summer in guatemala

Wow! What a blessing it is to be back in this beautiful country.  I love the people and culture of Guatemala! 
I arrived at the Guatemala City airport last Thursday with no complications whatsoever. Since then, there have been countless adventures that include climbing an active volcano, building stoves, listening to a mariachi band and performing eye examinations for people in the local village of Cero Alto! More details found below

Pacaya 

On Sunday afternoon, a team from Dayspring Church of God had the opportunity to travel up a mountain to an active volcano, Pacaya... on horses!  We were led up the side of the mountain and then walked around the volcano on lava rocks.  While walking, we discovered hot patches that were hot enough to roast marshmallows! Yum! After, we attempted to ski down the side of the mountain on ash that covered the mountainside. Here are some pictures! 

Stove building 

Stoves! Such an ordinary convince, yet such a blessing to these beautiful people.  Guatemalans that live in the village setting typically use two or three pieces of fire wood underneath of a pot or pan to cook their meals.  The smoke from the fire then fills their small homes and makes it difficult to breath.  Building a stone stove with a metal pipe that extends outside of the roof forces the smoke to exit the house, creating a safe environment for the families.  This week, the team from Dayspring Church of God in Cincinnati, OH blessed four different families with stoves! It is my prayer that they will use the stove to serve others and better God's Kingdom! 

kellie's birthday surprise 

Yesterday was Kellie's ____ birthday! Don't worry Kellie, I won't say your age :) Her husband, Chad planned a surprise party with cake from San Martin and invited a Guatemalan Mariachi band to play music. Kellie is a wonderful role model and I am so thankful to spend the summer with her and her lovely family!  

Eye Examination 

Due to tight budgets, most of the families in Cero Alto, Guatemala do not see doctors on a regular basis.  The chances of making it to an eye doctor is very slim, which is why we performed eye examinations on a day where the children did not have school (it was cancelled due to rain/ mudslides.. how crazy!). Children and adults who needed glasses were given prescription glasses that will allow them to view objects up close and far away.  The improved vision will allow excited adults to resume reading.  Praise God for working through his children to provide medical attention to those who are in need! 

Samuc champey 

Oh the beauty of this earth! Being in the beautiful country of Guatemala allows me to be reminded of the magnificence of God! This week, I traveled to Samuc Champey with the Shepherd family.  After six hours of traveling, we arrived at the gate of a National Park in Guatemala known as Samuc Champey.  Below are a couple of pictures of the fourteen of us standing in the back of a small pick up truck for nearly forty five minutes as we bumped up and down the dirt roads.  

Next, we walked up the side of a mountain for a couple of hours... this part doesn't sound like such a big deal, but I promise it was! It was wet, hot and slippery.  There were times when I was frustrated, but the view from the top of the mountain was truly incredible. It was there that I was reminded of God's glorious work.  Colossians 1:16-17 says, "For by him all things were dreaded, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities- all things were created through him and for him.  And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together."  Here are some pictures from the viewpoint! 

The next part of the trip was not documented with photos as well as the adventurous climb up the mountain! Once we made it back down, (that part was much easier haha) we stopped to admire a ginormous, rushing waterfall. The afternoon was filled with swimming in the natural pools of water that are shown in the pictures above.  We slid down natural watersides that are large rocks that lead to other natural swimming areas. While swimming in the water, we ventured under the water into a cave that allowed only a head length of air for breathing. Our guide led us to swim under water and into the cave. We swam/walked through the cave and then swam underwater to exit right underneath a waterfall. I was terrified, but absolutely loved it! Probably the coolest thing I have ever done!  I am so thankful to have experienced the beauty of this earth!

La Playa! (beach) 

Who doesn't love a trip to the beach?!  We relaxed in the pool and walked along the beach! The sand is dark and the waves are HUGE, but it sure is beautiful! 

Antigua, Guatemala 

Antigua is one of the most famous areas of tourism in the country of Guatemala.  When talking with friends who have visited Guatemala, each of them say that they have visited the beautiful city! It has such rich history, as it was the colonial Spanish capital of Central America. Restaurants, coffee shops, hotels, ruins and market areas consume the city. I love shopping around and interacting with the locals! However, my favorite thing about Antigua is a place known as Cerro de la Cruz.  An extremely large cross sits on a mountain directly in front of the streets of Antigua. I love Psalm 90:2 which says, "Before the mountains were born or You gave birth to the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God."  The beautiful sight reminds me of how glorious and almighty God is.  I am beyond thankful to witness the beauty found within the city of Antigua.  

House Building 

Most homes are built of clay, corn stock and sheets of metal. Dirt grounds create an unhealthy and unsanitary environment, which leads to illness within a village. Roofs are nothing like the roof that covers my house at home; water drips inside the home when it rains. For this reason, Catalyst Resources International (CRI) has hosted countless teams that build homes in the local village, Cerro Alto.  House building is a lot of fun, but also a lot of work! The first day requires an endless amount of wood to be cut in order to construct the main structure of the home.  That was my job! I joined my friends Briana and Trish in cutting every board for the home that we were building! I must admit, I feel pretty comfortable with an electric saw after this trip! After the structure is built, wood panels are measured and nailed in precise locations to create a strong, sealed wall.  Two windows, a front door and a sturdy roof are all installed by the end of the week. It is a blessing to physically labor for the families in Cerro Alto. There is a sign in Mimi's House that says, "Mi casa es su casa."  This means "my house is your house."  I am reminded that our material resources are not really ours...  They are the things that God has provided, and we are called to use them to love His people and further His Kingdom.  It is my prayer that they use the homes that God has provided to serve their families and neighbors.  Seven homes were built and prayed over this week. Praise the Lord! 

Village Children

While building homes, all of the children gather around to observe the new home being built. It is a joy to spend time learning each of their precious names and playing with them.  One of their favorite things to do is build mini homes using scrap pieces of wood that are not used to build the large home. There were four children that really stand out in my mind. They were more than content, they were so excited to play with such "simple" toys. We laughed and laughed as we left an open spot for the door and window, made mud people to live in the home and named each of the four brothers that were going to live in our mini house. It's impossible not to be touched by their joyfulness.  Psalm 116:6 says, "The LORD preserves the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me."  Take a moment to think that over... 

Vacation Bible School 

Breiel Church from Middletown, Ohio came to Guatemala equipped with the teaching materials and plans needed to have a successful Vacation Bible School.  The VBS was at Pastor Solomon's church in Cerro Alto and had 120-150 kids each day.  We sang songs, did crafts, practiced reading and memorizing scripture in large and small groups, watched scripture-based puppet shows and played games to help children memorize scripture. God was glorified and children shared their passion for the Gospel! 

panajachel 

Another beautiful beautiful beautiful place in Guatemala. Pana sits at the shore of Lake Atitlan and is another popular tourist place in Guatemala. Similar to Antigua, there are places to shop, dine, and witness the most beautiful views of the lake. I spent the afternoon with my two friends Briana and Luis adventuring around Pana. Later, a group of 30 people zip lined through the mountains! It was incredible even though it rained! I'm realizing that it is hard to explain the beauty of this place... just look for yourself!