The Guatemalan brethren are some of the most loving people that I’ve ever had the chance to meet. Every introduction, whether male, female, old or young includes hugs, kisses, and smiles. The phrase “mi casa es tu casa” (my home is your home) has been delivered to us several times in the time that we’ve spent here so far and each person truly means it.

As with any church get-together, this picnic serves as an opportunity for brethren to come together as a family and enjoy games, food, and fellowship. For many of the brethren in Guatemala, meat is a luxury that does not come often; the serving that some received at the picnic today may have been the first they’ve had in several months.

As a few volunteers and some of the women began to prepare food for the lunch meal and the men set up tables and drinks, the rest of the Youth Corps volunteers set out to play games and entertain all of the children and even some young and older adults. Most of the space that we had included a basketball court and a small dirt field. The children quickly learned the mechanics of Frisbees and enjoyed tossing them around to each other. We didn’t have a basketball, but our Aussie team member, Shannon, provided a “kangaroo skin” Rugby ball that was used in a game where several boys took free throws at the basketball court facing backwards and tried to see who could make it in.

Meanwhile, Chelsea, Courtney, and Eva took to creating a face painting station where cheeks and foreheads were decorated with mariposas (butterflies), crowns, spiders, soccer balls, and even Lego blocks to match Corbin’s silly hat.

A special treat that we were able to have at the picnic was our parachute. Brethren of all ages loved kicking up the dust and shaking the parachute in games that included “Washing Machine,” where the parachute was lifted, several people (“la ropa,” or the clothes) got underneath, and then the rest brought the chute down and shook and spun it to “lava la ropa” or, wash the clothes. Popcorn, parachute volleyball, switch-a-roo games, and even simply lifting the chute and gathering everyone underneath it to create a mushroom kept us all entertained for hours.

After playing in the sun for several hours, we began to feel our tummies rumble and pretty soon it was lunch time! Our delicious lunch consisted of guacamole (made by Lisa, Caroline, and several Guatemalan women), black beans, tortillas, grilled green onions, chips and salsa, and steak prepared by the local brethren. Our “postres,” or desserts, were fresh, ripe peaches served in a sweet syrup that just hit the spot. It was a very traditional and satisfying way to refuel and fellowship with the brethren.

After everyone finished eating, the brethren were able to go through the donations that were sent with the Youth Corps volunteers by their local congregations back in the States. This was a great resource for families to get new school shirts, socks, casual clothing, a pair of new shoes, and even some Jelly shirts that were very popular amongst the kiddos. The remainder of the donations that weren’t taken by the Guatemala City congregation will be sent to two other congregations here in the country. 

As our final good-bye, all of the families gathered under the canopy and got to enjoy a show put on by a special guest of our trip, Jelly! Jonathon, Garrett, and two of the local congregation members lead the children in a very enthusiastic Spanish version of the Ten Commandment song. The children then eagerly lined up to get photos with Jelly.

We are now in the bus making great time (due to the frighteningly high speeds our bus-driver is driving) on the three hour trip through the windy, bumpy, steep road to the orphanage and we are all eager to get there and meet the people we will spend the next two weeks with! We have some excellent lessons and activities planned for our time at the orphanage and we are all very excited to get started. Stay tuned for more!