Day 6 for Team Guatemala: Living Romans 12:15

By Carter Woodrow ('25)

In the morning, we began with breakfast, after which our hosts explained the situations of many of the families they work with. We were then each given a shopping list and some money, with which we were to buy about a month’s worth of food for our assigned family. Through this, we learned the importance of saving money and trying to get the best deal on products. We were able to experience what it’s like to shop with a very limited budget, as most Guatemalans have to.

Upon returning from shopping, we each wrote a note for our family to include in the bag. After a refreshing lunch, we distributed the food and prayed for the families. We prayed for and cried with the broken and hurting families to whom we gave the food. Many of the families were grieving severe poverty, illness, and death. One of the stories included a young girl living with her blind grandmother. This girl’s mother had recently died of cancer, and her father had left. She is greatly afraid of the possibility of being left alone. We were able to pray with her and will continue praying for her situation.

After returning, we debriefed for many minutes and then had a light dinner before going to the actual house of our hosts. We had an amazing time of fellowship with them and played various games.

Throughout the day, I was reminded of the words of Paul in Romans 12:15: “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” We were called to weep with the hurting families and bear their heavy burdens in the afternoon, yet in the evening, our calling was to rejoice with our host family and enjoy a time of fun fellowship.