Day One – Medical Mission

Hi everyone!

We arrived safely on base yesterday, and completed our first day on the mission field today (Saturday)! It’s been a long and fulfilling day, so here’s a short recap of the miraculous day God allowed us to be a part of:

After a long and bumpy road down through the mountains, we arrived to a street lined with families sitting in plastic chairs and large rocks. All sat anxiously watching us as we unloaded ourselves from the three white passenger vans we’d been traveling in.

After a few fumbled attempts at conversation, we quickly learned that playing and doing were much better ways to interact with the villagers and their children. So, we spent the afternoon painting nails, playing soccer, watching children laugh and dance through bubbles, and making necklaces, amongst other things – all while the families waited for the medical supplies another portion of our team was handing out to them in the clinic.

As the medical clinic wound down, we did a few skits for the people, and then showed the Jesus film to a captive audience. Praise songs were sung, testimonies were told,  and Pastor Hermono Jesus preached an enthusiastic message to the villagers (I’d love to be able to tell you what he said, but, alas, no habla espanol). Then, the altar call. What a God-filled time! Each of us laid hands on the people and prayed with them as they made the decision for Christ. By the end, the front of the room was filled with people accepting Jesus and singing His name! Praise God for the lives He’s transformed!

The night ended with us talking (yes, we’d learned a few words by then!) and laughing with the villagers and their darling children. We handed out rice and beans to the families, then packed up and headed home. The trip home was a wonderful time of reflection for our teams, where we shared the triumphs and miracles of the day. (Don’t be shy to ask each of us about our stories when we arrive home! We can’t wait to tell you more!)

I know this was a short update, only giving you glimmers of all that we’ve witnessed, but hopefully tomorrow we’ll come back a littler earlier…and less sleepy!

One final thing I’d like to say…thank you! You all have helped equip each and every one of us to come down here and be able to do all that we are doing. Each of you is here with us, doing God’s work with us. The toys you donated are being handed out and making children smile and squeal with joy, the prayers you so diligently prayed are being felt and answered every minute, the money you donated is being used to transform lives of people you don’t even know, but you love, because God called you to…each of you are making a huge difference in the lives of people in Guatemala. Each of you are making a huge difference in the lives of these team members you sent here. Thank you.

We’re praying that this is also a time of growing for each of you back home. May God bless your week. 

Buenos noches, amigos!
– Mallary and the Guatemala Team

P.S. Pictures to come soon! We are having a little bit of trouble, but hope to have the issue solved asap.