Monday started with all of us leading a devotional for the children at La Terminal about the story of the lost sheep, which seemed to go down well. We spent the rest of the morning playing chess with the kids (as usual) and the Charlie P and Emily helped some children with art in the afternoon. The street team (Theo, Hannah and Ella H) went out and invited families to the big day out planned for Sunday, as well as sorting food bank parcels in the office. That evening, we experienced our first (of many) power cuts at the church, and took the opportunity to tell some scary stories, which was fun.

On Tuesday, the Gerona team (Carrie, Ella S, and both Charlies) spent the morning helping with homework, before some of the kids played football with Charlie P and Jacobo. In the afternoon, the usual football session was interrupted (much to the disappointment of the guys) by a group of Guatemalan university students who came to get the kids involved in lots of games, which they loved.

At La Terminal, the team handed our burgers to the children and the Ella H, Charlotte, and Hannah went to the market with the cook (Doña Guicha) to buy food for the team.

We spent Wednesday in San Lucas with Maddie, where we were able to wash and dry clothes and have hot showers for the first time in a couple of months. We went out into the town of San Lucas, visiting the megapaca (second hand clothes store) there and then had lunch in the commercial park, while watching the Netherlands beat Iceland in a pre-Euros friendly. We spent the afternoon at Maddie’s house chatting, watching The Emperor’s New Groove (Emily’s favourite film), and eating chilli con carne.

On Thursday, Ella H, Hannah, Charlotte and Emily were at La Terminal. There were no children in the morning, so we spent time sanding the metal gate ready for painting and adding more decorations to the classroom walls. The Gerona team spent most of the day playing chess with the kids – a popular activity! They also spent a lot of the afternoon playing sports like football and basketball – undeterred by the rain!

After the project, we went to the weekly church prayer meeting. We love this time for the church members to share personal prayer requests, especially as our home churches don’t really do this with prayer meetings being more structured. We have enjoyed experiencing something a bit different and less structured, and love how open people are with what they are struggling with or need prayer for.

On Friday, the street team helped with cutting out crafts for the family day workshops on Sunday. They had a great time with the Puerta team, listening to music and really getting to chat. Charlotte helped Doña at her house up the road, getting involved with the cooking and playing with the babies there. And as Friday is sports day, the rest of the group went to play football and basketball at the pitch down the road, whilst Carrie stayed with the small children singing songs and learning numbers. As Carrie and Charlotte went to drop a family off at their house, it started pouring it down with rain, with thunder and lightning as well. Although the kids did not seem to enjoy it at all, it was Charlotte and Carrie’s first proper experience of rainy season in Guatemala. Despite the rain, we did make it to sports again in the afternoon when the sun came back out. In the evening we all went to the cinema with the family we’re staying with to see Inside Out 2 (in English), which was great fun.

On Saturday, we were meant to go to the pastor’s house for lunch but were not able to because of some flooding. However, super-woman Débora came up with a new plan and we had a great day with her and her family at Irtra Petapa, the theme park in the city. Most of us went on most of the rides, although they kept stopping and starting because of the rain, and had loads of fun. We started on probably the scariest ride (one that takes you up and suddenly drops) so everything from there was easy! There was also a zoo which we all went round, with birds, monkeys, and even a jaguar!

We then left to get back for the youth group at church, where there was worship, a talk, and prayer. Hannah and Theo shared their testimonies, which were really inspiring and well received. There were also lots of funny and new games for us, which have given us some bruises! In one race where you had to crawl through your team’s legs to the finish line, we discovered that Guatemalans do not have long enough legs for us to do that!

Sunday was the Puerta family day, and the plan was to head to a space just outside the city for activities. However, due to the rain and flooding the plan had to change, so instead we took them all to the cinema to see Inside Out 2 (again!), this time in Spanish. The whole day was great to be a part of, and it was so special seeing all the parents there as well, making connections between family members. Puerta also hired two colourful chicken buses for us all to ride on, which was great fun!

Afterwards, some of us when to play football with the profés before heading back to church where we celebrated José’s birthday (one of the family members we are living with). The family generously invited us to share some cake with them all, and sing happy birthday. Then we took lots of group photos, as that seems to be the thing to do here.

We’ve thoroughly enjoyed this week and we look forward – with some sadness – to our final one next week.

Answers to prayer/things we’ve been grateful for:

• The Puerta family day
• For the perseverance of the Puerta team, that they didn’t cancel the family day when plans changed
• The opportunity to have a restful day in San Lucas
• Being able to connect with our host family

Prayer Requests:

• That we will have a good last week
• That we would be able to start to process our time here in Guatemala

Thank you for everyone’s prayers and support!

Emily, Theo, Carrie, Hannah, Ben, Ella H, Ella S, Charlie F, Charlie P, Charlotte

(Written by Ella H, Charlie P, Carrie and Ella S)

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