Guatemala 2024 Day Four
Written by: Cody
The morning began with the sound of motorcycles, the occasional horse clopping, and Jacob rummaging through his bag. Kathryn awoke hours before everyone else and ended up chatting with Barb and Gerry. A bunch of the kids slept over last night since they all were here late doing Alpha (it was a big slumber party of sorts). We ask for prayer that their desire to learn will continue to grow. Everyone met up in the dining area to eat breakfast together, as well as tell some jokes. Jacob’s joke was a big hit with the kids; why did the chicken cross the road? … Becuawwwzz (chicken sound). Most if not all of the kids drink coffee from a young age here, a bit of a cultural difference between us!
We then started English class after a quick cleanup in the same room, where a few of the children presented their schedules on a poster. They answered questions about what they did on a specific day of the week either in the morning, afternoon, evening, or night. Worship songs were sung until around 9am in the centre room (see pictures) which the children love to do although they are in English.
We then divided into smaller groups, which on Tuesdays and Fridays the girls and boys separate to do different studies. The boys discussed a few verses in Ecclesiastes regarding enjoying your youth before hard times come, and thinking of God with every decision you make. Bryan did an excellent job keeping the group engaged and on track. The girls discussed how God is present in their lives and sees their pain, just as He did with Hagar.
The team then hung out for a brief break upstairs together while the students prepared an amazing surprise for us! They set up stations throughout the house, patio and centre room recreating a miniature fair that happens at the end of August in Sumpango, complete with games, live music, and food! Each of the PILAS students and some staff gave us a warm welcome at the booths they were running, and we were all given Guatemalan Monopoly money to “pay” for the games, which consisted of miniature versions of foosball, skeetball, target shooting, bowling, and also bingo in between. All the food and drinks were authentic to the local cuisine.
Fast forward (because the days feel like 3 in 1 with all the stuff we’re doing) to Club Connection, where half our team (myself, Troy, and Jacob) attended a local school room within the village Rancho accompanied by Barb, Sandy, and Julie (other teachers). We helped in the classroom handing out coursework, sung some songs in Spanish, and played a game with the students where they had to ask certain questions in English. The students then were tasked with creating the “Armour of God” out of cardboard, and other random supplies to dress Troy and I up in. They did an incredible job and all worked together to create amazing outfits and swords for us. We finished the school day with a bit of baseball using a foam bat and fairly light but still solid plastic ball, as Troy would find out shortly into the game! See still photo attached (the original is a video so the photo is blurry, but the video is hilarious and we would love to show you when we are back). No Troys were harmed in the playing of this game.
The girls stayed back at the house to repeat what was done yesterday of acting out Little Red Riding Hood and making more Chicken crafts! Adeleecia reprised her role of Red and Olivia absolutely CRUSHED her role as the wolf! No one could tell the difference between a real wolf and her when she embodied that role. One of the teachers, Karla, played the hunter and Kathryn, as predicted, played the mother/grandmother.
We finished off the day with another excellent meal full of joking and laughter, but would later turn to tearful learning as Barb and Gerry revealed to us some of the darker realities that full time missionary work such as theirs comes with. Please continue to pray for us as a team but also for strength, wisdom, and rest for Barb and Gerry.
