Mission to Guatemala 2003

In February 2003, a thirteen-member team from St Paul’s on-the-Hill Anglican Church, Pickering, Ontario, Canada, undertook a 10-day mission trip to Guatemala, working under the aegis of Arms Of Jesus Children’s Mission (AOJ). The team was comprised of Felicia Bradbury-Chakravarti, Rhona & Bill Bradbury, Bonnie & Leah Lundrigan, Joyce & Don McPherson, Liz & Roy Mokedanz, Geoff Pring, Cathy & Rob Tucker, and Glenda Younghusband; many of whom had previous mission experiences. On previous visits, some team-members had been captivated by the visions that Rafael Arnanda, the Guatemala AOJ director, had of a library for the Parramos school and a professional development seminar for its teaching staff. So when this project was offered to St Paul’s, it was accepted with utter delight. The team was assembled early in the fall of 2002 and it soon became obvious that the cash donations from family, friends and business associates and the generous contribution from St Paul’s mission fund would exceed the cost of the Library, so a residential house was added to the list of objectives.

On the bitterly cold Friday morning of February 7, we left Toronto airport, each with 140 pounds checked baggage containing medical supplies, medicinal drugs, clothing, educational supplies, books and 100 solar-powered personal radios. We arrived in Guatemala City in the early afternoon where Rafael and his wife Claudia warmly welcomed us and invited us to attend the monthly food distribution program being held in Peronia, a district of Guatemala City. The program includes bible study for the children, personal hygiene lessons for the parents and lots of rousing singing for everyone. The children and the adults, many of whom we recognized from previous visits, received us very fondly. The following two days were fairly relaxed; we visited the Parramos School to help us visualize the library, we stimulated the local economy by visiting the Artisan’s Market in Antigua and we attended an uplifting church service in a small mission close to the AOJ compound.

Monday came and we shifted into work gear. The five men bent to the task of building the library, starting from a cement pad and a disused carport. The eight women started to work with the students, teaching English, Dancing, and Singing. Sewing machines, part of a container-load sent from Canada the previous year, were taken out of storage and put in working order; dozens of sleeping bags and over 100 toiletry bags were produced on them, for the children of Parramos and San Lorenzo. All team-members took time-outs during the week to visit the families that were sponsored either by them or by friends. Visiting a sponsored family is a spiritually enriching experience for both parties. The visitor sees where the monthly contribution goes, learns what it achieves and how important it is. The sponsored family gets to express its appreciation. Both parties get to share their love and gratitude for God’s good works. When Rhona and I visited our sponsored child Cristobalina; we were amazed to find our pictures hanging on her bedroom wall; we were considered part of the family.

The week’s schedule was full. Everyday, the team was up at the crack of dawn and, after a quick breakfast and morning prayers, was busy until suppertime. Then after evening devotions, it was time to fall into bed exhausted but satisfied. The seminar was successfully presented to the teaching staff on the Thursday and Friday; the library and the house were completed on Saturday the final day.

The scripture theme for the mission was chosen from Philippians 4:13 “Todo lo puedo en Cristo que me fortalece” (I can do everything in Christ for he fortifies me) and with His help, the team achieved all of the mission objectives, and was also blessed with a number of life-changing experiences. For instance, everyone was moved to tears in the dedication ceremony for the house, which was built for a widowed mother and her five children, who formerly lived in a cornstalk hovel with a dirt floor. On the last Friday, we had a farewell service with the children in the school chapel; Rhona and I noticed a little boy sitting apart from all the other children. Little Zaqueo was sobbing uncontrollably. We went and sat by him to comfort him, but to no avail, until we got to a part in the service where we all sang “Yo tengo un amigo que me ama” (I have a friend who loves me). We encouraged Zaqueo to sing and clap his hands; soon he was singing, clapping, smiling and running back to be with his friends. Finally, as the whole team assembled outside the mission base before leaving for the airport, Fuego, a nearby volcano started to erupt. For several minutes, there was a plume of smoke and vapor hovering over the summit accompanied by a low rumbling noise. Dare we believe that it was a sign from God that maybe He was satisfied with the week’s work?

Bill Bradbury

Mission to Guatemala 2003