Wrap Up Post

We are currently sitting in the Dallas/Fort Worth airport waiting for our connection home to Sioux Falls.  It is definitely a bittersweet moment.  It will be nice to get back home and see family and friends, but is very hard to leave Casa Angelina and Guatemala.

Yesterday we traveled to the ocean and got to spend a little time on a black sand beach and swim in the ocean.  After we left, we went to Saritos for lunch and then made our way into Guatemala City to the Barcello where  we all got a little much needed rest.  We were up early this morning to fly out of Guatemala City at 8:40. We will be heading out of Dallas at 8:15PM and landing in Sioux Falls around 10:20PM tonight. Thank you everyone for reading the blog and praying for us while we were gone.

Orphanage Last Day

Well we have come the that point in our trip again.  Today was our last day out at the orphanage and you could tell that many people were not ready to leave when the buses pulled out of that gate for the last time this trip.  It is amazing when you look back and see what our group has accomplished in this short week while we were here.  The ditch digging crew got over a 1/4 mile of drainage ditch dug and 60 tons of rock moved into the trenches.  The painting crew got 57 panels painted that bolster the orphanage's security in the future.  The carpenter team built 4 new storage cabinets for several different houses and did a lot of repair work on some of the existing cabinets.  The block laying group got four layers of block laid on Harvest House, which doesn't seem like a lot, but in the end the progress speaks for itself.  Goodbyes are always the hardest part of this trip.  Saying goodbye to the kids, the staff, and the amigos is very tough, but I know I will be back soon so it makes it a little easier.  Each and every person at the orphanage touches your heart in some way or another. Tomorrow will hold another difficult goodbye when we leave the hotel and have to say goodbye to the staff that has been absolutely amazing to us and catered to our every need.  Thank you everyone for your thoughts and prayers for this group.  Every single person on this trip has been absolutely amazing.  I'll leave you with a couple pictures that I took today.  We all send our love and thoughts home and will be seeing everyone shortly.

Harvest House after our week of

Leaving the orphanage

Orphanage Day 4

It is hard to believe we are at this point already.  Tomorrow is our last day at the orphanage and it feels like we just got here.  Today was a great day of work out at the orphanage.  Everyone was in high spirits and was working hard to accomplish what we set out to do this week.  The block crew got several more layers of block laid today and are set up to get a bunch more done tomorrow.  The other crews did a lot of work today as well, but did not get around to really see what they were doing today.  We did get some rain today for the first time this week which hindered a little bit of progress over the lunch hour.  After lunch, the rain subsided for almost the rest of the day, but started again at about 4:00pm causing us to have to quit early because the mortar was too wet.  Despite the minor setback, we are making amazing progress and are all ready to get back to work tomorrow and finish the week on a strong note.  Thanks everyone for you thoughts and prayers.  Please let me know if there is something you would like shared with the group and I would be more than happy to do so.

Orphanage Day 3

We had another productive day that the orphanage today.  Every group got a lot accomplished and everyone is still doing very well.  No body has gotten sick so far, the weather has been amazing, and no body has gotten hurt, which we are extremely grateful for.  Once again I didn't get to travel around too much today, but I did take a little time to check out what the other groups were doing today.  The carpentry group got two cabinets built today and did a lot of repair work on existing cabinets.  The ditch digging team filled in where they dug yesterday and started working and digging another ditch by the soccer field to help with rain runoff.  I didn't get down by the painters today, but I heard that they got one more panel done today than they did yesterday.  So far on this trip, we have been greatly blessed and are very thankful for your thoughts and prayers.

Once again, if anybody would like to send a message to the group you can either comment on this post or send me an email at jjschuh7632@gmail.com and I will be sure to read it for the group at devotions.  Thanks again everyone for your thoughts and prayers.  We send our thoughts and love your way and will be home soon.

Orphanage Day 2

Today was our first working day at the orphanage. We had several different teams that worked on several different projects.  We had a team that was working on painting a fence the help secure the perimeter of the property even more, a team working on diverting rain waters, a team building storage cabinets to put in a number of houses, and also a team laying brick on Harvest House.  Today there was a lot of work that got done despite a little bit of a late start.  Since I was unable to really get around and see what everyone was up to, this is really the only information that I have at this point.  Unfortunately I wasn't able to get around and check out some of the work that others were doing, but great progress was made on the walls of Harvest House.  If you have any questions or comments please let us know, or if you would like to share something with the group comment on a post or send me an email at jjschuh7632@gmail.com and I will be sure to share it with the group.  Thank you everyone for following what we are doing and your thoughts and prayers.

Orphanage Day 1

Greetings Everyone,

Today was our first day out at Casa Angelina and for some it was a very eye opening experience and was a reminder for all those who were returning for a second, third, etc. time.  To start off the day, we got to worship with the staff at the orphanage. Unfortunately, Kimberly and Bethany had to fly out to get to Florida for a wedding and Ivan will be leaving on Wednesday. 

After our initial orientation meeting, we got to go on a tour of the orphanage and hear some of the amazing stories of the children that are there.  The tours were very eye opening for some of the new members of the group and there were not too many dry eyes afterwards.  We all had lunch at the orphanage, which was prepared by the amazing chef they have their.  After lunch, we broke up into three groups and walked to several different widow's houses in the surrounding village to see what work is being done outside the orphanage walls.  After this tour, we got back together and watched the skits, songs, dances that the kids of each house had prepared for us.  Following the performance, we took the traditional picture on the stairs, then got to watch the kids enjoy a little soccer game.

There are a couple other things that we found out today that are amazing steps in a positive direction for the orphanage.  The orphanage has accepted its first widow to live at the orphanage.  When she was brought to the orphanage,  they told Ivan that she had about three more days to live and that was over a week ago.  They also said that she only had use of 4 of her 10 fingers and came in a wheelchair because she didn't have enough strength to walk.  We were told that she has been an amazing blessing and has assumed the role of grandmother to all the kids at the orphanage.  She is extremely thankful for us coming to help out in any way we can.

The second piece of news we got today was the land owner across the road has approached the orphanage and has offered to sell them his 42 acres that is directly across the road from the current grounds of the orphanage.  Ivan had a meeting with the gentleman today in hopes to work out a deal for the land and hopefully get it for the orphanage to allow even more expansion for homes, children, widows, etc.  Please be praying for this opportunity to work out for the orphanage's sake so even more children can be saved from the streets and terrible situations.

Picture of the widow who is now living at Casa Angelina

The new water purification system in use at the orphanage.

Auqaponics building almost ready to start producing.

The different houses performing skits for us.

The group photo of us all.

Day 1 - Touring Antigua

Today we had a very interesting day in Antigua. We started the day off with a tour to the cross on the hill and took some group pictures as is our tradition on Sunday's while we are down here in Guatemala.  After we left the cross on the hill, we attended a 9:30AM church service at our friend Ronny's church.  Because of our being at church, Ronny preached his entire sermon in English and had his wife translate for him to accommodate our presence.  After church we had some lunch in Antigua and then went to the local market to look around and buy some of the local goods.  After our day in Antigua, we got a couple hours of down time to spend at the hotel before supper and our devotions.  We are heading to the orphanage tomorrow for the first time this trip, and the first time for many of us on this trip.  We will continue to keep you guys posted on how things are going and what we are up to while we are here.  Thanks for your thoughts and prayers.

 The Brandon group that is along on this trip with us.

The Madison Group at Cross on the hill.

 Our fearless leader enjoying his time at McDonalds

 Just a snapshot of the market.

First Day in Guatemala

We have arrived safely and are just about to begin our first day in Guatemala.  Today we will be touring Cross on the hill, the market, and Antigua a little bit and attending a church service at Ronny's church.  Just wanted to let everyone know that we have all made it safe to the hotel and we will keep you updated on how things are going.  Be looking for a post later on tonight about what we did today in a little more detail.  Thanks everyone for reading and your thoughts and prayers.

July Guatemala Trip

Hey Everyone,

Just wanted to give everyone a quick update about our July trip.  We have landed in Dallas and are now waiting to get to our connection flight that leaves Dallas at 4:50PM.  It is going to be a long day today, but will be well worth it, because we will all be in Guatemala by the end of the night.  We will be sure to keep everyone updated on what we are up to throughout the trip and let us know if you have any questions/comments/concerns that you would like us to be praying about.  Thanks to everyone for the thoughts and prayers.