LCS - Day 5 in photos

 Carlos & Osmar explaining to the kids about the upcoming GSM academy on the new field that our team helped restore.

 Team photo with John & Amy Banta.

 Cheering on the kids during a soccer match.

 Some of our team suited up for a game.

 Monkeying around in the park at lunch.

 More monkey business.

 Enjoying the day.

 JD talking to a group of Guatemalan kids.

Preparing to feed 150 kids at the afternoon celebration.

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

 Cipresales Cheering Section!

 Serving water to teams after their games.

 Playing a little soccer with kids during breaks.

 John refereeing the first of 7 GSM Academy tournament games played today.

 Cheering on the youngsters.

Some kids gather to pose for a photo.

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

 Trying to level the playing field (pun intended)

 It's a team circle thing... you might not understand.

 Group prayer with the Guatemalans dedicating the field to the work of God.

 Group photo of all who worked on the project.

 The leaders behind this whole operation.

 A little post-work soccer to unwind.

 Dr. Lynn keeping weary hands healthy.

 Jay testing the hole depth.  Yep, that's about right.

 Shoveling more sand, and enjoying it.

 Steve introducing the Guatemalan kids to a new form of music.

 Posing with the School mascot (ok, well it's not the mascot, just the school pet)

An attempt at stomping out the chunks of dirt.  It was more effective for creating a dust storm.

LCS Student Reflections - Day 2

Hey everyone this is Maddie and so far so good with this missions trip! Today we worked at a school painting walls and also at a soccer field spreading sand all over the entire field. Everyone is doing great we are all feeling God and having an amazing time! The entire missions trip team has met a lot of people such as a lovely man named Carlos (his American name is Charlie) he is our driver and is one of the most loving and gracious man I have meet so far on this trip. He doesn’t just drive our bus he also helps out with the school and the field. Days are still to come and they will be even greater that today. I just wanted to say that I LOVE MY MOM & DAD and chloe J and I miss you guys but don’t worry about me and Mallory we are having a great time.

See you guys soon!

- Maddie

Hi all - today was a great day.  Everyone worked so hard on many projects at the school and the soccer field.  We had the team working on backstops for the soccer field, digging (tons) of holes for posts to fence the field, painting poles, fences, and walls, and digging up an area at the school for a garden.  I wish all of you could be here to see how hard your sons and daughters are working!  You should be proud of all them; God truly put together an amazing team!

- Lynn

Hey Guys, this is Stephen. Today was an awesome day, our team worked so hard on so many different things. Weather it was tearing up grass for the garden, or painting a wall, or digging holes for fence posts, everyone contributed something incredible. God is working in so many ways here that it would take me all night to tell you everything. But, the most predominant way that I have sensed God working is in the lives of the returning Guatemala team members. We all heard Joe say many times to “not have any expectations” and for the most part I thought I didn’t. The other “return-ies” and I had hundreds of expectations that we didn’t even realize, and for the first half of the first day we were all in a pretty depressed mood because it wasn’t the same as last year. But after we took the tour of the Guatemala City yesterday, and especially with the stop that we made in Pinitos, we could almost feel the burden of the expectations being lifted from us. We all realized that this isn’t about us at all, and we have yet another God ordained chance to bless a different community in some crazy powerful ways. Today, I felt that come to life. I am so excited to see the way that God uses us in this community. We are a great team, and great teams can only do great things. So, keep praying for all of us as we embark on the rest of the mission that God has planned for us this week. Pray for unity, health, and that God would show himself to us. Thank-you all so much for your continued love and support.

- Stephen

LCS - The day in photos

 Digging in the garden.

 The first of the many post holes.

 Cutting the posts.

 Setting the backstop.

 Enjoying work.

 Relaxing a bit.

Some of the team enjoying little pre-work fun.