My cup is overflowing....

....with joy and thanksgiving!

This past week, I was privileged to work 

with a group from Texas, Colorado, and Chicago.

This group came with an incredible amount of energy to serve, 

incredibly big hearts to love,

and plenty of joy to make the difficult work go smoothly.

Working together alongside 2 other Guatemalans,

we were able to remodel 2 kitchens and 1 house for the elderly.

It was powerful to see that any challenge and difficulty

can be overcome when there are hearts willing to LOVE!

On Monday, we built a new kitchen for Petronila & Rodrigo...

They are both part of the feeding program 

and when I went to visit them a few months ago,

I was shocked by their living conditions.  

The pictures above are of their "kitchen"....

It is difficult for this couple to make ends meet 

because their children do not live in San Lucas to help provide for them, 

and the father has a hard time finding work because

he suffers from an inoperable benign tumor on his back.

Below is a photo of the new kitchen that we finished.

It is such a gift to be able to give these incredible people something

they deserve but could have never made possible for themselves!

The next 2 days, we had the privilege of building a house for Lorenzo...

Lorenzo has been a widower for the past 11 years

and was recently diagnosed as permanently blind this past November

due to untreated glaucoma.

Lorenzo built his own house 30 years ago

but due to the poor economic situation of his 2 children

and now with his current blindness,

he is unable to help himself and renovate his house...

which was much needed (see photo below):

I will not lie...

building a house is WAY more work than building a simple kitchen!

But, this was a need that I could not overlook.

All the sweat and hard labor was worth it...

Lorenzo truly had no other option for help 

and he deserves to live and die in a place that gives him dignity.

Below are 2 videos of the demolition fun we had when tearing down his house:

Thankfully, no one got hurt!!!

Pictures of the new home...

Since the group worked with incredible speed and efficiency,

we decided last minute to build another kitchen that took us again only 1 day!

Meet Isaura and her two sons...

Isaura is also a widow and in addition to that, 

she has a handicapped son that she cares for with the zero income she earns.

Inside of the kitchen (photo above right)...outside of the kitchen (photo below).

Anyone else agree that we need a little

"extreme kitchen makeover"?!!??

The finished product!

This group that came to build with us were truly brothers and sisters in Christ.

They stretched our hearts and then poured in blessing after blessing

to the point that we felt we were going to burst with joy.

What a gift it is to come together and use our gifts

for the glory of God and the building up of His Kingdom....
taking care of the "least" of His brothers.

Words are not enough to thank everyone who was involved this week

in making possible for 3 different families here in San Lucas

to have the living conditions and dignity they deserve.

You are missed already and we can't wait for your visit next year!

Grateful!!!

Wishing a happy New Year to all
as we begin 2016 here in Guatemala full of hope and thanksgiving!

We had a successful time of fundraising over the Christmas season
and we are now able to open up our program to 20 more elderly...
AND now continue to feed 120 people weekly for the next YEAR!!!!

Another fun fact is that this program is now included
under the umbrella of a non-profit 501c(3) charity called
"Foundation for Saving Sight"
(a charity which restores sight to the poor here in San Lucas).

Our program is called "LEAST"
(Loving the Elderly And Satisfying His Thirst)
based off the Word the Lord spoke to my heart
"Whatever you did for the least of My brothers, you did to Me" -Matthew 25:40

If you want to continue to support the least of His brothers,
you can make checks out to "Foundation for Saving Sight"
with "LEAST" in the check memo and mail it to the following address:

1204 Lewis Ave. 
Hutchinson, MN 55350

A deep, heartfelt "thank you" to all those who donated...
it is a very humbling experience to be trusted
and supported by each and every one of you!
And once more, God leaves me in a place where
I have to put all my desires in His hands...
I pray and TRUST that He will bless each one of you abundantly!

This past week the cooks and I have been out and about
searching high and low for more elderly in need.
It is always a special time of encounter with God's poor...
finding people full of humility and gratitude,
which only leaves you the same :)

Off in the hot sun looking for elderly in need!

By "accident" (or "Providence"), the cooks and I 

came across these 2 sisters- "Paulina and María".

They are both widows without support from family

and they have been living in these horrible living conditions

for the past 40 years.

(Left) Inside of their house.   (Right) A side of the house that is about to fall apart. 

 

The kitchen...

The back of the kitchen....

Of course, Paulina and María begged us for a house

but all we could humbly offer was a well-balanced lunch once a week.

But I know that being a missionary is not about giving everyone what they want...

even if it is truly what they need.

I have to put my trust in God and just walk with the people...

rejoice with them in their joys 

and cry with them in their sorrows.

Maybe this is a good time to stop and give thanks for all that we have in our lives

and for all the needs that were met.

This may also be a time to pray for those who are still in need.

Wishing everyone a blessed 2016...

a time of grace and mercy in this Holy Jubilee Year of Mercy!