Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Never the Same
As the trip comes to a close (literally, my lobby time is in 3 hours) I can't think of any words to say, but the song that I think should be the theme song for the trip, is stuck in my head, and I can only think of it:
I will never be the same again, I can never return, I've closed that door.
I will walk the path, I will run the race, and I will never be the same again.
FALL LIKE FIRE, SOAK LIKE RAIN,
FLOW LIKE THE MIGHTY WATERS AGAIN AND AGAIN
SWEEP AWAY THE DARKNESS, BURN AWAY THE CHAFF,
AND LET A FLAME BURN TO GLORIFY YOUR NAME.
There are higher highs, there are deeper seas, whatever you need to do, Lord do in me.
The glory of God fills my life, and I will never be the same again
FALL LIKE FIRE, SOAK LIKE RAIN,
FLOW LIKE THE MIGHTY WATERS AGAIN AND AGAIN
SWEEP AWAY THE DARKNESS, BURN AWAT THE CHAFF
AND LET A FLAME BURN TO GLORIFY YOUR NAME!
Thursday, July 8, 2010
I am so amazed by what God has been doing these past two weeks. While I haven't witnessed any "miracles" I have witnessed people come to Christ. While I haven't done anything extraordinary, I have prayed over people who were hurting, or sick, or just in need. I came to Guatmala to witness the greatest miracle ever: God working. I have most definatly seen this.
It's sad that the trip is almost over, but I can't wait to come home and take everything I've learned with me. I can't wait to see God working in my hometown!
Monday, July 5, 2010
God's Plan, Not Ours
Plan Number 1 for Today: we thought we were going to a park, performing the drama, going to McDonald's for lunch, then going back to the park to perform the drama again because there would be different people.
We met Rafael, who is a local pastor and will be working with us today because he is starting a new church in the area, and he says that there have been two groups already who did the drama in the park on previous days so he suggests that we go to 2 nearby schools.
Plan Number 2: We go to one school, do the drama quickly, do the drama at the other school quickly, then go to McDonald's.
We went to the first school, and it was an amazing experience. It was a public school, but the teachers and staff were able to be very open about God and welcomed us in warmly. We performed the drama, and then went to play with the kids and pray with some of them too. A group of 5 of us went up to the two women in charge of the school, and we asked them to bring them kids who needed prayer for special circumstances in their lives.
They told us that the father of the first little boy she brought had been killed two years ago, and that he lived in a very violent place and his mother was struggling to provide food for the family. We prayed for him, and he was so glad to receive it, we could see it in his face.
The next little girl they brought to us was named Karen, and her family was going through some fighting and struggles. We prayed for her, and afterwards, she latched on to our LIT Molly, following her around and playing with her. Her fingers very slowly let go of Molly's as we left.
The next little girl they brought was named Jaquelin, and she was suffering similar circumstances to those of Karen. We prayed for her, and then she wrapped her arms around me and held on for 15 minutes. I was humbled that God put me in a place to love her for those few minutes we spent together.
As we were ready to leave the school, we realized that we had spent too long there, and could not make it to school number 2.
Plan Number 3: We would go to a piece of land that had just donated to Pastor Rafael by a non-Christian who wanted to have a church in the area, and pray for it, and then go to McDonald's.
Our bus couldn't make it up the winding lane to the land, so we had to park about half a mile away and walk the rest of the way. On the way, some of us were talking to Pastor Rafael, and he told us that he had a ministry in Chimaltenango, which is a nearby town, that reached out to about 200 nearby kids. He had some sort of Bible School he did with them, and then he would try his best to provide lunch for them because the kids came from very very poor areas. The reason he wanted to start a church in San Lucas, where we were, was because there were kids there who wanted to go to Chimaltenango, but couldn't because he couldn't transport them there.
When we got to the land, one of the first things we noticed was a sinkhole about 10 feet in diameter that had just opened up on the border of the land. Looking from a safe distance, we couldn't see the bottom. It was an amazing thing to see.
We prayed over the land for a long time, and several of us gave money to Pastor Rafael because he had nothing to build his church with, just the land. Next, Molly lead us in several songs.
We left the field after praying and singing, and as we were a little bit of the way down the path, a man came out of a building labeled "The Oasis" and flagged us down. He was an American, and he, along with his wife and several other people, ran the Christian orphanage for 60 girls that we were passing. They were about to start their computer class for the girls at the orphanage, when the power went out. He could hear us singing on the hill where the land was, and was curious to know who was singing the songs that he recognized.
Plan Number 4: We would enter the orphanage, do the drama, and then go to McDonald's.
We went to the orphanage, and were impressed by how nice it looked. Unfortunately, we ran out of time so we couldn't play with the kids too much, but there was one girl with cerebral palsy who us leaders held and played with during the drama.
Plan Number 5: We decided not to go to McDonald's, because dinner started an hour and a half after we left the orphanage.
Even though our day was absolutely nothing like how we imagined it would be, God used us in such an amazing way and it really was great that He messed up our plans.
(I'm really really tired right now, so I apologize in advance for any typos!)
We met Rafael, who is a local pastor and will be working with us today because he is starting a new church in the area, and he says that there have been two groups already who did the drama in the park on previous days so he suggests that we go to 2 nearby schools.
Plan Number 2: We go to one school, do the drama quickly, do the drama at the other school quickly, then go to McDonald's.
We went to the first school, and it was an amazing experience. It was a public school, but the teachers and staff were able to be very open about God and welcomed us in warmly. We performed the drama, and then went to play with the kids and pray with some of them too. A group of 5 of us went up to the two women in charge of the school, and we asked them to bring them kids who needed prayer for special circumstances in their lives.
They told us that the father of the first little boy she brought had been killed two years ago, and that he lived in a very violent place and his mother was struggling to provide food for the family. We prayed for him, and he was so glad to receive it, we could see it in his face.
The next little girl they brought to us was named Karen, and her family was going through some fighting and struggles. We prayed for her, and afterwards, she latched on to our LIT Molly, following her around and playing with her. Her fingers very slowly let go of Molly's as we left.
The next little girl they brought was named Jaquelin, and she was suffering similar circumstances to those of Karen. We prayed for her, and then she wrapped her arms around me and held on for 15 minutes. I was humbled that God put me in a place to love her for those few minutes we spent together.
As we were ready to leave the school, we realized that we had spent too long there, and could not make it to school number 2.
Plan Number 3: We would go to a piece of land that had just donated to Pastor Rafael by a non-Christian who wanted to have a church in the area, and pray for it, and then go to McDonald's.
Our bus couldn't make it up the winding lane to the land, so we had to park about half a mile away and walk the rest of the way. On the way, some of us were talking to Pastor Rafael, and he told us that he had a ministry in Chimaltenango, which is a nearby town, that reached out to about 200 nearby kids. He had some sort of Bible School he did with them, and then he would try his best to provide lunch for them because the kids came from very very poor areas. The reason he wanted to start a church in San Lucas, where we were, was because there were kids there who wanted to go to Chimaltenango, but couldn't because he couldn't transport them there.
When we got to the land, one of the first things we noticed was a sinkhole about 10 feet in diameter that had just opened up on the border of the land. Looking from a safe distance, we couldn't see the bottom. It was an amazing thing to see.
We prayed over the land for a long time, and several of us gave money to Pastor Rafael because he had nothing to build his church with, just the land. Next, Molly lead us in several songs.
We left the field after praying and singing, and as we were a little bit of the way down the path, a man came out of a building labeled "The Oasis" and flagged us down. He was an American, and he, along with his wife and several other people, ran the Christian orphanage for 60 girls that we were passing. They were about to start their computer class for the girls at the orphanage, when the power went out. He could hear us singing on the hill where the land was, and was curious to know who was singing the songs that he recognized.
Plan Number 4: We would enter the orphanage, do the drama, and then go to McDonald's.
We went to the orphanage, and were impressed by how nice it looked. Unfortunately, we ran out of time so we couldn't play with the kids too much, but there was one girl with cerebral palsy who us leaders held and played with during the drama.
Plan Number 5: We decided not to go to McDonald's, because dinner started an hour and a half after we left the orphanage.
Even though our day was absolutely nothing like how we imagined it would be, God used us in such an amazing way and it really was great that He messed up our plans.
(I'm really really tired right now, so I apologize in advance for any typos!)
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Orphanage Numero Uno
Hello everyone!
Today we had an amazing day at an orphanage about 45 minutes from the hotel. There are about 60 boys who live there, and about 40 girls and boys from the village nearby come there during the day to eat and hang out. The kids get put into the orphanage by the courts because their parents are dead, or else are incarcerated. The minimum stay is 1 year, but some kids grow up there.
We started off by playing with the kids, then we did the drama. After more playing, a thunderstorm rolled in and we had to help frantically take laundry off the drying line. For most of the d
ay, I played with a little girl named Madalia (I think that's how you spell it...) who was enchanted by my digital camera. She took a few hundred pictures of the orphanage, the other kids, and me!
This is her and I, right after we finished the drama and she asked Christ to forgive her!
We all had a really amazing day today, but our rest day tomorrow will be nice as well.
Love from Guatemala!
Today we had an amazing day at an orphanage about 45 minutes from the hotel. There are about 60 boys who live there, and about 40 girls and boys from the village nearby come there during the day to eat and hang out. The kids get put into the orphanage by the courts because their parents are dead, or else are incarcerated. The minimum stay is 1 year, but some kids grow up there.
We started off by playing with the kids, then we did the drama. After more playing, a thunderstorm rolled in and we had to help frantically take laundry off the drying line. For most of the d
ay, I played with a little girl named Madalia (I think that's how you spell it...) who was enchanted by my digital camera. She took a few hundred pictures of the orphanage, the other kids, and me!This is her and I, right after we finished the drama and she asked Christ to forgive her!
We all had a really amazing day today, but our rest day tomorrow will be nice as well.
Love from Guatemala!
Friday, July 2, 2010
Today we had a really long ride, but I am glad that we got to cross the lake. We had an amazing Fuagnem! What I personally got out of it, is that no matter what I am involved in - sports, bands, etc. - it's not my identity.
I am not Kimber, the girl who plays sports and sings in worship band at youth group! I am Kimber, the disciple whom Jesus loves!
And another thing I learned is that yeah I tend to focus on what I've done wrong - my falls - but God focuses on what steps I take to getting closer to Him - my steps. So I need to try to focus on them too.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Guatemala here we come!
I can't belive we are leaveing today! We have learned our Drama and are all set. Please be praying for us as we fly into Guatemala and get ready to minister to the people of Guatemala. And for first time international travalers such as myself and that we will remember Joshua 1:9.
Thanks for every ones support!
Thanks for every ones support!
Travel Day!
Well here it is, the day we've been waiting for! Tonight, we will go to sleep in the hotel in Guatemala, and tomorrow we get up bright and early to visit Lake Atitlan, about 3 hours away from Antigua. It was gorgeous last summer, and I can't wait to see it again!
Yesterday, our LIT Jessica gave us some backpacks, pens, and chapstick that had been donated by a generous member of her home church. We really appreciate them!
I ought to go finish my last minute packing now, but I will be able to update every day now!
~Hannah
Yesterday, our LIT Jessica gave us some backpacks, pens, and chapstick that had been donated by a generous member of her home church. We really appreciate them!
I ought to go finish my last minute packing now, but I will be able to update every day now!
~Hannah
We leave for Guatemala TODAY!!!! :D :D :D
These last three days in Miami have awesome. Drama training was fun, difficult at times, but over all lots of fun. A few of my teammates have already left, but the rest of us don't leave for our flight until 12ish. 12:15 is the lobby time, :) I can't wait to be in Guatemala! It's gonna be awesome!
(Hannah - thanks again for teaching me how to use the blog!)
(Hannah - thanks again for teaching me how to use the blog!)
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