Serving "the least of these" in Guatemala

Below is a report from Judy Davidson. She and several others from Tomoka Christian ministered last week to the spiritual and physical needs of those living in the ghettos of Guatemala City.

The Guatemala mission team returned Saturday, March 7, after a wonderful week in Guatemala. The first part of the week was spent in La Limonada, a ghetto in Guatemala City that is so desolate that even the police refuse to enter. La Limonada is divided into two sides because of gang activity. Tita, who has an established school on one side, just purchased a building on the other side and already has 100 more kids enrolled. Much work is still needed on the building. Our construction team built needed shelves for school supplies. Our medical team treated 400 to 500 people that live in the ghetto there. Two surgeries were performed, needed antibiotics were dispersed, and vitamins, toothbrushes and toothpaste were handed out.

One day was spent at Momma Carmen's house. She is a 68-year-old woman who takes in children off the street whose parents have abandoned them. Currently she has over 60 children. All the children were given medical care, toys, balloons and love.

Our last visit was to another ghetto, Santa Faz, in another area of Guatemala City. The construction team built a bridge over a large ravine in an area that was heavily traveled and very dangerous. Now the villagers can travel safely in that area. Our medical team treated 400 to 500 of the people in the village. We saw gunshot wounds from gang activity and several severely infected hands and feet. We also performed two surgeries in Santa Faz, gave out lots of medication, vitamins and smiles.

This was genuinely a community effort. We had many donations from our Tomoka family as well as donations from the greater Daytona Beach area. This trip could not have been so successful without all the donations of school supplies, medicines, toothbrushes, toothpaste and many other valuable items that we take for granted here in the United States.

Most of all, this trip would not have happened without our prayer partners. Seven of us went to Guatemala — but all of us made a difference for the Kingdom.