What an amazing time we had in Guatemala. We met some wonderful new people who will be friends for a lifetime. God brought a bunch of total strangers together from Canada, NH, PA, DE and TN and we made memories together that will not soon fade from our memories!
We were 11 people who went down to be the representatives for the sponsors all over the world who were not able to be there and hand out the bundles to the children. Just 11 of us for so many children. We were able to meet our sponsored children on Monday. Edwin and Isaiah they are such sweet boys. Edwin wanted to make sure that we knew what he was doing in school, that he won the spelling bee (that they do in English) he is excelling in his Math studies. he is a bright young man. Isaiah was a little more shy, he drove almost 3 hours to see us, and had never been in a car before. He was a bit timid, and was a little nervous when Phil said he was our "son" I think he thought we were going to try to bring him home with us. He has just started school this year and loves it! What a blessing these two boys are to our family!!
We greeted many children who were so thankful for their bundles, and couldn't wait to hug us. Their parents making sure that they said their "thank you's" to us, or should I say gracias.
The parents making sure that they had their picture taken with us. And snapping pictures of us with their child on their cell phones.
We visited 5 projects, most of them were in the city. We went to some pretty tough neighborhoods. Where the only safe haven for those children is the project. They have a small area to play inside the school and loving teachers who are showing them God's love everyday! Teaching them about Jesus and what He has done for them. Caring for these children in ways that their parents are not for whatever reason. The love for the children is so evident when you talk to each and every one of the teachers, they care deeply for all of these children. Their faith in God is so evident as well. It is so overwhelming when you hear testimony after testimony of what God is doing in each life, or in each project.
One of the last projects we went to was in a gang driven area. There is beautiful soccer field just on the outside of the school, and it is unsafe for the children to play there. They are in these walls and love it in there. One little girl (she is pictured to the right of Megan in the picture below)in this project walked up to me and asked me if I knew her sponsor? I told her I didn't, and she looked very sad about that, she then started to tell me that she has never heard from her sponsor. I hugged her and told her that was from her sponsor. It made me realize, we go down and see our children. We just met our new kids this week. But I have never written a letter to them to let them know who we are. That is something I need to do. They have birthday's too, and celebrate Holidays, or just like to get mail. What child doesn't??
So, if you sponsor a child anywhere write to them, let them know you think of them, that you pray for them, encourage them anyway that you can. I know they would appreciate it. I know mine will!!
With this all written I am going to end this with then need to let you know there are MANY unsponsored children in Guatemala, and also where ever AMG has schools. Would you consider taking one for your family? It costs $28 a month and that is for food, clothes, and an education! Pray about it please! Maybe for this Christmas you could even start, what a gift it would be for both you and the child.
Bundles of Love
Heading South!
Phil, Megan and myself are heading to Guatemala on Friday for the annual Bundles of Love trip. We are very excited to be heading down there and share the love of Christ with them! We are going to be handing out the "bundles" to the children at different school projects. What are in the bundles? Well, their uniform for the next school year, and school supplies, shoes, backpacks, candy, sometimes a small toy for the children. Just the basics! They are so excited to receive these gifts. I am sure there will be much excitement from the children (and their parents) as they receive their gifts. But the greatest gift we can give them is the Love of Christ. As we are preparing to go we are praying for their hearts to be open to the gospel that we will be sharing with them. Will you pray that with us as you think of us please? What greater gift is there than the Gift that came as a tiny babe, the Gift that came to die for us, the Gift that gives us an eternal hope in knowing Jesus as our personal savior. That is the gift I want to share with these children, parents and whom ever else we may come into contact with while we are in Guatemala. That is the purpose of our trip, that is the purpose of our desire to serve in Guatemala full time as well. 
Plans...
Next weekend Phil and I are attending the AMG annual banquet in New Holland, PA. We are excited to be able to go this year, we have not been able to attend in the past so this is going to be a new experience. Bob Hastings will be speaking, it is always a joy to hear him speak, and we are looking forward to what he has to share with us while we are there. We are also very excited to be able to spend some time with Pat and Traci Ragan while we are there. And many of the other AMG staff that will be there!
After we get home from that trip, we will be getting things ready for our trip to Guatemala in December. We are going on the Bundles of Love Mission Adventure. We are taking Megan with us. She has not yet been to Guatemala and we would like her to see where it is we will be living and not have it be a complete unknown to her. Phil took Abby and Betsy down with him a few years ago. I am so excited to see what will be happening while we are there. I know that we are going to be blessed beyond measure with the people that we will be ministering to. Humbled and amazed at how God works in lives of people all over the world, no matter what their situation, knowing that God is in control of ALL things.
Please pray for safety of everyone in our group that will be going down. The three of us will be flying from Boston and meeting the rest of the group in Atlanta then flying to Guatemala from there. We will be there from Saturday to Saturday, with a lot of work to be done.
Please pray for the health of all of us in the group going, it is not fun being sick in a different country with out the comforts of home. I know this first hand!
Please pray for unity of the group that we would all be focused on what the Lord would have us do. Be aware of what it is the Lord wants us to say, do, share.
Pray for our families that are at home. I know that we will be leaving 5 members of our family with various people, I am not sure about the rest of the people going down with us.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and see what it is that God is doing in our lives! It is an awesome adventure!!
