Day 1

Day 1

          Our group of 26 all showed up on time at O'Hare  very early this morning, eager to start our Guatemalan adventure.  Two uneventful flights followed by a smooth customs experience landed us in Guatemala City this afternoon.  We couldn't help but be even more enthused after meeting our wonderful mission host Pablo, along with his second in command Abel and the driver Gustavo.  A short drive later we arrived to our home away from home for the next week, Dorie's Promise Orphanage.  Rachael, our trip planner extraordinaire

e, showed us where we'd be staying after we brought in over 30 pieces of luggage filled with donations. 

Our first Guatemalan meal together was great - tacquitos with the freshest guacamole and mole sauce - muy bein!  After lunch Pablo showed us a short video that gave our whole group a thorough understanding of the organization  Forever Changed International and Dorie's Promise.  We then received a tour of the orphanage and saw where all the children stayed - wonderful bright warm rooms that were very homey.  And after that, we were finally able to meet the children!  Huge smiles, lots of laughter, tag, soccer....we all instantly loved each special child we met and knew our week was going to be one where we would all receive so much from these kids.  A mid-afternoon downpour only temporarily delayed the competitive soccer and tag games, and many in our group stayed with the babies so that Valentina, Dulce and Shaley had a lot of love and attention!

Now the fatigue is setting in as we wait for dinner...we will all sleep so well tonight and tomorrow holds a whole new set of experiences as we attend church and get some more interactions with the kids at Dorie's Promise.