Back in Zionsville

Dr. Jill Wilson returned to her daughter's classroom to share the photos of one of the families we shared the activity bags with when we installed the wood burning stove.

She presented the children with a Guatemalan woven bracelet in appreciation of what they did.

This is what it is all about.  People sharing and helping others here and all around the world.

Thank you so very much.

ZUMC Spring 2013 Team

Adios Panajachel and Mission Guatemala

It's our last morning in Panajachel and we have had wonderful, inspirational, and productive week with our new friends from Mission Guatemala.

Dr. Jill Wilson was able to see 75 women from the area in the new OB/GYN room that had been prepared for her visit.

The response from the women was heartwarming as they were lined up waiting in line as early as 7am each morning.

We installed four high efficiency wood cook stoves in surrounding villages.

our time in Caliaj was fruitful as we continued the work to finish the toilet facility for the school, played games with the children and worked shoulder to shoulder with each other and Elias, Raul, Ivan and Frederico

Blocks and mortar were the materials, but love, sweat and tears were mixed in throughout the week

During Friday's devotion we pondered Luke 6:38 which reminds us that  our relationship with God is reciprocal.  We give and God gives in return.  Seeds are planted and crops are harvested.  Mission Guatemala gave us an opportunity to give, and what we received in return was rewarding on so many levels.  Hopeful, joyful, thankful, humbled,and inspired.  

Haz todo el bien que puedas ...

Do all the good you can

Thanks you to our ZUMC family, all our prayer partners,

Tom Heaton, Dave Burns, Max Oden and all the Mission Guatemala partners 

The Spring 2013 ZUMC team will share our journey with anyone interested in supporting Mission Guatemala with your time, talents, and tithes.

The story will continue Fall 2013

Why We Are Here!

Every day brings new experiences.  Some are joyous and others bring sadness. This is a beautiful place.  As we travel each morning to he clinic and then on to the worksite, the landscape is breathtaking with beautiful mountains, foliage, and planted fields.  surrounding every modest house is land being prepared for planting before the rainy season begins in a few weeks.  Corn is the staple of living here.  Each Guatemalan consumes between 15 to 20 tortillas a day made from ground corn.  Corn is so very vital to their lives.

The team split up yesterday and today in two groups.  Yesterday, David, Kay, and Patty went with three Mission Guatemala on a stove installation.  The grandmother was ready for us and came down the path to help us carry the materials.  We were met by chickens, children, and the smiling grandmother who was very grateful for her stove.  We shared activity bags made by Mrs. Brook's 3rd grade class at Eagle Elementary and coloring pages with.crayons.

Each morning we have shared daily devotional time, calling on Christ to lead us in our journey.  We have prayed, sang, laughed and shed tears.

The school at Caliaj

Mission Guatemala teams have been constructing a building that will house boys, girls, and teacher bathrooms.  Our job this week has been to continue the work started.  Each day the students greet us with smiles and "Holas" as we get started, then come and play games at recess.  Elias, our foreman is joined by Max, Raul, Evan Dave,  and Frederico.  We have decided the work could be completed much quicker by doing it themselves, but they are so very patient with teaching us the tricks of the trade and allowing us to have hands on experiences.

The children just love "un foto" and seeing themselves on our digital camera screens.

The medical clinic was set up for a womens examinations with the team from Mt Vernon finish it to prepare for Dr Jill Wilson.  Monday she did 8 exams and Tuesday she did 14.  With the help of a translator the work has been meaningful and a new opportunity for women here.

Off for Wednesday and new experiences

YOUR ZUMC spring 2013 team

He is Risen!

We have had two very busy days.  Yesterday we headed to Chichicastanengo where we strolled the market, had a wonderful lunch, and attended an Easter service at a local church.

The market was filled with local vendors of all types and crowded with tourists and locals shopping. Still a holiday, there was a music festival in the courtyard of one of the two big churches in the center of town.  The atmosphere was festive and the day was warm and sunny.

Tom took us to a local church he visits with his teams where the pastors are bi lingual.

There was music,prayer,scripture and a wonderful message.  We sang a few of the hymns in spanish with the help of a song book provided by one of the women who came to sit with

us.

Two inspirational things that filled our hearts with joy at the service were the scripture reading for our morning devotional was repeated in spanish as the topic of the sermon and the organist started playing a familiar tune "He Lives" to which we sang in English and made a joyful noise.

Off to day to in Caliaj more to come

Your ZUMC spring 3013 team 

Easter Morning stroll in Panajachel

Our travel day was without delay and we arrived in Panajachel was without delay.

The festival Semana Santa was in full swing when we arrived and went long into the night
But we all were able to rest In spite of the music coming from the street festival

 David started us out with Easter devotions followed by a moving song by Don Francisco "He's Alive" .  Tom and Max joined us for a wonderful breakfast before we head to Chichicastenango for the market and Easter services.

The sounds, smells, and sights are invigorating.

More to come later today

ZUMC Spring 2013 Team