So, being flexible on a missions trip is an imperative. Today, there were peaceful protests in Guatemala City over government corruption.  So the people decided to block the main roads around the city, which greatly hindered our plan to go back to our kids. One of the Clubhouse staff said traffic was backed up so bad that it would have taken 3 or 4 hours to travel the normal 20 minute trip! After a short meeting with our team and Mike Parker, the director of Clubhouse arrived yesterday,  we decided to make today our Antigua tour day.

First, we purchased a food basket for a boy named Jonny.  He is a 10-year old boy living in a mountain village of San Mateo. His father passed away recently and his mother is sick. He is able to attend school because of his sponsorship thru Clubhouse.  The food basket cost $60 but will feed his family for one month! They were so happy and thankful for this food and it was an absolute privilege to help in this way.

After our morning blessing we went to Antigua,  the oldest city in Guatemala.  It was fun shopping in the old market and haggling with the vendors. We visited a few historic sites,  toured La Azotea coffee plantation and ate a wonderful meal at Las Palmas restaurant.  Overall it was a very good day together but we are ready to see our kids tomorrow!

Dinner at Las Palmas

A very old Catholic Church

Touring La Azotea coffee plantation with our guide, Manuel.

Seniors eating lunch overlooking Antigua

The path to Jonny’s house in San Mateo.

Mady con ninos

Ellen with Michelle and Vivian

Today’s guest blogger is Ellen Albers – senior, volleyball legend and our resident elf.

The community where the church is located is at the edge of a red zone, meaning the area is infested with drugs and violence. The kids that come to Vacation Bible School have seen it all. We don’t know what they have witnessed and experienced. They have never known safety or clean, well-kept neighborhoods. And yet they enjoy the same things as every other kid. They love to smile and play games and dance like crazy, so our team clicked with them immediately. Within thirty seconds of our arrival each morning, a game of fútbol has already started in the street, kids are hanging on our arms, and some kid has borrowed someone’s camera and has taken twenty of the same picture.

Though we can’t all hold extensive conversations, we have taken advantage of the universal language of smiling and laughter. On the first morning of the VBS, we started by teaching the kids some songs and dances that we learned the previous night (Disclaimer: Be prepared to hear these songs over and over when we return home because we can’t get them out of our heads.) One little girl was hanging around the back of the room. She was too shy to say her name and though I begged, she wouldn’t dance with us. Someone told me her name was Abigaíl. I didn’t know what to say or how to reach her, but throughout the dancing I stayed near her and kept smiling at her. When the songs were over, she turned around and hugged me. I had found a new best friend. Abigaíl stayed with me the rest of the day.

The coolest thing I have witnessed in these kids is their gratefulness that someone is spending time with them. Most of their fathers are either addicts or are not present in their lives at all. Knowing that our team is making such a major impact on their lives is the best feeling. Not only are the kids grateful for us, but everyone we have encountered is happy we are here. The Guatemalans are a beautiful people. They always greet us with smiles and kind words. We are supposed to be here on a missions trip to encourage them, but they are the ones encouraging us. We don’t share the same language or culture, but we share the same Jesús.

Editor’s note: We have been working in a part of Guatemala City called Bethania.  It is in a new zone that Clubhouse is trying to break new ground for ministry.  We have been working with Pastor Mario and his fledgling church.  They may be small in number, they are mighty in Spirit.

When we say “house church” in Guatemala,  we mean a fellowship of 25 people who meet in a room the size of a one-car garage. Pastor Mario is a young visionary who is passionate about reaching the local families for Christ. This is a brand new zone that Clubhouse is reaching so we are very excited to be part of this ministry on Day 1.

Today we had a VBS with about 20 kids. It included a Bible lesson, crafts and sports at a nearby playground.  After VBS in the morning, we had lunch and then visited some local families who are in need. We brought a few bags of rice and spent some time talking to the family and praying for them. It was such an encouraging time!

Futbol with the locals.

The seniors were amazing! They were bold and took the initiative to talk to the family via our translator and to pray for them. The Clubhouse staff has noted our team’s attitude and effort as exemplary.

Pastor Mario’s church is packed with local children and our team!

Check out this link to Clubhouse Guatemala’s Facebook page!  More pics of our team!

https://www.facebook.com/ClubhouseG?ref=br_rs

Sunrise from the balcony this morning

The New Mission House for Clubhouse. We are the first team to stay here.

Last night we went to a local Taco Bell to use their WiFi.  Let me tell you, it was THE NICEST Taco Bell I’ve ever visited!  So, all of that to say, we will attempt to post extra pics with captions in the Otras Cosas  (other things) segment.  Enjoy!

If you would have told me that within the first 36 hours of our trip to Guatemala, we would face one of the most life-challenging experiences, I would have been skeptical, at best… but it happened. To put into the words the beauty of the fellowship of believers living by the Spirit, the breath-taking glimpse of Heaven in hearing the singing of the saints without inhibition and the graciousness of people living in abject poverty – I don’t think this blog will suffice.

We had the amazing privilege of worshiping with our brothers and sisters at Sembradores de Vida (Planters of Life) in Guatemala City.  This church, led by Pastor Fernando, represents the best of what a church should be.  These brethren are literally transforming the neighborhood blanketed by darkness into pockets of Jesus’ light through regular personal relationship-building, supplying food to meet physical needs and giving the hope of the Gospel.

After a wonderful morning service of worship and preaching the Word, we met with the Guatemalan staff for lunch.  Joining us was an American team from Virginia, who were en route to their week of service with Clubhouse at Camp Calvary.  It was a fun time together as we learned from their team members who were making their fifth trip to Guatemala with Clubhouse.

After lunch, we met with one of our translators for the week – Sandra.  Sandra and a couple of the Guatemalan staff led us to homes of locals in the neighborhood with whom they had just made contact.  Our objective was to bring some packets of rice and soup to families in need.  Earlier I mentioned abject poverty.  This is the reality for many here in Guatemala.  We met one woman, Marta, who was living under a tin roof with her family.  Two of her walls were heavy blankets and their floor was dirt.  The food was well-received and we prayed for some of the prayer requests that she shared with us.  This was the first touch by Sembradores with Marta.  Now, our prayer is that as more relationship building and meeting of needs occurs, she and her family will begin to pursue Christ in an eternal way.  She was one of many houses visited by our team today.

The testimonies of the class during our time of worship and prep for tomorrow was extremely thoughtful and encouraging.  They were listening to the Lord, were obedient in stepping WAY outside of our comfort zones and are learning much.  I believe today that God was a planter of life in the hearts of our seniors.  I can’t wait to see what Monday brings!

What a wonderfull first day! You would be SO proud of our team! They have initiated conversation in Spanish with fellow passengers on the plane and have had such positive attitudes.

The Mission House, shall we say, is well beyond our expectations.  We hope to have pics tomorrow as we are working off a single IPhone Hotspot for tonight.

Much love and Nada Es Imposible!