Day 1 - Guatemala City

Buenas noches! We had a great first day of service. It's 10:30 and we are getting the last kids to bed. We started with a wonderful breakfast of pancakes and fresh fruit (first picture), and then hit the road at about 7:30. We drove across the city to a school where all of the teams started. We could not get the bus in through the narrow streets so we had to walk the last 3-4 blocks (second picture). It threatened rain all day, but we experienced only a few very brief showers - they were actually a blessing to cool us off. When the sun was out it was plenty warm.

The teams all did amazing, especially considering it was the first day. Service got to break up a wall that had fallen due to the recent rains and carry all the pieces of block and concrete to the other end of the playground. Mime did 3 shows, two at schools and one at a city park. They got great responses at each of their sites. Childrens also did three different shows. They successfully performed several new songs they just learned Sunday night after we arrived here. Medical took a little time to adjust to the challenging arrangement of rooms, but by the end of the day they had seen 214 patients! It was a long day but very rewarding.

Some highlights. At the mime show in the park, they started with a small crowd of 50 or so but by the end had over a hundred to see the Gospel presented and hear the message preached by William. A number of people raised their hands to indicate they had prayed the prayer of salvation. At one site the Childrens team had the opportunity to perform their program to a crowd of over 700 students! Service found both their inner and outer strength, swinging sledgehammers and moving a seeming mountain of broken block and cement, all in the wonderful Guatemalan heat. And the Medical team worked until after dark, even using flashlights at the end as there were no lights in the school buildings.

Its a great team, and God is already doing amazing things in them and through them. We will try to get some of them to add their thoughts tomorrow as we finish up here in Guatemala City or Wednesday a we drive on to San Marcos.

Thanks for your prayers and support. The encouraging entries on the blog are a real boost.

Hasta manana!