6-29-10

God is good! As we spend time here in Guatemala studying the attributes of God, today we are focusing on his goodness. It was an early start today, up at 6 and breakfast at 7. Then we were off on our tour of the “Hope of Life” facilities. As we toured, it became truly obvious that God is good, and we gained a new perspective for what we have and don’t have. As we toured the facility through the elderly home, baby rescue center, orphanage, widows’ homes and food distribution center it became increasingly more obvious that if Jesus himself was walking the earth today, this would be exactly what He would be doing--feeding the poor and providing for the widows and orphans. The tour was emotional and several times we were all fighting the tears (led primarily by Betty Phelps who got an awesome opportunity to see the little girl that her daughter, Christa, has visited and prayed for over the past few years.) I might add that it has been a blessing seeing families, friends, and husbands and wives serving the Lord together. Several of our Guatemala repeats were anxiously waiting to visit the orphanage for a time of special reunification. Michael Duncan found Angela, Zach Pulliam found Karla, and Kaylee found Lady and Alicia; and the orphans were so excited to see them. After the Tour was over we had a wonderful lunch and then split into groups to help with different needs that “Hope of Life” had. Some of our females split away and went to the baby rescue center. Christa, Betty and Jessica Phelps along with Natalie and Cindy Cook spent the afternoon playing with and caring for (changing diapers and feeding) the children in the undermanned home. Another group of strapping young men Ed Maddox, Seth Farris, Ben Fisher and Steve Linton went to dig holes for a drainage system at the school. Yet another group of old men, Jack Phelps, Pastor Alley and Aubry Wood went to build a bridge at the elderly home. The teens split into two groups. The first group started our week long project of building a greenhouse. Stephen Burrill, Lauren Good, Michael Ertel, Sarah Beth and Renee Marilla, and Chad “Grover” Hamel spent the afternoon mixing concrete and moving concrete blocks. The other half of the youth gave the front gate and pillars at the “Hope of Life” complex a complete white makeover. Matt and Stephanie Combs, Michael Duncan, Jannah Cooter, Sam Chapman, Kaylee Bryant, Rebekah Meredith, Lee Ann and Jessica Wood made the entrance a beautiful masterpiece. After the work was finished for the day we returned to our rooms to change for a time of fellowship and swimming (again I promise it is a mission’s trip). Lasagna was for dinner then we returned to the dorms for team devotions. Tonight we focused on the “goodness of God” and we had a wonderful time of sharing about how God has used the “good” and the “bad” to prove how good He really is. The Phelps and Mr. Maddox revealed how God has been good in very difficult times, and several other people shared so many blessings of how God has shown Himself good in their lives. Tomorrow the real work begins as we will be working hard on the greenhouse and the hospital (by the way for those of you who have been to “Hope of Life” before the hospital is set to open in February next year AMEN!!) In our devotional time tomorrow we will be focusing on God’s Love!! We miss and love you all,

Michael Duncan & Matt Combs.