Time here surely seems to slow down, as though God is purposefully redeeming what is His, yet somehow it also seems to slip away far too quickly. This has been the feeling of my heart in all past trips and this feeling is accelerating as relationships build and develop over time and with consistency. It is hard to think about leaving again tomorrow to start the way back home, because with each trip we leave more of ourselves behind, we break a little more, we laugh a little more, we cry a little more, we pray a lot more, we love a lot more, then we leave that all behind until we are able to return to these loving relationships & friendships, and it truly hurts…..BUT GOD!!!
This incredible team of Adam, Donna, Walter, Martina, Aaron, John, Wesslye, Esme, JW, and Helena have been greatly blessed by the instantaneous love and joy that we have all felt from the very second that we stepped foot onto the Manos de Compassion property. The team arrived on schedule into Guatemala on Sunday and immediately drove the 3, 4, 5, 6 hours to Manos (just depends!!), but this time it was only 3! We had a late lunch in the city before we started the drive. Once arriving in Santiago Atitlan, we settled into our living quarters with Ron and Rhonda had some time to hang out and continue to get to know one another until we called it a day, despite everyone’s excitement to see the kids and house parents.
Monday morning started at 7:30 with some breakfast then it was up to the Genesis house to say hello and get to “work”! There were so many sweet reunions to witness, the little faces that lit up when they saw team members that they know, the real hugs and real tears upon seeing one another again was pure and just such a privilege to witness and feel over and over again. The team split up early Monday to do some tasks around the Manos property while the kids did their school tasks, then after lunch we started our various projects and engagements with the kids. Myself, Helena and Esme were super excited that Berta took the week off, jumped on a bus and made it to the Genesis house for “Game Night”! I think a lot of the kiddos were more excited to see her than anyone else, but she is like a “rock-star” around here, so that ok!!
Tuesday started off the same with breakfast and tasks around the property, then it was Pickleball in the rain and an impromptu indoor “football” match with a pickle ball as the soccer ball!! Esme led an inspired butterfly art project that was beautiful, and the kids loved it so much! John and JW have been quite popular with all the girls, understandable they are both “muy guapo” and have good hair! We finished our day after dinner at the Love & Hope house, my personal favorite, because…babies!!! Duh! We sang worship with them and just got to love on those little littles.
This morning sunrise was stunning! After all the rain yesterday and last night, this morning was so vivid, crisp and refreshed everywhere! Well except the roads, they got trashed. The bumpy rides turned into traveling circus rides!! JW started our day with an incredibly thoughtful and spirit lead devotional time. This morning was the hike up the mountain and most everyone that could go went and had a blast! Myself, Dave, Berta, and Peter (HAPPY 11th BIRTHDAY PETER!! 9.25.25) went into town to do some shopping for dinner during this time, then we all met back for lunch at “Super Awesome Baby House” (Love & Hope House), where we had amazing lunch of roasted chicken, carrots with herbs, snap peas and broccoli, all that was prepared by the son of the house parents. The team broke off into “water games” at the airstrip, and a frame designing art project that Esme led and also did a sweet devotional for 3x today! We finished our day at Esther House for dinner, then privately passed out gifts to the kids from their Parent Partners. John led us all in a super fun worship time, we laughed and cried and had so much fun we didn’t get out of there until 9:30. Before we left, we prayed over and laid hands on the Ester house parents.
It has been both humbling and an honor and divine privilege to watch Helena (19), JW (18), John (17), Esme (16), and Martina (9) these past few days. This generation is something special, something BIG is moving in these kids. The patience, love, kindness, selflessness, and just utter willingness that each of them has exhibited is…well I don’t know, all I can say, is the highest praise that I know how to give anyone, and that is that I see Christ in each of them!
