Our team returned from Guatemala this weekend with hearts full from a special time of ministry with the beautiful homes of Manos de Compasion. God truly united our team and stretched our time and gifts to bless the children, the staff, and to be blessed through our new relationships and bonds in Christ.
Pickleball pros Mark and David, with help from Brenda and myself, shared the gift of Pickleball with 25 of the children at the home. The kids loved learning the new sport! The laughter and smiles on the faces of these kids made every moment worth it. Mark Price is an incredibly talented coach with a gift for teaching the fun of a sport cross-culturally. We hope to see these children enjoy the fun of the game for many years to come! Thank you to the sponsors and donors who made this all possible.
Meanwhile, Annalena and Kathy taught sewing and crochet to the girls in Esther House. They had a great time, and even sewed their own aprons. In the evenings, the girls at the home practiced their crocheting, giving their house parents a much-needed break and some peace and quiet. We hope to see some of these girls continue to develop their talents in sewing, opening doors for employment in their future.
The rest of our team, led by Marsha, spent the first couple of days serving in the villages in the mountains around the home and in an after-school program for kids in poverty, hosted by Ron and Rhonda, amazing missionaries that housed our team and lead a ministry serving those in poverty. Their experience with feeding, praying with, and gifting clothes, school supplies, and more to these kids and families in need, served as a poignant reminder of the reality these orphaned children would face without the intervention of loving Christian homes like Manos de Compasion.
When our team wasn’t serving in these areas, we had the opportunity to engage in many other ways. A few of the highlights included playing with and sharing a skit with the little ones at Love and Hope House, attending a local church service in Spanish, digging holes and cleaning out garages, helping with cooking, a game night at the Reichard House, and a special devotion time with the girls at Esther House.
This was my fourth trip to Manos de Compasion, and every trip and team have been special. This experience and team will hold a special place in my heart. God brought this team together, only as He can, and allowed us to participate in his work and to cover more ground than we could have imagined in such a short time. Every team member left deeply touched by the trip, and encouraged by new relationships and renewed conviction of the importance of serving the least of these.
“And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ “ -Matthew 25:40 ESV
-Adam Reiley
