Family Visit to Guatemala
Dear Friends,
What a blessed Thanksgiving we had here in Guatemala. Bob's relatives (brother and family and sister and family) all came for a visit for the week......oh, and my neice's fiancé, Jordan, as well! (Carolyn and Jordan absent from above photo)
We packed a lot into this family trip as for many of them it was their first time here in Guatemala and we wanted them to see and experience as much as possible. We visited two of our rural childcare centers so both families could meet their sponsored children, spent two days working with 3rd graders at our largest school here in Guatemala City, saw the sights in and around Guatemala City...and of course enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving Day together.
The family prepared and implemented 3 different activities to share with the children during their two days at our school - crafts, games and Bible stories! They brought many donations from their churches, friend and relatives and did a GREAT job teaching and having fun with 65 3rd graders! Thank you to ALL who donated so many things! Here's a few pictures of part of their ministry - craft time.
On the first day all the kids made their own t-shirts by using stamps and fabric markers and stencils. On the second day the kids all made stamped cards for family and friends.
Wwe took a trip into the "ravine" one afternoon. Most of the children that AMG ministers to are very poor and here in Guatemala City many of them live in the ravine that winds its way through the city. On Wednesday afternoon, we walked to the home of little David, a sponsored boy here at our school in Verbena. My brother took pictures of David as he showed us the way to his home.....down into the steep ravine we went, all the way to the bottom, then up the other side and finally to David's small house of wood and tin. They had no electricity, no running water, no bathroom, no kitchen. Just a one room structure for shelter. It was a sobering reminder to us of the poverty that exists in most parts of the world. I wish everyone could experience the sights, sounds and smells of such a visit.
We want to thank our family for coming to share time with us this Thanksgiving. And we want to thank the staff members of AMG Guatemala who helped to make the time so special.
Love from all the Hastings.
