abrand

One of the hardest things about being in Guatemala is trying to figure out where to best give. You are surrounded by need, and if you're like me you just want to give and give and give. That's not always the best thing, not only for the person we are wanting to help, but for the people who follow behind us. What we do might set an example or precedent for an entire community or village, so we have to be stragetic in what we do, even when it breaks our heart or makes us feel heartless to turn away sometimes. The other side of that is that sometimes the things people choose to do might not make sense at first glance. I mean sure, it makes sense that we took much needed towels and bottles ... read more

Psalm 113:7-8 "He will lift the poor from the dust and the needy from the garbage dump. He will set them among princes, even the princes of His own people."That's the verse that always runs through my mind on the days that we visit the garbage dump and help at the feeding station. I found that verse right before our very first trip to Guatemala two years ago and love the hope that it brings when thinking of the people we meet in these dire circumstances. The poverty that we experience is unimagainable unless you've been here and experienced it firsthand. Imagine kids running around among broken glass and dead bloated animals, breathing in the fumes from the smoke of the constantly burning fires, being served a meal on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Many live right ... read more

Today we spent most of our day helping hand out Christmas Hope Sacks in 3 separate villages in Guatemala. First we spent time at the warehouse loading around 500 bags into the back of the bus, then we were off to Paso Del Creedo, which was in Chiquimula. As we got closer, I thought it looked familiar, and as we arrived, it was a village we visited with FWC on our first trip to HOL. I remembered it because of the steep hill the school sat on, and the way they got their water from a hole dug right beside the river thinking that made it safe to drink. There are pigs that wander all over the village, and you have to watch your step! As we waited for the leader to arrive, we were able ... read more

Our travel day finally arrived. After months of planning and days (OK, maybe weeks) of packing we actually loaded up and headed to the airport. For the weekend before Christmas things couldn't have gone any more smoothly. We sailed right through everything, even being selected for prescreening meaning we didn't have to take our shoes or jackets off or anything. Well, with the exception of Chrissy, who had to go through regular security, but she came through just as quickly as us saying she didn't mind a bit because the guy on security detail was really cute! Both flights were right on time, quite unlike our June flight that was actually cancelled. In Atlanta we got to meet Dulia, a super precious girl from Guatemala and Hope of Life, and she is traveling with us the ... read more