Dia 9 (Day 10, but full day 9)

Buenas noches, otra vez!

Much has happened in the last two days! Group trip to Lake Atitlan, the despedida, and the start to the team's stays in the children's homes, and much more. There have been many tears, of joy and of pain. Our group shared a wonderful time of debriefing last night and prayed over the McDaniel's in the loss of their son's mother-in-law; we prayed over Kayla as she has been experiencing stomach pain; they prayed over the Muhleck family this morning for our travels home today; and they prayed over me (Dayna) as I have two days to recoop and prepare for my first semester away at school. Our team has grown so close, and it was sad for our family (the Muhleck's) to leave the rest of our family today. I look forward now, as you all do, to hearing what today and tomorrow will and have held for the rest of the team.

So, beginning with Tuesday: Tuesday was our team trip to Lake Atitlan. It was a fantastic team-bonding trip. We awoke in the 5am-ish range. We had a 3 hour drive there. Our bus driver Mario made it around some very sharp turns with lots of steep cliffs on the opposing side and thorugh a lot of sharp turns on tiny village roadways as he tried to figure out how to get the rest of the way to our destination. Much applause to him for his driving skills in Guatemala! We had many nerveracking moments on the way there and especially back, but God got us to our destinations safely.

Lake Atitlan is a lake surrounded by 3 volcanoes. It is absolutely breathtaking! We took a boat ride to three different villages. There are 12 villages total around the lake, and you can choose 3 to travel to. The first village was a good start to learn how persistent in selling items the Guatemalans are and how we must be able to say no; it was also an intro lesson to bartering. The second village was an experience; it seemed as though we were originally greeted warmly, but when we would buy no more there were young children that were talking very rudely at us. Please pray for that village. They need Jesus. The third village was the biggest of the three. We ate lunch before shopping there. Jane arrived at the lunch place in style; Tom found her a taxi to take her up the steep incline. Jane has been a great trooper on this trip with all the hills and steps that are to be traversed. She's a conquerer with Jesus! We all enjoyed nice meals and very clean bathrooms. We spent the most time in this village shopping.

We had a 3 hour wild drive back home. The bumpy bus ride was taking a toll on people's bodies, but we made it back safe. We enjoyed Taco Bell for dinner (they have play places in the Taco Bells in Guatemala.) Kevin saved his money for a feast of food; his tray was packed! The rest of the Forster family accidentally got their meals super-sized; the man behind the counter seemed to be getting a kick out of our minimal Spanish skills.

Wednesday was a day full of hard times and good times. This was the day the McDaniel's received the news about their son's mother-in-law. Please pray for comfort for their family. God is with them.

In the baby house, Marcia Forster finished helping the house mom put together a packet of information for all of the helpers that come to the house. That is a huge stepping stone for having consistency in how the baby house is run for years to come. Dayna and Kristen had a difficult time in the baby house in the morning, as it seemed that the house mom was trying to pass many responsibilities off in preparation for the retreat. The babies were completely resistent to listening to anyone but the Guatemalan helpers and the house mom. Please pray that that is not the case for the workers in the baby house for the last day of retreat tomorrow (Mike Rettler, Josh Rumbarger, Jill Rumbarger, Kayla Brown, and the SBU shift rotators.) The afternoon shift on Wednesday, Jane sang "Jesus Loves Me" for over an hour until her voice went hoarse to keep the children calm during their nap.

The men finished painting the school on Wednesday!! It looks amazing! Kevin, Kayla, and I think possibly someone else finished dusting out the library and reorganizing books. Mr. Rumbarger made a comment that it always seems like they run out of time before all the work is done. I know our team and SBU dug the trenches for the wall; hopefully SBU and the Guatemalan workers will be able to start constructing that soon.

Bryan Raycraft did something very special for the orphanage Wednesday. He went out with Mike Rumbarger, Tom, Edgar, and David; Bryan bought the soccer team new Jerseys and soccer socks. He also bought them a new soccer ball and was able to buy 5 pairs of cleats. Many of the players don't have cleats and have just been playing in regular shoes; not necessarily tennis shoes, but skateboarding shoes. This equipment is a huge blessing! When Edgar told the team the news, the boys surrounded Bryan with hugs.

Wednesday evening was the despedida. Each house made something and gifted us with a performance of sorts. Casa Promesa did a Hebrew dance. Casa Esperanza had a group of guys go up and dance; they looked like adorabl monkies. The baby house mom went up with one of the little boys who had drawn the picture on the card for our group, and the baby house mom sang a song for the group that, significantly, was the song she would sing the boy who drew the picture to sleep when he used to scream at night. Casa Alabanza had all the girls go up with their new shoes and sparkling sunglasses and model them for everyone. Casa Lamar had a young woman go up and do a worship dance solo for us that drew everyone into worship. Dayna and Kristen choreographed a dance for Casa Ester and performed it with them (they caught on so fast and danced beautifully!) I cannot recall was Casa Samuel did. I know that Casa Nuevo Pacto along with all the houses, whether they did something or just got up and said something, made a card for the group. The soccer team got up and gave a special thanks to the guys who have been playing soccer with them, and specifically to Bryan for the new equipment, giving him a jersey with al their names signed on it.

It was a beautiful night! The children are so precious and so loving. At the end of the night, children from Casa Samuel came around and grabbed each and every one of us and took us up to the front of the stage to be prayed over. It was hard to say good-bye at the end of the night.

My family and I (the Muhleck's) are home safe now! There were no glitches in travel whatsoever. We are praying for that same efficiency for the group coming home on Saturday, Tom McCarthy coming home on Monday, and Dana, Kayla, and Mrs. Rumbarger coming home on January 20th. One more day for retreat. Please pray for energy for the whole team. Please pray that the children's hearts would be softened and receptive to the instruction our teammates give. Please pray that the language barrier would not be an issue and that the children in the house would work with those from our team that are leading in the houses.

Ken and Jane McDaniels are in Casa Lamar (Girls 12-18)
Marcia and Dan Forster are in Casa Ester (Girls 12-18)
Bryan Raycraft and Kevin Forster are in Casa Nuevo Pacto (Boys 12-18)
Dana Rumbarger and (?) are in Casa Alabanza
Kristen Forster and Justin Rumbarger are in Casa Samuel (Boys and Girls post-toddler to 11?)
Mike McDonald and (?) are in Casa Esperanza
Mike Rettler, Josh Rumbarger, Jill Rumbarger, and Kayla brown are in Casa de los Anjelitos (the baby house)
Please forgive me. I cannot recall where Jon Forster, Mike Rumbarger. I'm sure one of them is in Esperanza and the other Alabanza.

Thank you for your continued prayers! I, Dayna, now pass of the responsibility of blogging to Mrs. Rumbarger. I look forward to hearing of their continued adventures at Casa Bernabe and how Jesus further touches the children's lives.

Please pray for each and every member as we come home that the changes in our heart would remain as we are reintroduced to the fast-paced and individualistic ways of the U.S.; pray that the changes in our hearts would take root and be permanent; that we would not slip back into the daily routine of things as they were before we left; that we would allow this experience to fully change us as God desires; that we would be the ones to take initiative and encourage community amongst our neighbors.

Blessings to all!