What’s happening?

    Well, it’s been a little while since I’ve written a blog and I apologize for not keeping you all up to date on what has been happening here in Guatemala. It has really been a few different things that have been going on. The thing that has been hitting me the most is learning not just about orphan care, but the orphaned heart and mind as well. We are working 3-4 days a week at an orphanage called Casa Shalom (http://www.casashalom.net). You can check out their site to see more about them and some of the kids that I am working with. I am working in a 6-12 year old girls house and have absolutely fallen in love with each girl there. I’ll sit down and interact with one of them and think “this is the coolest, sweetest girl ever” and then I sit down with another one and she’s just as amazing. The name of the house is Estrellitas, which means little stars and that is just so spot on. Unfortunately, despite how absolutely incredible these girls are, they are so hurt and damaged on the inside. Most, if not all of them, have been victim to physical or sexual abuse. We have been learning how much that changes the way they act, trust, and love and it just tears me up to hear and see it. When we go on mission trips and go into an orphanage for a couple days and then go home, we really are not helping these kids the way they need help. We walk in and they run up to you and hug you and hold your hand and it is just filling up our “love cup” to the rim. The sad thing is, that due to the trauma they endured they use signs of affection as a way to keep you from getting too close to them. They have seen so many missionaries come through and and leave at the end of the week so they know if they just play the part of the adorable little orphan that they will not have to build a trusting relationship. There is soooo much to all of this and more areas that are hard to hear about, but luckily God has lead us here for more than a week and has given us His eyes for these kids through some of the staff at Casa Shalom that have been informing us about these things. I ask that you be in prayer for breakthrough for these kids and let them see how much they are desired by their Father in Heaven. If you would like to hear more about what we’ve been learning about the orphaned heart and mind please feel free to email me at: [email protected].
    Outside of orphanage work, we have been going through some classes and discipleship on our calling and our identity. I’m so grateful for being here. There has already been breakthroughs and revelations occurring amongst myself and my group. This is going to be a wild ride the rest of my time here for both my team and for the kids at Casa Shalom because God is still moving and hearts will be forever changed. This was a pretty jumbled up blog and I apologize, it would be a lot more organized had I wrote about it sooner but there has just been so much going on. Again, if you have any questions for me, please email me!! God bless you all and thank you for all your support.