Today is Day 29 - 2 more days left!

On Tuesday, we journeyed from San Cristobal Verapaz to San Lucas, just outside of Guatemala City. It was fun to be on familiar roads again. Well, fun might not quite be the right word. The condition of the road between Tactic and El Rancho - the midway point between here and the capital - has deteriorated substantially. Instead of 3 or 4 large sections of sunken road, we counted 12! And, rather than working on one until it is finished, they have partially worked on them all, but none are complete! Wow! That would never work in Canada!
The purpose of our trip was to visit Gerry and Barb, a couple from Ontario, who are working with Mano con Mano in a small village of 1900 people called San Jose el Yalu.
We spent the night at their home in San Lucas and then made the trip out to Yalu in the morning.
We have just been amazed at all of the good things the Lord is doing in Central America. Each ministry we have visited has been such a huge blessing to us and to the community they are serving. Mano con Mano is no exception. They are working in a small remote community and trying to help without causing harm. They too, have read When Helping Hurts and are pretty sensitive to providing help, not harm.
The ministry is involved in a variety of building projects - outhouses, beds, and stoves. They don't give these away; they sell them at a price that requires the people to save, but is not out of their reach. The beds are Q200 (about 34% of the actual cost); the outhouses are Q300 (about 19% of the actual cost); and the stoves are Q300 (about 17% of the actual cost).
They also receive a few teams from North America throughout the year. They have a medical clinic with a part-time Guatemalan doctor, but love to bring in other medical professionals to serve the three villages that are close together.
They have a feeding program where they serve 250 kids three times a week. Once a month, the doctor weighs and measures each child to track their growth and intervenes, medically, when necessary.
They are also involved in education. Health education is a huge part of what they do. The doctor gives classes three times a week on various subjects from self-esteem to hygiene. They run an afterschool program for both primary and high school, and they support the work in the public school. In addition, they offer scholarships for the top students from sexto (our grade 7). These scholarships provide them with an education in a Christian school in Sumpango - a city about a 1/2 hour away.
They work very closely with a large church in Sumpango, as well, which is their home church. This pastor is very visionary and has some amazing plans for the future.
We had a great day, participating in some of the activities that were taking place in this community. Then, at around 3:30pm, we left to return to San Cristobal for our last two nights.
Our hosts in San Cristobal are John and Donna Reynolds, the founders of Cross Commission Ministry. This is where Arryn works. They have been amazing. The work they are doing is incredible - reaching out to the young people who otherwise would just be hanging out on the street. They are seeing 3-4 young people come to the Lord every month! On the surface, it looks like a regular youth drop in center with pool tables and games, but in every conversation and interaction, the Lord is present and His truth is being presented. It is very cool!
Although we are feeling a little tired and ready to go home, our time here has been a real gift. God is so good to us. We really don't deserve it, yet, He pours out His love on us, day after day. It is such an honour to serve Him with our lives.
Blessings,
Karren