From Christina

As I sit here at work on this cold, cold day, I think k of our arrival in Guatemala City. We arrived to the airport around lunch time & it was so busy. The security we are accustomed to at US airports are not the same however not was did I ever feel unsafe. It was a beautiful day, in the 80s & such a change from Wisconsin. We get our luggage & go out to find out our bus. There was so many people outside waiting to pick up people & taxi buses galore. You know how you see on TV the trucks loaded to the max with luggage? That's how many of these vehicles were. As we find Radolpho, our amazing driver for the week, he greets Carol & Diane with a big smile & a hug. I immediately feel like we are in safe hands.
The trip was amazing, such a life changing experience & I cannot wait to go back. I would love to go back in July & again in January but I know I cannot financially afford to do so. I do look forward to going again in 2016 & seeing Nilss, Karla & Alex, Kathleen, Manuel, Radolpho, & every other smiley helpful face I met. God Bless you all.

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Our Pharmacist Daryl Fahrner

Description of the pharmacy:

The pharmacy is a place of checks and balances. I try to look over each patient’s med

list and verify doses to make sure everyone is getting an appropriate treatment. I

also use my Spanish skills to explain meds to every person. As a third year pharmacy

student, this served as good practice for me personally. I was astonished by the

gratitude people expressed. Most shook my hand and said thank you very much, or

told me about how grateful/thankful they are that we were there. No one seemed to

mind waiting even though many had been already waiting for hours to be seen. This

is a stark contrast to the expectations of pharmacists in the US. Many don't realize we

are looking for drug interactions, billing their insurance, checking to make sure they are

being prescribed an appropriate dose, and double checking to make sure the correct

pill was put in the bottle with the appropriate instructions all before we hand them

their drug.

Favorite part of the mission trip:

My favorite part was watching some of our team members interact with the local

children. Prior to pharmacy school, I was a substitute teacher with a K/12 license, and

was a camp counselor as well. It just puts a smile on my face to watch kids having

fun. I watched a group of kids kicking around the most beat up and deflated soccer

ball I have ever seen, and they were having fun. I watched kids playing tag with our

group members and having a blast. They didn't need the new latest and greatest

gaming system, they didn't need the newest scooter, the coolest new bike, or any other

material artifact we have become so accustomed to. They were just kids being kids and

finding ways to make their own entertainment. They didn't look at us any differently,

they just accepted us right in. These children are immensely poor, but it is refreshing to

see even with that level of poverty, they have not forgotten how to be kids.

From Judy

I am sitting here holding my sleeping baby great-grandson (only way he will sleep today). San Pablo seems so very far away..in miles, temperature and time. A bit like a dream...but one in which you wake up with warm feelings. Certainly a life changing trip, the culture, the local people, the teammates, the memories. I loved the land (looked just like I thought it should). I LOVED working the clinic. I truly did go with much trepidation as to what I could do as a 40+year nicu nurse but,  you know, God took care of that as I knew he would. How wonderful to be surrounded by people who share the love of The Lord. I thank each of my teammates for allowing me to be part of this great plan...and I thank God over and over again for my very many blessings. Adios, Hudi (seis) [Judy]

From Kate West

Guatemala was an experience that I will never forget. All the love, smiles, and hugs I got from the people of San Pablo will be with me forever; they taught me how to be thankful for all that you have, and at the end of the day, we are more connected than what we think. Even though I could not speak Spanish all that well, I could feel the love that they had for us and vice-versa. 

I was thankful to have such a wonderful team. I built lasting friendships and there was always someone willing to help - no matter what the task and how tired they were.  I already want to go back - my life has been forever changed and I am ready for whatever God has in store for me - Trust His plan :)

From Carol

One of our devotions on the trip was about how God does amazing things all the time. We forget and don't trust enough and then are surprised when He works it all out according to His plan. I trusted that the team would come together but was still surprised how amazingly well we fit together. We had college students from 2 different schools, a nursing student from a different place. Two of our team members don't live in Point or Rapids anymore. We had a pharmacist from Madison, a young adult who lives in Saint Paul, MN, and people from 6 different churches. The team worked so well. God called just the right people to go on this trip to accomplish His work. I shouldn't have been surprised. When God does something, He does it real well.

Some more pictures

Some pictures from our Mission

A Note from Melanie

The trip to San Pablo was an eye-opening and life-changing experience. I went on this trip expecting to help people, but they helped be more than I could help them. Despite what we would call poverty they were all smiles and no complaints. Many waited in line for two days only to be turned down because there wasn't time for the dentist, but they thanked us with a smile nonetheless. From this trip I learned that this is what God is calling me to do with my life. It was so fulfilling and refreshing to go to San Pablo and see this joy. But there is still need in Guatemala and the rest of the world and I would like to help in every way I can. I don't think we could have asked for a better team! I am so blessed to have had this experience. ~Mel

From Pastor John Grohs

Home again. It's a bit of a bump trying to reengage with ministry here because of the ministry that I was privileged to be part of. It was a joy to be part of a team that sought to serve and did serve God in this special way. God’s faithfulness swept away all the uncertainty—took those gifts and resources among us to make a complete team that worked to serve God’s people in the medical, dental, physical therapy, sharing the Gospel with the large number of children and the building of ovens for the local economy. We were a team that became servants, roommates, bus mates, walking partners and Amigos in the course of a few days. God was indeed evident in this effort as He used His resources—whenever there was a need, one of the team stepped forward to fill in and serve (no matter how tired). To see those long lines of people being served and connecting with hearts and hands….my heart is still there with them and probably will be there for awhile. God is good.  “Whom shall I send? Who will go for us today?” 
Here am I, send me, send me. Pastor John Grohs

Our last day here...

As I sit here in this beautiful courtyard, my mind is all over the place. This has been such an amazing experience. From the beautiful little kids who run up to you saying your name to the ladies who make sure gorgeous pieces. We will be having breakfast soon, then head up the mountain to pray at the cross before we head back to Guatemala City & get ready to head home. Please keep checking the Blogger as we will continue to add everyone's perspective over the next week. 
Prayers for safe travels appreciated. 

Paula here. But in San Pablo, I sometimes feel like my name is foto. That’s one of my jobs here – to take photos and print them, along with help from others in our group. It’s incredible what a camera and a photo printer can do in a group of people. The desire for photos is incredible, and it’s easy to see why. After all, how many photos do I have hanging on walls, fridges, desks, or up on the endless list of social media, or simply on my computer and phone.

On Monday, I took a photo of a mom with her two children. Then I took a photo of the baby alone. It was very adorable and I remembered it well. So on Tuesday, when I was asked for a photo of only the baby, in an attempt to ration the amount of picture paper, I insisted that they already had that photo. They agreed, but explained they wanted another to give to the boy’s grandmother. I was more than happy to oblige. Today (Wednesday), the mom asked me for a photo of me holding the baby. I’m fairly certain that I was about 2% of the reason, and the other 98% was the mom wanting another photo of her baby boy. But, I was 100% sure that I really wanted to hold the cutie.

We have taken and printed about 300 photos. I have several stories like this. Some are incredibly heart warming-a man wanting a photo with his wife, a dad wanting a photo with his daughter, a grandmother wanted a photo with her two granddaughters. Some are funny, like that grandmother wanting to retake the photo with her granddaughters because the sun in the first photo made her hair look white. Others stories I don’t have. And I wish I did. I wish I could get to know these people, because the stories I have heard are incredible.

But there is much more than photos…

VBS is fantastic. They pack somewhere around 60 kids into the mostly empty church, which is about the size of an average classroom. I only stopped by for a short while, so I’ll leave all the details for someone else. But, the report I heard was that it’s “like VBS on a fire hose.”

Tuesday they learned about Jonah. Today, Esther. And tomorrow Paul, who was sent to proclaim the gospel.

Today the medical helpers from the nearby communities came to the clinic and received the bags Immanuel Lutheran prepared.

And in case anyone was concern, Sven the suitcase has arrived!

What a great first day! It felt like the second day, at least that is what I am told. Everything seemed to run so smoothly today, God's work was seen all over. 
We are all physically exhausted and some emotionally. 
Some of ourgGod sightings today were: sealants staying on wiggly kids, thankful peoplewe saw last time who came back just to say thank you, Darryl rocking it out in the Pharmacy. A little girl drawing a heart & writing "Jesus te amor" Jesus loves you. Today was a great a blessing. Cannot wait to see what tomorrow brings! It is the first day of VBS so please pray for forit to go well  & prays that tomorrow runs  as smoothly as today. 

What a blessing today has been! We had many God sightings today. Darryl made it safely to join us in San Pablo, Sven should be here Tuesday, we were able to get  the medical clinic set up, the ovens are partially started... The list goes on and on. What God sightings have you seen today?

Our God is so amazing, every day he shows us amazing things yet we seem to be surprised when we see them. Why? He is so amazing every single day, everys ingle minute. I encourage you to look for them every day. You will be amazed at what you need & hear. 

 We ask you to pray  for us tomorrow as we start our medical clinic. Prayers for patience and guidance from Our Lord. And prayers for us all of us to stay hydrated & well. It is quite hot  here, sorry Wisconsin folks . You are all in our prayers to stay safe & warm. 

Thank you for all your prayers and thoughts. Knowing we have you, means very much to us. 

Good morning! We are enjoying a wonderful breakfast of eggs, melon, & fresh plantans! So yummy! 
Prayers that Scott's luggage makes it here. 
Words from Swen: I am lost somewhere in Guatemala City. I don't not speak the language & miss my family. Please help me get back to Sylvia & Olga. 

In other news, we will be heading up to San Pablo shortly. Prayers for safe travels & for our lives & hearts to be opened. 

WE MADE IT! We have safely made it to Guatemala! Had a small hiccup on my luggage but that should all be straightened out in the am. Had a delicious dinner meal  & a nice meeting to prepare for tomorrow. Praises that we made it quickly thru customs with no issues. The flights flowers were quite pleasant as well . I hope to post pictures tomorrow! 
Prayers for tomorrow as we set up the clinic . 

Woke up this morning with nerves all amuck. But today begins our journey. Today we ask for safe travels for Jack & Kate as they fly back to Wisconsin & for Daryl as he travels separately to Guatemala & for the rest of us as we travel in vehicles to Milwaukee. Please continue to pray the next few days that we have no issues in customs getting in with the medicines. We of course have permission from the government yet we could still have issues. 
Our flight leaves tomorrow at 6am & we arrive in Guatemala about 1pm. I'll update again tomorrow night. 

WE LEAVE TOMORROW (for Milwaukee that is) e! I am quite excited yet nervous. This evening  will be spent by most of us with our families and finishing up packing. Please continue to keep us in your prayers. Please pray for safe travels to Milwaukee tomorrow evening.