Three years ago when I was in Guatemala I heard God whisper, “Bring other’s back.” I really didn’t understand what that meant, nor did I know the journey that would come together for the years to come.
Guatemala left me overwhelmed with the vastness of poverty I saw. I wondered, as we walked among the community and visited with the families there, how one person or even a group of 20 could make a difference. But around Day 3 when we partnered with the Guatemala Potter’s House I saw a way I could make a difference — at least to one.
There in the lunch room I met Jakelyn. (read how God brought us together here) Our eyes locked and her smile grabbed my heart. I decided that day I would sponsor her and become an encourager in her life.
One person can make a difference.
Following the prompting to bring other’s back, we took a group of 20 (people like you from all over the US and Canada) back to partner with the Guatemala Potter’s House. It was a full few days serving the children and community there. We helped paint and prepare a building to get it ready for the next month’s vacation bible school that would be held there. We played with the children in the alley. We laughed. We cried. We made new friends. And more children were sponsored by those that went.
And for me, the best ever was the joy I felt reconnecting with Jakelyn and spending an entire day with her.
God whispered again.
Last year we ventured back not knowing what God had in store. We were a much smaller group. As the rain poured we wound through the mountains in our van heading back to the Potter’s House in the Guatemala City Dump, I again heard the whisper. “Build a house.”
I wasn’t sure nor certain what that meant. Was it a thought or a whisper? Either way, it seemed totally absurd. I’m just a south Texas girl who followed God’s lead. I had brought a few teams back to Guatemala and more children were sponsored, but building a house . . . that seemed totally crazy!
Later in the trip a casual conversation came up that it only cost $5,500 to build a house in the Guatemala City Dump Area. $5,500. Then the prompting whisper came again, “Bring a team to build a house.” It was loud enough in my soul that I knew it was time to pay attention.
The thought of $5,500 and a trip to a home gave me braveness.
One of my young friends on the trip had returned for her second time. She had brought gifts for some young children that she had fallen in love with the trip before. We scheduled a day for her and I to visit their home and deliver the goodies. As the driver took us there, my heart pounded.
Arriving at their home in a shack in the middle of I’m-not-sure-where in the city, I couldn’t breathe. The mom and her two young children welcomed us in. The five of us barely fit. There was only a small twin bed and the bathroom was outside. I looked into those young children’s eyes and the mom so concerned for her little ones and the tears in my young friend’s eye and I knew the whisper was real.
I didn’t think I could make a difference among this much poverty. And I’m still not sure how building a house can change the poverty I’ve seen, but I do know it will change the life of one family. One mom. One child. And I know mostly it will change my life.
Oh if we could only grasp how one little act of kindness can make a huge difference then maybe we’d step out and do more. [tweet that?]
Here’s your invitation to join me in going or building or both:
In September I’ll be leading a group of 20 to serve Guatemala — I hope you are one of them.
Here are the specifics:
- When: September 30 – October 4, 2015.
- Cost to go: $545 (airfare is not included)
- Includes: Lodging, food, and in-country transportation; all the details and logistics will be taken care of once you arrive
- Lodging: Normal room with shared bathroom and multiple beds
I totally get that not everyone can hop on a plane to a foreign country and stay a week. There are plenty of other ways you can be involved to make a difference: pray, sponsor a child, or donate money to help us build this house through our GoFundMe account. Click here to donate and help change a family’s life.
Sign up now as the spots are limited.
There are only 20 spots for this specific trip. REGISTER HERE. (see note below) Don’t delay.
I’m excited to see what God does with this special group of 20. It’s no accident that God whispered, “build a house!” He wants YOU to be a part whether you are going or donating. For those who help updates will take place as we build. My prayer is this trip only leads to more trips back to serve the people of Guatemala.