David has Mario, Caleb has a spider, and Nathan has a bat carving.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Friday, October 26, 2012
Personal Narrative/Thank you letter for Guatemala
The week in Guatemala was the best week of my life!
When we proceeded to the plane, I was able to visit the cockpit and the pilots. I sat in a window seat right next to the right wing! We flew for 2 to 3 hours. After we stepped off at Guatemala City and went to look at our rooms, we went to bed.
The third day, we drove to the dump. The people built their houses right by the smoke so they could get to the garbage faster. The people would walk barefoot on hot burning coals with a stick to find valuable (at least to them) pieces of trash. They were dirty and they stank. When we fed them, I poured the drinks. The person distributing the tortillas was practically mobbed!
My friends, Toni and Mary, who went on the trip with me, had an eventful week. They slept in a different area than us and had some interesting encounters with Guatemalan animals. They discovered a frog in their toilet, a scorpion in their shower, and some bats in their room. Toni’s and Mary’s week was very hard on them, but they made it.
On day 5, we painted some houses. We painted some blue and others green. Sometimes I played soccer with the kids. The kids were very friendly.
On the last day, we dedicated a well. The mayor and the principal held a long white and blue ribbon and Josh cut it. As soon as he cut it there were loud fireworks. Apparently the people have not seen a blonde haired kid before. They thought it was cute because they started to treat me like a rock star! Well I did not like that, so I got out of there fast! At the end of the day, we started to distribute Bibles to a village that had never seen Americans before. The village was very hilly and I had to climb over huge, overturned tree roots to get to the houses.
Thank you for supporting me and giving money for me to go to Guatemala. I helped a lot of people there. I realized our country is extremely blessed. I hope God blesses you for that. Thank you again.
Sincerely,
David Baierl
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Guatemala part 8 - final entry
Journal Entry Day 7
David writes:
Today we left at 5:30 AM.
We went on a 2 hour bus ride.
After that we got on the plane for 2 more hours to Atlanta.
At the airport we bought Nathan maracas.
Note from Jenny:
They arrived home at 11 pm exhausted!
I think I received the biggest hug ever from David. He seemed taller and older. It was weird.
We stayed up for some time talking about all that happened. I think he grew up 5 years in one week.
David writes:
Today we left at 5:30 AM.
We went on a 2 hour bus ride.
After that we got on the plane for 2 more hours to Atlanta.
At the airport we bought Nathan maracas.
Note from Jenny:
They arrived home at 11 pm exhausted!
I think I received the biggest hug ever from David. He seemed taller and older. It was weird.
We stayed up for some time talking about all that happened. I think he grew up 5 years in one week.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Guatemala part 7
Journal Entry Day 6
David writes:
"Today we dedicated the well.
I noticed that they didn't do it in the name of Jesus,
but in the name of Carlos Vargas the leader of Hope of Life!
We also distributed Bibles to a village that had none.
We also traveled to a village that had never seen Americans before!
Sally our guide, said they were saying Why are they giving us this?"
A note from Jenny:
David mentioned that the village they distributed Bibles too was very difficult terrain.
In order to reach a house you needed to climb over uprooted trees. It was very steep and
he mentioned that here is where he noticed that everyone has their kitchens outside their houses.
He also talked to us about them dedicating the well in the name of Carlos Vargas. I think some of the message was lost to David in the translations of the language. I was able to watch a video that John took of the well dedication. Clearly communicated is the message that the water was a gift to them from God. Josh did an outstanding job of telling the village inhabitants that the water they were provided was because of Christs love and sacrifice for them. They should be reminded each day they come to drink of the daily provision of water and also the living water provided thru Christ. Can you imagine going without clean water? I sure can't.....
David writes:
"Today we dedicated the well.
I noticed that they didn't do it in the name of Jesus,
but in the name of Carlos Vargas the leader of Hope of Life!
We also distributed Bibles to a village that had none.
We also traveled to a village that had never seen Americans before!
Sally our guide, said they were saying Why are they giving us this?"
A note from Jenny:
David mentioned that the village they distributed Bibles too was very difficult terrain.
In order to reach a house you needed to climb over uprooted trees. It was very steep and
he mentioned that here is where he noticed that everyone has their kitchens outside their houses.
He also talked to us about them dedicating the well in the name of Carlos Vargas. I think some of the message was lost to David in the translations of the language. I was able to watch a video that John took of the well dedication. Clearly communicated is the message that the water was a gift to them from God. Josh did an outstanding job of telling the village inhabitants that the water they were provided was because of Christs love and sacrifice for them. They should be reminded each day they come to drink of the daily provision of water and also the living water provided thru Christ. Can you imagine going without clean water? I sure can't.....
Monday, October 22, 2012
David's comment on a woman's brain
David made an interesting comment this morning,while doing our school work, regarding how men and women think.
He says:" A woman's mind is like a big ball of rubber bands.
It is able to have many things wrapped around it all at the same time. A man's mind is like a Rubik's Cube. It can only move 1 piece at a time."
My mouth drops open and my eyebrows raise.
He then informes me that he heard this description at Crescent Lake Bible Camp, from his camp counselor,during their mens class.
I think to myself, maybe a few other people I know should attend this mens class! Because that was a pretty good visual picture of just how a multi tasking women's brains work. The visual picture of a Rubik's Cube is a great description of being single threaded in a thought process.
I have to admit though, my rubber band ball, is having a hard time wrapping itself around my son's knowledge of a woman's brain.
Guatemala Part 6
Journal Entry Day 5
David writes:
"Today we went painting more houses.
There was a kid who is 10-13 years old that helped us paint all day.
I thanked him alot.
At lunch I played Uno.
I went to the orphanage and played baseball with some kids.
There were a couple of naughty kids there and one that kept pinching my cheeks.
ne naughty kid there bit dad and a third one kept repeating everything we said while sticking out his tongue.
Yesterday, Toni had a frog in her toilet!
Today she found a frog in her bathtub!
At dinner we tried a bunch of different types of Guatemalan food.
There was a lot of bugs today for some reason."
A not from Jenny:
David felt sorry for Toni and Mary. But he also chuckled a lot while he told us abut their creature companions. Toni is a former Sunday school teacher of David's. He knows her very well. She was very repulsed by her creature companions, especially the bats.
David writes:
"Today we went painting more houses.
There was a kid who is 10-13 years old that helped us paint all day.
I thanked him alot.
At lunch I played Uno.
I went to the orphanage and played baseball with some kids.
There were a couple of naughty kids there and one that kept pinching my cheeks.
ne naughty kid there bit dad and a third one kept repeating everything we said while sticking out his tongue.
Yesterday, Toni had a frog in her toilet!
Today she found a frog in her bathtub!
At dinner we tried a bunch of different types of Guatemalan food.
There was a lot of bugs today for some reason."
A not from Jenny:
David felt sorry for Toni and Mary. But he also chuckled a lot while he told us abut their creature companions. Toni is a former Sunday school teacher of David's. He knows her very well. She was very repulsed by her creature companions, especially the bats.
Friday, October 19, 2012
Guatemala part 5
Journal Entry Day 4
David writes:
Yesterday, I saw a scorpion.
Toni and Mary's room has bats!
The ant invasion stopped.
The ants disappeared.
We painted three houses today and handed out stuffed animals.
We saw some coconut, lime, and mango trees today.
We met a woman named Jesus but it is pronounced
Hey Zews. Her husband committed a crime and has run away.
He is wanted by the police. He has not been found."
Note from Jenny:
After David returned, I had many people from the trip tell me how much of a hard worker David was.
Many of them mentioned how he worked so hard painting in the heat this day. I guess it was a 100 degrees.
David realized that probably the man who commited the crime would never be found and that he abandond his family. He had a few questions about how come the police are different than they are here.
He also said that he was certain I would freak out over his scorprion discovery. I didn't.
David writes:
Yesterday, I saw a scorpion.
Toni and Mary's room has bats!
The ant invasion stopped.
The ants disappeared.
We painted three houses today and handed out stuffed animals.
We saw some coconut, lime, and mango trees today.
We met a woman named Jesus but it is pronounced
Hey Zews. Her husband committed a crime and has run away.
He is wanted by the police. He has not been found."
Note from Jenny:
After David returned, I had many people from the trip tell me how much of a hard worker David was.
Many of them mentioned how he worked so hard painting in the heat this day. I guess it was a 100 degrees.
David realized that probably the man who commited the crime would never be found and that he abandond his family. He had a few questions about how come the police are different than they are here.
He also said that he was certain I would freak out over his scorprion discovery. I didn't.
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Guatemala part 4
Journal Entry Day 3
David writes:
"Today I was able to the dump.
I served the drinks and there was a lot of them.
the lady who was giving the tortillas was practically mobbed!
Inside the dump, people would walk barefoot into the hot burning coals
and the smoke to get pieces of trash.
They built their houses right next to the smoke!
It STANK!
If Nathan or Caleb start crying and whining abut how unfair it is that he doesn't get a stuffed animal
then look at the people in the dump!
There was a lot of CDs at the dump for some reason."
Note from Jenny:
The days following David and John's return, David spoke a lot about the dump.
He told us how Hope of Life go there to distribute a meal, 3 times a week.
He said many of the people (kids) only eat 3 times a week.
He was amazed that they were so filthy and picking thru the trash.
He also said that the drinks he served them, he pured into their bottles. Many of those bottles they picked out of the trash to get filled by Hope of Life volunteers. He was saddened by the state of these people and many times talked abut the literal stench of the place and the people.
Several times as we have sat down to lunch or supper he says this.
David writes:
"Today I was able to the dump.
I served the drinks and there was a lot of them.
the lady who was giving the tortillas was practically mobbed!
Inside the dump, people would walk barefoot into the hot burning coals
and the smoke to get pieces of trash.
They built their houses right next to the smoke!
It STANK!
If Nathan or Caleb start crying and whining abut how unfair it is that he doesn't get a stuffed animal
then look at the people in the dump!
There was a lot of CDs at the dump for some reason."
Note from Jenny:
The days following David and John's return, David spoke a lot about the dump.
He told us how Hope of Life go there to distribute a meal, 3 times a week.
He said many of the people (kids) only eat 3 times a week.
He was amazed that they were so filthy and picking thru the trash.
He also said that the drinks he served them, he pured into their bottles. Many of those bottles they picked out of the trash to get filled by Hope of Life volunteers. He was saddened by the state of these people and many times talked abut the literal stench of the place and the people.
Several times as we have sat down to lunch or supper he says this.
Monday, October 15, 2012
Guatemala part 3
Journal Entry Day 2
David writes:
"We went to church today.
It was hard to understand the lyrics, but some songs are the same ones we sing back home, except they are in Spanish.
We got to go and see the baby rescue center, orphanage special needs center and the hospital.
We decided to take the road to dinner and got lost.
When we got back to the rooms we saw there was an ant invasion in our wall!
In fact there was a nest inside one of the walls of our room.
Como-say-yama means what is your name.
I used that phrase a lot today."
P.S. Guatemalan girls think I am cute.
Side note from Jenny - Everywhere David went, he would have a group of girls following and commenting about his blond hair. David began to recognize the word Canche. Which means blond.
David writes:
"We went to church today.
It was hard to understand the lyrics, but some songs are the same ones we sing back home, except they are in Spanish.
We got to go and see the baby rescue center, orphanage special needs center and the hospital.
We decided to take the road to dinner and got lost.
When we got back to the rooms we saw there was an ant invasion in our wall!
In fact there was a nest inside one of the walls of our room.
Como-say-yama means what is your name.
I used that phrase a lot today."
P.S. Guatemalan girls think I am cute.
Side note from Jenny - Everywhere David went, he would have a group of girls following and commenting about his blond hair. David began to recognize the word Canche. Which means blond.
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Guatemala part 2
Excerpt of Journal Entry Day 1:
David begins:
"Today was one of the best days of my life!
Both times on the plane I had a window seat next to the right wing.
On the plane we flew right thru a cloud!
I got to see the cockpit!
We looked for the volcano, but we couldn't see it.
Dad bought me the book "Hunger Games"
Our room came with 2 beds, one green and one red.
Also a personal bathroom.
The toilets don't fill up and then drain.
They just drain.
By the food area there is an alligator pond and a creaky bridge that leads over it.
There are 2 ways to get to our room from the eating area.
You can go down 257 uneven steps or take the bus.
Today was very much fun! I miss you guys."
A note from Jenny:
Four days before the team left for Guatemala, there was a volcano eruption there.This was not close enough to the area they planned to serve, so it did not inhibit the teams' trip. Those who were going
knew they might be able to see the volcano from the plane. Unfortunately, they didn't see the volcano while airborne. That is what David is referring to in his day 1 entry.
David begins:
"Today was one of the best days of my life!
Both times on the plane I had a window seat next to the right wing.
On the plane we flew right thru a cloud!
I got to see the cockpit!
We looked for the volcano, but we couldn't see it.
Dad bought me the book "Hunger Games"
Our room came with 2 beds, one green and one red.
Also a personal bathroom.
The toilets don't fill up and then drain.
They just drain.
By the food area there is an alligator pond and a creaky bridge that leads over it.
There are 2 ways to get to our room from the eating area.
You can go down 257 uneven steps or take the bus.
Today was very much fun! I miss you guys."
A note from Jenny:
Four days before the team left for Guatemala, there was a volcano eruption there.This was not close enough to the area they planned to serve, so it did not inhibit the teams' trip. Those who were going
knew they might be able to see the volcano from the plane. Unfortunately, they didn't see the volcano while airborne. That is what David is referring to in his day 1 entry.
Guatemala part 1
A few weeks have past now since David and John have returned from their mission trip.
While they were away, I asked David to keep a journal. This was an English assignment for him to record the days' activities. From this journal he was to produce a personal narrative/thank you letter to anyone who supported him financially.We will post the letter he wrote in one of the next entries.
The next several posts will be excerpts from his trip's daily journal.
Before the posts begin, I would just like to say how very blessed I feel for David and John to have the opportunity to go on this mission trip. I was glad for them to go together and grow closer to each other and the Lord as He directed their days. It was an absolute tear filled joy to read his journal entries.
For those of you who contributed your prayers and financial resources, to you I will be forever grateful.
It was the joy of my mother's heart to read and hear of David and John's trip from the writings he made each day. What an amazing opportunity for an 11 year old boy.
-Jenny
While they were away, I asked David to keep a journal. This was an English assignment for him to record the days' activities. From this journal he was to produce a personal narrative/thank you letter to anyone who supported him financially.We will post the letter he wrote in one of the next entries.
The next several posts will be excerpts from his trip's daily journal.
Before the posts begin, I would just like to say how very blessed I feel for David and John to have the opportunity to go on this mission trip. I was glad for them to go together and grow closer to each other and the Lord as He directed their days. It was an absolute tear filled joy to read his journal entries.
For those of you who contributed your prayers and financial resources, to you I will be forever grateful.
It was the joy of my mother's heart to read and hear of David and John's trip from the writings he made each day. What an amazing opportunity for an 11 year old boy.
-Jenny
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