Hello everybody, this is Tyler Thayer blogging to you from Chimaltenango, Guatemala. Today we experienced some of the most moving moments that some of us have ever and will ever experience in our lives. Today was dedication day where our groups dedicated our houses that we built to our families. The smiles on the people's faces, the prayers that were prayed over the families and that we're prayed over us made for an incredible and very emotional day. What looks like so little to us, means the world to these people. They were incredibly grateful for everything we had given them from food, bracelets, the houses and most importantly our love that we expressed. Later in the afternoon, we as a whole group went to the Iglesia de JesuCristo church not far from our mission house and gave away tons of food. The food that we supplied will feed 75 families for roughly a month but the impact we had on these people will last a lifetime.
Today was in fact our last day of true mission work, however, we do still have 2 days left in Guatemala for a little sightseeing and fun. But as I go into these next couple days and the trip back home, I'm incredibly humbled and moved by how gracious the people were to us the whole time we were here. Although they did not have much to give, they filled my life with smiles and I am incredibly grateful to be given the opportunity to effect these people through God's work.
Thanks be to god,
Tyler Thayer
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Guatemala Mission Trip #5
Back in Chilmaltenango, Guatemala again for the 5th time and for the second year in a row, the van that I was driving was pulled in a routine license check...no problems, though, as usual.
We have been very blessed by the Guatemalan Myans with the 16 houses that we built. We shared lunches with the families as we ate our lunches. We shared soccer balls with the families as well as with random kids in the community. The families were extremely thankful but were proud of the few things that they had. They didn't hesitate to share their house with us. My teams first house took the longest because the homeowner had to dig the side of a hill out from the side of a hill. It was very difficult for the team to get up to the house. The post holes were extremely hard to dig due to the many rocks in the soil. Our other 3 houses were constructed much faster. It still amazes me that in most cases the families tear down their current homes down and wait for us to build their new home, which is by far more superior to their previous house.
Kip also shared several soccer balls with the principal of the village school, who he observed playing soccer during PE with a flat ball.
As a Christian, you never know who is watching you. After we finished up our house dedications today, a lady and her daughter invited us into her house and wanted to give us presents. They were handmade Guatemalan purses, shoulder bags, etc. that they had made and/or purchased. They wanted to give us presents because they had observed us working throught the village and they were so grateful that we were helping families in their community and sharing the love of Christ with them.
While we had all of our backpacks with camerals, money, ipods, phones, money, VISA cards, passports, etc. stolen from two of our vans while on the zipline at Lake Atatlan, we have tried to keep this evil from stopping our fellowship and work here in Guatemala. Three of us had to spend all day in Guatemala City on Monday to get replacement passports so we could back back home on Thursday so we missed one day in the village. We were very thankful that no one walked up on the vehicles while they were being robbed.
...another rewarding mission trip. It was great to be on the trip with one of my best friends from high school, Mitch, who we have rekindled our friendship.
In Christ,
Jeff Troutman
We have been very blessed by the Guatemalan Myans with the 16 houses that we built. We shared lunches with the families as we ate our lunches. We shared soccer balls with the families as well as with random kids in the community. The families were extremely thankful but were proud of the few things that they had. They didn't hesitate to share their house with us. My teams first house took the longest because the homeowner had to dig the side of a hill out from the side of a hill. It was very difficult for the team to get up to the house. The post holes were extremely hard to dig due to the many rocks in the soil. Our other 3 houses were constructed much faster. It still amazes me that in most cases the families tear down their current homes down and wait for us to build their new home, which is by far more superior to their previous house.
Kip also shared several soccer balls with the principal of the village school, who he observed playing soccer during PE with a flat ball.
As a Christian, you never know who is watching you. After we finished up our house dedications today, a lady and her daughter invited us into her house and wanted to give us presents. They were handmade Guatemalan purses, shoulder bags, etc. that they had made and/or purchased. They wanted to give us presents because they had observed us working throught the village and they were so grateful that we were helping families in their community and sharing the love of Christ with them.
While we had all of our backpacks with camerals, money, ipods, phones, money, VISA cards, passports, etc. stolen from two of our vans while on the zipline at Lake Atatlan, we have tried to keep this evil from stopping our fellowship and work here in Guatemala. Three of us had to spend all day in Guatemala City on Monday to get replacement passports so we could back back home on Thursday so we missed one day in the village. We were very thankful that no one walked up on the vehicles while they were being robbed.
...another rewarding mission trip. It was great to be on the trip with one of my best friends from high school, Mitch, who we have rekindled our friendship.
In Christ,
Jeff Troutman
Food Distribution Day
I was so proud of our group as we went to the store and bought food for 75 families that will feed their families for a month. We took the food to a local church and there was over 300 men, women and children waiting patiently to go through the food line to recieve their food. A new addition this year was the addition of children's toys and soceer balls. The children went through the line watching their mothers load up their sacks with the rice, flour and cooking oil with a somber look on their face. When they came to the end of the line they were given a coloring book, a bottle of bubbles or a soceer ball. Their faces beamed with joy as they received their gifts. It was a great night. Don
Atitlan Nature Preserve & Dedication Day
Sunday was a day of rest from building houses. We went to Lake Atitlan, which is completely surrounded by mountains and volcanos. Words cannot do the scenic beauty justice. We took a boat from one side of the lake to the other side and did some local, open air market, shopping. On the way back across the lake the boat slowed down and we had a nice Sunday worship service on the water, surrounded by God's natural beauty. After the boat returned to shore the majority of the group went to Natural Preserva Atitlan. At the Natural Preserve we climbed to the top of a mountain and went zip lining down the mountain. It was really fun and the views were amazing as we zip lined down the mountain side. Some of the zip lines were longer with amazing views and others were fast and exhilarating. Overall it was a great Sunday.
Today was dedication day. Two teams went to eight houses each, for the dedications. At each house Samuel, a Guatemalan who helped us during the week, spoke to the family about the reasons why we came to Guatemala to build the houses. One of the team members then prayed for the new home owners. All the families were very appreciative for the new house. It was an emotional experience for both the families and the teams, as great relationships were built during the week. It was amazing to see the over whelming gratitude and joy on the family's faces.
Tom Varno
Today was dedication day. Two teams went to eight houses each, for the dedications. At each house Samuel, a Guatemalan who helped us during the week, spoke to the family about the reasons why we came to Guatemala to build the houses. One of the team members then prayed for the new home owners. All the families were very appreciative for the new house. It was an emotional experience for both the families and the teams, as great relationships were built during the week. It was amazing to see the over whelming gratitude and joy on the family's faces.
Tom Varno
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Day 2
We had another great day today. Our team of Donnie, Madison, Lauren, Kirstin, Luke, Tyler, and me were bolstered by Samuel's presence. Yesterday, we built 1 house without him ... Today we built 2 and a half with him!
We have worked hard and enjoyed the fellowship with the families we are building for. Eating lunch with them today was a neat experience. They are so appreciative and helpful. It's also great to interact with the children. They really enjoy having us around!
Our group of 32 is a fantastic group. It's always neat to see how God brings so many different people together to share in an experience like this.
Looking forward to a fun day tomorrow before getting back to work on Monday! Thanks for all your prayer support back home! -Brett Queen
DREAM TEAM......azul azul azul!!
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