The smoke rose in puffs from the still active volcano this morning as we sipped freshly brewed coffee (I had tea). Our team traveled through treacherous traffic to a mountain. At first glance I saw a small cinder block building with one room and a trail heading through underbrush to a sort of ampi-theatre cut out from the side of the mountain. But as Nathan (our resident missionary) described his vision of completing the guard tower, and making that shelf of mud into a warm home where young boys could feast on freshly baked cookies as they worked on homework after school...it became more than a slab of mud on a hill; it became a place of hope. We are here in the mountains of Guatemala building homes where christian sponsor parents will take in the definition of downtrodden and hopeless; and show them what it means to be loved.

    We went and visited these boys in "Paradise". We visited with mothers and brothers of boys who had been involved in drugs, gangs, and dropped out of school. They were not just monetarily without, but starving for love and acceptance. I met one grandfather today; not a single father. These mothers are often abused as girls and then marry or partner with a man to bring him a child in hopes of acceptance and love...the cycle is then repeated with their sons as they run to gangs for this basic human desire. We were blessed to day to stand in dry homes Nathan and previous mission teams built for these families that were dry and had well worn bibles as many of them had come to Christ through Nathan and others' outreach. The kids' smiles as we passed out candy and soccer balls was priceless!

    This morning before visiting the boys and their families, we worshiped with brothers and sisters here at a contemporary service with tv screens and special lighting. It was a sermon on bearing good fruit, making sure our attitudes are that of a servant who trusts the Lord and does not have an attitude of self reliance. Please be in prayer for our group, that as the wheelbarrow builds blisters on our hands, and our cloths are soaked by the afternoon showers, that we will faithful serve our Lord through his might with joy in our hearts that we are being used by him to provide hope.

    There is a great spirit about the group and as we have thrown footballs, played four on a couch, and sat through traffic we have become of one mind and heart. We are bonded by the Lord in a desire to serve and marvel at the wonder God displays in Claudias' cooking (Nathan's wife), to the majesty of the mountains. Thank you for your continued prayers. We love you all and can't wait to share all of our pictures!