sunday

Hello everyone from Chichicastenango! The GuateMamas have arrived!  Thank you all for your prayers and support—our travel day went perfectly smoothly and we were all in great spirits. After spending the night in Guatemala City, we boarded a bus bound for Chichi. It is approximately an 90 mile drive, but the winding roads and traffic make it take about 3 hours and we made it here in time for lunch.

We were graciously welcomed to Monte Flor (the Manos de Jesus campus where we will be staying) with open arms! We are the first all women’s team that they have ever had, and we are proud to be trailblazers! Today was a “transition day” when we were able to tour Monte Flor and acclimate to Chichi. On our tour, we heard some of the miraculous stories that have brought this ministry and campus to what it is today. The missionaries have been amazing and helped us navigate the Chichi market. It is the largest in the area and open every Sunday and Thursday in the middle of town. We met lots of children selling their wares and happy to show us around. Some of us proved to be better negotiators than others, but everyone had fun and connected with the local people.

In our debrief tonight, we talked about how God isn’t necessarily more present here in Guatemala, we are just quieter. When we are doing what we are meant to do—God’s work—we can hear Him more clearly. The “magic” of Monte Flor is already washing over us and we are eagerly anticipating what the Lord brings us this week.  Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” We are all here by design and appointment, and we each bring our unique gifts to this team.

Manos de Jesus’ mission is to help the widows and orphans of the Chichicastenango area, and the ministry rests on James 1:27, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress…”  This week, we are His plan—his avenue to love these widows and their families.

Blessings,

The GuateMamas