Although I won’t expect it to happen again, they held our connecting flight in Houston even though our first flight was delayed. Thanks, Continental Airlines! Customs was a breeze even though we came through with 144 pairs of new, identical sunglasses for the kids. No officials searching for bribes. Thanks to God and all the […]
Category: Buckner
Poo-Laundry, Conversations, and Our Last Day (Nate)
Our morning started with a continuation of yesterday morning’s work: helping with the house chores. Yesterday we had one group folding clean laundry and another mopping floors. Today there was still a group folding clean laundry, but the rest of us were sorting dirty clothes. We separated the whites, darks, bedding and la popa (a.k.a […]
I’m the lucky one (by Rachael)
Here in Guatemala, our team starts each morning with a devotion. This morning, I shared a little bit about our fundraising “saga.” As many of you know, we asked for help raising money for this trip. I hate asking for money. But a good friend reminded me that fundraising isn’t about writing a great letter […]
Day 2: Back with the Boys (Nate)
At one point in the morning commute, we had 16 people in our 14 passenger van, several backpacks, a wheelchair, and a large suitcase. Oh, and we followed a pickup truck towing a cage with 2 lions and their cubs most of the way to the Community Center. Awesome way to start the day! I […]
Things are always changing in Guate.
As I was sitting in the front seat of the van this morning, I realized that, after seven trips, parts of Guatemala have become very familiar to me—the friends we see, the van we ride in, the volcanoes we pass, the communities we drive through, the routes we take. They’ve become so familiar that they’re […]
Trip 2 of 2010
We’re here! Today was a remarkably easy and peaceful travel day. It was so remarkably easy that it’s almost too boring to write about; however we wanted to let everyone know that 1.) we made it and 2.) we have Internet access so we will be updating the blog. Tomorrow morning we’ll visit one of […]
Will you help?
In April, Nate and I will be making our seventh trip down to Guatemala—our seventh trip in just over a year and half! We are counting down the days; we can’t wait to go back! The kids there have captured our hearts completely. We are excited to be on the receiving end of some slobbery […]
Guatemala Day 1-Foreign Exchange (by Rachael)
As is usually the case in Guatemala, today tested the limits of our emotional and physical strength. I. Am. Exhausted. We started the morning by visiting one of the Compassion projects on the outskirts of Guatemala City. There are currently 200 kids who participate in the after school/weekend program. 50 kids still need sponsors. Interested? […]
The Superheroes of Guatemala City (by Rachael)
Several months ago, Emily Wiggins suggested I write a story about our experiences in Guatemala and submit it to Buckner. Eventually, I took her advice, wrote a story, got some revision tips from a friend (the wonderful and talented Megan Hamand), and sent it off. I found out last week that Buckner used it in […]
My favorite children (by Rachael)
I hate this. I hate saying goodbye to the kids. I hate leaving. But the painful goodbyes don’t make the moments together any less sweet. Today we had the privilege of taking the seven oldest “babies” to the children’s museum and to lunch at Chuck E. Cheese. And when I say “we,” I don’t just […]