Lovin' that fall!

Fall has been hectic and wonderful as usual.

Here's what's happened so far:

A group of us went square dancing and on hayrides to celebrate a friends birthday. Great night!!!


Costume party :)


Favorite night, sibs night. We had a ginger bread competition- on the left you have Lis and Trav with their PERFECT manger scene. Next is Steve and I with our Frank Lloyd Wright Falling Water House. Finally you have Laur and Mike with the ever so traditional Log Cabin. They won and we are all salty.

God has been so good and faithful over the years. Each year on Thanksgiving we state 3 things we are thankful for in these categories: physical, material and spiritual. So physically I'm thankful for running the half marathon. The training and actual race taught me a lot of discipline and it felt like a great accomplishment when it was over. Materially I'm grateful for the car I received in February and also the opportunity to work a second job so I was able to pay off large amounts of debt!! And spiritually God has shown me so much this year and I've been able to grow and share my testimony. I'm excited to do more of that and excited to see where God takes us next year.

I've been reading on Moses and frankly, he's the man. I want his words in Exodus 33:15 to be my prayer, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here." Dear God, all I need is your presence.

Summer Happenings!

Summer was amazing. Easily my favorite summer yet. So blessed to share it with so many truly wonderful friends and a loving family!

This lil scooter finally sold! Here my parents are giving it one last hoorah :)


Lis and I kayaking in Indiana with friends and family. Life is good.

Sarah and I getting ready to take on the giant mud pit in Chicago!

Hit up a few Indians game this summer :)

family breakfast...chaotic and wonderful

My friends surprised me by taking me out to eat down town for my 25th birthday!



I have been given the opportunity to share my testimony to 2 youth groups as well. That is huge for me because I hate public speaking! But God has stretched and strengthend me and has caused me to dive deeper into His Word- which is full of more goodness than I remembered from reading it back in Missionettes!

I took some great trips around the Mid West this summer, but my favorite of all was going to Chicago with my sister Lisa and her sis-in-law Brooke. We had a great time wandering around the city- and most of all... seeing Beth Moore live! We left feeling completely refreshed and ready to show kindness to any bystander.

I will never underestimate the power of God and the impact He has on a persons heart, life and those around who are watching. This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it!

To the Kokomo Team

Dear Y.W.A.V,

Solely because of your group and your loving kindness I have completely fallen in love with the city of Kokomo. If the rest of the people there are anything like your group, then Kokomo is an incredibly rich and blessed town. Part of me wants to move there to hang on to the memories of Guatemala and to continue to serve along side of all of you! Thanks again for including me- I felt like everyones daughter, sister, and sometimes mama bear :)

If I may, I'd like to give a personal yet public shout out to each of you individually:

Brent- I appreciate you as our fearless leader, who put up with days where you felt terrible and also when you were at your best as far as being in Guatemala goes. Besides the first day where you tried to stick me in a room seperated from the team, you made me feel part of the group and I am so grateful! I enjoyed all your antidotes, your silly song shout outs regarding waterfalls, and opening up to us about how if you were a vegetable, you would be a green bean. I feel extremely close to my brother in law now that i've spent 2 full weeks with you and you remind me of him! Much love to you and Addy and I wish you both a lifetime of Cilantro and limes!

Addy- I loved getting to know you and your hippy ways. It was awesome to see you lead kids time in Spanish and also lead the girls from the team. Right away it was clear to see how much they respect you and it's obvious why. Can't help but notice that you are fun, flexible and relatable- all great traits for someone who serves along side her husband while working with teenagers! If I lived in Kokomo, I'd insist we'd be friends- I'll settle for long distance buddies though. P.s. is your butt bruised at all from the teeter-totter? Keep up your great posture- Lots of love lady!

Kent- Everyone knows that I'm going to say something about you and babies. You are good with babies :) But besides touching every little baby that you held, you also touched so many of the workers in the baby house and every house you went to. Your willingness to serve in the unpopular areas was noticed and I'm blessed to have met you. If I ever have a baby- I would trust him in your most capable hands, you baby whisperer!

Jamie- For a while I thought you said inappropriate things, turns out I just misunderstood- what a relief! Painting with you was great, you are a great delegator and supervisor. I am so glad that you went back to work yesterday. God is truly a God that provides!

Jen- We had some great conversations in those small rooms with lots of paint fumes and I wouldn't trade it for the world. I loved hearing you talk about your children, you were so full of pride. I'm also so impressed with how you and Jamie adopted Nathan into your family. If only more people had your heart, the world would be a much better place!

Becca Smith- Always remember that a happy hand is a good hand. For Christmas I am going to cross stitch that on a pillow for you so that you'll never forget :) What can I say Becca, I love you lots! You are so caring and considerate of other peoples feelings. Always one to do the jobs nobody else wants to do and such a lover! I loved climbing down to the waterfall with you and making tons and tons of memories!

Shannon- You are so sweet and wonderful! I loved painting with you and working with you in the garden. You had a great attitude, I don't think I ever heard you complain. I was so sad I didn't get to say goodbye to you- but I plan on seeing you again in July! Enjoy your summer!

Kayla Price- If I had to go into a place where I needed to meet a bunch of new people... I would take you with me! It was so great watching you meet new people, talk Karin's ear off in our room and work your spanish while talking to the older girls. Some of it was funny (if we are being honest, some of your questions WERE funny, i think you know that ;) ), but other times it was really touching to see how much you care for other people- to make them feel welcome and to genuinely want to get to know them. We could all take a page out of your book and get to know our neighbors!

MK- I loved hearing about your trip to the waterfall and how you were hugging that tree with all your might! You always had such a positive attitude with every job you were doing and you took such good care of your fellow room mates- I know you gave me ear plugs when someone (I forget who) was snoring and when someone else was all congested. It was so great to get to know you! You are a gem!

Angelina- I honestly loved to come in to the room and find you sitting in a chair by the window just taking in all of Guatemala. I think it says a lot about your personality that you like to meditate on what God has done and don't want to miss the quiet moments. I enjoyed you so much Angelina and I'm sorry for the one day you were taking a nap and I came in the room and acted like I had the place to myself! My bad :)

Gracie- It was great to hear you share about the trip, I loved how you found the most random person to love and appreciate (the woman who mopped the floors after us). When you recognize and notice people that other may have over looked, you truly are seeing people through God's eyes. How awesome! I was also glad to hear that even though you were afraid of heights, you still agreed to climb down to the waterfall- what an experience! Proud of you!

Josh- In some areas you really put yourself out there and were stretched- I couldn't be more surprised each time you volunteered for the baby house! I can't wait for the day where you get really really hungry and realize food is your friend and you try all sorts of new foods such as potatoes, apples, meat and other staples :) I kid, but for real- I was really impressed with your willingness, keep it up! p.s. keep on working on those euchre skills too!

Drew- You were another one that surprised me for volunteering in the baby house that morning. I remember one day I was in there with you and you had Louis and he was fussy and it didn't phase you in the slightest. You requested (demanded?) a bottle for the boy, patted him on his belly and back until he calmed down and then gave him his bottle. You were completely confident and it showed! What a shock coming from someone who only 2 weeks ago had such trouble changing a diaper. Very very impressive!

Ryan- I didn't see you much buddy which means that you were working hard!The time I did get to spend with you I enjoyed quite a bit. It was great to hear you share at devo time and I was really blessed by your willingness to work and be used by God. And GREAT GREAT GREAT job at the soccer games!

Nick- What was cool about you was that you treated everyone equally- and by that I mean whether you were playing a little kid in card games or an adult, you showed no mercy equally. I watched as you stole cards and fruit from little Maya while we played spoons and I thought... "that right there is an equal rights kind of guy". Ha but in all honesty, you were a good worker and flexible and it was great to see you grow and be stretched!

Lamb Chops- I had a great time making you feel uncomfortable, thanks for being a team player. And thanks for volunteering for the baby house with my gentle prodding. You were a lot of fun to be around and I loved all the things on your list to do this summer. I was really really really proud of you playing soccer with the rest of the locals, you are very talented. Keep up the good work and I hope to point hair dryers at cars with you and Bootsie when I get to Kokomo :)

Kayla Howard aka Big Spoon- Lady you spoiled me this trip! Both with your thoughtful gifts and your words- I was so blessed by you! You are such a lover and so generous and you wear your heart right on your sleeve for all to see. You have so much to give and I'm so glad God has given you such a strong passion for the people of Guatemala- you will be so useful there! Maybe when I visit kokomo we can have crackers and chiz??? Remember: Guard your heart ;)love you!

Mel- I said it before, I'll say it again... You are small but mighty! There is so much to you, so much strength and knowledge and gratefulness in your heart, it is a privilege to have gotten to know you! You were such a tough cookie going down to the waterfall- up for any adventure! Love you like a sister and I hope to see you when I'm in town!!

Bootsie- you so crazy! Haha I love your enthusiasm for life! You were so refreshing to be around, you made me laugh so much. I loved trying to dodge people so we can just have a few moments to pepper (don't get pepper in your eye-josh). Your list of things to do this summer is hilarious and I hope you get to accomplish every single one of them- even building a raft and floating it in the lake that Kokomo doesn't have! Make sure that years down the road, you find me once you have kids so I can see you be a crazy mama. I also loved when you got serious and I saw your softer sweeter side when you shared about holding the little 5 year old boy and how you thought of your brother. Theres a lot to you Boots, don't ever change! love you like
a Guatemalan loves soccer ;) (a lot a lot).

Resey Cup- Oh Resey Cup Resey Cup I love youuuuuu! Reese you really touched me. I didn't know what to expect from you when we sat on the bus from the airport to the orphanage and we didn't talk at all. But you knocked my socks off! So loving and sweet and caring. I see so much Jesus in you it takes my breath away sometimes. I'm also so impressed with you and how you've handled yourself as a young woman of God. What an example you are! Love you so much!!

Pam Pam- There was such a noticeable difference when you and Dave had to leave! Tons of my favorite memories are with you in them and I'll remember them forever. I loved how you took charge going down to the waterfall- clearing the way for the rest of the group, completely fearless! Seeing you in the baby house was such a treat. You were so good with the babies and showed them so much love. I loved getting to know you better and having really great talks and bonding over how similar we are and how we love the same way. You are a treasure and always so positive- You are like a close sister to me- love you tons!

Dave- I knew I was going to like you when Pam introduced us and you said "Hi Linny Honey" :) By far, I have never even come close to laughing so hard in my entire life like I did when you tripped and landed sprawled out in Tony's garden bed on the way to the waterfall. It was a pleasure to laugh with you and cry next to you at devotionals and just be touched by your presence in the childrens, staffs (espeically those kitchen ladies) and team members lives. You have a servants heart and you clearly love to love. All the best to you and Pam!

Case- Something that was really touching was how much you shared during devotionals. There was one day where you talked about affirmation and the very next day you were out there affirming the kids, playing with their hair, picking them up, and getting in the poopy water with them. Another great thing was that you didn't show favorites... while the rest of us maybe preferred one kid over another, or one age group over another, you spread yourself out to all the kids and made it a point to get to know everyone- including all the workers and even the members from other teams. You were a great example to everyone who saw you; and I think all of us will forever look at the lyrics to Hosanna and Inside Out a little differently. Thank you.

Becca- Oh Becca my Becca. Lis did neither of us justice when she told us about each other. All she said was keep BOOM an eye out for Becca, you'll like her. What a fool! I love you! You were easily one of the favorite BOOM parts of my trip. Every moment I picture of us singing, gardening, crying, laughing, showering, hugging, confiding, BOOM eating, and sharing with you is easily a favorite memory. You are such BOOM a strong, positive and caring person with a huge heart! God BOOM is going to do so many great things through BOOM you and I'm so honored to know you. Love you with all my heart and our friendship has only just begun ;) BOOM.


Lots of love to you all and thank you so much for making the trip so special!

lin

June 21st, 2010

We left Guatemala today and it was so sad. I didn't cry until I boarded the plane from Houston to Cleveland. Then I realized that I really said goodbye to everything I had fallen in love with- the orphans, the workers, the team from Kokomo, the simplicity of Guatemala and the friendships.

I'm not sure where God is going to take me these next couple of months and years. I know that wherever I go, I want Him guiding me and walking with me every step of the way. But in the mean time, how do I go back to the life I lived before? It's impossible. I am changed.

Lastly I'd like to thank everyone who contributed to my trip in some shape or form. A lot of friends and family donated generously to me and the orphanage and I couldn't be more grateful. With out you and your giving heart, I would not have been able to go. I pray God continues to bless you all as much as He blessed us and the orphans in Guatemala- and I pray that we all recognize what a TRUE blessing is.


Thank you so so much- lots of love!
LindyAnna Bones

June 20th, 2010

This was our last full day in Guatemala and whoa did I have a rough morning. I woke up early to do my devotion outside and take in every last bit of mountains and scenery that I could. Then it just hit me. This was it for now. I know that I'm called to missions in some way but I'm still waiting for God to make that clear to me. So for now, going on these trips and pouring my heart out and then leaving is so hard! I thought about the kids I was leaving, and how they'll go on with their life and I wonder how much of an impact we made- if any. I thought about the ones we didn't touch- the ones that weren't brought to the orphanage. There was one baby that was found in the ditch before he was brought to Casa Bernabe, how many more are out there? How many have died on the streets? There was so much to think about and while I felt like I did so much while I was there, I still felt like there was so much that wasn't accomplished and I wanted more time.

Waiting for me at home is a job as a secretary and if you know me, you know that returning home to THAT is extremely difficult. I am so grateful to God for what He has given me and provided me with- especially in these hard times. But at the same time, how do you find peace at a place when you know you are called else where? I was just overcome with this desire to do more, BE more, help more and time was up.

That morning at church, while I was holding my little lover, Alex, I just began to cry again. Lynette, the house mom from the baby house, came over to talk to me and after explaining a little bit what was going on in my heart, she offered me a teaching position for a teenage girl who lived close to the city of Antigua. At first I was ecstatic and afraid all at once. It is still a decision that I am praying over, even at this moment.

Later that night all the houses at the orphanage put on a thank you show for us. They sang and danced and talked and gave cards. It was incredibly sweet to see them give back the way they know best. Afterwards, our team was called up to the front and they asked the kids to come up and lay hands on us and pray. By this time, if you weren't crying you were a robot. Kids bum rushed the stage as they tried to find the helper that they bonded with the most. You had kids hanging off your neck, squeezed on your lap, reaching over other kids, pushing some kids off of you. And they just clung to you as we were prayed for. It was an emotional day but I know that none of us would change it for the world!

June 19th, 2010

We are all trying not to think about how this is one of the last full days on the trip. Each thing we do becomes more and more sentimental. It's especially sad for me because I not only leave the orphanage, but I also leave this group of people that I have grown to love so much.

Let me just tell you about some favorite things I've experienced with the group and hopefully you'll see why it's so hard to leave them:

Often we would break out into spontaneous singing. Sometimes it was requested, other times a word would trigger an entire song- but regardless, there was a lot of singing. Everywhere. In the shower (4 shower stalls at once, we were even able to harmonize if we wanted), on the toilet, in the garden, walking, at dinner, at devotional time, while braiding each others hair, while rocking a baby, etc. Any given moment, you could find someone singing. I practically cried a little bit when I got home and took my shower and had to sing by myself (and by practically I mean that I did indeed cry Becca Meyer). 14 days of straight singing is nearly a habit, and it's not one I plan on breaking anytime soon.

We also said a lot of weird off the wall things- so many things that we've decided to make a quilt of quotes. We learned a bunch of new card games and played those and euchre non-stop! We bonded over our broken hearts and determination to serve God in every situation. We cried with each other when God spoke to us or through another person. We cried over kids, God's love, being united under God, realizing that God is merciful and just. We cried when we realized how blessed we are and how blessed these orphans truly are. We marveled at how God works, at how He changes peoples hearts, at how He made each of us for a purpose, and at how His heart breaks for His children.

We laughed at people tripping and falling into a bed of veggies, at each others jokes, each others bodily functions, each others mistakes and goofs, there was so much laughter!

We cheered for each other when they scored a goal, or realized that God spoke to them, or changed a diaper for the first time, or built something they never thought they could build. We were each others biggest cheearleaders, accountability partners, sisters and brothers, friends and pseudo moms. I loved hearing each person give details about an area they were stretched or moved. Our devotional time made so many people transparent and it was so amazing to see them share and then go and act on it the next day.

I'm truly truly honored to have been part of the team. They selflessly took me in and included me as their own and I'm forever grateful. Thank you so much! Lots and lots of love to each and every one of you!

June 18th, 2010

Another full and amazing day! Today we ate breakfast then right away loaded EVERYONE- kids, house parents, workers, kitchen staff, helpers, and our team- into 3 busses. We then made about a hour drive through the mountains and city and arrived at the waterpark! The kids were so excited, a couple of them puked because they were car sick, but after the drive they were good to go! Apparently they only go once a year and that is when Crossroad takes them. Again, I can't tell you how blessed I was to be included in this trip with these great people!

The day was great. Playing with the kids in the park was incredibly satisfying. They had so much fun and played well with each other. For the most part, we all took shifts with working with the younger kids- but then you were free to play with whoever else after your shift was over. Around 11 I made my way to the wave pool which was really popular. A couple girls around the age of 8 wanted to go to the deeper end but were scared because they couldn't swim that well and the waves get kind of high. So I took one girl with me and kind of held on to her as the waves came. Well the waves came and eventually the girl got water in her face and slightly flipped out and wrapped herself around me- HOWEVER, she wrapped her arms around my arms and legs around my legs- making me completely useless and also gasping for breath as the waves kept crashing on us because I could no longer tread water thanks to my new friend pinning my arms and legs down. I felt bad because I tried to peel her off me so I could save us both but she was a clinger, and finally the waves subsided and we made it over to the wall to take a breath. After that, I told her to just jump every time there was a wave and things went much better!

We couldn't have asked for a better the day. It didn't rain once- which was rare for us since it would rain every afternoon and evening at the orphanage. We were able to relax at some points, we had a nice lunch, we got some sun, and enjoyed everyones company all day.

After a full day at the park, we took everyone home and once again, Crossroads blessed the entire orphanage. This time they provided pizza- enough so that everyone could have 3 pieces, and there were still some left over! It was a great way to end the night and show the kids that God loves them, their house parents love them, but also that there are people all over the world who are supporting and loving them too. Thank you Crossroads for being God's hands and feet in Guatemala!

June 17th, 2010

What an amazing day. We were really proud of ourselves for finishing 2 rooms in the house we were painting. It takes a lot of time since we are doing 3 colors in the rooms WITH stripes. But we are more than happy to serve both the children and the house parents.

Today was extra special because Crossroads went and bought about $2600 worth of groceries and treats for each house at the orphanage. We then split them up equally and took each pile to the houses one at a time. We then held hands and prayed over each house and the workers and children in it. It was a pretty emotional time to see how joyful the kids were and how grateful the workers were.

It's encouraging to be at the orphanage and see how the workers and children blindly trust God to provide every need. I have tried to run ahead of God and make rash decisions. I have wanted to get out of Cleveland for some time now and travel and do missions and I quickly become frustrated when I look at my financials and see that I still have student loans and am unable to travel as much as I'd like or feel called to do. Through this trip though, I see that much like the children trust God for everything, I too need to trust God that His will is enough for me and His timing is perfect. I know that with trusting God also comes His awesome peace which goes beyond all understanding. What a hard and necessary lesson to learn!

June 16th, 2010

More painting today, lots of laughs and story time as we continue to get to know each other. A few awkward conversations, a few moments of confusion and misunderstandings that lead to more laughs- all in all, a very good morning!

Kids time is getting sweeter and sweeter which will only make it harder to leave! I've grown very attached to this one little boy who is 5 years old. Whenever he sees me he just throws open his arms and I swoop him up and he gives me kisses on my cheek then gives me his cheek so I can kiss him. He has this big cheezy smile and he'll get closer to your ear and make a pig noise and we go back and forth doing that for a couple minutes until I tickle him. It still amazes me how they love and allow themselves to be loved by strangers when they KNOW they are leaving them. I know that when someone is leaving I won't get to close- but these children just throw themselves in and give all they have. I've always thought that a childs love is so rewarding. I'm not a mom but I know that as an aunt, my nieces or nephews can fill my love tank up with a hug or a simple question like "where's Douda?" when I'm not around. p.s.- I'm Douda, or Tee Tee, or Ninny :)

I forgot to mention that about 5 of us climbed down to the waterfall yesterday. It was great bonding moments as we watched one of our team members run and trip and land spread eagle onto one of Tony's garden beds and as we all huddled under the waterfall/sewage pipe to take pictures. It's a toss up between who would be harder to leave- the children or the teams that I met. I'm so grateful for every experience!

June 15th, 2010

Today was the 2nd day I got up early to do a run aroun the campus. It is not a bad idea to sneak some alone time in when you are surrounded by people. It was also amazing to take in the landscape- it was a little foggy but nice and cool. Running through the terrain and up over 100 stairs while listening to music was a fantastic way to start my morning taking in Gods beauty. What love He has for us!

Due to my incredibly steady hand, I was painting this week:) It was good to get really get to know other team members. Painting is also very rewarding because you see your results right away. We had to go back and finish one of the rooms after dinner and 2 of the girls who lived there were in the rooms checking out our work. Obviously it wasn't perfect but the girls were incredibly appreciative. They even fought over who could help me finish painting!

Being in Guatemala is forcing me to think about my life and what I'm doing with it. How am I serving God back home? What am I complaining about? What am I wasting my money on? What am I wasting my time on? What am I doing with my talents? It's always something to think about and try to refocus on. Being at home will be hard- so many distractions but I'm determined to find the time for God that He deserves.

June 14th, 2010

Time is flying by in the orphanage and it's sad to think that in 2 days, 2 of our team members will be heading home. They have been such a great source of joy, laughs and they are always the first to volunteer for dish duty so they'll definitely be missed ;)

Today we worked in the garden and even though I vowed not to return to the baby house, I volunteered for a shift- a very short shift. This time went much better! I was holding a little girl and we started to dance and sing songs that I would sing and dance to with my nieces back home. Apparently singing and dancing is a universal thing, the sweet little girl loved it and every time I'd stop, she'd move her body to signal more dancing. I was singing " I could have danced all night" from the musical My Fair Lady and the house mom, Lynette, (who is from the States) got so excited to hear songs from musicals so we spent the rest of the time playing "name that musical". Lynette is an amazing woman and while we bonded over musicals, it was so great to see her heart. It was especially eye-opening for me because I had always wanted to open my own orphanage in South America and to see the sacrifices she has made to be there were just astounding. When I worry if I have what it takes to do something like that, I am reminded of this verse, "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalm 73:26

June 13th, 2010

Sundays are great days at the orphanage! We slept in a little later, church was at 10 and then we had the rest of the day to play with the kids!

Another thing that has been great about being in Guatemala at this time is that the world cup is going on! Anywhere you are in the orphanage or outside of the orphanage, you can always hear a game on and people yelling. I love the moments someone scores and you hear "gooaaaaaaaaallllll" for about 30 seconds and screaming. There were a couple nights I fell asleep to that sound:)

It's hard to think of your life back home. It seems that everything thing that mattered in Ohio no longer matters! It's like a burden is lifted when you take on this beautiful life of simplicity and servanthood. There is so much freedom and joy in living a simple life and that is something that I am taking home with me.

June 12th, 2010

Today I changed it up and instead of working in the garden, I volunteered to work in Casa Samuel from 7:30-1. These kids have so much energy! It was a bit of a long shift but I enjoyed every minute of it. When I got in there they were just done with showers so most of the girls needed to get their hair done. It turned into an assembly line of shower, clothes, then come to me or another team member to brush, braid or put your hair up in some way. Occasionally you'd have to chase a child and I couldn't always tell if we were playing a game or if they were just fearful of the new gringos.

We spend most of the day outside playing on the playground and swinging each other on the huge swing hanging from a tree. The campus at Casa Bernabe is spectacular, I can't wait to put some pictures up! There was one girl in Casa Samuel that is completely deaf and it was encouraging to see the children surround her and help her understand what was going on. She is excellent at reading lips and has a great memory so for the most part, she is pretty self-sufficient. By the time 1 o'clock came, the kids were tired and hungry and as we waited for lunch to be ready- we mustered up a little more energy for some classic ballroom dancing in the living room. They really are so sweet and up for anything, they just want to be loved and have fun!

It was a full day. The kids had a big soccer game at the field by the school, some of the teenage boys from the team even played in it. It was exciting to watch and most of the kids came so we were able to play 4 sqaure and other games with them as well.

At devotionals that night, we talked a lot about some things that were on our mind. Many of us were blown away by the state of the kids and how joyful they were. We knew that if the kids were at the orphanage, they did not come from a good circumstance- but yet they continued to love on strangers and their house parents and siblings. We talked about a lyric to a song that prays for God to break our hearts for what breaks His and to know that Gods heart breaks is overwhelming- He is truly such a loving God but also He is a God that can redeem every situation and that is what has happened at Casa Bernabe.

"In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling." Exodus 15:13

June 11th, 2010

Today is Friday and for us, that means Market Day! Right after breakfast our team boards the bus and good ol' Mario leads us through the mountains and down to the city of Antigua- approximately a hour away. We drove through some areas that we considered to be incredibly poor, however, they were surprisingly middle class. On our way to the market, we stopped above the city where there was a giant cross overlooking Antigua. It was amazingly beautiful and breath-taking and we all couldn't help but sit in awe and take the moment in.

I found the actual market overwhelming and exhausting. I am a person that hates to tell people no and hate to haggle even more- and at the market, that's all you do! Every vendor was smashed closely together and calling at you in Spanglish- begging you to buy their items. It took almost 5 hours, but I eventually spent my money and got out of there.

By this time, the whole team is pretty close with each other. And some of the high school girls in particular really blessed me. One even surprised me with a shirt, a ring AND haggled a vendor so that I could buy something with my last bit of money. These teenagers from Crossroads have been truly amazing. I have never seen a group of people more willing to serve and give of themselves. They poured out of themselves into the children, the staff, their teammates and even into me- a perfect stranger! I felt the love and acceptance of God through this group of people.

More to come on the team later!

After the market, we had youth group with the older kids. What an absolute treat! We split up into 4 groups and played games amongst ourselves. A highlight of the night was that we had to make up cheers for our team and then perform them. Some teams had REALLY good cheers, and it was fun to see everyone bond together -regardless of the language barrier. After games we set aside some time for worship and let me tell you... it was absolutely chilling to be praising God in Spanish, surrounded by children who, despite their circumstances, were also praising God. Many of the songs were songs we sang back home- but when you sing them in Spanish it brings a whole new light to how big our God is.

Later at devotionals we talked about the idea of unity. There we were, miles and miles away from our home, family and church and we were able to worship in another language- united under one God.

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. - Ephesians 4:1-6

June 10th, 2010

When you think of the word "garden" what do you think? I think of a 16x20 area of land with dirt and veggies in it- just like at home. Possibly a floppy hat, a pair of gloves, and a cold lemonade with lots of ice in it in arms reach to complete the picture. While this was in the back of my mind, it was not why I volunteered to work in the garden, which was good because if that was the reason I would have been incredibly disappointed. Pictures of the garden will come later but let me try to explain the work that needed to be done. For starters, the garden takes place on the side of a mountain. Our job was to clear away all the brush on the mountain with pickaxes, hoes, rakes, shovels, our hands, etc. We then would take all the excess weeds and roots we collected, piled them into a wheelbarrow, and dump it over the other side of the cliff. We were told quite sternly that if the wheelbarrow went over the mountain, we'd have to go after it.

So for the first day we had about 5 young women tearing the mountain side up. On behalf of myself and the other ladies- that is one good looking garden! I know that when you are on a missions trip you have a completely different mentality about what "work" is. You find yourself jumping up to do things you hate to do back home (i.e. dish duty). And I'm not sure if that was what was happening in the garden or if we just enjoyed each others company so much, but while it was a lot of hard work, it was surprisingly more fun. We laughed and sang and told embarrassing stories- we talked about God and what He's done in our lives, we even cried with each other on the side of that mountain.

Later in the weeks, you would find the same group pulling weeds out of the garden, slightly easier labor but no less challenging as we continued to accidently pull the vegetables but keep the weeds. Tony, an amazing man who sold his farm in the states to come and PAY to work at Casa Bernabe and who started the garden, would often tell us that the first priority is to have vegetables, the second priority is to have a garden with no weeds. We may have tried to replant some of the veggies we uprooted, we also may have quickly disposed of the ones that wouldn't stay upright in the garden by throwing them over the cliff; however, I'm sure that even Tony wouldn't have minded trading a few potatoes for a whole lot of bonding and friendships that blossomed in the garden :)

Activity time with the kids was great. We always start off with a Bible verse lead by the youth pastors wife who is also a Spanish teacher. The kids love to shout out the answers even when no reward is given (if you've been in a classroom here you know how rare that is). The lesson then lead into playtime with bubbles and once everyone got outside a soccer game quickly followed. We played with bubbles and watched the kids play soccer and dodge balls up until dinner time where we were treated to the usual amazing meal.

We were told that the house parents and orphans don't eat as well as we do, it is there way of giving back to us and making sure we come back. With almost every meal we would have a piece of fruit- either pineapple, plantines, papaya, peach or plum tasting things. The food was so good and good for you! It was easy to give thanks. Dinner time was such a special experience. The whole team (26 or so) would sit at one long table, the ladies would get their meal first, then the men. We would wait til everyone was sitting, hold hands and someone would say grace. We shared the dining hall with other teams who we got to know better and better over our time there. It is so refreshing to be in a place where God is at the center of everything you do. Dinner would be followed by dish duty- we always had a couple regulars who would volunteer for it with every meal. Bless their soul!

Our nightly ritual soon turned into dinner, dishes, extensive amount of card games, hanging out and chatting with team members from Indiana or with the other groups that were there, and then devotional time and bed. At devotional time we were talking about how great it is to be away from all distrations, i.e cell phones, computers, problems back home, old baggage, tv, and just come to a place where you know that you have no where else to be, to enjoy the moment, relax, talk to God and love each others company. I know that before the trip, you would often be able to hear me say that I need more days in the week because I'd be so busy with work, seeing friends, sports, volunteering, playing and other distractions that I so rarely get to just sit and take in everything God is doing. But there, in Guatemala, God reminded all of us to be still and know that He is God" -Psalm 46:10

June 9th, 2010

My first day waking up in Guatemala, I was kind of unsure where I was and it took me a minute to register. I looked around our room and there were 10 or so bunk beds all full of people. I made my way to the bathroom where there were 4 showers, 2 toilets and 2 sinks. There were roughly 20 girls in the room and I thought that this would all be very interesting. I wonder how quickly our Christian attitudes would last. It was only 5:30 but I was determined to find my niche in the orphanage so I went down to the kitchen and muttered something in Spanglish and just kind of pointed, smiled, and nodded- hoping they would get my gist that I wanted to help them make breakfast. That morning marked the beginning of many quizzical looks. I was told "no gracias, manana" and feeling slightly rejected I went outside to take in the beautiful orphanage with the mountains in the background. I found a boy outside sitting on a bench and decided to try to ask him where the baby house was so I said " Donde{then made a rocking baby motion} casa?" That was followed by yet another quizzical stare and a "huh?", so I changed nothing and merely repeated the same broken spanish and gestures and he finally got the idea and pointed me down the hill to the very last house.

It was still early and I felt pretty darn good about working with the babies. I've done the nursery at church for years, my sisters had babies- it was sure to be a good fit. When I got in there the ladies of the house were having devotional time which was incredibly satisfying to see that they were taking care of their walk before they could possibly take care of the needs of the children. God was truly giving them strength each day. Once 6:30 hit, it was all hands on deck, grab a kid, grab a diaper and go. Each night as the team would recap the day- a babies poop was somehow always mentioned. We all decided that the poop in Guatemala was by far the worst poop we've ever seen. So that day I cleaned poop off of feet, on ears, behind knees, etc. After changing enough diapers, I was content to just hold a little girl named Katarine. A bit of a fusser but I felt confident. After a while I decided to put her down, and judging from her size I figured she could stand or walk around. Wrong. As soon as I put her down on her feet, the poor girl flopped to the hard floor. I'm sure the poor child got whip-lash twice as she fell face first and then her face bounced yet again. As I picked her up and wiped her bloody nose and tried to console her (while also looking around the room for someone to console me!), I acknowledged that babies may not be a strength after all. A couple hours later I finally left and told myself that I had paid my dues in the baby house and I released myself from the need to go back. The next couple times I'd pass by, I still got a little anxious and shook a bit.

We were all really excited for our first day of work, including our first day of activity time with the kids. The first group that came after lunch was the younger kids. They would file in the dining hall and grab a lap and allow you to tickle, kiss, throw, etc them. With the older kids, we made bracelets with string and beads. They were surprisingly very enthusiastic about it and each would try to take with them at least 3 bracelets. One older boy asked me to tie one of his bracelets on his wrist, but when I went to pick it up some of the beads came off. The boy looked at me with the saddest face so quickly and very apologeticaly I told him " los dios, los dios"- It was a proud moment for me as I complimented myself for remembering what I'm sorry was in Spanish. The boy gave me a quizzical look and I didn't learn until MUCH later that instead of apologizing I was saying "the gods, the gods". I'm not even sure how often I used that little saying but looking back, I can see why curious stares seemed to follow me wherever I went.

Later that night we recapped with the team, talking about great moments that happened that day- I didn't share haha:)I can share now though because I know that those awkward moments are moments where God is stretching you- getting you out of your comfort zone and in to places where you never dreamed you'd be. What good would it be to leave your home and everything you know only to go to another country and not be stretched, not be challenged, and not be moved?

"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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong". 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

June 8th, 2010

We finally left for Casa Bernabe. It was so exciting to get away from everything familiar and to just dive right in to whatever Guatemala has to offer. I woke up at 1:45 a.m., by 2:10 I was in the car on the way to meet the rest of the group from Kokomo, Indiana. The group consisted of 7 more adults and 18 teenagers. At the beginning of a trip, each church group kind of looks the same. You have the younger kids who squeal when they see each other, the adults milling around making sure the kids have everything they need- a couple check in points to make sure the passports are in order and the luggage weighs less than 50 pounds; little did I know that these strangers, these teenagers, would impact my life as much as the orphans.

The bus ride to the airport was a bit awkward, realizing that it was 3 in the morning and people aren't necessarily trying to make new friends at this hour, I was content to cling to the one person I knew for a little bit. As we boarded the plane and started to take off, I caught myself becoming a little teary-eyed. I finally was doing something that has been on my heart for the last 5 years at least. At the same time there is a lot of pressure- I could hate it. I could never want to leave the country again- then what would I do?! I didn't have a back up plan. I laughed to myself as I thought about how happy my pops would be if I changed my mind about missions and decided to stay in Cleveland for life. With lots to think about, I finally just closed my eyes and fell asleep to the loud rumble of the planes' engines, random elbows to the ribs and Invictus playing in the background.

We make it through the airport, onto our bus and make the trek to the orphanage in a manual school bus driven by Mario- our fearless driver. For some, this was a first time driving in another country and the constant stop and go, horns, swerving, and passing trucks around curves may have been a bit too much. We arrived to the orphanage safely and were greated by children running from their houses to hug the familiar faces from returning team members and offer awkward hugs to the gringos they hadn't met yet.

We unloaded then met in the kitchen with our bottled water and enjoyed a delicious lunch (the first of many many delicious meals) and then sat through a brief orientation. It was apparent that this orphanage was God centered, that each child was loved and cared for, and that each worker put the needs of the kids and the orphanage above their own. It was touching to see that those who have so few material things were able to give so much. This theme was evident in every house, in every staff member, and in every child and sibling. We knew that this would be a trip that would change our lives. There was no going back, the people you once knew were gone. Slowly over the next 2 weeks, that became more and more visible.

Later that night, we had a team meeting where we would recap the day, do a devotional and then discuss what needed to be done the next day. People would volunteer to either work in a house with the kids, help build a medic, paint a house or work in the "garden". It was really nice to be included as part of the team and to know that they were serious about impacting Casa Bernabe and serving God. Shortly after our meeting, we fell asleep to the sound of heavy rain on our tin roof, completely content and exhausted.

Guatemala 2010!!

I never thought I'd have a blog, never thought I'd have enough to say- so for now, I'm writing this blog to track my adventures in Guatemala, which will be taking place in one week! I'm also hoping that this blog will track many of my other travels that I hope/plan to take. It's kind of like a "If you write it, they (adventures) will come" type deal.

My long time dream has always been to live in another country and both teach at a school and work in an orphanage. One day I would even love to start my own orphanage. I found out that Bridges Outreach, which is an organization started by my brother-in-law, is going to Guatemala to help an orphanage called Casa Bernabe. I am so excited to be able to go on this trip with them and serve the Lord to those in need! Living 5 hours away from the rest of the trip, I had to raise my own funds and prepare on my own, but I am so grateful to all my family and friends who generously provided me with enough money to cover all costs and even leave Casa Bernabe with extra money for repairs and food!

Being only a week away and pumped full of shots and vaccines, you can imagine how excited I am! However, this Sunday a volcano erupted about 10 miles away from the orphanage, covering the campus with black sand. Villages have been evacuated and the volcano is expected to erupt again soon. While that is happening, a tropical storm has moved through Guatemala causing all sorts of damages such as floods, mudslides, huge sinkholes (see the pic on the left), etc. There have been also deaths and some people are still unaccounted for. Right now, the the airport is closed but is scheduled to re-open sometime this week.

There are a lot of prayer needs, especially since Case Bernabe is on a mountain side and is subjectable to mudslides and debris from the volcano. Please keep the country and the team in your prayers over the next couple weeks while we are rebuilding, encouraging, and loving on the children!