Sign up to receive updates from Guatemala

If you'd like to receive emails/updates from the Hales Corners Lutheran mission team while we're in Guatemala June 7-15, Click here to join the Google group or subscribe to the RSS feed.

By adding yourself to this Google group, you will be placed on our mailing list. Dona Marinello, our communications coordinator or myself will send periodic e-mails to the group while we're in Guatemala to keep you all up-to-date on our activities there. Feel free to subscribe to group e-mails or just to check in. (Don't forget to bookmark the page!) If you would prefer to subscribe via rss reader, here is our rss feed address: http://groups.google.com/group/HCLguate08/feed/rss_v2_0_msgs.xml this feed is also available by clicking the orange xml image at the bottom of the group home page.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me - amykant@gmail.com.

Blessings,
Amy

In-Kind donations needs 4/29/08

Less than 5 weeks until we go to Guatemala!

Here's a list of the In-Kind Donations we need to collect for our mission trip to Guatemala in June (urgent needs in red):

Hygiene Kit Items

• Shampoo
• Deodorant
• Wash Cloth
• Hand towel

School/Office Supplies

• Backpacks (K-6)
• Overhead Transparencies
  

Other

• Plastic bins (shoebox size and larger)
• Craft supplies (foam, tissue paper, scrap booking paper, construction paper, pipe cleaners, yarn, beads & buttons)

Clinic Items

• Children’s Chewable Multivitamins
• Adult Multivitamins
• Surgical tape
• Tongue depressors
• Antibiotics
• Decongestants
• Caladryl lotion
• Benadryl
• Albuterol
• Anti-fungal ointments
• UTI test strips
• Diabetic test strips
• Ophthalmic ointments
  

If you are willing/able to help us out by donating any of these items, please contact me at amykant@gmail.com and I will make arrangements to pick up the items.

Thank you!

Dios te bendiga.

Updated In-Kind Donations Needs

Less than 2 months til the team from Hales Corners will be in Guatemala! I still need to raise about $200 for my portion of the trip.

Here's a list of the In-Kind Donations we need to collect for our mission trip to Guatemala in June (urgent needs in red):

Hygiene Kit Items

• Shampoo
• Deodorant
• Wash Cloth
• Hand towel

Ziploc Bags

• 2.5 Gallon
• Gallon
• Sandwich
• Snack

School/Office Supplies

• Backpacks (K-6)
• Overhead Transparencies
  

Other

• Plastic bins (shoebox size and larger)
• Craft supplies (foam, tissue paper, scrap booking paper, construction paper, pipe cleaners, yarn, beads & buttons)

Clinic Items

• Children’s Chewable Multivitamins
• Adult Multivitamins
• Surgical tape
• Tongue depressors
• Antibiotics
• Decongestants
• Caladryl lotion
• Benadryl
• Albuterol
• Anti-fungal ointments
• UTI test strips
• Diabetic test strips
• Ophthalmic ointments
• Ear syringe

If you are willing/able to help us out by donating any of these items, please contact me at amykant@gmail.com and I will make arrangements to pick up the items.

Thank you!

Dios te bendiga.

Photos from Guatemala

I've created an album of some of my photos I took while in Guatemala last summer.

Want to check it out?

Click here!

Need Your Support

Well, I'm headed back to Guatemala this June. I am leading (eek!) the team from my church, Hales Corners Lutheran, to work with The Servant's Heart in Guatemala City, Antigua & Amatitlan.

If you've read my journal entries below, you know what a moving and truly unique experience this was for me.

My church has been supporting THE SERVANT’S HEART, a mission started by Carla Burnell in 1990 to the Guatemalan people who live and work in The Guatemala City garbage dump. These people have been displaced from their mountain villages from years of civil war and they are “the poorest of the poor” in Guatemala.

The Servant’s Heart is a Lutheran ministry and an RSO (Recognized Service Organization) with the Board of Human Care Missions through the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.

I will be going with 9 others June 7-15 2008 to experience and volunteer in this exciting ministry.

The people who live in “the dump” have no hope. THE SERVANT’S HEART ministry is vital because it works holistically with these people to provide HOPE through Jesus that they, too, can have a glorious future.

As part of this mission team, we will lead several Bible studies / presentations for the children and adults, help train the young people from the dump who are being discipled and raised up as leaders, and teach a hygiene or first-aid class as well as doing medical clinics. We will provide these programs at “the dump,” in Amatitlan, the ministry’s second site, in our new Lutheran school and at two senior centers.

We would like you to join us and be a part of this mission trip. First of all, WE NEED YOUR PRAYERS! We ask that you pray:
• For God to equip and anoint our team for this experience.
• For the protection and safety of our mission team.
• That God would meet our needs spiritually, physically and financially.
• That hearts will be touched and brought to faith.

Secondly, we are asking for financial support. Our trip will cost $1700 per person (including airfare). The $1000 includes lodging, meals, transportation in Guatemala and all other expenses while there. If you would like to help us financially, make out your checks to Hales Corners Lutheran Church and put AMY KANT (HCL 08) on the memo portion of your check. This will allow your contribution to be tax deductible. You can either send your donation to me via mail (please send me an e-mail to arrange - amykant@gmail.com) ... or you can send your donation to:

Wayne Kestner
Hales Corners Lutheran Church
12300 W Janesville Rd
Hales Corners, WI 53130

We are excited to have been given this opportunity to use our talents and gifts to serve our Lord in this exciting ministry. We thank you and greatly appreciate your support and generosity. May God bless you abundantly as you are blessing us and The Servant’s Heart.

If you would like to also support my team by your generous gift of in-kind donations please see the current list by clicking here.

Please note: all donations are tax-deductible.

Serving Together,
Amy

Thank You!!!

A big thank you to everyone who sponsored me on this trip to Guatemala to work with The Servant's Heart. None of this would have been possible without all of you.

Experience the trip with me by reading through my journals and looking at all the photos.

Please keep the ministry in your thoughts and prayers.

I plan to return to Guatemala City during June 2008 to once again work with The Servant's Heart. Please keep me and the new team in your thoughts and prayers as we prepare for this journey.

If you are interested in being a part of the team, either by traveling with us or supporting our work with financial or in-kind donations, please e-mail me.

Many blessings.

Dios te bendiga!
Amy

Message Home #3

Dios te bendiga! (God bless you!)

Hello once again and greetings from Guatemala! Thursday was a very emotional day for the team. The day began around 8:30 as we packed into the vans for Amatitlan for more house visits.

We caravaned with the other team (from Trinity Lutheran in Davenport, IA) to Amatitlan.

After a quick pit stop, we split into two groups for house visits. The first stop for some of us was the home of Maria Olinda, a woman we first met Monday when we had a women's Bible study/service in Amatitlan. We were greeted by her adorable, flea-infested dog, cat and pigeons. (Yes, we're all getting bit up by fleas and other bugs. I think I should have taken some of my dogs' Frontline flea repellant before I left!) Maria Olinda has a heavy heart. She is currently battling breast and lung cancer…and the doctors think it's spreading to her back and the rest of her body. Her 36-year-old daughter, Leti, and three grandchildren are currently living with her. There are twin 10-year-old boys, Oscar and Jose…and a 9-year-old named Maria.

Maria Olinda is so proud of her grandchildren. They're all in school and doing well. This is such a blessing down here in Guatemala!!! Maria Olinda touched our hearts deeply. She is very ill, and yet, she told us, "I know nothing is impossible with my Lord." She is currently on chemotherapy which really drains her energy. She has a heavy heart because she worries what will happen to her family if she doesn't make it to tomorrow.

We shared a couple Bible passages with her – Lamentations 3:19-26, which says:

"The thought of my suffering and homelessness is bitter beyond words. I will never forget this awful time as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness, his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, "The Lord is my inheritance; therefore I will hope in him!" The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him. So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord."

We also shared Romans 12:13-15 with her.

"When God's people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you. Don't curse them, pray that God will bless them. Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep."

After this, we gathered around Maria Olinda and with our arms, minds and bodies wrapped around her, we said a special prayer for her. What a special moment it was, to see the Holy Spirit at work in that cramped space. He certainly can fit anywhere! Please say a prayer for Maria Olinda that God will keep her in his loving arms and that he will keep her faith in him strong…so that she knows her body will be perfect when she meets him face to face in heaven.

This house visit was a little difficult for our new friend and brother in Christ, Coca. Afterwards, he was drive-heaving and we weren't quite sure what happened. We would soon find out.

We walked back to the ministry and hopped into the van to head to our next stop. We kept getting lost and had to ask for directions on more than one occasion. The ministry workers have not had this type of problem before this week, so it was a bit odd. Later in the day, we realized the devil was hard at work to keep us from meeting our new sister in Christ Jesus.

Hugo (another young ministry worker) knocked on the door. I cannot speak for my other group members…but as I approached the building, I was overcome with an indescribable feeling. As I describe what transpired upon our entrance, I feel I must tell you that I cannot effectively paint the picture for you. I fear I won't do this special moment in time justice, but I will certainly try. This was an experience that shook us to our very core, the very essence of our being.

After a short time, an older woman opened the door. We also recognized her from Monday's activities. Her name is Dominga. Dominga is suffering from severe head pain (we're not sure what it is from) but she is also cross-eyed, so perhaps that had something to do with it. She invited us in the front room and then told Coca something. She left the room and came back with her friend, Alba. Alba was also ill (we're not sure what). Alba was not a Christian. She was born Catholic but had fallen away. Coca spoke with her for awhile and then told us that Alba wanted to accept Jesus in her life and in her heart. Coca then turned to us and said he was scared. His hands were sweaty and he told us he'd never felt anything like what was happening right then. We all felt it. What "it" was can only be described as God at work. Coca then approached Alba and started speaking to her. By this point, some of us were so overcome with emotion that we were physically shaking. As the group surrounded Dominga and Alba, you could feel – not see, not hear – but FEEL the Holy Spirit at work.

None of us in the room could really speak Spanish, but for some reason, we knew what Coca was saying. What was most eerie about this experience was every time Coca said "Diablo" (the devil), the metal doors would rumble and shake. When he said Jesus, the birds chirped. And every time Alba said she wanted to have Jesus in her heart, everything was calm.

Please say a prayer of thanks for Dominga who brought her friend into our lives – and more importantly, into our hearts. Say a prayer that the seed of faith planted in Alba today will become a strong branch and grow into the glorious vine of Christ Jesus. Send a prayer of thanks to God for Coca and for using him to bring this special child of God back to faith.

Even more than 10 hours later, this experience still has many of us shook up. When others from our team and the Iowan team ask us about the experience, there's not much we can say. Unless you were in the room, you could never know the things we felt this morning.

Please keep our team in your thoughts and prayers. Pray for our health and continued safety here in Guatemala.

Blessings and love,

Amy

Message Home #2

Hola mi familia y amigos!

Tuesday morning Edgar and Adrian took us on a tour of the Servants Heart primary and middle schools. We visited each classroom and were introduced to all 148 children currently served by the ministry. The children, most of which are from the squatters' area, were adorable and incredibly sweet and welcoming to us. They loved to ask us questions. The questions we kept hearing were, "How old are you?" "What is your name?" "What is your job?" "Are you single, married or have children?" "What's your favorite sport?" and "What's your favorite food?" The children were especially excited to hear that Chris worked with police, Heather was 16 and single, and that I (Amy) worked in television. They kept calling me a movie star.

In the afternoon we had the opportunity to serve lunch to people in the squatters' area through the ministry's La Provision soup kitchen. The ladies who work in the ministry's kitchen made a HUGE pot of soup and juice and the guys loaded up the truck with the soup, Styrofoam bowls, plastic spoons, soap, towels, water & juice.

Once we walked into the squatters' area of Guatemala City, we set up shop out of the back of the ministry's big red truck. Some of us used the soap, water and towels to wash the hands of those coming for nourishment. A couple of us were handing out juice while the rest were scooping up soup and pouring it into bowls and handing the soup out to the squatters.

We were so thankful to experience such powerful moments with these people. The appreciative looks on their faces were absolutely priceless. Some of the people were just so thankful for SOUP!!! Have you ever been so hungry that you gobbled down hot soup in the middle of summer…and kept going back for more? That is what it's like for these people. A couple men in particular kept coming back for seconds, thirds, fourths, etc… It was fairly obvious that this was their only meals in quite some time. I suppose when you don't know when or where your next meal is coming from, you might as well bulk-up. It is so difficult to comprehend that feeling…especially since we come from such a blessed and prosperous country. We feel guilty here if we can't finish all the food the ladies make for us for every meal. It is such an overwhelming feeling of wastefulness. Almost too difficult to describe.

Afterwards, we went back to the ministry where our team, led by Joanne, gave a hygiene class for the 5th, 6th and 7 th graders. We talked about germs, bathing, washing hands, brushing teeth and using deodorant. The kids had a lot of fun with it.

Wednesday, the boys (Coca, Adrian, Hugo and Edgar) took us to the Central Market in Guatemala City where we did some shopping! It was very neat to see all the different vendors…selling everything from bags and blankets to toilet paper holders and shot glasses. At one point, the electricity went out in the market and all the lights went off. Luckily, we were all near the lighted areas by the stairs so we didn't have to worry about being in danger.

In the afternoon, we went to the cemetery overlooking the dump. In this case, pictures would definitely speak louder than words, but, unfortunately, you will have to wait until we return to see them. However, I am afraid the photos may not do the experience justice. It is heartbreaking to watch these people scavenge in other people's waste to sustain life for themselves and their families.

To see the conditions these people work in was almost too much for some of us to handle. The stench of the city's trash and filth is indescribable, the sights unbearable, the sounds of vultures overhead frightening. For those of us who'd been to the dump a couple years ago, it was a very difficult experience. The dump is now about 30 feet from the top of the valley by the cemetery. It was also difficult to see all the coffins thrown over the edge into the dump because families couldn't afford to keep paying rent on the crypts in the cemetery.

Then we took a tour of the different areas of the ministry – the woodshop, screen-printing area and sewing room. What a neat experience it was to meet all the workers and get to know them a little more!!

Once school was done, a bunch of the kids from the school and the squatters' area came to one of the ministry buildings where we did our VBS for all of them. The 125+ children were jammed in a room about 20x30 feet in size. Our puppets came out and the kids absolutely loved everything! They were so happy to sing with us and to hear our lesson. When we were done, they split us into two groups who each took about half the children to make our little puppet crafts! The kids absolutely loved making their own little "Whiskers" (cat puppets) and had a lot of fun using glue dots and crayons to make beautiful puppets. We got them to all make cat noises, too!

Thursday should be another special day…as we will make more house visits in Amatitlan and spend time working with teachers and students at the school on their English.

Please continue to keep our team in your thoughts and prayers. Ask God to keep us safe and healthy until we return home to all of you.

Blessings and love in Christ Jesus,
Amy

Day Four - July 10, 2007

Today was a very difficult day for me. I saw so much poverty, so much hardship, so much pain. And yet, some of these people were stronger in their faith than I could ever hope to be.

This morning, we left the ministry house at 7:15 to do a devotion with the teachers at the school. Then, we got a tour of all the classrooms. The children were so precious and happy to see us.

First was the kindergarteners who were just so cute. Then, we went to a room with kindergarteners and 1st grade where we saw Lillian, Manuel's daughter. She ran up to Heather so I sat in her seat which made all the kids laugh (it was a very tiny desk). I had kids reaching out to touch and hug me. What they did not know was how their physical touch embraced my heart more than my body. It touched my heart.

We visited all the classrooms and the children were so precious. We got to ask their names, favorite games/sports/foods and what they wanted to be when they grew up. Some children wanted to be soccer players, teachers, doctors, lawyers, chemists, secretaries, etc. One boy said he wanted to have good grades so he could move on to the next level.

They were very curious about us as well. They wanted to know our names, ages, favorite sports/foods, if we were married or had kids and what we did for a living. They were most excited to hear Heather was 16 and single...that Chris worked in law enforcement and that I worked in TV. I think something was lost in translation because the kids started calling me a movie star. :)

A couple of the little ones had SpongeBob SquarePants shirts on so I kept laughing with them about SpongeBob!

Another funny experience was meeting Ilberto, a student at the school. We first met him in one room and then it turned out he was actually in a different classroom and we met him there, too. What a silly boy. I bet he is a trouble-maker. We also got to meet Coca's sister and brother.

After we finished the tour of the school, we were split into two groups for more house visits. The other group had two stops...but we only made one.

We went to Beatrice's "home." She is 29 and a mother of three. She is such a strong woman. Beatrice is in her second marriage and things aren't going well for her. She has an alcoholic father who is no longer around or living with them. Her husband works for a pharmacy and abusing drugs there. It broke my heart to hear her story. When she was pregnant, her husband thought she was having a boy so when she had little Melissa (now 6 mo.), her husband said he didn't want anything to do with Melissa or the rest of the family anymore. He is basically completely absent except for sleeping at night.

Despite all her problems, she was so thankful for what little she did have -- including the health of her three children. Beatrice said it was more difficult now that Manuel (8) was back living with her because it was hard to provide for another person. Manuel had been living with his paternal grandparents because they had more money and were able to provide him with a better life.

What was most touching for me was when Heather became very faint and almost blacked out. Chris and Dawn took her aside to sit down and then Beatrice ran to one of her plants and ripped a branch off. She brought it to heather and told her to smell it. It was amazing how quickly it worked. Then, Beatrice was more concerned with Heather's well-being than for her own. She wanted us to pray for Heather instead of herself. What an amazing and strong woman in her faith!

We went back to the ministry for a delicious lunch made by the women there. It was rice, potatoes and some type of sauce. When we were done, my team went back to the squatters area for La Provision (soup kitchen) and the other team went to the cemetery to see the garbage dump. La Provision was a very moving experience! Some of us washed the people's hands while others served soup and juice. I think I saw some of the same men come through the line nearly a dozen times. It broke my heart to see these starving men. I'd guess they hadn't eaten in days and didn't know where their next meal was coming from...and that's why they ate so much and so fast.

I will never forget the love and appreciation on their faces as we served them. It was very difficult to see their situation and to know that they may never leave this place.

I helped a little boy carry the soup back to his home. His family just kept thanking me for the little bit of food I did provide him with.

Some of the people we helped were, like this family, just so appreciative for the soup. SOUP!!! I may never look at soup the same way again.

After we ran out of water for washing, juice and soup, we packed up to go back to the ministry where our team led a hygiene class for the 5-7th graders. Joanne did all the talking and taught the kids about germs, bathing, washing hands, brushing teeth and using deodorant.

After the hygiene class, we sat around awhile before the afternoon Bible class with the ministry workers. Collin from the other team took charge.

Today we also had the opportunity to do a VBS with the children from the squatters school. It was the Iowan team's turn and it was really neat to see what they had prepared. The kids loved it and their bracelet craft was a hit!

When we returned to the mission house, I had a really great talk with Chris, Tom, Maria and Melissa. Then, it was time for taquitos! They were tortillas wrapped around bologna and cheese and then deep-fried. We also had some spicy red sauce and veggies. Dinner was absolutely delicious! I think I got a little sick from the cheese. Darn lactose intolerance!

After dinner, I had a long talk with Ginny Holmes and David. Ginny is a long-term mission worker from the U.S. and David is a team leader and member of the Servant's Heart Board of Directors. I volunteered to take over the website. We had a wonderful talk and I am really getting the feeling that my work is not done here. God has a plan for me. One week is not enough.

Message home #1

Hola familia y amigos!

Blessings and love to you all from Guatemala!

It has been an exciting and exhausting three days working here with El Corazon del Servidor (The Servant's Heart). Below you will see a compilation of our experiences so far, as well as a short message from your loved ones serving the Lord here in Guatemala.

When we first arrived at the airport in Milwaukee and were checking in, we realized that Chris Daughtry (former American Idol contestant and rock star) was there checking in at the Delta desk as well. He had just played at Summerfest Friday night and Heather and myself approached him for a quick picture. Even at 4 a.m. he was willing to smile for a picture (eat your heart out, fellow FOX 6 employees!!!) :)

When we arrived in Guatemala, we were greeted by Coca, Adrian, Hugo, Eduardo and Manuel. They got our things packed up atop the ministry's van and brought us to the mission house where we are staying for the week. We got acclimated to the house and then a group of us went to the other mission house to unpack all the in-kind donations you all so generously supplied for the people here. It was amazing to see and feel all the love in the items there.

We are working here with a team from Davenport Iowa. They are from Trinity Lutheran and have been such a joy to work with. We didn't get to really meet them until Sunday morning when we went to Cristo Rey (Christ the King) for church. While we didn't understand word for word what the ministers were saying, we knew that God was certainly working in the hearts of his people here. We also had an opportunity to take the Lord's Supper which was such a special experience.

Sunday afternoon was spent getting to know our new Iowan friends and to continue to get used to our new surroundings. Talk about a culture shock! If we want a Diet Coke ("Coke Light") we must be accompanied by one of the ministry workers and walk to the corner store. The stores here in Guatemala city have bars on them so we stand outside and make our "orders."

We had a great first day (Monday) working with people from Guatemala. We are constantly greeted with waves and smiles. It is an emotional experience to see the strength and perseverance of the wonderful and kind people here. -- Tom

It was a slow start, but things picked up. Our group's first visit was very emotional yet rich with the grace of God. Not much has changed since last time. Faces are a little older and it's nice to see new faces. -- Evonne

Monday, prior to the afternoon ministry, a big thunderstorm hit Amatitlan, causing the canvas cover to leak in many areas. The ladies who were attending the service were moved into the mission house and the children to the 2nd floor. The ministry then continued with a crowded room, but a wonderful message delivered by Marilyn, the newest member of our group. -- David

Dear Anna, Eric & Art, How are you doing? I miss you all. Monday we did a VBS program for some children and also visited two homes. Each house was about the size of your bedrooms, kids! I also had to give an impromptu sermon for about 60-70 women. Thank God that the Holy Spirit was with me so that it turned out pretty good. Tuesday we visited the school and did the VBS again. Love, Mom (Marilyn)

Monday was our first day out in the mission field. We worked with another mission team from Iowa. The people here are very welcoming and full of love. Together we have seen how powerful the Holy Spirit is through prayer and worship. The highlight of my day was getting to hold a little baby girl in Amatitlan and watching the children play with Chris and the puppets. I can't wait to see you all and share more. -- Melissa

The weather is beautiful (with the exception of the thunderstorm yesterday) and so are the people. God's spirit is alive here. Please keep our team in your prayers as we continue the rest of the week to do God's work. Blessings, Maria P.S. A special hi to my precious Colleen and Daniel - I love you both very much. P.P.S. I love you and thank you for supporting me Mike!

Hola mi familia y amigos! (Gary, please forward this to everyone you can think of!) Hello my loves, Gary, Ashley, Bryan and Erik! I hope you're having fun with daddy! I love you! Guatemala is a place of extreme poverty and we are immersed in the culture from morning until night. Monday we did four home visits and the experience was emotionally overwhelming. I'm quite sure we planted seeds of faith today - seeds that will be cultivated by the Holy Spirit. I've met many wonderful people and I enjoy playing with the children, My Spanish is coming back to me and I am able to communicate with the people if they speak very slowly. That's very exciting for me. We are having a wonderful, meaningful time here. Talk to you all soon, Joanne.

Hola Wisconsin! God is such a blessing here with the Guatemalans. Even though they don't have much, they are so thankful. Tuesday we went to the school -- what an amazing experience. (NOTE from Amy: all the boys were VERY taken with Heather. They kept calling her mui bonita which means very beautiful!) We are excited and God is still working through us and we are very safe here. -- Heather

This has been and still is a very special week for me. The love that these people have for God is so wonderful. As I interact with them, I find that my family in Christ is growing by leaps and bounds. I am looking forward to next week when I begin to teach the kids english but I know that what I teach them will be nothing compared to what they have taught me already. I love you all, Chris.

I would like to share a couple experiences I had (along with others in our group) with you all.

Monday, we met a woman named Maria. For 29 years, she has suffered more than I could ever imagine. She has some type of sore/open wound on her right calf that has eaten her skin down to the bone. And yet, she thanks God for what little she DOES have. She showed us her wounds and it made us sick to our stomachs. To be honest with you all, what we saw on her leg was more than I could have ever imagined. It looked like something had taken a bite out of her leg. The wound was at least a half-inch deep from the top of her skin on the rest of her leg. We prayed for her and read the Bible. Coca, one of the ministry workers here, told us it is hard for him to see this woman who has been dealing with this "thorn" in her flesh for 29 years and praying to God for relief when she received none.

Maria was crying and you could just feel the love of God in the cramped, sardine-can of a home. I asked Coca to share with Maria Isaiah 40:31, which says, "They that wait upon the Lord will renew their strength. They will mount up on wings like eagles, they will walk and not be weary, they will run and not be faint." We all said a prayer for Maria and it was one of the most moving experiences of our lives. There was not a dry eye in the room. There is a reason why God cast this burden on Maria. We must remember that she will be perfect in heaven with her Savior.

Tuesday, we had the opportunity to do house visits with the people living in the squatters area (near the garbage dump). The group I was with met Beatrice, a 29-year-old woman. She had three children -- Manuel, 8, another boy and a 6-month-old named Melissa. It was amazing to see her faith and love for God, despite the horrific conditions she was living in. She was in her second marriage and things are not going well. Her father used to live with them, but is abusing alcohol and she hasn't seen him for quite some time. Her husband is abusing drugs. He works at a pharmacy and that's where he gets the drugs. She is basically living, raising and caring for these three children all alone. This was especially the case after Melissa was born. Her husband thought she was having a boy, and when Melissa was born and she was not a boy, Beatrice's husband refused to have anything to do with her or the family, because he wanted a son. So, now he only comes home for sleeping. Otherwise, he is absent and abusing drugs.

Despite the heartache and troubles Beatrice had, she said she was so thankful for the things she did have. She told us she didn't feel worthy of attending church, but she knew God loves her. She was thankful that her children were healthy...when so many others here are ill and suffering. What a humbling experience! She was more worried about others than herself and her own family...which was certainly the case when we were at her home. Heather became very faint and Beatrice rushed to take care of her... ripping a branch off one of her plants for us to wave under Heather's nose to bring her back to us. And, it worked. Beatrice didn't want us to pray for herself or her family...she wanted us to pray for HEATHER before we left. What an amazing and strong woman!!!

As you all can see, this has already been an emotionally draining, faith-building experience for every member of our team here. And, it's only Tuesday. We still have so many days to work with these people and build relationships with them through the love of Christ Jesus. Words cannot describe the amazing experiences we have had so far during our short stay here. Our God truly is an amazing God...and we are seeing his work first-hand here with the poorest of the poor.

I can see the truth and meaning behind Romans 8:28, which says, "And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." We have been called for this very purpose - to minister to the people of Guatemala and show them that they ARE worthy of God's love and compassion.

I'm sure your loved ones will have stories upon stories to share when we return. Please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers. Please also keep the ministry workers and those the ministry serves in your prayers, for they live this every day. We only live it for a short time compared to them.

Dios te bendiga! (God loves you)

Blessings and love in Senor Jesus,

Amy Kant

Day Three - July 9, 2007

Today was a great day. A very long, but very good day. At 8 a.m. we left for Amatitlan. We did our children's VBS for a half dozen kids at the ministry there. The ninos loved our puppets and had fun making their very own "Whiskers." They also loved playing and goofing around with Chris.

When we first arrived there, the little girls were calling me and Heather "bonitas" which means beautiful. I can't describe just how this touched my heart. After VBS, we left for house visits. We were split into two groups - half from HCL and half from Trinity. I was with Heather, Evonne, Chris, Maria, Jason, Collin, Matt, Sherri, Rachel & Kristen.

We went to a very run-down "house" in Amatitlan. To see the way these people live breaks my heart. The place was filthy, poorly built and had horrible structure. But, they had a beautiful garden with beautiful flowers. They also had chickens, ducks and a rooster. There was a boy named Samuel who was 10, a young girl and two older women.

We were there to see one of them, named Maria. She was in need of some serious medical help. Her right leg was, for lack of a better phrase, falling apart. She had what must have been some type of open sore that got infected with some flesh-eating bacteria. It had taken over her right calf and was pussy and downright disgusting. It looked like something took a bite out of her leg. The wound was at least a half inch deep from the skin. Coca prayed with her and then we read a portion of Hebrews 13 in both English and Spanish. Coca preached with her for a bit, talking about Christ's great love. He said it was so hard to see this woman who has been dealing with this for 29 years and praying to God for relief when she receives none. The woman was crying and you could just feel the love of God in that cramped, hot and sweaty room.

I asked Coca to share Isaiah 40:31 with Maria.

They that wait upon the Lord will renew their strenth. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will walk and not be wary, they will run and not be faint.

We then said a very lengthy prayer for Maria and it was one of the most powerful experiences of my life. There was not a dry eye in the room. I don't think I will ever forget Maria (at least, I hope I won't) and the thorn in her flesh. There is a reason why God cast this burden on her. We must remember that she will be perfect in heaven with Jesus one day.

After we all hugged Maria goodbye, we left for another house visit. It was in a much nicer part of Amatitlan -- within a gated community. We went to the home of Maria. Her home was a night and day difference from the first house visit today. She had TV, radio, nice furniture and a beautiful kitchen. Coca asked her what she would like us to pray for and she said her son, Alfredo, is an alcoholic. He's 32 and doesn't believe in God because he doesn't think his life is worth God's love. We shared some Bible passages with Maria and (I'm guessing) her mom. Maria became very overwelmed with emotion during this time.

We said a prayer for Maria and her son and then she wanted to share a snack with us. She had made fresh lemonade and had some crackers to show her appreciation for our presence in her home.

We then went outside and Coca said a prayer of thanks for God sending us to him and El Corazon del Servidor. I really admire Coca and his ability to use the Spirit in his work with the Guatemalan people.

Then it was time to go back to the ministry in Amatitlan for lunch. I had a PB&J sandwich and some chips. The Servant's Heart men set up the tarps over the courtyard -- planning to block the afternoon sun. If only they knew!!!

We made some hats with the group from Iowa. That was their craft for the children. Unfortunately, a few minutes later when the storm came, my hat lost some of its color.

When the women and children were arriving, they greeted all of us with a hug and kisses. It was so special.

A huge storm blew through Amatitlan. We thought the tarp roof would hold up but God had a different plan. The tarps started gathering rain water and began to collapse under the weight of the water. We tried to get some of the water off and got drenched instead. It was so funny because instead of freaking out, all the ladies and children began laughing hysterically.

We had to be flexible with our plans for the afternoon because we couldn't keep the women and children out in the courtyard. The Iowans took the kids upstairs for VBS and crafts while we got most of the women in the first floor room. Marilyn and the others began a service/bible study with them while some of us tried to take care of the rain and tarps. There were two women who stayed under the tarps because they didn't want to get wet anymore. I sat with them for awhile and sang some songs because I couldn't really speak with them in Spanish.

While it was raining, the street in front of the ministry became a river. It was so funny and we kept laughing while we were looking out the front door.

It was very interesting to see 60-70 women packed into a small room, eagerly listening to God's word. Very powerful, indeed. When they were praying at the end was a little freaky. Almost like seeing a group of people speaking in tongues (after all, it was a foreign language to me).

We gave them all hugs as they left and it was so amazing to experience. I even got to hold a little baby girl who was so precious.

After cleaning up, we headed back to Guatemala City. I had to dry out my shoes, socks, shirt and towel. Disgusting. I just hope my shoes will dry before tomorrow!

I will say prayers for those I met today and for Coca, who is wrestling with a difficult decision of whether or not to leave the ministry for another job opportunity with a different ministry.

Before supper, Adrian went to the grocery store for us. Many of us gave him money for Salsa Verde and Pepsi Light. I got two 3-packs of salsa to take home and a bunch of Diet Pepsi.

After eating a supper of fried chicken and potatoes, we had our devotion and then went downstairs to make hats with the team from Iowa. I made a hat for David and for the man who donated a lot of money toward our trip.

Day Two - July 8, 2007

Today has been very interesting. This morning we were all awake by 6:30 a.m. I think part of that is because most of the people went to bed early -- even before the other group (from Iowa) arrived. Chris, Heather and I stayed up and were goofing off on the front porch when they came back from the airport.

I made some scrambled eggs for everyone this morning. They were pretty good. Here, the eggs are a light brown and sit out on the counter. They don't keep the "butter" in the fridge, either.

Then, Heather and I spent the morning playing with Lillian (6) and Pahola (3). I braided their hair and we went photo crazy. I think the girls took at least 50 or 60 pix with my digital camera. They are so adorable. I also braided some other people's hair who asked me to when they saw what I did with the girls' hair.

The team from Davenport, Iowa came upstairs for awhile before church. We all introduced ourselves and mingled for a bit.

Then Lillian and Pahola took us up to their pace upstairs. We saw their parrot (Giovanni) and met their brothers, Manuel and Julio. It saddened me a bit to see their home. All 6 people share one bedroom. It's so tiny and makes me thankful for the things I have. There is no reason for me to complain.

Around 10:30 a.m. we left for church at Cristo Rey (Christ the King). The service was almost two hours long and in Spanish. I didn't understand very much, but was able to follow along with the liturgy pretty well. We also took communion there which was a cool experience (to take it in Spanish!)

After taking some group photos at Cristo Rey, we returned to the mission house.

Hales Corners Lutheran Team
(back) Tom, David, Joanne, Evonne, Marilyn, Maria
(front) Me, Chris, Heather, Melissa

Trinity Lutheran (Iowa) Team
(back) Justin, Collin, Jason, Jon, Kristen
(front) Levi, Matt, Sherri, Dawn, Rachel, Teresa

After a quick lunch, Heather and I asked Eduardo to take us to the Tienda. I got 8 Coke lights to share and they were gone within seconds. Then the boys (Coca, Eduardo, Hugo and Manuel) took us on a cultural activity excursion. We went to a place where they have a relief map of the entire country of Guatemala. It was interesting to see the variations of elevation in this country.



There were lots of beautiful flowers and other vegetation. We also saw the small museum there. It had a little gift shop where I got some cool postales (postcards).

When we came back from the cultural activity, Tom went with some of the guys and found out they were all out of Diet Coke. I must have cleaned them out earlier!

While the Iowan team went to unpack their supplies at the other mission house, we played with Lillian and relaxed.

Then, it was time to get supper ready and I volunteered to make it since there wasn't any sauce and I had found some tomatoes earlier in the day. Before I could attempt making a sauce from scratch, we had to use a special cleaner on the tomatoes and green pepper before boiling them. I made the sauce using 10 roma tomatoes, 1 green pepper, some butter, generic italian seasoning, salt and pepper. I was very happy with how it turned out, especially since I'd never made sauce from scratch before. Everyone seemed to really like it, so that made me feel good. After dinner, we had a devotion and practiced our VBS lesson.

Day One - July 7, 2007

7:22 a.m.

We're enroute to Atlanta from Milwaukee right now and experiencing quite a bit of turbulence.

Interesting note -- Chris Daughtry and his band are on our flight. I think most people are oblivious to this fact, but not me. Being the huge Idol fan I am and working for a FOX station, it's pretty much expected that I know these things.

Anyways, as we're sitting with all our luggage at the Delta counter at 4:15 this morning, we heard that Chris Daughtry was on our flight. He played at Summerfest last night so it makes sense that he'd be leaving early this morning. I told Heather we were going to get our picture with him, so I grabbed my camera and walked over to his posse and introduced myself. I said where I worked and that I loved his music. Then I asked if we could get a picture with him. What a sport he is! What celebrity lets you take a picture of them at 4 in the morning?

6:18 p.m.

We just finished eating our first Guatemalan meal. We had black bans, rice and a tasty fruit salad (pineapple, watermelon and cantalope). The meal was delicious!

Now, for a real update.

While we were waiting for our flight in Atlanta, we met a woman named Dawn. She was headed to Guatemala City to pick up her two adopted daughters, Madison and Brianna (Olga and Matilda). They welcomed her at the airport so we all got to meet the girls. They were so beautiful and excited to finally be going to America with their new mommy. (Dawn had already made a couple trips to Guatemala to meet the girls).

Manuel, Coca, Adrian and Hugo picked us up at the airport in the ministry's big blue van. They tied up our bags on the roof and we all piled in.

Once we were out of the airport, it was definitely a case of culture shock. The streets here are a night and day difference to cities in America.

Oh, we saw a Hooters billboard when we were leaving the airport. It said, "Bienvenides Guatemala" or, "Welcome to Guatemala" and had a sexy Hooters girl making a salute. It's quite funny to me to see how American culture can influence another.

Driving through Guatemala City was very eye-opening. We saw guards with big guns everywhere. There were street vendors walking through traffic selling roses and cell phone holders. Just bizzare mostly.

Once we got to the mission house, we picked bunks and started to settle in. Adrian went over some of the rules and guidelines to keep us safe here in Guatemala.

Then the boys took a group of us to the corner convenience store (tienda). Here, it's not Diet Coke, but Coke Light. I don't know why but it makes me smile. :)

After returning from the tienda, Tom, Chris, Heather Joanne and I went with the boys to the other mission house. We helped unload all the supplies and other in-kind donations for the ministry. It was amazing to see what everyone had donated to the mission. You can feel the love and support!

After unpacking all the supplies and donations, some of us played cards while others napped or played with Lillian and Pahola, Manuel's girls (who are absolutely adorable by the way!)

Let me just say one thing - it's so bizarre not to flush toilet paper. TP goes in a trashcan next to the toilet. I'm told it's because of poor plumbing here in Guatemala. I sure am glad that's not the case back home.

As I said before, we ate our dinner...then we shared some devotional time together.

I can already tell this will be a very special and spiritual week for me.

When I was going through my bags, I found a sweet card from my mom. It was very touching and almost made me cry. It was so awesome that she thought to do that. I am so loved. I am a lucky girl.

When I finally got a hold of my family using the cell phone provided our team, I had to give them a hard time for not answering when I first tried calling this afternoon. We were able to send text messages though, so that was very nice.