Day 7

Volcano Day was great. It was a long hike up the mountain and hard hike after the horses had to stop. Laarni started off on foot but got a little light headed and decided to ride a horse, Christopher and Austin (Aaron and Christine's Boys) also road horses. The rest of us made the hike to the base of the lava. Aaron Laarni and Christopher stayed at the base of the lava and the rest made the slow difficult climb to the lava. We were able to see a very fast flow. Christine said it was one of the best ever. Ross Kyle and I were able to get the closest to the lava. Our guide to us through a hotter area to get close for pictures. It was amazing. God's creation bring wonder. We were able to "ski" down the ash and got some great video of the team coming down. We are packed up and eating breakfast. We are going to stop at a market on the way to the airport and then we are on our way home. We should get back a little before midnight tonight. Parents we will call when we get back into the states.

See you soon

Day 6

Sorry this update is so late. We didn't get back till after midnight last night. We ate breakfast and headed out to the church. The teens completely cleaned the nursery from top to bottom. They took every item out of the nursery till all that was left was walls and floor. They cleaned every toy and wiped down every shelf. They mopped the floors and cleaned the walls. It wasn't a very big room but it was definitely a big project. We set the toys outside to dry and some of the people of Sumpango thought we were selling them or even giving them away.

While Jeff and the teens were cleaning I was binding the discipleship books and keeping an eye on the toys outside.

After we cleaned the nursery everyone set up for the feeding center in the church and served the food. After all the kids were fed and gone we had our lunch. Christine and a few of us then sorted all the donations into different cabinets and plastic tubs for safe keeping. The other teens took the opportunity to play with some of the kids from the village.

We went back to our places and changed for church and headed back for the evening service. Aaron gives guitar lessons before church and Christine was setting up for the kids downstairs. All the teens helped Christine with the kids. Jeff and I enjoyed the adult service upstairs. The only two words I understood were Television and Machete'. After church we helped clean up and talked with the people. It was late when we finally went downstairs to eat left over tacos and tostadas. As we were leaving Aaron and Christine realized they had left their key in the house and were locked out so we spent the ride home trying to come up with away to break in without breaking a window. When we got to the house we had to get a ladder and Aaron and Andrew climbed up to the second level of the house. After a little work they were able to bend the lock and pop the sliding door open. By this time it was just before midnight. By the time we got back to the House of Blessing it was midnight. A very long day but much was accomplished.

Today we go to the volcano. More tonight.

The amp we bought.

Day 5

Today was some what of a relaxing day. The drive out to the Mayan Ruins was interesting. The number of people and vehicles in some of the villages is crazy. We got some great pictures at the Mayan Ruins. We were able to see a group of Indians getting an altar ready for a sacrifice to the rain god. The sacrifice is tomorrow. It was interesting to see the people praying with candles and flowers all over the altar. We were able to get video and pics of part of the service. I don't know if I will get pictures on before we get back but I will try. We got to eat a a Guatemalan steak house tonight. That was one of the best steaks I have ever had and was definitely the most tender I can remember. We were serenaded by a trio playing guitars. Tomorrow we are back to work at the feeding center.

Day 4

Today was another long day. We spent the day at the Church. We painted the new wall outside the front of the church and painted the baseboard inside the auditorium. We also helped getting things ready for the feeding center. We got to play with the kids for awhile too. We got a lot done. The teens did a good job working hard.

Christine got to take one of the blankets that was donated to a family from the feeding center. The cool thing is that the the family that she took it to is a catholic family that had never let her in before. The family had just had a baby last week so the blanket came at the perfect time. Christine was even able to pray with the family.

Tomorrow will be a relaxing day. We get to go to the Mayan ruins. I don't know about the rest of the group but I am very tired after the last few days.

More tomorrow night.

Day 3

Today was a long day. We took off at 9:00am and went to the city of Antigua. We were able to see a a Catholic church that was one of the oldest in the country. We were able to do some shopping and had a great time. We went to the church and started getting things ready for Sunday School and the worship service. Everyone was able to pick the class that they wanted to help out in. All of us but Andrew were in the main service. Andrew stayed down stairs and helped in one of the kids classes. We were able to present the gifts to the church today. I presented in the main service. Alyssa and Kyle each presented in the kids classes. It was amazing to see how excited the kids were over just a little candy. Each child was able to take home a few pieces of candy and a toy. Thank you for all the donations that you made.

One of the things that stood out to me is the hunger of the people to be at church. Every time the church is going to meet, their are people waiting for the doors to open. The teens are given worksheets to do at home. A piece of candy is all the incentive that they need to fill them out completely. They are hungry for the Word and wanting to grow. We went to Aaron and Christine's after the service and had Pizza.

Tomorrow we will be going to the church to paint and work in the feeding center. More Later.

Day 2 of our trip. We had breakfast and headed out for the day. We went to a music store and picked up an amplifier for the bass guitar. We went to the the Church in Sumpango. We helped with the kids club. We all spent awhile helping get things ready for the day. I ran some errands with Aaron while Jeff, Andrew and the teens went to play basketball at the school and got beat 64-12. I was told I have to play next time. The teens did a great job helping out in the kids club . After the kids club we had the teen service. I got the privilege of speaking in the service. The teens did a great job of sharing the Gospel Journey. On a side note, speaking with a translator is one of the hardest things I have done. It was hard to keep my train of thought. We left at 9:45 this morning and didn't get back till 10:40 tonight.

Day 2 was long but a great day. Tomorrow is shopping in Antigua and church.