatemala. He acknowledged Mike, another team member at that time for also losing his father that same week. They embraced a moment of silence and we all continued to share our kind words. Two hours later, we left feeling whole with the community. We had communicated with the families all week but this was the first time that we were truly able to share with them how special they were to each of us.
That evening after dinner, we had devotion and discussed our final morning in Paquila. We arranged gift spaces in the church for our interpreter, team leaders, guides and children who helped the most during the week. Some of us had special items that we wanted to leave behind for a special person we had connected with that week. We all went through our luggage and left behind anything that we could, ie: jewelry, shoes, mirrors, clothes, toys, soccer balls, flashlights, etc.
Stay Tuned for Day 7...
We were amazed to witness such a beautiful sunrise that morning. It was definitely different than any other sunrise we had seen while in Paquila. The outside shower upstairs overlooked some of the community and from a distance, just between some of the trees, you could see beautiful hues of yellow and orange, gray and blue. It was a great way to start the day! Most of our days in Paquila were sunny and it rained every afternoon around 4pm.
Today was a really special day in Paquila! We were presenting the families with their sponsor pictures. This is a day we share with all of those who helped sponsor a stove for a Guatemalan family! Our manner of presenting this day was just as important as the gift of stoves. We were truly being the hands and feet of Christ. We wanted the families to know that these stoves were gifts from God and that very special people wanted them to have them. We not only presented a photo of the family who purchased the stove, we also presented a bible verse for them to hang next to their photo. John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, hat he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." Spanish Version: "Porque tanto amó Dios al mundo, el sombrero le dio su unigénito Hijo, para que todo aquel que en él cree no se pierda, mas tenga vida eterna."
For well into the morning, the team separated and delivered the photos by the direction of our guides. Some of the groups were larger based on how many sponsor families they had. The night before, we had secured all of our 5 x 7 photos onto colored mat board. It was a nice keepsake for the families and added a decorative touch. We also presented each family with a spoon and other utensils for cooking. There were very personal moments in each home, each time, and with each of the families. The families were so gracious and thanked us repeatedly for our work. We not only were able to share their joy with them, we also witnessed the families cooking on the stoves. That was the most rewarding part for us, seeing the stoves actually in action. It was awesome watching one family cooking corn tortillas. In Guatemala a meal is not a meal without a tortilla, they are virtually served with every meal. Tortillas go with just about everything.
That afternoon we visited the local clinic, market and school. The market was very close to the church and displayed a colorful display of fresh flowers, fruits, vegetables, and spices. Among the market was a local tienda, lemonade stand and even a machine that made local icee drinks...hence the pink mouths! Some of the merchants sold blouses, belts, coin purses, jewelry and spices. A stage was set up with sound equipment and music which worked well to bring the community together. Our next stop was the community health clinic. It was very small and only had one physican and two nurses. There were only a few rooms, one for patients, one for surgeries, and a pharmacy. As we entered, we noticed a small table with index cards displaying the patient names. They provided medical service, medication and basic health education to the community. We wanted to ensure that they had purified water, so we arranged to leave a few water filters there which would come in handy during the distribution of medicine. We also left extra medical supplies for them. After leaving the clinic, we walked to the local school and had an opportunity to hear about what the children learn each day and how often they meet. We left toothbrushes, toothpaste and school supplies for the children. I took the time to read some of the wording carved in the desk and it was awesome seeing the word Jesus inscribed with a heart around it. ;) "No one has yet fully realized the wealth of sympathy, kindness and generosity hidden in the soul of a child. The effort of every true education should be to unlock that treasure."
Later that afternoon, we headed back to the church for some fun surprises! Two team members blew up a large bag of soccer balls, some filled our red piñata with candy, and others grabbed large orange bags for a trash pick-up. We packed as much candy in our aprons and pockets as we could. The children were hovered by the windows anxiously awaiting what was in store for them. We all headed down to the soccer field, tied up the piñata and encouraged the children help with a trash clean up first. They did a great job and filled up several large bags of trash. We could hardly wait to surprise the kids so the team spread out among the large field and on the count of three, we all starting throwing candy up in the air. It was complete chaos but fun and enjoyable for the children. Some of the guys randomly started throwing frisbees and soccer balls out into the field and the children were running wild! We then asked everyone to gather by the piñata and Eddy, our main helper for the week, was the first to strike the piñata. It didn't take much force before candy flew everywhere and the crowd went wild again! As we left the field, we were sad to see that at least a hundred more of the locals were running down to the field and all I had left was a sad, red, ripped up Elmo. Our goal was to show these children how much we loved them and how special they had to been to us all week. We sure had some happy faces that day and it meant the world to those sweet faces!
"To the loved, a word of affection is a morsel; but to the love-starved, a word of affection can be a feast. "
— Max Lucado
We were happy to learn that the pastor invited us to a special worship service that night. They shared their gratitude and every emotion I had encountered this week was literally on my sleeve. It was one of the most emotional, yet bittersweet moments of my life. The community shared their hearts, their praise, their voices and every ounce of appreciation you could imagine. One of our very own guides, Marta, sang a beautiful song and it touched us all. The pastor and speakers poured their hearts out and tears of joy were all over their faces. Max, our amazing team lead, had an opportunity to speak to the community. He expressed how much we enjoyed being in Guatemala and how happy we were to help them. He gave each of us an opportunity to come up and express what this experience meant to them and we had our wonderful interpreter there to help us communicate what was on our hearts. Some of the words from the team were unbelieveable and will probably stay with me indefinitely. Everyone spoke with such emotion and it was special to see the community react to our words. Spencer, one of our team members, shared his experience and sang to the community. He also expressed that he had lost his father a week before leaving for Guatemala. He acknowledged Mike, another team member at that time for also losing his father that same week. They embraced a moment of silence and we all continued to share our kind words. Two hours later, we left feeling whole with the community. We had communicated with the families all week but this was the first time that we were truly able to share with them how special they were to each of us.
That evening after dinner, we had devotion and discussed our final morning in Paquila. We arranged gift spaces in the church for our interpreter, team leaders, guides and children who helped the most during the week. Some of us had special items that we wanted to leave behind for a special person we had connected with that week. We all went through our luggage and left behind anything that we could, ie: jewelry, shoes, mirrors, clothes, toys, soccer balls, flashlights, etc.
Stay Tuned for Day 7...
Mission Trip Day 5: With God, anything Is possible
Today began with an early breakfast and regrouping about the day's schedule of events. I like to remember this day as a day of physical healing and well-being. God was surely present this day to restore health. We held a clinic for the community which included providing de-worming medication and a month supply of vitamins. The clinics were held in three separate intervals in which we would serve health needs of about 140 families. The clinic location was placed beside the church under the same tent where the community worships. Prior to this day, the families were given a date and time to be present so our goal was to be ready for them. We wanted this clinic to run seamless for the families so we received great detailed instruction from our PA, Tracey. During this event, families were also going to learn how to use their new stoves and water filtration systems. Raul, our Interpreter, provided a thorough demonstration for each group. It was critical having him there as well as Tracey and we were blessed to have their help. Most of us knew only our English language but we did have a few team members who understood Spanish pretty well. Raul was also helpful during this process as he was fluent in English, Quiche and Spanish so we relied heavily on him in our communication efforts.
We began our day by setting up three stations and assigning group members to each one. There were quite a few items that had to be considered, gatorade as an aid for swallowing pills, jelly for the little ones to make pill taking easier, and activities that we could do for the children as the families learned about the stoves and filters. We set up an area for gatorade and cups, a table for pill maintenance, an area for giveaways and of course an area for a little added fun, silly bands! We had previously assigned the group to teams: doctors, nurses and helpers. The doctors were the central channel of communication. Their jobs were to determine the correct amount needed of the medication and quantity of vitamins. With the help of our guides, the doctors could determine what size pill was needed based on age. We color coded the instructions to make it easier to communicate between the guide and the doctor with the de-wormer pills. We used red, yellow and blue silly bands to draft a list at each station. If I can remember correctly, red was code for a whole pill, yellow was for 1/2 and blue was for a 3/4 size pill. Each person in the family was given a de-wormer pill but we had to specify the age of the children and determine if there were more family members at home that needed the medication as well. The guide would speak to the family and help communicate to the doctor by pointing to the color for the exact pill size needed. The nurses were there to help split pills, crush them, mix them with jelly and help with distribution of the medication. The helpers took care of counting out vitamins and provided gatorade. The clinic operated pretty slow at first but we eventually got the hang of it. It just took some time to get a comfort level between the doctor and the guides. Some of the little ones were a little fussy but that is where the silly bands came in! The children were so intrigued by all the colors and shapes. We also provided each family with a bag of toiletries, toothpaste and a few toothbrushes. It's amazing how many bags of toiletries we collected for this trip. All those little hotel shampoos and conditioners, soaps, and bodywash sure came in handy!
During the stove and water instruction, a few of us took the children out in front of the church to play. We had to keep the children occupied so that the families could have their overview. Yes, we even had the healing power of laugher with the children! Laughter is good medicine and they were getting a dose of healing just by allowing their sweet spirits to run free! We played red light green light, duck duck goose and got them engaged in hokey pokey, started a choo choo train and several other fun games. We had lots of playful photo opportunities that they absolutely loved. We saw some favorite familiar faces but after a while, I must have counted at least 100 or so. Children sometimes just make you want to start life over. ;)
I really enjoyed this day because we were able to work one on one with some of the people in the community. We eventually didn't even notice a communication barrier. Something extraordinary happens when two or more agree together in prayer. Almost every person we expected to arrive to the clinic did and we even served some of the community later than night that could not make it out earlier that afternoon.
That evening, Ron was was up to his silly tricks again. ;) This time, he brought out sparklers for the children. I thought this was such a creative idea. We sat outside and watched them for a little while and it was cute seeing London teach them to swirl them around. They were really mesmerized by the light, even starting singing Feliz Navidad! Right before time for bed, we had a team meeting, another devotion and discussed how the next day would unfold. This was one of the most special days of the entire week! Stay tuned!
Proverbs 17:22 puts it like this, "A happy heart is like a good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing."
Stay tuned for Day 6...
We began our day by setting up three stations and assigning group members to each one. There were quite a few items that had to be considered, gatorade as an aid for swallowing pills, jelly for the little ones to make pill taking easier, and activities that we could do for the children as the families learned about the stoves and filters. We set up an area for gatorade and cups, a table for pill maintenance, an area for giveaways and of course an area for a little added fun, silly bands! We had previously assigned the group to teams: doctors, nurses and helpers. The doctors were the central channel of communication. Their jobs were to determine the correct amount needed of the medication and quantity of vitamins. With the help of our guides, the doctors could determine what size pill was needed based on age. We color coded the instructions to make it easier to communicate between the guide and the doctor with the de-wormer pills. We used red, yellow and blue silly bands to draft a list at each station. If I can remember correctly, red was code for a whole pill, yellow was for 1/2 and blue was for a 3/4 size pill. Each person in the family was given a de-wormer pill but we had to specify the age of the children and determine if there were more family members at home that needed the medication as well. The guide would speak to the family and help communicate to the doctor by pointing to the color for the exact pill size needed. The nurses were there to help split pills, crush them, mix them with jelly and help with distribution of the medication. The helpers took care of counting out vitamins and provided gatorade. The clinic operated pretty slow at first but we eventually got the hang of it. It just took some time to get a comfort level between the doctor and the guides. Some of the little ones were a little fussy but that is where the silly bands came in! The children were so intrigued by all the colors and shapes. We also provided each family with a bag of toiletries, toothpaste and a few toothbrushes. It's amazing how many bags of toiletries we collected for this trip. All those little hotel shampoos and conditioners, soaps, and bodywash sure came in handy!
During the stove and water instruction, a few of us took the children out in front of the church to play. We had to keep the children occupied so that the families could have their overview. Yes, we even had the healing power of laugher with the children! Laughter is good medicine and they were getting a dose of healing just by allowing their sweet spirits to run free! We played red light green light, duck duck goose and got them engaged in hokey pokey, started a choo choo train and several other fun games. We had lots of playful photo opportunities that they absolutely loved. We saw some favorite familiar faces but after a while, I must have counted at least 100 or so. Children sometimes just make you want to start life over. ;)
I really enjoyed this day because we were able to work one on one with some of the people in the community. We eventually didn't even notice a communication barrier. Something extraordinary happens when two or more agree together in prayer. Almost every person we expected to arrive to the clinic did and we even served some of the community later than night that could not make it out earlier that afternoon.
That evening, Ron was was up to his silly tricks again. ;) This time, he brought out sparklers for the children. I thought this was such a creative idea. We sat outside and watched them for a little while and it was cute seeing London teach them to swirl them around. They were really mesmerized by the light, even starting singing Feliz Navidad! Right before time for bed, we had a team meeting, another devotion and discussed how the next day would unfold. This was one of the most special days of the entire week! Stay tuned!
Proverbs 17:22 puts it like this, "A happy heart is like a good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing."
Stay tuned for Day 6...
Mission Trip Day 4: Let their be joy and laughter in your living
Another rooster wake up call at 5am. Today was a special day, one of our team members had a birthday! London, aka "Lundee." Ron and Raul graced a lovely breakfast by shooting off firecrackers right beside our dining room patio. It was a great surprise for her and for the team. Loco Americans! ;) Lidia, one of our cooks, sang Happy Birthday in Spanish. It was beautiful and her voice could be heard for miles. It was so cute how the children gathered around the doors and listened. Feliz cumpleaños a tí Lundee! A few songs like that might change the way I sing forever. What an amazing way to spend your birthday!
Once breakfast was finished, we packed up our supplies again and loaded a chicken bus to Pabeya, a community about an hour away. Can you imagine about 15 people packed on the back of a pick-up truck standing and holding on to dear life! It was great and made for alot of laughs. Concrete stoves had been installed in that community 18 months prior so our jobs were to provide maintenance to the stoves already in place. Some of them needed chimney and firebox replacements and others just needed minor repairs.
Once we arrived, we split up in our teams again and set out with our guides. What I saw on this day was much harder than the day before. I didn't think that the walls or ceilings on the inside of a home could get any worse than what I had witnessed in Paquila but I was wrong. The first home we entered was pitch black and very hot. You could still see some of the whitewash on the walls from the first installation. The family was large, 7 or so, so I imagined they cooked alot. The stove was in place but looked pretty worn. The Onil stoves are designed to last 10 years but I could already see alot of wear in the galvanized chimney.
The first thing we did was empty out the old pumice stone, pulled out the broken clay pieces from the firebox and cleaned out the chimney. Wearing a face mask at this point didn't keep us from feeling a bit suffocated. The pumice and ash was hot so gloves were necessary. Tears kept coming to my eyes everytime I would gasp for air, I couldn't understand why people had to live like this everyday. I remember looking up at my team member Richard and walking outside for a few minutes. I think he also felt what I was feeling. I felt like my job was so important that day so I took a drink of water and went back in. I just kept working even when it was hard to breathe. I have alot of outdoor allergies so maybe it was affecting me more due to this. Regardless, I had a job to do so I pushed on. I know the family had a stove in place but the fact that it needed maintenance just got me wondering about the rest of community. I was relieved to learn that not too many stoves needed maintenance, not for the sake of avoiding work but my immediate concern was the longevity of the stoves. We moved on to replace other elements in several different homes and the more we did, the better I started to feel. It took alot longer to fix the stoves than to install them. It was like performing surgery in some ways. I have never been so careful with someone's possessions than I was on this day. I found comfort in the children and the happiness of the families gave me strength. You know that saying, "never let them see you sweat?" That stayed with me all day. When our level of stress increases, our rational thinking decreases, again I had to overcome any physical discomfort and remind myself that I had a job to do. I kept my focus on God, the project and the livelihood of the families. “My grace is enough for you. When you are weak, my power is made perfect in you.” 2 Corinthians 12:9
We had lunch this day at a church in Pabeya. Our cooks were kind enough to pack sandwich lunches for our team to take with us. It was interesting to learn that some of our very own team members built that church. It was much like the one we were sleeping in but much bigger. There was a little down time that afternoon to play with the children since most of the maintenance work was involved in the chimney's. Jesse was kind enough to pack suckers in his backback so everywhere we saw a green mouth, we knew he had been there. Ron was also great to purchase colas and share them with the children.
As we wrapped up the afternoon, we gathered our supplies and waited for the bus. It started raining so we were all thankful that we remembered to pack our ponchos. We had an enjoyable one hour ride back in the rain, one of those moments you had to see to believe. Loco Americans in multi-colored ponchos! HAHA! When we returned, it was great to find the children hovered around the church again waiting for us. Some of the guys offered to do a trash pick-up and have playtime with the children. They took off to the soccer field and of course took alot of the children with them. Boy did they come back muddy! I missed that activity but heard it was alot of fun.
After dinner, we were surprised to hear a knock on the church door. We had just sat down to have our evening meeting and in walked six children and our cook Lidia. Each child had a special message for our birthday girl London. They each presented her with a handmade gift and we listened to Lidia's beautiful voice once again. London welcomed the children to come in and join us. They sat Indian-styled in the front of the church as they watched Lidia sing. All of the children were special but I had an attachment to sweet Diego. He sat beside me on the floor and whispered in my ear, "I Love You Buddy Shannon." We had a special bond all week and I was starting to feel like this was my home. I was becoming part of them and something felt really great about that. They were always happy to see us and brought us such joy. After Lidia sang, she brought the children to the front to sing, it was adorable. Following that, we discussed the next day events and discussed the water filtration systems and how we were going to distribute vitamins and medicine.
Right before bed that night, we knew Ron had something fun up his sleeve. We heard some commotion outside and noticed he was shooting off more firecrackers! Made for an interesting night and the kids loved it. :) I was really anxious to get some sleep that night because I had tossed and turned alot all week. I took a few minutes to walk outside and can remember already starting to feel a heavy heart. I knew we were going to leave all this behind in a few days and I didn't want to even begin thinking about that. Each day grew us closer as a team and with the community. It was certainly not a time to be sad and within a few minutes, the children ran up and wanted to play thumb war. Still not sure who taught them that but they loved it!
Stay tuned for Day 5...
Once breakfast was finished, we packed up our supplies again and loaded a chicken bus to Pabeya, a community about an hour away. Can you imagine about 15 people packed on the back of a pick-up truck standing and holding on to dear life! It was great and made for alot of laughs. Concrete stoves had been installed in that community 18 months prior so our jobs were to provide maintenance to the stoves already in place. Some of them needed chimney and firebox replacements and others just needed minor repairs.
Once we arrived, we split up in our teams again and set out with our guides. What I saw on this day was much harder than the day before. I didn't think that the walls or ceilings on the inside of a home could get any worse than what I had witnessed in Paquila but I was wrong. The first home we entered was pitch black and very hot. You could still see some of the whitewash on the walls from the first installation. The family was large, 7 or so, so I imagined they cooked alot. The stove was in place but looked pretty worn. The Onil stoves are designed to last 10 years but I could already see alot of wear in the galvanized chimney.
The first thing we did was empty out the old pumice stone, pulled out the broken clay pieces from the firebox and cleaned out the chimney. Wearing a face mask at this point didn't keep us from feeling a bit suffocated. The pumice and ash was hot so gloves were necessary. Tears kept coming to my eyes everytime I would gasp for air, I couldn't understand why people had to live like this everyday. I remember looking up at my team member Richard and walking outside for a few minutes. I think he also felt what I was feeling. I felt like my job was so important that day so I took a drink of water and went back in. I just kept working even when it was hard to breathe. I have alot of outdoor allergies so maybe it was affecting me more due to this. Regardless, I had a job to do so I pushed on. I know the family had a stove in place but the fact that it needed maintenance just got me wondering about the rest of community. I was relieved to learn that not too many stoves needed maintenance, not for the sake of avoiding work but my immediate concern was the longevity of the stoves. We moved on to replace other elements in several different homes and the more we did, the better I started to feel. It took alot longer to fix the stoves than to install them. It was like performing surgery in some ways. I have never been so careful with someone's possessions than I was on this day. I found comfort in the children and the happiness of the families gave me strength. You know that saying, "never let them see you sweat?" That stayed with me all day. When our level of stress increases, our rational thinking decreases, again I had to overcome any physical discomfort and remind myself that I had a job to do. I kept my focus on God, the project and the livelihood of the families. “My grace is enough for you. When you are weak, my power is made perfect in you.” 2 Corinthians 12:9
We had lunch this day at a church in Pabeya. Our cooks were kind enough to pack sandwich lunches for our team to take with us. It was interesting to learn that some of our very own team members built that church. It was much like the one we were sleeping in but much bigger. There was a little down time that afternoon to play with the children since most of the maintenance work was involved in the chimney's. Jesse was kind enough to pack suckers in his backback so everywhere we saw a green mouth, we knew he had been there. Ron was also great to purchase colas and share them with the children.
As we wrapped up the afternoon, we gathered our supplies and waited for the bus. It started raining so we were all thankful that we remembered to pack our ponchos. We had an enjoyable one hour ride back in the rain, one of those moments you had to see to believe. Loco Americans in multi-colored ponchos! HAHA! When we returned, it was great to find the children hovered around the church again waiting for us. Some of the guys offered to do a trash pick-up and have playtime with the children. They took off to the soccer field and of course took alot of the children with them. Boy did they come back muddy! I missed that activity but heard it was alot of fun.
After dinner, we were surprised to hear a knock on the church door. We had just sat down to have our evening meeting and in walked six children and our cook Lidia. Each child had a special message for our birthday girl London. They each presented her with a handmade gift and we listened to Lidia's beautiful voice once again. London welcomed the children to come in and join us. They sat Indian-styled in the front of the church as they watched Lidia sing. All of the children were special but I had an attachment to sweet Diego. He sat beside me on the floor and whispered in my ear, "I Love You Buddy Shannon." We had a special bond all week and I was starting to feel like this was my home. I was becoming part of them and something felt really great about that. They were always happy to see us and brought us such joy. After Lidia sang, she brought the children to the front to sing, it was adorable. Following that, we discussed the next day events and discussed the water filtration systems and how we were going to distribute vitamins and medicine.
Right before bed that night, we knew Ron had something fun up his sleeve. We heard some commotion outside and noticed he was shooting off more firecrackers! Made for an interesting night and the kids loved it. :) I was really anxious to get some sleep that night because I had tossed and turned alot all week. I took a few minutes to walk outside and can remember already starting to feel a heavy heart. I knew we were going to leave all this behind in a few days and I didn't want to even begin thinking about that. Each day grew us closer as a team and with the community. It was certainly not a time to be sad and within a few minutes, the children ran up and wanted to play thumb war. Still not sure who taught them that but they loved it!
Stay tuned for Day 5...
Mission Trip Day 3: Work is love made visible
5:30am came early this morning but I woke up feeling great, a little rested but I was eager to start my day. Thanks to the roosters for the wake up call! I knew we were in Guatemala for a very short time and rest would come later. We had an important job to do! I joined the team upstairs for breakfast and was excited to see what the cooks were preparing for us today. We even had coffee! :) The sweet children were already up to greet us. Their curious little minds wanted to know where we were going all the time. We shared a word of prayer, had breakfast and then headed back downstairs to pack up supplies for the day. I began loading my pack with face masks, mosquito repellant, hand sanitizer, rubber gloves, sunscreen, and bandaids. I filled up my water bottle and grabbed a snack to take with me. We met the team outside and separated into groups that we would be working with for the day. We were paired with guides who knew the community. Our goal for the day was to go out into the community and build concrete stoves. I was assigned as part of the firebox crew. We had team members installing chimney's, building concrete stove bases, and whitewashing the walls of the families homes. The weather was perfect on this day and we set out to work about 7am. I remember the children stepping in as little "helpers." They wanted to carry everything for us, even the heavy stuff! We had a lot of ground to cover so we all went our separate ways and were to meet up again at lunchtime. Some of the team had to walk a mile or so to get to homes. Some areas were spread apart and some homes seemed to be stacked on top of each other. Each home was very unique. The guides led us through the jungle like it was the back of their hands. This was unfamiliar territory for us but we immediately put our trust in them. They led us through many paths, plants held up on each side with wire, creating what looked like fences. It was comical how the children would run in and out of the paths and come bouncing out of nowhere. They were running, laughing, playing and just so HAPPY to see us. The Guatemalan families were also very sweet and loving and they took such pride in their homes. Sometimes we meet people and feel like we don't have much in common just because of cultural differences. This wasn't the case in Guatemala. Their ways of life may have been a little different but in many ways we were exactly the same. We may have had a language barrier but they knew what we were there to do and they did whatever they could to help.
Our first task was to watch a firebox being built. Several of the team assembled the first one step by step. The video we watched prior to the trip gave some instruction but we really needed to watch this process to gain a better understanding of how it worked. The first home we arrived at was very smoky, ash and smoke filled the home and it immediately broke my heart to see how they were cooking over an open flame. It was hazy and dark and difficult to breathe. Walls were covered with black soot. Food was placed in bags and hung from a rope to keep off the ground. I didn't want to be rude and stare throughout their homes but I really wanted to observe what we were working with. After a few minutes of instruction, the mother who lived in the home approached me and offered me a seat. That was the moment when I started to feel the love and respect of the community. Love should radiate out to all you meet and touch the hearts of people you don't even know.
After successful installation of the first stove, my team member, Mike and I followed our guide to the next home. The first firebox was a bit challenging but after doing a few of them, we became pros. The first step was to place pumice stone securely in the bottom of the stove where the firepit was to be built. We then assembled a clay box inside the stove where the wood and fire would be placed. Each clay piece had to fit precisely together so we had to be pretty detailed. We then filled the rest of the stove with pumice stone clearing out any large rocks and then covered it with ash. We placed the burners on the top and then cleaned up around it before leaving. We continued on to the next home and kept going until we lost count of how many firepits we actually built. We made a stop to the local Tienda for an ice cold cola and kept going. We worked well into the afternoon and then took a short break for lunch. I was amazed by some of the things I saw as I was walking long distances to some of the homes. We passed a dozen types of exotic flowers, banana trees, streams and small waterfalls. "Nature is God's first missionary. Where there is no Bible there are sparkling stars. Where there are not preachers there are spring times... if a person has nothing but nature, then nature is enough to reveal something about God." — Max Lucado
We were showing great progress so we continued on throughout the day. About mid-afternoon, we had a very hard rainfall. The kind of rain that would sting when it hit you. This was when I had my first experience with Central American critters. I literally jumped inside one of the homes because of the size of a spider I saw. I guess the women around me thought this was hilarious as they could not stop laughing. I suppose they are used to the jungle creatures. They paid them no attention so I felt a little more secure again trusting and watching them. I was in their country so I quickly adjusted. The rain seemed like a tropical storm to me compared to what we were used to. The rain didn't hold us up too long and we were back to work. By the end of the day, we were dirty, a little tired but felt proud of the work we accomplished. We found out later that we set a world record with Helps International for installing the most stoves ever in one day....72 total stoves. Wow! I commend the other groups for their hard work too. Building the bases was hard work, very heavy concrete had to be lifted and carried. The chimney work was a bit strenuous as well due to them having to climb on top of the rooftops. The whitewash crew also made great progress. I found it interesting how many of the families wanted to help and jump right into whatever we were doing. It was great working together.
Walking back to the church in the rain was fun! At that time, we didn't have our ponchos with us but it was cool to watch the local people carrying huge banana leaves to cover themselves. The leaves were the size of a boat! The mud on the ground was pretty slick too. I couldn't believe my guide was barefoot and carrying a baby downhill and I had a hard time not slipping with tennis shoes on. Most of the women in Guatemala carry their babies on their backs in a sling. Her son's name was Gaspar and she was absolutely the sweetest mother. She was stunning, had gorgeous eyes and a beautiful smile. How could you not trust someone like this? I went everywhere she did that day. Just loved watching her communicate with the local people. She explained what we were doing to the families and it was comforting having her there.
Late that afternoon, we all cleaned up for dinner, taking one shower at a time. We met upstairs in the dining room sharing another meal together and then came back down to the church for a team meeting. We talked about the day's events, had devotion and then separated some of the supplies. It was great seeing what some of the team members brought with them. We had toiletries, medical supplies, lots of gatorade, silly bands, bracelets, toys, animal figurines, frisbees, soccer balls, loads and loads of candy, and much more. That night we had a little more time with the children. We quickly learned the Spanish name for candy! Dulce! Dulce! The children flocked around us tugging on our hands and clothes calling our names over and over. I will never forget the infamous words, "como te llamas, hola Shannee." Some of the children's names were Ricardo, Diego, Ilda, Maria, Claudia, Gaspar, Eddy, Cristobal, and Fransisco. It took us days to learn all their names and only moments for them to learn all of ours. You could see the love of God all over the children's faces, we didn't even want to go to bed that night.
Stay tuned for Day 4....
Our first task was to watch a firebox being built. Several of the team assembled the first one step by step. The video we watched prior to the trip gave some instruction but we really needed to watch this process to gain a better understanding of how it worked. The first home we arrived at was very smoky, ash and smoke filled the home and it immediately broke my heart to see how they were cooking over an open flame. It was hazy and dark and difficult to breathe. Walls were covered with black soot. Food was placed in bags and hung from a rope to keep off the ground. I didn't want to be rude and stare throughout their homes but I really wanted to observe what we were working with. After a few minutes of instruction, the mother who lived in the home approached me and offered me a seat. That was the moment when I started to feel the love and respect of the community. Love should radiate out to all you meet and touch the hearts of people you don't even know.
After successful installation of the first stove, my team member, Mike and I followed our guide to the next home. The first firebox was a bit challenging but after doing a few of them, we became pros. The first step was to place pumice stone securely in the bottom of the stove where the firepit was to be built. We then assembled a clay box inside the stove where the wood and fire would be placed. Each clay piece had to fit precisely together so we had to be pretty detailed. We then filled the rest of the stove with pumice stone clearing out any large rocks and then covered it with ash. We placed the burners on the top and then cleaned up around it before leaving. We continued on to the next home and kept going until we lost count of how many firepits we actually built. We made a stop to the local Tienda for an ice cold cola and kept going. We worked well into the afternoon and then took a short break for lunch. I was amazed by some of the things I saw as I was walking long distances to some of the homes. We passed a dozen types of exotic flowers, banana trees, streams and small waterfalls. "Nature is God's first missionary. Where there is no Bible there are sparkling stars. Where there are not preachers there are spring times... if a person has nothing but nature, then nature is enough to reveal something about God." — Max Lucado
We were showing great progress so we continued on throughout the day. About mid-afternoon, we had a very hard rainfall. The kind of rain that would sting when it hit you. This was when I had my first experience with Central American critters. I literally jumped inside one of the homes because of the size of a spider I saw. I guess the women around me thought this was hilarious as they could not stop laughing. I suppose they are used to the jungle creatures. They paid them no attention so I felt a little more secure again trusting and watching them. I was in their country so I quickly adjusted. The rain seemed like a tropical storm to me compared to what we were used to. The rain didn't hold us up too long and we were back to work. By the end of the day, we were dirty, a little tired but felt proud of the work we accomplished. We found out later that we set a world record with Helps International for installing the most stoves ever in one day....72 total stoves. Wow! I commend the other groups for their hard work too. Building the bases was hard work, very heavy concrete had to be lifted and carried. The chimney work was a bit strenuous as well due to them having to climb on top of the rooftops. The whitewash crew also made great progress. I found it interesting how many of the families wanted to help and jump right into whatever we were doing. It was great working together.
Walking back to the church in the rain was fun! At that time, we didn't have our ponchos with us but it was cool to watch the local people carrying huge banana leaves to cover themselves. The leaves were the size of a boat! The mud on the ground was pretty slick too. I couldn't believe my guide was barefoot and carrying a baby downhill and I had a hard time not slipping with tennis shoes on. Most of the women in Guatemala carry their babies on their backs in a sling. Her son's name was Gaspar and she was absolutely the sweetest mother. She was stunning, had gorgeous eyes and a beautiful smile. How could you not trust someone like this? I went everywhere she did that day. Just loved watching her communicate with the local people. She explained what we were doing to the families and it was comforting having her there.
Late that afternoon, we all cleaned up for dinner, taking one shower at a time. We met upstairs in the dining room sharing another meal together and then came back down to the church for a team meeting. We talked about the day's events, had devotion and then separated some of the supplies. It was great seeing what some of the team members brought with them. We had toiletries, medical supplies, lots of gatorade, silly bands, bracelets, toys, animal figurines, frisbees, soccer balls, loads and loads of candy, and much more. That night we had a little more time with the children. We quickly learned the Spanish name for candy! Dulce! Dulce! The children flocked around us tugging on our hands and clothes calling our names over and over. I will never forget the infamous words, "como te llamas, hola Shannee." Some of the children's names were Ricardo, Diego, Ilda, Maria, Claudia, Gaspar, Eddy, Cristobal, and Fransisco. It took us days to learn all their names and only moments for them to learn all of ours. You could see the love of God all over the children's faces, we didn't even want to go to bed that night.
Stay tuned for Day 4....
Mission Trip Day 2: Learn to be silent. Let your quiet mind listen and absorb
Nice sunny morning in Antigua! Got a great nights sleep despite the previous night wedding fiesta at Panchoy Hotel. :) Had a great time laughing with the girls the night before. Thank goodness we finally got some rest and the earplugs came in handy. That morning as we were getting dressed, we opened our window for some fresh Central American morning air. The view was charming, overlooked a courtyard through a wrought iron window. The plantation wood shutters opened from the inside of our room. Started our day off having breakfast at a local cafe. I was really craving some warm coffee at this point. Will never forget the amazing smells that filled the cobble-stoned streets. Antigua’s kitchen offers a palate-pleasing combination of traditional flavors, aromas and condiments that produce a delicious, nutritious and varied menu, something you cannot miss. The french toast was great! It was nice that we were able to meet up with Team 1 before they headed to the airport. You could tell it was a bittersweet day for them.
Antigua may be the most outstanding and best-preserved colonial city in Spanish America. Tourists visit Antigua Guatemala every year from around the world to enjoy its natural beauty and historic monuments. The Spanish Colonial style permeates every part of the town: its houses, churches, squares, parks and ruins, also its traditions and folklore as well. Antigua is a city of charm and color where you can see and buy an overwhelming variety of attractive, handmade products that honor the traditions of generations of artisans. Antigua’s temperate, climate and friendly inhabitants welcome visitors; the city has all the required services: sophisticated hotels, cafes and restaurants (with traditional or international menus), banks, stores, Internet cafés, travel agencies, Spanish-language schools and art galleries, all of the highest quality.
Antigua sits in a Highland valley overlooked by the spectacular Agua Volcano (3,765 meters high). A little further away are two other volcanoes Acatenango and the always smoking, sometimes erupting, Fuego. The neighboring towns and villages include Ciudad Vieja, Jocotenango, San Juan El Obispo, Santa María de Jesús, San Bartolomé Milpas Altas and Santa Catalina Barahona. Each of these towns is worth a visit, even if only to view their historic colonial churches.Antigua is also noted for its crafts: terracotta, ceramics, wrought iron, silver and jade jewelry, wooden sculptures, carved colonial-style furniture, a great variety of traditional costumes and weavings, figured stone, brass, jarcia, traditional toys and much more.
About 9am, we loaded the Missionera bus for a 3 1/2 hour trip to Paquila, the community where we would be working for the next 5 days. It was nice getting to learn everyone's personalities along the way. Raul, our Interpreter shared alot of great information on areas we passed and more detail about Guatemala. We passed some pretty amazing scenery along the way and it was a nice day for travelling. About half the ride was pretty bumpy but it was refreshing to put the windows down and just take it all in. :) Speed limits are not strictly enforced in other countries. It's pretty much an open road where people just go where they need to go and get there anyway they need to. We stopped for lunch and one of our team members picked up a great red piñata that looked like Elmo. We planned to save that for the children later in the week. Ron, one of our team members, had been to Guatemala many times and he seemed to think of everything creative for the children. He kept us entertained as well. A chicken dance and an hour later, it was time to hop back on the bus. As we approached a more desolate area surrounded by jungle, I knew we were getting close to our destination. We continued to follow a dirt road lined by rubber trees and the smell of burning wood was the first thing I really noticed. The rubber trees were cool! We even noticed a little bamboo and some banana trees with interesting purple blossoms.
Finally, we arrived in Paquila. We quickly unloaded our luggage and started setting up our tents/bug huts in the church. The church was concrete with six open windows outlined in beautiful stained glass and wrought iron bars. The roof was made of galvanized tin and the ceiling was decorated with hanging drapes and flowers. We immediately noticed the sweet children peeking through the windows shouting "Hola!" The community started pouring in as they were getting ready for their worship service. They graciously offered us the church to sleep in so their church services were moved outdoors. We were invited to attend their service with them. It was held outdoors under a tent lined with multi-colored plastic chairs and compact mud floor. The altar was covered colorful hand-picked flowers and a decorative piece covered the stand. As we were making our way to our seats, we passed two Guatemalan women kneeling at the altar. It was a powerful moment and I found myself wondering how long they had prayed for our help. Many other community members were kneeled silently at their chairs. They did not wear shoes and were dressed in beautiful handmade garments. It was certainly a day to absorb what we were being introduced to. We remained quiet for most of the service as the pastor and community welcomed us. The pastor communicated that they had prayed for us and the families we left behind. He said they had been waiting for us to arrive and praying for a safe arrival. That statement literally gave me chills or what my friend Paula likes to call "God bumps." I actually felt what was on his heart before the interpreter even told us what he was saying. It was interesting to learn that the languages were Quiche and Spanish and hearing them sing was awesome! And yes, we had our opportunity to sing as well. We chose "Joy, Joy, Joy" as our song choice. We sang it in English, Quiche and Spanish. Perhaps we should have rehearsed a bit more but it was cute and I think they appreciated it. The service was long but very heartfelt. We were humbled that one of our team members, Micah, was given an opportunity to deliver a message. The service ended with prayer and they asked that we go have dinner and rest to prepare for a long week.
At this time, we were introduced to our chefs, Lidia and Carmelita. Both were highly trained to prepare Americanized food, and safe for us to eat. Rule of thumb: if you cannot boil it, peel it or cook it, forget it! I cannot quite remember all the exact meals that were prepared but most of them consisted of delicious soups, tamales, empanadas, corn tortillas, refried beans, rice, bananas, watermelon, chicken, eggs, pancakes, plantains, bacon, and even pasta and steak! We had every meal in the Pastoral kitchen and dining room, three meals a day. Very simple, one stove and one table for dining. We had several gallons of purified water for the week as well. After dinner, we finished blowing up our air mattresses, assembled our bug tents, and set up a designated area for supplies and toys. We outlined our weekly schedule and detailed what was expected on Monday. We started our devotion that night and continued those the rest of the week. We had two outdoor showers and two toilets so in order to conserve resources, we only took one shower a day and were not able to flush any toilet paper. We had a handmade changing room within the church for changing. It was made with blue tarp and white pvc pipe. It was pretty creative actually. Thanks to Ron for bringing a decorative muʻumuʻu which allowed the ladies a dress while exiting the shower. :) We were designated an outside tooth brushing area and advised to do this with purified drinking water. We spent some time that evening meeting the children, playing magic tricks and taking photos with them. Kelly, another team member had a gift for magic tricks. It was quite cute and they adored him. The children were absolute angels, memorizing the entire team by name. I had never seen anything like it. Their smiles were infectious and their playfulness was sweet.
That night, I had a little trouble sleeping. I kept thinking about what Monday would bring. Alot of thoughts entered my mind but mostly I was excited about the next day. I was curious about where we would go, what we would see, what the conditions may be like. Kept thinking about everything in my life that had led up to this opportunity. Did alot of smiling in my sleep I believe. The smell of smoke was still pretty profound that night, the mosquitos were already biting and I was definitely feeling a little out of my comfort zone. I stayed positive and in constant prayer. I asked God to help me get comfortable and relax so that I could put my focus on the people. I just wanted to stop focusing on my level of comfort. I asked God to put his light in my eyes and let me see, that my own little world is not about me. I also prayed for the team that night. Knew we were all among pretty close quarters. I prayed that we would all be able to work together and accomplish alot during our time in Guatemala.
Stay tuned for Day 3....
Antigua may be the most outstanding and best-preserved colonial city in Spanish America. Tourists visit Antigua Guatemala every year from around the world to enjoy its natural beauty and historic monuments. The Spanish Colonial style permeates every part of the town: its houses, churches, squares, parks and ruins, also its traditions and folklore as well. Antigua is a city of charm and color where you can see and buy an overwhelming variety of attractive, handmade products that honor the traditions of generations of artisans. Antigua’s temperate, climate and friendly inhabitants welcome visitors; the city has all the required services: sophisticated hotels, cafes and restaurants (with traditional or international menus), banks, stores, Internet cafés, travel agencies, Spanish-language schools and art galleries, all of the highest quality.
Antigua sits in a Highland valley overlooked by the spectacular Agua Volcano (3,765 meters high). A little further away are two other volcanoes Acatenango and the always smoking, sometimes erupting, Fuego. The neighboring towns and villages include Ciudad Vieja, Jocotenango, San Juan El Obispo, Santa María de Jesús, San Bartolomé Milpas Altas and Santa Catalina Barahona. Each of these towns is worth a visit, even if only to view their historic colonial churches.Antigua is also noted for its crafts: terracotta, ceramics, wrought iron, silver and jade jewelry, wooden sculptures, carved colonial-style furniture, a great variety of traditional costumes and weavings, figured stone, brass, jarcia, traditional toys and much more.
About 9am, we loaded the Missionera bus for a 3 1/2 hour trip to Paquila, the community where we would be working for the next 5 days. It was nice getting to learn everyone's personalities along the way. Raul, our Interpreter shared alot of great information on areas we passed and more detail about Guatemala. We passed some pretty amazing scenery along the way and it was a nice day for travelling. About half the ride was pretty bumpy but it was refreshing to put the windows down and just take it all in. :) Speed limits are not strictly enforced in other countries. It's pretty much an open road where people just go where they need to go and get there anyway they need to. We stopped for lunch and one of our team members picked up a great red piñata that looked like Elmo. We planned to save that for the children later in the week. Ron, one of our team members, had been to Guatemala many times and he seemed to think of everything creative for the children. He kept us entertained as well. A chicken dance and an hour later, it was time to hop back on the bus. As we approached a more desolate area surrounded by jungle, I knew we were getting close to our destination. We continued to follow a dirt road lined by rubber trees and the smell of burning wood was the first thing I really noticed. The rubber trees were cool! We even noticed a little bamboo and some banana trees with interesting purple blossoms.
Finally, we arrived in Paquila. We quickly unloaded our luggage and started setting up our tents/bug huts in the church. The church was concrete with six open windows outlined in beautiful stained glass and wrought iron bars. The roof was made of galvanized tin and the ceiling was decorated with hanging drapes and flowers. We immediately noticed the sweet children peeking through the windows shouting "Hola!" The community started pouring in as they were getting ready for their worship service. They graciously offered us the church to sleep in so their church services were moved outdoors. We were invited to attend their service with them. It was held outdoors under a tent lined with multi-colored plastic chairs and compact mud floor. The altar was covered colorful hand-picked flowers and a decorative piece covered the stand. As we were making our way to our seats, we passed two Guatemalan women kneeling at the altar. It was a powerful moment and I found myself wondering how long they had prayed for our help. Many other community members were kneeled silently at their chairs. They did not wear shoes and were dressed in beautiful handmade garments. It was certainly a day to absorb what we were being introduced to. We remained quiet for most of the service as the pastor and community welcomed us. The pastor communicated that they had prayed for us and the families we left behind. He said they had been waiting for us to arrive and praying for a safe arrival. That statement literally gave me chills or what my friend Paula likes to call "God bumps." I actually felt what was on his heart before the interpreter even told us what he was saying. It was interesting to learn that the languages were Quiche and Spanish and hearing them sing was awesome! And yes, we had our opportunity to sing as well. We chose "Joy, Joy, Joy" as our song choice. We sang it in English, Quiche and Spanish. Perhaps we should have rehearsed a bit more but it was cute and I think they appreciated it. The service was long but very heartfelt. We were humbled that one of our team members, Micah, was given an opportunity to deliver a message. The service ended with prayer and they asked that we go have dinner and rest to prepare for a long week.
At this time, we were introduced to our chefs, Lidia and Carmelita. Both were highly trained to prepare Americanized food, and safe for us to eat. Rule of thumb: if you cannot boil it, peel it or cook it, forget it! I cannot quite remember all the exact meals that were prepared but most of them consisted of delicious soups, tamales, empanadas, corn tortillas, refried beans, rice, bananas, watermelon, chicken, eggs, pancakes, plantains, bacon, and even pasta and steak! We had every meal in the Pastoral kitchen and dining room, three meals a day. Very simple, one stove and one table for dining. We had several gallons of purified water for the week as well. After dinner, we finished blowing up our air mattresses, assembled our bug tents, and set up a designated area for supplies and toys. We outlined our weekly schedule and detailed what was expected on Monday. We started our devotion that night and continued those the rest of the week. We had two outdoor showers and two toilets so in order to conserve resources, we only took one shower a day and were not able to flush any toilet paper. We had a handmade changing room within the church for changing. It was made with blue tarp and white pvc pipe. It was pretty creative actually. Thanks to Ron for bringing a decorative muʻumuʻu which allowed the ladies a dress while exiting the shower. :) We were designated an outside tooth brushing area and advised to do this with purified drinking water. We spent some time that evening meeting the children, playing magic tricks and taking photos with them. Kelly, another team member had a gift for magic tricks. It was quite cute and they adored him. The children were absolute angels, memorizing the entire team by name. I had never seen anything like it. Their smiles were infectious and their playfulness was sweet.
That night, I had a little trouble sleeping. I kept thinking about what Monday would bring. Alot of thoughts entered my mind but mostly I was excited about the next day. I was curious about where we would go, what we would see, what the conditions may be like. Kept thinking about everything in my life that had led up to this opportunity. Did alot of smiling in my sleep I believe. The smell of smoke was still pretty profound that night, the mosquitos were already biting and I was definitely feeling a little out of my comfort zone. I stayed positive and in constant prayer. I asked God to help me get comfortable and relax so that I could put my focus on the people. I just wanted to stop focusing on my level of comfort. I asked God to put his light in my eyes and let me see, that my own little world is not about me. I also prayed for the team that night. Knew we were all among pretty close quarters. I prayed that we would all be able to work together and accomplish alot during our time in Guatemala.
Stay tuned for Day 3....
Mission Trip Day 1: Wherever you go, go with all your heart
My journey into an unknown world began on October 23, 2010. This was the day that would change my life forever. 2:45am came early as I had spent the night before frantically packing three suitcases. After months of planning, I still scrambled to account for everything that I needed that morning. We were told to pack light and leave room for additional supplies. I must have scanned my checklist a dozen times. Maybe I was experiencing feelings of anticipation and excitement as I knew this would be an experience that I had not had before. Maybe it was flight anxiety. It's no secret that I dislike flying. I can remember not wanting to sit still days before my trip. All I wanted to do was get there and serve these deserving families. Part of me felt extremely scared and overwhelmed but I knew that ole devil was trying to rid me of my joy and God's calling. I was quickly reminded to take overwhelming to overcoming. I had to remind myself that it was not about me, it was about the people in Guatemala. Thank God that I had amazing support from my church. They presented me with a prayer blanket in a previous Sunday service and they had prayed for me and my team, and the people we were going to serve without ceasing. I can remember feeling their prayers the day before I was planning to leave. I had an amazing feeling of peace come over me and I could almost hear God whispering, "you have gifts that only you can give the world, you have blessings others can only receive through you." Scripture started pouring out everywhere I looked. "Here I am send me.....go make disciples of all nations.....let my heart break for the things that break God's heart......"
Months before this opportunity came about, I knew God was calling me to do something special. I was previously inspired by two church missionaries from my church, Paula Lambert and Susan Young. They serve yearly in the Dominican Republic and provide medical and christian care. They were literally glowing when they returned from their trip in 2010 and it took months to adjust back to life as they knew it. I was inspired that they would risk their lives to help others in need. At that time, I did not feel led to do mission work yet but I was watching and observing their work and knew it would someday peak my interest. I was still growing as a Christian and enriching my faith through regular worship and bible study. After alot of prayer, I finally felt that "tug on my heart" a few weeks after returning from a church retreat. I continued to serve in that camp community where I strengthened my relationship with God. I began asking questions, researching multi-cultural opportunities and learning about mission and outreach projects through the United Methodist Western North Carolina Conference. I contacted a mission team lead for building projects and found an opportunity to serve in Guatemala. After being invited to an orientation and learning more about the project, I knew that this was the mission that was hand chosen by God. The team was unbelievable. They were friendly, experienced and very passionate about this project and the people of Guatemala. I am so grateful to have been placed within this group. I also remain grateful to the people who prayed for me, for the financial support and help with fundraisers.
Earlier this year, I took my first international trip only to find myself curious about the rest of the world. I saw firsthand what it was like for people to live without basic necessities and I learned the concept of purified drinking water. I found myself more curious about multicultural way of life and I found it amazing that people are so self-sufficient in other countries. I realized at that time that luxury as I knew it just didn't matter as much anymore. This may have been the very first time in my life that I was actually limited on choices. It was kind of nice. Fortunately for me, there were many opportunities presented that allowed me to prepare for God's true calling. God allowed me to see the world through his eyes.
On the morning of October 23rd, we arrived at Greensboro Airport and were pleasantly greeted by the team. It had been months since we had all seen each other and only a few weeks since we all spoke on a conference call. There were lots of smiles and it was nice to see so many family members there to see everyone off. The team was great, mostly business professionals which even included a PA in Dermatology. Two team members had lost family members the week we were leaving so this was a great bonding experience for two of the guys. Both had lost fathers and there was absolutely no doubt in my mind that they were placed on this mission trip together. Gray Guatemala T-shirts were distributed and we sure felt proud wearing them not to mention it would be easier to get through customs. We immediately began sorting and re-shifting luggage and supplies. We had to make room for tools, utensils for the stoves, vitamins, medical supplies, de-worming medications, frisbees and soccer balls among other things. I received word that morning that my church had sent letters with me to read each day of my trip. Absolutely loved this! They are so special to me so it was much appreciated. Our first flight was to Atlanta and then to Guatemala City. It sure was a fun challenge getting all of our heavy luggage through customs. It was so worth it though! I remember exiting the airport and seeing rows and rows of beautiful Guatemalan people waiting for their family members entering back into their country. This was the first time I was introduced to their culture, dress, and language. Ahh, the colors and smiles! The clothing was beautiful, lots of handmade blouses and skirts with colorful belts. We then met up with Raul, our fabulous one-of-a-kind Interpreter. We loaded a bus and headed to lunch at a local Burger King. This was the first time I had ever been introduced to Guatemalan quetzals so I had to quickly get used to Spanish menus and money. Interesting Fact: In ancient Mayan culture, the quetzal bird's tail feathers were used as currency. We then traveled by bus to Fuego Volcano where we hiked to the top. This would be one of our few days to sightsee so we were thrilled to have this opportunity. Some hiked while others rode horseback. Children were there to greet us with sticks to allow for better hiking up the mountaintop. The weather was perfect, gorgeous and sunny with a little rain. The views were breathtaking. You could still feel warm ash and see black rocks that were covered from the previous eruption. The flowers growing naturally were beautiful, you couldn't help not to notice. When we arrived to the top, the clouds disappeared enough for us to see a beautiful volcano and a bright blue sky. Guides shared details about the previous eruption and a little history of the volcano. We had a few photo opportunities and watched a gorgeous sunset. It was at that time I knew I was in God's country. Truly one of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen, the kind you could stare at for hours. The clouds were floating and it seemed like we were so close to heaven. Some of the team members ventured on to see some of the lava and others just watched the sunset. I immediately remembered a card that I had received with this message: On every mountain it's easy to see how you have guided and directed me. There's not a valley that I've gone through that I just grow stronger in my walk with you. So with all of my heart, Lord I say I'm loving you more each day. When the end's not in sight and I'm traveling by faith, I lean on the valleys of my yesterdays for I have a hope that this too shall pass and when I'm on top I'll know I've made it at last. And Lord you will hear me say I'm loving you more each day. :)
After hiking back down the volcano, we took the bus to Antigua where we were to spend the night. About 30 minutes away from our hotel, our bus broke down! One would normally be a bit nervous in this situation but we were as calm as we could be given the situation. We knew we were in good hands. Thanks to Kelly Harrill, our Team Lead, and Raul, our Interpreter for coming to the rescue. They placed a few calls and we were back on the road after about 30 minutes. Remember that time in Guatemala when our bus broke down? HAHA! We finally arrived in Antigua after a long day of traveling, had some pizza and settled in for a good nights rest. The accomodations were comfortable and we had plenty of aqua pura! Right before bed, we were pleasantly surprised to be greeted by the girls from the first team. They were covered with beautiful Guatemalan wear and smiling from ear to ear. They had just completed work in Paquila the week before we arrived. The installation of stoves was successful for them and they were able to share specifics on what we could expect. You could tell they were sad to be leaving the next morning. I could literally feel their joy as they could not stop smiling. They told us that they would surely miss the community and sweet children.
Stay tuned for Day 2!
Months before this opportunity came about, I knew God was calling me to do something special. I was previously inspired by two church missionaries from my church, Paula Lambert and Susan Young. They serve yearly in the Dominican Republic and provide medical and christian care. They were literally glowing when they returned from their trip in 2010 and it took months to adjust back to life as they knew it. I was inspired that they would risk their lives to help others in need. At that time, I did not feel led to do mission work yet but I was watching and observing their work and knew it would someday peak my interest. I was still growing as a Christian and enriching my faith through regular worship and bible study. After alot of prayer, I finally felt that "tug on my heart" a few weeks after returning from a church retreat. I continued to serve in that camp community where I strengthened my relationship with God. I began asking questions, researching multi-cultural opportunities and learning about mission and outreach projects through the United Methodist Western North Carolina Conference. I contacted a mission team lead for building projects and found an opportunity to serve in Guatemala. After being invited to an orientation and learning more about the project, I knew that this was the mission that was hand chosen by God. The team was unbelievable. They were friendly, experienced and very passionate about this project and the people of Guatemala. I am so grateful to have been placed within this group. I also remain grateful to the people who prayed for me, for the financial support and help with fundraisers.
Earlier this year, I took my first international trip only to find myself curious about the rest of the world. I saw firsthand what it was like for people to live without basic necessities and I learned the concept of purified drinking water. I found myself more curious about multicultural way of life and I found it amazing that people are so self-sufficient in other countries. I realized at that time that luxury as I knew it just didn't matter as much anymore. This may have been the very first time in my life that I was actually limited on choices. It was kind of nice. Fortunately for me, there were many opportunities presented that allowed me to prepare for God's true calling. God allowed me to see the world through his eyes.
On the morning of October 23rd, we arrived at Greensboro Airport and were pleasantly greeted by the team. It had been months since we had all seen each other and only a few weeks since we all spoke on a conference call. There were lots of smiles and it was nice to see so many family members there to see everyone off. The team was great, mostly business professionals which even included a PA in Dermatology. Two team members had lost family members the week we were leaving so this was a great bonding experience for two of the guys. Both had lost fathers and there was absolutely no doubt in my mind that they were placed on this mission trip together. Gray Guatemala T-shirts were distributed and we sure felt proud wearing them not to mention it would be easier to get through customs. We immediately began sorting and re-shifting luggage and supplies. We had to make room for tools, utensils for the stoves, vitamins, medical supplies, de-worming medications, frisbees and soccer balls among other things. I received word that morning that my church had sent letters with me to read each day of my trip. Absolutely loved this! They are so special to me so it was much appreciated. Our first flight was to Atlanta and then to Guatemala City. It sure was a fun challenge getting all of our heavy luggage through customs. It was so worth it though! I remember exiting the airport and seeing rows and rows of beautiful Guatemalan people waiting for their family members entering back into their country. This was the first time I was introduced to their culture, dress, and language. Ahh, the colors and smiles! The clothing was beautiful, lots of handmade blouses and skirts with colorful belts. We then met up with Raul, our fabulous one-of-a-kind Interpreter. We loaded a bus and headed to lunch at a local Burger King. This was the first time I had ever been introduced to Guatemalan quetzals so I had to quickly get used to Spanish menus and money. Interesting Fact: In ancient Mayan culture, the quetzal bird's tail feathers were used as currency. We then traveled by bus to Fuego Volcano where we hiked to the top. This would be one of our few days to sightsee so we were thrilled to have this opportunity. Some hiked while others rode horseback. Children were there to greet us with sticks to allow for better hiking up the mountaintop. The weather was perfect, gorgeous and sunny with a little rain. The views were breathtaking. You could still feel warm ash and see black rocks that were covered from the previous eruption. The flowers growing naturally were beautiful, you couldn't help not to notice. When we arrived to the top, the clouds disappeared enough for us to see a beautiful volcano and a bright blue sky. Guides shared details about the previous eruption and a little history of the volcano. We had a few photo opportunities and watched a gorgeous sunset. It was at that time I knew I was in God's country. Truly one of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen, the kind you could stare at for hours. The clouds were floating and it seemed like we were so close to heaven. Some of the team members ventured on to see some of the lava and others just watched the sunset. I immediately remembered a card that I had received with this message: On every mountain it's easy to see how you have guided and directed me. There's not a valley that I've gone through that I just grow stronger in my walk with you. So with all of my heart, Lord I say I'm loving you more each day. When the end's not in sight and I'm traveling by faith, I lean on the valleys of my yesterdays for I have a hope that this too shall pass and when I'm on top I'll know I've made it at last. And Lord you will hear me say I'm loving you more each day. :)
After hiking back down the volcano, we took the bus to Antigua where we were to spend the night. About 30 minutes away from our hotel, our bus broke down! One would normally be a bit nervous in this situation but we were as calm as we could be given the situation. We knew we were in good hands. Thanks to Kelly Harrill, our Team Lead, and Raul, our Interpreter for coming to the rescue. They placed a few calls and we were back on the road after about 30 minutes. Remember that time in Guatemala when our bus broke down? HAHA! We finally arrived in Antigua after a long day of traveling, had some pizza and settled in for a good nights rest. The accomodations were comfortable and we had plenty of aqua pura! Right before bed, we were pleasantly surprised to be greeted by the girls from the first team. They were covered with beautiful Guatemalan wear and smiling from ear to ear. They had just completed work in Paquila the week before we arrived. The installation of stoves was successful for them and they were able to share specifics on what we could expect. You could tell they were sad to be leaving the next morning. I could literally feel their joy as they could not stop smiling. They told us that they would surely miss the community and sweet children.
Stay tuned for Day 2!
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