Memories that will last a lifetime - Our time in Colima, Mexico & Guatemala

Now that we are back in Canada after 3 months away, we can reflect on some of our favourite memories. 

We are so grateful for all the support, encouragement and prayers from so many people.

Thanks to Powers Creek Church and our church family.  Many of you would continually love us and lift us up...without you our life is not the same.

To my company - Shelter Lending - Dave who supported us and encouraged me to go.  Our entire team supported me on days when I wasn't able to be as productive... they helped, and I am so thankful.

To our families who supported us immensely, spiritually, physically (Val & Wayne came to Guatemala for 3 weeks!) and financially we are so grateful.

But above all we give the glory to God- Every step was taken because of his provision and care. We felt his protection and guidance and we know nothing could have been accomplished without him.

Theme songs: Jeremy Camp - Keep Me in the Moment, & Seph Schlueter - Counting My Blessings

Favourite Verses:  1 Corinthians 15:58: "Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." 

1 Peter 4:11: " If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen."

Colima, Mexico - Hogar De Amor - Orphanage: January 2024

Our favourite memories is the time invested with each child- the leadership was so open and encouraging to let us connect and build relationships with the kids which we were so grateful for. Whether it was playing soccer/basketball,  playing card games, sitting and chatting about their lives. Each hug and conversation had is cherished and our hope is they felt loved by us but most of all by God. Even with the language barrier, our intention was by each hug they would feel treasured and worthy of more than the heavy pasts they had already walked through. Each child was so precious but one child in particular; his name is Jesus but everyone called him Chewilto- he is 6 years old in grade 1. He was one of the youngest in Casa Matriz- right from the start he desired hugs and time spent with us. At first, I ( Erin)really struggled to connect- he due to birth defects his ears, nose, and mouth deformities that he needs surgery for - he was always dirty & honestly smelled interesting to say nicely ( even though they showered every day). In my selfishness and just north American ways first few days I had a hard time breaking down my wall of openness to him- but after a week I got to see his heart and understand his loving personality I could only see the amazing child of God that he is. By the end he was my favourite to hug, snuggle and spend time with- I am so thankful to God who was able to shape my heart to accept this amazing wonderful child who just captured my heart and still does. 

Taking the kids to the Waterslides - We were able to take all of the kids in the orphanage and some of the other houses to a nearby waterslide which they had never been to.  Most kids had never been to a pool let alone a waterslide park even though it's only about 20 minutes from the orphanage.  So we loaded up the bus and took the whole crew.  It was an incredible day and a great blessing for all the kids to laugh and have a ton of fun.  We were thankful for all the great people we met in Colima

Every day I ( Jayson) got to drive the bus!  It was a joy and such a great experience to be a bus driver for a month!  They don't have a bus driver, and they have to take the kids to school every day, and pick them up its a lot for the leaders to manage who is driving, and this provided them a break every day.  They go to school at 2:00pm and finish at 7:30pm, so we would leave about 1:35 for drop off and 7:05pm for pick up.

Guatemala - Fe Viva, Faith In Action & Power at Work: Feb-Mar 2024

Fe Viva - School -  Over the course of 2 months we were teaching volleyball and English to kids ages 14-18.  The Connections made through serving at the school were amazing. We got to know some amazing kids. Erin also had the opportunity to share a Body & Sex education class and got to know the girls on another level. In Guatemala women are treated with little respect or love- it was devastating to see how these women were just left to provide in all ways for their families because the men just leave. They are truly the bravest, hardest working, kindest women I have met- from sun rise to sun set they are washing clothes by hand on a rock or in a Pilla, trying to put any type of food on the table for their kids, and working a full-time job which is 7:00-5:00 - 6 days a week. And because of what we saw in the villages; the generational heartbreak of men leaving and women having no education to do more than making tortillas to sell or washing clothes for others. We wanted to encourage and tell these high school girls they were made for more- God has a great plan for your life; to be educated, to impact the world for others, start a business, become the doctor or dream job you have dreamed about. It is our constant prayer that a generation shift will happen for these amazing people, that through FeViva school the boys are taught to be respectful & loving to women and that these girls can do anything God has laid on their hearts to do.  FeViva has an incredible Director of the FeViva school named Cecila and you can see the impact she is making in the lives of the kids and surrounded herself with a great staff. 

Sonia another FeViva missionary is in the community working with the kids- educating them from young that they are loved by God and God has great plans for them. She is in the community daily showing God's love through connection and prayers. 

Nelson & Melissa ( Full time missionaries) through the FeViva church and Youth group reaching & helping the community and youth in any way they can with the love of God. Through stoves & water purification systems they can provide for the families of many communities essential items that are life changing.  

Kim & Lynn ( Missionaries for over 30 years and started FeViva) we are thankful for their hearts and all that FeViva has impacted for God and how many countless families it has helped. Many cherished memories from everyone and everything we experienced alongside FeViva. 

We received our biggest gift near the end of our time.   You never really understand the impact you have until much later.  The group of students we taught English (25 students), who really didn't know much English, and were barely able to say more than a few sentences....well they surprised us and blessed us with the most amazing gift...A Song.  On our last day, as we said goodbye, they asked us to stand in the front...and little did we know as they cued up some music, that they would sing this precious song to us.  It brought us to tears, and the Holy Spirit was absolutely present in that room with everyone.  A cherised memory that we were fortunate to capture, one that we will never forget. "Lord I need you, Oh i need you, every hour i need you...." In their beautiful, Spanish accents!

Youtube Video ⬆️⬆️⬆️👍

We discovered in Mexico and became even more prominent in Guatemala was the impact of Jayson being a stable, loving, kind, fun loving male figure. Many children just do not have that model- men do not exist or very detached or emotionally unavailable. I felt Jayson had such a massive impact everywhere he went, in his loving actions to his fun loving willingness to play and spend time with them. It was a highlight for me to see the kids take Jayson in and see men in a new light- our hope is that they see their God is loving and kind like him. 

Faith In Action - Visit to Zacapa, Guatemala.  We were able to visit our friends who have a ministry in the northern part of Guatemala.  Their ministry is called Faith in Action.  We spent 5 days with them and 2 of them in a remote village.  We visited a village called PinoLito, which means little pine tree.  We had a true village experience.  This remote village is accessed only by 4x4, horse or motorbike.  We got to serve the families and pray for the people.  They have 7 bonus kids who were rescued from this village, so we visited some of their families.

It was an incredible time spent with incredible faith-filled people, who are the hands and feet of Jesus.  Some incredible stories were heard, and some great memories were made, as we were stretched beyond our threshold in so many ways.  Being surrounded by villages carrying machettes and just being in an extremely remote village this ministry planted a church 30 years ago.   

5500 ft elevation

High above Zacapa in a small village called Pino Lito (Little Pine Tree)

Church (men stand outside or at the door with their machettes)

We also helped with their garbage dump ministry where they serve families who work at the dump.  We were able to make food bundles for the families.  We made about 40 in total and it ended up being the exact amount.   The 'dump people' many of them are from the villages in the mountains.  Since they don't have any education and it is very difficult to find a job, so they work at the dump.  Their kids will go to school in the morning and then join their families at the dump after school until dark.  They are very resourceful, loving people.  It was very eye-opening, but these people had so much faith, and so much joy for their situation it was inspiring.

Getting ready to deliver these bundles to families at the dump

Juan

At the garbage dump in Zacapa handing out food packs for families

Our families along with their bonus kids

Erin & Kayla - went to Ywam together in 2007

Power At Work:

As we wrote in our last blog - https://zilkie2024.blogspot.com/2024/03/power-at-work-empowing-guatemalans.html

We were able to spend time with the great folks at Power At Work.  It really was a highlight to spend people who empower children.  They are providing valuable, practical and life-long skills.  They are giving back to the community in immense ways.  They have huge hearts and open doors.

From bunk beds and wooden tables to repairing bikes....these guys are awesome...and Canadian!

https://power-at-work.ca/

Power at Work - Empowering Guatemalan's

Do you ever walk into a space, place or home, and it feels like well HOME.  The very first time we stepped our feet in the compound of Power at Work, we felt so much peace and you could feel the Holy Spirit just resting and smiling. 

It was a Sunday morning...Waffle Sunday!  The place is packed with kids and families, all waiting for their number to be called for waffles.  It's chaos but relaxed.  It's laughter, it's fun and it's good old-fashioned waffles and coffee!  You had me at waffles!

Here is a 4-minute video on Power At Work:

YouTube Video ⬆️⬆️

Kids make the waffles and serve them (empowering!)

Waffle Sunday

Power At Work is located just a few minutes away from Fe Viva.  It began on the Fe Viva grounds, but as the ministry grew its leaders decided it was time to find a home that was all their own, with the ability to grow, have a shop, and continue to empower the children of Guazacapan, Guatemala, and support over 100 children and their families. 

The Leaders:

Antony Van Engen, who has been here for over 20 years (he came as an 18 year old) is a carpenter, soccer player, one of the great people you will meet in life.  His heart pours out on these kids each day.

Grant Lamb:  Grant is one of those awesome guys who loves kids, works hard, and doesn't know any spanish, but that has never stopped him one bit from building deep relationships with people.  He has been coming here since 2010 after he sold his farm, and now is able to support himself fully.  Grant is a doer and makes stuff happen, its a real treat to be around him!

Carol Lamb: Carol has been coming to Guatemala since 2015.  It seems impossible not to like Carol.  So lovely, caring, kind.  You can feel her warmth, and so do the families and kids.  I feel like she is the glue that holds most things together!  I could hang out with these guys all day long they are awesome!

The local leaders who work F/T at Power at Work are, Nim & Estaphania who do a ton of stuff including outreach, feeding programs, and translating.  Edwin who graduated from the program at power at work now helps run it by empowering and teaching the kids to fix bikes and carpentry skills.

What do they do...well in a word they LOVE.  They love these kids and families, and it's evident...that is their WHY.   How do they do it?  They have created a safe environment for kids to flourish, and feel empowered, all while creating practical tools to do this.

What?   In their custom workshop, they create wooden picnic tables, bunk beds, and other wood items.  All built by the kids.  They fix bikes for the community, again all done by the kids and led by Edwin, who is teaching these kids valuable problem-solving and life skills.  

They help them with their education, by sponsoring them with food and require them to have a certain standard at school to be in the program.  They have nutrition programs.

Each day is a new activity and it feels like there is something fun for everyone.

They have their own soccer field with games 3-4x per week.  They go for a bike ride up the mountain and to a creek 3 days a week where you can bike or hike with the group.  Waffle Sundays!

Generally it's a happening place anytime you walk through the front door with something going on any time of the day.  (Still don't know when they ever rest)!

Ephesians 3:20 gest put on all their tables/bunk beds

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

Anthony

Grant & Anthony

T-Shirts

Parker in the workshop

Bunk BED

Outside of complex - looking at workshop

Grant!

Grant, Carol, Anthony, Estephanie and Nim

along with the Jansens

Check out their website - they are doing some super amazing things here in Guatemala!

 https://power-at-work.ca/

A Family in need - Selena

 In our first few days in Guatemala, we met Selena.   We immediately felt a connection, compassion, empathy and the Holy Spirit leading us to connect with her.  Over the following 7 weeks, we have been building a relationship with her, we have got to know her, and her story and it has been cool to see God working in her family.  Here is Selena and her story:

Erin & Matteo

Erin & Selena

At first glance, you can see she is an overwhelmed working mother ( working at a tortilla shop Monday to Saturday to provide food for her family - which is basically an open flame barrel where they make tortillas on the side of a busy highway)  of 5 kids age ranging 10 months old to 12 years old. But as we continued to learn more of her story the layers of grief, trauma, and sadness we felt the pull even deeper to support her. Every person needs a starting point, a helping hand to help move in a positive direction- God led and with the support of FeViva provided essential items to help Selena & her kids. Alongside FeViva Selena received one of their stoves, also a water purification system ( they were collecting water when they could and having water in buckets on her patio but they were always full of bugs or whatever was blown in by the wind- but it is what they had to drink), beds for all her kids, dressers/ storage FeViva had for clothing & items, a new Pilas ( which is an outdoor sink you clean your clothes in, wash your dishes, and have your shower water from. The Pilas is an essential item for a home in Guatemala which she did not have. She had to clean the family of 6 clothes by hand on a rock by her house!!! Also cleaning dishes in buckets of water that she would collect whenever water was available. The water here in Guatemala is sometimes given for an hour or so in the morning or afternoon but you have to catch it when it is on and fill buckets or your Pilas for your water for the entire day or more.) We were able to clean her house ( scrub as much mould as we could off the walls) and created a runoff with rocks for when the rainy season comes so the water would not come into her house but drain down the mountain. This took multiple days and numerous hands for this all to happen. We are so grateful for every helping hand who helped this family receive all these gifts from God- May he be praised for his work through it all. We are so grateful for the full support and care from Melissa & Nelson ( full-time FeViva missionaries) Melissa was basically with us every visit, translating, installing the stove (Nelson as well), cleaning out her house to start over, etc. None of this could have happened without their time and support- we are so grateful. 

 When I first held Matteo and proceeded to have him nap on me the entire service knew something was not " normal" about him. We asked further, Mom knew he was anaemic but had no funds to care for him. Selena was also suffering so with the help of FeViva they were able to take Mom & baby to the doctor and get them both the medication they so desperately needed. It has been such a joy to see this baby boy grow up before our eyes. He was a limp very lethargic 10 months old when I first held his precious body but now this past Sunday - 5 Sundays later he was dancing and clapping along to the worship service- Praise the Good Lord. We pray over this baby that he may grow and develop; may he get all the nutrients he needs to thrive. 

I think the greatest joy of all has been getting to know these kids every part of their lives is heavy and much responsibility is expected of the kids, especially the 3 older boys. We have spent many hours at their house and had the joy of having them in our house; have them for breakfast & play together. At times Caesar the oldest is to care & provide for all 4 siblings; he is 12. To play basketball with him and allow him to act his age even for an hour was a joy to experience. 

                                    FeViva water purification system being installed & taught how to clean.

                                                      Caesar & Anthony with the new stove!

We brought in rocks for drainage and here we are installing a stove

 

                                New bunk bed so every child & mom has a bed now! *This is her entire home.  Previously they had only 1 bunk bed and somehow all 5 kids and Selena were here.

                 Stephen Johnston & his son Parker were amazing the week they were here serving with FeViva. They built the runoff below and installed multiple stoves, basically doing everything they could to help this precious family. We are so grateful for them to jump aboard this train to love this family. 

Amazing Sonia came to love on the kids and help teach them how to help and support their mom with duties around the house.

Her new sink (in blue) called a PILLA - we got for her and installed as she didn't have a place to do laundry or her dishes.

Dishes we brought back to clean thoroughly; we were also able to do all her laundry to give her a much-needed break and fresh start with laundry!

The house in the middle is her home..1 bedroom for all 6 of them, about 250sq ft.
The property and inside were in very rough shape when we got there.  Dirt floors (this is before our cleanup) Her whole front of her property was full of water because of drainage issues so they would get muddy everytime they walked in or out.

Her house constantly floods so we built a trench and a rock wall for the water to divert.

   We are so grateful for all the support & time that Melissa & Nelson ( FeViva full-time missionaries) have poured into Selena & her family. 

                 FeViva hands out these food/kitchen essential bags to families in need.

                                            Selena received one on stove installation day!

Taking a new bed over to Selenas

Praying over Selena & family at FeViva church

We lift this precious family up to you God; may you be their refuge in times ahead and the father of love they desperately need. 

We took the kids for a morning so Selena could go to the Doctors with Matteo.

                                          I will miss my Matteo & Monserrat snuggles..