monday

After a beautiful devotion from Alicia and a delicious breakfast, we hopped on the trucks and drove out to our first build. Our task was to build a home for Juana and her daughter Lucretia, and the GuateMamas ROCKED it! Everyone jumped right in and these women were tough, y’all. They handled drills and hammers in the crazy Central American heat like nobody’s business. We were also able to spend time with Juana and her family, including her mother, her sister-in-law, and her nieces and nephews. We made bead necklaces, kicked soccer balls, threw tennis balls around, and colored while we learned what we could about them through our broken Spanish and hand gestures.  Most of the rural people here speak a Mayan dialect called Quiche, but we have a translator with us that can help us communicate.

When the house was finished, we all gathered together inside to dedicate it to Juana. Angela read a bible story, Leigh presented her with a lock and key, and Cynthia and Tiffany gave her our gifts of food and blankets. Lindsay explained about the solar powered audio bible, which is the greatest thing! It is in Quiche, so the family can listen to the Word in their own language and continue to learn more about Jesus.  Sarah presented her with a wooden cross (made by the very talented Shaun Berube) to hang in her new home.  Carrie spoke an eloquent prayer over Juana and Lucretia, and the family prayed with us and was very moved.  Melinda (one of the full-time missionaries at Manos) explained to Juana that Jesus sent us here because He sees and knows her—and that He loves her. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

We are mamas helping mamas—and we already had the bond of motherhood with Juana, but now we know we are also sisters in Christ.

We also helped out at a feeding program and played hard with a bunch of wonderful kids. We are exhausted and emotionally spent, but SO joyful to be a part of this and immensely grateful that God can use us this week here in Guatemala. This trip is not about us, it’s about Jesus and we continue to pray for the missionaries here at Manos as well as all the people we come into contact with this week.

Blessings,

The GuateMamas

1 Peter 3:8