The best week of my life

This past July I had the opportunity to travel to Guatemala and I have to say that it was the best week of my life. I didn't spend the week relaxing on a beach or staying at a luxurious spa, but still I came away from the trip feeling refreshed and renewed. I didn't stay with family members or old friends, but was warmly received and made to feel loved and welcomed. I didn't return with fancy souvenirs, but the memories of the week are with me everyday. It's hard for me to describe in words how my life was changed forever in Guatemala, but through my photography I'll try to give you a glimpse into the events of this trip that impacted me so deeply.

First, why Guatemala City? This was my first trip outside of the US, which is kind of odd since I am a Spanish teacher. And even more strange was the fact that this was a mission trip. NEVER in my life would I have considered myself to be a missionary, in fact, there have been periods in my life when I even denied the existence of God, but I truly believe that this was a trip that God had been preparing me for my entire life. I traveled to Guatemala with other members of my church, Northview, which has been serving the poorest of the poor in Guatemala City for the past seven years by partnering with the church Cristo es el Camino. The members of Cristo es el Camino include families of Guatemala City who live in extreme poverty.

A civil war in the 1980s drove thousands of families from their farms into the city. When this happened these migrants found no jobs that they were qualified for, so they looked for ways to survive any way they could. Many ended up living and working in the 40 acre city dump located in the area of the city known as Zona 3. Today, on the edge of the dump live thousands of people (men, women and children) in one room shacks with no electricity or sanitary services. These people work inside the dump, collecting recyclable materials, which they sell in order to earn their meager living. (For more information on the History and current state of Guatemala City click here.) These are the people who are served by Cristo es el Camino.

 

There are many similarities between Cristo es el Camino and the church that you regularly attend in your hometown. Like our churches here in America, Cristo es el Camino provides for the spiritual needs of its members with worship services and prayer and bible study meetings. They also support small groups for their adult members and vacation bible school for the children of the church. Just like your church, the members gather to learn about God's word and for fellowship.

But Cristo es el Camino means so much more to the community that it serves. In a place where clean water is hard to come by, the church has a water purification center that provides safe drinking water for community members. Cristo es el Camino also partners with Compassion International  to provide three meals per week for children from the dump, along with academic support, life skills education, and basic medical care. In addition, Cristo es el Camino has a preschool for children from the dump, weekly meals and support for homeless and drug addicted men, and housing and nutritional assistance for families. While in Guatemala I was able to assist with or witness all of these services and this is what made my week so amazing!

The children of la Zona 3 are unforgettable! Compared to our American standards, these children have so little, yet they are amazingly joyful, kind and generous. The time that I spent with them was, without a doubt, one of the most joyous times of my life.





This July I will have the opportunity to return to Guatemala City and work with Cristo es el Camino to serve these amazing people again. My daughter, Tori, will be graduating from college this year and I believe that she would be better prepared to enter the "real world" if she has the opportunity to serve in Guatemala this summer along with me. I know that I came away from Guatemala as a better person, more loving, more tolerant and more willing to serve others here at home and I wish the same for her. During this trip we will host VBS for more than 300 impoverished children, make home visits to many of the families who live in the dump, provide a meal and fellowship for the homeless and drug addicted men of la Zona 3, host a carnival for the children of la Zona 3 as well as minister to and fellowship with the people who are served by Cristo es el Camino. In other words, one amazing week of service!!

So as Tori and I prepare for this mission trip, I am asking for your support in a few ways.

1. Please pray with me for the people of la Zona 3 and Cristo es el Camino. Their challenges are many, but God is so good and always provides for our every need. Also, please pray for me and Tori as we prepare for our trip to Guatemala City along with the others from Northview Church who will be going. This will be a new experience for Tori and I know that she will be filled with a mixture of emotions as the date of the trip approaches.

2. Leave comments below or posts on our Facebook pages to give us your words of support and encouragement and to let others know about the great work that Cristo es el Camino is doing in Guatemala City.

3. If you find it in your heart, please help us make this trip possible with your financial support. Together Tori and I will need to raise approximately $3000 ($700 each for the trip costs plus airline tickets) by May 1st with at least half of the trip costs due by April 1st.

Because we are relying on the generosity of our friends and family to finance this mission trip, we have made it VERY EASY to DONATE.

Just click on this link and make your online contribution .

In the designation field, select Missions.

In the Memo field type Rodriguez or Tori or Lisa.

Then enter the amount of your donation and follow the instructions to complete the process.

Giving on line is so easy and all donations are tax deductible (donate before tax day!!). However, if you prefer to mail a check you can mail it directly to Northview Church, 2000 Gravel Springs Rd., Buford, GA 30519, attention Kristi Carr, Mission Team Leader and please include our name in the memo line. I know that $3000 is a great deal of money but we believe that if each of you donate just a small amount we can make our goal quickly. But, of course, we would greatly appreciate a donation of any amount. I don't know much about Sky Miles but evidently we can also accept donations of Sky Miles to be used to purchase our airline tickets. If you are led to assist with our trip, please understand that this donation is above and beyond the regular tithe given to the local church of your choice.

Thank you for taking the time to read about the people of la Zona 3.  I hope that you were blessed by the message of hope that Cristo es el Camino allows us to bring to the people of Guatemala City. And thank you for your support!