Breath of Heaven

We have been going non-stop for the last few days. Kristin's parents are here and we have been packing in the memories. Here's a little run-down of our yesterday:

1. Shuttle pick-up at 8:30am.

2. Drive to Chimaltenango, about 45 minutes away to visit Los Gozosos again.

3. Leave Los Gozosos around 11am and start driving toward Chi-Chi.

4. 2.5 hours later, arrive in Chi-Chi and walk around the market for about two hours.

5. Drive to Panajacel (about an hour) and have dinner there on the banks of Lake Atitlan.

6. 7.30pm, start driving back to Antigua, a 3 hour drive that we made in 2 hours. We got home at 9:30pm.

All in all, a good 10 hour day.

You may remember we visited Los Gozosos last week with the Goodfellows. While we were there, I connected with a little boy named Andres. Kristin joked in a previous blog about how I was scheming a way to take him with us.

That really wasn't a joke.

Sure the comment was framed with laughter, but it was one of those moments where you realize that the other person who made the remark, really is not joking and you just look at each other like, "are you serious?!?....you're serious aren't you?!?...Oh my goodness, he's serious?!?!?!?". Yes, that kind of moment.

When we arrived, I went straight to Andres' bed and picked him up. I held this little boy the whole time we were there yesterday. The whole time. I laughed and cried. I prayed and hoped. He had a distinct, yet familiar smell that I remembered from our earlier visit. You know those new baby smells? By the end of our time, which felt so brief, Andres was nearly asleep in my arms. And like most babies do (he's actually 4 years old), he was fighting the sleep. So I held him closer and he buried his face into my chest and "rooted around", still fighting sleep. I just held on.

As we got into the van, I noticed the smell of breath. And all I can explain is to say, it was that child's breath. It's not really a stinch, but for me it's not the most pleasant thing. Well, I felt like I was covered in it. You see, where Andres had been "rooting around" on my chest, he had left an aroma of child's breath from my left shoulder, to my right. At first, I tried to wash it away with some water, then I tried some of that alcohol hand wash stuff that had an Apple scent. Still no luck. I could not escape the smell.

As the day went on, I really missed Andres. Everytime I looked to my left or right, he was there with me. If I lowered my head to nap, he was there. Even now, a day, a shower, and different clothes later, I can still smell this precious boy.

I miss him.

I am lonely for him.

My heart longs to hold him again.

The gift on the shore

Yesterday, we drove down to Puerto San Jose to visit the black beach on the Pacific Coast.

We had so much fun playing in the volcanic sand... and the surf with its HUGE waves that knocked us over again and again with great force.

While we were there, we had many "out of the ordinary" moments.  I mean c'mon, how many times do you have a candy and fish vendor walk up to you on the beach?

And, probably the MOST hilarious moment of the day was when a mariachi band walked up and began playing la musica.  One word.  RANDOM.  :)

However, one moment for me stands out above the rest.

I was sitting on the sand, watching the kids play, when a family walked up and stood next to me.  At first, they were admiring the beautiful blue water... just standing there.  Then, I heard the adults trying to encourage the kids to get in the water.  All of a sudden, one little girl strips down to her underwear and runs into the waves.  The force of those HUGE waves knocked her over immediately... and, as soon as she resurfaced she let out a laugh that was pure joy.  Her smile lit up the entire beach.  

Then, I turned back around and watched as the family tried to convince the older, preteen boy to go join his sister.  It was very evident that he was afraid... he obviously had no bathing suit like his younger sister.  With all of his fear, he was trying desperately to remain on the dry sand.  But, the women in the family would NOT hear him... I turned around and watched as they huddled around him and took off his clothes.  Immediately, I felt sorry for this kid... how humiliating and embarrassed he must feel... left in nothing but his underwear... I wanted to help cover him, hide his nakedness.  In what seemed like only a few seconds, they were dragging him down to the ocean where he would join his sister.  

His sister gave him a look like, "It's ok... yes, it's wild and dangerous... but, it's ok... you'll be safe."  Then, he slowly tested the water and the waves.  Timid at first, then his confidence grew a little more each time.  The first big wave that hit and pushed him into the sand, I thought... "Oh no, game over..."  Everyone got silent and waited on his head to resurface... Then, just like his sister, he came up from the bottom laughing with such JOY that it literally brought tears to my eyes.

It was obvious that these children had never seen the ocean before, much less felt its power and played in the wild waves.  

It was a Holy moment for me.   A gift.  

On the way home from dinner last night, D and I were walking and talking about our own lives "at the shore."  Asking the question... where is God calling us to strip down and run with abandon?

It's a good question.  A Holy one.  A gift.

Antigua On A Tuk-Tuk

 

V

We interrupt this regularly scheduled blog update to bring you:

"Antigua On A Tuk-Tuk"

This is how you get from El Mercado to Casa Santo Domingo in less than 6 minutes.  

Enjoy!

Faithful

We did a switcheroo yesterday at the airport, with the Goodfellow's departure and my parents arrival.  It's the first time for my parents to be here in Guatemala and we were all so excited as they stepped off the plane.

So... since they are only here a week there was no time to waste, right?!?  :)

After we picked them up at the airport, we drove down to Zone 3, the neighborhood at the Guatemala City dump.  Once there, we met up with Brady.  Met some new friends and reunited with old ones.

 Mac couldn't wait to show Mimi and Poppy the concrete floor he "made".  He was SO proud!

  

Then, we headed over to the national cemetery that overlooks the city dump.  Here, my parents were able to see and experience it from afar... the smell, the vultures, the trucks, the people...

the death and the life.

It is still sobering for me, every time I go.

The sweetest time for me yesterday was at lunch.  We were at a small cafe... me, D, the kids, my parents, Brady and Victor (our driver).  Dad was asking Brady about his job, ministry, goals and purpose.  Brady's words still ring in my head and heart... 

"All I know how to do is show up and be faithful."

Such a word from the Lord to me... the me who struggles with performance and grace.

It was beautiful.  Thanks Brady, for showing up and being YOU.

Favorite Moments, Week 2

The Goodfellow familia left at 5:00am this morning.  We were so sad to see them leave... now our kids are grieving their departure and driving us crazy with statements like, "I'm booorrreedddd....".

As I was in the shower (at the crack of dawn)... I began reflecting on some of my most favorite moments over the past week.

• The excitement as the Goodfellow's arrived in Guate, it's been 2 years... and, WAY too long.
• The faces on the hotel staff as 8 kids bombarded the breakfast buffet.
• Our "big helpers" in Zone 3, mixing and pouring the concrete.
• Mac and Charlie, separated at birth?
• Listening to Fito (Guatemalan YL leader) as he told his story.
• Tyler's "ministry" to the local Mayan women.
  
• Being told "frio!" every time we took the above mentioned baby outside without socks, winter hat, and sweater.  Seriously, do these people know that it's 75 degrees outside???
• Charlie Greene's birthday fiesta!  And, the conversations that flowed during the party.
• Our kiddos playing together... futbol, running on the roof, legos, sword fights, and cartoons in Espanol.
• Emma and Riley at Los Gozosos.  Priceless.
• Hanging out with great friends every night... and, dreaming together.
• Cramming 10 kids and 6 adults into Brady's Ford Explorer.
• Guate!, Guate!, Guate!
• Smiles and laughter from the precious souls at Hermano Pedro.
• AND... 9 (yes, 9!) people in a Tuk Tuk.  The impossible... with no pictures to prove it!

My heart is SO FULL from this past week.

Thank you Goodfellow Family!

Thank you Greene's!

We love you all in such a special way...

K

The Joy-FULL Ones

Yesterday morning, we loaded up our families in the shuttle and drove to the city of Chimaltenango... to serve in an orphanage there called Los Gozosos (The Joyful Ones).  

It's a home for 11 special needs children... 

like Nancy...

...and Candy

...and Andres.

I'm fairly certain Darrell schemed some possible ways to kidnap Andres.  :)

They are all precious children... definitely, FULL of joy.  

What gave me the MOST joy however... was watching our girls (Emma and Riley) connect and engage with our new friends in such a special way.  

Priceless.

Emma had such a sweet bond with Nancy... one that I hope she never forgets.  I know that I won't.

Joyful,

K

standing in awe

We just returned to Antigua from GC, where we worked with the Greene's and the Goodfellow's. We poured a concrete floor for a family of 8, who all live in the same 10x12 "house".  We have been serving in zone 3, the neighborhood at the dump.

 My words fall short of what it did to my heart, being there.  My hope is that pictures may tell the better story.

Once we got back to the hotel, this is what I read and wrote in my journal...

"Much dreaming and many words are meaningless.  Therefore stand in awe of God.  If you see the poor and oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things."   Ecc. 5:7-8

I am "standing in awe" of who God is today...

...in the community of friends

...in the beauty of serving with our own kids (LOTS of them!)  :)

...His heart for the poor and oppressed

...the redemption and hope being poured out in the community by the Vida Joven (YL) leaders 

Standing in awe,

K

The dirt floor, "before" picture.

The kids LOVED mixing and pouring the concrete.  :)

The neighborhood where we spent the last two days.

Tyler was a HUGE hit with everyone.