First full day spent on work and play

For lunch, we had tinga.

There is a very strict routine around meals. The boys sit in their assigned places and 

wait for everyone to be served. Then there is a song of thanksgiving.

Finally, one of the boys prays, giving thanks for the food and the circumstances

of the moment. It is quite impressive to see even the littlest boys praying out loud so freely. 

They are completely uninhibited, and it is because everyone around them is so accepting.

We spent the afternoon helping with homework, working on our assigned jobs, and spending time with the boys. Not once did the television come on. The boys play with each other, and play with legos or puzzles. The smaller ones love to sit with, on, or around the adults. Language is no barrier. 

They want to be held, and they want our complete attention. It is easy to give them that. 

Carl did the devotional for the boys tonight on the fruit of the Spirit, faithfulness. 

It is such a blessing to have such amazing translators. 

As you can see, he has the boys' undivided attention.

It may look like all play and no work, but we definitely did manage to get all of our chores completed. 

Laundry, ironing, sweeping, mopping, and cooking are all-day jobs around the boys' homes. Today we had the help of some of the other staff so we could learn the routines, priorities, and processes for our jobs. Tomorrow we will be on our own, in full "relief team" mode. 

Team Arrives Safely

Our team arrived in Tapachula thanks to an early-morning flight out of Houston. Stepping off of the plane into the 95 degree heat was a bit of a shock after dealing with temperatures in the 40s in Houston, but we are all adapting quickly.

Part of the team before leaving Houston.

Lunch time in Mexico City -- a new team favorite, mollettas.

Reddan and Flory - our amazing translators.

The boys greeted us very excitedly, as five of the people on this team have been to Tapachula a few times before. It is such a blessing to return, and to introduce Peggy and Carl (the two newbies) to the experience here.

Ulysis is the oldest boy who lives in the home.

He is in his second year of college, studying English.

He is the only boy here who can carry on a conversation 

with the team in English, and he loves to do that.

He wants to be a teacher.

The boys gathered to welcome our team with songs. 

There are 19 boys in the two homes which are connected.

We started the morning early, especially Flory, who is the head kitchen worker this week. Four of the boys have to eat breakfast at 6:15 a.m. in order to be at school on time. As I write, part of the team is helping in the kitchen, getting ready to serve the second round of boys, which is the majority of them. Others are already working on laundry upstairs on the roof.

Flory prepares pancakes for 19 boys, 7 staff and 7 team members -- Whew!!

Stay tuned for pictures and more stories about our time here.

Preparations are made for Tapachula Pilgrimage

A team of six women and one man will travel to Tapachula, Mexico, January 15-22.  This will be Chapelwood's tenth year to go to Tapachula on a mission pilgrimage. We will be a relief team in the Boys' Home, doing housework and laundry, cooking, helping with homework, etc. We will also bring spiritual enrichment and devotionals to the children each day. Please pray for us as we travel and share God's grace with the children.

Guatemala team's last day

Today the well was completed and dedicated to God and the community.  It ended up being 205' deep and has the capability of providing a high flow rate.

The team packed up their belongings, checked out of the motel where they were staying and arrived at the site at 7 AM like they have the other mornings.  When they arrived, they found that the concrete pad for the pump had been completed and the dedication plaque mounted.  The team installed the pump internals and assembled the pump housing while the community prepared the site for the dedication ceremony.

The ceremony lasted about 90 minutes.  One of the community pastors sang three hymns and another pastor gave a message based on Exodus 17 where the Israelites were grumbling against Moses and God for not having water when leaving Egypt.  The President of the community thanked the team, Chapelwood and Living Water for the gift of the well.  Jamie, the Living Water lead driller, Victor Resendiz and several other team members shared the joy they have had in working and playing in the community and sharing God's love.

As the team departed, many hugs and well wishes were shared.  The team returned to Antigua this afternoon and will spend Friday exploring the city before returning to Houston on Saturday.
Los Doce

Children with the completed well

Beautiful plate presented to the team by the community.

Los Doce with the well!

Dedication ceremony watching the water and living water flow.

The pastor leading in singing and prayer.

Prayer dedication of the new well.

Pictures from our mission

Here are some pictures from our mission this week. Time and again we are met with the incredible grace and love of God displayed in our hosts, the community and our team.

Someone left the inscription at the well of "God loves me, I love God and God loves you."

Guatemala - well ready for dedication

“God loves me, I love God, God loves you”. These were the first words we saw today when we arrived at the site where the well is being finished. We don’t know who wrote them in the trench near the drilling area but we definitely got the message and the inspiration for the day. (See pics in the above post) The drill team spent most of their time developing the well and cleaning the well site while some men of the village prepared a concrete pad for the pump.  They were somewhat less busy and afforded them time to explore the village and play with the kids jumping rope, throwing the Frisbee and playing soccer.  The women continued their hygiene classes with the children and women concentrating on nutrition, importance of clean hands and proper pump operation and maintenance of the pump area.

The relationship between the team members and people of the village has been growing and some of their reflections follow.

·         We have seen God’s love in the eyes of the children and their whole hearted trust in the Lord that we are instructed by Him to have.  They have very little but yet are joyful and thankful for each day of life.

·         These women and children are so patient and kind. They are full of love and joy even though they live in poverty. We witnessed little girls and boys caring for babies, cooking, washing clothes, sweeping dirt and thankfully getting a chance to play. The babies don’t even cry.

·         To be among the people from Santa Ana is a true example of what total reliability on God is all about, although limited resources may be what I perceive but in reality they’re complete trust in the Lord is having everything.

·         The joy you saw in the children’s eyes, said it all. You felt like a teenager kicking the ball and playing with them. Tomorrow , God will remind me my age but fill my heart with joy that will last me a life time.

·         We seemed to be able to communicate and bond with the ladies even though we did not speak the same language.  When the ladies were ask, “Will the well make your life easier?”, the question was answered enthusiastically “Si”.

Los Doce

Guatemala - Second day of work

Today was the second day of drilling which started at 6:00 AM bright and early. The initial hole was completed yesterday at 215 feet. Today we had to enlarge the hole to seven inches. The team developed a lot more expertise in handling the equipment; however, they were not any cleaner than before. It seems the new fad is putting muddy handprints on everyone’s back! Once the larger hole was completed, the plastic casing was installed. By that time, the children of the neighborhood became even more curious and we had an audience and the workers had even more mud on them. The next process was developing the well by putting air pressure on the casing. Again, more mud was being shared  with everyone. Spectators were laughing and the kids were playing. The next step was flushing out the system and after a quick prayer was answered Clean water flowed. Tomorrow we look forward to finalizing the well and the big boys will miss playing in the mud.

The hygiene classes focused on the importance of clean water and relationships blossomed with the women and children of the village and the volunteers. The ladies and children delighted in making “no word” books and bracelets. Different color pages and beads, representing important aspects of God’s love and salvation, were used. Without a doubt, the women and children will be reminded of these things when they look at their book and bracelet.

We discussed dental hygiene, and toothbrushes were given to the children which were a big hit. “Happy Morning” was the label for the toothbrushes and, of course, they wanted to know what it meant. “ Feliz Manana”  put smiles on their faces, and the hope is that toothbrushes will become a part of their mornings.

The ladies indicated that they are aware of what this well will mean to them and how it will change
their lives. They are excited and that means the world to all of us.

Los Doce

Hill Dishman taking one for the team! Hill is also the resident blogger for the week.

Victor Resendiz and Dave Luther working hard. Who has seen a wrench that big?

Living Water en español.

Rebecca Blakely, Donelle Dishman, Victor Resendiz and Jacki Lammert with the children of the community.

Guatemala--First full work day!

Well, the morning started early with a 5:00 am wake up call.  After a quick breakfast, the team assembled and we left out of our compound and headed to a little village called Santa Ana about 30 minutes up the road.  We were met by the local village dignitaries who welcomed us, thanked us, and then offered up very heartfelt prayer before our work commenced.   The drilling lasted all day, and by 6:00 pm this evening we had drilled down to 215 feet.  We encountered three productive aquifers during our drilling today, so a completion of a productive water well is within reach.    

The women on the mission team spent their day teaching hygiene to the local women and children of the village.  They also spent time doing arts and crafts and telling Bible stories to the children and women who seemed so eager to hear God’s word. Before the classes were held the ladies walked all over the village and met many of the women and children in their homes. The people were so kind and hospitable.

Quote of the day came from a few of the children who were visiting with Victor Resendiz and Jacki Lammert.   When the children were asked if they knew Jesus, they warmly replied, “Yes!”.  Then, Jacki asked how they knew Jesus, and they responded by saying, “Loving one another, respecting one another, and always telling the truth”.  Powerful considering these children were between the ages of 10 and 13.  Victor told them that he and Jacki could see God’s love in them through their smiles and joy of having the Mission Team here in their home.  
Until tomorrow,

Los Doce

Bernie and the children of the community.

A hard day at the "office"

The women's hygiene teaching team with the LWI staff.

Victor learning to drill!

Nadine takes a turn at drilling.

Dave Luther inspects the progress.

Bernie and Victor working hard!

Dave Magdanz and Evan enjoying the dirty work.

Dave Magdanz and Jacki Lammert and Bernie talk through the next steps with the Living Water staff.

Guatemala Mission with Living Water

The Chapelwood Guatemala Mission team safely arrived in Guatemala City, Guatemala on Saturday afternoon.  (The mission is from December 1 -  8 and the goal is to provide clean water for a rural community and teach basic hygiene and health classes.)

We overnighted in the beautiful city of Antigua at the Living Water International compound where we met our hosts for the week Jamie, Vivian, and Byron.  After a hearty breakfast in this lovely, old colonial town (which was the capital of all of Central America back in the 1500’s) and an inspirational church service, we packed up the van and made the 5 hour trek northwest towards the Mexican border.  We arrived just before dark on Sunday evening in the coastal town of Champerico where we checked into our “5-star hotel”, the Posada del Mar, which will be our home for the next four nights. 

Monday morning we wake up at 5:00 and have a quick breakfast before heading to a local village to commence the drilling of a water well which will hopefully provide them with clean water for many years to come.  Half of our group will also be working with local women and children in the village where they’ll be leading hygiene training classes.   Thanks to everyone for your thoughts and prayers.  

We are blessed to be a blessing!

-Team member Hill Dishman

Please be praying for our Guatemala mission team members. Team members are from nearly EVERY community at Chapelwood--The Table, Esperanza, Sunday Morning, Mercy Street and the Upper Room.

Dave and Joan Magdanz, Dave and Kathie Luther, Rebecca Blakely, Early Denison, Bernie Palmer, Hill and Donelle Dishman, Victor Resendiz, Evan Jackson and Nadine Herrera.

Also Chapelwood member Jacki Lammert works for Living Water International and is working with the team for the week.

Here are a few pictures: