We have had such a joyfilled summer with mission teams. While our time is consumed with leading this journey of faith that more than 170 people have taken this summer, it is such a privilege to travel this road together with God's people serving with us here in this peculiar area in Guatemala City called La Libertad (meaning "free land"). I say "peculiar" because it is such a unique part of Guatemala that even many Guatemalans are unaware of the environment in which thousands of people live in their very own country.Last week we were blessed to have teams representing three churches from Mesa, Arizona, New Berlin and Wausau, Wisconsin and the St. Louis Seminary serving with us. It seems that doing "La Provision" is one of the most impactful parts of each team's experience here. As you may know, "
La Provision" involves going down to the shanty town to serve lunch. The shanties, mostly made of corragated metal, cardboard and other found materials have been built on top of the garbage dump after this section had been filled up with garbage and leveled off. We normally offer this meal four days each week, Monday through Thursday. This particular week, however, some of the members of the teams, after having experienced the joy that providing food brought for so many hungry people, asked if it would be possible for us to do La Provision on Friday as well, if they would provide the $35 needed to buy the food and drinks for the day. Kevin checked it out with the ladies in the ministry kitchen, who answered with a resounding "Yes!"
La Provision" involves going down to the shanty town to serve lunch. The shanties, mostly made of corragated metal, cardboard and other found materials have been built on top of the garbage dump after this section had been filled up with garbage and leveled off. We normally offer this meal four days each week, Monday through Thursday. This particular week, however, some of the members of the teams, after having experienced the joy that providing food brought for so many hungry people, asked if it would be possible for us to do La Provision on Friday as well, if they would provide the $35 needed to buy the food and drinks for the day. Kevin checked it out with the ladies in the ministry kitchen, who answered with a resounding "Yes!" So, the shopping was done, the 100+ meals and drink bags were prepared. In true T.I.G. (This Is Guatemala) fashion, Rodrigo, the ever challenging red pickup truck, decided he'd had it and was down for the count (again!! but this time we think it's for good...). That meant that the huge pot of food, the two coolers full of drink bags, the two five gallon buckets of water for washing hands, and all the bowls and forks, soap, towel and hand sanitizer needed to be carried all the way down to La Libertad. It was a bit of a hike, but we had willing servants to do the carrying.
Earlier that day, on our way down for the usual Friday morning Prayer Walk, we passed some familiar faces and stopped to say hello...how are you...gave a hug and a kiss on the cheek... As we neared La Libertad I saw "Karmencita" standing on the side of the road, so I stopped to say hello and gave her a hug. Karmencita walks 
on crutches and is just a little slip of a woman. I'm sitting here trying to guess her age, but am clueless. She probably isn't very old, but her lack of teeth and shuffling around on crutches probably belies her real age. I wish I had a picture of her, but I can't seem to find one (stay tuned...). I asked Karmencita how she was and she said that she was sad today and started to cry. When I asked why, she said that she was very hungry because she hadn't eaten since La Provision the day before. Since we normally don't have La Provision on Fridays, she was thinking it may be until Monday before she might eat again. I told her that there was good news because there was going to be Provision TODAY at 12:30! Her tears melted into a big toothless smile and we parted with "see you at 12:30!". Her prayer for daily bread had been answered with a big "Yes!" by our faithful God and Provider.
on crutches and is just a little slip of a woman. I'm sitting here trying to guess her age, but am clueless. She probably isn't very old, but her lack of teeth and shuffling around on crutches probably belies her real age. I wish I had a picture of her, but I can't seem to find one (stay tuned...). I asked Karmencita how she was and she said that she was sad today and started to cry. When I asked why, she said that she was very hungry because she hadn't eaten since La Provision the day before. Since we normally don't have La Provision on Fridays, she was thinking it may be until Monday before she might eat again. I told her that there was good news because there was going to be Provision TODAY at 12:30! Her tears melted into a big toothless smile and we parted with "see you at 12:30!". Her prayer for daily bread had been answered with a big "Yes!" by our faithful God and Provider.
And, of course, later, when the team was scooping noodles into bowls and passing out the orange drink bags, here comes Karmencita on her crutches with a plastic half gallon pitcher in her apron pocket. Those handing out the food put three scoops of noodles in the pitcher, which we squeezed back into her apron pocket with three drink bags in another pocket. More hugs and smiles and off she went with food for her family. God's servants listened to His call...they acted on His call to love...providing daily bread in answer to the prayers of one of His lambs. All glory to our loving Lord! Yay!
