Our last day in Guatemala

Saturday began with visiting the Buckner transition homes, which includes two boys' homes, two girls' homes, a baby home and a single moms' home. We also were able to tour the shoe warehouse and the Buckner office here in Guatemala City.

Seeing these homes full of kids and babies that came from where we have been all week was a picture of hope. The transformation that has occured in all of their lives can only be described by God's hand working in them. In comparison to the kids in the places where we served this week, we can only imagine how far they have come.

Their spirits are full of joy and their eyes sparkle with love of Christ. The hope that we saw in the transition kids' lives can only be attested to the grace of God.

Last night we were able to celebrate all together what we have seen God do this week. Coming together as one body is a true picture of God's church.

Ephesians 4:2-6 says: "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one spirit - just as you are called to one hope when you were called - one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."

What an incredible blessing serving these children has been for everyone on the team. We can walk away from this week knowing that God is not finished with any one of us yet. Despite any expectations, God was faithful to answer all of our prayers.

Thank you for praying for this trip. It was a humbling experience to see God stirring in all of our hearts. We leave here knowing a picture of hope for the children of Guatemala.

Guatemala Day 5 - 25 people on a bus

This morning in Zacapa we literally climbed the side of the mountain to reach the community of Camotan which is a mountain village. Despite the facilities for us to sing, tell them stories and give them gifts being extremely small, it was the best day yet. Today, as a group, we came together as the body of Christ in the most beautiful way. Everyone worked together to serve this impoverished community and we were blessed by them just as much or more as they were blessed by us.

We were greeted with signs and cards made by the children and their faces were lit up to know that someone cared about them. Watching these kids receive their shoes and bag of toys was like seeing a child on Christmas morning. The moms were also extremely thankful for the humanitarian aid such as soap, medicine and other necessities that they received.





On the drive back to Guatemala City, the team really expressed the bonding we had experienced over the week. It is obvious that God's hand has been upon our team this week by answering our prayers for unity, humility and servitude. Being able to humbly serve these kids this week brought a new perspective and understanding of the love that God has for all of His children.

Guatemala SOS Day 4 - Zacapa

This morning was an early one as we left from Xela to travel to Zacapa. It was a long journey but some were able to catch up on sleep while the rest got to enjoy the incredible view of the mountains and teh true splendor of God's creation.

Once in Zacapa, we unloaded at the Zacapa Hogar Temporal where the kids were so eager to be held and meet new friends. There were hardly any kids that were too shy or did not want attention. We were able to love on them, worship with them and share a Bible story. We then broke up into our four groups and helped them make a craft and pass out their new shoes. Their excitement was almost uncontainable!

After the children received their shoes, they each were given a bag full of candy and gifts that were collected by the team.

These kids are starved for love and attention but are well-cared for at Zacapa Hogar Temporal. The same sad story is repeated one too many times but nothing can replace the hope that can be given to these children through the love of Jesus.

Guatemala SOS Day 3 - Xela

This morning we left early from Antigua on a long bus ride through the winding roads into Xela, Guatemala. Once in Xela, we arrived at Cerecaif, a privately run orphanage. The kids here are amazing. They truly are filled with pure joy and are so happy and appreciative of what few earthly posessions they have, it humbled the team. Sharing time with them blessed us all. These precious children are so well behaved and so content that it is obvious that they are given the best care.

Hogar Temporal was our next stop. This orphanage is filled with so many eager and busy little ones. We shared several of our new favorite worship songs in Spanish as the kids came to join us. Once everyone was gathered we told a Bible story. All of the kids were so excited and running to sit in our laps and give us hugs and kisses. We separated into our different groups to help them do a craft and learn a new Bible verse. In the groups we also passed out their new shoes!

In one of the groups there was not enough shoes to go around because some new kids had arrived this week. One of the boys, Vincint, recognized that his friend was not going to get any shoes. He immediately took of his new pair of shoes and humbly handed them to his friend without hesitation. What a true picture of Christ-like humility we were able to see through Vincint. We did have extra shoes that were in his size and so Vincint was still able to receive new shoes.

Tonight we are spending the night here in Xela and bound for Zacapa bright and early tomorrow morning!

Guatemala SOS Trip Day 2 -- Antigua

The morning started off with a bus ride to Antigua, Guatemala. When we arrived the team shopped in the market, interracting with many of local merchants. It was an outstanding cultural experience for all of us.

From there we made our way to Manchen, a girls orphanage here in Antigua. They have suffered hurts that no child should know, ranging from parental abuse, to homelessness, and children whose parents simply cannot provide for them. It is gut-wrenching. Their eyes tell of an ache deeper than any of else will ever know.

Our team set up stations for crafts, recreation, Bible memory verse, a faith story, small gifts, and the long-awaited, brand new shoes... literally a treasure to these girls, because shoes are the one thing they can call their own. These girls are starved for love and affection, and the simplest hug transforms their expression into a smile that can light up the rainiest day. They long for tenderness, being lost in an embrace. It is humbling to be the arms of Jesus around these precious girls. With all that is within us, we cry out to God - that His Word of His unconditional love will be sealed in their hearts... that they sense the Father whispering within them that they are His beloved. We are believers in the God who still transforms lives and offers hope in the midst of our sorrow, light when we are surrounded by darkness, and deliverance ifrom the most difficult of circumstances. When the door closed behind us, a piece of hearts stayed on the other side.

Sadly, we all hopped on our buses and headed to Hogar de Ancianos, a retirement home in Antigua. We brought humaitarian aid, and more importantly, we brought the joy of knowing Christ. The residents joined us in praising God through music, and we all enjoyed a tale reminding us of the Lord's unique plan and purpose in His Kingdom.

Guatemala SOS Trip

Our team of 25 arrived from all over the United States (Florida, Michigan, Illinois, Arizonia and Texas) this weekend in Guatemala City. We immediately bonded and began organizing and separating all of the supplies, humanitarian aid and gifts for the kids that we will be seeing this week.

This morning we began by going to Eliza Martinez which is a boys home here in Guatemala City. All of the boys were very excited to see us and loved playing games, hearing the story of Hermie the Caterpillar and especially getting to put on their new socks and shoes!

After lunch we headed to Naranjito, a community center inside of a church also here in Guatemala City. We were greeted by a large group of anxiously awaiting children and some of their parents and grandparents. It was and incredible atmosphere and as the shoes were passed out the team was able to love on the kids, hold some of the babies and play games. After our craft of making butterflies and learning a Bible verse, we shared a story with the entire group.

As we were wrapping up at Naranjito the mother's of some of the children sang the group a couple songs. Also, the director of the community center gathered our team and prayed for us. It was really a great afternoon and a good finish to our first day.

Brynn Anderson and Beth Gillem

Dancing with Orphans

I’m home, in my own comfortable bed in my own comfortable home, drinking Starbucks and snuggling with my pup. For the first time in a week, I’ve slept more than 4 hours. For the first time in a week, I’ve not bounded out of bed to travel to do work with orphans. And I must admit - it’s awkward, like the feeling you get after being on the water for a while. Being here, in this comfortable life, feels like anything but that right now. Last night, as I wept, I asked my husband, Brad, if it would ever get easier. He smiled and responded, “I pray it doesn’t.” So this morning, as I rest, I close my eyes and think about dancing with orphans.

Yes, dancing. You don’t have to be around me very long to know how difficult it is for me to be still. Dancing for absolutely no reason at all is natural. Dancing for any good reason at all is complete joy. One look at this picture from Pollo Campero, and it all makes sense. I just dance. And in Guatemala, there was dancing. Oh yes, there was dancing.

Looking back at my blogs, my story from Manchen is a bit incomplete. You see, as the team left our makeshift prayer room and turned right to walk to the girls behind bars, I turned left. It wasn’t that I wanted to be by myself – one of the girls we had prayed for was leading me. Holding my hand, she walked over to the concrete ledge surrounding the courtyard, motioned for me to sit, and then snuggled in beside me. She spoke no English, but her desire was clear – she wanted to be held. We sat for a few minutes, my arms wrapped around her, singing to her softly in my very broken Spanish. Two girls who had heard my testimony and received prayer walked over and asked to join us. Then two more girls came and sat on the ledge. We hugged and smiled – and the questions started.

“What does your husband look like?”
“Is your son handsome? Is he single?”
“Where is Texas?”
“What do you do in the United States?”
“Where have you been in Guatemala?”

We sat together, huddled around my iPhone, looking at photos of my family, our pets, our home. I showed them pictures of the foster care kids we took waterskiing earlier in the summer – and though I stumbled through my explanation that the girls in the picture were orphans from the United States, all the girls understood. We looked at pictures of sunny days and snow and friends. And they saw pictures of Cerecaif and Cabecitas. We slowly worked through the conversation, with so many “how do you say/como dice” moments mixed in. And then, the question was asked “What music do you like?”

And the dancing began. My small group of beautiful girls and I laughed and danced together to “Jai Ho,” the theme song from Slumdog Millionaire.

Fast forward 24 hours. The team has traveled back to Guatemala City, and has delivered Happy Meals and humanitarian aid to the 13 children at the Buckner Baby Home. We’ve seen Danny, a precious boy who wants so much to have a forever family – his two friends are being adopted and he now asks if anyone will love him enough to take him home. There’s Milagro, a tiny girl who wasn’t expected to live – now walking around with a huge smile on her face. There’s Crystal, dumped at a hospital with severe medical conditions. She’s laughing and speaking in English and Spanish. The children at the home are well cared for, receiving medical treatment and lots of love. We’ve gone to the grocery store to purchase everything we need to have a cookout and bake cupcakes for the teens and house parents at the Buckner Transition Homes. And the “host” home is now filled with the fragrance of chocolate in the oven and burgers on the grill.

Our special guests arrive – each one an orphan who has “aged out” of the system and given an opportunity to go to university or trade school while living in a safe and loving environment. I recognize at least a half-dozen girls from our visit to Manchen last year. They are literally “glowing,” so grateful for a home and friends and support and freedom. The kitchen fills with teens, and with Brynn and Stacey’s help, frost and decorate the cupcakes – a new treat for many of them. We set up the buffet for hamburgers and hotdogs while “Grillmaster Jim” works busily outside with his assistants, Christi and Mandy. Phyllis and Denny Scheminske, friends who live in Guatemala City and are helping our team, bring plates of tomatoes, onions, guacamole and cheese to the table. More than 60 people – teens, young moms, house parents – are being served. Courtney prepares bouquets of roses for all the house moms, talking to our interpreter, Melissa, and Oscar, one of the young men who is now in trade school. Patrick tries to capture every moment on camera while Ryan plays soccer with the guys. This is a party.

The house is filled with that wonderful blend of talking and laughter and sports on the television– and soon, a new sound is added. Music. This isn’t a party – this is a HOUSE party. On the patio, the girls are showing everyone their dance routine to “Single Ladies” by Beyonce. The music is an invitation – a bridge that crosses language and culture and age. I look around, and there is dancing everywhere. Joyful, unfettered dancing. From toe-tapping to full-out spins and twirls, we are all dancing with orphans.

So again, here I am now, resting in my uncomfortable comfort as I reflect on our time in Guatemala. And I laugh a bit as the tears flow – my foot is moving to the sound of the music in my mind. There’s such sweet liberty in the dance. It’s in that dance I feel truly free. Thank You Lord for that freedom.

Thank you to my amazing team: Patrick Lockerman, Mandy Cortina, Christi Uckerek, Courtney Nowakowski, Jim Shields, Brynn Paine, Ryan Nowakowski, and Stacey Yellen. Thank you to Phyllis and Denny for joining us on the journey. Thank you to Victor and Andrea for interpreting in Xela. Thank you to Berta and Melissa for your tireless care for us. Thank you to Buckner for your work in Guatemala. Thank you to those who contributed through prayer and donations. And thank you to Guatemala, for opening your arms so we could serve.

Blessings,

Ronne Rock, team leader
RockNow Mission Trip to Guatemala

Words fail.

It’s difficult to think that I – a person who always seems to have something to say – am at a loss for words as I reflect on this day. It’s not that I don’t have the desire to tell the story of Manchen; rather, it’s that, despite best efforts, there are simply not words adequate to describe the awe-inspiring moments we shared with the girls who live there.

For those of you who don’t know about Manchen - it is a teenage girls’ home in Antigua. There are currently 100 young ladies ranging in age from 10-18 living in dormitory style housing. Many of the girls have fled abusive situations, and some have been living on the street. There are a number of pregnant girls or young moms. One mom, only 13, was removed from abuse – Manchen is considered to be a safe place for her and the tiny baby boy she holds in her arms.

For months, I had been praying about how we should spend our time with the girls. Searching for teaching materials proved futile – everything designed for teens in the United States approached challenges from an upper-middle class point of view. My sweet friends didn’t fight over clothing or who had the cutest boyfriend or nicest car – they struggled with the pain of sexual abuse and gang violence and drug addiction. When I thought about Manchen, my heart focused on one word: treasure.

These girls needed to be told they were indeed beautiful – a prized possession of incomparable value. They needed to know they were God’s treasure. And they needed to know they are not alone – there are other broken and beautiful people who have experienced healing and redemption. That passion to share led to a bible study written just for Manchen. “A Treasured Life” walked the girls through a journey of hope. From designing charm bracelets to help them see they were like jewels or precious silver in the eyes of God to talking about what being treasured feels like – and then honoring people in their lives who have encouraged, loved, and supported them, each element of the lesson allowed the girls to not just listen but interact with the concept of “treasure.” Even a special time of painting fingernails was used to reinforce the importance of inward beauty.

All of the activities were written around a bible study focusing on three main points:

Christ is our most prized treasure
The Bible is a wonderful treasure given to us by God
We are God’s most prized treasure

Personal testimonies from members of the team would be shared when we got to the third point. The stories shared with the girls wouldn’t be the usual fare – my own personal history of sexual and physical abuse would be told, and I prayed there would be a testimony for each of the three bible study groups at Manchen. I felt the Lord saying “the walls will be broken down when the girls see they are not the only ones.” And God, being truly wonderful, ensured that two other women with stories were on the trip.

We arrived at Manchen at 2pm, and were greeted by the sounds of cheers when the large wooden door was opened. Those who had been to the orphanage before found familiar faces, and those who were new quickly found friends. The magic lens of the cameras served as instant ice-breakers. The chant “Photo, photo, photo!” transformed the courtyard into a pep assembly. Gathering the girls all together, we introduced ourselves and shared what the afternoon would hold. We asked how they defined the word “treasure,” and the answers were shouted out “jewelry, money, gold!” We then gave our own definition:

“Anything or any person who is highly treasured. A thing or person of incomparable worth.”

We showed the girls a gift we had brought to them – a frame adorned with a hodge-podge of items that had been donated and dug out of junk drawers back home. Jewelry, beads, old computer parts, keys, scrap metal, pieces of broken china, toys. The frame helped them see the amazing beauty in a tapestry of both things of value and things discarded.

The girls were then split into three groups: pink, turquoise and purple, and the teams rotated from one activity to another. I wish I could say the transition was smooth – but all Hell broke loose. We didn’t have enough translators, several of the girls rebelled against wearing the bandanas and joining in the teams – with a team of nine, we were clearly outnumbered. I looked at Brynn and Christi, my partners on Team Turq, and said “I know God is here. Now it would be nice if He would show His face.” I looked around and other team members were praying as we all worked to calm the chaos. Then, as if a gentle breeze swept over the orphanage, the chaos ceased. Every girl listened attentively. They asked questions and shared stories. Even those who at first didn’t want to participate ventured over. On their treasure sheets, they wrote down names of friends. They wrote down names of family members. They wept as they remembered life with a mom and dad. They carefully threaded each bead as they made their special bracelets, many of them snuggling up next to the team and asking for help. Team members held babies so the young moms could participate in the activities.

Let me interject here that this seems so much more like a diary entry – again, I find myself failing miserably at finding words. But this was not a “day in the life” moment. This was a miracle in the making.

As we shared the bible lesson, the girls were quick to share “Jesus is a treasure,” and “The Bible is a treasure.” But then the tone changed. They leaned in with piercing eyes, holding each others’ hands as the testimonies were shared:

“My step-brother sexually abused me.”
“I had an abortion.”
“My alcoholic father only told me he loved me once.”

We spoke of Christ’s redeeming love, of His remarkable ability to heal, to restore innocence, to truly love in a way that doesn’t hurt. We spoke of our lives then, and our lives now – and how He has taken every broken piece and written His name on it, saying “This one is mine.” We talked about being a masterpiece, like a fine work of art in a museum or the best music ever written. Girl after girl said “your story is my story – please pray for me.” We prayed, and held each sweet girl so tightly – the young girl who just found out she was pregnant and the precious teen who had been removed from a brothel and the beautiful teen who had run away from home and just wanted to see her mom again. Tears flowed. Lives were changed.

We said our goodbyes to the girls, bringing out the frame we had shown earlier – now with a mirror mounted inside so each of them would be reminded of the treasure inside them. As we prepared to leave, a special needs girl ran to our interpreter, Melissa, pleading “I want Jesus, please pray for me!” Peeking her head out of the computer room, our teammate Courtney yelled “Everyone, please come inside – we need to pray!” The young prostitute sat inside. “She has decided she wants to live her life in Christ, and she needs prayer for healing.” That computer room became a room of healing and restoration, not only for her but for at least a dozen young ladies. They waited patiently outside as we prayed for each one. The line continued to grow and grow. I held one young lady who simply wanted to be a “difference-maker” and end the curse of abuse and violence. Her warm tears fell on my arm as I hugged and whispered “Jesus te mo” to her.

We had noticed earlier a group of girls behind barred windows in the corner of the orphanage. Berta, our Buckner trip coordinator and interpreter, asked if we would go and speak to the girls. “They are the very tough ones – the violent ones. But they can be redeemed, and they keep crying out for prayer.” The team responded, and held the girls hands through the bars. Four precious girls asked Christ to be the Lord of their lives. And bracelets worn by the team as examples became the perfect number of gifts for those girls. In total, more than 10 girls made decisions for Christ. Dozens received prayer for healing, deliverance, restoration.

God was indeed there. And everyone saw Him.

Blessings,

Ronne Rock, team leader
RockNow Mission Trip to Guatemala

Painfully Precious.

It’s Tuesday night – or to be perfectly honest, it’s very early Wednesday morning. Though I should be asleep, my head and heart are full as I reflect on a painfully precious day. It’s Independence Day here in Guatemala, and in every city, town, and village, the celebrations have been taking place for days. Concerts, fireworks, torch runs, marathons, festivals, dances, parades – it seems the entire country joins in the festivities. That liberty, however, wasn’t celebrated in the places we served.

We returned to Cerecaif, our van filled with bags of supplies. A small army of boys ran to our van, and then carefully carried the duffel bags and sacks into the orphanage – one smiling and singing “Leche! Leche” when he saw large bags of powdered milk. Part of our team completed a painting project we began on Monday (see “Beauty for Ashes”) while others distributed humanitarian aid, school supplies and groceries.

The heartfelt gratitude of the workers was precious. Saying “goodbye” to the children was painful.

We travelled to Antigua, where we visited the Hogar de Ancianos– or the Cabecitas de Algodor , loosely translated as The House of Cottontops.” Three of us had been to the home for the elderly before, and each had special memories of residents there. For Courtney, it was a former architect, disabled after a construction accident, who loved to draw. For Stacey, it was a wheelchair-bound gentleman with a passion for good conversation. And for me, it was a 102-year old woman who loved Jesus and loved to tell everyone she met about it.

The heavy wooden door opened into the entry of the home, and we stumbled over two beds that had been set up where plants and a bench had once been. Large piles of clothing, old mattresses, and wheelchairs dotted the walkway around the small center courtyard. Something had changed.Courtney immediately saw her “boyfriend,” who greeted every woman on the team with a sweet kiss on the cheek. She presented him with a portfolio of draftsman tools, and his eyes filled with tears of joy. Stacey’s gentleman quickly engaged in a deep conversation about history with Jim, himself a history buff. And Ryan was introduced to the now 103-year old woman was sitting outside her room. Other familiar faces sat in chairs or shuffled across the courtyard as we gave away the slippers and caps. Many shared stories of days gone by, of careers and families and life in other places.

As we neared the rooms, the stench of urine and feces was overwhelming. Rooms that once held two or three people now were filled with six or seven beds. Most residents were in those beds, many unable to walk or care for themselves at all. Some beds had sheets and blankets ; many had nothing to cover the bare mattress. We learned that two other homes had been closed, and residents from those homes had been transported to the Hogar des Ancianos. Some newer residents had simply been “left” by family members. With little to no financial assistance, the House of Cottontops has been struggling to keep its residents fed.

Holding the withered hand of a sweet grandma was precious. Knowing that grandma has no family visiting her was painful.

So, I lay here – my heart aching for the fatherless, no matter their age. Knowing the Lord God Almighty says “I’ll be your daddy,” and wanting desperately to comfort each and every one. I’m so thankful for those who are here in Guatemala, caring for the fatherless day in and day out. I’m thankful for the amazing team here with me this week, living out their faith. And though it’s sometimes difficult to say, I’m thankful for the painfully precious days – it’s through them I am centered, refined – and focused on Christ alone. And it’s through them I’m reminded He is Lord, He is Healer, He is Comforter.

Blessings,

Ronne Rock, team leader

RockNow Mission Trip to Guatemala

Beauty for Ashes

It’s Monday – our first full day of ministry in Guatemala. Our journey takes us to Cerecaif, an orphanage 20 miles from Xela. The orphanage was founded by a Mexican family, and serves children who have been removed from abusive environments. Seventy-two children, ranging in age from 2 to 16, live at Cerecaif, and receive very good care and education. Unlike the government orphanages, this “home” is staffed with volunteers who give their time 24 hours a day – their only payment is room and board. Nine workers, in addition to the orphanage director, serve the children. The cinderblock and stone building sits on sloped land in the shadow of tall mountains. There is no playground or park – the children play behind the orphanage on land also used to raise goats, chickens and sheep. It’s a very unassuming place on the outside. The kids wear hand-me-down clothing, play with donated toys, Inside the simple structure, though, there is evidence of “beauty for ashes.”

At first glance, a girls’ bedroom is a bouquet of pink flowers, ruffles and dolls. Look more closely, and the transformation reveals itself. Cabinets used for clothing are recycled cardboard boxes. Bedspreads are crafted from fabric remnants. Even the beautiful floors are designed from scrap tile. Things others would quickly discard have become treasure for boys and girls. And we would be given the opportunity of assisting in the very transformation process - as we paint walls and borders, letters and numbers and borders and butterflies. There are hearts and flowers and baseballs, soccer balls and footballs. And all the painting coordinates perfectly with those fabric remnant bedspreads and cardboard closets.

Our time at Cerecaif doesn’t end with painting. Time spent with the children singing, praying, studying the Bible, practicing their memory verse – “Fear not for I am with you” – and designing special t-shirts transform a cold, rainy afternoon into a joy-filled time for everyone. The children’s smiles and hugs, their willingness to accept us and embrace us, are true beauty. The transformation is within us now, our hearts at once crushed by the plight of the fatherless and filled to overflowing with love to share with each child. Watching our team minister, I’m reminded of a Shane & Shane song that seems right for this moment.

Beauty for ashes
A garment of praise for my heaviness
Beauty for ashes
Take this heart of stone and make it Yours
I delight myself in the richest of fair
Trading all that I've had for all that is better
A garment of praise for my heaviness
You are the greatest taste
You're the richest of fair

Blessings,

Ronne Rock, team leader
RockNow Mission Team

Let the Music Play.

Sunday, September 13th

I’m awakened to the sound of music. Xela’s city square is adorned with Guatemalan flags as the country celebrates its Independence Day. And the melodies, juxtaposed with the sound of car horns, whistles, and cheering, carries my mind back just a bit. To Sunday. Because Sunday was a symphony.

The composition began with a visit to a local church – where we were embraced and accepted with hugs, kisses, and warm words of encouragement from the entire congregation. Songs selected for worship were a special gift to us, so we would know the English translation of each one. We were even asked to sing. And sing we did, humbly stumbling through “Holy, Holy, Holy.” While standing there, singing in English as the congregation joined us in Spanish, I couldn’t help but think of “every tribe, every tongue, every nation,” one day in unison singing to the Lord God Almighty. Every language will blend in harmony, and we will all understand and be understood. Oh, what a day that will be!

As church ended, a new movement was added to Sunday’s symphony – laughter. Mandy, a team member full of reckless passion, had joined our trip praying to be overwhelmed by the Lord’s love and mercy. His response to her prayer touched everyone – an older woman hugged her tightly, whispered words of support in her ear, and slipped a ring on her finger. Her face lit up, tears streaming as the laughter began. “A gentleman from the United States told me about Jesus,” the woman shared. “I love your country, and love its people. Please don’t stop telling the Good News.”

The afternoon brought new refrains as we journeyed along winding roads, climbing every upward. Singing seemed so natural – “The Revelation Song, “Little is Much,” “From the Inside Out” played as our ragtag choir joined in. “He Knows My Name” and “The Song of the Beautiful” evoked tears as we reflected on the plight of the orphans. And as we neared Xela, a city truly nestled in clouds on the mountain, we loudly and proudly practiced “Sapo,” a song about a frog.

We ventured carefully up the narrow cobblestone streets leading to our hotel, a few of us reflecting on our time spent in this city a year ago when we traveled on a Shoes for Orphan Souls trip. Our arrival at the Bonifaz hotel brought new music – preparing for the ministry to Cerecaif, an orphanage with 72 children, all removed from abusive circumstances. We painted t-shirts and wrote memory verses on index cards. And we were reminded to fear not. To love wholly. To allow our hearts to be wrecked by those sweet faces.Sunday had no coda, because the symphony continues – outside our hotel and inside our hearts. New movement. Let the day begin.

Blessings,

Ronne Rock, team leader
RockNow Mission Trip to Guatemala

Close your eyes.

They say pictures speak a thousand words.But when there are no pictures, words will do. And they will do well.We are in Gautemala - 9 of us, on a journey to minister to babies and children and teenagers and the elderly. Nine of us, all wanting more than anything to glorify God and see Him in each and every moment.


Patrick Lockerman
Courtney Nowakowski
Jim Shields
Stacey Yellen
Christi Uckerek
Ryan Nowakowski
Brynn Paine
Mandy Cortina
and me.

Each of us want to experience the fragrance of the Lord. That sweet, sweet aroma of His hope and salvation. What might that fragrance be like? Perhaps it is
dirt and diesel
spice and flowers
baby cream
homemade tortilla soup
focaccia bread
coffee with warm milk
crayons
morning dew
freshly cut grass
tropical fruit
hot waffles
black beans and sour cream
a mountain of candy

Pictures will come soon. For now, savor the fragrances. We are.

Blessings,

Ronne Rock, team leader
RockNow Mission Trip to Guatemala

Last Day VRBC

Well, I'm blogging a day late and in place of Amy, since we are back and missed the chance. Anyway, what a great way to finish our trip! On our last day, we traveled to Antigua. This is the tourist hot spot for Guatemala. Yet, our mission was more than tourism. First we visited Jocotenango, a small suburb of Antigua. Buckner has a collaboration with a local church there and with Park Cities Baptist Church here in Dallas. A Community Transformation Center is the goal here. There is a clinic where people from the community can come visit with a caseworker and a doctor if needed to treat and diagnose health concerns. In the rear of the facility is an educational program, another part of the collaboration, this with Ceiba - an educational and technical training organization. Several of the girls from the government orphanage down the street (Manchen) were attending computer training when we visited. This is an amazing opportunity for these girls as their education is uncertain. This same organization, Ceiba, educates several of the Buckner transitional boys and girls in Guatemala City.

After Jocotenango, we ate lunch and shopped for a bit. Then we visited Manchen. If you are not prepared to experience this orphanage, it can be extremely emotional. These girls are left at the home after being exposed to some pretty horrible situations. Maybe they were on the streets or suffering through physical and/or sexual abuse...even from family members. There are babies raising babies here as many of these girls are pregnant or already have a child under their care. We did our best to love on them and express Jesus' love for them. We sang worship songs and took lots of pictures. They absolutely loved seeing themselves on camera. We pray as a team for the supernatural power of our Savior to somehow touch these girls and let them know they are loved.
As we closed our day, we met again with Pastor Morales to discuss future trips and plans for ministry. Our time with him truly validates what we believe to be a divine appointment for Valley Ranch Baptist. The pastor is an amazing visionary who is already engaged in amazing ministry and missions. We will be excited to blog again from Guatemala next time. Until then, we'll pray for all the amazing Guatemalans we met and for those children who are so often forgotten. Adios! Jeff Jones

Day Five

Today was another great day in Guatemala! Our first stop was the Buckner Babies Home and some lovin' time with precious little ones. Although several were at the Buckner Single Mom's Day Care, we still had a chance to hug on some special babies. Ashley and Amy are doing just that as you can see!

Stop 2 was the Single Mom's Home and Day Care and some more kids to play with and love on. I was impressed again, with the level of care and training provided for these moms and their children. The staff is attentive and loving and the facilities clean and well kept. Lives are certainly changed here! and what a blessing to see it all and be a very small part of it.

The next stop was to the Buckner girl's transition home which has now been their home for a total of 12 days! There are six girls living there now with room for 2 more. Their new classrooms are being constructed in the basement for these girls and others that will attend. We visited with 13 y.o. Thelma, the only girl who was home and also the house mother. They were excited about their new home which is full of love and bright colors and God's presence. Felma had a sweet colored note for Jeff, thanking him for his enouragement. His relationships with all the children is a blessing to see and an example for us all! (See below right)

Our last stop was to a facility that does vocational training for teens and young adults. (See above left) Several of the Buckner transitional boys attend class here to learn various skills. We visited with them and they expressed gratitude for being in classes to become productive and marketable. This is an incredible ministry and we discussed how we can somehow work with this ministry to contribute to our partner church in Los Pinos.

So our picture of Guatemala is becoming more complete as we see how God is working with Buckner and in Guatemala City. We're praying that His vision will come more into focus as we visit another area tomorrow. Thanks for your prayers, Debbi Hendrix