September Guatemala Trip Update #2

How do I put the last 3 days into words? I wish I could open up my heart and let everyone peek inside. It was over flowing with squeals, giggles, hugs, singing, playing and lots of God’s love. You can feel God’s love here. Greg and Sarita, the Directors of House of Hope Zacapa, cultivate God’s love and the importance of family. There are 24 amazing, wonderful and unique children here at HOH. Each with their own personality and gifts, as well as their own devastating story. Greg and Sarita are the essence of being God’s hands and feet, pouring into each and every one of their children, physically, mentally and spiritually.

You see, most of these children still have parents, however, they have been taken out of their homes because of abuse or neglect. Greg and Sarita step in and welcome the children with open and loving arms, giving the children a safe and loving environment to grow in. Despite the hurt these children have endured, they are joyful and loved.

As a mother of two young adult girls, I know how challenging it can be to raise children and how fiercely I will fight for their well being. Five years ago, God placed the children of HOH in my life and I can say I feel the same about them as I do my own. I love being a part of teams and bringing new people down to experience what God is doing here. The love and joy is infectious. These children pierce your heart in a way you can’t explain. I feel blessed to be just a small part of their lives.

Our last day here during our devotion time with the children, we discussed how Jesus is our living water and in Him we are cleansed of our sins. We are then filled with that living water and it will flow from our hearts to others (John 7:37-39.) We then finished our devotion time with a water field day! To see the joy and excitement, and to hear the laughter of the children, it reminded me of the scripture Mark 10:13-16 “People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.”

I asked the Lord to make me like these children: “with immeasurable joy and laughter for you!”

Patricia Campbell

September Guatemala Trip Update #1 - September 23, 2019

What an incredible first two days it has been! Our small team of six went forth on this trip to Guatemala with this verse in our hearts: “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin.” Zechariah 4:10. The first part of our trip has indeed been focused on “beginnings,” and God truly has allowed us to see how He is at work in these moments.

Our flight arrived into Guatemala City on Saturday around noon and Glenn Stewart picked our team up from the airport. Glenn and his wonderful wife Judy have committed their lives to missionary work, primarily in Central America, including Bolivia for many years and now Guatemala for the last thirteen years. Glenn was our driver for Saturday and Sunday and showed our team the heart of a servant and an incredible love for others in ministry. He drove our team from the airport to Solola, a Mayan town overlooking the breathtakingly beautiful Lake Atitlan. Here, nestled above the lake, is Eagle’s Nest orphanage, a children’s home that our ministry was visiting for the first time. Although traffic delayed our team’s arrival at the orphanage and our time was short, we spent an amazing time with the kids through playing baseball, sharing in mandolin music, making crafts, and holding and goofing around with the youngest kids and babies. There are 35 children at the orphanage, ranging in age from 6 months to high school. While we were there a 2-year old little girl was brought to the orphanage by a policeman and was very upset while they processed her entry. We do not know her situation but pray that God will have his hand on that little girl’s future. As always, leaving the children was so hard and our prayer is that we will be back and will have a part in each of their lives.

After spending the night at a hotel by the lake, we breakfasted with Denise, a missionary to Eagle’s Nest who directed our team while we were there. Denise has an amazing faith and testimony that was inspiring to us all. Our team then drove back to Guatemala City where we met up with Greg Miller, the orphanage director of Zacapa, and were led on a tour of SETECA, a Bible college, by our gracious hosts Irv and Janet Wenger. SETECA has about 1,200 students enrolled. Janet heads up the music department but she and Irv are planning to retire and move back to Pennsylvania next year after 40 years of faithful service and teaching in Guatemala. SETECA is a special place and has great opportunities for music missionaries for our ministry and possibly for our orphan children to attend there when they graduate from school. Finally, we went to dinner with Janet and Irv, Bob and Anne Henriques, another amazing missionary couple who teach at the seminary and travel to spread the Good News, and Greg Miller. Tracy Arntzen met Bob on a plane about four years ago and God brought us all together in this moment through that connection. As with our initial visit to Eagle’s Nest, we do not know where this latest “beginning” will lead us, but we do know that God rejoices in beginnings and does more than we can ask or imagine when we are faithful and follow his leading.

On to see our kids in Zacapa tomorrow!

-Adam Reiley