Aren't we supposed to be there already?

Yes. We are. God intervened to keep us safe from the aftermath of the volcano eruption in Antigua Guatemala that occurred just two hours before we were scheduled to leave for the airport. We never even got to leave. Mass confusion those first 24 hours turned into a frantic searching for more news on volcano eruption on the tv or on the internet. Quickly doubts and fears surfaced among both students and parents as we were delayed to leave by 4 days. Our flight was scheduled for  Wednesday evening, the night flight arriving there Thursday morning. Yes, it is lost time on the outreach. We will miss some important orientation and rest time. But we are here, and we are safe.
Our little world seems so small compared to the horrific things occurring in Guatemala.
Magdalena is not in danger of any fallen ash, or bad air quality. The destruction, loss of life an evacuations have all occurred in 4 areas at the foot of the Volcano Fuego. It really is a mess and the recovery efforts may take quite some time.
It is my prayer that God will allow the missionaries and the staff to check on their families an extended families before the teams arrive on Thursday. Host families are anxious to see us, feeling guilt for not having students now to welcome into their home-they are THAT inviting and warm.
Students arranged a prayer gathering for the team and for Lizzy Highstreet. I was proud of the students and how they took charge of the situation and comforted one another. It was a great meeting and was an important one to inform each other and pray. Thrilled to see this happening!

Later this afternoon, my coleader Kristin Pinter and I met with a few parents to calm nerves and answer questions that they had regarding the trip and safety. That was a little more difficult but I was encouraged by parents and their trust in the system, in the links in the chain putting this all together. We are all anxious and ready to arrive, and know that god will do great things in our team and in this trip, even if it is a late start in arriving there. So, tomorrow we leave-so ready to get there! 

#shakenfilledboldGuatemala2018

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDVZuWXFAZ8

Guatemala..the sound of it makes me nostalgic. Thinking of the streets we walked on, the sounds we hear, and the families that have become like my own. Hard to believe that now we are leaving in just 5 days to be there for two weeks. Our group of 13 will be joining with a team from Louisianna and Southern California I believe. Every year I go I bring new faces with me to introduce a new culture, there's the excitement. One underlying theme is that we are there to show Jesus and what ends up happening each year is that Jesus is shown to us. Words cannot describe how influential these people have been on my life and on the kids that I bring. Guatemala is just..special. It is definitely a second home to me. These are the walks to remember..the path that leads to El Gorrion.

Months of preparation have gone by. Meetings, sandwich preparation, bracelet fundraisers, enchilada fundraisers, tshirt design and sales, purchasing flights, arranging into ministry sites and even host families, sorted out donations for the ministry sites and will pack very soon. I and my students are ready for the adventure and to serve...in another country.

Home from Guatemala!!

Feelings of missing the tiny things in Guatemala, like having to drink water from the jug, not being able to shower with hot water every day, not flushing toilet paper in the toilet, having quiet time set aside each morning, riding in the back of a pickup with tarp covering us for rain, and even not using a cell phone for everything are some of the things I miss. I'm not gonna lie, when I first got home, a few of those things were so refreshing and awesome-but I miss them now.
What an experience we had the last two weeks in Magdalena! I saw kids using Spanish with their host families, hugging Guatemalans in tears, sewing or making jewelry with those same women in COMMUNITY with them, helping lead worship, encouraging their teammates when they may have needed it most, sharing their hearts during team times at night, giving of themselves to help Guatemalans whether at their work are or host family, genuinely caring for niños en Guatemala, playing soccer with kids on their shoulders, visiting Guatemalans in their homes and praying with them, and worshipping with 2 other teams from Louisianna and Fresno and playing UNO with them!
I am SO proud of ALL the kids on my team for the things mentioned above as well as the love they showed to each other! Parents you should have seen how much they valued one another by their smiles and support, even on the days they weren't feeling the best!
Once again, I feel privileged and blessed to have been their leader. God is smiling down on this team right now, enjoying family! I already miss you!

Mid-week June 15, 2016

So many stories flood my mind as I reflect on the last few days that we have been back at worksites.
Our weekend was a great time of anticipating what was to come. Your kids have shared some deep felt stories and testimonies of their time here. They have shared a love and appreciation for their host families- they not only provide food and nourishment, but really care for them, their health, and their lives! Magdalena is so special! Did you know that when we have team time at night- it usually ends at around 8:15 or 8:30 and it is already dark? The host dads from each home wait for us outside of our meeting place to make sure we get home safely- like our personal bodyguards? The host dads form 3 different groups that are in charge of waiting for us to walk out and they bring us home for the short walk. Wow! The devotion that they have to us and the love they invest in us is incomprehensible. Relationship eps are being formed even is there is language barrier. God is good and is being revealed here.
I want to thank you parents, for allowing me to take your kids here- to experience this place that I love so much. I had a visit with TJ price and Brian Fabrie at their host home yesterday. Their host mom, Iris, shared her testimony and they asked if I could come and translate for them. She is an amazing woman with an amazing testimony about how God saved her from a life threatening brain cancer that was sure to end in death for her at the age of 15. Her testimony was that God was the ultimate healer ad that although the doctors said that she wouldn't ever have children because of the string medication eps ape was on, she had 2 kids. She quit taking her medication, prayed and fasted for a month and a half believing that God would cure her. Her next cat  scan revealed that her cancer had disappeared! She truly is a woman of God, and I am thankful to call her a dear friend. She truly cares for and takes seriously her role as host Mom, follows the dietary guidelines set out by Students International, and her husband, Ezeqiel, is so hard working and caring as well. What a blessing it was to be there yesterday afternoon!
We are now in our morning quiet time, and have been studying the book of Daniel and how he was honored by God and lived by His word. He prayed diligently and Gospd showed his favor on Him, not only in the lions den, but in his life. What an awesome start to each day we have had!

Blessings to you at home!

New week, great team, and lots of fun!

Hello parents! We are all doing well. I hope that you have been able to see pictures on both Facebook and the SI Guatemala page! I have been blessed by your kids, and their willing hearts to serve.
We went zip-lining on Saturday, and the kids tested their fear of heights and saw the beautiful scenery provided at the hill overlooking Antigua. The ropes course was called Circo del Aire, with 13 different stops along the way. The last distance was the longest, and the students had the option of going traditional zip line position, or "Superman" style, as if they were laying on their stomach with their arms extended out. There were a few of those, the daring ones. I can't talk, I didn't even do the zip line, haha. It looked like fun, just climbing that ladder gave me the chills as I watched all my students climb it! Yikes!
After the kids all enjoyed themselves on the 2 hour or so zip line, we ate lunch in San Lucas, on our way back to Magdalena. We ate at McDonalds! Here McDonalds is quite nice, in difference to the states. After that, we returned to Magdalena. We had a few hours of free time, and then ate dinner in the Community Center.
On Sunday, we attended church at Pastor Mario's. Church here is long. We heard the Sunday school kids come up to sing, and share. We three leaders gave a welcome from our home church or school, and our 3 teams went forward to sing 2 songs to them. We sang Abre mis ojos, oh Cristo, and 10,000 reasons. After that, we heard a sermon by Pastor Mario as he spoke on the book of Daniel. Sra. B translated. After lunch, we all went to Antigua for the afternoon, and ate lunch at Pollo Campero, a KFC - like chicken place here. Afterwards, we all went to the market and bought a free things. :). We ate dinner at Luna de Miel and Fernando and Marianela joined us! They both look great!

We are ready for a new week at ministry sites and look forward to how a God is moving the team! Prayers are appreciated for us all here!

End of the first week today- Friday!

Thirsting for water and food, runny noses, and dirty smiles, I addition to inviting each of us, at different times into their home with dirt floors. People in the Él Gorrion area are so proud to share of themselves, and delight in our presence. presence. Being there for the people, that is what we are learning, to lay aside the conditions, the smells, the sights for Him. From that comes a joy unexplainable.
My goal is to become more like that. To lay aside the material things of this life to be "present" for what God has for me. Hearts on the team are being broken for things they have never seen before, for what hurts Gods heart. As I sit this morning and hear their voices of all 3 teams here, my heart is overflowing with joy that my students are HERE! And healthy! God has been good. I am so thankful for the many blessings of seeing your kids actively playing soccer with the kids, of entering the homes of those in need, of carrying small snotty faced children, and extending love here. How I wish that you could see your kids, and see the smiles on their faces. Yesterday a student said to me, "oh, Sra. b, I'm DEFINITELY coming again next year", three boys at the end of each day, giving hugs and thank yous to me for allowing them to be on the trip.
I see and hear great things from each site and today the women's social work site and a few others are going to El Tablon, an impoverished area where they hope to hold a triage medical clinic, hold a women's  Bible Study and sell some of the items made by the women in El Gorrion as well as share with them how to make them as well.
Yesterday, I saw a great example of Americans rush for time and the Guatemalan need for relationship. When I was washing clothes in the river with the women, I noticed that when our site leader asked if we could join in, they seemed to not really want to do that and in my American mind, I thought TIME. I wouldn't want to give up my momentum of finishing my pile of laundry. When my site leader asked if they minded, they said, "of course not, go right ahead, here's my daughters shirt." They thought, RELATIONSHIP.  So, there we went, each of us, taking our turns at scrubBing those clothes with a large bar of soap, all of us laughing at our poor attempt.  We made some friends that day, and as we were walking away, I stood looking down at them still washing their clothes and said goodbye. They waved, and I snapped a picture of those beautiful women. Hope you had a chance to see that one on Facebook. :)
I am so thankful for our adults on the team, Michael Kornelis, Ally Kornelis, Pam Moore, and Lisa Colburn helping in different areas...leading worship, taking pictures, updating the blog when I can't because of no Wifi or whatever. All of us are at separate sites, so we different things each day. Wow! What a great experience it have been so far!

Orientation day!

Our day began with worship and prayer, as each day here will be. We sat in quiet time studying the book of Daniel and reading and rereading. Our first team time the other night I encouraged the kids to apply this trip to their lives, to soak it all in, and journal their thoughts. The kids were given around  35 questions to journal throughout their stay here, and that night we shared our questions and answers. I asked for 6 kids to share, and we doubled that! What a great start to the trip- the students are already open to sharing with each other- tiny steps that will lead to bigger and better things, I can already feel it. Wednesday night we have team time again and the kids are going to be asked to share their testimonies. Team time is in the evenings is just our team, not the other ones joining us- we meet all together in the morning for devotions and quiet time.
Yesterday afternoon we had ministry site orientation and met with the ministry sites that we were assigned. I was able to see kids in prayer with their site teams and physically we walked to where we would be working! The Women's social work site, the group  I am in with Charlize Guess and Pam Moore, was humbling. They have a new location in El Gorrion, and do sewing and jewelry making with the women. Women are ministered to through Bible study once or twice a week. We plan to have a prayer walk with the women as well as. Is it another community, El Tablon,  this Friday. The women have small children that come to the site and we are able to read and play with them while their mom works, in addition to connecting with the women. Sheny is the new leader of this site and I am excited to see what is going to happen this not wek and a half! Sites begin tomorrow.
You will be hearing about a  ministry site spotlight over the  next few days!
We went to the Community center last night for dinner that was prepared for us and we targeted poverty and how it must feel for those eating rice and beans, every day, sometimes for multiple meals a day. We viewed a movie on poverty as it is experienced here in Guatemala and how there are multiple layers of poverty, economic, bodily/hygiene, societal, political, spiritual, and educational. Each type of poverty affects another in some cases, and when it is experienced early in life, can lead to a drastic cycle that never ends. When asked "who are the poor?" We all thought about that question and answers were given like "a lack of basic needs materially, educationally, monetarily, a supportive community/family, etc..."  Students International attempts to address this issues and transform the community By working alongside them where they are and providing support. Will you pray for us as we face this challenge?
Hearts are being broken and students are already drawing nearer to Him through this experience. One of my boys said to me tonight at dinner, "My host family is great, this experience has already been amazing!" And we haven't even begun worksites yet!
As I reflect on seeing faces that I saw just after one of the most difficult times of my life last year, I see how Gods hand is in it all, already! Will you join me as I thank Him for this wonderful group of kids I have here and for His hand of guidance over the years?" I am in awe- thank you parents for "loaning me" your kids for these 2 weeks! We are blessed!

Home Away From Home At Last

We made it! At this moment all members of our team are accounted for in Magdalena Milpas Altas. This was not the case only one hour ago. After passport hiccups at the airport in LAX and a baggage ordeal in Mexico City, all members have arrived safely and we are praising God for answering our prayers so faithfully-and expediently!
Yesterday was a day of traveling and recovering. When the group arrived in Magdalena we enjoyed plenty of free time to get used to our new homes away from home, shower, and rest up for the work ahead. Today will be spent in orientation where we learn more about the expectations in our worksites and how to serve God best while we are here.
We received our personal devotionals today that we will be using each morning before work. We will be exploring the book of Daniel and his role as a Spiritual Mentor for us today. This morning we reflected on Daniel's life and how he was forced to suffer for the sins of others. However, despite his difficult situation, God gave Daniel the power to respond with strength and faithfulness as he chose to continue to draw nearer to the Almighty God. These next couple of weeks already show much promise of some serious spiritual growth for us all!
Continue to pray for us as we continue to stretch ourselves, learn, and advance the Kingdom. Please specifically pray for strength of body and mind, for compassion, and for health. Thank you for all of you praying for us already; your prayers have been faithfully answered thus far!

Feelings of anticipation..

Said goodbye to the first part of my team on Saturday at the airport LAX. Their shirts look great! I can't wait to have them all on as the other 16 of us go to the airport on Sunday. We will join them on Monday morning with our host families in Magdalena! Ahhhh! The time has come..YESSS!
I do have a bit of anticipation and sadness knowing that the last time I saw many of them, my other family, in Guatemala, I said goodbye to them through tears and complete sadness. My Mom's passing at the end of our trip last year was VERY difficult and I will never forget the people there that made my hurt easier because of the words and love they showed me.
Bring on the changes! I won't be living with the family I have stayed with the past 10 years (9), but will continue to see them as they are still working with SI. Our team has their flight pattern figured out, insurance cards are printed out for them, host families arranged, and site placements given! Phew! What a lot of work that is put in to an outreach like this! Thank you to the staff of SI for organizing and preparing for us to be there. We are truly thankful for you and your work. May we be a blessing to you as we serve alongside of you there, as you will be to us. :)
I have received news from my team already there in Guatemala and can I say RAIN? Yes, today it was raining and hard! I hope you had a chance to see the video that Ally Kornelis posted, it has only rained one day while they have been there, but be prepared with umbrellas and such :)
Language school has been great this week, and tonight there was a salsa dancing class..oh how fun!
We will meet them in just a few days...pack light and be prepared to bring along a r-few donation suitcases. Everyone is allowed ONE bag of up to 50 lbs. IN your carry on, (it can be up to 25 lbs, like a backpack) take along a change of clothes.  Be sure to follow your packing list in the SI team member manual! If you dont have one, you can find it under resources on the page you registered with at stint.com :)
Friday is the sendoff bbq and it will be held at Cheryl Price's home. Bring along a side dish or salad, I believe all the hamburger is accounted for. Be prepared to swim! Your parents and mentors are invited!
If you have any questions, send me an email or a text and I would be happy to help you with any questions you have.

CVCGU16, our team name, is swiftly gaining momentum

June 5 will be here before we know it! School year is at an end, projects are getting turned in, finals are coming, and  the students are finishing well.  Much like the Christian life, our goal is to finish well. That was certainly the case last year when I heard the news that my mother had passed. I am a bit nervous seeing those dear people again in Guatemala that covered me in prayer and love, it brings me to tears just thinking about those special moments with them, tender moments of genuine concern and an assurance that my Mom did finish well, her life was a life well lived for her Savior. The memories of that horrible time will flood my mind as I see their faces. it will be a joyful reunion for sure!

What is it like being a returning leader? This year will be my 11th time stepping on Guatemalan soil and being a part of that community-even if just going for 2 short weeks, returning each year, makes those guatemaltecos like family to me. God has showered opportunity over these years to raise my children returning with me each year, and growing up with the Guatemalan  children! My daughter Courtney is so anxious to see Lizbeth again, and Brenden, her brother., basically all of the kids in the community of El Gorrion. We go each year but walking those dirt paths to those cinder block houses that have no light or running water just draw us...closer to Him. 

There will be changes this year. Anxiety has set in, but we know that Students International provides and has been providing over these years the best solution to what is ahead. Our flights have been purchased, our mission sites have been assigned, and we can put a face to our leaders and know a bit more about what God has intended for us and how we can best serve the community there.

Hard to believe that at this time last year, my heart was conflicted about returning. My family all went to visit with my Mom and we got to say our goodbyes, never even imagining it was for the last time.
As my heart still aches, I realize that there will be hurting hearts on our team as well, I covet your prayers for discernment and for tender guidance in certain situations. Team times, my favorite part of the trip, where students bond and worship as a group, will once again be a formative time for all of us.

We return home on the 18th of June, there are 20 of us total: Myself, Michael Kornelis, Ally Kornelis, Pamela Moore,  Laura Moore, Lisa Colburn, Abbey Colburn, Madelyn Burr, Marissa Price, TJ Price, Triston Lytle, Eric Salcedo, Tanner Rocha, Justine Bouwman, Charlize Guess, Claire Fluegel, Lacy Graff, Courtney Branderhorst, Taylor Vos, and Brian Fabrie.

I cannot help but look ahead to the trip I have with Students International to the Dominican Republic a week after I return from Guatemala. I have a small group joining me there, but I am anxious to meet and live alongside the Dominican culture there! Pray for us- Myself, Cooper Calvin, Saskia Dragt, Collin Stockton, Tiffnee Jones, and Stephanny Ruiz. Dates for that trip are June 27- July 9.

Serving willingly this summer for an extended time!

People who know me well know how much a part of my life is invested in missions. I breathe missions. Last week I received a call from the president of Students International who had met with a former colleague of mine at Ontario Christian School. Tim Huizenga, the principal, remembered me and wanted to hear more about Students International. Two of his teachers would like to join an outreach, however, mine was full to capacity, even more spots that needed to be reduced. So in that frustrating situation, came an opportunity to serve in the Dominican Republic and take a few of my kids from the Guatemala team and place them in the Dominican Republic with me the following month, as well as the two teachers from Ontario Christian.  I spike with my SUPPORTIVE husband who knows my dreams so well, and he agreed.
I can't even begin to express how very excited this makes me! I have been dreaming about a trip with SI to the Dominican Republic for quite a few years now.  Everything about the trip demonstrates to me how God is in this and these plans. Today a friend, Stephanny Ruiz, messaged me and wanted to just see how I was! God's timing is amazing! She had been thinking about going to the DR as well, and is joining our team. I just come to tears even thinking about it, but wonder why I am so surprised? God has no "random" messages, his timing was all planned beforehand! Stephanny was a special part of our team and her heart was open to everyone! She was such a comfort to me when my Mom died while I was in Guatemala.

My heart will always be in Guatemala and my family is there....they have become like family to me. I can't even stand to think how diffficult those final two days were and how comforting the staff, the host families, the Guatemalan family members were to me. There were so many things that I remember.They were Jesus to me...and I will NEVER forget the words, prayers, and songs they sang with me at that time. I cannot wait to return and see them again.

Guatemala awaits! And so does the Dominican Repubic! 

Students International chapel and banquet

Students International chapel and banquet

Randy Braun, missionary for 3 years was at the banquet!

Two of the best co-leaders I have ever had! JR and Dennis, your guidance and support for the team was such a help to me! Next year?

September 10 is always a great day to remember the trip, but also a sad day as it is saying goodbye to an awesome team yet again! However, this year, I really missed my graduated seniors especially during the chapel time.One former trip member was there for not only the chapel, but the banquet as well! Thank you Lacy Graff!
Messages at the banquet really stuck with me as I listened to leaders and missionaries share their stories of former trips, and God's calling on their lives. Dave Hansen, President Of Students International,  does an awesome job on not only recruiting new people, buet thanking those that are serving either on the field or where they are. He shares their stories, their hearts, and their passion. I love partnering with them and their mission!

Living the Story

“ Living the Story”

2015 marks 10 years that our school, CVC,  has been given the opportunity to join with Students International in missions in Guatemala. For those years, the hearts and homes of the Guatemalan people have been graciously opened up to the students here at Central Valley Christian High School. “They have become as family to my family, and we have been able to bring our children each summer.” All 3 of the Branderhorst children have been on the mission trip and continue to go each year.  One has been for 9 times, another from 3^rd -11^th grade, and plans to return this summer as well.   Students share their experiences of trips they have taken over the years and how that pertains to their “Living the Story”.  Acts 4:20 “We cannot help but speak about what we have seen and heard.”

2007 and 2008 ~ In my first year, my eyes were opened to missions work and the impact which the gospel has when coupled with caring actions (like building chicken coops and inoculating animals), shared from one person to another. (Praying for Mario!) In my second year, I saw firsthand how God unites the body of Christ (that year we went with Immanuel High School) and works through different members to encourage and build his kingdom. The experiences are highlights in my life and I believe God used them to grow in me a desire to continue sharing the gospel with others - at college, on another mission trip, and in South Africa.

                                                                               Mark Bennett

2013 ~ The people of Guatemala struck me by how happy they were when they had so very little. I know life is not about material things but they do make life easier, and life in Guatemala was definitely not easy. In the United States, we take so much for granted while they live with the bare minimum, if even that. My trip to Guatemala helped me appreciate the little things in life, like food on the table and clean drinking water at my disposal.

Karianne Aukeman

2009 2011 2012 Guatemala opened my eyes to the world of missions and how passionate I was for people of the world. I learned to rely on Christ for my every need.

Hannah Dunn

2011 ~ Guatemala gave me the first good insight on what it's like to live and work in a culture different than our own. Also not only did we meet and make new friends in Guatemala, but after the trip we had stronger relationships and some memorable times made with the friends and people who had gone on the trip with us.

Tori Moons

2009 ~ it was incredible. As the first trip I made out of the country, to say I was overwhelmed is an understatement. However it opened my eyes to the power of God through any who say yes to his call. It was the beginning of many yes’es to his calling in my life.

Ashley Neal

2008 ~ Summer after my sophomore year at CVC. The two weeks spent sharing the Gospel the best that I could with my broken Spanish and showing the love of Christ through playing jump rope and painting a mural at the local school were an unforgettable and joyous experience. I am very thankful for the trip and all those who were there as well both physically and spiritually through prayer.

Lacy Graff

2011 ~ Guatemala was a doorway to allowing me to see one of the bigger parts of being a Christian through serving and it made the whole trip worth it. Also it was really fun so that helped too!

Austin Moons

2012 2013 2014 ~  Joined our team in 2012, and 2013, became  summer staff in 2014. Made Magdalena have a permanent place in my heart, and gave me so many amazing experiences that allowed me to see God outside of both the church and worship.

Alexa Blundell

2011, 2012, 2013 ~  CVC can really be a bubble. Though a tight knit community is a great thing, such a small frame of the world can be dangerous. My trips to Guatemala never failed to show me that God is so much bigger than we can possibly fathom. He is constantly moving all over the world, and yet he desires each of us personally. It is both humbling and empowering, and I believe it is something that everybody should experience.

Taylor Boyle

2013, 2014 ~ Guatemala is a life changing experience. This place builds you. I have never felt so close to God and now I just wait till next year! Señora B is a wonderful servant to God. I can't wait till round three.

Brian Fabrie

2007 ~  I came home from school one day and told my mom that I was going to Guatemala. Not knowing why or what would come from the trip. Little did I know, going to Guatemala when I was a sophomore in high school changed my life. It was the most extreme poverty I had ever been exposed to. I laughed, I explored, I cried from being home sick, I taught English in a school and I made many new friends. The quiet times with God stick out to me when we would sit on a hill or go to a quiet place in a house just to be alone with God. Everything in Guatemala felt so real. The piece of my story that changed my life forever was meeting a little boy named Jose Miguel. He had fair-ish skin and light colored eyes. Miguel was special because had an incurable disease. I had the opportunity to go to his families house for dinner and meet them and hear their story. It was. (I still cry as I write this to you). Jose Miguel's family hardly had anything yet they welcomed me into their home and fed me a delicious meal. They were so genuinely happy and thankful for me spending time in the school. Then one morning I heard we were able to sponsor children in Guatemala and I immediately took the book that was passed around and found Jose Miguel's name. I went back to my parents house and remember being an extremely unemotional child before this trip...but I just sat at the table and cried uncontrollably. I cried because I wanted to take Jose Miguel home with me and help cure his disease or give him a life he never had. My parents reminded me thankfully that he has a very loving family in Guatemala and we cannot just take him. However, they lovingly and willingly allowed me to sponsor him and his brother. I also began praying for him. My little world and bubble became so open after that trip. I truly believe that trip became a big part of my story that impacted my life in so many ways. (I even remember coming back and thinking how strange it was to feel carpet under my feet!) I now have my masters in Social Work and this is just one of the pieces of my story that led me into this field of work. I went to Guatemala thinking I would bless others, but I left there feeling so blessed by the people in a way I never could have even imagined.

Megan Greidanus

2008 ~  My trip with SI was the first time I truly lived out my Christian beliefs in a real way because the ministry sites gave me a tangible way to see Christ working in myself and also those around me by our actions instead of reading about others who have walked the Christian walk. Became summer staff in Nicaragua 2014.

Shelly Leyendekker

2006, 2007 ~ Has is really been 10 years. That's crazy. Glad to have been there the first two years with you. I went the first two years, 2006 and 2007. Hope to go again someday. Guatemala isn't just part of my life, it is my life. I went there to help teach kids at the school in Magdalena, but instead they taught me so much more. About how to love and being grateful for every little thing. I still feel like a part of my heart will forever be in Guatemala. And hope that one day I can return with my family.

Margie Koetsier Lynch

2014, 2015 ~ My life was forever changed going to Guatemala. I have never felt so much love from my God and from my team. I have also never been challenged as much as was in Guatemala. These trips have grown my relationship with God tremendously.

Shelby Laber

2013, 2014, and 2015 ~ I went to Guatemala to show Gods love to others but when you are surrounded by people who have nothing and give everything, it's them that shared Gods love with us. Guatemala changed my life. God is working through the people of Magdalena and the teams that He sends. I'm so blessed to have had the opportunity to go three times.

Ruby Koetsier

2014 - Guatemala was a great experience for me! It's so heartwarming to be surrounded by a big group of people who all love the Lord and want to make a difference even if it's small. My favorite memory is from my junior year when everyone pitched in to transport avocados to a truck. It was actually really difficult because they were 15 pounds easily. But the best part was when it started raining. Sure, there were groans and complaining, but we kept moving. Instead of giving up and finding shelter, we fought through the uncomfortable circumstances and we finished transporting all the avocados. This proves that Guatemala can change and teach you. You learn how to be independent and content with what you have and to me it was a really humbling experience.

Anna Leyendekker

2008 - For me, Guatemala was the most beautiful place I had ever stepped foot. I experienced Christ in a whole new, tangible way and a big part of that was the people there. My host family and the art instructor left lasting impressions on me, simply due to the way they soaked up every single thing they heard about God. Their thirst to know and learn more was so childlike and pure and it taught me to strive to have a faith like that.

Bailey Schmidt

2008 and 2009 - God showed me that in order to spread his message we must intentionally and continually pour into people's lives. I was really amazed to see Sra. B return year after year. This really exemplifies Jesus' consistency and commitment in discipling.

Inez Solis

Serving on summer staff in both Guatemala (2013) and Costa Rica (2014) gave me a perspective on missions and an appreciation for missionaries that I never had before. Its hard work that they do, and its not the poverty tourism we unfortunately see a lot of when folks from the states go on short term mission or humanitarian trips. Its real life, hard work, spiritual warfare, trying to love people who are hungry, lonely, abused and struggling. Our missionaries need our prayers. When they ask us to pray for them, we shouldn't take it lightly because the work they are doing is not just an international adventure vacation. Its kingdom work on a rocky spiritual battlefield, standing eye-to-eye with our very broken world. My three-week trips were 2008 and 2009

Kylee Rogers

2013 – the trip to Guatemala taught me and strengthened me in so many things. It taught me about God the Father and the impact that heavenly and earthly fathers have on our lives. It strengthened my existing friendships and absolutely helped me forge new ones. It opened my heart to missions and travel and helped me to refocus my worldview. I am so thankful that I got the opportunity to serve in Guatemala and I wish that I had gone earlier/more.

 Tara Zwart

Leading these student teams over the years have added to my spiritual journey, given me important perspective, and joined passions that I have for teenagers and missions.  I anticipate returning each year, and stories like these are what make this trip extraordinary.  It’s more than a mission trip. As a teacher, I am able to see my students engage in the language for a week long one on one language school experience in Antigua the week prior to the missions trip – that began in 2008.  I want to thank this community for all of the prayer and financial support given to our team. Truly, this would not be possible without all of you at home being our prayer warriors.  Lives have been forever changed, and continue to change. Thank you, parents and community,  for coming alongside of us!

June 16 - art site

Yesterday I was able to visit the art site where Jonna Lemstra, Lindsey Calvin, and Courtney B are. Alvaro is their leader, and has a group of boys that come in the morning and in the afternoon.
The girls were helping to create bookmarks for sale for the site, as Alvaro was teaching his class of boys.  The site is held in a new building that is also used for tutoring in a separate room on the way to El Gorrion, a community  where most of the kids come from. I am so happy for Alvaro that he has this space to provide for these boys. One thing that was mentioned the other night by Courtney during team time was that Alvaro is more than just an art teacher. He is a mentor and friend to these growing boys. As I watched home yesterday share devotions at the end of each session, I saw how God is using him to reach them. In many of these families there is the reality of no hope, they are growing older, and getting less attention from their families, there is a problem with gangs and even violence, if they don't have someone coming alongside of them. I mentioned to Alvaro how very happy it made me that these kids have someone like him to do that for them. For lunchtime, we went to the Community center to eat our lunch and play with some of the kids there. We then returned to the art site to have another group come and learn to make some paintings. During recess, the kids in the morning played "cinco's" or marbles. I guess each player has 5 marbles that they put in the middle of a triangle and each person tries to knock out 5 marbles, md any they knock out, they can keep. Alvaro joined in on the fun!

Ready to begin week Two!

The weekend has been great! It was so nice to have a change in  schedule. We are so blessed. Friday night we had to cancel team time due to rain. I didn't want the kids to get stuck in the wet rain, or sick. So..we met Saturday morning to leave for Antigua. We shopped for a bit in the market and then ate lunch at a place called Rincon Tipico.  It  was a delicious preordered meal of either Pepian  or roasted chicken. It was delicious. We then made our way up the hillside of Antigua to this beautiful resort where the zipline  Circo del Aire was. It was quite a resort! The Students and JR and Dennis :) made their way to get bucked up for the 11 stop zipline. It was quite a process. I stayed behind and took  pictures. It was a course that took about 2 hours to complete. I walked around  the grounds there and waited for them to finish, and then a few of us went to meet them at the end of the course. As they Came in, there were all kinds of smiles. For Shelby, that wasn't the case. She got turned around on the zipline and Came in backwards, and bit the back of her calves full force on the wood platform. She didn't react at first, but as they were helping her, she began to cry out. Shelby is though, and does not cry easily. There was a paramedic there, then doctors came in, then a wheelchair and we brought Shelby to the emergency room to be CERTAIN and get some xrays done. The first xray was fine, but they took another of her ankle and found a small fracture. She is able to get it. He needs to. He k it our  further at home, but they put a cast on her left leg and gave a prescripción for  just before ap she goes on the plane. Eventful day. We moved Shlby from the bottom of the hill to Mario and Ingrids house so she is closer to where she needs to be. And she  is resting for a few days with ice on her ankle. Ruby moved here as well to help so she is not alone.
Yesterday was church at Mario's. After a lot of singing during the service, our two teams sang together in front of the church and As a group we were able to greet the congregation. I translated the service for the students. It was amazing-I love translating for Pastor Mario. I am so thankful that he is well enough to preach after having had kidney failure this year.  This  only bis second time preaching since he has been sick. After church, we met at the cross for another meal at the Community center! It was so yummy! After the meal, the kids had a mid-week debrief and I was able to make some copies for the team. I have used questions to guide their journaling over the past few years and was not planning to use them this year, but a student asked me for them again to use, so I got them ready for our team time later this afternoon. We had a bit of free time this afternoon and met at 4:30. We same a few songs and then I passed out the questions. There were a few volunteers to start off the answering, and then, out of the blue, teams started flowing. Tears of authenticity,  gratitude, all indicative of lives being impacted. How amazing it was to sit there and experience the church, real worship, among our team. Looking forward to more of that this week. Thank you for sending your kids, and your husbands, my coleaders.
Be in specific prayer for our team today as we go into our worksites and begin this new week. Today is Laundry day, so we all will have atleast some clean clothes for the rest of the week. :) I am certain there will be home visits today, that is my favorite- connecting with the people. Today I get to visit my sponsored child and his family. So excited for that.
I wanted to say something  as well to all of you about our host families: Mario and Ingrid (Shelby, Ruby and I),  Lorena (Megan and Lizette), Veronica ( Erika, Lindsey, Jonna and Courtney), Iris (Brian, Ethan, Kohler and Cooper), and Blanca ( JR and Dennis). Every one of those families I know personally and have housed my  students before. Trust,e, they are being well cared for. There is so much joy in each of those homes, games are being played, conversations are happening, and cross cultural appreciation is going on. Remember to keep them in prayer today. The first day here, we as a team were able to go from home to home and pray at that house, so everyone could see and know where others were staying, I wish I could do the same for you at home.

Week one complete!

It is hard to sum up the last few days at worksites. Observing your kids using their skills while operating cameras and editing the pictures (Ruby Koetsier, Ethan Boyle and Brian Fabrie) on the computer for the SI Guatemala Facebook page, engaged in their worksites while on home visits (Lizette Cisneros) and digging trenches for pipes (JR Roeloffs and Cooper Calvin) has been incredible for me. This team is a hard working one. Yet through all of the labor and the work, we pray to notice things that God sees, what breaks His heart, and breaks ours too. Hearts are being softened, for sure. I see kids more relaxed and appreciative.  Eager. Eager to serve. I love this about our team!
In devotions held in the morning, our study manual, The Character of the Kingdom, is taking us through the Beatitiudes. In Matthew 5:8 says "Blessed are the pure in heart." God desires purity at the very center of our being, front stage and back stage. Front stage mis who we are in public, who we are in church and how we represent ourselves on social media. Back stage is who we are at home, when we are alone, and  who we are on the inside. Pastor Mario talked this morning about our living out our faith and allowing God to use this experience during the trip to not only bridge two cultures, but allowing ourselves to become more humble because of what we experience here. "Blessed are the poor in spirit."
Last night we ate dinner at the Community Center again, as we did on Tuesday night and had group games. Last nights meal was a typical Guatemalan meal, and 5 of us dressed up in Guatemalan clothing! Afterwards we had a bit of Guatemalan culture and saw a short movie clip. We then played Bingo and learned there are 22 different indigenous languages in Guatemala alone!
Zip lining is on the agenda for tomorrow, as we go to Amtigua and then eat lunch there afterwards.
Sunday the plan is to attend church here in Magdalena, and have lunch at the Community Center. We have been having dinners there every other night as well.
Monday we begin again with worksites through Friday. Please pray for continued health for the team. It has been raining quite a bit today, so we pray for warmth and less wet weather- we see that it is incredibly hot in Visalia! Praying for all of you and missing you back home!

Work sites Day 2, Thursday June 11

Tuesday night was a night of sharing our experiences the first day at worksites. After we sang four songs with the entire CVC/Immanuel team led our time of sharing. We went through each of the worksites and everyone shared what they did! Here are some examples:
        1. Media site:  Ruby Koetsier shared about how their team travels from site to site to take pictures and video of the team in action. Tuesday they went to the agriculture site and saw them vaccinate animals and castrate pigs. What was most impacting was seeing JR. and his way with each farmer he saw. He spoke with them in Spanish and developed relationship with each farmer. Because he knew what he was doing, he went right in and did what needed to be done.
        2. Education Monte Sinai: Megan and Shelby both work in the Education site at the church. The classes are very full and it was dificult to ensure individual attention so it was great that they had Michelle from the other team there as well. Shelby really enjoyed the play time with the kids on the new playground set that SI has set up for them.
        3. Women's social work: Lizette Cisneros (I visited that site today) went on two home visits today with the majority of time spent at a woman's home in San Miguel. It was very humbling for us all to see  where Doña Alba lives with her 4 children. She lives in conditions we can't even imagine. Her girls were broken, emotionless because of lack of hope. Blake and Christina Davis, directors of SI Guatemala, provided Alba with a stove in order for her to prepare tortillas to sell in the community. We had lunch with Blake and Christina there.
        4. Health Care- At the health clinic site, Taylor Vos, from the other team works alongside Dr. Sara Romero and shared how amazing it is to watch her work with families in need of medical care. She takes care of those needs but also looks into their spiritual formation as well and relates how Jesus had to walk miles to provide healing,  as well,  just as they do. Jesus loves, he heals and he cares. The others on her team echoed that as well and added that we appreciate keeping  a schedule at home, and here it is different with Dr. Sara Romero's  being intentional with the community.
        5. Child sponsorship: Erika Roeloffs shared visiting a local private school that has some
sponsored children. She loved the affection of all of the adorable Guatemalan children that is given the minute you walk in the door. The afternoon was spent stuffing envelopes and recognizing the name of some of the sponsors back in the states was so awesome!
          6. Creative Arts: Jonna Lemstra, Lindsey Calvin and Courtney, my daughter. They now have their own facility and they all shared how amazing Alvaro the site leader is at sharing devotions, especially with the older boys. The art site is a place for kids to come and take classes in art and create bookmarks and paintings sold To raise funds for supplies.
          7.  The sports site: Dennis Rietema and Kohler Royce from Immanuel were there they played volleyball  and soccer in the morning in the community of El Gorrion. The kids had an endless amount of energy and it resulted in a bit of chaos. The favorite part of their day was the home visit
they made to a family.
          8. Agriculture: Cooper Calvin and JR Roeloffs are in this site and as was mentioned earlier, castrated pigs and vaccinated animals. They travelled to 3-4 different farms and stopped to pray with each family while there.
Worship was amazing and the kids opened up about their day: successful day! So excited to see how God moves their hearts even more over the next week and a half! Prayers are appreciated as we seek to glorify him and allow our hearts to break over what breaks His. 🙏❤️

Day One of ministry sites!

Monday night we had our first all together team time of worship and singing in the evening. It was wonderful and we hope for another team time tonight.Tuesday was a day of orientation and meeting with our ministry site leaders. Students are beginning to see what exactly they will be doing for the rest of their time here, so pray for discernment and their adjustment if it is not exactly what they had pictured. Pray that we all will seek Gods direction and how we can be used. We are all very excited! We ate Subway for lunch delivered by SI and it was delicious! After ministry site orientation and exchanging money at the bank here in Magdalena, our team was able to walk around from host family to host family and pray at the houses of those that live there. Students were told yesterday that kids would be called on to volunteer to pray at each house for:
1. Thanks to the hosts of the home for providing their hospitality to us, but also sharing their home and meals to us. Specifically for Ingrid, Iris, Veronica, Blanca and Lorena- our host Moms :)
2. For the students that live in each house to remain healthy and benefit from any interactions they have with the family. There will be barriers to communication but that God would use their time together to develop a bond and relational comprehension.
3. Blessing upon the home and the family that lives there, any children they may have.
We had 2 volunteers per hose and I prayed as well. It was awesome!
In the evening, we met at the cross (central meeting spot for all of the homes) and were bussed to Students International's community center for dinner and games. The pLayed 3 group games and had so much fun! We had so much fun and it was great watching the kids laugh and enjoy each being together with the team from Ripon! Our school joined with Ripon 3 years ago and it is great to serve with them again!

Arrival in Magdalena

Monday was an exciting day. We had to leave our nice home in Antigua and our host Mom, Evelinda, for Magdalena, and then I left with staff of SI to pick up the remaining 4 from the team at the airport in Guatemala City. They arrived safely, and we stopped for a cup of coffee before meeting up with the rest of the team in San Lucas for lunch. We ate at McDonalds and then came up the hill to Magdalena and had rest time for the afternoon. Once here though, the kids decided to play games for the afternoon at Mario and Ingrid's house! When I asked them that had travelled if they were sure they didn't want to sleep, they said they were too excited! We ate dinner with our families at 6 and then had team time at night. We prayed until getting rained out. The sound was so loud with the tin roof making it impossible to hear! We then sang some songs together led by Megan Borges and used our songbooks that she put together. I am so excited about this team! When the rain stopped temporarily, everyone went home to sleep. We meet again this morning for devotional and orientation to Magspdalena. Pray for health for the team and for unity. I am so excited to go to sites tomorrow morning and serve!

I am so sorry I haven't been able to post on the blog for a few days, I was definitely under the weather! Literally! I think it was a stomach bug that got passed among the team because we were in the same house. I haven't felt like that in a long time...even today I felt sick but took some stronger medicine and I'm as good as new! This morning it is not raining and it looks like there are few clouds. Great. Maybe we won't have rain today...at home we are praying for rain, and here it gets to be a bit much. But it is rainy season here in Guatemala so I guess it is to be expected. One of the advantages is how beautiful green it is here.  We are blessed with fresh, crisp air in the mornings and beautiful mountain views throughout the day. I'll try to post some pictures to the Facebook page of the
incredible views. If you haven't been able  to see pictures, our Guatemala 2015 Facebook page has pictures of our team and very soon our media team, Ruby, Ethan, and Brian will be
posting daily pictures from the Students International Guatemala Facebook page. Be sure to be on the lookout for those as well! Their team visits all of the sites and takes pictures of the teams in action.
Can't wait to see them!

Rain, rain, and more rain.....Day six in Antigua

Well, one word describes this afternoon..was WET.
After breakfast, our team met this morning  at 10:00. This is our only excursion that we are responsible for payment. We hired a 12 passenger van to take us to La Pinada, a community run by my friend Hilmar. It is located outside of Antigua on the cliffs of the mountains here. This community struggles during the rainy season because of the mudslides to their humble homes. This day was  a difficult one for the students as many had never seen poverty to this extreme before. We visited an orphanage, more like a home for 4 orphans and an elderly man, Antonio. This man has a stomach tumor and cannot speak. He needs to walk daily to control his cancer and swelling. when I stopped to talk with him and take a picture, his grin was so huge and as I looked into his eyes, I could only see pain. Pray for Antonio, and for Jorge, who is manager of this home and the children there. After our visit there, we spent time in La Pinada and visited Hilmar's feeding center. He spends two days of the week feeding the kids (around 85 of them) and has church services 4 times during the week. Tonight we had a meeting and it was mentioned that hail,at is one of the most selfless people we know. He is so caring and has a heart for the people in the community. We visited one of the homes on the side of the cliff here and met Rodolfo, a man who just had an accident where he fell from the cliff onto his back and is recovering with a brace to keep his spine straight. He loves in a humble home, and makes hammocks and purses to sell. When we came home. Eve, our house mom, had bbqed carne asada for us. It was amazing with spaghetti noodles and cheese, and fresh salsa.
This afternoon it rained quite a bit, as in, my pants and shoes were soaked. We are definitely making use of our umbrellas and raincoats.
Tomorrow is church day and afternoon to meet with Kara and go to the market, since today, it was raining so hard we stayed home...and picked up our laundry we brought away yesterday. Sooo nice to have clean clothes again 😊
We are abundantly blessed, that is becoming such a reality to many of us, and the kids are opening up about being out of their comfort zone to an extent. God is moving among is, and it feels so good.