Guatemala Photo Of The Day – Signs
This is one of man, many pictures I took last summer of the signs in Xenacoj. Despite my limited Spanish, I could usually figure out what the sign said (at least generally speaking).
Can anyone guess what this sign says?
(SPOILER ALERT: Here’s what the sign says – Ferrepuestos the key hardware and number, truck, motorbike, bicycle annex workshop.)
Guatemala Photo Of The Day – It’s Too Early For Pictures
After our morning photo opportunity with the mountains in the background, we stopped by German and Suzy’s house for breakfast. Their youngest daughter, Gracia, was awake, but she was clearly not ready for photos.
Gracia is such a good sport. Her house is constantly barraged by short-term missionaries, and she rolls with the punches for the most part.
Our team hung out on the couches on the front porch before and after our meals while we were in Xenacoj. These pre-meal and post-meal impromptu gatherings gave us a great opportunity to hang out with our host family.
Guatemala Photo Of The Day – Friends
Natalie had been to Xenacoj before. This year, Natalie brought her friend, Therese, back with her. Their experience together in Guatemala provided special memories for their friendship.
Guatemala Photo Of The Day – Father And Daughter
It was fun to watch Ken and Natalie Shull as they served together in Guatemala. It brought back memories of my first trip to Guatemala in 2012 when I went with Hannah (my daughter) and the high school youth group from my church.
There is something very unique about serving alongside your children especially in a foreign land. Ken and I both had the construction skills to be successful in building homes in Guatemala, but our daughters both demonstrated their importance on the trip serving as translators. Natalie and Hannah were able to communicate with the orphans, widows, and other villagers we encountered on our trip. And they both demonstrated maturity that far exceeded their youth.
If you ever have the opportunity to go on a missions trip with your child or your parent, take it. You won’t be disappointed.
Guatemala Photo Of The Day – Up On The Mountain
There is something powerful about serving together with your family. Our family has made it a point to serve together here at home in the United States and in Guatemala.
As we head over to breakfast on our second full day in Guatemala, we had the privilege of seeing all three distant peaks very clearly. This was probably the best view we had all week as the mountains were typically covered in clouds.
As it is, Xenacoj is roughly 7,500 feet above sea level which means we truly had a mountain-top experience this week in Guatemala. The experience lifted us up for greater service, a deeper appreciation for our home, and a strong desire to return again to the village we love.
When was the last time you had a mountain-top experience? How were you stretched and transformed by this experience? Tell us about it in the comments.
I lift up my eyes to the mountains — where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip — he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you — the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm — he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. Psalm 121
Guatemala Photo Of The Day – There Is No “I” In Team
This is our team for the first half of our 2014 trip to Xenacoj. Even after a couple of days we began to bond. As you can see by the photo, the boys were a little outnumbered by the girls. Next time, we’re hoping there will be a few teenage guys for Isaac to pal around with.
The photo includes everyone on our team except for me. I guess this is what they mean when they say “There is no ‘I’ in team.” I’m so thankful I could be a part of this team (even if I’m not in the photo).
Guatemala Photo Of The Day – Faith Moves Mountains
When I went to Guatemala the first year in 2012, I went with my daughter Hannah and our church high school youth group. I left Leanne and Isaac at home. It was an amazing trip, but it was also a very hard trip. Being so far apart was difficult, and it was especially difficult to fully translate the experience to Leanne. I had fallen in love with a place and a people an hour and a half outside of Guatemala City, and Leanne was stuck at home.
A year later, I was able to take Leanne and Isaac with Hannah and I back to Santo Domingo Xenacoj, and they had the opportunity to see and experience what I had just one year before. On Leanne’s second trip in 2014 in which this photo was taken, her passion for the people of Xenacoj has only grown. She has been taking Spanish classes and lessons to improve her communication with the natives. She is actively considering ways to help and to go back. And she is telling the story of God’s love and redemption.
With this mountains in the background, I am reminded that all we need is faith the size of a mustard seed and God will move mountains. For me, getting Leanne to Guatemala required faith. I look forward to seeing how God will use Leanne (and me) to impact the lives of others in Xenacoj and at home.
Guatemala Photo Of The Day – Unshaken Love
This is the view we had on our second morning in Xenacoj last summer. You can’t tell in the picture, but there is often smoke coming from the peak on the far left. It’s an active volcano.
This can be pretty scary for people like me from the United States, but it’s a reality that people in Guatemala are used to seeing every day.
As I look at this picture the following verse from Isaiah comes to mind:
Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you. Isaiah 54:10
Guatemala Photo Of The Day – Working Into The Night On The First Work Day
If it looks like it’s getting close to nighttime in this photo, it’s because it’s getting close to nighttime when this picture was taken.
Our typical work day started on the job site between 8 AM and 8:30 AM. We would usually take a break for lunch and siesta around 1:00 PM. We started back to work between 3:30 PM and 4 PM, and we worked until we couldn’t see very well any longer – typically 6:30 PM to 7 PM.
In this picture we’re trying to install the last few pieces of wood on the wood side of the house. The natural light is actually being blocked by a coffee plant which is right on the side of the house. The close proximity of the coffee plant to the house coupled with the handmade ladder made it a challenge to navigate the side of the house.
Guatemala Photo Of The Day – A Unique Perspective
Going to Guatemala provides a unique perspective like the one shown in today’s photo.
This picture shows the side wall of Betty’s house from an interesting angle. As you can see, it takes many hands to put up a house.
You don’t have to go to Guatemala to get a unique perspective (although I highly encourage a trip to Guatemala to anyone reading this). There are opportunities for unique perspectives all around you today. Here are a few ideas to give you the opportunity for a unique perspective right where you are:
- Stand on your desk or chair and look around you.
- Drive a different way to work or back home.
- Lay on the floor and have a look around.
- Put on someone else’s shoes and walk a mile.
