Another week has flown by as we have been preparing for the arrival of our first team from the states. We have had a birthday, three trips to the airport, the continuation of language school, and more, so time has passed quickly.
Last Thursday we were able to host an old friend from our West Milton, OH days overnight. Danielle Hale was visiting Guatemala from the states for her spring break along with one of her friends, Abby, from Messiah College (Wanda and my alma mater). We had a nice visit with them as they stayed with us on Thursday evening, and we drove them to the airport the next day.
Never wanting to waste a visit to the city, we took the time to shop for our first team which arrived yesterday. Another trip to Pricesmart, Hiper Piez, and Maxi Begoda allowed us to stock up on what we needed to feed the team for the next two weeks. It also gave Brittney a chance to pretend she was little again and enjoy a ride in a shopping cart.
The next day we made another trip to the airport to pick-up Kristin, one of the members of our team. God is breaking us in gently with this group as it is composed of one family that is composed of dear friends of ours. The Beyer family currently lives in Missouri, but we got to know them during our days at Pleasant View Church in Greenville, OH. Dale and Anita and their four children, Kristin, Kathlyn, Jacob, and Alyssa will be staying with us for the next two weeks and working with us. They are arriving and departing in shifts, however, due to school schedule and an extended stay of one month by Kathlyn. We are thrilled to have them with us!
Sunday was Kimmie’s (our daughter) eighth birthday. We had a great day together as we drove up to the cross that overlooks Antigua and enjoyed a picnic lunch and watched her open her presents. It was so much fun watching our beautiful daughter enjoy her day in such a gorgeous setting. That evening, after a couple of hours at Hermano Pedro, we returned home and completed the birthday celebration with Pat Duff and Dick Rutgers as we enjoyed supper and birthday cake together.
While at the cross on Sunday afternoon we had an unexpected opportunity to minister. Wanda and I discovered a 12 year old girl named Jessica wandering around crying. Assuming she was lost, I approached her and asked what was wrong. She proceeded to explain (while I struggled to understand with my limited Spanish) that her father was drunk and had beaten her mother. She lived close to the cross and had ran away seeking help. We used my phone and helped her call the police, and then invited her over to eat lunch with our family while we waited for their arrival. When they arrived we were blessed to find that one of the officers was a Christian lady who was very understanding and comforting (a rarity for local police). She embraced and comforted Jessica and acted quickly to arrest her father.
Through the process we were able to help Jessica smile and laugh and to distract her from her worry for her mom and two younger siblings. As she left with the police to return to her mom she gave us all big hugs and a smile. Please pray for Jessica and her family. Pray especially for her father that he will find Jesus and discover deliverance from the alcohol and violence that is destroying his family. And please pray that God will keep his wife and children save in the meantime. The police officer told us that this was the fifth such instance of domestic violence in their home.
On Sunday afternoon at Hermano Pedro we were happy to discover that Louis Andres had returned! Louis is one of our favorite children (one of our 65 favorites). Actually, he holds a very dear place in our hearts and we had been concerned that he had not returned sooner. Unfortunately, during is absence he had lost seven pounds. To you that may not sound like a lot, but when he left he only weighed 30 pounds and is now down to 23. For an 11 year old, that is frighteningly skinny. Please pray that he regains his weight quickly.
Yesterday we returned to the airport to pick-up the rest of the Beyer family. Today their adventure and ministry begins. Since this is our first team we have hosted from this location we would appreciate your prayers as we work out the logistic kinks. We ask that you also pray for powerful and effective ministry as we work together.
Have a great week!
Daryl, Wanda, and the Crew
Some more photos of the week:
