By Jenny Pope
This week I’m leading a team of mothers and daughters in Guatemala. My mom Kay is even traveling with me, which is a first for her and me! There’s something really special about serving with your mom (or daughter); and yet, there’s something kind of ironic, too. As we made team introductions yesterday, almost every person in the room referred to their mother or daughter as their “best friend.” And less than two hours later, we’re holding 2-year olds whose mothers abandoned them at birth. Children who have never known what it’s like to have a mother, much less to call her their best friend.
I’ll have to admit, yesterday was hard. We spent the morning at Casa Alegria, a government-run baby home in Guatemala City. There are about 50 children, from infancy to 6 years old, wandering the courtyard aimlessly. When we arrived at the home, we were told to wear surgical masks to protect ourselves from the children’s germs. Then we were told not to hold the babies too much, because they weren’t used to it and when we left they would cry. Talk about a warm welcome!
It didn’t take long for us to ignore both of those messages – we removed our masks from time to time, and the children were quickly in our arms. We brought bubbles and sidewalk chalk, and played with some of the few toys they had outside. There were two caregivers for all 50 children. Two – and they were exhausted. Watching those children, many who are already showing signs of aggression or apathy, it made me sad to think of their future. It’s hard to come into an orphanage and play with a child for two hours, then leave and hope for the best. But truthfully, that’s what God has called us to do. We are to pray for these children, and we are to trust in him knowing he will protect and provide for those children in his way.
In the afternoon, we went to Remar orphanage to do Vacation Bible School with 7-13 year old girls. We quickly realized that the expected group of 30 girls was going to be much larger as a number of boys arrived, as well as older girls. We shared the story of Esther with the children and then made some paper crowns, covered with stickers and jewels. They loved playing with the crafts and spending time with us. It was a much more upbeat part of our day! The team did an awesome job organizing a lot of chaos in a short amount of time, and I’m excited to see what they will accomplish throughout the rest of the week.
Here are a few photos from our first day:
This week I’m leading a team of mothers and daughters in Guatemala. My mom Kay is even traveling with me, which is a first for her and me! There’s something really special about serving with your mom (or daughter); and yet, there’s something kind of ironic, too. As we made team introductions yesterday, almost every person in the room referred to their mother or daughter as their “best friend.” And less than two hours later, we’re holding 2-year olds whose mothers abandoned them at birth. Children who have never known what it’s like to have a mother, much less to call her their best friend.
I’ll have to admit, yesterday was hard. We spent the morning at Casa Alegria, a government-run baby home in Guatemala City. There are about 50 children, from infancy to 6 years old, wandering the courtyard aimlessly. When we arrived at the home, we were told to wear surgical masks to protect ourselves from the children’s germs. Then we were told not to hold the babies too much, because they weren’t used to it and when we left they would cry. Talk about a warm welcome!
It didn’t take long for us to ignore both of those messages – we removed our masks from time to time, and the children were quickly in our arms. We brought bubbles and sidewalk chalk, and played with some of the few toys they had outside. There were two caregivers for all 50 children. Two – and they were exhausted. Watching those children, many who are already showing signs of aggression or apathy, it made me sad to think of their future. It’s hard to come into an orphanage and play with a child for two hours, then leave and hope for the best. But truthfully, that’s what God has called us to do. We are to pray for these children, and we are to trust in him knowing he will protect and provide for those children in his way.
In the afternoon, we went to Remar orphanage to do Vacation Bible School with 7-13 year old girls. We quickly realized that the expected group of 30 girls was going to be much larger as a number of boys arrived, as well as older girls. We shared the story of Esther with the children and then made some paper crowns, covered with stickers and jewels. They loved playing with the crafts and spending time with us. It was a much more upbeat part of our day! The team did an awesome job organizing a lot of chaos in a short amount of time, and I’m excited to see what they will accomplish throughout the rest of the week.
Here are a few photos from our first day:
Kay Hartgraves, my mom, holds a little girl at Casa Alegria.
They look like twins in their pink shirts!
They look like twins in their pink shirts!
This little girl, Diana, was a bit of a loner.
Dana Bennett blows bubbles with a little boy at Casa Alegria. 
As you can tell, the bubbles were a big hit!
Sandy Alberts removes her mask and kisses a little girl at Casa Alegria.
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