Monday, April 11, 2011
LCS - Day 8 in photos
LCS Student Reflections - Day 7
This week was such an amazing week. Today is our last night in Guatemala and I can’t believe that it’s Saturday already. I really learned a lot at Guatemala. It really changed me a lot. When I first came to Guatemala, I was really excited and nervous because it was my first mission trip. I wasn’t sure at first if this mission trip would be a life changing experience for me, but now I’m sure it changed my life.
I learned the value of relationship. I didn’t know a lot of people on our team so I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy my mission trip. But I got to know every single person on our team. We had a small meeting every evening after dinner. We talked about what we felt and learned that day. We also played games at night which really bonded us together. We had a story time with about 10 people and it really helped me to know about others. Our team also got to know the Bantas and Carlos. It was actually them who taught us and helped us to learn more about God and see Jesus in Guatemala.
I was also really impressed to see the Guatemalan kids. They were so bright and full of happiness even though they are living in harsh conditions. I always think about and pray for myself at home. But meeting those Guatemalan kids, I thought that I should spend some time praying for the kids in Guatemala. I felt like I have been way more immature than the Guatemalan kids. I give up easily or ask my parents or friends to help me a lot when I have some problems. But those Guatemalan kids just never give up. They find hope for their lives through playing soccer. They never keep their smiley faces down. I was really impressed by the way kids are so happy even though they don’t have anything. They also really welcomed our team. They wanted to play with us. That’s all they wanted. I’m sad that we didn’t have more opportunities to play with those kids and plant hopes in their hearts. Hopefully next year (:
- Jung Yul
Hola Amigos!
This is Bob. If you don’t know who I am, ask your children in about 36 hours. With that said, our trip is coming to a close. We will soon return your student – hopefully changed by the exposure of the week and the work of the Holy Spirit. It’s difficult to consider all of the aspects of this week succinctly, however, our final day of ministry did help close our thoughts. Today was spent focusing on life beyond our week, beyond our experiences and beyond our own imaginations, but certainly not beyond our God. John and Amy spent the morning casting the vision of the future ministries that are ahead for GSM in the next few months. God has provided opportunities that only he can prepare with promising land and facilities possibilities. After a classic sandwich, chips and tang lunch, we moved on to Pinitos, a neighborhood in which the team last year worked. Being my first time, I witnessed the children of the neighborhood greet our team with broad smiles, big hugs and fresh memories. The team was incredibly encouraged to see the produce of the seeds that their labors and relationships last year, and even reinvest in the relationships via hugs, broken conversations and gifts of beanie babies, which is an equivalent of Christmas morning to the children whose parents earn their living by drying out cow intestines to sell as hotdog casings. In conclusion, the moral of the day: God is at work above and beyond our presence, our efforts or even our imaginations. A comforting thought as we leave our work and relationships behind as we trust God to work beyond us.
Bob
LCS - Day 7 in photos
Friday, April 8, 2011
LCS Student Reflections - Day 6
This trip has been a mix of amazing and also depressing. God has been bringing me on quite a trip. Yesterday, when we were Alamadia, we had a soccer tournament with some kids. There was this one child whose name was Julio who was nine years old and lived 40 blocks away from where we were at. He was extremely quiet and very small. I asked him if he went to school and he said no. I asked him if he played on a soccer team and he said no because he had to help his dad out at the market. I gave him a ball and his face just lit up! Bob played goalie and I played defender. Julio giggled his head off and ran around the field. John told us we had to leave and I looked at Julio who was still playing, knowing that I would never see this child that fears the gangs everyday. When we loaded up in the van, he walked us down to the curb and watched us drive away. Among all the kids that we had to say good-bye to, he touched my heart the most. My eyes welled up because I did not know if Julio would make it to his 10th birthday which was on June 8th. He was very proud of that. All of this has given me a different look on life and God has given me new things to think about.
-Jocelyn
This week has been one of the most amazing weeks I have ever experienced. I have loved getting to know the Guatemalan people and my teammates better. Our team has grown so much closer through playing crazy games, shouting along to Don’t Stop Believing, and working next to each other moving dirt and picking up rocks. The Guatemalan people have also left a great impression on my heart. They have taught me so much, and I feel like they have helped me just as much or more than I have helped them. When we were working on a garden at the school we worked at, two little girls came up and to me and asked me my name and questions about my family. They offered to help me, even though I was moving big cement blocks. They each grabbed an end of a block and carried it to where I was moving blocks, laughing all the way. They didn’t just sit back and let me do the work, but they stepped out and helped because they were thankful. The children here are so satisfied and joyful with what they have, even though they have so, so much less than I do.
Today, our team went to Antigua for a shopping trip. There was a woman there selling bracelets and other items. She asked why we were in Guatemala, and we told her we were on a mission trip. She asked us our names, and gave each of us who were there a free bracelet. She said, “Thank you for helping my Guatemala. My Guatemala cannot pay you back, but my Christ will.” The free bracelet may have been a clever scheme to get us to buy her goods, but I think she was seriously honest. It was a really touching, sweet reminder that it doesn’t matter if we get recognition for our work here on earth. Our treasures will be stored up in heaven, and that’s the only thing that really matters.
-Anna
LCS - Day 6 in photos
Thursday, April 7, 2011
LCS Student Reflections - Day 5
Every day we continue to see more and our eyes are opened to even more than they were before. The language barrier continues to lessen and our relationships with the people constantly grow. Today I had many opportunities to have amazing conversations with people. I stepped out of my comfort zone and thanks be to God I learned so much through it. The pastor and I talked during one of the soccer games and it was such an encouragement to be able to communicate. The area of Zone 18 is very devastated and the ministry is beginning to set a firm foundation to spread the love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to the people of Renosmientos. I feel so blessed to have been part of the growth of the community. I know that God will be present and work in the lives of those around. Thanks be to John and Amy Banta who have been such a blessing and inspiration to my life and the lives of all those around them.
*Down where my heart will always be, I learned so much and now I can see. My life can be used in so many ways, I am God’s servant the rest of my days!*
I LOVE GUATEMALA!!!!!
With Love,
Kayleigh
I’m not quite sure where to start, as this type of thing is a little outside of my comfort zone, but I know all of you parents and well wishers take great delight in being able to have some glimpse of our experiences as we go through them as well. Guatemala is so many different things it’s almost impossible to put my emotions and thoughts into coherent form, but in its simple form it is really fun! At first it was a little overwhelming (and the heat didn’t help) but as I grow more accustomed to the weather and the work, it gives me more opportunities to try and interact with the locals. I know a bit of Spanish but it’s still really hard to follow when all the little kids flock around you, jabbering away in an indistinguishable rush of sound. As I’m sure everyone else has already mentioned, it gets much easier the more you talk, as long as your willing to try and fail a few times without being too self-conscious to try again. We are so blessed to have all these great leaders who take so much of their own personal time to help us help them, and they do so much more than we realize even now, I expect.
On another note, our group is coming together and connecting so much! As the days fly by and the end of our great adventure draws ever closer, we all spend so much time hanging out, playing games at the seminary at night and talking through our daily devotions. It’s a time well spent that I really value and hope will continue into our more mundane, daily lives upon our return. Also, the more we learn about others, the more we can learn about ourselves! Because even though we may wish to be examples, others perceptions are so easily formed and it really helps to see yourself from another’s point of view… I hope this finds you all well and rest assured we are doing great!
Lots of love to all,
Paul
LCS - Day 5 in photos
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
LCS Student Reflections - Day 4
Dear ya’ll,
One of the most common things I have noticed from a so called “veteran’s” point of view is that mission trips make everyone grateful for what they have. Last year I realized how much stuff I have, this year I realized how much love I get to receive daily. I noticed, and John pointed out, that Guatemalans play hard. I was asked the question, “How did you get to be such a good worker?” Apparently I am good at staying on task and not standing around… I do not know how much of that is true though. With out a doubt my answer was my father. I am pretty sure every time he comes home there is something he wants me to pick up or put away. And in every sport I have ever played he has pushed me too my limit, luckily it has rubbed off on me! Some of these Guatemalans do not get to accept very much love because they do not get much love. I get so much love that I push a lot of it away! The children today as we were leaving the fields where GSM held games for 4 different communities kept asking if we were coming back, and a few girls from our group played with them for a couple hours in the park. These kids can hardly communicate with us, but they take all the love we give to them and hold on to it with their life. That is how we should act, receiving love with open arms. Even if that means cleaning our rooms with a smile… now I have no excuses haha. But it’s a process and this trip has opened my eyes even wider than before. More is yet to come. Love you parents I’ll have to clean my room when I get back.
Sincerely,
Jay
LCS - Day 4 in photos
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
LCS Student Reflections - Day 3
Hola! This is Jessica & Calli. Today was a wonderful day! We worked at Renosmientos and we got so much done! We finished the soccer field today and we picked mass amounts of the cement clumps out of it too! Most of the people started their day out working in the soccer field but some people stayed back at the school and finished the garden and made a flower garden. It was very cool to see the kids trying to help us out and they had such willing hearts. After lunch, everyone moved to the soccer field because we had accomplished our tasks at the school. During the last 15 minutes of our work day, it was pouring rain! When we were getting ready to leave, we all circled up with people from the community and Pastor Rimerez led us in prayer. We saw God through one of the ladies who was thanking us for all that we had done and it brought her to tears. We learned how much the kids appreciate the attention we give them because they don’t get that a lot. We’re so excited to see what God has in store for the rest of this week for our team! Thanks for all your prayer’s and support. We can always use them!!! Love you all!
- Callie and Jessica
LCS - Day 3 in photos
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