Guatemala Ministry Team Nov 2010 - Day 1 and 2

Nov 19

Volunteers arrive in Guatemala (Day 1)

5 Canadian volunteers arrived in Guatemala yesterday. The journey for many of them included 36 hours with only short naps between the bouts of turbulence in the plane and involved a 12 hour bus ride, long boarder waits and so on.... but the important part is that all 5 of use did connect at the Detroit airport (most meeting each other for the first time)and we continued on from there. Needless to say our first evening in Guatemala was pretty low key, but that's not so say we haven't already been greatly impacted by Rudy, Sully and everyone here. We had opportunity to be introduced to all the ladies supported at the San Christobal family home and to hear some of the stories of there journeys and the impacts and opportunities that CH's ministry in Guatemala is having. We also saw some of the economic develop that is happening as a couple of men worked into the evening on leather products that is a key component of generating income/ employment, developing skills and building hope and enjoy some local fair that is being sold from a food stand here at the home, again, part of the skill development, income and hope generating that happens on a daily basis. Rudy and Sully (Guatemala Directors) took us through a brief history of the ministry in Guatemala as well as some histroy of the community center in Lake Amatitlan, where we will be doing some childrens english ministry all week, it is also the community where we will be involved in building a home for a very desperate family. Today we continue to unpack the 500 pounds of supplies we brought with us and we organize the activities of the week ahead. Stay tuned!

Day 2

Nov 20

Day two started at 7:00am with a delicious pancake breakfast and freshly squeezed orange juice made by Raul. We then delivered care packages to the girls that live here at the San Christobal home. The group took a half hour drive into the town of Antigua where we enjoyed the afternoon shopping at the markets, purchasing items for silent auctions back home.

This afternoon we began organizing all the supplies, separating them into crafts, games, prizes, presents, etc. Backpacks were made for Vilma’s six children who we begin building a home for on Monday. We are overwhelmed by the amount of donations given by people back home…ten suitcases full! Looking forward to starting VBS tomorrow afternoon.