Current standings:

1. Adelaide: 3 Voices
1. Brooke: 3 Voices
1. Cara Jane: 3 Voices
1. Carrie: 3 Voices
1. Ivy: 3 Voices

2. Brynn: 2 Voices
2. Melissa: 2 Voices

3. Abigail: 1 Voice
3. Amy: 1 Voice
3. Austin: 1 Voice
3. Chris: 1 Voice
3. Heather: 1 Voice
3. Jennifer: 1 Voice
3. Josh: 1 Voice
3. Mandi: 1 Voice
3. Margaret Elizabeth: 1 Voice
3. Mason: 1 Voice
3. Meg: 1 Voice
3. Vanessa: 1 Voice

Standings as of Monday, November 30.

Guatemala lovers,

As I sit here complete exhausted, not only physically, but emotionally and mentally, I have to share with you all how much this week has truly been such a blessing. God has been awesome to us and has answered all of your prayers and I thank you for continually praying for us! God’s hand has been on our group, and I am truly moved to see Him working in the lives of people all around me. People in all walks of life, faith, and backgrounds are being broken by the truth of the impoverished children, the isolated orphans who have no one, and the abused that will never be the same.

There have been plenty of tears shed over this last week and lots of prayers for the children we served, but I ask that you pray for this week to continually be on their hearts. I pray that they are burdened to do something for these children whether it be returning to Guatemala, serving children elsewhere, or collecting items to send to children across the world. I have heard hearts open up to both Beth and I, sharing testimonies that show God’s greatness and awesomeness.

What really hit me this week was when we were in the Zacapa Hogar Temporal and handing out shoes, gifts, and creating beautiful butterflies, I was talking with a gorgeous six year old girl named Jennifer. I asked her where she was from and why she was at the home, and she said because her mom didn’t want her anymore. The way she said it so matter-of-factly, broke me. I know that this is the story for most of the children in these orphanages, but the way she said it, the normalcy of it like it was no big deal, that is what brought me to my knees. I cry to God to show mercy to these children that have no voice. I cry for the ones that will live with the fact that their mother abandoned them for the rest of their lives. What worse feeling could there be?

I know that God has a reason for putting every single person on this trip with me. I have learned so much from them and I hope and pray they have learned something on this trip in return. Beth and I have prayed that people would not go back to their daily routines, that these children will be on their hearts and minds. I know they are on mine and will be forever and ever. I keep thinking of Third Day’s song, Revelation where it says, “Give me revelation, show me what to do. I can’t seem to find my way, I haven’t got a clue.” That is exactly how I feel about Guatemala. There is so much that needs to be done to make it a better place for these children, that I am lost, but I know God will give us a revelation and will show us exactly what to do. Please pray for this country and for the orphans that are here that have absolutely no one. Please pray for the impoverished children that have absolutely no earthly materials, but do have families.

Thank you all so much for your prayers! They have been answered and I am so blessed to have seen God working here in Guatemala. We head to see the transitional kids tomorrow, which I am extremely excited about!

Thank you for your love of children and orphans, because without people like you, our world would be lost. This week has definitely confirmed that for me. I pray for each and every one of you, that God would direct you in a certain, specific way to help these children across the world, whether it is going on more trips, collecting goods, giving monetarily, or whatever it may be. You can make a difference in one child’s life, so please don’t hesitate to take that leap of faith.

Lots of love,
B

Summer is over – and we know that it held so many new experiences, faces, and relationships for you as you traveled on mission. We want to invite you to post your best photographs from your Summer trips or internships on the Buckner International Fan Page (http://www.facebook.com/bucknerinternational) under the ‘Fan Photos’ section.

The deadline is October 21, and the selected winning photograph will be published in an upcoming edition of Buckner Today, our quarterly magazine, as the parting shot feature story! So upload your favorite photos – we are so excited to see and hear about what the Lord has done through your time on mission!

Have a great week!
The Buckner Team

Hey Friends!

It’s been a tough year for Guatemalan families just trying to get by. A moving account of the starvation, malnutrition, and disease by representatives from the United Nations World Food Program and the BBC  chronicles  first-hand just how dire the situation has become.

Just last week, Guatemalan President Alvaro Colom declared a “state of public calamity” due to severe food shortages in his country. Almost half of all Guatemalan children are reported to suffer from chronic malnutrition.  This year 54,000 families are enduring severe food shortages, due largely to crop failure, drought, and the effects of the global economic downturn.

In providential timing, Buckner sent three large shipping containers full of food that were received in Guatemala late last week. The shipment, a partnership between Buckner, the Baptist General Convention of Texas, and Amigos International, was initially intended for delivery early in 2009 but was delayed due to legal complications. Now, in the height of the crisis, the three containers have arrived in Guatemala bringing nutrition to an estimated 12,000 families.

A report from Buckner Guatemala staff member Roberto Tejada describes passing out the food aid in “a shanty town under one of the biggest bridges in the country called “Puente del Incienso”. It is one of the poorest neighborhoods in Guatemala City. We passed out 100 boxes for about 500 families.

Everyone from the neighborhood came over to receive a couple of bags per family. They came with tickets to exchange for food that were given to them by the president of the community. He had everything very structured and organized at this place called Asentamiento El Cerrito.

Tejada went on to describe the aid delivery: “Yesterday we loaded up a truck with 1,466 boxes for this area of the country that has been hit by a dry season in the last 3 months. From May to November we are supposed to have our rainy season, but this year a big part of the population who dedicates their lives to work in the land have been losing their harvest because this lack of rain. As a result of this, a famine has been hitting a high percentage of this people. Everything works fine in God’s time, because this was the right time to receive [this food] to help these people. In this area alone, this food will feed about 6,500 people.”

Katie Kilpatrick, Buckner Foundation

Buckner has had a great day at the Center for Humanitarian Aid today: We received a shipment of 60,000 Crocs for Shoes for Orphan Souls, which included our 2 Millionth Pair of shoes donated in 10 years. This morning, camera crews representing five North Texas TV stations all filmed the unloading of the trucks. We anticipate coverage at 5, 9 or 10 on WFAA/Channel 8. The estimated value of all of the shoes we’ve collected in the past 10 years is around $50 million. You can see a clip of the shipment now at www.shoesfororphansouls.org. Click on the image to see the video.

Wow, what started out as a small program to bless children has turned into a global humanitarian aid project blessing children and in more than 62 countries worldwide and many children in US Cities and along the Borderlands across the US-Mexico Border.

In some countries, shoes for children could mean the difference between life and death. Children that run and play barefoot are susceptible to cuts and open wounds that can be easily infected and if not treated properly could prove to be fatal.

Rachel Garton, Matt Asato, and their teams are due a major high five for their efforts to reach this milestone. Collecting shoes for children is a wonderful way to serve others. Go to www.shoesfororphansouls.org to learn more.

A men’s team from Valley Ranch, Texas just returned from Guatemala. Bob Sturm, a Dallas sports talk radio host, was with that team and has written about his mission trip on his blog. An exerpt:

After playing with the kids, it was on to our old familiar stop, the San Gabriel boy’s orphanage. This is a state-run facility that houses boys between 8-18 years old. Each has a story that would make you sad, but perhaps no sadder than the next one. We play sports with them and goof around with them. Basically, make them the center of attention for an afternoon. Soccer, Basketball, Kickball, or whatever we can think of. The boys are no different than your boys – they love to play. They love to compete. And they love to be loved.

I have now gone back 4 different weeks to this orphanage, and I will tell you that progress is happening. It may be slow, and it may require way more, but things are better. The boys seem to have some order, and the violent ways that I discovered in my previous trips was not on full display. The most telling development is that you no longer have to go through a junk yard to get to the front door. They have paved a road, and cleaned up much of the trash. Perhaps, it is getting to a point where the boys of San Gabriel truly have a chance in life.

Far, far, from Guatemala, another team has returned from dedicated a brand new ministry to kids in Kitale, Kenya. The Associated Baptist Press has written an article about the opening of the Kay School and the Reynolds Center at Buckner’s Seed of Hope Academy there. The article highlights connections between Baylor University and Buckner ministry, including several quotes from professors at Baylor’s School of Social Work. An exerpt:

I think they have it exactly right, the kinds of things [Buckner is] doing. Buckner is working to make sure that all the kids they serve are living with families. They do have two residential programs that formerly were orphanages, but they’ve turned them into transitional homes,” he explained.

The program in Kitale places children with families, in most cases with extended family — aunts, uncles or cousins.

The Reynolds Center and Kay School were created to function as schools during the day and community resource centers in the evenings. Families who gather there are foster families, and most families are involved in kinship care — looking after a child who is part of the extended family.

Support groups, parenting classes, grief counseling for children and suggestions for children on how to integrate with their new family are included in the program.

It’s so neat to hear reports of work going well, children being served, and lives transformed.

Honduras
March 6-13, 2010 Shoes for Orphan Souls

Mexico Border
June 5-12, 2010 Shoes for Orphan Souls

 Peru
June 5-14, 2010 Shoes for Orphan Souls

 Vietnam
July 23-August 1, 2010 Shoes for Orphan Souls

 Guatemala
September 11-18, 2010 Shoes for Orphan Souls

 Ethiopia
October 8-17, 2010 Shoes for Orphan Souls

 Romania
October 15-24, 2010 Shoes for Orphan Souls

While we’re at it, several end-of-year trips for 2009 are still accepting applicants:

Guatemala
September 20-27, 2009

Ethiopia
November 7-17, 2009 Shoes for Orphan Souls 

Kenya
December 2-12, 2009 Christmas in Kenya 

Want to travel far and wide to tell orphans they are loved? Join with us at www.itsyourmission.org.

This last week of their adventure was filled with a trip to the Arboretum, swin parties, a farewell evening, and sweet time with their host families. Let’s continue to pray for their lives as they head back home to St. Petersburg.