Gratefulness

The past few days on base have been wonderful!  Just being with the kids not worrying where I need to be and when with a group is a nice change of pace for me.  I have been struggling recently with why God would bring me here just for a short few months and then back home I go again.  One thing for sure is how grateful I have learned to be.  I have never realized all that he has blessed me with not just materialistically speaking but also the people, community, school, job, and support.  I have sort of always taken for granted that I was born into a very strong Christian family who loved the Lord with fierce devotion and fought for each other when one guy stumbled and fell.  I am so grateful for parents who were and are always there for me even when I don’t realize I was being stubborn and trying to carry on alone God sends someone to intercede on his behalf.  I don’t like that I try to do it on my own but that is how God made me and now I am learning to rely on him and others to guide me thru.  The older they are the more wisdom they have, yes teenagers your mom’s and dad’s are brilliant at knowing just what you need and when you need it.  Trust me I have learned some hard lessons in life by simply thinking I knew what was best instead of trusting my father in Heaven to carry me thru and avoid the hurt I caused myself.  Don’t get me wrong I fight my idols daily and struggle to let God be the center of my life way too often but at the end of the day His praise will be on my lips.  I know he is the only person I need to strive to please but yet I don’t even need to strive I just need to reach up and grab his hand to carry me thru.  It is a constant battle but with him always there I know I am never alone.

I have also been born into a beautiful family of sisters.  With one amazing older sister for me to look up to and have as my role model I sometimes forget that I have 4 beautiful sets of eyes watching me as well.  I try to love them and be a strong example for them but yet I find myself stumbling and causing them to stumble or else making a mistake I made that could have easily been avoided.  Yes I am not always proud of choices I have made and having to answer to my sisters as they they get older and need to make the same choices as I made.  I love them and daily as we are apart treasure who they are and what they mean to me.  I am lucky to have close relationships with each sister in such a different way.  Even being business partners has its challenges but at the end of the day we just never seem to want to go to bed no matter how tired, crabby, and sick of each other we might be.  Someone is normally sneaking into someone else’s room or doing something silly at all hours of the day.  Yes I miss my sister’s like no one can imagine but I am blessed to be the sister to children who need one even if only for a few months.  God has taught me to never take them for granted and to truly love them where they are at with all I have to offer.  I am learning that I can never out give God because he just keeps giving me more. Praise Him with a grateful heart!

"Give Thanks" Give thanks with a grateful heart Give thanks to the Holy One Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son Give thanks with a grateful heart Give thanks to the Holy One Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son And now let the weak say, "I am strong" Let the poor say, "I am rich Because of what the Lord has done for us" And now let the weak say, "I am strong" Let the poor say, "I am rich Because of what the Lord has done for us" Give thanks with a grateful heart Give thanks to the Holy One Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son Give thanks with a grateful heart Give thanks to the Holy One Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son And now let the weak say, "I am strong" Let the poor say, "I am rich Because of what the Lord has done for us" And now let the weak say, "I am strong" Let the poor say, "I am rich Because of what the Lord has done for us" Give thanks We give thanks to You oh Lord We give thanks

Back ON Base

We have a slight break in the action here finally but sadly it also means that my internship is half over.  Wow it went so fast and I can hardly believe it has been that long that I have hugged my family!  Yes saying that makes it bittersweet and a little homesick simply because I wish we could all be here together experiencing and learning together.  I am so blessed to have an awesome family who is so close and has taught me the value of hard work and working together.  It has been a value I am so thankful for especially now that I rely on it everyday!  I am blessed to have a second family here in Guatemala, or so I call family.  It is such a mix of people old young and yes Guatemalan and American.  I never expected to bond this fast with everyone and form the tight bond right away.  It definitely helps a lot with the homesickness from setting in.  

This past week I learned so much by truly bonding with a team and experiencing God thru their eyes; a truly life changing enriching experience.  Sometimes it has the danger of becoming routine but experiencing it a new every team is awesome.  Watching a team change and bond over their experiences is one thing I loved watching this week.  From singing louder to sharing deeper and finally praying over each other before returning home is a beautiful thing.  I am without words to describe the depth of the feelings.  Words are no match for God’s work in others.  I am just learning to trust HIM and hang on for one amazing ride!  

It has been nice to just simply be home all day today and spend quality time hugging and kissing the kiddos.  I missed it and did begin to crave routine when life was crazy last week.  I enjoyed the crazy but a nice relaxing week with just the kids is so looked forward to.  I am going to try some different activities to tell stories and test out how the kids respond.  Yesterday I was able to sit in with their Psychiatrist (I think that is how she described herself).  It was really good to watch her work with the kids and refreshing when they acted up with her just like they will with me.  I am not alone in their attitude and not listening.  I enjoy her and she has explained things to work on with the kids and tomorrow I am going to incorporate a few things together. We are going to go “fishing”, similar to a kids carnival except instead of a prize they will be doing jumping jacks, kicking a ball, clapping their hands, etc.  I am pretty sure they will love it!  I am excited to try it with them and see how it goes!  I decided it will be good for them and good for me for a change in coloring, play dough, and puzzles along with the same other activities we have been working on.

Today is a way of getting things ready and accomplished for the next week team.  It is our halfway break but yet doesn’t really feel like a break.  I love having teams here but it throws off the kids and the routine they are used to.  I am blessed by their willingness to help out and love the kids to give us a breather and refuel.  Please continue to pray for health for me.  I am fighting a bad head cold that wants to come and I do not simply have time or energy to waste on getting sick!  Thank you for all the prayers and encouraging emails!  They mean a lot to me!  

Pictures from OD team!

Before with all the stuff hauled out

Complete!  It is awesome!

The Children's Museum

Playing in the sand barefoot!

My mom always taught me to take a picture by the sign!

What he really thinks of me!

My little girl is growing up!

Home Built, Lives Changed!

I left home on Tuesday night at 7:15 with my babies tucked in bed to pick our next team up from the airport at 8:30.  It was a struggle to leave for just the 3 days to San Ramon knowing I was only going to be gone for a short time.  Don’t get me wrong a scene change was nice but by the ride home all I wanted was to hug my kids again but one was reunited with her family so my love is now even deeper with the 5 remaining kids.  Ruth went home to her mother on Wednesday but please be in prayer for her.  The Guatemalan foster/ childcare system is very good.  Her mother will get scheduled and random visits from the government and counseling to be sure she is well taken care of.  It was hard news to hear on Wednesday since I wasn’t even able to say goodbye or anything but I only trust in the Lord’s plan for my little Ruth’s life.  I loved her unconditionally and can only hope I was able to love enough.  I am learning that to love means always wearing your heart on your sleeve and becoming volnurable in order to truly experience what God has to offer.  I have to love thru the up’s and down’s; smiles and crys; good times and bad because then I truly learn the meaning of self less love.  It is so powerful and my Father in heaven inspires me more and more because that is how HE loves us, even me.  

Okay back to building!  It was so much different to be in charge of a group instead of being given instructions.  Since I have never been in charge before I was apart of Anya’s team and she instructed/ taught me while instructing our team.  The first day is key to get the walls up drywall up, cement board on the outside and first coat of mud on.  They also have a team that goes house to house and puts the porch on.  This group only has 28 people which meant 2 teams were going to have 5 instead of the normal 6 people.  Our team had 5 but 2 leaders.  I also am in charge of going house to house capturing moments in picture and in video.  I also need to add that we were building on a hillside so every time I made a round I had to go up down around and everywhere while trying not to slide down the hills.  The country side is absolutely beautiful.  A river runs thru the bottom so you always hear water moving swiftly over rocks; especially by the bathroom where the spring starts its beautiful.  Anya and myself struggle a bit the first day because our team wasn’t quite used to our pace and a little grumbly about the heat, which I burnt my shoulders to a nice beautiful red tomato color :)  But we make a great team and got our group caught right up again and we even finished an hour earlier than the last team.  I enjoyed getting to know our family and my build group.  The family was Enrique and Juana with their 2 beautiful teenage daughters Mirza and Brendis and twin 11 year old's Celso David and Celso Wilfredo.  Grandma Marta was also their just because they were getting a new house.  A new challenge is that most of the mothers and older women only know the Mum language.   Spanish is a second language to most of the villagers.  I was able to have a small conversation in Spanish with Juana but otherwise I made sure to smile a lot paint fingernails, and rub her back when I could.  They were a beautiful family and were so content with the simplicity of life and the joy the new home were we building them was overwhelming.

The second day was stucco and painting day!  I, of course, was decently covered in stucco simply because I was the scooper for everyone else.  I loved it because it gave me a chance to really get to know everyone and their name with a face.  There is 7 girls from 12-17 and wow was I blown away by all of them.  They truly connected especially on the second day.  What simply amazed me is how on day one we struggled to keep our team on task but when it came to painting and personalizing our walls our group was the first to start and the last to finish.  it was beautiful to watch the talent our team members have.  Grace, who is 12, sketched 2 awesome pictures which were put on 2 walls, picked out a verse for the other, and the Kris drew a beautiful scene of a path leading to the tomb, after telling me he only enjoyed drawing cars.  God has gifted both of them in incredible ways.  Our family was right in their helping, especially Enrique.  He traced part of John 3:16 on the wall as well as everyone’s name under their hand print we put on the wall.  I was so blow away by the gentleness and leadership he has in his family.  I was able to clearly see the love he possessed and the joy in his eyes.  The older men after the detail work was finished constructed a matchbox car track for the boys.  Wow!  It was so neat to see the young and old who couldn’t speak the same language laughing and playing together.  We all gathered at night after a delicious supper of tacos for our devotions.  My personal favorite time to praise the Lord and thank him for a great day.  My worship is thru the songs.  We were also preparing to go to battle the following day as we dedicated the houses where the gospel is presented to the families for the first time.  We needed to be ready to defend our houses and families against the devil’s attacks.  It is neat to prepare alongside others as we all wanted the same result, to see each family members name written in the Lamb’s book of life.  

Friday morning arrived.  Along with it came chaos of getting things ready for the next team reorganizing before we headed to battle at 8 AM.  Our house was going to go last.  I like that best so I can battle for every other house first and then when I am exhausted from praying for 4 hours I leave it all in the house and pray for the family that has stolen my heart.  It was incredible to watch others experience Christ and the Holy Spirit.  Just when we were getting a little warm the Holy Spirit came thru in a cool breeze and our strength was renewed.  Everyone of us felt it and during God sightings last night said wow what a mighty God we serve.  One of the most humbling experiences I can never have enough of is crying out to my Father on behalf of others, for them to come to know him as their own Savior and begin a personal relationship with HIM. Our whole family including Grandma dedicated or rededicated their lives to Christ! What a happy day it was! We returned to base exhausted but with hearts overflowing!!

Today was an awesome day! I was able to spend all day with my kids again, since I was in San Ramon I stay home from the medical clinics which is totally okay with me! They missed me and I missed them the nineras told me they asked where I was all week and last night when I walked in their faces lit up and they yelled, "I LOVE YOU RAQUEL!" They are simply the best! Here is a picture of tonight and how Rosa fell asleep! I was sweeping the floor and doing dishes to get her to fall asleep! So sweet!

Pictures!

Here are a few of our Tuesday travel day!  More to come later!

The sign and longest 1 mile ever because the roads are so bumpy

My 20ish new little friends!

The view!  If it is clear you can see the Pacific

A decent road but the best picture because the rest were so bumpy pictures wouldn't turn out

Saturday

Yesterday we took the team to Antigua for their shopping day.  We had a prayer for Anya before we left for protection and safety of travel.  I was able to sit and video chat for a long time with my family which is a highlight of going on shopping days.  On the way home we encountered a horrible accident.  A man was struck only moments before we arrived on the scene.  He was driving a motorcycle and was killed.  It was a moment that I will never forget.  We went from feeling helpless to praying for the man and his family that he knew the Lord.  It was a difficult moment of coming face to face with the wonder of the Eternal fate of someone we didn't even know the name of.  Please pray for our team to understand why God allowed us to be the first on the scene, we might never know the reason but that we can all be at peace with just knowing we were there to pray might be reason enough.  Have a great Sunday everyone.  Praise the Lord for the day HE has blessed you with!

Recap of the past few days!

Into the Jungle!

Tuesday was an incredible day!  Dan, Anya, and I traveled to San Ramon.  It was incredible! Yes the roads were bumpy and not straight but the view was incredible!  San Ramon is where all the teams this winter will be building as well as staying in the village for the 3 days they build.  The dorms are awesome and the bathrooms are totally modern!  It was nice and hot because it is coastal.  The craziest God moment yesterday.. We were leaving San Ramon and going past a school in the village just below it on the mountain when it hit me that I was there last March for my medical clinic # 1.  Dan said I was correct!  So cool to be going back to that area again!  Especially since it is a coastal warm area!!  We made 2 more stops to meet with other people including a stop in a village up another side of the mountain, if it would have been a clear day you can see the pacific!  But we weren't blessed with a clear day so I just had to imagine it!  Once at the village Dan, Hermano Jesus, and Darvin met with the pastor of the church.  Anya and I chose to stay in the van for a short siesta much needed after the early start and bumpy roads.  Feeling refreshed and curious how the meeting was going we headed to the church and sat outside on some rocks but out of sight of the door.  Within a minute of sitting down we had some curious girls come just to look at us.  Especially my super white skin and reddish brown hair.  They were fascinated by putting my arm next to theirs and giggling about it!  I thought it was pretty cute!  Then I decided to take my hair out of its braid and let them touch it!  Great idea to attract the rest of the girls from inside the church to come out and try to.  I was in awe of their simply curiosity and questioning of what color my hair really was.  Easiest friends I made :)  I am always blow away how the kids and adults young and old trust you so much within a few moments of meeting you.  Of course I decided to start a game of race/chase… bad idea it quickly turned into tickle Rachel!  I am super ticklish and was out of breath from laughter while trying to hold my pants up fending off 20 of the cutest giggling kids!  I love laughter and consider it a kiss from the LORD!  After getting tickled to death we sat down and they braided our hair, as a hairdresser I find it humbling to receive that kind of pampering from kids I want to pamper.  They were thrilled to yank and braid while giggling some more!  So much fun but a long day on the road.  The views were just incredible going up to the villages as going back down the mountain!  God is so present and seeing his magnificent creation was breath taking but causes me to giggle out of pure awe for a Father who loves me and see me as more beautiful than I can ever imagine.  I love hearing HIS whispers of love for me thru the little things he made when time began.

Wednesday on the road again to pick up the team of 5 women coming to help me in the Orphanage (aka my home).  I have a list all made and for sure had them working hard today and I can say I am blessed to have people to serve me here willing to help out in any way possible!  WOW!  But of course as the season has been going their flight was delayed and they would not be getting in until 9:30 PM which turned into 10 PM.  But since Dan, Anya, and myself had lots of errands to run in the capitol and were already on the way we continued.  I have been so blessed to get to know Anya as a sister and Dan all the better.  We laugh so much together.  We completed all of our errands and headed back home.  The big debate was who would be returning to the airport at night.  Since it was at night it added another twist and with vans giving us a little trouble lately the 2 of us would not be going alone.  The other issue was devos at night who would lead if Dan was gone.  I found myself saying I can do it…  Wait did I say that?  Okay LORD here I am use me as I felt a sense of peace wash over me.  If you have ever been in devos when Dan is leading it is powerful so I knew I had big shoes to fill.  As we began devos I just kept praying for the Lord to speak thru me.  I was at complete peace and let the Lord lead.  Since this week is only a construction team we were given a book to read any chapter we wanted and share that night at devos what we learned or what hit us when reading.  God truly worked thru devos as you could feel HIS calming presence and it was a great night of sharing what we learned, what we did, and praying for others.  I am learning ever so slowly that as long as you are willing GOD is sooo much more than able to provide for you in those times HE needs the glory.

Thursday was an incredible day!  The team arrived safely by about midnight and were ready to work!  We started organizing cleaning and cleaning and organizing!  I loved it and was sure exhausted by the end of the day with my brain like mush from deciding where to put things, what to keep, and making an inventory list.  But by the end of the day I felt so accomplished and in control and found a few treasures along the way!  I am so blessed to have women come along side me this week and do what I can’t do myself or what would take days to complete what they did in 1 day.  The nineras (caretakers)  were helping organize and telling us what to keep and what to get rid of, whether it be broken or just worn out from the kids.  It was awesome!  

Friday we headed to the Children’s Museum in Guatemala City with the oldest 3 boys, the team of women, and myself.  It was amazing compared to the Museum’s I have been to in the states it was remarkable.  At every station there was a person there to explain all the different aspects of the exhibit and also lead you thru an activity.  They spoke rapid fire Spanish but my skills are sharpening up and I was able to keep right up with understanding the majority of it.  The boys warmed up to it but it was a little overwhelming at first, even for me! But the kid at heart in me was right at home playing with the kids!  It is neat to watch them interact and for me say little prayers all day that they would behave, not pull their pants down when they need to go potty, hit each other, or throw food at the restaurant.  Which they did none of so I shouldn't have even been worried in the first place!  I fell asleep on the ride home but was awakened to Jose and Cristian yelling Raquel to loud just to make sure I was okay and to tell me they loved me!  I am blessed more than ever.  Once we returned home I rounded up the ladies one last time and we finished our organizing!  It was a little bit of a struggle for me since I am the youngest unmarried no children woman but yet I was giving the orders and trying not to offend the nineras by crossing cultural boundaries.  With my improving Spanish I was able to explain that we needed to clean and move things because where they were their is a water issue and we didn't want any more mold in cloth items.  They understood and were excited by the organization! Thank you LORD! I am going to sleep good now that it is all organized and clean!  

I hope to get some pictures of of a few things this week!  Thank you for your prayers and supportive emails!  They make my day when I can finally get around to a free moment of quick and no kiddo calling my name!