Rollercoaster

Today was an emotional rollercoaster filled with highs and lows. This was our last day to go into the village to do our projects. Our last day to climb the steep hills to navigate through the village up and down narrow and steep paths.

It is hard to say good bye even to doing these projects as they mean so much to the people of Aguacate but also to us. The gratitude is overflowing and emotions run high when we are with a family. The cement floor keeps them safe on so many levels but the teamwork is amazing between us and the Guatemalans.

It was our last day for greeting the kids as they go into the chapel for music and prayer, it is our last day to do activities with the older and younger children and the emotions at times are overwhelming.

There is a language barrier but it is broken with a smile and a hug. I have also learned that the mom voice is understood in all languages and stops a child in their tracks. I had to keep a straight face when they stopped in their tracks and turned to look at me also the shaking of your head and finger got them to come back.

When you are on top of the village the views are breathtaking and we see the reason why the people of the village live her. They do not have running water everyday but yet they cope. They do not have a lot of privacy as they live so close to each other but yet they stay.

This trip is not about all the hard work we do but it is about the children and what they need. They need the necessities like shoes, clothes and medicine but more importantly they need someone to believe in them to help them have faith. These children have the same needs as my children, as your children. They just want a hug, someone to listen to them, someone to be there for them, someone to care about them.

I watched as the others from my group clung to the children they sponsor as they couldn’t bear to say goodbye, this is the low for our week, many tears. The love is unconditional and pure and it makes it even more difficult to leave.

This was my first year here and I was amazed at how many kids came up to me for a hug, to say hello or that they wanted a picture with me.

Coming on a mission trip isn’t for everyone but you never know what you are capable of until you come, so have faith in yourself. Sponsoring a child is so simple and I can’t wait to start my emotional rollercoaster with a child of Aguacate, how about you?

-----Michele Ring