Wednesday

A word about this blog...The only access to the internet is at Lidia's house and even there the connection (the service provider not the router) is often not working or is very slow. What that means is that I try to add pictures it often does not publish before I have to leave and this sometimes removes a post you may have viewed earlier. Also, as the seperate groups come together we try to share pictures and then I will edit the post (Day of the week) that the pictures belong to...so with that said check back often and look back at previous posts to see if new content has been added. Thanks for your understanding...

Eric

Wednesday again has construction starting at 8:30 am and then VBS and Medical and Water Filters will all be at the same location this morning and then Water filters will relocate after lunch. Once again I will try to share pictures from each location and once again the team appreciates your prayers

The team hard at work under the supervision of Pastor Randy

Another filter

This is Hugo who was demonstrating how this loom worked. The villages surrounding Chi Chi are of Myan ancestory and account for the majority of textile production (at least for the hand made items) in Guatemala...the importers come and negotiate with the village leaders for goods to sell and export. 

VBS

Ok, I am sure most of you are reading my posts for the pictures and not the words. That being said I am compelled to share a little about some of our day.

First, the whole team went to the village of Chontola in the morning and we were surprised to see other Gringos there. We found out that there were four college students (two guys and two girls) living in the village for 4-8 months. They are from the Wesley Foundation of Florida State University. Who would have thought...Joe, one of the students went with us to the houses where we installed 3 water filters and along the way he explained to us that during the war there were many massacres and in this village solders rounded up all of the men, took them into the Methodist Church, and executed them. He said you can still see some of the bullet holes. It was very humbling and the village suffered many hardships since. The first filter was taken to a very respected lady in the community, Donna Maria, who's daughter was actually born in the woods during the time the women had fled and were hiding from the solders. Her daughter is the wife of Hugo pictured above with the loom. It was humbling to say the least to be able to give back to these people in the name of the Methodist Church. 

In spite of their story the children and adults of the village of Chontola were warm and very grace filled. It was good for our team to be there together and give back in some way. 

The second thing I want to share happened when Pastor Randy and I were in another village later in the day up in the mountains at about 9000 feet. We were installing more filters, eight in this community, and after installing one in a home off the roadway where the home owner had peach trees and grew corn the man of the house offered Randy and I each peaches he picked off the tree...we excepted and said thank you. Later, Manuel our translator said the man had said he was afraid to offer us the peaches because he had done so with other Gringos down in Chi Chi and they had refused because they thought they might catch a disease (His words to the translator) I was humbled because I know we must be careful with fruits so we don't get sick but the man felt he had nothing else to offer...I am glad we excepted.

The construction team has worked hard today and is getting  a lot done. Everyone is tired at dinner and the devotions reveal similar stories of humility and God's grace and our thankfulness for God providing opportunities to share so much.