Guatemala Travelogue 7
Welcome back, buddies! I know I left you hanging about our final day in Guatemala, and all I can say is…last week kicked me while I was down. Rude. But you can’t really fight back with…an intangible thing…so leave you hanging, I did. Maybe I just had to recover from sharing some deep feelings. That tracks. Now we shall move along…nothing to see here.
As I mentioned, we had our final VBS on Friday morning, followed by a super quick “finishing up/final tackling” of the painting project. It was a run-and-gun morning, following the testimony time I’ve already shared with you…all happening before 12:30pm! I wasn’t kidding. Yet in all of that hustle and bustle, we were able to spend a wonderful and oh-so-memorable time at the Casita Benjamin preschool, just a few blocks away from SETECA. We shared so many laughs, smiles, and hugs with those precious little ones…cute uniforms and all. :)
The team was definitely hamming it up in the skit, given it was their final performance, including Mia who took the liberty to FILL UP the small trash can with water and completely DOUSE Jonah, played by her unsuspecting padre, when he was “thrown overboard.” Everybody lost their minds laughing…with the exception of the sweet little man sitting on the front row, who incidentally also felt the impact of Jonah’s “bath.” Oopsie. Sorry about your sweet kicks, little dude. The whale, played by Ps. Clay, was also a big hit…although if the children could boo, I think they would have. They were into all the things. It was awesome. The staff also asked for the links to the songs we used so they could continue to sing them with the children. All the feels.
We may have overshot the game idea this time though…the other groups had mixed ages, and this was all pre-school…when Marc/Mia told them to run to corners 1-4, most of them ran and hid all over the courtyard. It took a hot second to get the kids out from under the playground equipment. Yea…note to self. But even then…so many giggles and chases made for such a fun time. We went into their classrooms to do the craft, and the children were actually calling for Jonas to visit their rooms. Hugs and love abounded for Marc. So I thought they’d want to have a visit from the WHALE! Sorry, Clay…my bad. He didn’t quite receive the same response.
We finished up our time there with the director. She shared the history of the preschool and her heart for the children and families of Guatemala City. It was tremendously moving.
As I mentioned, we hustled back to SETECA to change and again tackle the painting project. I used every last little second to finish touch ups on our side of the building. Did we ask them to judge the sides and pick a winner…why yes, yes we did. BUT it wasn’t a competition!!! But also, yes it was. We won. But who knows…maybe the other side won. But it was us. We won. You can read about their triumph in their blogs. Oh wait. Guess you’ll just have to trust me.
Isn’t this the pastor’s wife…wow…she’s too competitive. Yet here we are. Scott…how’s that Dutch Blitz going…
Shameful, I know. Good thing I’m only teasing…or am I…:)