I knew there was poverty and I have seen poverty before, but this condition took me back. I thought I was prepared for what I was going to see, but some of it caught me off guard. Instead of just typing a bunch of commentary on the trip, I am going to just explain what is in the pictures and the relevance behind them.
Our group (most of them)!
This was looking down the street outside our hotel in Antigua.
You never knew what was behind a door. Sometimes it was a little store, an inner courtyard, a house, dirt, etc.
Everything was guarded. This guy was guarding a parking lot. They had guards at McDonald's, too. (Side note: McDonald's delivers here)
My sweet, sweet friend!
Me and Shelby
Shoes on the telephone wires is a universal thing.
View of the volcano
The next several pictures are ancient ruins we visited. This was a monastery and convent and was completely destroyed in 1773 by an earthquake. (Side note: I got to experience my first earthquake on our last morning there. Mild. Still cool)
Supposedly, this is the where the crypts are.
This was the city dump.
There were several people pillaging through the trash collecting food. Several kids were playing there.
Hills, hills, and more hills!
This was the first feeding center we went to. After feeding them, we got to make balloon animals, paint the girl's nails, and play with the kids. This little guy was stuck to my back the whole time.
Sword fighting with balloons!
More walking. More hills.
Some of the housing.
The first house we delivered food and a water filter to. This little guy loved Ryan! The mom was in bed sick. We got to share Jesus with her and pray for her. She was able to make it to church on Wednesday!
View of the village. More hills.
Showing another family how the water filter works. Good for 10 years if they take care of it.
We helped out at a church one day. See all that cinder block? That's about 1,500 blocks. They are now all moved inside that building into three different rooms. Yeah, good stuff.
This was the second feeding center we visited.
Taking a break for a minute.
Taking a break for a minute.
Why not? :-)
Passing out bracelets.
Getting Bibles.
Boys are universal, as well. Rowdy and crazy. And flexing muscles for pictures.
View of the city Antigua.
Getting ready for church on Wednesday night.
So cool to be able to play a few songs during their worship service.
He was so sweet!
We rode horses up an active volcano one day. This was my first time on a horse. This is Cheespa.
Such a beautiful country.
The horses could only go so far. We had to hike the rest.
Stray dogs everywhere, even at an active volcano.
See that path? We still have to go up that.
Roasting marshmallows in the volcano steam. Still steaming from its last eruption in 2014.
Time to go down!
We are kind of beating everyone down!
Little sweet pea at the orphanage we visited.
More sword fighting!
This was at the Mayan Village. By far, the most emotional day for me.
Housing.
We went to the health clinic in the village and cleaned their feet, check for sores, and worms.
We also did lice treatment on their hair. These boys had never seen a mohawk and were bent over laughing at the sight of their fiends with their hair sticking up straight. It was hilarious!
Combed and braided their hair.
Babies carrying babies.
Going to deliver food baskets and filters.
Look at that hill!
Going to another house. On the right of this passage flowed the public sewage "system." It just flowed right along their homes.
Marlee and Justin
Marlee got baptized on the trip! So cool!
Got bit by something on the last day! Eeek!
There is so much that these pictures can't describe. They can't describe the pain I saw in a mother's eyes. They can't describe the hurt I heard in her voice as she cried through her prayer requests. They can't describe the hopelessness that penetrated from the depths of each village visited. They can't describe the sound of the giggles of the children as they ran around and played with us. They can't describe the joy I saw in the their eyes at just the sight of us. They can't describe the gratitude felt when tasting the filtered water for the first time. They can't describe how my heart was softened and wooed toward their condition.
I realized something instantly after my first interaction with those precious children. Something I already knew, but resonated much deeper within.
Souls don't have a race.
Souls don't have a language.
Souls don't have a culture.
Souls need Jesus.
Pray for the souls of Guatemala. Pray for the souls of the United States. Just pray for souls.
