Certain hopes we had when the summer began are quickly evaporating. We made a large list of summer fun ideas, many of which may get left out with the additional things we have had (and will have) opportunity to do.
One thing we added was a week spent with TJ Hanken and the missions team from Parkersburg, IA. This was an incredible week spent serving a family and church in a very difficult area of Villa Nueva. (The area is primarily settled by squatters who came in from the villages affected by the Civil War.) In a nutshell, a family of nine were living in a rustic tin shack on the side of the barranco (ravine.) By the time we joined the team they had already helped remove the old tin shack and had dug the trenches for the new concrete foundation. We were able to help with setting up the rebar forms, sifting sand, and unloading rock, sand, and concrete. All this was done to help, not take over for, the Guatemalan church with whom we were working. There was a Guatemalan cement worker/architect in charge the entire time, and actually much time was spent sitting around talking with the church members who were there to do the build.
One day we took a break from this work and went to another church near the Guatemala City dump and helped serve food at a children's feeding center. This also was an eye opening experience. Many of these children's families used to live in the dump and have since been displaced by the government. Many ministries have been involved in the process of helping them relocate and caring for them. The day to day life of the children, their survival, the fact that the meal we served them was probably their only hot meal of the day were very impactful to us. We were also surprised to learn that it only costs the church (which is primarily made up of dump "workers") $100 a day to feed 260 children.
In addition to the physical labour we formed some new relationships, not only with the team, but with the local community church as well. Pastor Jorgé, Gerson, Mynor, Bryan, and Carlos - just to name a few. The work these folks are doing is just incredible. Beyond building the home, they run a home for children whose parents can't care for them, a workshop where single moms can learn skills, and they work in conjunction with the public schools to form relationships with more children from the neighborhood.
Here are some photos we took from the week.
One other story from the week touched Joy. One of the young men in the church, Bryan, lives nearby. About three years back it was discovered that he had talent with the piano so the church paid for him to attend the national music education school. Three years later he is playing at a level which takes most people six to seven years to achieve. Sadly, who can tell how often this happens around the world? Undiscovered and unrealized talent which never gets the opportunity to shine due to the lack of opportunity. Thanks to God, and the church, at least for Bryan he has that opportunity.
Thanks to all who continue to support us both prayerfully and financially to make these opportunities possible.
Blessings,
The Eisner Family
Here are some photos we took from the week.
One other story from the week touched Joy. One of the young men in the church, Bryan, lives nearby. About three years back it was discovered that he had talent with the piano so the church paid for him to attend the national music education school. Three years later he is playing at a level which takes most people six to seven years to achieve. Sadly, who can tell how often this happens around the world? Undiscovered and unrealized talent which never gets the opportunity to shine due to the lack of opportunity. Thanks to God, and the church, at least for Bryan he has that opportunity.
Thanks to all who continue to support us both prayerfully and financially to make these opportunities possible.
Blessings,
The Eisner Family
