Hello again from Casa Bernabe--the "House of Comfort"--located in the lush mountains above Guatemala City.  Yesterday (Saturday) was a very busy day working with the children, and then going shopping to acquire all the necessary items for a grand fiesta on New Year's Eve.

We shopped at Walmart and PriceMart (Costco). Is this Guatemala?  : )  Tom McCarthy is quite the driver and was able to squeak the orphanage van into a parking spot designed for a fat motorcycle, and we loaded it literally floor to ceiling and on our laps with food, produce, milk jugs, punch fixings, and game supplies.  It was a miracle of Biblical proportions that the van was able to climb the hills back to the orphanage! Once here, many eager teenage girls were on hand and we got everything unloaded and put away in the kitchen in record time.

Last night after a late dinner of muy delicioso frijoles y arroz with fresh cream, many of our team played Spoons.  We howled with laughter for hours, especially seeing Alexis and Romario engage in a duel to the death over a spoon  that would eliminate one of them from the game. Guess who prevailed?  All I can say is: "You go Lex!!"  Romario is a consummate gentleman, filled with smiles, good humor and grace in defeat, though tonite we will have an "Ultimate Spoons" rematch and I know he is ready to regain his honor!

Today we had a wonderful worship morning with almost an hour of praise music followed by a sermon delivered by Florey Herrera, the Director of Casa Bernabe.  She spoke from a text in Isaiah 49 that references God's choosing of a "polished" (specifically chosen, special) arrow in his quiver to carry forth the mission he has designed for it.  She related with passion to the Chapel full of children and adults that we, too, are each chosen by God for a particular mission in life. We are called to discover and then embrace that mission.  As God's "elect" arrows we must fly strong and straight to "hit the mark" God has sovereignly set before us. He has known us since before our birth and, like Jeremiah and Isaiah, has a plan for our lives to serve His Kingdom objectives.

After worship, we played on the concha (the open courtyard area outside of the main building) with all the kids -- toddlers to teens.  I had a great time with a volleyball "keep it up" circle of kids, while others just chatted or leisurely enjoyed the beautiful weather outside.

Tomorrow will be our "full steam ahead" day, cooking for 250 and then managing the games & activities after dinner to keep all the kids engaged and happy for the evening hours. There will be a time of worship & prayer after recreation time, and some surprises we aren't yet allowed to know!

Both in the US and here in Guatemala, we can enjoy many good things in our lives by God's grace and mercy.  But we also daily see and experience heartache, brokenness, pain and the need for His redeeming love and restoration in the entire human family. Christ alone is the answer!

As this year comes to a close, may God speak to each of our hearts as we review by the Holy Spirit's prompting if we are more Christ-like now than when 2012 began.  And may we then together seek Him all the more in the year ahead!

Hasta luego, mis amigos!  Vaya con Dios! Feliz Ano Nuevo!

Donna Alberta

Hello from beautiful Casa Bernabe where we are enjoying 75-80 degree sunshine!  We had a full day of activity as a team that started at 7am with a delicious breakfast of scrambled eggs, refried beans and fresh cheese, fried plantains topped with fresh cream (think creme fresche-- yum!!) and sugar.

Following that we had our daily team devotional time together, focusing on our calling to live in purity and holiness before God. We looked specifically at the matter of temptation,  framing our thoughts with two Scriptures: 1 Thess 4:3-4 and Gen 39, the story of Joseph's response to the sexual temptation placed before him by Potiphar's wife. We are already growing in transparency and love for one another as a team, and have had great times of honest discussion and prayer.

Each team member had work assignments both in the morning and afternoon, so following dinner tonight we had a debriefing session sharing the highs, insights,  and relational experiences of our day. We are all feeling healthy, blessed and part of something incredible and bigger than ourselves that God is doing here in Guatemala among these precious children and the dedicated staff members that serve them year around.

Casa Bernabe has overwhelmed my heart! I am SO impressed and humbled by the house parents whose sacrificial lives of service to Christ are laid down for these children whose lives have been marked by loss, abandonment, and in some cases abuse.  This morning I served with some of my teammates -- including my granddaughter Alexis-- at Casa Alabanza-- a home for children of toddler ages. It was fun and crazy busy!   Following our 1pm lunch (which was also delicioso!!) I worked with my teammate Stacy until 7pm in the baby house -- Casa de Los Angelitos. I was never so amazed in my life as I watched the incredible, loving parenting of ten babies & toddlers who are being taught in word and deed what it means to be part of a Christian family and to receive the love of God in tangible ways.

There are so many things that cannot be translated from the heart to the written word. So I must simply suggest that you prayerfully consider a short-term mission trip to Casa Bernabe next year for yourself or your family!! More team reflections and reports to follow.  Thanks for reading!

Warmly with joy,
Donna Alberta

We are here!!  Yesterday our team met a Cornerstone at 2:45AM to weigh luggage and pray before departing - the weather was a little sketchy, and we made it to the airport just as we were boarding!  Because of the time deiceing the plane, we got into Houston late and arrived just in time to board again!  God was with us and we made it safe and sound to Guatemala.  All of us were in need of a good cup of coffee and a meal, which was waiting for us when we arrived.

Kristen Forster was here to greet us - she has been here for a few weeks already and is serving as a missionary for 3 months.  It is so good to see her!  She is our honorary team member :)

Last evening we celebrated a birthday party with Casa Nuevo Esperanza - three little boys had birthdays and their wonderful sponsors sent money so that we were able to buy them a chicken dinner at Pollo Campero and cake and ice cream and pop.  So much energy in a house of boys ages 9-13!!

We debriefed as a team and went to bed early for much needed sleep!!

More to come!  Please pray with us for some team members who are experiencing illness.
More to come later today - thanks for all of your prayers for sage travel!!
-Jill