I hope God breaks my heart every single day...

It’s hard to believe it has been 6 weeks in Guatemala.  My family is adjusting so well.  Some days I feel like my Spanish is awesome!  And some days I feel like I can barely get by. 

The kids have been in school for one full week and I am so proud of them.  It’s not easy knowing what is going through their minds but it is comforting to know they have 3 days of bible class, chapel and discipleship every week.  They also have 3 days of Spanish and I can’t wait to see how much they have learned in the coming months.

From one miraculous day to the next. 

My time in Guate has been a continuous string of amazing days.  Most of those days have included a level of heartbreak.  Not one of those miraculous days has been easy. 

Last week we visited an orphanage in San Lucas.  It was CRAZY!  Seventeen orphan babies and 3 ladies to take care of them.  It was like an understaffed day care except no one picked them up to take them home at the end of the day.  There were no mommies asking how their day was.  There were no mommies looking for their baby with wide eyed anticipation.  No one took them home.

Two of Gods miracles.

At one point there were 7 missionaries and their kids, fourteen total, all holding babies.  AND THERE WERE STILL 3 IN BABY BOUNCERS!  The crazy part was that the 3 ladies who take care of them were still running around doing laundry, cooking lunch and keeping the house clean.  I think someone was changing a diaper every 60 seconds.  No kidding. 

Most of the babies were sick.  Most had a runny nose or some sort of breathing problem.  I don’t know how it would be possible to keep them from passing a virus from one to the other. 

So here is the heartbreak.  As we were driving home, after they were all fed and settled down for a nap, it was then that we realized that on most days...

No one would hold them.  

No one would tuck them into bed to say prayers. 

No one would rock them to sleep.  

No one would make them laugh.  

And no one would be there if they woke up in the middle of the night for a hug.  

The three ladies who cared for them were simply outnumbered. 

Two of my favorite missionaries - Vonda and Gabe

That is the reality of orphans in Guatemala.  And they are the lucky ones.  This was a clean, well kept orphanage.  Everyone was fed.  Everyone had a place to sleep, out of the rain. 

It is estimated that there are over 370,000 orphans in Guatemala.  Many of these children come from families facing tremendous poverty.  Seventy percent of Guatemalans live below the poverty line.

And so, that is my daily challenge.  How will I ever get used to the poverty and despair?  I hope I never do.  

I pray that God continues to give me just enough comfort to know that I am doing the right thing but that He breaks my heart every single time as a reminder that there is more to do.

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:27

If you would like to support what God is doing through us in Guatemala, go to www.God CalledUs.com and click on the link “Support this mission”.  

Keep an eye out for Cecilia's next blog!  See Guatemala through the eyes of an 11 year old.  

If you have questions or just want to catch up, do not hesitate to contact me directly.  You can email me at georgesisneros@gmail.com or call our Magic Jack number in Guatemala (local call for you) 970-449-9449.

Wednesday was a hard day.

As I sit here listening to the daily, pounding rain, I am reminded again, I am in Guatemala.  On Thursday it will be one month in this beautiful country. 

We spent 2 ½ weeks in Antigua learning Spanish.  I am amazed at how much is coming back to me from High School and College.  My family is AMAZING and learning Spanish “poco a poco”, little by little.  Cecilia and Vonda are DETERMINED and it shows.

 

We have taken full advantage of our time in Antigua by coming together as a family.  We had so much to do in the final 30-40 days in Colorado that we didn’t get to spend a lot of time together.  Our gracious neighbors and friends took care of our kids while we tied as many loose ends as we could before we left for Guatemala.  It has been one of Gods sweet blessings to give us this time together.  We have all been on our knees thanking God for this opportunity.  We have prayed for direction and guidance and we feel like God is holding us closely. 

After living in a ONE BEDROOM condo we finally moved into our “permanent” part time home.  We’ll be living here for a year and then hope to move out of the city to a village where there is more need and more hunger.  The closer people live to the city, the closer they live to resources.  We have been in our home for 4 full days now and I have to tell you…we love it.  It’s a small, 3 bedroom home that just feels right to us.  Our neighborhood has two “tiendas”, (small convenience stores).  They carry almost anything you need including fruit, vegetables and even dog food.  The tiendas are about 8’x10’.  

We are all experiencing culture shock in our own ways.  Samuel has missed his Grandma’s, Gabriel is already talking about moving back to go to CSU (he’s 10) but is now considering a soccer scholarship and Cecilia misses friends but doesn’t think she will ever move back to Colorado.  She’s ready for school to start and can’t wait to be the hands and feet of God.  Vonda has started preparation and orientation for teaching missionary kids which will be challenging after being a stay at home mom for 12 years.  As much as she struggles with the language her determination makes me so proud to be married to her.

On our second day here we had the opportunity to visit missionaries Brock and Kerrie Johnson and meet the children of the Buena Vista Boys Academy.  We have been following the Johnsons and their ministry for the past 6 months and we love what they are doing.  When I asked Brock what advice he would give a missionary who has been in the country for less than 48 hours, he said “Take your time to learn the language and the culture.  Spend 6 months visiting villages and praying for God’s guidance.  Slow down and spend time with God.”  It’s probably the best advice I’ve ever gotten in my life.  How many times have I slowed down and not just ASKED for God’s guidance but LISTENED for God’s guidance?  I’m sad to say, rarely.  I never realized how hurried my life was.

Watch this short video of the kids we met and the work the Johnsons are doing in Guatemala.  Please pray with us for direction and patience as God leads us.

We had dinner with Mark Orphan,  our missions pastor from our home church, tonight!  He is in town with a team from Colorado and they will be building a home in the nearby “comunidad”, Cerro Alto.  During dinner he asked, “George, what has been your greatest challenge so far?”  I wasn’t prepared for that  question since most people ask, “What do you love most?” or “What has been the best part?” or some other variation. 

I admitted that our move from Antigua to San Cristobal on Wednesday was a hard day for me.  Driving in the city is CRAZY.  Almost no one in the city speaks English, unlike Antigua, which is known for its language schools.  You do not want to get lost in the city.  There are sections of the city, “zonas” that “La Policia” will not enter.  I realized that finding a grocery store and a place to buy household items like sheets and towels would be stressful.  Being unemployed and dependent on God to provide through friends and family became very heavy.  On Wednesday it became very real for me. 

I don’t know when it happened but at some point I took the focus off me and my world and turned my focus to God.  I realized that God did not just drop ship me here and leave me to fend for myself.  “Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”  Deuteronomy 31:6

On Thursday we ventured out and purchased some much needed household items and thanks to our new friend Claudia, on Friday we were able to visit "El Mercado" for fruits and vegetables.  Poco a poco.  Guatemala is feeling like home more and more every day.

Do you ever feel “drop shipped”?  Do you ever feel alone or like God’s not listening?  My prayer for you tonight is that you not only spend time with God but that you spend time listening to God.  Slow down.  He loves you and cares about you.  He wants to spend time with you.  He is there.

Before I go to bed I want to take a minute to thank everyone who is praying with us and for us.  We feel your love and prayers.  TRUST ME!  I want to thank the friends and family who are supporting what we are doing, financially, every single month.  We could not be here without you.  You are here with us as we get our feet under us.  You are here with us as we feed the poor.  You are here with us as we expand our boundaries one day at a time.  You are here with us as we struggle and you are here with us as we praise almighty God for His blessings.  Thank you for standing with us.

If you would like to support what God is doing through us in Guatemala, go to www.God CalledUs.com and click on the link “Support this mission”.  

Keep an eye out for Cecilia's next blog!  See Guatemala through the eyes of an 11 year old.  

If you have questions or just want to catch up, do not hesitate to contact me directly.  You can email me at georgesisneros@gmail.com or call our Magic Jack number in Guatemala (local call for you) 970-449-9449.  

"Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore."

Today is the 5th day in Guate and I feel a little like Judy Garland in the Wizard of OZ...

Because I had to travel with our dogs during cooler weather on Wednesday and Thursday, I arrived in Guatemala a few hours before the rest of my family.  I was graciously taken care of by Paula and Fontaine Greene, missionaries, who picked me up from the airport, gave me a bed to rest and then took me back to the airport to meet up with my family.  I was so relieved and excited to see them walk out of the airport!

Living in Guatemala has its perks!  I get to practice my spanish every day!  Fruit and vegetables are SO fresh and inexpensive.  It's basically spring every single day.  The average high temp. is 85 degrees and the average low is 65 degrees.  I LOVE the colors of the homes!  Deep red, yellow, blue, green...it is amazing.  I love that. The people of Guatemala are BEAUTIFUL!

This adorable girl was selling jewelry with her mother.  It's not uncommon for women to walk 2-3 miles to sell for 10-12 hours to earn $7-$8 a day.

So absolutely beautiful!

So here's the crazy stuff I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT living in a third world country:

#5 Stray dogs.  I cannot believe how many stray dogs there are!  I now understand why airport security at the Gautemalan airport thought I was NUTS to bring our two dogs into the country!  They asked me, "How do we know you will take your dogs with you when you leave?"  It's sad and a little unnerving.  I don't know how this problem will possibly change.

#4 Motorcycles.  They are EVERYWHERE!  They are loud and the drivers are fearless!  The great thing about motorcycles/scooters is that one of my dogs thinks each one is satan himself and feels that it's necessary to bark at every one that goes by.  (Insert sarcastic shaking of the head here)

#3 The smell of smoke.  Guatemala has an interesting smell of campfire smoke.  All day.  Every day.  Right now, I like it.  I'm not so sure how I will feel about it in 6 months but for now it's a reminder that thousands of Guatemalans are preparing meals for their families.  Most homes do not have electricity and food is prepared over a fire pit.  Most do not have proper ventilation which makes Guatemala one of the most researched countries in the world for asthma.

#2 The sheer number of people.  The population of Guatemala City is about 1 million but during the day, when people migrate from the surrounding villages, it swells to 3 million!  The traffic is CRAZY!  Traffic laws are a RECOMMENDATION!

So, what could possibly lead the list of crazy stuff I did not know about living in a third world country?

#1 (drumroll please...)

Yes, you read that right.  No flushing toilet paper.  "Soooooooo, what do you DO with it???" 

"Just put it in the trash."

"Okkkkkkkkkkk."

Yea, I'm not sure I'm ever really going to get used to that.  And the kids are not too excited about it either.  We've already had to use the plunger once.  :(

For the next two weeks we will be studying Spanish in the town of Antigua.  The instructors do not speak English!  This is going to be fun.  I'll keep you updated on our progress.

That's it for now.  I will be writing another blog soon to catch you up on our day with Brock Johnson in the village of Buena Vista.  God is doing incredible things in Guatemala and we feel so blessed to be called to serve Him here.  

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." James 1:27

Blog Post by Cecilia Sisneros, 11 years old

Under His Wings

I used to have chickens. Really cute chickens. Chickens that I loved a lot. But when we decided to move, we had to sell them, sadly. When the new owner came with their pickup truck to take our chickens, my brothers and I held our chickens close like they were our own babies.  We told the owners stories about their daring escapes, or how this one or that one’s sister got eaten.  We also shared tips on how to make them happy.

Giving Fabuloso away was hard. I once had two other chicks that I called my own. Tragically my dog was hungry when the chickens arrived at our house.  So they died. Out of the three, Fabuloso was my favorite. She was the fluffiest, the biggest and she was the boldest.

One day the new owners told us a story about Fabuloso, now known as Fabulous.  She would not get up to eat! She sat there, waiting for her unfertilized egg to hatch.  She starved and starved. When the owners traded out a baby chick for the egg, the chick would lay under the wings of Fabulous.  Knowing that her new baby was safe and sound, she finally got up and ate.

It’s amazing to me that Fabulous wouldn’t leave her egg. She put her own life behind her chick.

Even though God won’t die and can’t put His life behind ours, He loves us so much! Even more than Fabulous loved her baby chick.

I have been seeing God in so many ways. He has done so many miracles and answered so many prayers lately. Only a few days ago, I thought this was because we were doing this for God. I thought the situation was “works”. I thought that because we were going to Guatemala for Him, He paid us back for the good things we were doing. But, when I explained this to my dad, he had a different perspective. He said that God blesses us always! Whether we become fulltime missionaries or not He will always give us what we need.

So why didn’t I notice it before?

I think once we decided to move to Guatemala, I’ve seen God so much more. Whether or not He simply blesses us or He performs a miracle before our eyes, I have realized that He is always there, covering us with His long wings, every moment of the day.

Maybe I have just been looking for Him more often, calling out His name like His own baby chick. Maybe that’s why I have seen God in so many ways.

I heard a quote once, and I’d like to share it. “Looking is different than seeing”. I definitely believe this is true. And looking for God is definitely better than seeing or noticing Him.

Plane tickets are purchased...EVERYTHNG is sold...

As I sit here, trying to think of something to blog about, my mind is racing.  We are 24 days away from landing in Guatemala City.  It seems very surreal.  I KNOW we’re going.  I KNOW our lives are about to change significantly.  But it feels more like someone else is going.

First, I want to update you on our progress.  Plane tickets are purchased and we fly out on July 12^th, sort of.  I will be flying to Los Angeles on July 11^th, yes, that’s the wrong direction.  I need to fly early that morning because our dog Moses is not allowed to fly to or from any city if the temperature is 85 degrees or higher.  And so, I will land in L.A. at 10:05 am.  It’s still a bit of a gamble but I feel pretty safe that it will not be too hot.  THEN, Moses and I have to wait until midnight to fly from L.A. to Guatemala where we will land at 6am. 

That means Vonda will fly from Denver to Houston and then after a 2 hour layover, on to Guate (that’s what the locals call Guatemla and since it sounds cooler, that’s what I’m gonna start calling it).  She and the kids will arrive at 1pm.  I’m sad that I will be missing all the excitement that the kids will experience but it’s a necessary part of getting Moses to Guate (see…that sounded cool, right?).

Our home is under contract and is due to close on July 6^th.  We are thankful for the slow and late closing since it has allowed our family to stay together until we leave.  We have sold ALMOST everything we own.  We have 3 beds (two are sold), my office desk and chair (sold) a kitchen table (no chairs) and 3 barstools (sold).  That’s pretty much it.

We have been meeting with friends and family to share the specifics of our journey and ask that they pray about supporting what God has called us to do.  It has been a humbling yet absolutely amazing part of our journey.  It is one of the blessings that God has poured down on us.  There is story after story of people who have written checks or made commitments to stand with us monthly and we are blown away every single time.  We have spoken at 3 churches and have been brought to tears every time by the love and support they have all shown us. 

I met with someone recently who asked, “Why do you have to go to Guatemala?  There are missionary opportunities right here.  There are hungry kids in THIS country?”  While that is a fair question, my answer was, “God called us to Guatemala.” 

Before I went on a short term mission trip last November, I didn’t even know where Guatemala was.  I had to Google it. I didn’t really know much about Guate until I AFTER we committed to becoming full time missionaries.  And I think that’s exactly the way God wanted it.  My wife and I have been on a need-to-know basis with God and we are absolutely o.k. with that. 

We didn’t know that Guatemala was NOT a safe place to live.  Eighty percent of the cocaine in the U.S. has come through Guatemala.  There is an average of 15 murders a day in Guatemala City.  Most homes have a 10 ft. concrete wall with “prison wire” wrapped around the top of the wall.  There are armed guards EVERYWHERE.  When I was there in November, we pulled up to a “convenience store” where there was a guard with a sawed off shotgun standing outside.  When I went to church, there were two guards with visible handguns standing outside.  Everyone knows that on any given day, a motorcycle may pull up to your car, in HEAVY traffic, and tap on your window with a hand gun demanding your phone and wallet.  Nobody wants to hurt you, they just want your stuff.  Most crimes are related to the drug trafficking done by gangs.

Why on earth would we go to a country like this?  While in Guate last November, God laid it on my heart, “YOUR hands are MY hands.  YOUR feet are MY feet.  YOUR heart is MY heart.”  We are going because God has work for us to do there. 

Matthew 25:40 The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

Children I met at a feeding
center in November. Praising
God through absolute
despair and poverty.

It’s hard for me to describe the poverty of Guate.  I hope I will be able to properly convey that to you in the coming months and years.  I can tell you this; children go to bed at night without eating anything more than a tortilla, night after night.  I can tell you that there are so many fathers who abuse their family.  Children need the nourishment of a good meal and the nourishment of a father who will never forsake them.  They need to know they have a father who loves them deeply.

We not only want you there with us, we need you there with us.  We know you may not be able to quit your job and sell your home to move with us but you just might be part of God’s plan for the work to be done in Guate.  Would you pray about what that means?  Would you pray about supporting this cause with monthly support?  God may be asking you to give to other causes and so we don’t want to “convince” you of anything.  We are simply asking you to pray.  Your hands are HIS hands.

Isaiah 6:8  And then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I.  Send me!”

Please follow our blogs at www.GodCalledUs.com.  Your comments and encouragement will nourish us.

Call us anytime in Guate!  970-449-9449 will be our Magic Jack local phone number.

If you would like to support what we are doing in Guate go to www.CTEN.org/georgesisneros.

If you can visit us in Guate, JUST GET TO THE AIRPORT!  We will have a room for you and we will feed you.  And we will put you to work.  

Photo by Guatemalan missionary Ally Greene

Cecilia’s Testimony - 11 Years old

                I just want to make it clear that God is good.  He needs to be in your life in order for you to see the true meaning if it.  God wants you to do something meaningful to the world, something that you can do with who you are, with your strengths, and most importantly God’s will.

                When I was five years old, I started to go to the kid’s church, Kids Blast, at Timberline Church.  It was so exciting. I wanted to go to church with big-kids and learn big-kids stuff.  Of course, like every church, the first thing they teach is how and why it is important to ask the Holy Spirit into your heart.  They talk about how great heaven is, and that the only way to get there was through Jesus Christ.  I remember thinking, “I know I’ve already done this, but I want to make sure I get to go to heaven.”

                As I got older, Kids Blast got boring.  Some of my dearest mentors, even my pastor had become full-time missionaries and had left to serve God.  How weird I thought that was.  Why not experience all of the things God has given you here?  I thought of all the stuff I was thankful for- my pink room, my great house, my clothes, my food, my… my… my…  I did not know that years later, all of my things would become a burden and that even more than the thankfulness of all my stuff I wanted others with nothing to have as much food, water, shelter and love that I had more than THINGS that I wanted.  I should have been thankful for the roof over my head, the love God has given me, the family I have, the writing ability God has blessed me with.

                I just didn’t get it as a kid; I didn’t really know who God was. I didn’t know that I could do anything at all with God’s will. Honestly, I didn’t trust Him. God gave me a great talent. I love to write and feel that the Lord has given me this strength to do something great. And until my dad went on a mission’s trip, I never understood how or why I need to trust God with all my heart. 

                My dad came home from his trip and showed my family and me pictures of Guatemala and his amazing adventure.  Suddenly he put his phone down and said “I’d like to spend a couple of years there, God has really put this on my heart.”  I started choking up as my brother Gabe began to cry.  From the pictures my Dad showed us, I thought we were going to live in a tin shack.  (Which we won’t) And the silly part was, I wasn’t even thinking about trusting God.  The man who had parted the sea, healed people just by words, and the man who was brave enough to bear being punished for me – a girl who took him nearly for granted, was being ignored.

                 I realize now that I am moving half way across the world because of God’s will. He showed me that he put every single person on this earth to love Him and serve Him.  He gave me the talent of writing to tell people like you why He is so worth it to have in life. He is truly the one thing that is worth moving half way across the world for.  But even I cannot put His glory, His comfort, His love, or His plans into words; for He is so indescribably full of wonder. These my words cannot touch.

Cecilia

Post Script from Dad:

We are now 3 months away from boarding a plane with 10 suitcases and 5 one way tickets.  It's surreal.

Will you pray about walking beside us on our journey?  We are looking for others who believe in what we are doing to partner with us both financially and in prayer.  The thought of asking friends and family for "assistance" is uncomfortable for us but raising support is a necessary part of this process and God is teaching us a new perspective.  He has reminded us that this is His movement that we are asking you to support, not our own.

We are looking for others who believe in our vision and want to partner with us to make a difference for God.  How many times have you wanted to be a part of a something that you can trust? A cause that you can believe in and feel closely connected to?  We pray that our calling to serve the poor in Guatemala can be that trusted cause.  Thank you for being a part of this with us.

If you would like to be a part of our team, visit www.GodCalledUs.com

We would love to meet with you to share our short and long term vision.  Call us at 970-388-3618 so we can get together for a cup of coffee.

George and Vonda
                

                

Five months will be here tomorrow

As we “drop our nets” in Colorado and begin our move to Guatemala, God seems to be working overtime in preparing me.  Every time I open my bible God has chosen scripture that gets me ready for the road ahead.

I have two scriptures that have been serving as pillars for me.  Matthew 22:36-37 is my stake in the ground.  It can’t be moved and I always return to it.  “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?”  Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”  Powerful.  Calming. Love the Lord your God with all your soul and with all your mind.

The other pillar is Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again: rejoice!”

Rejoice in the Lord always?  Wow!  I have so much room to grow.  I am REALLY good at rejoicing in the Lord when everything is going well but am still working hard at the “always” part. 

My prayer is to close the gap between the two scriptures because…

James 1:2 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds.”  There is a not so hidden warning in there.  Consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds.  As in, you WILL face trials, and you WILL face many trials.  It does not say IF you face trials. 

And so, God is working on me.  And I thank God for that.  I rejoice in that. 

Five months will be here tomorrow.  It almost doesn’t’ seem real.  We need you to join us on our journey.  PLEASE subscribe to my blog or email me at georgesisneros@gmail.com.  My wife and I will be blogging at least weekly.  You can visit her blog at www.purevonda.blogspot.com.  We want to pray for you.  This is what I know, we need prayer…and you need prayer.  Let’s commit to praying for each other.

God bless,

George