Saturday, April 30, 2022
Thursday, April 28, 2022
Day Six
Sick as a dog today. Slept all day Tuesday, felt great on Wednesday - ate something terrible that night, and now I’m hurting again. Bright yellow. Started some antibiotics - hoping to rally by tomorrow morning for the flight home. Here are a few shots from today before I fell asleep in our van in the beautiful city of Antigua -
Hotel in Chimaltenango
Convent in Antigua
Hilltop overlooking Antigua
Wednesday, April 27, 2022
Day Five
Our final day went without a hitch with all hands actively on deck. We finished the house in a record 4 hours and the whole team is back to (nearly) healthy. It was truly a great day.
Incredible setting
That’s a wrap
Tuesday, April 26, 2022
Day Four
They say the “proof is in the pudding,” and these smiles speak volumes. After a slow start because of a protest (due to rising cost of living) blocking the road, the team was able to arrive to their third build site.
Myself and another teammate had a pretty rough night due to stomach issues, and were compelled to stay back today. Please ask God for a good nights rest and healthy Wednesday.
All of these photos are courtesy of David Rivers and Micah Iriye. The team was able to utilize Glenda’s four sons in helping build the house for added joy.
It’s hard to believe, but tomorrow we will build our 4th and final house and complete our major projects here in Chiquimulilla.
Utilizing the boys
You’re never to young to work with power tools
Installing the windows
Monday, April 25, 2022
Day Three
Today we broke into teams once more and built another house in the town as well as visited homes and heard peoples stories in the remote Chiquimulillian countryside.
Each of the four families we visited today had experienced significant gains and losses. One particular father noted that he wasn’t sure about God as it didn’t seem like he was there for them.
Trite Christian platitudes really don’t cut it in the back-of-beyond-countryside, in the face of real suffering.
Ben had us read John 16:33 as he unpacked hope for today in the hope beyond this world in Christ. This isn’t to excuse not building for a better today, but doing so in light of the coming eternity with Jesus.
Each family got a month supply of food and their first Bible. Having a tear filled Abuela pray a blessing over you is completely humbling.
Please continue to pray for the health of our team. Three guys came down with heat exhaustion while building, and light, heat related stomachaches abound. All in all, it was another great day.
Hearing the stories of mothers are powerful
Cattle crossing
The kindest, most hospitable people
Vibrant family
“Lord, please kill the things [bugs] that want to kill us… ok, dig in guys.” - Ben
Telling the story of Jonah
Soccer in the street with the team
New home blessing
Overjoyed
Curious cats
Sunday, April 24, 2022
Day Two
Today was one of the more special days of my life. After another beautiful Guatemalan breakfast, we set out to build Margarita’s home, the house my father provided for her. As it was her daughter Lesly’s birthday on Friday, we sang Happy Birthday and gave her Lindt chocolates on arrival. I also gave her the (Guatemalan flag blue) teddy bear that was given to me on the day of my birth as something stirred within me a week ago to do so. Her face lit up.
In the afternoon when we brought her an ornate cake from the city, her mother wept. She shared with me that after their father died, she wasn’t able to provide a Birthday for her daughter. In turn, I was able to just make it behind the new house to weep. The setting and mountainous backdrop were incredible. It didn’t rain on us, thank you for praying.
Later in the afternoon there was a big commotion. Mitchell came over to alert us that there were a number of vehicles containing men with guns coming towards us. My heart dropped a little.
Shortly thereafter it dawned on me that it must be the mayor that donated the land, and I, thank God, was correct. I was able to tell him my fathers story of donating this house before he died in January and pray a blessing over him and the family with Pastor Mitchell.
Truly an incredible day that none of us will forget.
The last thing my father ever did is now done. The work is complete.