Howdy from one tired but happy team. Wait, rewind that. Let’s call it happy/sad. But definitely tired.

We began our day early, knowing we had just one more day at Pequeno to finish projects and spend time with the kids. The Lord stretched time, paint, patience, and pine to allow us to have one of the most outstanding moments EVER on a short-term mission trip (and Courtney and I have been on a LOT of short-term mission trips).

The playroom at Pequeno is now painted – two levels of circus fun. What started out as a ringmaster and a seal is now complete with a lion, a tiger, pennants, and a puppy pointing the way in a garden. So many hands held brushes – what a gift your friends and family are.

Students are now practicing their new English words (the tiny little girls like the word “pink” the best), and buttermilk pie is the newest taste sensation.

Sweet girls have homemade crowns by their bedside tonight – reminders that they are indeed princesses to Jesus. Photo after photo was taken of our lovelies (and we may have had a few photos taken too).

But the EPIC MOMENT today – the most outstanding moment EVER – was getting to be part of the first-ever Pequeno Refugio Pinewood Derby. Yes, it was fun watching cars scream down the custom racetrack (that fit perfectly on the slide on the playground), and it was fun to cheer with all the kids and adults. It was great to see the VERY cool custom cars made by the boys. But the absolute best part was seeing the smiles on the faces of boys who had a group from the US focused on them. On most trips, you’re hard-pressed to find many men on the team. But we are blessed to have Brian, Marty, Jon, Patrick, and Cliff – and their encouragement has been life-changing for some boys.

As always, I’ve posted photos on Facebook. And yes, there is a blogpost – about someone we’d love for you to meet. You can find it at http://ronnerock.com/wordpainters/this-is-edgar/.

Patrick has been shooting photos and video as well, and when we get back to the states, he’ll share links so you can experience our trip in a whole new way.

Tomorrow we drive to Antigua, and will spend a little time with our sweet girls at Mi Especial Tesoro before having a night of worship and rest. Please pray for traveling mercies, for a fresh measure of joy and laughter as we spend the day together in the bus, and for rest as we process all we’ve experienced so far. And please pray for Edgar, our bus driver. He isn’t feeling well tonight, and he needs healing.

Thank you for your prayers and your love!

You folks know how to pray. Wow – what a lovely day for our team!

We began the day with a sunshine-filled time of worship on the playground at Pequeno Refugio. There is something about sunshine peeking over the cliffs that serve as the back fence for this sweet home that just starts a day well.

Team ESL instructed three grades today in English – and Christie ended up teaching her class for an additional hour and a half! The kids adored their teachers, and are practicing the new words they’ve learned.

Team Laundry finished EVERY stitch of clothing that was dirty. It was precious to see them working with the older girls to hang the freshly washed clothes on the lines in the backyard and on the roof. I have to admit, I’ve never been that fond of clotheslines – but the ones at Pequeno Refugio melt my heart. They are beautiful.

Team Pinewood Derby worked diligently on their track this morning, and then taught the boys how to use woodworking tools to get started on building their cars. There is a race in the works – and we can’t wait to have a party for ALL the winners.

Team PIE perfumed the air with warm sugar and butter, and made all the goodies that will be shared at tomorrow’s Derby party.

And Team Painting began transforming a playroom into a circus – a messy, colorful circus. Even our bus driver, Edgar, picked up a brush and showed us that he isn’t just an exceptional guardian angel, he’s an artist as well.

We’ve now prayed for each other and shared a few “best moments,” and are tucking ourselves in for the night. Tomorrow’s day starts very early, and we would love your prayers as we:

teach ESL to a new group of students
finish our Pinewood Derby track and cars
finish painting the playroom
purchase groceries (a list they provide of much-needed items)
spend GREAT time with the kids
PRAY for our sweet family at Pequeno Refugio
cry (we’re guaranteed to as we have to say “hasta pronto”)

I’ve again posted some pictures on Facebook in our GuateTeam group, and promise to write a blog post soon (there are stories to share – I wish there were just a few more hours in the day and a quiet sunlit corner with a cozy chair…)

Thank you again for your prayers and for your words of encouragement and kindness!

This morning we woke up bright and early to continue working at Little House of Refuge.  After arriving we all split up into our work crews and began a long day.  We had a very productive day- we continued constructing the new computer room and the sewing room.  Jessie Martinez collected and had refurbished numerous used laptop computers.  Before we had even officially dedicated the new room the kids had already found their way into the computer room and were playing games.  Inna Wines and her paint crew, including Alli Barge and Lauren Shanafelt, completed their two-day project of redecorating the older boys bedroom into a jungle safari.  Sophia Rankin, with help from Jodie Rogge, taught four of the older girls how to bake chocolate chip cookies using all the new kitchen appliances and supplies she collected. Ashlie Dickey worked with over 20 girls that decorated Toms shoes which will be sold at the next W.O.W. luncheon in December with all proceeds going back to the orphanage. The remainder of the team focused on painting several locations all around the orphanage, we used a total of 12 gallons of paint and over 500 rubber gloves.  The guys on the team were filthy after spending the day hauling boulders and cylinder blocks up and down the hills.  They also constructed homemade bookshelves for the sewing room and installed a basketball goal.  The kids were in school all morning so when they got out of school after lunch the games began! There were soccer games going, puzzles, sidewalk chalk, jump roping, and basketball games.  Even though the kids loved to play games they loved simply being held and hugged by all.  The kids provided a huge gift back to us.  They put together a presentation of gratitude, involving songs, dance routines, and beautiful words from the Founding family members Lordes, Teresa, and their mother **.  They made each and every one of us a special gift to take home and remember them by.  To end the show the Tarwater Family presented each child with a blanket made by Fonda Dewit**.  Fonda hand made more than 50 blankets to bring to the kids.  The kids immediately wrapped themselves in their new blanket and wore them for the remainder of the night.  Next came a major highlight of this trip, the dedication of the new outdoor grill and kitchen. This project was completed with donations given in memory of Richard Barge and Bud Vollmer.  Karen. Matthew, Emily, Allie Barge, Cathy Vollmer, and Richard’s mother Suzanne were all present for the ribbon cutting ceremony.  The ceremony entailed Matthew’s reading of a beautiful Psalm followed by Emily cutting the ribbon. Then entire family all put hand prints into the wet cement in the patio.  After the ceremony we all went upstairs for a celebratory dinner of Pollo Campero, cake, and Sophia’s cookies.  The night closed with fireworks, tons of hugs and emotional goodbyes.  We all cannot wait to return to the orphanage next year and see how the kids have grown and applied their new skills and knowledge in their lives!

Thoughts from the boys:

This morning in Guatemala began with a scrumptious buffet at our first hotel the “Vista Real.” Following our meal we began a four hour journey west to Xela, where we would visit our first orphanage, “The Little House.” We started a few of our major projects today including the building of a grill dedicated to Bud Vollmer and Richard Barge. We also began the process of installing computers into a room for the orphans. We ran into a few electronic difficulties with the lighting but it was a still great day. We ended our working hours with a lovely fondue dinner. All in all, it was a good day full of fun bus rides and a great experience with the orphans at “The Little House.”
Tomorrow we are looking forward to some more quality time with the kids as well.

• Guatemala Day One:

   

  Today was the first day of the last trip of Summer 2012 for Women for Orphans Worldwide. With a total of 36 team members, WOW is experiencing the largest team ever in Guatemala! Today we woke up ate breakfast and headed off to The Down syndrome School. We arrived at La Asociacion Guatemalteca para el Sindrome de Down around 9:00 AM. When we pulled up and parked the three busses, we unloaded three busses full of people and four huge duffle bag filled with supplies, along with food and the cleaning supplies Farish Mozley provided with funds from Ursuline Academy. The team gathered in the Cafeteria and unloaded multiple pots and pans, cooking supplies, art supplies, and other school supplies. When we met the director, Irene, she was so thrilled to have all of those needed necessities given out of the helping hands of team members. We found out how Irene began this Down Syndrome School out of her own time and money. Her touching story began with the diagnosis of Down syndrome to her son Alfredo (8). Her son needed open-heart surgery, problems kept re-occurring with her son Alfredo, and her family had to go to the States to get opinions from doctors in the USA. She realized people with DS in the US are treated a lot differently than the children in Guatemala. In Guatemala, children are put out on the streets, abused, not loved, and ignored. Unlike Guatemala, there was assistance literally put in front of her face throughout her trip to the USA. She found this help and kindness towards these children amazing, and decided she needed to do something too. She came back home, her son received his surgery, and Irene cracked down on a plan for a school for these “children with the presence of the Lord.” Irene sold her house for Monetary help, and she and her family moved to a church to finally help other children as well.

  Today, La Asociacion Guatemalteca para el Sindrome de Down is located in a church in Guatemala City, and it is finally their own place! They have been up and running since 2005, and are working with four different classes from the ages of 1-26 years old. By the time we left, the children had the largest smiles on their faces, and would not let go from their hugs. These children, are she sweetest people and have so much to offer to this world, they are no different to us, except for one thing, they appreciate everything and anything a person will give, a hug, a smile, or supplies. Life is not about receiving, its always about giving what you can, doing what you can to help those who are not as fortunate.

  After a lunch at Pizza Hut, we headed off to the baby school Hogar Amor para el Niño’s. We arrived and were surrounded with toddlers! They were so cute and all they wanted was to be held, loved, and appreciated! Some of the children were not as out-going as the other children, and that is normal. These children were abandoned, given away, and their parents possibly could not afford to take care of these children. Their house is up in the mountaintops in a house that was built in 1980 or so and had every necessity a baby could imagine! There were so many swings, balls, toys, and jungle gyms to play on! Once we started unloading the baby food, formula and other supplies Jodie Rogge provided for her Gold Project, the children and the staff at the schools faces lit up! They were so thankful for the contribution to their home!

  Children were running around, jumping in people’s laps, and being held by every single person on the team! This house held children from 0- 9 years old! You can imagine the energy in these children! When it was time to go the team’s energy was about half as much as the children’s! There was some crying and pouting when we headed off the busses. These children were so adorable and so loving and thankful to have people play with them and hold them! The baby home, is a definite repeat!

  Today, I realized how important it is to have family in your life. Children’s behavior changes depending on how much, or how little of supportive family they have in their life. Growing up in supportive households definitely has an impact on children. The love these children had before they came into these households, and after they stay in a while, the people were able to tell a definite difference in these children! These children are surrounded with a loving and caring environment, and all the help the team, and possibly some of you readers have done to help me, Jody, or the team in general to raise money, or supplies, makes a huge difference. So thank you, Thank you so very much on behalf of myself, Carolyn Quint, Jody Rogge, as well as the WOW team. Thank you!

  Until tomorrow! God Bless, and keep these orphans in your prayers!

   

Thoughts from Berry and Mason (be prepared to laugh):

Waking up at 6:45 feeling very tired and cold, but knowing that we were going to see those cute, precious faces made it all worth while. The first thing we did when we got to the orphanage was carry huge cinder blocks down a hill after sprinting up a steep incline. Which was quite the work out but actually very fun. The cinder blocks were going to be used for making steps which will lead to the new grill that the orphanage is also working on. After carrying a total of 32 blocks down the hill, it was time to shovel some dirt. Now the average person might think that this is an easy task… but you are wrong! We had no idea how much strength and endurance you need to perform this task. Now we know why construction men so strong and muscular. Mason does not have as much endurance as Berry does, so she decided to leave her friend Berry and go put some nice yellow paint on a wall. While doing this Berry, Sam, and Emma played some soccer while the little kids were in school. Then it was time for lunch. Mason and Berry had decided to be adventurous, so they made a peanut butter and banana sandwich. Which to their surprise was quite delectable. Cookies were survived with chocolate stuffed Oreos and an assortment of chips and drinks. After lunch we finished the task that we had started in the morning, and then began the kids carnival. Mason and Berry were in charge of the face painting. Mason and Berry were very excited to show off their artistic talent on the faces of the youth. One of the most common face painting requests was the puppy face, which included the nice red tongue that hung below the mouth. A close second was the la mariposa which in English is called the butterfly. When they were done with the painting all the kids looked beautiful. At the end of the carnival the kids were given a cute little beany baby and water gun. Their faces all lit up with joy. Some of the little girls were chasing each other with their dog beany baby’s and making the noises of the dog and cat. The orphanage sweetly gave us a nice little parting gift, which was very much appreciated. It was really nice to see how much the kids loved us being there and really appreciated us, even though we didn’t do much. Its goes to show that a little goes a long way. These kids truly put smiles on our faces and brought tears to our eyes. They really showed us the meaning of appreciation and how fortunate we are to live the lives that we are so lucky to live. We know that this has been quite the long read but as you can probably tell it was worth it, we know we’re great writes. Well ta ta for now!

Xoxo Mason and Berry

Reflections from Joe and Sam:

This morning we eat lots of food at a great buffet. We went on a long bus ride we stopped and took pictures of a lake with volcanoes around it. We checked into the hotel and ate McDonalds. The yellow orphanage was in a beautiful green valley. We started working on mixing cement. The kids were very small and they were my age. Some kids were playing, working, and studying. The girls painted on the walls. The cement was used to make a new staircase. We got to work with the kids, but we couldn’t understand them because they spoke Spanish. Then, we took a bus ride home, and went to Tacontento. It was really good. We came back to the hotel and talked about our day. Today was really fun and I feel like a better person.

Everyone is still processing being at the government home- we saw over 300 girls and countless toddlers and boys! The care kits we so appreciated!!