Guatemala: Nuestra Hogar Nueva

Adrienne: We are here in Guatemala. It was quite the trip. We left the house after a lot of laughter and packing and re-packing bags multiple times to try and figure everything out. We flew from Sacramento, to Houston, to Guatemala City. When we arrived here in Guatemala City, Josias and Candy, our new parents slash friends slash mentors, all of the above, were there to pick us up. (Typing on a spanish keyboard is more difficult than you would think). We then drove between 4 and 5 hours here to Xela. We arrived and were immediatly shown ¨The Residence¨. It is a beautiful home! We are blessed to have a place like this to come to everyday and have friends and new family surrounding us at all times. We had some time to rest and shower and then church. I am thankful that our first day was exactly this. We began, before we really knew the names of all the people in the house, starting with God. This is PERFECT! Day two started out a little later so we could sleep in some, I was excited to be told this. We hung out in the house, the pastors house, reading, playing a game of volleyball with the family, which consists of 8 kids, plus us. We had lunch together and then Josias came and picked us up to take us to the Government home for the first time. The 3 boys, Josias and Candy, and Angela and I all painted the boys room. This room holds at least 30 bunk beds where all the boys are able to sleep, or attempt to anyway. We were told that at times it is difficult for many of the boys to sleep at night because they are all there together. Some wake up in the middle of the night with nightmares, and some of the mentally disabled kids have a hard time as well. It was difficult to hear this. Here I am, desiring to have my own room a lot of the time. I do not have to share a room with 29 other people, whose pasts haunt them day in and day out. We returned back to the house after we had completed painting and cleaned up for dinner. After dinner was one of my favorite things that have happened yet. We all gathered together. Angela and I had our guitars, and we all sang together. Angela and I sang a couple songs, and then with the assistance of the piano, they sang a few songs with prayer in between. Wow! The pastor and his wife, who are in charge of all of these 8 kids, have it so right. The day begins, goes on, and ends with Christ. It was amazing. Later that night, Angela and I were still sitting in the living room with our guitars and in walks in the oldest daughter with a special someone. They both got out their violins and together we played Amazing Grace. It was exciting. Best thing yet. Day three began with breakfast, and going back to the Government home with Josias to paint some of the girls room. This time there was only the 3 of us, so it took a little while longer, but just as good. We stopped for lunch, with a 20 minute nap or so, and then were back to the Government home along with some help from the girls at the residence. We finished the Girls bedroom and then came back and cleaned up quickly because there was a celebration to get to! Jenny, one of the girls that we are living with, turned 16. We had a great dinner, and then off to church. This church service was unique. It did not consist of the usual song and sermon, but instead was of games and fun. We were broken up into groups. Of course, Angela and I were seperated. I was just thinking to myself, 'Great, not only can I not fully understand anything that is being said, but the person who kinda does and can tell me is off in another group'. It turned out totally fine, and was a lot of fun! Church ended and we were back to the house (about 15 yards away from the church). What was going to be an early night, turned out to be an even better night into the later hours. We had the opportunity to chat with another one of the girls in the home with us. We learned a lot about her story. I was again reminded of how great God's love for me is. I struggle with this at times. This was a great reminder of how God works when I allow him to work... so let the working continue as we continue in the weeks to come. Today, thus far, we woke up for breakfast, and then were picked up by Josias to go to the Government home. This time, it was for a lot of fun for the kids. We took 6 boys and 6 girls to a sports complex and played games together, which consisted of, Steal the bacon (chicken=pollo), basketball, and soccer. It was a lot of fun. Back to the house for lunch and then preparing for tonight where we will sing and spend time with kids at the Government home. I am excited to get more involved with the kids and see what happens when God is present. I will let Angela fill in all the blanks and write... She is a great writer.

Angela: Well Adrienne already talked about most of the general stuff that we have been doing, so I will fill in with the specifics. To start off, sorry for all of the missing contractions, this keyboard looks like a normal keyboard, but when you try to use special things it appears in Spanish. But it is a computer, and I am very thankful. Anyways, this trip has been amazing so far. The people here are already like our family. We predicted that it would take about a week and a half to really feel comfortable around everyone and get to know people, but it only took about a day. In The Residence there are 4 kids: Sandra, Beata, Jenny, and Jeffrey. They live right next to Pastor German and his wife Vicky, who also have 4 kids: Sara, Pablo, Acsa, and Mosheh. I thought it would be like 2 different places altogether, but they are one big happy family, even if they live in two different homes. It is amazing to see the way that Pastor German and Vicky interact with all the kids. They treat every one of them as their own, and there is no distinction. They have saved the 4 kids from lives of hell, but they do not see it that way. They also have accepted Adrienne and I into the family, and treat us as their kids. It is really cool to see, but it also means that Adrienne and I are cooking on Sunday night. So you can look forward to those fun horror stories. But anyways, it does not feel like we have only been here for 4 days. I honestly cannot believe it has only been that long. We have already done so much and witnessed a ton from the family and the church that it seems like we have been here and have known them forever. I am definitely missing home still, but this has become a second home. The home of Candy and Josias has also been open to us (like now on the computer), and they have taught us more than I could have ever thought. I am very thankful to all of you for this opportunity, and what gets me through in hard times is knowing that you have all been praying and supporting us the whole way. This month is going to be long, but I look forward to returning with a changed heart and plenty of pictures and stories to tell. Until then, we will be trying to communicate this way every once in a while. So thank you all, we love you and miss you a whole heck of a lot. Until next time...