Day Two On The Work Site....

Today was a very challenging day for us with issues of weather, tools and roads... but never spirit. This is a GREAT team from FBC here in Guatemala! You would be proud. They rise to every challenge and love and serve at every opportunity. We went to a very remote village this afternoon for our food distribution. It was an incredibly challenging trip for our drivers - up steep mountains and down through gorges, few smooth surfaces and little grace on either side of the road - but they were amazing. If it had rained during the food distribution, as it had been raining on and off much of the day, we would have faced some serious issues. But not a drop fell until the moment we reached the main highway - and then it poured much of the hour ride back to the mission house. We were an hour late getting to the food distribution site because of traffic and weather, but all 90 families were there, in line, without complaint, ready and grateful for the supplies we had brought. It was moving and humbling to see their faces light up as they got a piece of clothing, or the hugs they gave as we filled their bag with rice, oil, corn meal and other basic staples. We can't help but believe there was a reason that God took us to this place - for them and for us. Please continue to pray for us. - Jayne

Our blog post tonight is from Team Davis (Wes Davis, Jeff Tanner, Gary Gupton, Mary Dyar, Alan Dyar, Kayla Davis, Casey Eakins, Chamberlain Collier):

Tuesday was a rainy and damp day and the mud made for some difficult conditions, but all in all it was a good day. We continue to work on our houses and today we came to rely on our strength when we discovered the battery packs did not have enough charge to help us drill and cut the lumber. The kids loved the bubbles and having their pictures taken. Even though I can't speak Spanish, the love of Jesus crosses all boundaries. I enjoyed the food/clothing distribution. We were able to bless 90 families and even though we were delayed by the weather and traffic, the families waited for us without complaint. The ride to the village would make for a good ride at any amusement park. But as always the Lord was faithful and he kept us safe. A huge shoutout to all our drivers! Well, I'm going to sign off for now, continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

Blessings - Mary

Today was a hard day. The tools did not work, it rained, and it was very muddy. But the day did have some good things too. Like this morning when we woke up Taylor Hamlet told me Buenos Nachos. Then while we were working one of the kids picked up a bunny. Well i look up and scream because he has decided to shove it in my face. It was pretty funny. Our first work site of the day had a school across the road. During the kids free time we took a break to play. We blew bubbles and took pictures (they LOVE to have their picture taken). Then I had a few of the kids read The Cat In The Hat in Spanish. All of the kids gathered around and were quiet to hear that book. It was amazing. Words cant describe how awesome it was to be huddled under a small porch and hear those boys read. Hearing the bell that ended their free time was the worst part of the day. I could have sat there forever.

Chamberlain Collier

I had made it my little mission to bring several children's books to read to the children of Guatemala. It was my pleasure to share the books El Gato Ensombrerado (The Cat in the Hat) and Canguro Azul (Blue Kangaroo) with Chamberlain, Kayla, and Casey to read to the children- they were playing with and spending some quality time with the children. I really enjoyed hearing the little nine year old boy read from Canguro Azul on the jobsite while Chamberlain held the book and 4 or 5 other boys listened intently and looked at the pictures. I did not see it when she read from The Cat in the Hat, but Chamberlain told of how the children laughed with glee as she read the English version to the ninas and ninos. My little mission was successful; I had brought the books (the "tools") and the children had enjoyed them. We were all blessed!

Gary Gupton

Today was a real long day. Our room got a wake up call from about three different people at 5:30 am. We came to our first job site of the day which happened to be across the street from a school. However, I think school got postponed temporarily when we brought out the bubbles and the cameras because a crowd of kids raced and stormed around us. It was really encouraging to see that these kids were actually able to get an education and to see how much they loved to go to school. If only our job site was as pretty of a picture that morning. We were ankle deep in thick mud and cow manure and neighboring a pig. But our group was able to pull it through despite the conditions. We moved on to our next job site around noon where we met many excited children and kids coming home from school. Even though I couldn't be a huge help in the building department, I lucked out in getting the job of playing with the kids all day and trying to understand each other's language.

Kayla Davis

This morning was a pretty rough start for me and the girls in my room. Mary came into our room 30 minuntes early and totally ruined our beauty time. So we left at like 7 and got to the job site at like 8ish. Our first site was all wet and muddie and half way through the day it rained!! Which made it even muddier! After we finished as much of the house as we could we headed to our next site, which wasn't as muddie! There were a lot of kids that were just coming back from school at our site. They were the cutiest things ever, and really sweet! They loved messing with Chamberlain! And when it was time to go to go back to the mission house they followed us to our vans and told us "Adios"! I can't wait till we go back tomorrow to finish the House!

Casey Eakins :)

Our team worked on our second house today. It was a muddy mess with the house located next to a hog fence. We largely completed the house just waiting for the concrete to be mixed and poured. Tonight was our food and clothing distribution in an extremely isolated village about an hour and a half away located at the end of long muddy road thorugh extremely mountainous terrain. As long as and dangerous as the drive was, the numer of people old and young waiting for us was amazing. Families with up to eight children and elderly people filed through the line. Such small children living in this isoloated village with such limited resources yet with smiling faces. They all were so greatful for what little we had to offer.

Wes Davis