Third World Children in Need of Christmas. Part 2.

Welcome to the "Libre Infancia" Christmas Celebration for Children!!!!

     At the close of our last post we were boarding a bus in the dumpster community of Zone 3 in Guatemala City.  The bus, full of children and their families were temporarily leaving their poor and oppressive environment in the anticipation of  the grand Christmas celebration awaiting them!




Over 200 children w/family in attendance!!!!

      Thanks to Pastor Otto Alvarez, his faithful volunteers, and their big hearts for God's little ones, the celebration was indeed a complete success and blessing to everyone involved.  This event is held annually at "Templo de Gloria" church which is the church the guys and I attend every week.  The Church and ministry of "Libre Infancia" are closely connected and both led by my current pastor, Pastor Otto.



Chris helping me negotiate and choose toys
for 100 girls and boys!




This year, Pastor Otto was a bit short on funds, which is all to common in ministry work.  He had been praying for the funds to buy 100 more toys so he could invite 100 more children to the Christmas Celebration.  Meanwhile, not knowing this, I had been raising funds to buy presents for the children of the men in my ministry who were unable to do so themselves.  God provided in excess for the children of the men. So I still had money left-over that people had sent me with the intention of buying gifts for Guatemalan children in need.  Not knowing Pastor Otto's situation I approached Him after Church one Sunday and asked if their was anyway I could help his awesome ministry.  He joyously invited me to bring 100 toys to the celebration and said he would extend his invitation to 100 more children.  God is good!



100 toys sponsored by "Guatemala: Revelation & Response",  readers
and supporters!


The readers and supporters of this blog really came through where it counts.  All the toys you see were sponsored by the "Guatemala: Revelation & Response" blog.  Because of the generosity of a few amazing individuals and one church,  100 more children were able to join in the Christmas celebration!!!











Bombillita the clown had more than 200 children captivated for over 45 minutes!
Let me tell you, that is no easy task while hundreds of presents sit in
plain sight on stage.



Straight from the bus to the fun-house!  Upon arriving at the celebration the children were split into small groups of 10 or so and assigned a group leader. The men of our ministry as well as myself were all put in charge of some very excited children. 



I was proud of the men from our ministry "Hogar de la Roca" for their great work and willing hearts to help make this Christmas celebration special for all the children who came.  God is taking them to new places already.



Yours truly, Pastor Otto, and Santa Claus himself in the greatest position of the event....giving.



     It was a full afternoon of clowns, games, candy, hugs, songs, balloons, and gifts.  You know your getting old when you find yourself on the same side of the gift line helping Santa Claus himself.  That being said, what an amazing  privilege and honor it was to stand their and help hand out possibly the only gifts these children will receive all year.  The entire day was truly overwhelming and holds memories i will carry with me always.  Enjoy these pictures!

These boys were wild....



...and as fate would have it they were also the recipients of the coolest toys i brought.  The
swords were used for their intended design which is of course chasing away girls.



Merry Christmas!

    

     Matthew 18: 1-6  "About this time the disciples came to Jesus and asked "Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?"  Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them.  Then he said "I tell you the truth...anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven."  And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf also welcomes me."

     This is one truth I trust we can all agree on.  I have readers and followers of this blog who come from all different social and spiritual backgrounds.  I maintain a deep respect for the beliefs you each hold, and i appreciate your respect of mine. 

     This Holiday season we really came together and made better the lives of some beautiful children who need our help more than i could ever convey with photographs or written words on a computer screen.  Whether you financially contributed specifically  for children or to help meet my daily needs here, you yourself welcomed these children as lovingly as Jesus did.  I am merely here as a conduit of God's grace.  Without you,  I would actually be more of a burden here than a help.  This goes for anyone reading, praying, or sending me encouraging comments as well.  I couldn't be here without you, and these children wouldn't be blessed without all of us working as a team for this common goal..  "To help the hurting."

     There are still opportunities to help for the holidays and throughout the year, as there will always be a need with any humanitarian cause.  For instance,  our next post will involve a trip back to the dumpster community, yet this time we hope to feed over 100 starving people a warm Christmas feast!  May God bless you all through the duration of what's already been a very merry Christmas!  Look for Part 3, "Christmas Feast" coming very soon!



Merry Christmas from Libre Infancia...........



...and from the children of Zone 3.  Merry Christmas!

Third World Children in Need of Christmas. Part 1.

    
     Every year right around Christmas time, the families and especially the children living in the garbage dump in Zone 3 of Guatemala City receive a visit and an invitation to leave behind their desperate circumstances, even if just for a few hours.  An empty bus pulls up to the entrance of one of the may dumps and sends out a small team of volunteers with the hope of filling the bus with children who are in real need of a great Christmas.  Let's go inside.



The main road inside.  The sheet-metal you see to the right marks the first series of "homes" you pass as you enter into the community.

      For the people who live in and around the garbage dump each sunrise is the same.  Tons of rotting rubbish, swarms of flies and scavenger birds, along with the burning stench which is it's accompaniment.



The photos you are seeing of this outreach were taken at one of the smaller dump communities in the city.  The main dump located nearby is much larger.  On the day of our outreach all non-workers and non-residents were prohibited by order of the police and drug-dealers who run the the dump from entering.

        The Children, adults, and elderly dedicate 14 hours daily to the search for recyclable material which will help with their daily survival.

     Everyone living in the dump is exposed to death, rape, sickness, abuse, illness, accidents, crime, and sadly a legacy of a continuing cycle of poverty that has been handed down from generation to generation.

    
   Moved by this extreme poverty and suffering of these people, Pastor Otto Alvarez founded "Libre Infancia" or Free the Children, in 1995, to provide hope and help.  Where others see a lost cause amongst a lack of resources, I have seen Libre Infancia's determination to help these children in spite of the overwhelming circumstances facing all those involved.

This is a picture of home-life for countless families born into the third world.  What you see is "home" in it's entirety for this Guatemalan family.  This is not their entrance or outdoor courtyard to their home.  Their entire living quarters as well as every material possession they own is on display in this photo.  Here on this dirt floor is where they eat, sleep, and bath out of buckets if they've collected enough rain water to bath themselves and wash their clothes.





All pictures were taken with the consent of the people depicted.  This woman
graciously allowed me to photograph her home while she kept her eye on her
two toddlers playing at the door across the outside corridor.



And every few feet the same scene with a different cast repeats itself over, and over, and over again. 

Libre Infancia believes that every child should have the opportunity to receive education, love, and care.  Their programs are designed with the intention that every child might gain the skills necessary to get stable jobs in the future, be self-reliant, and help remove their family from poverty in a dignified manner permanently.
















Volunteers such as Chris and the men from our program along with some staff of Libre Infancia
went to personally invite families to the Christmas celebration.  It was sad to learn that the boy facing
the camera is deaf and mute.

     Knowing that the overall goal of the ministry of Libre Infancia is long-term and far from being accomplished, they take steps to ease the momentary burdens of the children on a regular basis.  A great example of this was the grand Christmas celebration for children hosted at Templo de Gloria Church.



      All children were invited yet not all were able to attend.  Some parents refused our offer.  We weren't exactly sure why.  Maybe it was a lack of trust or perhaps some ingrained bitterness.  Although we were joyously received at the land-fill by most, some were clearly not interested in the local church outreach and even less the well dressed white guy with the camera.

Without help, the children you see are looking straight into their future.  It is a heartbreaking spectacle to behold.
What you see as a mere visitor to the daily struggle of these wonderful people stays with you long after you walk out the exit. These children never had a choice.  They were born into  a serious disadvantage and extreme deficit.  In short, they need a miracle.  However, every little bit of compassion they receive is done so with the most grateful of hearts.  It seems even hugs are in short supply to the children living at the dumps of Guatemala City as they were all so eager for whatever affection they may receive.  I tried to let my pictures do most of the talking as words cannot clearly convey the reality of life in these communities.  The pictures themselves offer only a narrow glimpse... a literal snapshot of the daily tortures of life in extreme and seemingly hopeless poverty.
     In my next post...(part 2), I will be able to share a moment of joy for the children you have just leaned about. I will share about a temporary exit from their daily prison, a celebration put on annually by Libre Infancia, and how a few of my blog readers have already improved the lives of some of the very children appearing in this story of which we all play a part.

Part 2 is just a bus-ride away and coming soon.

Kitchen Of Love 15th anniversary Celebration!

    
     For over 15 years now The kitchen of Love Ministry, or "Cocina de Amor" has been established and committed to eradicating hunger in Guatemala city one mouth at a time.  For the past decade and a half Cocina de Amor has opened it's doors 6 days a week and offered a hot and complete nutritious lunch to anyone who may drop by.  Located in Zone 14 in Guatemala City and possessing another large facility out in Escipulas, the volunteers at Cocina de Amor tirelessly provide a consistent sustenance that hungry people of all kinds in the surrounding neighborhood have come to depend on and look forward to on a daily basis.  The food is always accompanied by an encouraging word, prayer, or just good fellowship to the many people who come.


"Jesus called his disciples to Him and said "I have compassion for these people and do not want to send them away hungry.  You give them something to eat."  Then Jesus gave the loaves to the disciples and the disciples gave them to the people.  They all ate and were satisfied.  Mark 15.


       The 15th Anniversary Celebration brought well over two hundred people on this very chilly Wednesday December 8th.  Cocina de Amor lived right up to their name and reputation by delivering hot plates of pasta, Pork, and fresh bread with coffee to everyone in attendance. Live music, free raffles, Cake for dessert and an impressive fireworks display made for a terrific and memorable evening to every one in attendance. Even so, this multi-dimensional celebration offered all that and so much more.



Pastor/founder  Jose Alvarez with  "The Semilleros de Cristo"

   I had met the founder and Pastor Jose Alvarez a handful of times back in the states.  Our ministries are very closely connected and he has come to my Church in Hartford and spoken on numerous occasions.  Pastor Alvarez is about the warmest man you will ever meet. He is the type of person who will tell you he loves you and you just know he means it.  He is a powerful preacher and is in addition quite a comedian and overall dynamic and genuine speaker.

Now that peoples bodies were a bit more at ease, with hot food and coffee gently nourishing and warming them from within, Pastor Jose began to nourish them spiritually.  He invited a few different people from his church and ministry to share about the miracles that God had done or was doing in their lives.  One woman spoke with tears of her miraculous healing from breast cancer.  Her husband, also overwhelmed with emotion spoke about his battle and victory with alcoholism.

 
     I too was completely and unexpectedly introduced, called on stage, and asked to share with the large group of listeners. Let me tell you it it's never easy to face so many people and share with them some of the darkest moments of your life, and then how God came into those moments with His wonderful light and took you from a previously drug-addicted person heading potentially towards jail or death to a respected missionary in Guatemala City. It's never easy to start, but once you begin it flows naturally and is an honor as well as my duty to do so willingly and with a grateful heart.  There were many in attendance with drug and alcohol problems who desperately needed to hear about the path out of their dark bondage.

     And people were moved by the entire experience of the evening.  They were moved enough to approach the altar and in search of fellowship, communion, answers, or even healing from the God they had just heard so much about.  That is when the real touch occurs and the Spirit of God moves amongst His people.  Everything we (the ministries, the  church, etc.,) do beforehand is merely to set the stage.  It is our offering to God.  Then it's time to pray and watch God work. 

    
     Just as I was able to testify about God's goodness as well as others, here too more testimonies are born.  Many of the same people who were going through a seemingly impossible storm and reached out to God for help on Wednesday night will be the ones sharing next year, or at thier own Church about how God miraculously comforted them and saved them from their circumstance that had them balancing at the brink of utter ruin.  That's how it works, and its a wonderful blessing to behold no matter which side of the testimony you happen to be on.  The important thing is that you share it for the next person's benefit.
     Just as it is of the utmost importance to meet the physical needs of God's people as well. James 2:14-17  "What good is it dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don't show it by your actions?  Can that kind of faith save anyone?  Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.  If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed, " but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?  So you see faith by itself isn't enough.  Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless." 
     Congratulations to"Cocina de Amor" for putting the hand to the plow and faithfully accomplishing this important work of Christ on a daily basis.  I thank God for their heart and Commitment to the hungry, both physically and spiritually.  It's an honor to be affiliated with this ministry and I pray that myself and many others too can learn from their powerful  example.



http://es-es.facebook.com/pages/La-Cocina-del-Amor/148890961796114

Follow this ministry by searching "Cocina de Amor" on facebook and youtube!

Meet the Animals of Hogar de la Roca!!!



"Someday soon we shall put on the sun.  Not the one we see, that's just a sketch of what's to come." (My Epic)
"Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies?  Yet not one is forgotten by God." (Luke 12:6)



Genesis 2:19  "So the Lord God formed from the ground all the wild animals and all the birds of the sky.  He brought them to man to see what he would call them, and the man chose a name for each one..."

Meet Perla!

Or in English her name is Pearl and she is certainly one of a kind.  This saucy Cocker-spaniel is the self-proclaimed queen in our little animal kingdom here at the house.  Having asserted herself as the dominate first lady Perla gets first choice of  food, water, or whatever other amenities may come their way.  Perla is our most alert watchdog and not a single passer-by goes unnoticed as her trademark high-pitched bark is heard by all and often conducive to setting off an "all dog alert."  The phrase is coined from the famous Disney classic "101 Dalmatians" where every dog in the neighborhood starts barking at once.  We have a lot of "all dog alerts" here, which is a good thing because there are a lot of robberies as well.  Fortunately for us Perla is on the case. If anyone was to make it through the dog alarms and into the house they would quickly run into Perla's second in command.

Meet Nala!

Complete with her very fashionable spiked collar Nala serves us as the bark behind the bite.  This strong and lean American Boxer is the intimidation factor towards any and all unwelcomed guests.  However if you were to spend anytime at all with Nala you would quickly learn what a gentle giant she truly is.  Being the baby of the house Nala craves attention and affection from everyone around her.  She loves to play, has an overabundance of energy, and has no clear idea of her true capacity for strength.

Meet Onyx!

In case you can't tell from this picture Onyx is a  sweetheart in the truest sense.  With such a meek and gentle spirit about her in a house full of dominant personalities, Onyx can often be seen waiting her turn to eat or to receive a belly-rub after the other dogs have moved onto another adventure.  All signs of meekness do however miraculously and instantly disappear as soon as the "blue ball" comes out to play.  In front of the house Chris will throw a blue racket ball down the street and the dogs will chase it and bring it back in the common way dogs do.  Onyx however is a speeding black bullet that leaves the other dogs with literally no chance of ever touching the ball.  So Chris has to hold her collar when he throws the ball and give the other dogs a big head-start.  Even so it's often Onyx who returns with the coveted "blue-ball" ready to reluctantly relinquish it to Chris hoping to repeat the process as many times as possible.

Perla's Puppies!

These little boys are no longer with us but their presence certainly made an impact on us while they were here growing up and getting ready to transition to their new families. They managed to be this cute and yet remain true "holy terrors."  It was a joy to see them grow and sad to see them leave one by one.  Selling puppies is something Chris does regularly as a fund-raiser for the ministry and I just heard Onyx is the next mom on deck!

Meet Hunter the Dog...!

What can I say?  The only dog I've ever known to literally have his own original theme song, Hunter has been my best friend and companion for over the past ten years.  More like a person than a dog Hunter has lived in the Suburbs and Cities of Connecticut and Massachusetts, Brooklyn/Williamsberg NY, an artist collective warehouse in Providence Rhode Island, and most recently as a missionary-dog here in Guatemala City.  Hunter has traveled across the 50 U.S. States on tour with my band many times and some of his favorite places to frequent are the Rocky Mountains, the Pacific Ocean (although not so much to get in the water), and the Grand Canyon.  Hunter has survived rat-poisoning, a broken hip, a brush with an alligator in Birmingham, an arrest at a Texas & Mexico border checkpoint with an overnight in Dog-prison, and multiple dog-gang related "jumpings".  Here in Guatemala, he has learned to get along fairly well with his new dog companions despite the age and size difference.  For the first time in ten years he isn't allowed in bed with me or on the furniture here which has been an difficult adjustment for us both.  However, Hunter is healthy, happy, walking often a couple miles a day, losing excess weight, and is full of life.


The setting sun and water volcano as seen from our roof-top.

      People who are new to Christianity or who are just simply curious will often ask if there is a place in heaven for animals.  I was one of those who found myself  lovingly contemplating my pet who experiences nearly the full spectrum of human emotion as well as a unique personality.  I often thought and hoped within myself that surely God has a place in eternity for creatures as noble as these.  Today, it is my belief that he does.  
     When God put creation into motion, before the sickness of sin entered into the picture, man, woman, and animals lived together in complete harmony. There was no sickness, no death, and no food-chain.  Heaven, will eventually be a "return to the garden" or original intended perfect state.  As a result of man choosing evil we are temporarily left in a "fallen state."  The animals were actually the first to suffer a capitol consequence of the fall.  The first biblical recorded death was not Cain Killing Abel.  After Adam and Eve received the knowledge of good and evil they were suddenly ashamed of their nakedness so "The Lord God made clothing from animal skins for Adam and his wife."  I can only image the desperate heaviness that moment must have held for the earth's first man and woman.  I envision them viewing a skinned animal carcass for the first time while flies and birds start to get their first taste for flesh. Perhaps the first cold breaze passed over their flesh and they shuddred in the maginitued of the moment.  Whether you believe in the creation story literally or as a mere interpretation of the truth, the truth rings clear.  Death, sickness, and violence, even amongst animals feels inherently wrong and out of place to us at the core of our souls.
Isaiah 11:6-9  "In that day the wolf and the lamb will live together;  the leopard will lie down with the baby goat.  the calf and the yearling will be safe with the lion, and a little child will lead them all.  The cow will graze near the bear.  The cub and the calf will lie down together.  The lion will eat hay like a cow.  The baby will play safely near the hole of a cobra.  Yes, a little child will put it's hand in a nest of deadly snakes without harm.  Nothing will hurt or destroy in all my Holy mountain, for as the waters fill the sea, so the earth will be filled with people who know the lord."
Hope is essential for all of us if we are going to make it through this fallen land of ours.  For Christians, it is essential to have hope in a heaven that excites us.  In fact, i believe Heaven is often viewed in a rather unspoken way as a potentially boring and shapeless place. That tells me that not enough people have really dwelled on what heaven will look like in a broad and imaginative scope.  The scripture above is a promise from God that I look forward too even now with near tears in my eyes.  For me, a sensitive animal lover, seeing nature return to harmony and a lion literally laying with a lamb is a promise and hope that sustains and excites me.  In addition to this there are many promises for you waiting to be uncovered and claimed between you and your creator.  I encourage you to find those promises.  Get a picture of heaven that will excite you!  Of course, your imagination couldn't compare to what you will experience as you behold to real thing.  But that shouldn't stop you from contemplating often the joy that awaits you in paradise.  Think of the vastness of the universe and the depths of the ocean and creation that will be yours to explore.  Remember..."God does not forget a single sparrow.  And the very hairs on your head are numbered.  so don't be afraid; for you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows."  Luke 12:6-7

Happy Thanksgiving from Hogar de la Roca!

     As most of you will probably know, Thanksgiving is an almost strictly North American Holiday. However on this November 25th,  Thanksgiving was brought to Guatemala.


Jireen sharing about the goodness of God to those in attendance


This wonderful celebration was spearheaded by American missionary and friend Jareen "mocha" Wilson.  Being from the states Jareen had it on her heart to show Guatemala the type of Thanksgiving she and her family have become accustomed to over the years.  It was also for the benefit of other American missionaries such as myself, in an effort to ease the potential lonely void that all too often attaches itself to holidays celebrated away from loved ones. Jareen and I  both attend and are representing the same Church from Hartford CT, Glory Chapel Intl. She is an incredibly talented and well rounded musician who is currently living at the "Kitchen of Love" ministry which opens it's doors everyday and feeds hungry neighborhood children.  In addition Jireen is using her talents to Perform at various festivals and Churches as well as teaching local children how to play various instruments for their church.



what are you thankful for?

  It's a fairly common practice in some American homes for each person to share one thing they are thankful for before the feast is served.  Jareen was thankful to have been completely delivered from cancer which she had a serious battle with throughout the year.  I watched her come and go from the hospital for months on end and it was admirable the way she endured the condition and triumphant the way God delivered her from the disease.  You learn a lot when you stop to listen to people.  After Jareen, other guest shared as well.  Some also shared about tragedies and trials they were grateful to have overcome this year.  However, many listening to their friends share were hearing the news of their struggles for the first time.  After everyone had taken their turn, it was the general consensus of the group that we have to take more time to listen to each other  in spite of our busy schedules.

The feast consisted of a blend of American, Guatemalan, and Peruvian food, all prepared and served with special  care and love. 



the entertainment for the evening!



And one of my greatest joys and blessings of the day.....



The men from Hogar de la Roca experiencing their first Thanksgiving!



     The holiday season is a mixed bag of emotions and for many a roller coaster of marvelous and melancholy moments all struggling to dominate the forefront  of your thoughts and overall holiday experience.  People are often surrounded and blessed by the presence of loved ones, yet are compelled to miss that special someone recently lost.  Or perhaps they are facing the new year with a complete and beautiful family, yet a recent layoff and uncertain financial future looming over the days to follow.  The point is that "perfect" moments are difficult to attain, yet it is our perspective on the situation as well as our ability to be truly grateful of any blessings we currently hold that will carry us through the holiday season with true joy in our hearts.  And if you posess this joy and hold it in your heart, here are five ways to share that joy with others as well as honor the God who has put these blessings into motion...

     Hebrews 13:1-5  "Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters.  Don't forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some of you who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself.  Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies.  Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage... and don't love money; be satisfied with what you have.  For God has said "I will never fail you.  I will never abandon you."

     The men at Hogar de la Roca too shall go through the full spectrum of emotion this holiday season.  At the table i was blessed to sit amongst men who had the true grateful spirit of thanksgiving in their hearts.  One was even moved to quiet tears as we ate.  When he was able to speak he shared with those near him his awe and gratitude for God's mercy.  He lived many of his years with no hope, literally waiting to die in the streets, and tonight found himself overwhelmed to be at a feast surrounded by new friends.      

     **However the tough times are around the corner.  Many of these men will be spending Christmas away from their families and children.  The absence of their loved ones will prove to be a constant reminder of the mistakes they have made over the years. It also may prove to be a gift- less Christmas not just for the men here, but for their children at home as well.  That is why Chris and myself are humbly providing an opportunity to share your joy in the Holiday season with the men and families of Hogar de la Roca. We respectfully ask for any small donation you may have on your heart to share.  These men have a great need for simple items such as underwear and socks, as most of our ment come to the ministry with only the clothes on their backs.  Even the smallest donation can be stretched to meet some basic needs of the men as well as some inexpensive toys for their children. Chris and myself will be setting up a Christmas tree donated by his wonderful parents and we hope to contribute ourselves in an attempt to include some gifts under the tree.  Perhaps as you go out to shop for Black Friday or continue through the hustle and bustle of the holiday season you will feel a tug on your heart to contribute to the Christmas of Hogar de la Roca.  If so, we suggest a financial donation and to allow su to do the shopping for you as international shipping fees are incredibly high.  And if not here than maybe in any one of the wonderful ways outlined in the above scripture from Hebrews.  One thing i can guarantee; blessing someone in need this holiday season is bound to make yours just a little bit sweeter.



please direct any questions, comments, or donation concerns to mehltron@yahoo.com 
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!


The email link follows above after donation concerns to..... the link remains hidden on some computers until you click on it.  The link is also available in my blogger profile.  God-bless!