Salem Hellers Mission Team Guatemala ll

Last night in Guatemala

2011-08-14T19:49:00.000-07:00

As we wrap up our trip, we gathered for reflection and prayer. We have said our goodbyes to members of the staff with heavy hearts, but take with us the memories that have been made.

The Staff and us

making crafts with the kids from Hope for Tomorrow

These are the gifts that we took to Hope for Tomorrow

the folks in the back are the directors of Hope for Tomorrow

SUNSET in GUATEMALA

Goodnite

Sunday 9/14/11

2011-08-14T07:27:00.000-07:00

Good morning

we awoke after a night of rain and lightning to a beautiful day what an awesome God we have!

smiles are very abundant

you looking at me!

Oscar preparing the chicken for the BBQ

this is some of us putting together shelving that we purchased for the clinic. Deeny(yellow shirt) was like a kid at Christmas. He can set up the pharmacy now and get the clinic ready to open

here we are serving the children the 130 lbs of chicken that was BBQ' d

This is Brady he is the guardian of the toddlers

Margaret took bubbles for the kids and Miguel found them

We are waiting to eat breakfast and then off to church at Cassa de Libertad, then lunch and a visit to an orphanage to deliver food clothes and medicine that we bought for them. It is a sad time as this is the last time we will interact with those that we came to serve, but there are good feelings as we know that we served them well. God has blessed each of us as we have opened our hearts.

some more pics

2011-08-13T07:30:00.000-07:00

Volcano Agua not active

Church in Antigua

coloring with the kids at Fundaninos

the cooks at Cassa Bernabe'

One of the orphanages that we dwlivered supplies to

The baby house at Fundaninos

Our week of service here in Guatemala is winding down. It has been a whirlwind of activity, from watching over 9-year old boys 9 (and breaking up a fight or two!) to clinging precariously to the side of the roadway while sliding 40 pound bricks to a waiting crew below. Muscles not used much in the ministry field are sore from use in the mission field! God has been so good to us here. Our team devotions have been filled with the Spirit of God speaking through the team. He has indeed watched over us, blessing our work and bringing us each more joy and blessing than we deserve. More to come when we get back!
Blessings on you all!
Pastor Bruce

Sat. Aug 13, 2011

2011-08-13T06:51:00.000-07:00

Katie and Christian

Toddlers at lunch

Laura and Juan

Margaret and Mynor

We are up and getting ready to Cassa Bernabe' for a Chicken BBQ for the kids and staff. Will be great time to intreract with the kids.

Friday evening 8/12/11

2011-08-12T19:59:00.000-07:00

Hello again
We are back from Antigua. A wonderful city to visit and see the Indígenous people of Guatemala and the beautiful textiles,paintings and carvings along with fruits and vegetables. We also saw the poverty of the city, the widows, the lame and the blind begging for coins as we came back with our bags of purchases, how easy to forget why we are here. May God bless them all.

Friday Aug. 12, 2011

2011-08-12T07:34:00.000-07:00

Good morning everyone,

Greetings from Guatemala. We have had our breakfast and are waiting to go to Antigua for some shopping and site seeing and the internet is sooooooo! slow today. will be back later

Good morning from Guatemala

2011-08-11T06:29:00.000-07:00

Awake at 6:30 for breakfast and leaving at 7:30 for the orphanage to help with the kids and deliver food with Denny. Lots of Rain yesterday 1.4 " sorry gotta go truck is leaving

wed.aug 12

2011-08-10T06:23:00.000-07:00

Good morning to everyone. We awoke to the sight of the volcano puffing out steam and ash.
We had a wonderful breakfast of fried plantanes,eggs,and beans.
now we are off to Cassa Bernabe to help with the children while the staff is at a retreat and some of us will go out to deliver food and supplies to other centers around the City with Denny.

Pray for all or us and the children that we will meet today.

till we talk again

We made it !

2011-08-09T07:06:00.000-07:00

We arrived in Gautemala around noon time all safe and sound with all the luggage :) Jim and Mike picked us up at the airport and took us on an adventurous ride to the hotel. The drives are pretty exciting! Pictures will be posted soon. We ate lunch at the hotel then headed over to Fundininos orphanage. The children were eating a late lunch when we arrived and we visited with them for a few hours. We had several rain showers while we colored pictures and read stories or had stories read to us. We headed back to the hotel for dinner and orientation from Jim and Cheryl Leaman. Then we headed to bed after a very long, exciting day.

The night before we depart

2011-08-07T18:33:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,

I write this 7 hrs before we depart Lancaster Co, for the the city of Guatemala and the children that they have forgotten. :( But God has provided care for these children through Orphan Resources International, a Christian mission organization based in Ephrata Pa. Each year hundreds of volunteers giving their time and money to go and help at these orphanages, building, repairing, cleaning and providing care and love to the children.
We ask for prayers as 13 of us make this journey tomorrow.
We will try to update this blog each day, till then God be with you and us.