This morning our team had an early start with a departure time of 7:00 AM sharp. So far during our time here, everything has been "ish." For example, we would have dinner at five-ish, leave in the morning after devotion at 9:30ish, etc. None of us really worry about the time, as Kevin always gets us where we need to be, and it has been a real blessing not to live by the clock. After packing into the vans with our Bibles and water bottles, we spent two hours going only downhill and seeing the beautiful campo, or countryside, of Guatemala on our way to the mission site. Kevin and Cesar pointed out the various volcanoes as we drove by, ranging from the gigantic, dormant Agua to nearby Fuego, which spewed intermittent puffs of black smoke, to the jagged-topped Pacaya that erupted and blasted off its cap a few years ago, all three of which can be seen from the roof of the mission house on a clear day. There were so many more that we didn't even know all their names.
Finally, after bouncing along over rocks, sticks, and who knows what else on a "road" through the middle of a sugar cane field, we reached our destination: Buena Vista. It truly lived up to its name, which means "good view" in Spanish. It was a nice change to be out of the city, but as the altitude dropped, the heat spiked! It was hot and sticky, even at nine in the morning. Today the lessons for the children and adults were at different times, so we all sang (accompanied by enthusiastic clapping from the Guatemalans!) and performed our skits before the leaders of the children's group split off. The future teachers visited the public school in the area to get a feel for the education system here. I, along with Kyle, Aracelis, Oscar, and Cesar, went on some home visits.
It was very different from the other experiences I've had so far. At most of our locations, whether in the city or at El Rincon, we would come in and the people would immediately start talking to us about how God has been working in their life or tell us about their difficulties so we could encourage and pray for them. Most seemed firm in their faith and it was beautiful to see their confidence in the Lord, despite their hardships and situations. In Buena Vista, we were actually sharing the news of the Gospel with them. It was probably not the first time they'd heard it, as Groundwork Guatemala visits weekly, but they all seemed to have a "yes, but no" attitude. We would ask questions after sharing a verse and they would give the answer we were looking for, but still not accompany us to the Bible study or want to learn more. We were able to give ziplocs full of vitamins to three different families after talking to them and Oscar explained that just as the vitamins strengthen our bodies and keep us healthy, the Word sustains our spirits and keeps our souls fed. No matter what darkness or hardships they might have in their lives or how hopeless and lost they might feel, there is still an everlasting hope that can pull them out of any darkness and shine light in the darkest of places. Jesus is the well-spring of our hope and the only firm foundation. We prayed with each of the families we visited and planted that seed, and now we can trust that the Holy Spirit will continue to work fervently in their hearts and minds.
At the last house, which we ended up stopping at only because the pigs and the mud were blocking the road, we picked up Manuel, a little boy visiting his aunts and grandma. He had lost the entire toenail of his second toe; it was bloody and clearly infected, which was not surprising because he was walking around barefoot. It took some cajoling, but he returned to the Groundwork site with us to be treated by the nurse, Ruth. Many others were treated as well. It is an amazing ministry to actually use the gifts God has blessed the team with to physically heal these people who are in such desperate need. As wonderful as the studies, lessons, and songs are for encouraging our Guatemalan brothers and sisters in Christ, having that example of actual, tangible help really speaks volumes. We grabbed a quick lunch before heading back up the path for the kids' lesson, although it was difficult to stomach our simple PB&Js while the wide, dark eyes of hungry children watched each bite.
The afternoon was amazing. The kids sat on a tarp in a field while we sang again (ask any of the team members when we get back and I'm sure you'd be able to hear some great Spanish praise songs!) and performed our skit in full costume. We shared our application lesson without the help of any of our Guatemalan friends. The ones that can speak Spanish spoke directly to the kids, with Chayanne to translate for those who didn't. The craft (a cross necklace made of glow-in-the-dark beads, which I think has already been explained to you all) went extremely well. Yesterday at El Rincon, everyone was trying to show the kids how to make the necklaces with only a few words. It felt like everything I ever learned melted away, just like my confidence, as I tried and failed to tell them the instructions. After an encouraging devotion last night and lots of prayer time, I was able to put all those fears aside and before I knew it, we had the necklaces made perfectly and were able to get to Oscar's surprise... FUTBOL!
The rest of our time was... pure joy. Almost all the boys ran out to the field and played a huge game of futbol, soccer to Americans, which I'm told was tied 2-2 when we had to leave. As a girl who has played maybe one game of soccer in my entire life, the idea of running around a huge field making a fool of myself in front of talented little Guatemalans in the sticky heat, it wasn't exactly appealing. I was rescued by an absolutely wonderful nine year old named Sheli (pronounced Shelly). A crowd of girls and younger boys were gathered around a bunch of us, running all over and tickling each other. They were relentless, full of energy, and had a huge number advantage. Every time I was able to pick myself up off the ground, I was tackled back down again by three or four giggling kids. I had to "die" at least four times just to be able to take a water break before being revived ("como Jesus!") and starting all over. I started chasing them all around, telling them that I was a dragon and breathing fire all over. They absolutely loved it and before long, I had a large team of flying, fire-breathing Guatemalan dragons to help me capture Allison and the "princesses." After what felt like only a few minutes (although it was a pretty long time), Kevin gathered the team for a picture and my two little hangers-on allowed me to leave them for a few minutes. We'd been sitting in the shade and I listened as they told me about all the things that have been happening in their village. Sheli and the other little girl were only nine and seven, respectively, and yet they had a classmate die in the past few months and were able to talk about it without even flinching. It hurt to see such young girls so used to such hardships. I held them close and we embraced until everything was loaded in the van and I absolutely had to leave. There were lots of kisses and saying "Te amo" ("I love you"). It was the most amazing thing to be able to talk to and encourage these young girls in their own language and show them the love that they wanted more than anything else.
The memory verse that we teach every day comes from John 4:12b: Yo soy la luz del mundo. El que me sigue no andara en tinieblas sino que tendra la luz de la vida; I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but have the light of life. God shines the light of His love on us through the amazing gift of His Son and here in Guatemala, we have been able to shine His light and share His love with everyone we've met. Even more so, His light and love have been shining on us from the open hearts of these beautiful people.
Buenas noches! In Him,
Jamie Helmreich
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