buddy Rhonda (we always are the first ones up). Then everyone else
started to get up one by one, while my mom (Joyce) and I cooked french
toast for breakfast. After breakfast we headed out for El Rincon (the
corner) which is just outside the city of Amatitlan. There we did our
house visits and lessons. El Rincon is very close to the Pacaya, which
is the volcano that erupted not too long ago. On our home visits our
team was able to see the damage that the volcano ash did to Guatemalans
homes. We split up into groups and headed in different directions. My
group's first home visit today was with Sonia. She shared her story and
touched everyone in our group. This is her story…about 18 months ago
Sonia was shot in the spine and a friend of hers was also shot but
didn't survive. When Sonia got shot she wasn't a Christian, but that
quickly changed. Sonia started to attend church. After having surgery
she was put in a wheel chair and doctors told Sonia that she would never
be able to walk again. Even though the doctors told her that, her family
and church prayed for her. Prayers were answered, Sonia is walking with
a walker, that itself is a miracle which her family and her know. After
visiting the doctors again Sonia was told she needed another surgery for
her back. Again her family and church prayed for her and now she doesn't
need that surgery for her back anymore. God has truly blessed Sonia and
it was an amazing testimony. While everyone in our group was thinking of Bible verses to share with her; I thought about getting out of my
comfort zone and share a verse with her, but I hesitated. I closed my
Bible as I thought to myself we have already shared many other verses.
But then I was thinking to myself you just got to get over your fear and
read the verse. Then I couldn't remember what Psalm it was. Thinking I
had to go through all the Psalms again, I open my bible and was on the
exact page I wanted. I thought WOW! I must read this (it was Psalm
103:1-5). Now Sonia is walking with a walker, attending church and is
very involved in it. She said she feels God's presence and is grateful.
My second highlight of my day was the lesson with the children. After we
did our singing we split up the kids from the adults to do the lesson on
Esther. After we told the story of Esther to the kids we passed out
crowns for them to decorate. The kids LOVED IT!!! I was walking around
helping some kids peel off the back of their jewels so they could put
them on their crowns. Then this girl came up and said something to me.
Looking around I had no translators near by to translate for me. All I
could think was why didn't I take Spanish in high school. After some
time I figured out that she wanted me to help her with her jewels for
her crown. Then she was saying something to me again and I wanted to
know what she was saying, so I took her with me and hunted down a
translator. Then after I was done helping Amanda with her jewels I
moved on to help other kids that were sitting by her. Next thing I know
I have a hand on my hip. Then felt a hand move to my arm, I looked over
and it was Amanda. I looked at her with a smile and then went back to
helping the other kid, Amanda never left my side. I walked away for a
few minutes to help hand out coloring books. After Amanda got her book
she hunted me down. I thought Amanda wanted me to sit with her while she colored, but found out that she wanted me to color with her. Amanda made my day, she gave me a hug and a kiss on the cheek. It was a wonderful way to end the day.
-Ashley
P.S. Joyce….
The prayers of God's people are being answered here in Guatemala!
Opening the Bible to the correct page, words that are not our own,
People in need of God's touch, these have been everyday occurrences
here. We both wish to thank you all for your support. God be Praised!
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