Day 8:
I apologize for the lack of detail. We have not been able to log onto the blog for a while. We are now at the Guatemalan Airport, ready for departure, so I thought I would try to update you all before we leave.
- Breakfast
- Church
- Lunch
- Cultural Activity including dinner
Day 9:
- Breakfast
- Devo at school “Colegio Vida Chamche”
- Depart for Antigua (5 hour drive)
- Lunch on the road
- Arrival in Antigua, one of the oldest Colonial cities in Central America
- Dinner at “Pollo Camero”
- Evening walking tour of the downtown centre
- Debrief
Day 10:
- Breakfast
- Guided tour of Antigua
- Tour of Jade factory
- Lunch
- Shopping at the Market
- Dinner
- Debrief
Day 11:
- Wake up at 5:00
- Depart for airport
- Currently having breakfast in the airport prior to boarding
Student Response:
Reflecting on this past week I realized there was one moment that truly changed me forever. It was during one of the home visits that the Lord opened my heart to the people of Guatemala. The day started with a couple home visits that were all smiles and sunshine. There was so much hope and joy all around. Then we got off the can and entered a new village. This village felt very different. People didn’t greet us, garbage was strewn all over the streets and wild dogs lay everywhere. This was the home of Emma’s sponsor child whom she just started sponsoring the night before. A women and her two daughters stood in a small room holding 1 chair, a table and a crib. The girl was doing her homework in the crib alongside her baby sister.
During introductions the mother was so emotional to the fact that her daughter had someone looking out and providing for her. She then told us that her husband was an alcoholic. Suddenly something changed. It wasn’t the same as a missionary talking about all the alcoholic problems in the world. I would listen but it felt so hard to relate. This time, I physically saw the pain in the mothers eyes, and heard her sobs. We formed a prayer circle around her and suddenly everything changed. I started playing scenes in my head. I was seeing the drunken father come home. I saw him beating his wife who could do nothing but pray silently that the bruises would be hidden underneath her dress the next day. I saw the children huddling in the corner terrified to make out a single squeak. Then the praying ended and I returned back to reality. I had tears streaming down my face and without realizing i had turned into a complete wreck. From this experience the Lord has shown me first hand what Satan’s powers has done to the people here. This is a moment i will never forget. – Jennifer Zhang