Beauty of every kind

It seems like there is no lack of special moments here. There are always more hugs to give or receive, always new things to learn about the kids, always new glimpses of God's grace...goodness feels very real.

But then there are moments that just breathe life into you. That are more than just "special", but nourish your soul in a way that only a few things can. For me, I've had a couple of those this past week and I'd just like to briefly share them. They may seem fairly mundane, yes, but it is partly because they were so simple and honest that they impacted me so deeply.

First was my discovery that even some 12 year old boys still giggle like tiny children when you blow raspberries on their stomachs (you know, when you plant your mouth against them and blow super hard making an elephant sound). I spent a large portion of tonight chasing them around the house...until they turned the tide and realized I was just as ticklish as they were. As I was about to give one of them a hug before he went to sleep, I could tell he was gonna go for my stomach, so I said, "Ok, only one more and then you need to go to bed!" To which he replied, "Sure! One more for tonight, but tomorrow we're gonna start again!" I smiled and smashed his face against my stomach to show I wasn't afraid of whatever he was gonna do to me. That fact that something so little, so simple, so completely ridiculous could bring so much joy to a kid for a night was really encouraging to me. When faced with the daunting reality of their abused childhood, my ability to do anything seems so insignificant. And yet tonight the most effective way I could communicate the love of Christ was by making elephant noises on their stomachs...and it was enough.

Second was my time spent at the water park on Friday. I was in the pool for a little bit, but for about four hours I was just sitting in the shade with a kid who was being punished and one of my roommates, Eduardo. As we piled onto the bus I realized I had just spent those four hours just talking with Eduardo... in spanish. We have a lot in common. He wants to be a missionary to the Middle East, to some country where Christianity is banned. His passion for serving Christ clearly transcends language, and his joyful and friendly demeanor (he likes shaking hands and giving hugs) are completely infectious. I now have a peer friendship not based in english and that is centered very much on a mutual desire to serve God abroad. How incredible is God's grace! Truly there is little more wonderful than the reality of the global church.

Lastly was when we were driving back from the park. We were all so tired and half the bus was unconscious. I had a kid asleep across my lap as we began a series of switchbacks to regain the 5000 feet of altitude of our descent to the park. The whole 30 minutes it took to get up the mountain was accompanied by one of the most beautiful vistas I have ever seen in my whole life. A towering volcano shrouded in roiling, defined clouds and surrounded by smaller mountains that were reflected in a lake framed by endless greenery. So I'm sitting there, one of my favorite kids asleep in my lap and an incredible view out the window after a day of fun and relaxation in Guatemala...and I was just overwhelmed by the goodness of God. There is no way I deserved anything so wonderful, and yet there I was, so...content. This vista faded and the kid woke up and life went on, but for that moment I could do little else but revel in the love of God.

I wish I could give more detailed accounts of my time here, but in reality I'm mostly just throwing kids around and playing soccer. For all of you praying for us here, please continue to pray for strength and energy and an abundance of love for these kids. But also don't forget to thank God for the wonder and blessing of simply being in this place. Thank you for all of your support, it means so much to us.

-Mateo