some new kids...

Tonight we recieved two new little boys. Melvin(2) and Kevin(4). it touched my heart so much to see the whole thing transpire. I would like to share my evening with you of all that happened.

I ate with the little boys tonight, and as we began eating, Xiomara, our house mom for the little boys, was told that the boys had arrived. She left the house(leaving her son and i in charge :/ lol) and went to get the boys in the office. When they came back, we were all done eating and the kids were very excited to meet our new little guys. They were crying when they came in, and I can only imagine how scared they must have been through it all. Our house mom took them upstairs to bath them and afterwards we prayed over them and blessed them. It was a very moving time. We got them some food and they were very hungry. To watch all of it and the way our other little boys were so willing to help was amazing. They all wanted to make them feel loved and just let them know that they were safe. when they were done eating i carried Kevin upstairs and i'll never forget it. the boys all had their toys set out ready for him to play with them. He was shy at first but it was so cool watching them show him how to do different things with their cars or little action figures. A little later he was playing and laughing with a couple of our 10 or 11 year olds and just loving being there. I dont feel like I will be able to forget tonight. It was such a sad thing to see, but at the same time so wonderful...It really touched my heart. They are quite precious... :) Please pray for them as they adjust to being here.

We have now had 8 new kids in the last month. That isn't normal, but please be praying for all of them as they adjust to being here. It can be a difficult adjustment.

city of refuge

This past week I had the opportunity to go to a squatter camp with some of our missionaries and a group that was here. Our missionaries have connections with a church/pastor who lives and works up there. Working through the church we were given a few projects and, working with the locals, we helped improve three houses up there. I got to help the house pictured above. As you can kinda see, the house doesnt have a front wall, so we dug a hole and helped to build a block wall in front of their house. I think the projects were really good because the people were willing to help us as well and it wasnt us fixing their problems. it was us coming behind them to help them get it done faster. I really hope to be able to work up there with them more before i leave.

We can see the village in our backyard. its crazy how close to home it is and yet how different they live. i was told that about 50% of guatemalans are living in chronic malnourishment and it is the 4th highest in malnourishment in the world...even more so than Haiti...When i was told this, I couldnt believe it. How is it that I am living in a country so beautiful, yet filled with such poverty, such despair...

The little boy in the picture is Paco, or Franko, he went by both names. He was the youngest of the kids living in the house i worked on, and he was such a precious boy. I got to play with him and i think it was the highlight of my time up there. He was a boy with very little material things, but the happiness i saw in him, i will not forget...

my last few weeks have been so hectic. Sorry I have not been able to update lately on how everything here is going. This past week was semana santa(holy week) so the kids didnt have school and we did tons of fun things. We went to a pool for a day(really beautiful), had NLCH olympics(tons of games), had a sleepover, a bonfire, and a night of focussing on the cross. It has been such a good week. I love watching the Lord work in their lives and although it is hard here, it is completely worth it. I really enjoy playing soccer with the guys and they have been teaching me some cool things that i can do :). its fun.

please be praying for my relationships with the older girls. they are a hard group to work with. They take a lot of time usually to warm up to people and I have really been struggling with trying to get to know them and know when to just let them be...

there is so much more that i'm sure i could say right now but i dont have a lot of time right now. I will hopefully be able to share again really soon :) thanks for all the prayers