Not Just Another Missions Trip #Guatemala2017
Today, our family (minus one) embarks on another journey to Guatemala.
We’re excited to be doing something a little different this year. We are going with a group from our church (Christ’s Church of the Valley) to build two homes in San Raymundo with an organization called Casas Por Cristo.
Here are a few of the things I am most looking forward to this year:
- Working with Casas Por Cristo – Casas is an organization building homes in Mexico, Guatemala, and Dominican Republic for families in need. The first house we build in Guatemala in 2012 was a Casas house. After building hundreds of houses, Casas Por Cristo has their act together, and I’m looking forward to learning from them, so we can build more homes in Santo Domingo Xenacoj and elsewhere in Guatemala. I will be taking a lot of notes and taking a lot of pictures with the intent of learning to bring better construction methods to Xenacoj. If I’m going to build 100+ houses in Guatemala, it will be important to develop “quality” and cost effective processes and building methods.
- Serving alongside others from my church – The past three trips to Guatemala have been a family effort. I think that has served our family well, but I’m also looking forward to the fellowship and connections that will happen with others who attend our church in Royersford, PA. I believe we were made for community, and my past experience has shown that incredible things happen when we serve with a community of people.
- Seeing German and Suzy Espana – If all goes well, German and Suzy will be traveling from Xenacoj to San Raymundo to join us for part of the building process. This will be a great chance for us to see friends who mean so much to us, and I hope it will be an encouraging visit for both of us. More than likely, German will be a big part of building 100+ houses, and this will give us an opportunity to talk and make plans for the future.
Last night, Leanne and I watched Living on One Dollar. The documentary tells the story of four young men who travel to a village in Guatemala where they live on one dollar a day in an effort to learn more about the challenges of people living in extreme poverty. If you get a chance, I’d encourage you to check out the movie. The movie was a reminder of the people we serve and the uphill battle they face every single day.
I’m glad we watched the movie last night as it helps to prepare my heart and mind for the week ahead. This will be my fifth trip to Guatemala, and I don’t want it to be routine. I don’t want it to feel too comfortable. As I’ve prayed on my previous trips, I pray my heart will break for the things that break the heart of God. I pray my eyes, heart, and mind will be open to the lessons I can learn as a result of the experiences we will have this year.
As we head out later today, you can pray for the following:
- Safety and health for our entire team as we travel and work
- Open hearts and minds for all our team members as we head to Guatemala
- God’s provision for the two families who will be getting new homes this week
- A sweet reunion with German and Suzy Espana