Hogar Miguel - Day 6 [Blog]

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by Rachel Williams

    This past week in Antigua has been one of the most unforgettable experiences of my life.   I never would have expected the number of connections I have made with the people I have met, both with those who traveled with me from the United States as well as with the adults and children from the village of Aqua Cate.  I have had the opportunity to see how chores don’t actually feel like chores when you’re doing them for people in need, to use and improve my Spanish skills through my role as a translator, and finally, my family now has the opportunity to sponsor a child in need from the village.   Overall, I have observed that Christ can be so alive and show His presence even in areas of the world where children go hungry and sleep in infested beds or on dirt floors each night.

    Back in the United States, disassembling, moving, sanding and cleaning bed frames would probably feel like the most tiresome chores.  I would quickly lose interest in spending countless hours painting a room.  I would likely be overwhelmed when dealing with overly energetic children tugging at my arms left and right.  However, the work I have done here at Hogar Miguel Magone never once felt like a chore, and I am sure that this is because God was showing me how meaningful service to others can be.  Knowing that all the work I was doing to prepare new beds and paint window frames would help to create a better home for orphaned or impoverished boys drove me to do my absolute best to help them to have the highest level of comfort possible.  Oftentimes I would be reminded of whom I was serving as young Guatemalan boys came in to chat with me while I painted windows.  Seeing their smiling faces all day made it impossible to even think about bemoaning the amount of work I did at Hogar Miguel Magone.

    I’m not the most outgoing person in the world to begin with, so when I learned that I would be serving as a translator on the trip, there was definitely a little bit of trepidation mixed in with my excitement for the opportunity to finally use my Spanish skills in a meaningful way.  However, as I put these skills to work, I began to realize what a blessing it was that I could speak the language and converse with these children.  As I did so, I really began to see how they are just typical kids even though they lead difficult lives.  From the beginning of the week to now, I have certainly seen a vast improvement in my speaking skills, despite occasionally having to have a 5-year-old repeat himself about twenty times before I can finally figure out what he’s saying. I have also picked up some new vocabulary along the way, thanks to my Spanish-English dictionary that I couldn’t have survived without.  With hopes to return to Guatemala in the future, I definitely have acquired an incredibly strong motivation to improve my Spanish as much as possible so that I can better communicate with these children and help them come to know God.

    Through my role as a translator, I got to know the boy who soon would become the first child that my family would sponsor.  As translator, during craft time I constantly had children redirected to me to answer their questions.  For whatever reason, during one of these times, I was having particular difficulty in understanding what this young boy was trying to ask me.  As I struggled to decipher the question through his quick-paced speech and accent, I noticed the incredible patience and understanding that this boy had with me.  He was incredibly friendly and understanding.  Later, after he ran up to me to give me a hug before I left for the day, I was sold.  The next day, he happened to ask if we were thinking of sponsoring a child, and I told him that we were actually thinking of sponsoring him.  Seeing his joy was the most wonderful thing.  I’m so excited that I now have someone who’s like a little brother in Guatemala who I can write to and help give a better life.

    I am so grateful I came to Guatemala to serve.  It’s amazing to see the way that Bible School and worship songs can help children to connect to God, and it was especially moving to see some children become emotional during the story.  I was so happy to be a part of this mission and to be able to help do the Lord’s work in these children’s lives.  I can’t wait to keep having these rewarding experiences on many future missions to come.

Hogar Miguel - Day 5 [Blog]

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By: Liesel Odden

    So many things have changed since I first participated in this mission three years ago. I came into it having no clue how life changing and magnificent it would be, and it has gotten better and better each year. There is no way I could have prepared myself for the messes these families have been through - yet with how kind, loving, funny, playful and beautiful (inside and out) the people are, you wouldn’t know it. I have had so many touching experiences on this mission, and my eyes are opened up wider each year. Every single second spent with the children has impacted me greatly. 

    One of the many life changing experiences I have had on this mission is Vacation Bible School. Three hundred kids are packed into a tiny chapel, and song after song is sung to its fullest. The kids are then divided into two groups of complete chaos and sent to play games or make crafts. Trying to control one hundred and fifty little kids is hard enough – and then throw in speaking different languages. The kids have to have an amazing amount of patience to be able to listen to us slaughter their language and then help us to say it right. .  I will forever miss the fantastic time of VBS.

    From the very beginning to the very end of the day we spend at the orphanage, the kids are attached to you. Imagine living in a tin house small enough to be a closet. Then add in seven children, no father, mother on drugs, and unfathomable abuse. This is how many of the children staying at the orphanage have been treated. Yet somehow, the kids put this behind them and not only continue to be alive, but continue to live. They act towards us as if nothing has happened and welcome you with unimaginable love. They cling to you as if you are their family – which in many cases, you might be. 

    Just as wonderful as the kids is the family running the orphanage. Karen and Estuardo are the couple in charge of the orphanage, and there is no one better to do it. They are legal guardians of who knows how many kids – over 150 – and they put their whole heart into the kids’ new home. Every single child is special and you can see it in the way Karen and Estuardo take care of the children and give them a new hope.  Karen, Estuardo and their daughter are complete patience, kindness, and unbelievable love. 

    I have witnessed God in this mission over and over. He has taught me to open my eyes and let Him use me as His hands and feet.  I can’t imagine missing a year of the character and love – again, there is so much love – in this mission. It is so hard not to come back after really seeing God in the children, in Karen and Estuardo, and in the other missionaries I get to spend time with. I have hope and love in my heart for each child, and I will always remember the orphanage and families in Guatemala. 

NIT 026 - Hogar Miguel - Crew 6 [Podcast]

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To listen to the episode, click on the player above. Click anywhere in black to skip.

Shawn Smith. Director of NIT Missions, interviews members of Dorm Crew 6 from Week 1 at Hogar Miguel Magone from June 14-21, 2015.

Dorm Crew 6 is:
Stacey Bevilacqua
Ava Bevilacqua
Carrie Odden
Liesel Odden
Deb Freece

Click here for Hogar Miguel Photos

More about Hogar Miguel Magone

Hogar Miguel - Day 4 [Blog]

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by Anika Sande

    Four days of love, service and friendship in our Lord’s name have brought endless laughs, smiles and hugs for all of us involved in the Hogar Miguel Magone mission.  I began this trip with an open mind and open heart and have been filled with memories and experiences that I can truly say I will never forget.  While these experiences during the mission have reminded me how much I am blessed with, I have learned so much more.  I have learned that the power of kindness and love that has the ability to transcend any barrier in it’s place whether it be language, race or socio-economic situation.  Yes, this mission has been about work—painting windows, sanding bed frames, cleaning dormitories and a variety of other tasks, but more importantly this week has been about building relationships with the people here and about being the hands, feet, eyes and mouths of God in an effort to serve his children.  

    I am so very fortunate and proud to say that my family and I have decided to sponsor 3 children who we have fallen in love this week.  This is so special to me because I know that these children will grow from our sponsorship but I also know that I will grow as well.  These three children have astounded me with their ability to love despite their “non-ideal” situation—some have no family or have experienced unimaginable abuse.  God has truly spoken to me through them showing me the power of forgiveness and love and I am truly thankful for these children because although they are younger than me they have taught me so much.  

    Further this week has also taught me about appreciating the little wonders of our lives.  I have been truly inspired by the enthusiasm that the children have for things that are seemingly so simple to me.  Most notably are my experiences “en la cancha”(on the sports field) — I have been fortunate enough to play futbol with who, by my record, are some of the best players in Guatemala.  I have seen their enthusiasm and love for the game and it has truly inspired me to love each and every activity and experience I have.

    In conclusion this week has been truly life changing and I believe that God has touched my life by allowing me this experience to come and embrace the people of Guatemala.  I am excited for what the future holds for myself as I hope to continue to participate in missions and actively communicate with my sponsor children.  I am so thankful to have been surrounded by such love, kindness and compassion this past week and have grown from it. I am so inspired by the Guatemalan spirit and am ecstatic to continue service and love in God’s name.

Hogar Miguel - Day 3 [Blog]

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by Xander Bevilacqua

Today was a good day; we woke up and had a typical breakfast which was black beans with eggs and oatmeal, sided with some fruit.

Then I got to the orphanage and started painting superheroes on the boys’ walls. The boys seemed really fascinated by me painting and excited to see their home being renovated and repainted.

When I finished the spiderman mural, the children began to jump up and down in excitement. It was a really satisfying feeling. That was the highlight of my day.

I made some friends, although I speak no Spanish- sometimes a child will come into the room and yell something in Spanish then run out. Leaving me confused, but it is funny.

Hogar Miguel - Day 1 [Blog]

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By: Deb Freece

Who would have thought that coming to Guatemala for a mission trip to help others, would cure my OCD!  Even though this is my eighth mission trip to Guatemala, it only took one, the first one, to give me an unexpected gift.  You see, I had always been a perfectionist.  I had always wanted everything in it’s place, always wanted everything clean at all times, etc.  You get the picture.

Coming to a third world country really opened my eyes to a world that I had only read about.  I had often gotten upset over a scratch on my shoe.  The people who we came to serve in a small mountain village had HOLES in THEIR shoes, shoes that were too small, or no shoes at all! I had obsessed with the least bit of dirt on my hardwood floors.  The villagers ONLY HAD dirt to make up their floors! I would get upset if someone blew smoke in my face.  I saw first hand that these Guatemalans LIVED in smoke most of their day, having only open fires in their huts to cook their food.  Clothing that I wore always had to be cleaned and pressed.  These villagers had to collect rain in barrels to clean their clothes, no washing machines, no irons. I could go on and on about our contrasting life styles, but one thing really stuck out to me; in many villagers’ homes, which were extremely small by the way, there was a dedicated area for a shrine honoring our Lord, and savior, Jesus Christ. Even though these families had so little, they still loved their Lord.  I have always considered myself a Christian but soon realized that the energy that I exerted throughout my daily life was directed in all the wrong ways.

I learned that the important things in this life weren’t a house without dust, clothing without wrinkles, or a lawn with no weeds. The important thing for me was to put my time into helping my brothers and sisters in Christ, to help those less fortunate, have better lives. So instead of dusting, cleaning, washing and weeding to extreme, I started to stock food pantries, make meals for the sick, collect donations for mission trips and rebuild homes.  

I wish those most fortunate, would experience what I had in a country like Guatemala and the world would be a better place. Thank you Guatemala.  Thank you for curing my OCD, and thank you for teaching me the things that really matter in life.

Hogar Miguel - Day 6 Blog

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Hogar Miguel - Day 6 Blog

by Phyllis Austin

What a joy it has been to be part of this all inspiring mission.  I expected to come to lend a hand and experience a new culture however, the experience has been far beyond my expectations.  Shawn and Damaris do an excellent job of considering everyone’s needs and creating a very welcoming, comfortable and loving environment for all and obviously this brings out the best in people. 

The volunteers come from all parts of the USA and come with open hearts and minds and the people of Guatemala extend their entire heart.  The smiles are constant and the giving seems endless.

I have naturally been touched by some very special moments.  One in particular was...

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Hogar Miguel - Day 5 Blog

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Hogar Miguel - Day 5 Blog

by Sarah Jacobs

This week has undeniably been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.  It was my first year participating in a mission trip and I couldn’t have picked a better time in my life to come.  As this week comes to a close, I am able to reflect with great joy on the life changing events that occurred these past few days. 

To begin, I was extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to serve with such a wonderful group of people.  I truly believe that the members this week epitomized the definition of altruism.  Everyone who attended the mission left their home and put their life on hold for a week for one reason: to serve others.  I have never been...

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NIT 007 - Hogar Miguel - Stove Crew 5 & Donations [Podcast]

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To listen to the episode, click on the player above.

Shawn Smith interviews members of Stove Crew 5 and Donations Crew from Week 1 at Hogar Miguel Magone from June 15-22, 2014.

Stove Crew 5 and Donations Includes:  

Jendy Nice
Judy Higa
Reilly Higa
Moriah Tejada
Christina Nice
Deb Freece
Sarah Jacobs

Click here for Hogar Miguel Photos

More about Hogar Miguel Magone

Hogar Miguel - Day 4 Blog

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Hogar Miguel - Day 4 Blog

by Kent  Christensen

Today is the 4th day at Hogar Miguel. Monday was basically a tour of the orphanage and the girls new princess castle. Tuesday was stove installation. I got to see the homes of the people that we are here to try and make a difference for. Home is where your heart is, where you raise your family, where your kids grow up. Other than that I would call them sheds. Four post, tin walls, tin roofs, and a dirt floor in most. The reason we install stoves for them is...

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Hogar Miguel - Day 3 Blog

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Hogar Miguel - Day 3 Blog

by Maggie Funk

My name is Maggie and this is my second year doing the Guatemala mission trip.  They say nothing is quite the same the second time you do something.  While that may be true, doing the mission trip in Guatemala the second time around means just as much to me as the first.  For whoever decided at the last minute not to come or was thinking about coming, even if you dont speak any spanish, or are anti-social, have no traveling experience, or no faith in god, I promise you, you will fall in love with something here. 


Last year I met a boy at the orphanage named Franklin, he’s...

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