Where do we begin......

Our day started at Chicoy school where we joined them for devotions.  This is the most impoverished school commmunity.  Knowing this made watching them worship even more amazing.  A kindergarten boy stood out the most.  Through each song, he raised his face and hands to the Lord and sang wholeheartedly.  When it was time to praise the Lord by jumping, he jumped for joy repeatedly.  His heart felt worship, despite his circumstances, challenges us to acknowledge the things we allow to get in the way of our own worship.  We were honoured to have the chance to sing for them today and to have them wrap their arms around us and pray a prayer of thanksgiving and safety in our journey.  Before we left, every student in the school came through our hug line.  Though it took a bit of time we were truly blessed to possibly be the only person who would hug them that day.  We were also honoured to be trusted as 85% of Guatemalan children suffer from abuse.  These are a hurting people who cling to God for their hope; they know that one day they will be free from their pain and suffering.  In the meantime, they praise God and this gives them peace and a joy that cannot be described in words.

After devotions, we visitted the sink hole.  This is one of the darkest places in the Tactic area as many rituals are performed within it.  The beauty that surrounds it and the sound of our voices lifted to God reminds us that God goes before us in all things.  When we call on God to meet us where we are, He answers in amazing ways.  God was truly present in the sink hole as we were challenged to leave our burdens, sins and anger in this place.  The team left a very dark place lighter.

This afternoon we travelled to Coban for our hospital visit.  This was by far the most difficult experience we have had this trip.  Before we entered the building we were reminded that this is a place of hopelessness.  Most often the sick come here expecting to die as they have tried all other resources with no results.  The hospital is understaffed, under resourced and in disrepair.  It is a place of sadness.  We, however, must remain strong and not cry as we are their hope.  As we entered the building, we could see the pain in the faces of all we encountered.  We spent our time in the children's ward where we prayed for each patient and his or her family.  We also gave them a stuffed toy to bring them some comfort.  Even the team hosts felt this was one of the most difficult days in the hospital.  Amidst the issues of the hospital, families wait.  Many of today's families didn't speak Spanish and few of the hospital staff speak anything else.  These families are lost as they cannot understand the doctor and live in fear of what is happening to their child.  We encountered many children with illnesses who in Canada would not have to stay in hospital.  We also encountered children who had illnesses that baffled the Guatemalan doctors.  It is these children who challenge us the most to think of the advantages we have with the medical system in North America. 

Our greatest challenge, however, was the abandoned children.  In the nursery, mothers had walked away from three newborn babies.  These babies will be taken to an orphanage as soon as space becomes available.  In the mean time they wait with no mother to hold them.  Our team held these babies and loved them for the few minutes we could.  With our understanding of family, we struggle to understand a mother or father leaving a helpless child; however, we were challenged to think how difficult a task this must be for that parent.  Living in poverty, abuse, alcoholism, etc.... these parents feel a life a part from them is better than a life in their world.  This is difficult to comprehend, but when viewed as a sacrifice on the parents' part one begins to empathize not only with the child left behind, but also with the grieving mother who has no child to hold.

Outside of the nursery there were two other abandoned babies.  Our hearts ached as some of us held a little girl about nine months old with down syndrome and club feet.  There are few people willing to adopt a child with special needs.  Because of this, she doesn't take a place in the local orphanage.  Instead she waits.  We were happy to hear that a woman who has ties to Impact Ministries is opening an orphanage for children with special needs.  This will help many children in the future.  Our hearts still ache, however, for the little girl our team named Precious.    Keeping dry eyes was no easy task, but with God's help we managed it at least until we left the building. 

At debrief this evening, there wasn't a dry eye in the room.  God is working in all of our hearts.  He is challenging and teaching.  He is affirming and convicting.  He is showing us the needs of a people and encouraging us to give our lives to the Lord to serve Him wherever He calls us.  Thank you again for your prayers.  We needed them today.  We will also need them as we come home and try to adjust to a lifestyle that is so counter to what we see here.  Please pray for strength, continued safety and God's continued movement amongst us.  We are blessed!