Familiar

No two mission trips are the same. Every experience is different. Different challenges, different lessons, different emotions.

But at least for me, there's always that familiar ache. Every trip, every week, every time. That ache deep in my heart.

It misses Guatemala, misses the people, misses seeing everything in Spanish. Aches to hear the sweet voices and giggles and feel the little hands around my neck again.

No matter how much you prepare yourself the ache is there. And I think it's a part of serving our brothers and sisters in Christ. There is a deep connection and devotion that is established when serving the Church abroad.

It's beautiful. And as my heart aches, I will praise Him for the sweet time I was given and focus what is to come.

Lead Me On

YOu lead me very far away
Into this hurting place
You take me far away from home
Though I'm never alone

You show me hurt, pain, despair
Needy people everywhere
You show me orphans without care
Hungry children everywhere

And so I question as I see
Just what you want from me
How can I go back there,
back to comfort, luxury, not a care.

I need a vision somehow,
I need a word from You right now.
There is silence in the air
And questions everywhere.

Now that I have seen
I have to take responsibility
To act and love and care
For the people left back here

It doesn't fit with the American Dream
Doesn't follow a movie or a magazne
it's gonna' take a step of faith
To get me to this place

I just want my life to be
A lovely, fragrant offering
But I know that this will mean
Alot of sacrificing.

6/27/10

From my journal on 6/27:
Searching out my calling here. My role. I don't knowhow this passionand burden fits into my life back home. Shopping malls, restaurants, dorm shopping, vacations. All good things, yet how to balance priorities. Search my heart, Lord.

Beautiful Words

We went across the lake to San Juan yesterday to work in the clinic of our friend Mary who we met a couple years ago on a previous trip here.

There is a fabulous group from North carolina here as well and they have befriended us, fed us, and filled gaps in our trip never would have anticipated. It has been wonderful. They had 2 nursing students and so we brought them with us on our little trip...which turned into a wet, freezing adventure haha.

They have a full-time nurse, Timoteo, at the clinic but they wanted my dad to work for one day and have the nurse watch. Some of the people spoke Spanish, but the majority spoke Tz-utujil which meant Timoteo translated into Spanish, me into English and back to Spanish with my dad's response, which would then be translated back to Tz-utujil by Timoteo. We saw probably 15 patients, and God graciously gave me incredible understanding of medical terminology. I knew VERY FEW medical words going into this and I was almost always able to understand what they were saying. It was a gift.

My heart reached out to these people. I smiled as I was reminded of their constant friendliness and gratitude. I laughed at the silly antics of the darling children. I so enjoyed talking in Spanish for a full 5 hours, unlocking the mystery of words, using my vocabulary to communicate dialogue in order to help someone. My heart broke for the 38 year old mother with arthritis who can do nothing but sit in her home while her children and husband cook and clean for her. I winced with the malnourished child as she had her blood drawn. My heart loves these people.

I feel as though all of these years of working so hard at Spanish were culminated in these 5 hours of translating. I am finally able to communicate and serve a purpose with my language, and it was beautiful.

Pure cuteness.

On my hip. All day long. :)

Mission Eyes

Eyes wide open, brimming with tears

So full of hope, yet full of fear.

These eyes have gazed on the fields ripe for harvest.

A week-long look at this place of promise.

But alas they return to the American Dream

Where everyone wants the newest fad or thing

They're expected to blend in as part of the culture

But these mission eyes are different than they were.

They're a blessing, a reminder of all that I've seen

And a promse to remember where I have been.

-6/29/10

Half the battle of a mission trip is wrestling with God over What now? I'm not even home yet and I've been asking this question since day 1. Now that I have seen, I am responsible. But what does that mean? What does that mean for my life? These eyes have seen hurt, pain, and a field ripe for harvest. Oh so many opportunitiesfor service and growth. But what now? How do you return to the states with these mission eyes that have gazed on the fields ripe for harvest? I cannot go back and forget.

On all of my previous trips the Lord has completely broken me over the orphans and the people here in Guatemala. This trip, though, I feel like He is showing me what He needs to change in ME. He's showing me places of my heart and pieces of me that are not honoring to Him, things I need to surrender, lessons I need to learn. It has been very humbling.

And it leaves me wondering just how these mission eyes are going to go home and try to merge the 2 lives I have today- my Guatemala life and my US life.

The fields are ripe for harvest, and the laborers are few. I have seen and heard and know that I must act. Lord, show me what is in Your will for my heart, my time, my talents, my gifts, my life.

Precious Gifts

We had the most precious time with the 4 girls Friday night. It was like time stood still for 12 hours and it was just me, my dad, and these giggly, beautiful little girls.

We had 4 little mattresses with pillows and sleeping bags set up for them. I had laid out their gifts for them on their beds and they squealed with delight as they opened and thoroughly examined every package. They all came out for their morning walk today wearing their new clothes. And, the twins were carrying their lunchboxes STILL haha. That was their favorite gift I think. It was so cute.

I had brought lots of things to do with them in anticipation of the sleepover, so we colored, played with PlayDoh, ate snacks, made necklaces, watched a little of Finding Nemo on YouTube, and skyped with my mom and brothers.

It took me about 40 minutes to get them all in their beds. And when they finally fell asleep, they all snored, coughed, and moaned! And I woke up to every single sound. The mama in me was so afraid they were having a bad dream, or scared, or crying. So suffice it to say, I got maybe 4 hours of sleep last night, but it was worth every single minute we got with those girls. We're going to try and do it again before we leave on Friday.

Yesterday, the girls and I went outside for a quick photoshoot in their new clothes and hair bows. I told them I wanted to send pictures to my mom and my aunt who helped me buy the clothes for them. They were SO excited to pose, and continually reminded me these were for "Tu mama!" So aunt diane and mom, these are for you! :)

These girls are so incredibly beautiful, I am blown away by their personalities and adorable faces.

Dios es fiel

Dios es fiel- God is faithful

Before I left, my mom asked me if there were any specific prayer requests I had that weren't obvious or that I'd talked about already. I told her that I was really praying that God would bring about many opportunities to utilize my Spanish. Well, our first work day here, and God certainly has provided.

I stood with my dad and the head workman here at the orphanage talking yesterday. He is a short little man, but I have always felt as though he towers over me. He gives directions, isn't afraid to give constructive criticism and instruction, and he has always pushed me to speak more spanish (which was a blessing in disguise as it made me get out of my comfort zone and speak).

This year, he and I have really conversed alot, and my dad had called me over to help translate. They had started talking about this man's family and how many children he had. This burly man opened up to us and showed him his broken and tattered heart. He shared of his 3 children, 2 who died years ago. They lived in a dangerous, underground home with no sunlight for years, working hard to provide for their one remaining son. Eventually, they were able to move out of the city and here to this smaller town to work here at the orphanage in construction.

I was holding back tears as my heart broke for this man. How many of the other people I've seen and talked to have a story like his? We are all so bruised.

The story didn't end there, though. His son is very intelligent, and works with electrical, technology, and computers. Because they moved here, he's been able to work during the weeks and attend a university to be trained in computers.

This man couldn't stop listing off all the good things he has. All the good things God has done.

He continued to speak of how God graciously provided. This man's heart is loyal to His God, and it was so beautiful to see.

I looked out at the mountains, remembering all God has done thus far and at the end, all I could say was Dios es fiel.

Estamos aqui!

We are here in beautiful Guatemala! It has been a very full 24 hours already, and we have been so blessed.

This will be a boring post with no pictures- i'm so sorry! I have a few minutes over lunch to write this so it has to be quick. We are having the 4 big girls stay in our room tonight and the camara is going to be ON the whole time! :)

Traveling was great yesterday. I got sick from the hotel breakfast (in Chicago go figure haha) but I quickly recovered. All of our flights were nearly on time and everything went very smoothly.

Today they have us on ladders (YIKES!) painting a building that will become a bus stop. Our hands are covered in green paint.

We have had precious time with the managers of the orphanage both yesterday and today, and I think it was God's hand on this trip that we would arrive yesterday so we could have this time with them before the big teams come. Both my dad and I are so thankful we've been able to sit down and talk with them about what God is doing at the orphanage, with the church, and adoptions (or lack thereof in this case).

I am still trying to process all that I've seen and heard so far, and right now I just feel like I'm taking it all in. My prayer this morning was that God would refine me this week, and continue to break my heart for what breaks His, and give me a vision for how my life should look in response.

I think the week is going to jam-packed and I'm so excited to see what God will do in these busy days.

Please pray that my energy levels continue to be stable with my hypoglycemia, and that things would work out still for the girls to spend time with us tonight. They are all craving our attention and it's been overwhelming trying to listen to all of their sweet voices, give them all hugs, and make sure everyone is getting enough loving.

Thank you sweet prayer warriors. I'll post again soon hopefully with pictures!

My heart, my all

In just 2 short days a plane will whisk me away
To a land whose beauty seems more glorious each passing day

This children have grown to fill my heart, thoughts, and dreams
This country, this people, it is my everything

Until it hurt to remember, and I slowly turned away
Too hard to remember that bitterly painful day

But now i"m returning, a trip fresh and new
Believing every word, that God's promise is true.

In my weakness His power is perfect and right
In my hurting He turns what is dark into light.

So I give my week, my heart, my all
Trusting He's there to catch every fall

6/21/10

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest in me.
2 Corinthinas 12:9

To some, this poem will not make sense. To others, those who have been to a foreign country or been passionately involved with a certain ministry and people, this will resonate with your heart. I am so in love with this country and people, have had so many sweet memories in Guatemala. Yet coming back from these trips is always absolutely heart-wrenching for me. Last summer after returning I finally just had to block out everything, all my deep emotions and love for my heart country because it just hurt too much. As I've prepared to go back, I've prayed through all of this, and have opened my heart back up to this place and people I love so very much. It's easy for me to go into the trip already fearing what I will see, the things that will break my heart. But I do not want this. I WANT to be beautifully broken, broken by what makes the very heart of God break. And so with this poem last night I gave my week to the Lord, trusting that the hurt and tears will be used for my good. My weakness and incompetence will be made perfect by His grace. And the immense joy and laughter I get to partake in for an entire 8 days with the most beautiful children I know is making me incredibly impatient to get there.
I am ready, Lord, please do a good work in my heart and in the hearts of Your people!

7 Days

I was cleaning my room today and realized that in 7 days I will be in Guatemala. Like a wave in the ocean comes over you, all of the things I will see and do in 7 days washed over me and I broke into tears.

In 7 days I'll get to speak and hear Spanish. In 7 days I'll get to hear the beautiful laughter of children in the orphanage, hear the delightful squeals, and feel their pudgy hands around my neck as I scoop them into my arms for hugs long over-due. I'll get to see the precious girl who stole my heart the very first time I walked into the orphanage. See how beautiful she has become, hear her "grown-up" voice, see the little girl she's grown to be.

This is a gift. And it is so overwhelming to me that I get to be the one to go to this country and be the hands, feet, and mouth of Jesus.

God has already been on the move in this adventure. Our airlines went on strike last week and He graciously brought the company to peace and we will fly out as planned next Thursday. Thank you Jesus!

I'll post with some specific prayer requests here in the next few days as well as my vision and hope for this trip (that is already known and planned-out by God anyway!)

7 Years Ago Today....

My favorite little girl in the whole wide world was born in Solola Guatemala.

Today my heart breaks and my arms feel so so empty. I think of her mom who labored hours on end to deliver this sweet little girl, and she never got to know the delight of Claudia. I pray that she knew Jesus and that she is in Heaven looking down on her little girl who turns 7 today. But it breaks my heart that she never got to hear the infectious giggle of her little girl. I would give anything to have met this woman, who must have had the biggest heart of joy that she passed on to her daughter. Claudia laughs and smiles more than anybody I know. And tonight, I would do just about anything to have her next to me.

Amidst my heavy heart, thoughts, and tears I rejoice in the fact that God gave me this little girl. She changed my life forever, and I will never be the same. This girl lit a fire in me for the orphans, and my love for her has burdened me for the fatherless even more. I have learned how to trust God for the impossible even more, and I have learned that sometimes the only option is to place the most precious things in life in the hands of God. I put Mighty to Save with this video because this is still my song for her. I believe that God is still mighty to save- her and all the other children stuck in this mess of paperwork and laws. I believe that He has the power to bring her home. Whether or not that's in His plan is one thing- but I'm choosing to believe that one day she will come home.

Happy Birthday my sweet Claudia girl. I schemed all day yesterday about how I could manage to stow away on a plane and be with you on your special day. You are a delight, beautiful, funny, precious, and LOVED. You, sweetheart, have stolen a piece of my heart and I will never get it back from you. You changed my life, my goals, my priorities. If only you knew the prayers that I have prayed for you and your future, and the tears that have been shed over your precious life. I believe that God has a plan and a purpose for you. Feliz Cumpleanos mi chica preciosa. Te amo para siempre.

Finding HOPE. Showing LOVE.

Finding HOPE. Showing LOVE. That is what I named the Guatemala picture album on Facebook. I felt as though those 4 simple words summed up the theme of my week there.

When we go and follow God's heart for the unsaved, the needy, the widow, and the orphan we are fulfilling His call on our lives. James 1:27a says, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress...." Our pastor did a sermon about this verse and he described religion as "the outward expression of what is in our hearts." Does our brokeness over the orphan and widow move us to GO and SERVE and LOVE??

It is hard to hold these precious children in your arms and know what their circumstances are. It is hard for me to smile and laugh with them when my heart is breaking in two. Yet everytime I find HOPE. Through the injustice, the tears, the pain, our God is a God of HOPE. I have to trust in His plan for each precious child and search for the glimmers of hope in each one. This is a lesson that has been really hard for me to learn, but one that God really impressed on me this trip. TRUSTING HIM for HOPE for these kids.

On Sunday, we went to a fantastic church up at Eagle's Nest. The pastor spoke straight out of the Bible, and it was evident that He had spent much time preparing for the message. They welcomed us with OPEN arms and could not have been more hospitable and inviting to our group. We felt bad seating 27 people down around their small group of 20!! We more than doubled their church service! He spoke from Acts 1:8, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." He talked about how we should ALWAYS be witnesses to what God has done in our lives. We should constantly be proclaiming His faithfulness to us. This was a fabulous way to start out our week, being reminded that we are here to proclaim the Gospel there in Guatemala, and then to go home and share with our families.

We did some reallly hard work while we were there!! Real manual labor- lugging buckets and buckets and buckets and buckets and buckets (you get the idea) of gravel and dirt down this slippery hill. Despite our sore muscles and aching feet, most of us actually enjoyed it! It felt good to do hard work, and serve the orphanage. When we thought we couldn't lift another bucket or wheelbarrow, we would encourage eachother with the verse from Hebrews 12, "let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." God had called us to do this work and we would persevere until it was done!!

I had to look for HOPE again when we left the orphanage Friday morning. I had already said goodbye to Claudia Thursday night, and purposely avoided the orphanage doors and windows, thinking that maybe I could climb into the bus without seeing her again. I had taken her outside that night and talked with her, but I don't think either of us really "got it" emotionally. Well... we walked up the steps to wait for the bus and out of the doors of the orphanage come the big girls. My sweet Claudia came running into my arms and I completely lost it. In front of the entire team I cried for my girl. My heart was absolutely breaking at the thought of saying good-bye to this precious child. As usual, it takes awhile to get everyone loaded up, and one of my roomates ran to grab her camara (she is an excellent photographer) and took some awesome pics of Claudia and I. We had about 20 minutes together and she only left my arms once to go and get the sweets the mamas were handing out. Those 20 minutes were a gift from God. I am so thankful I had that. As we traveled back to Guatemala City I had lots of time to think, and I kept quoting to myself my life verse, Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope." I BELIEVE this to be true for Claudia. I do not know what is in store for her little life. I do not know if I will ever kiss her cheeks again or hear her precious giggle. But I KNOW that my God has a plan for her life and I KNOW that He has already used her to change my heart!!

All in all, it was an incredible week. Unforgettable memories, lessons, and stories. Thank you Jesus for helping me find HOPE when I was there. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to show Your LOVE to these people.

Back in the US

Well I am back in the US. My heart is broken, and I am an emotional mess. But I come back more in love with Jesus, more broken for the orphans, more in love with Guatemala, and desiring a deeper relationship with the Lord. I am not ready to jump back into life, into work, and into the daily routines. I just want to grieve over the millions of children without homes. Their deep, empty eyes haunt my heart. The lost and broken people of this world. Their futures send chills down me.

Spencer, a friend of mine, gave me a sermon to listen to while we were in Guatemala. It was by John Piper (a fabulous pastor/speaker by the way, who has released all of his sermons and you can download them for FREE!). Anyway, it was about how the Lord places holy ambitions in our hearts. The sermon struck me right at home and reminded me again of how this burden and brokeness in my heart was placed there by the Father. There are times I wish that I'd never gone to Guatemala, never met Claudia. Yet- IT HAS CHANGED MY LIFE! I would not be this girl if I hadn't experienced those things. I would not be clinging to my Savior if my eyes had not been opened. I would not be in love with the sweetest 6 yr-old who lives in Guatemala. My room would not be covered in Scripture and pictures of the orphans. I love the story that God is weaving, despite the fact that it is heart-breaking, painful, emotional, and challenging.

Psalm 146
1 Praise the LORD. [a]
Praise the LORD, O my soul.

2 I will praise the LORD all my life;
I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

3 Do not put your trust in princes,
in mortal men, who cannot save.

4 When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;
on that very day their plans come to nothing.

5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the LORD his God,

6 the Maker of heaven and earth,
the sea, and everything in them—
the LORD, who remains faithful forever.

7 He upholds the cause of the oppressed
and gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets prisoners free,

8 the LORD gives sight to the blind,
the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down,
the LORD loves the righteous.

9 The LORD watches over the alien
and sustains the fatherless and the widow,
but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.

10 The LORD reigns forever,
your God, O Zion, for all generations.
Praise the LORD

My Desire

My prayer journal today:

Father as I go on this trip I am so incredibly thankful for the opportunity. I am blown away by your goodness to me.

Please open my eyes to see as you see. As I look around at your creation in Guatemala, may I see the beauty of You displayed everywhere. I pray that I would see every person as a unique being created by You and loved by You. I pray that I would be quick to see those in need, quick to see opportunities to minister.

Please guard my mouth, that every word would be pleasing to You. May words of encouragement flow from my lips this week, lifting my team members up and declaring Your name. I pray that You would bring quick recall for my Spanish so I can effectively communicate the gospel to the people there.

Please use my hands to further your kingdom and be a blessing. I cannot wait to hug these children, and extend warm handshakes to the Guatemalan people.

I commit this trip, my heart, my all to you- may it bring You glory!

Today...

I am leaving to go back to Guatemala.

I have experienced an outpouring of God's grace on my heart. I was feeling uneasy, scared, doubtful, guilty, unprepared, unequipped, incapable, and tired. There was a spiritual battle raging and I could feel it. I kept praying, "Lord, please quiet my heart. You have said in Your Word, "The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." After battling these thoughts and feelings for the past day, I finally feel at peace, and even excited to embark on this journey.

The last I heard, Claudia will be there- praise God! I have no idea if she knows that she's being transferred. My goal is just to show her and all the others as much love as I possibly can. I'm also hoping to go and find that family we helped in March. I'm bring a picture of her and am praying the Lord will provide someone who knows her and can take us to her house.

Thank you all for your prayers! I will post when I get back next week!!

Love,

Molly

Homesick

Today I am homesick for Guatemala.

My arms are aching to hold the kids. As I look through my pictures, I remember how overwhelmed I was at their neediness. How could my 2 arms show the love of a mother to 18 children?

I miss seeing Caleb hold the kids. And I miss experiencing new things with him.

I want to run down the hill from the orphanage to go and hug this sweet friend. Was she able to go to the doctor? Has her body been healed? My heart aches for the people of this country. I miss their hugs, their language, their hospitality.

I miss the beauty. I miss walking out in the morning and feeling like falling on my knees at the sight of God's glory EXALTED.

I miss my sweet sweet little girl. Oh, Claudia, babe, I love you so much sweet girl. What I wouldn't give to bring you home.

Oh I miss her laugh!! :) I smile through my tears!

I miss my little guy. Even though his diaper leaked on me everytime. His eagerness when I walked in the room made my heart break and sing all at the same time. Sweet boy, I hope someone is there for you to wrap your arms around and make you feel secure.

I long to go and hold them, and whisper in their ears that I love them. So much.

This my friends, is one in 143 million. That just brings me to my knees today and makes me cry.

That's my heart, laid out for you today. I'm homesick and saddened by this world we live in. And so today, I have to turn these children, these people, this country over to the hands of the Father and have faith that He will protect and provide for them.

Transition

It has been 4 whole days since we returned from Guatemala- and they have been loooonnnnnggggg days! I had forgotten what a hard adjustment it is coming back from there. I did not remember it being so painful. And maybe it wasn't the last time. This trip was definitely the most powerful out of all of 3 times I've been to Guatemala. The Lord moved mightily in my heart, and I saw in a much greater way what God sees when He looks at these people. He truly gave me His eyes to look through. My love for Guatemala grew even bigger and deeper, and another piece of my heart was left there. The past few days have been alot of soul-searching and aching. I had trouble being joyful, because i was just so darn sad! A sweet girl at church who I look up to alot was talking with me on Sunday and said, "When you come back, it's like a mourning process." I hadn't thought of it like that before, but it really is. You grieve for the children, for the country, for the emptiness in your heart.

I met with a sweet friend Alyssa, who has been to several orphanages and has an amazing heart for the orphans. Talking with her brought alot of closure for me today. I can still cry for this country, these children, and the deep ache in my heart to return but I have a new peace in being here. I'd been struggling with WHY am I HERE? Why am I not THERE where kids need love? Where these precious Guatemalan people are hurting and need to hear the precious message of our Lord (Americans do too, I just have such a heart for these people). I miss everything about that country so badly. I miss the people, I miss the challenge of speaking in Spanish, I miss my girl, I long to kiss the faces of the children one more time, and tell them they are loved. But God has brought me back here. Hopefully only for a season, but nonetheless, I am here. So, I walked in the door feeling refreshed. I'm still overwhelmed with life, still trying to understand all that God showed me last week, but ready to tackle the tasks set before me. If I grieve forever, I can't succeed in the jobs I have here, and I won't ever be able to go back. Here's a poem I wrote this morning, perhaps it will sum up what I feel right now? I'm sitting in my house but homesick for the beautiful country that has stolen my heart.

Homesick

Another piece of my heart was left there that day
As I took my last glimpse and then turned away.

I just ache for that place, how I long to return there
I miss everything about it, as I whisper my prayers.

It's been hard coming back, after a week that was so full .
I just can't describe it, it's been terribly painful.

But I've drawn close to the Lord, in the midst of my sorrow,
He has given me joy, and hope for tommorow.

Though I may feel quite homesick for that country of my heart,
I know that my Savior has had a plan from the start.

He has placed me in this town, this family, this moment.
And He's asking me to follow, and be His servant.

While I long to jump on a plane- go serve more of the orphans
He has asked me to stay, to follow only His plan.

Pictures?? Try 2!

Another shot at loading the slideshow....

This time it works!! Go down to the bottom righ-hand column and turn off the music. I put music in the slideshow, forgetting that I already had some on the blog!

The last day...

It was our last full day in Guatemala. We'll say goodbye to the kiddos tommorow morning and take a shuttle to Guatemala city, leaving my heart behind.

We went to school this morning with the big girls and observed the classes, as well as help teach English. The kids were so affectionate and LOVED having us there to visit. These poor children tore pieces off of their bread and broke apart their cookies so that we would have a snack too. I could've scooped all of them up and taken them home!

After going to the school, our plan was to go into the town for lunch and a little shopping. We use "chicken buses" which are basically old school buses that they use for public transportation. I tried oh SO hard to not think about leaving tommorow but it did not work lol. I'd been just feeling really sad and when I sat down in the bus I just melted. It was very embarrassing and I really didn't know why I was crying except for the fact that I just felt sad. Of course we had sat in the front row, so everyone had to pass by the American girl who is crying on her dad's shoulder lol. This sweet old Guatemalan woman was climbing onto the bus and in Spanish told me, "Oh you are sad?? You need your mama." That made me cry even harder!! So that began my emotional morning. We arrived in town and headed for lunch. We decided to call my mom while we were waiting for our food and we took turns going over to the side of the patio to talk with her. When it was my turn I sat down and we started talking about how incredible this trip has been, how God has blessed us so abundantly this week, how it's going to be so hard to leave, and I started crying again. Thankfully that was the end of my tears and we enjoyed lunch, ice cream, and shopping together before heading up to the orphanage.

The rest of the afternoon and evening we spent with the kids. My heart has been so heavy today and it was painful to be in there with the children. It hurt so much to go in there and see the darling faces of the girls who I've grown to love so much. I wanted to just go down to our apartment, pack up, and get out of this country that is such a burden on my heart. But I knew I would regret it if I didn't spend as much time as I could with the kids. So that was our day. I'm sorry I don't have much more to say. It's been a good day but long and hard.

Thank you so much for those that have just started reading my blog. Thank you for all of the comments, sweet friends. Your emails, facebook messages, and comments have pushed me on throughout the week.

I will have MUCH more to write when I get home as I process everything that has taken place this week. I'm putting together a slideshow of videos and pics that I will hopefully post Saturday!

We covet your prayers for safe travel tommorow as we drive and fly home.

Many blessings,

Molly

Guatemala Day ?? I lost track lol

Today was a great day for us. I personally feel much more light-hearted and encouraged. We went with our friends, Greg and Brenda, from Canada to a rural village to do oral hygiene classes with the Guatemalans. We held the classes in a church that doubles as a school on the weekdays. There were many really neat highlights from the day and in order to organize my thoughts I'll make a list:

1. The group we joined for the day needed a translator and Greg had prayed this morning that somehow they would find someone to help them teach the lessons to the people. Well, God picked me. By His incredible grace, He has blessed me with the gift of learning this language- and a deep love for it. I LOVE Spanish. I LOVE being able to communicate with the people. So I got to work with kids, speak my favorite language, and teach all in one day. It was amazing to see God answer prayer that way.

2. We met the most amazing pastor here. He walks ONE AND A HALF HOURS to get to his church. How faithful is that?! I have never ever met someone who is SO faithful to God, and to the calling He gave them. That is AMAZING.

3. I met a really neat girl named Mary who lives in this little village by herself. She's from the States, I think around 22 years old. She's been in Guatemala for a year, and she is going to open a medical and dental clinic in April. Another amazing example of following God's call!!

4. I have never seen somebody get SO excited over a toothbrush. These people were delighted!! There was a row of older ladies in the back of the classroom and they were laughing so hard while brushing their teeth they started snorting LOL!! So.... next time you brush your teeth- be thankful you have a toothbrush, be thankful you have teeth, and look at yourself in the mirror and laugh. Just for the fun of it.

It was just overall a very uplifting day for me. I'm so thankful, because I was emotionally exhausted and discouraged yesterday (hence no blog post). Tommorow will be our last full day in Guatemala, and we fly out Friday. We are going to go to school with the "big girls" and then spend the rest of the morning holding babies. Then, we'll head for our last lunch, ice cream, and last minute shopping. We will say our goodbyes to the kids on Friday morning, so that will be a rough day for me. But I'm not thinking about it, and I'm going to savor their hugs and kisses tommorow and pretend I don't have to leave this beautiful place!

Love you all!

Molly