I think it is official. We are packed and ready to load the car. We have spent the greater part of this week packing, repacking, arranging, and rearranging the donations we have collected and stuffed into our suitcases. Just when we think we are finished, we realize that we either forgot something, or someone else calls and asks if it is too late to send things. When I open the suitcases, I get a glimpse of so many wonderful, heartfelt gifts that we have the privilege of delivering to the children and their families in just a few days. This year we are blessed to have some very special gifts among all of the much-needed supplies of clothing, shoes, vitamins, socks and underwear. I want to tell you about a few of them….
“With Love From Rosanne” – our dear friend Rosanne Fillman has been hard at work with her crafting. She made the most beautiful little animals to give to the children: chicks, frogs, hedgehogs, owls, so many cute little critters in that bag. I cannot wait to see the look on their faces when I get to give them to the kids. Each one, made with much love from an American friend whom they cannot meet in person, but who loves these children and their families beyond belief!
“Jesus Te Ama” – A few years ago, a group of folks from the Brookville UM church sent some beautiful hand-made quilts with us to Guatemala. Earlier this spring, I got a phone call from their group, and they asked if we would like more quilts to take along this year. These quilts are amazing. They are made from jeans, sewn with a flannel back, and some of the most beautiful color patterns and designs I have ever seen. Each one unique, and made just for kids. About a month ago, I got a call that they were ready to be picked up, along with several bags of other donated items, namely socks, shoes, undies, and small stuffed animals. We couldn’t wait to go pick them up! Imagine our surprise, however, when we decided to take a peek inside the bag to see the quilts. Each one was as beautiful as we expected, but also had a little something special added to it… they wrote “Jesus Te Ama” on every single quilt. Translation… Jesus Loves You. How wonderful is that? Wrapped in warmth, and the love of our Savior!
“With Love From Your Sponsor” – As you have read, there is a wonderful opportunity to help the children in this village through a child sponsorship program. This year, we are able to deliver gifts from American sponsors to their Guatemalan families while we are in Guatemala. Our mission group from PA has decided to stay an extra day on the mission in order to travel to the village, and meet with the children and their families. Robin is the lucky holder of most of the gifts from the sponsors. However, I got lucky enough to get a peek at just one of the gifts that were prepared for a child in Santa Maria de Jesus. Our friend Brenda Weber dropped off a beautiful hand-made bag for her child, Maria. It was filled with all sorts of goodies: crayons, a coloring book, hair ties, a notebook, and lots of other simple gifts that will mean the world to one little girl and her family. I can’t wait to give Maria her gift, and to help deliver all of the gifts to the village for their American families. More importantly, I cannot wait to hug those kids, and tell them how much they are loved by folks who genuinely care about them and their families, even though they are thousands of miles apart.
And so tomorrow we load the car to head to Pittsburgh. In just a short time, these gifts will make their long journey into the mountains of Guatemala, every single item ... Sent With Love
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