We've Arrived!

Praise God! We arrived safely in Guatemala!

Connie, Jen, Jazmin, Korissa, Kailey, Alle, Kelsey and I all met at the airport shortly after 6am this morning. There was one Dad who shed tears waving goodbye to his 2 daughters (though one is an adult now) as we went through security but we won't name names. On the flight to Dallas I asked the stewardess for a deck of cards but was informed that since 9/11 (safety precaution- we fear that some team members may be quite dangerous with cards...) they no longer give those out. I felt safer. She asked if we were traveling with a sports team and I told her about the work we were going to do with orphans. She loved what we were doing and thought the girls were so sweet so she gave me packages of M&M's, Chex Mix and ear phones for each of the girls. I was able to tell her about the work at Village of Hope and that we were doing this in the name of Jesus. After a bumpy decent we arrived safely in Dallas.

After our safe arrival a few members of the team almost lost a limb trying to hold the door of the tram open but Jen threw herself into harms way to save our children. After a short ride through this sprawling airport, we made our way to Fridays to enjoy some healthy salads before we left the country, though I did see one plate of chicken strips and fries at the other table. Oh and pot stickers. But I did see lettuce too. Us 3 ladies happily ate our salads.

Suddenly we heard a sound like the ice bucket challenge at the next table and we looked over to see a surprised Jazmin with soaked clothes. Kelsey had knocked over a large glass of ice water onto Jazmin and a menu. After this comical accident, we moved on.

4 of the 8 of us voted to stop at the candy store so we obliged. Only one in our group stayed strong and did not purchase candy. With chocolate and food dyed sugar in hand we headed to our gate where we sat wondering if we were actually at the right gate. Come to find out the incoming plane was late so we waited an extra 30 minutes to board our plane to our final destination.

The second leg of our journey passed quickly with just a bit of turbulence before landing. We passed through customs, found all our bags and exited the airport to find Todd Block (missionary) and and Byron (employee at VOH) waiting for us. 200Q for the guys at the airport to take all our bags to the van (and avoid all your luggage going through a scanner) and another 40Q for different guys to put it in the van. Well worth it!

And as tradition would have it we stopped at Pollo Campero, a fast food restaurant better than KFC so I've been told, for a late dinner. Lots of fried chicken and fries! Very good! Alle appreciated that the chicken was real.

We took the time in the van and in the restaurant to catch up with Todd on all that's been going on at VOH and what we will be doing this week. We will be busy and can't wait to share! But since it is late we will have to check in with you tomorrow.

All the girls crammed into the back of the van as Todd drove over the bumps sending them flying on multiple occasions.

We are now getting settled in and killing spiders and centipedes. Sweet dreams!

Thank you for your prayers!
Love, Christine for the team

To learn more about how to partner with Village of Hope-Guatemala please go to: http:/www.lifesongfororphans.org/countries/guatemala/

Sons and Daughters to Be | WORLD Magazine

Hope for Orphans help Christians "become concerned about the things that concern the heart of God | by Susan Olasky

[There are many ways we can care for orphans!]

Six years ago Paul Pennington and his wife Robin—parents of six children, five of them adopted—launched Hope for Orphans (HFO) as a ministry in their church. A year later they brought that local ministry under the umbrella of FamilyLife, which was looking for ways to take up the cause of fatherless children.

The result is a ministry that equips Christian families to adopt and assists churches to establish orphan ministries. Pennington said he became aware early on that a gap existed between the Bible's teaching about orphans and church preparedness to take up that burden...

...The crisis, Pennington says, is a chance for North American Christians to put aside a "consumeristic, entertainment-based, and me-centered" religion and to become "concerned about the things that concern the heart of God."

He lists some ways for individuals, families, Sunday school classes, and churches to get involved: adopting and giving a child a home; leading a support group for families adopting hurt children; adopting an orphan home in Africa; volunteering to mentor one of the 20,000 foster youth who will "age out of the system" this year with no family or plan; building relationships with pen pals in an orphanage or by live video chat; going to Africa or China to hold and feed kids left all day in cribs; and, of course, giving money.

To read the entire article, please click here