Laurie's Everyday Notions

Becoming a "minimalist" is all the rage. Many in our developed nations are striving to live a minimalist lifestyle to decrease the carbon footprint, to find "inner peace" and to achieve stress-free living. As I viewed the Guatemalan homes, which would be more accurately called shanty's, I was struck with the "minimalist lifestyle". A lifestyle that would not be considered peaceful and stress-free but a lifestyle of great need. This small house to the left is just one of many highly sought after designs for minimal living. It has running water, a toilet, and although small, a functional kitchen. This house has solid walls and a floor to not only keep out critters but also the elements. Living in a house such as this one would have little worries of the rains washing away the floor. This Guatemalan, open-air kitchen comes complete with free-ranging ducks and a wash tub. Some villages have been fortunate enough to have a clean water source, thanks ...

People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them.  When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them,  "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.   I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."   And he took the children in his arms,  put his hands on them and blessed them.    Mark 10:1 3-16 This week my daughter and I are serving with World Help at the Hope of Life in Guatemala. The picture above is just a peek, a mere glimpse, into the fabulous day that we had today. The girl in the crib is just one of the many disabled children who live at "Kelly's House". She doesn't communicate with words but with her eyes, with coos and with sweet smiles. She, as well as many   all of the children, have stolen my heart.  I have so much to...

Last fall I decided that I would like to sponsor a child and God gave me the insight to involve the daycare children in this decision. Oh what a blessing that has been! I already knew that I wanted a child from Guatemala as Guatemala was one county that had been weighing on my heart. Since the majority of my daycare children were three years old, I searched for a child to sponsor who was also three. After narrowing our choices down to 5 children, I printed their photos and "introduced" them to my kiddos. For a week we prayed for each one of the children and at the end of the week we voted for which child to sponsor (oh, how I wanted to sponsor all of them!). As we talked about the children, I shared with the kids in a age appropriate manner the needs of these children. We discussed the way in which we are so fortunate to have parents who love us and care for us so well. We have food and access to clean water. We have abundance, yet these dear children who we prayed for, h...

Nearly two years ago, after a moving sermon on missions, the congregation was asked to write on a prayer card the name of a country, or a people group, or a cause which created heart stirrings . Guatemala was on my heart that day, as well as many days before and every day since. At that time I didn't know and couldn't even fathom that one day I would get the opportunity to serve the people in Guatemala. When I first received the invitation last October to travel to Guatemala with World Help , I was overwhelmed with financial "burdens" as my son had just had the first of two needed knee surgeries. Planning meetings for the 8th grade class trip to Washington D.C. (although we homeschool we had the opportunity to join) had just began as well. Traveling with my son to D.C. had been a dream of mine since my daughter's trip nine years ago. I had no idea how I'd be able to swing one trip let alone two!  I must admit that I shed a few tears (maybe more than a few)...