brookesmith - Week Two in Guatemala

Welcome to our first full week of ministry in Peten!

The ministry in Petén is all about helping children and their families. We play soccer, teach in schools, and visit homes to chat with parents. Jesus said that to achieve eternal life, we need to love God completely and love our neighbors as ourselves. That’s really the main focus of our ministry—love. We show the love of Jesus through what we teach and what we do.

We work in three indigenous communities where life can be tough. Many people don’t have reliable electricity, clean water, or access to school. Dads will often leave their families for months to find work, coming back with barely enough money to get by. Death is something that even the youngest kids are familiar with. I met a little girl who casually mentioned that her dad had died, saying it was okay because they had a picture of him. She was just five years old.

Even with all these challenges, the families are so joyful. Every time we visit a school, we’re greeted by tons of kids who just want to hug us. Families invite us into their homes and are excited to talk. The culture here is so different from what I’m used to in the States. One little boy was collecting wood for his family, and when he saw us, he ran home so he wouldn’t miss the chance to see us. There’s a real eagerness here—a desire to share love and receive it in return.

The kids are also super eager to learn. They love school and playing, and they appreciate everything so much. Being here is an incredible experience, and I feel really blessed to be a part of this ministry.

On Friday (10/25) I started to feel sick and it hasn’t gotten better. Please pray for my health and for the health of the team as we move forward.