GUATEMALA
All I have talked about for a year is my grandson and his mission trip to Guatemala.
It has finally came and gone.
I think a part of his heart was left there.
20 students and three teachers.
A lot of his good friends went.
Guy on the right - his best friend.
Look for his Pepsi shirt in the photos - lol.
Prayer right before leaving to go to the airport.
With mom at school.
Getting ready - it was freezing that morning - he had on his short sleeve shirt and shorts - finally his sweatshirt went on. (See above and below)
At the airport.
In Guatemala the students stayed a week at the Hope Compound. Their job was to help the students learn English. Play with them. Make two meals a day for them. That is all the children had to eat until they came back in the morning.
Fun with friends.
They look exhausted. They had to get up at 5am every morning and hit the sack at 9:30pm.
One of HIS kids.
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One day's journal:
The workers together at the compound - the compound had guards with guns and attack dogs if necessary.
Posing for another photo.
No cell phones - no money - no stores - no televisions, but they had the time of their lives.
He posted this below - go to the bottom - one week changed my life.
Thanks for letting me brag on my grandson - you probably get tired of it - but I do love him so and this blog started out for him. I'll change my topic after he graduates in May so bare with me.
Random Facts in no special order.
One day they had a jungle/forest fire and had to evacuate the compound for hours.
The next day was a 4.1 Volcano that erupted.
One day a tree almost fell on the compound and they had to take it down so it would not cut out the electricity.
They of course could not drink the water.
One girl got sick the last night before they left - this was the least amount of Montezuma's revenge from the last few years of groups.
We told the back before he left that he would be going to Guatemala and to accept debits from there.
They made a note on his account.
Well they did close his account and it was a mess, but it got straightened out.
Some of the boys were making bleacher seats out of concrete around their playing field.
They got up at 5am to start squeezing oranges for juice.
There seemed to be a lot of beautiful fruit there.
He brought six boxes of Cliff Bars and brought home 2 bars.
They had to bring their own toilet paper.
They could not flush the paper down the toilet and had to throw it in the garbage can.
He said the kids were crying so hard that they were leaving - he cried right there with them (and he never cries). Said he felt like hi was leaving his own kids. (His mom knows that feeling...)
The teacher wrote the parents that the kids didn't want to come home.
One day they had a jungle/forest fire and had to evacuate the compound for hours.
The next day was a 4.1 Volcano that erupted.
One day a tree almost fell on the compound and they had to take it down so it would not cut out the electricity.
They of course could not drink the water.
One girl got sick the last night before they left - this was the least amount of Montezuma's revenge from the last few years of groups.
We told the back before he left that he would be going to Guatemala and to accept debits from there.
They made a note on his account.
Well they did close his account and it was a mess, but it got straightened out.
Some of the boys were making bleacher seats out of concrete around their playing field.
They got up at 5am to start squeezing oranges for juice.
There seemed to be a lot of beautiful fruit there.
He brought six boxes of Cliff Bars and brought home 2 bars.
They had to bring their own toilet paper.
They could not flush the paper down the toilet and had to throw it in the garbage can.
He said the kids were crying so hard that they were leaving - he cried right there with them (and he never cries). Said he felt like hi was leaving his own kids. (His mom knows that feeling...)
The teacher wrote the parents that the kids didn't want to come home.
DISCO IS FINALLY BACK WITH HIS BOY!
Disco was sad the whole week.
He likes it when we are all home.
Disco was sad the whole week.
He likes it when we are all home.
SOMETHING TO PONDER
TRUE JOKE IN ATLANTA!
Love,
Chatty Crone
29 comments:
Thank you for sharing. God is blessing.
Oh this is so touching. I so remember him so young. Wow brag all you want.
What a feeling your son is belonging to a out reach. What a handsome young lad he is. Did you get your house sold? I was praying hubby and I. That was going back many years. My hubby turned 80 Last week. My only daughter and Oldest Granddaughter came and helped me celebrate his Birthday time. Plus where I live in senior home Sid and I. I had my two operations on knees but sad my Specialist was killed. I was so heart broken. I cried. Now I think I have a torn shoulder. Cannot get a appointment for two weeks for my own dr for a referral if I need one. It takes me bit by bit to write comments. It hurts me so much. I posted pictures of Sids Birthday on my site. Peace, Serenity & Contentment.
what a wonderful experience. a life changing one, indeed.
this is not bragging, it is reporting and telling us of the wonderful things they did, and is uplifting to see and hear about it. the photo of him and the little girl, up close is beautiful.. Americans have no idea how blessed we are, seeing things like this post should open our eyes
Such a meaningful experience for him. I've never done anything like that and my children haven't either. He should be so proud of himself. I'm glad he made it there and back home safe. He definitely made a difference in the lives of those children. God bless him.
Hi Sandie - so pleased he went, and wonderful of you to share his photos ... and I bet it'll be a turning point in his life. Fabulous ... so pleased for you - cheers Hilary
Wow, what a great trip! We hear about (and meet!) so many teens who are lazy or irresponsible or too into social media fluff or on drugs... THIS! Gives me hope :). Thanks for sharing and for the photos. I'm sure you are all proud of Grandson plus glad to have him home
"No cell phones - no money - no stores - no televisions, but they had the time of their lives." Yay!
It widened his world
BRAG all you want, he is a good kid. I spotted him in the Pepsi shirt before you said that. I am so proud for you on his attitude of REMEMBERING and 'like leaving part of his heart!' It does Americans good to see how some of the world lives. GOOD STUFF!
I love this post! The pictures are great! Your grandson is truly gorgeous, both inside and out. Perhaps this was his first occasion to find out what a good feeling it is to help others who really need it. And it looks like it was definitely his thing! In that one picture, you can really see how tired they are. But as the saying goes, it was a GOOD kind of tired!
Brag away girlfriend, what else do we have if not to brag on our grands. It is so wonderful to hear about Andy and him taking the time to do a mission trip, I think this truly changes kids aspects on being so grateful for what they have. To actually experience that is awesome.
I love your "Yellow Brick Road" that is hitting us but the huge amount of pollen has not yet begun to surface...soon though.
Miss you
Awwww, Sandie! You’ve got a grandson to brag about! That’s a wonderful thing. What a great experience for those kids not only to go, but then to experience such a variety of happenings. Love the photos of him with those precious children. I wonder who feeds them the rest of the time? Glad everybody is safe and sound now. I bet he will do another mission trip. Love the Charlie Brown graphic.
I have enjoyed the photos you posted on FB and am so touched by this post and his journal and the great experience those kids had. Life changing for sure!! Thanks for sharing!!
The pollen joke... true here too! Love & hugs, Sandie!
You have a wonderful grandson who deserves to be bragged about. What sweet children he worked with. Your son is doing good works, while others his age are wasting their time video gaming and partying.
What an eye-opener! Like others have said, Andy deserves to be bragged about. Big time! So, they were there only a week? Are there other youth organizations that volunteer their time the other 51 weeks? It hurts my heart to realize how many of these children go to sleep hungry.
Brag away th at is w hat grandparents do, it was an experience he will remember for the rest of his days
Nice post, Sandie. That was a truly awesome, life-changing experience for Andy. He will NEVER forget all the experiences he encountered. And the faces of those poor little children will be forever in his heart. Thank you for sharing. Hugs. Susan
It is for this very reason that I feel lead and called to support those going on the mission field or to church camp. Both are impactful events that stay with the kids forever. Your grandson will never be the same because of his week spent there and it will be interesting to see what path he chooses down the road. This could be one of many missionary adventures for him. He did look like he bonded with several of the kids there.
So glad he was able to take this trip and so thankful the group was kept safe during their time there.
betty
I loved every word and every photo! You have every right to brag! Praise God for young men like your grandson. Gives me hope for our country.
I look forward to any and every post! You are always a shining light!
Thank you for sharing. It would be life changing experience for any of us . We are so blessed here, it's truly eye opening to see how others live. I cannot imagine living where you had to have guards on hand to protect you. I hope that in some way he'll continue to make a difference in others lives.
Sandie, what an awesome experience your grandson had on his trip to Guatemala. The photos were great, and it looks like he made some new friends. I love that they got up at 5:00 in the morning to start to squeeze oranges for orange juice. Oh my gosh, a forest fire and a volcano. So many things our kids learn when they travel to other places. That is the sweetest picture of your grandson with the little girl. I'm glad he is safely home, and I bet Disco was so happy to see him again. I love what he said, "one week changed my whole life." What a special guy this is.
love, ~Sheri
Oh how very special this has been --for Andy and for ALL of those kids.... Mission trips like this ARE life changing... My sons all went on similar trips when they were teens.... I remember one year when my two youngest guys went out west with a group to Four Corners ---and taught a Vacation Bible School for the kids....SO special..SO many memories....
Don't apologize about talking about your grandson in your blog. it's YOUR blog and you can write anything you want to.... Personally--I love your blog..... THANKS for sharing the joy with us.
Hugs,
Betsy
Is there anyway he can communicate with the kids after he came home? It would be nice if they can keep in touch.
That truly was a life changing experience!
I'll be in touch in a few days to say more. I've had an unexpectedly busy week.
What a wonderful experience! Love all the photos and I'm so glad to see him home safely! So many blessings!
Thank you for the kind comment on my blog :-)
Blessings,
Jill
I truly love all of your photos and updates on your Grandson and his compassionate heart.
Missions are in my hubby's and my heart too.
We have served in Nicaragua, Haiti, Uzbekistan, Kenya and I have been on the Kitchen crew for 10 years in Mexicali, Mexico.
There is nothing more satisfying than serving the Lord and serving each other.
Sue of photowannabe
Sandie, you have every reason to ' brag ' on your grandson. He's wonderful and like the last pose picture, he and his crew truly ARE angels under wing.
God has blessed every one of those kids with huge hearts. It's so wonderful that Andy felt so strong about his mission that it changed his life.
love n' hugs from our gloomy day north where the peepers are starting to sing
Oh! Wow! I really love your Blog, my dear friend, and all your wonderful posts about your handsome grandson, and your daily lives. Your grandson's experience in Guatemala with those kids must have been an unforgettable one, and those memories will stay in his compassionate heart forever. I'm sorry he had to go through rough times there, but in the end, all turned out a glorious learning achievement for all students -who went there on a Mission. I'm glad your grandson is back home with you and his beloved family.
He turned 18. So, Happy Belated Birthday to your handsome grandson!! He will soon graduate from High School, and he'll choose whatever is best for his incoming future. I'm truly sorry that I'm Not Online much, because I've been buried under tons of troubles, since Paul fell down, hit his head, broke his one little bone on the top of his right hand, and discovered he got Parkinson after an MRI done on his brain. He will soon undergo surgeries, but that is not all. He's expecting life changes, since he told me that Parkinson is a progressive disease, and he could eventually get Dementia. My daughter is coming over to visit us. She's arriving this Wednesday, April 17th. She will spend her 40th Birthday with us. She'll departure back to New York in April 25th, 2019. I'm glad to see my daughter again, after 10 years without seeing my little girl, now a big woman, and a mother herself of my 3 grandchildren. Please, pray for us! God may bless you all, dear friend.
"Cultivating Hearts at the City of Hope, Building Dreams in Guatemala."
I love every single picture of your grandson. I'm sure Disco & his family missed him a great deal. Yes! I went back to read your older posts in your
wonderful Blog. My daughter and my baby granddaughter are back in New York.
They spent one week with us. It was a real blessing to see them again...
My daughter told me that she would not know when I would see her face again.
Her remark made me sad, but I'll be OK. Dr. Paul is on the mend.
HAPPY EASTER, SANDRA, GRANDSON & FAMILY!!...
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