Mission Guatemala Day 7

Looking out over a ravine an Gaujito, you could pretend you were in a remote section of Guatemala.
The ravine forms a bowl and at the beginning of the bowl is a waterfall. It is easy to imagine as beautiful, except for the cascade of red it forms from chemicals dumped at the top.
"The Hole" sits at the bottom of a long steep road and ends a sea of rusty tin, garbage and a of course a creek contaminated with raw sewage and industrial chemicals. The roads end in trails that take people to a variety of self built shanties that house many people.
Today we were invited into one of the homes. It consisted of two rooms with two beds each. The floor was dirt toys and other objects were lying around. In front of the home was a small kitchen area where they burned garbage or small pieces of wood for a cooking fire. There were two ducks ties to stakes and several hens and a rooster wandering around.


Most of the families in this area live on less than $1 per day. It is amazing to see what the people have to work with and why they need the help we provide. We met one young woman today dressed in a dress suit and high heels. Everyday she walks up and down the hill where she lives to go to school to become an office assistant. Another woman, about nine months pregnant slowly ampbled her way down the hill. She was unable to come to the clinic, however Rolando is going to give her some prenatal vitamins on Sunday.


Today we served many needs and the entire team is tired but being filled by the Holy Spirit every morning. Today we started seeing some of the people checking back in and showing signs of improvement. It is such a blessing to hear their thanks because they were sick and and are now beginning to get relief. For many this is the first time they have felt free of their ailments in m any years. God has been so good to us and the people here. It is simply amazing.


We have one day left and I have seen God show up in so many places. To know we are touching people in such an immediate and important way and through this showing God's love to them.
Tomorrow I'm being filmed for a promotional video about the mission. One of the questions I will have to answer is What have I learned about myself that I didn't know I had. I would say compassion. I have never felt like a very compassionate person and often found myself looking down at people. I don't know why it took a trip thousands of miles away to see this but I'm glad it has happened. I pray that through this I am a better man and servant than I was before I left.
I've also found myself growing closer to God in this process. To take away the chaff and really learn what it is God is asking of us is something not to be taken lightly. I don't have all the answers, but I've got a seeking heart.
I want to keep this short because I promised pictures and I have plenty. Please forgive me if this is getting hard to read. I am truly exhausted and need sleep for tomorrow.
Speaking of which, tomorrow is our last day of clinics and we are tired, sore and a little bit sick but each of us has a smile on our face and is ready to ask God to bring us many people that need to be healed and ministered to.
Please pray for us on this last day and as we prepare to leave. I am sad to leave so many new friends, but I see this becoming a lasting realtionship with more opportunities to serve in the future.
God bless all of you