Going To Guatemala

Tearful Goodbye

2010-08-02T22:55:00.000-04:00

Today was a long bittersweet day for our group. We left Guatemala this morning at 4 AM (6 AM PA time)and got back to the church at 8 PM. Our flights down and back could not have gone any smoother for us. Getting 26 people through check-in, security, and customs in no small task but we glided through all those spots, except Brad. They had to call in back up to confirm that the picture on his passport was actually him. Who knew he once had hair. :)
While I know we are all glad to be back home and united with our families I feel that it is safe to say that we all left a piece of our hearts in Guatemala. We will never forget the many faces that we saw this past week. From the orphans, the ORI staff, Javier (son of the guest house manager), and our team. Many friendships were made that will last a long time. Our team had amazing unity. It is ridiculous that it takes traveling to Guatemala to bond with people you go to church with. Many tears were shed in the Manheim BIC parking lot as we said goodbye tonight.
There are definitely things we were looking forward to....being able to flush toilet paper, using cell phones, roads with less crazy drivers, and sleeping in our own beds minus the roosters that don't know you only crow in the morning.
We give God all the credit for the wonderful trip we had. I know that our lives are forever changed because of this trip. There is a much bigger world outside of Maneheim and we all need to be aware of this. Thanks to all of you who prayed for us while we were gone. We felt them and we know that is why our trip was so smooth.
I hope to get some pictures posted in the next day or two so check back to see them.
In closing, I will leave with this quote Brad read to us in devos one morning.
"Don't cry because it is over, smile because it happened."
Karen B.

Church Guatemalan Style!

2010-08-01T22:46:00.001-04:00

We drove an hour and a half to get to our church we were visiting. We ran into construction. We visited Casa De Libertad, house of freedom. The church was located in a strip mall and was under construction. We were greeted with lively music and friendly faces.

We began by singing worship songs. Most were familiar to us, “How great is our God, Trading my Sorrows, I am Free, and Alleluia. We alternated English and Spanish.
Some of us clapped and even danced a little. This lasted about an hour or so. A guest speaker named Eunice from the Philippines gave the message. She spoke in English and was interpreted in Spanish for the congregation.

Take home from the service: Written on the shirts of the welcoming team and ushers was, “It’s all about Jesus” Our worship leader reminding us that God’s timing is perfect! In our weakness His strength is made perfect. Eunice shared that Guatemala had been hit hard a few months ago with hurricanes and volcanoes and sink holes all in one week’s time. She challenged us to sow in love and we will reap love. After church we all ate at Burger King, it was right next door.
We move on to visit briefly the warehouse of ORI and also Operation Blessing. Stacks of Cocoa Puffs and Fab detergent were piled high along with many other needed items. Hey Jen we saw Tyler’s old wheelchair still waiting for that special child!!
Then on to Fundaninos Orphanage. This orphanage is partly sponsored by the church we had just visited. ORI was instrumental in building the baby house. Sixty children reside here. It was probably the nicest orphanage that we visited. We were delighted to hold many babies. We played with balloons and the parachute was a big hit! We passed out lots of silly bands! Some of the older kids played soccer with our team, they had a blast! We realized later the soccer field was the sewage drainage area and the mud they got on them was a mixture of mud and well …you know what!!! I was enjoying holding Luis, when I found out his mother also resides in this orphanage. She is 14 and has the mind of a 7 yr. old. She retrieved her son from me and wanted to show me her room and was carrying Luis around. He started to cry so I took him again. This was very sad! We didn’t have a whole lot of time here and we were soon on our way back to My Father’s House. We had our final meal together, shared our love gifts with the staff at this house and shared our thoughts of the week. It was very emotional! We connected deeply with each other, and the staff. We said our good-byes. We’ve been touched with great love for the people and especially the children of this beautiful country. We dare not ever remain the same!! Thank you to all who helped make this trip possible.

A Wild Day

2010-07-31T22:26:00.001-04:00

So it’s already Saturday here in beautiful Guatemala. Today we went to a zoo with the children of the Nuevo Reto orphanage. We saw some amazing animals there, ones you don’t normally see in America, such as elephants, zebras, pumas, leopards, and some exotic snakes. The children, of various ages seemed very appreciative afterwards. After we returned to their orphanage, the minister of the orphanage gave out thank-you gifts to our team. It was very heart-warming when we gave out the bags of goodies for all the children. After such a big day, it was a relief to come back to such a warm and very well lighted (sarcasm) after the electric went out for about 30 minutes. We wasted the time by singing and making bracelets. Now it’s about 10:15 and the men are playing their little pointless card game, and the writer, Alex Eby, is about ready to go to bed.

The Least of These

2010-07-30T19:51:00.002-04:00

Well it has been a couple of days since we posted but we are back. Yesterday we spent the day in Antigua shopping much to the men's delight. They were very patient however considering us women needed to have a man with them all the time. It was a fun experience to have to barter with the vendors. We all decided we would not want to have to do this all the time. Charlie and Karen Weaver were with us for the day. Those of you that know Charlie know how he likes to walk on the wild side. So he convinced Matt, which meant he asked him, if we would like to put off fireworks. They are not illegal in Guatemala so we had quite a show here last night. Boys (or men) and their toys.
Today we were back at Los Gozosos to finish up the work we had started there on Tuesday. The men put in a new swingset which we got to enjoy with some of the kids before we left for the day. These children are so precious and we left with many tears being shed. These kids are definitely "the least of these."

Feeling Connected

2010-07-29T08:19:00.003-04:00

Well, we have internet up and working (clearly since I'm writing this online) and it's a strange yet warm feeling being connected to those back home again! Not only are we connected online but as a group our connection has grown these past few days through different activities we've done whether that be working or playing. We have visited three orphanages so far, though a group of thirteen of us were able to visit another orphanage on Monday, however the name of the orphanage slips my mind. We spent Tuesday at Los Gazosos, a special needs orphanage that houses eleven children, doing manual labor such as weeding, mixing concrete, and organizing building materials that were left laying around. The main job was to build a pilla where laundry and dishes are done. The director of the orphanage, Maureen, has wanted one for years but could not afford one (it only costs $30 in American money). We also were able to bless them with a lawn mower! We had the opportunity to spend some time with the children there as well and what a blessing it was for me to feel stretched out of my comfort zone and for others as well. On Wednesday we had the opportunity to go to two different orphanages: Luz de Maria and Dory's Promise, both were extremely fun! At Dory's promise we spent most of our time with the older children (ages 2-11) out on the street playing soccer while some of the men got in touch with their feminine side. Lane and Brad were sporting pink and green fingernail polish on their thumbs and stick on earrings on their ears! I don't think the people of Guatemala knew quite how to react to them however with our amazing Spanish speaking skills (sarcasm to the extreme) we were able to overcome all obstacles! The children had so much fun and quite a few of us discovered how quickly you can fall in genuine love with a child that is a complete stranger to you. Lane, Nicole, Grant and Carter had the unique opportunity as a family to come back to the spot where they first met and finalized the adoption of their son, Grant. He was able to go back to the spot where he slept and see some of the workers that were there when he was an infant. What an experience! It was quite touching and surely an emotional experience! At Luz de Maria there are around thirty children under the age of five. The younger girls did so good here just holding the babies and cuddling the toddlers! Most of the children that live at Luz de Maria were abandoned on the streets. The youngest child they have there is Luiz Angel who is two months old. When he was brought to the orphanage he was only three pounds. Found on the street at one o clock in the morning by a police officer, this child now weighs ten pounds and sees to be doing very well! He was a favorite to hold of the younger girls on the trip (Shaina, Janessa, Mariah, Morgan, Tessa, and Makenzie). Language barriers don't hold up as the greatest language you can speak to these children is love; a touch of their hand, running your fingers across their face, playing with their hair. It's as simple as that! Last night we had so much fun playing games: a Haus tournament was set up as well as some crazy games of Zilch also known as Farkle. At one point I asked, "Why is everything so funny?" I believe it was a mix of being tired and the fact that we kept making so many funny mistakes. Just ask Gloria where she found Uno cards that have orange cards! Well I need to stop hogging the computer! We pray all is well back home! Someone else will be updating again very soon! (Thanks Karen for asking me to update today!) In Christ, Jenna Meyers and the rest of team

2010-07-27T21:38:00.001-04:00

Unfortunately the group does not have internet service so they will not be able to update the blog. They arrived safely on Monday without any problems or delays. They are working hard and so far everything is going well. Please keep them in your prayers as they continue their work in Guatemala.

Getting Ready To Leave

2010-07-23T23:50:00.002-04:00

It is hard to believe that in 2 short days we will be on our way to Guatemala. We have a team of 26 going to work in orphanages and minister to the people of Guatemala. We are excited about the possibilities that await us as we head out to serve. I will post our itinerary but as they say in Guatemala, "nothing is final until it happens." I think that means that flexibility is the key for our trip. We hope to be able to post every day so keep checking in for updates and please keep us in your prayers.
Team Members:
Rodney, Karen, Jenna, & Janessa Meyers; Shaina Neidemeyer; Jason, Kim, & Tessa Redcay;
Kaye & Alex Eby; Brad & Kate Zimmerman; Ken, Kathy, & Zach Wall; Bev Funk; Gloria Burkholder;
Lane, Nicole, Carter, & Grant Burkholder; Matt, Karen, Morgan, Makenzie, & Mariah Burkholder
ORI Leader: Randy Boll

WEEK'S ITINERARY: July 26-August 2

Monday:

Meet at MBIC @ 1:15 AM to leave for Baltimore (travel by Motorcoach)

Leave BWI on Continental Flight 1727 @ 5:59 AM

Arrive in Houston @ 8 AM (snack will be served on flight)

Leave Houston on Continental Flight 463 @ 9:05AM

Arrive in Guatemala City @ 10:58 AM (snack served on flight)

Arrive and get settled in at My Father’s House, Team orientation

Tuesday:

Work day at Los Gozosos (be dressed to work)

Visit of a clinic near Los Gozosos at Casa Angelina

Wednesday:

Another work day at Los Gozosos- Burkholder’s and Wall’s will be breaking off to visit another orphanage or a clinic

Thursday:

Visit Antigua-shopping

Friday:

Work day in the morning at Los Gozosos, at approximately 1pm we will have a party with the children

Saturday:

Take children from Nuevo Reto to the Zoo

Sunday:

Church, possible visit another orphanage

Monday:

Leave Guatemala City on Continental Flight 457 @ 7:15 AM

Arrive in Houston @ 11:04 AM (snack)

Leave Houston on Continental Flight 326 @ 12:45PM

Arrive in BWI @ 4:54 PM (snack)

Drive back to MBIC

2008-12-03T10:29:00.002-05:00

So we are all packed and ready to go. One last thing on our agenda....hold babies. We are going over to Hannah's Hope one last time to love on these precious little kids. Please pray for safe travels by minibus, plane, and car. We look forward to seeing you all soon.
Adios Amigos!!
Karen

Last Day

2008-12-02T23:27:00.002-05:00

Just a note, I did two posts today so make sure you check all the pics we uploaded.
We can't believe that we are heading home tomorrow. I think we all have mixed emotions about leaving Guatemala. Some don't want to go back to school, some can't wait to see their son, some can't wait to have a nice hot shower, some feel guilty for being able to be leave the poverty, some would love to bring about 10 kids along home, some think their families are the right size, but we all agree that the trip was well worth it and would do it all over again. I know none of us will soon forget the sights, smells, and especially the people we have seen in Guatemala.
Today was a very relaxing day. We headed for Antigua this morning. Our mission.....find souvenirs. We were successful and everyone left happy which says alot since we had two men and 4 kids with us. Antigua is an old town with lots of character. The streets are cobblestone and the buildings look worn. It was interesting just walking the streets.
We headed back to the city and met about 10 kids from Hannah's Hope at the city zoo. They ranged in age from 2-9. We had a lot of fun with them. I am sorry we can't post pics of this...we got alot of adorable shots, but we can't post their pics if they are in the adoption process and we don't know which kids are or aren't. After the zoo we headed back to the guest house and we made supper for the kids and their 3 caretakers or Special Mothers. We were to make them a typical American meal but we went Italian instead. We had spaghetti, garlic bread, and Rice Krispy treats. They loved the meal. It actually did taste good to me to have a home cooked meal again. We watched a movie, in Spanish with them and ate popcorn and then they were off to bed. They are all so sweet and we got lots of hugs and Gracias from them. It is so hard as a parent to imagine giving up such sweet kids but things are so different down here that I think for alot of these kids they are better off here. If it were easy I think we would fill up the whole plane and bring them with us.
So I guess this trip is winding down. Thanks for "traveling" with us. I know we learned alot and hopefully through "traveling" with us you have also felt led to show compassion to those that are not as blessed as us. This trip has been humbling for me when I think how much I take for granted and how discontent I can be when so many aren't even able to meet basic needs. So I hope that I remember to be grateful and that I will continue to reach out to those in need. I certainly don't need to travel to another country, or county, or even town to find someone in need.
We hope to see you soon and we can't wait to tell you more about our trip.

Blessings,
Karen

Pictures...finally on our last day

2008-12-02T20:58:00.011-05:00

Waiting to check into for our flight out of BWI. We had around 30 pieces of luggage we took with us.

Baby Isabella....we are in love.

We are standing on a hill looking into the city dump. The stench was unbearable. If you look close you can see people picking through the trash.

The city cemetery. The poor had just a slot while the rich had huge monuments just for 1 person.

Again, the shortage of beds led to kids napping on the floor.

This is Katherine and she stole my heart as soon as I picked her up. She wrapped her arms around me and would not stop hugging me. I could've held her all day.

There are not enough beds at Mama Carmen's so the kids are tied into high chairs to nap.

This is one of my favorite pics from our trip. This kid did not stop smiling the whole time Lane was giving him a shoulder ride.

Two of many adorable faces we saw in Guatemala.

These are some of the older girls from the AIDS Hospice Orphanage.

This is the ghetto where our leader Ashlee lives. There are numerous ghettos around the city.

It is very normal to see military and guards carrying sawed off shotguns. It was quite unsettling to see.

Our friend at Hannah's Hope. We got her a shirt to match Makenzie which she thought was pretty cool.

One of the many homes we saw on our travels.

We saw a lot of women carrying their things on their heads. I don't know how they do this.

Our transportation back to the mudslide kids.

The women doing their laundry in the lake with special minerals found in the water.

Playing ball with the mudslide kids.

Temporary housing the government gave these families after they lost everything in the mudslide.

Eating lunch with 10 of the mudslide kids.

This family opened up their home and cooked us a fabulous meal despite the kitchen they have in their house.

This is the family that lost their home in the mudslide.

The city dump.

All of us with Elmer and Dervin, on the left, in his new outfit.

Meet 2 week old baby Andreas...who Karen would love to bring home.

A Dumpy Kind of Day

2008-12-01T22:01:00.002-05:00

It is hard to believe that we have been in Guatemala for 1 week already. We have had a lifetime of experiences since we have been here. The girls are already planning our next trip to Guatemala.
Our original plans for today went totally out the window and we went to plan b. Of course in Guatemala that is the norm. We have all learned not to count on anything until you are actually doing it. This seems to be the Guatemalan way.
So today we headed to the city dump. We took along the rest of the hygiene packs and we made packs up of black beans, rice, and soup mix. We also took along some of our clothes that we wanted to leave here. The people we handed these things out to actually live in the dump. It is estimated that 1000 people call the dump home. One of the most shocking things is that the once you are in the dump it doesn't really smell that bad. It actually smelled worse before we got into the dump. They have tin houses and they go through the trash that is brought in and salvage whatever they can. They sell what they can and the rest they keep. Most of the food that they eat is what they find in the trash. It was truly an unbelievable sight to think that people live like this. Words can not even describe the feelings we had being able to experience this and possibly help them in some small way. As we were leaving I asked an older lady if we could have our picture taken together. She agreed and I thought I should put my arm around her but she was so dirty! I put my arm around her and she just hugged me and laid her head on my shoulder and said "Gracias" several times. I had to think to myself that I may never know what putting my arm around her did for her as I am sure there are very few people who are willing to touch them. It was a very humbling act for me. We have absolutely nothing to complain about and it is only by God's grace that we were born to the life we have. It is definitely not becasuse we are more deserving. We are so blessed and to think that the majority of the world lives in poverty. Ashlee had taken 2 guys, Dervin and Elmer, along to help since they know the language and the people that live in the dump recognize them and trust them. Dervin and Elmer live in the ghetto and are neighbors to Ashlee. When we were finished at the dump we were able to take Dervin, 14, shopping to buy him a couple of shirts and a new pair of pants. These were the first pieces of new clothes he has ever had. When Ashlee told him why we were at the mall his smile was priceless. He was so proud of his clothes that he wanted us to take his picture and he just couldn't stop smiling. He was very appreciative. We all agreed that it was a toss up as to which day was more fun...the dump or the mud slide kids. I think these 2 places we really felt like we were making a difference in a small way.
Late this afternoon we headed out to Fundaninos which is the first orphanage that Orphan Resources started helping. We got to hold some babies. I even was able to feed a 2 week old baby boy his bottle. I am in love! Matt and Lane played some football or soccer with the older boys. Our time there was very limited since we had spent more time at the dump then we had planned.
For supper tonight we met the staff of ORI at a pizza place and ate with them. There are currently four families on staff down here for ORI. Harvey Burkholders, no relation, The Freids, Randy Weavers, and Charlie Weavers. It was nice to learn a little what ORI does and also connect with some fellow Americans. I actually knew two of the families so it was nice to see them again.
We are looking forward to our last full day here tomorrow. It is a full day and we want to make the most of it. So goodnight and I will see you tomorrow.
Karen

Weekend News

2008-11-30T21:07:00.003-05:00

Home sweet home! We are back at Hannah's Hope guest house after trekking around the country. It was nice to come back to home base again. I will update both days to catch you all up on what we have been doing.
Saturday
We all slept good and woke up ready for a new day. We ate breakfast and Nicole and I discovered a new drink..it is milk and pineapple mixed up. They call it a shake it is just thinner but they are deliciouso! While we were sitting there a little girl came in to sell her wares. She was adorable and we could tell she was extremely nervous. Ashlee started talking to her in Spanish and found out that this was the first time her mom was making her sell and she was afraid of the Americans because she thought we would try to steal her. It was so sad but of course she made a sale because we all felt sorry for her.
Then we were off for a 30 minute boat ride across Lake Atitlan to Santiago. This is one of the towns that was devastated by the mudslide back in 2005 after hurricane Stan came through. The need here is so great. We got off the boat and boarded a small Toyota pick-up truck. Our driver, Juan was a local Christian who knew the people and communicated for us. We would just stop and Juan and Ashlee would ask the parents if some of their kids could go with us to lunch. Of course Ashlee has been here before and they knew Juan but there were 8 Americans on the back of the pick-up that they didn't know from Adam. We went back into a more remote village that was totally destroyed by the mudslide. The government has given them temporary housing...if you can call it housing. It is basically a roof over their heads. We had balls with us and their faces just lit up when we got the balls out and started playing with them. We also saw stood in the field where hundreds of people were buried alive in the mudslide. The mudslide came in the middle of the night with no warning and many causalities. After touring the villages we took the 10 kids to lunch. None of these kids had ever been in a restaurant to eat before. The one little guy would not eat because he had never had chicken and didn't know that was what was on his plate. We also gave them hygiene packs before we left. The kids were all so grateful, they went around and gave us all hugs and said, "Gracias". It was a really neat moment. I think we all agree that so far this has been our favorite day of the trip. Being able to minister to those kids and their families was unbelievable. We have no idea what it is like to live like they do.
After a boat ride back to Panajachel we were off to dinner at a local pastor's house. They opened up their home to us and made us a feast of beef, mashed potatoes with red pepper, and fried spring onions..which we all loved. Eating this meal at their house was special but it definitely stretched some of us. This family lost everything in the mudslide. They have 14 children and used to live in a 10 bedroom home now they have 3 rooms with and open air kitchen and 3 mattresses to share among them. It was definitely a neat experience.
Next we had a 2 hour drive through the mountains to the city of Xela. If any of you think PA has bad roads you ain't seen nothing yet. We were on a main highway and the roads were horrendous. Once in Xela we got settled into our room and Mariah jumped in the shower first. While she was screaming that it was cold the lights went out in the hotel. My girls "love" when the lights go out so there was more screaming. The lights continued to go off and on about 5 times. Our night in this hotel was memorable to say the least. There was also alot of partying going on outside so it made for a noisy night.
Sunday
After breakfast we headed to a Catholic orphanage. When we got there we learned that this was a special needs orphanage. It was so sad to see those kids. When we walked in this girl maybe about 12 started screaming excitedly and just grabbed on to Morgan's hand. She did not leave go of it the entire hour we were there. She didn't want to play anything just wanted to walk and hold her hand. When it was time to go they literally had to pry her hand out of Morgan's. Most of the kids were tied into wheelchairs and bottle fed. These kids I am sure get very little loving attention. The women taking care of these kids are truly special people to be willing to work with these kids on a daily basis and they work hard just meeting their very basic needs.
We left and headed up into the mountains to a village that a revival has gone through and now most of the people are Christians. They have people praying for the village all day everyday. This village is so high that the clouds settle below them in the valley. It was beautiful to see. The men and kids also hiked higher and were able to see lava rock. We bought lollipops and gumballs and handed them out to the kids. Again the kids were scared of us that we were going to try and steal them. Ashlee asked an older lady if Americans ever come to their village and she said never. Being here in Guatemala we now know a little what it is like to be the minority.
We spent alot of time driving today. As we were coming off the mountain Makenzie got severe stomach pains and need a bathroom. We stopped at the first one we came to. If she wasn't so sick there is no way I would have let her use it but desperate times call for desperate measures. As she opened the door and stepped inside she slipped and fell front into what I hope was just mud. She was not a very happy camper. So after several very tense moments we got her cleaned up and changed and were off again. I was afraid that maybe she had traveler's diarrhea but thank God it ended and our 4 hour drive home was uneventful....well except for horrible fog, horrible roads, and crazy Guatemalan drivers. All in all I would say that the weekend away was well worth it.
It is hard to believe that our time is winding down here and we will soon be headed home. I think we are all starting to feel a little ready to come home but we also have 2 exciting days ahead of us. Thanks for all you prayers this far and we would appreciate more as we conclude our trip and head home. Good night!
Karen

2008-11-28T20:46:00.002-05:00

This is a nice surprise, we actually have wireless internet here at the hotel. So you all get to continue the journey with us.
We got a very early start to the day this morning. We had to be ready to go by 6:30 am. Not my favorite time of the day. We were facing a 2 hour drive on very windy, and that is putting it mildly, roads. Lane, Makenzie, & Karen all tend to get carsick so we were a little apprehensive how this would go. Ashley said that sucking on limes seems to help with nausea, so that is what we did. We were all puckered up but there was no kissing going on. :) Thank God none of us got sick. It was actually a very interesting drive as we were going out into the country. Up to now we have been in the city and you can sometimes forget how poor the country is. Well we saw it today. This is how I pictured Guatemala. The have a tough life, not many modern conveinces although many houses we saw did have atennas for their tv. Tom you would fit right in. They fix the roads by hand laying blocks. It is hard to image people living like this in 2008.
Just to give you an idea of the place we are at. Panajachel is on Lake Atitlan which is surrounded by 5 volcanoes. It is very beautiful here. So that explains the winding roads up and down all the mountains.
After we arrived in Panajachel we checked into a hotel and then headed off to do some ziplining. I thought I might just die. The 30 minute hike to the top of the mountain was rough. Luckily when I thought I couldn't go anymore we were there. On the way we got to see monkeys, other than Lane & Matt, and the kids really liked that. We did 8 different sections of ziplines that got us down to the bottom again. At one point we were off the ground 180 feet. It was a neat view but I don't know how soon I need to do it again. Makenzie even got brave and did a few lines without the guide holding her. She did great! We all a fun time. It was nice to have a little time to ourselves after going strong all week.
Next was a visit to an orphanage called Eagles Nest. Where are Eagle's Nests? You got it at the very top of the mountain. It was a very steep drive with huge dropoffs right at the edge of the road. Lane was not impressed. This was a very nice looking place with beautiful surroundings but the kids are not treated that great. There were a lot of babies and some that should have been able to could barely put weight on their legs. It was so sad. There was alot of crying going on when we got there because they have not seen alot of white people so the babies were afraid of us. The highlight....for me was that they had a 6 week old baby boy Angel that we got to hold. This is the youngest baby we have seen so far. Mariah was holding him and leaned over to me and said, "Mom, we should adopt this one." If only it were as easy as speaking the words.
We ended the day by shopping in open air markets here in town and relaxing in the hotel. The kids were also excited because the hotel has some TV channels in english so they are now watching The Incredibles and are ready to fall off to sleep.
So goodnight to all! "See" you tomorrow.
Karen, for everyone

2008-11-27T23:22:00.002-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving! Although probably most of you will be reading this after the fact. We had another interesting day in Guatemala. We went downtown this morning to buy pinata for the older kids here at Hannah's Hope. There is a section of the city where there are a lot of pinata makers and they have the all hanging out on the sidewalk on display. These are some of the biggest pinatas that I have ever seen. Most of them were taller than Mariah and Carter. We filled them with small toys and candy. The kids went nuts over them.
Lunch today was at Pizza Hut and it was nothing like at home. They had soups, sandwiches and some outstanding pasta dishes. They of course had pizza also. It was almost like eating at an Olive Garden. We are finding that all the American fast food chains that are down here are alot nicer than at home. Go figure.
This afternoon we drove way out into the sticks. This is the first time we were really in the country and driving on horrendous dirt roads. When we got to the orphanage we found out that they had moved all 60 babies into the city and it was now an all boys orphanage ages 11 to 18. The men and Morgan had fun playing dodge ball with them. There wasn't alot for me, Nicole and the little kids to do but the neat part is that they basically never get visitors or groups coming in to help them.
Tonight was probably the best part of the day. We were able to take a widow and her 5 kids out to dinner. She is 28 and she has a 14,9 who doesn't live with her, 8 who has Downs Syndrome, 6, 4, and 1 year old. She lives in the Ghetto beside Ashley. The mom works all day to provide 1 plate of food for the whole family, so this was a real treat. They ordered 2 large pizzas, and several kids meals. They took everything home in doggie bags to give to friends and family back home. We have no idea what it is like to have that kind of need. The thing that impressed me the most was that they were so happy. They laughed and joked with us all evening. They were also so appreciative for the evening. It was a great way to have our Thanksgiving Feast. We even were able to have pumpkin pie which was not exactly like we are used to at home but it did the trick.
We will be out of touch for the next couple of days. We will be going to Panajachel and Xela so we will be staying in hotels and most likely will not have Internet service. So on Sunday night when we are back here at the guest house I will try to catch you up on all of the events.
Good night!
Karen for the gang

2008-11-26T23:07:00.002-05:00

Buenes Noches, Amigos! See we have already started sounding like the Guatemalans. We had another great day here visiting orphanages. We were all a little apprehensive to visit the first one on our list. It was a Hospice for Aids orphans. When we think Hospice we were thinking babies that were living their last days, this however was not what we found. I don't know if I would have been able to handle that. These kids are HIV positive and since they have no family they go to this orphanage. They all looked healthy and were full of energy. Some of the older girls have been there 12 plus years and they will most likely be there until they die. Guatemala as a country does not understand the whole Aids epidemic and so they are pretty much shunned. The small kids gave Matt and Lane a workout. One kid wanted to get up on Lane's shoulders and pretty soon they had a whole line of kids who wanted rides. They would take them and run around the playground as the kids yelled rapido, rapido! The guys soon learned that they aren't as in shape as they think they are. When we were ready to leave Ashley asked the director if we could take 5 on the teenage girls along for lunch and she said yes. That was fun to be able to do that. They rarely get opportunities like that. We had Ashley to interpret for us. We had lots of questions for them and they had a lot for us. They thought for sure we lived in Miami because that is the only American city they really are familiar with.
This afternoon we visited an orphanage in the city. The conditions were not that great. The sad part about it is that we met the owners and they were very well to do. Ashley said that alot of owners will keep the money when it is donated to them instead of giving it to the kids.
One of the funniest things we have noticed is how many layers they put on the babies at nighttime. It is getting down into the fifties at night but they put on socks, undershirts, heavy fleece jammies plus turn on heaters in the rooms. Last night when we were helping to dress the babies by the time we were done they were already sweating. I guess this is their winter season and so they are dressing accordingly.
Speaking of winter another thing that has amazed me is how decorated for Christmas they are down here. Ashley says that it is a big deal here and on Christmas day they do fireworks and all. Tonight we were out for dinner and we heard fireworks and the waiters said they were pre Christmas fireworks.
Tonight we had the pleasure of dining with Charlie and Karen Weaver. Anyone reading this jealous? They are friends of Karen's from where she used to go to church. They are down here serving for one year. They were very excited to get all the packages from home.
Once again we are all exhausted and ready for bed. I think we are a little more acclimated and not quite so shocked by everything as we were yesterday. Tomorrow is a little less busy of a day which I think is good for all of us. So goodnight and Happy Thanksgiving!
Karen, for the gang

What A Day

2008-11-25T21:30:00.002-05:00

Just a warning before you start reading this....you might get bored with this blog before I even get to lunchtime in our day. It was a packed day with lots of new experiences that I am sure we won´t soon forget.

We started the morning by touring around here at Hannah´s Hope. There are about 30 kids. All but about 8 of those are 1 year olds. Needless to say I am in love. These kids are just so adorable. We just help them and took lots of pics. Unfortunately I will not be able to upload pics until we are home so make sure you check the blog after the 3rd.

We then headed to the grocery store. We were surprised at the selection of food they had there even brands that we recognized. We loaded up on breakfast foods for us here at the house. Ashley also had found out from the orphanages that we are visisting what some of their needs are so we were able to buy some basic supplies for them as well. That was alot of fun.

We took a tour of the city. Wow! Words can´t describe the contrasts you see there. The sad thing about Guatemala is that there are a fair amount of rich people but they think that you are born with what you deserve, so if you are poor you deserve to be poor. So you will see these huge beautiful malls and shacks right around the corner. We visited the City Cemetary which was heartbreaking by itself. They are all buried on top of the ground. The rich folks have huge beautiful mosuleums that they buy. The poor have a slot which they must rent. Of course they probably can´t afford to pay this yearly bill so after 5 years if they are behind on payments the city removes their body and throws them over the side into the city dump. Most of those that are buried are young men that if they are lucky are older than 30. There are alot of widows down here.

Of course this leads into the city dump. I have never seen anything like this and words and pictures won´t do it justice. We were standing on a hill overlooking the dump. It reeked. Tons of huge vultures were just circling overhead. Trucks were backed up dumping trash and there were adults and kids sorting through looking for anything salvagable. Ashley would walk on ahead of us to make sure that we weren´t coming up upon any dead bodies that had just been thrown over. It was a very sobering experience. If any of you ever hear me complain about anything again please call me on it. On Sunday we are planning on going to the edge of the dump were people live and hand out bread and the hygeine packs that we brought along.

Lunch was next. We traveled all this way and were ready to taste new foods and we went to McDonald´s. :) The kids of course liked this. It tasted very much like home.

Mama Carman´s Orphanage was our next stop. This orphanage was in a very bad section. They had approximately 40-50 kids there and only 10 beds for all of them. Some of the babies just napped on the floor and some just sat in high chairs and slept. These kids never get outside ever. They play in a garage approximately 10x20. We took some rubber playground balls and a parachute. They were in heaven. Some of the boys bounced ball back and forth with us the entire 2 hours. None of us saw any other toys there at all. I told my kids they can never say they are bored again. One little girl just stole my heart as well as the girls´. I reached for her and she came to me and just hugged me around the neck as tight as she could. She would do the same every time she went to someone else. So precious!

We came back to Hannah´s Hope for a little while before dinner. Morgan & Makenzie wanted to go back to the babies, Nicole & I wanted to nap.....so the girls won. We got there and it was supper time. There were 4 caretakers, called special mothers, feeding all 20 some babies. We asked to help which they allowed us. They put us to shame. The one special mother had spoon fed 3 babies before I even got done with 1. Next it was on to changing them into pj´s and brushing their teeth for the night. They go down to bed at 5:30 so that they are all sleeping by 6. They almost always sleep through the night till 5 am. Again if I wanted a job here I would never last because I am so slow. There is nothing better than snuggling a baby that is already for bed unless of course you are snuggling a baby that just woke up. :)

Dinner was at a great authentic Guatemalan resturaunt. The food is alot like Mexican only less spicy. We are all exhausted so after showers we are all off to bed and ready for another day. I am not sure if it is more physical or emotional tiredness. Coming here is really expanding our world view. Being able to be here during the Thanksgiving Holiday gives it even more meaning. I knew we are blessed but to see conditions like we are seeing and all the kids that just want love..it is overwhelming.

So goodnight hopefully that wasn´t too long of a blog but if tomorrow is anything like today we will be writing a book again tomorrow night. So goodnight, sleep well, and thank God for everything you have no matter what.

Welcome to Guatemala

2008-11-25T09:44:00.002-05:00

We have arrived! We had an excellant day of travel. All of our flights were on time and fairly smooth. We were all tired but the kids did very well. We are staying in a guest house that used to be a children´s home. It is very nice to have a house instead of just a motel room. The most disturbing thing that has happened was to me. In the middle of the night I heard meowing and I made Matt get up and look and beside our bed was a large cat. You all know how much I "love" cats. This cat is Hannah´s Hope´s cat so I am sure I will have more run ins with this lovely creature.
We are looking forward to a great day acclimating ourselves to their culture and our surroundings. We will hopefully post again tonight if we aren´t too tired. Thanks for all your prayers.
Karen for the gang!

Our Itineray...Probably

2008-11-19T13:08:00.000-05:00

One thing that we have been learning is go with the flow. I don't believe we are going to find that Guatemala is quite as strict at keeping times and appointments as we are here in Lancaster, County. So the following is the general plan but it is subject to change at any point. Guatemala time is one hour behind us here. Nicole & I had a call from Ashley our contact at Hannah's Hope this morning and after talking to her and hearing more details I am extremely excited. Two of the orphanages that we are planning on visiting are so short staffed she said the kids will be starved for attention and we should plan on just holding babies. It is a tough job but someone has to do it. :) The two things I am most dreading is the weather. I always thought that it would be hot while we are there. She said it has been quite cool and the one town we are visiting could be as cold as 25 degrees. The other thing I never thought about was the possiblitly of lice. We are to bring lice shampoo along just in case. I can't stand lice. I am itching my head already just hearing that. But like Matt keeps reminding me this is not a vacation it is a mission trip. Anyhow we are all excited and can't believe that the time to leave is almost here. Again please just keep us in your prayers. Thanks.

Karen, for the gang

Monday, November 24
Leave BWI @ 3:10 pm arrive in Houston, TX @ 5:43 pm
1 1/2 hour layover
Leave Houston for Guatemala City arrive @ 10:07 pm
Tuesday, November 25
7:30am to 8:00am Continental breakfast at Hannah’s Hope guest house
8:00am to 8:30am Team devotional - Go over schedule
8:30am to 9:00am Tour of Hannah’s Hope
9:00am to 12:00pm Playing with the children at Hannah’s Hope
12:00pm to 1:00pm Lunch
1:30pm to 2:30pm City Tour
2:30pm to 4:30pm Mama Carmen’s Orphanage
6:00pm Dinner
Wednesday, November 26
7:30am to 8:00am Continental breakfast at Hannah’s Hope guest house
8:00am to 8:30am Group meeting
8:45am to 9:30am Drive to AIDs baby orphanage in Chimaltenango
9:30am to 1:00pm Orphanage in Chimaltenango
1:30pm to 2:30pm Lunch
2:30pm to 5:00pm Hannah’s Hope
6:00pm Dinner
Thursday, November 27
7:30am to 8:00am Continental breakfast at Hannah’s Hope guest house
8:00am to 8:30am Group meeting
8:30am to 9:30am Drive to Zone 1 to by Large Piñata
9:30am to 11:00am Piñata Party for Hannah’s Hope children
11:30am to 12:30pm Lunch
1:00pm to 3:30pm San Jose Pinula Orphanage
4:00pm to 5:45pm Hannah’s Hope
6:00pm Dinner
Friday, November 28
6:00am Continental breakfast at Hannah’s Hope
6:30am to 7:00am Team meeting
7:00am to 9:00am Drive to Panajachel
9:00am to 12:00pm Check into Hotel and head to Eagle’s Nest in Solola
12:00pm to 1:00pm Lunch
1:00pm to 3:00pm Zip lines
3:00pm to 6:00pm Shopping in open air market
6:00pm Dinner at hotel
Saturday, November 29
8:30am to 9:00am Continental breakfast at hotel
9:00am to 10:00am Cross lake to Santiago
10:00am to 12:00pm Activities with mudslide children
12:00pm to 1:30pm Take kids out to lunch
1:30pm to 2:30pm Activity in temporary housing area
3:00pm Cross lake back to Panajachel
4:00pm Head to Xela, stay at hotel in Xela
Sunday, November 30
7:30am to 8:00am Continental breakfast at Hotel
8:00am to 8:30am Group meeting
8:30am to 9:00am Drive to orphanage in Xela
9:00pm to 11:30am Orphanage in Xela
12:00pm to 1:00pm Lunch
1:00pm Head back to Guatemala Possible stop in Chichicastenango
6:00pm Dinner
Monday, December 1
7:30am to 8:00am Continental breakfast at Hotel
8:00am to 8:30am Group meeting
8:30am to 11:30am Orphanage in Zone 3
12:00pm to 1:00pm Lunch
1:00pm to 2:00pm Hannah’s Hope
2:00pm to 4:00pm Take Hannah’s Hope older children to the zoo
6:00pm Dinner
Tuesday, December 2
7:30am to 8:30am Continental breakfast at Hannah’s Hope guest house
9:00am to 3:00pm Antigua
4:00pm to 6:00pm Prepare American meal for Hannah’s Hope children
7:00pm Movie at Hannah’s Hope
Wednesday, December 3 Adios Amigos!
Leave Guatemala City @ 1:11 pm Arrive in Houston, TX @ 4:04pm
1 hour layover
Leave Houston @ 5:17 pm arrive in Baltimore @ 9:17 pm

Preparing for our trip

2008-11-09T23:00:00.000-05:00

We are all excited about opportunity we have to go and visit a another country and be able to show God's love to the people and especially the children there. We have lots of prep to do before we go. Between the 8 of us I believe we got 25 travel shots. When Mariah heard that she needed 3 shots before we went she thought that maybe she would just stay at home. She changed her mind and all of the kids did really good. We also had passports to get for the kids and of course all of the travel arrangements which were made by our "agent" Lane.

We also thought it would be great to be able to take some hygeine packs along to hand out when we visit different villages. These packs consist of a towel, washcloth, soap, comb, toothbrush, & toothpaste. So we sent out a request to our family and friends and before we knew it we had enough items to make over 150 packs. Plus we bought multiple packs of diapers & wipes, children's books & videos in Spanish to give the orphanages. A big thank you to all that participated in this project. We are hoping that the container they were shipped on will arrive before we do but it is being held up and at this point that doesn't look like it will happen.

Please keep us in your prayers as we travel and spend time in Guatemala. We will try to post to this blog daily if possible and share our experiences.