Xela January 2009
Our Guatemalan journey ended on Tuesday. And what a journey it was! Over the course of a week in Xela, our team became a family as each one of us used our unique skills and gifts to love and serve the incredible children in the home there. A strong, strong connection developed between our team and the kids during those 6 days which, of course, made leaving extremely difficult.
This government home has 107 children living there (ages range from babies to 14 year olds). Since Red Dot’s visit last January the number has increased by 50 children. Because of this increase, the home was in great need of a separate playground area for the around 20 toddlers 
who live here. Our construction team installed for these little ones an incredibly fun playground system designed just for this age group. And how they loved it! On Friday, the toddlers were brought out to slide, climb, and jump all over this new area covered with lush, soft artifical grass. It was a great feeling for us to see the joy it brought to each child.
Our team also installed the same grass in an indoor patio area. Before our trip the kids only had a concrete area to play on in the indoor common area. Now all the children are able to sit, lay, or roll around on this high quality grass carpet. And our guys were so skilled they also had time to build two wheelchair ramps for the special needs kids as well as improve the laundry clothesline system for the home in the back.
The VBS children’s program provided great fun for the kids all week as our team brought special games, crafts, art, and recreation to our new friends. More imporantly our men and women loved each of these precious children unconditionally throughout our time there. The time at the home certainly 
was challenging each day, but our team was outstanding with each child and it was a pleasure to watch them hug, encourage, laugh with, and love these boys and girls. Words are really inadequate to fully describe the remarkable bond that we developed with all in this special place.
While the staff in the home do an impressive job caring for all the children here, their number is small in relation to the large number of kids. So the truth for this home, as in all orphanages our teams visit, is that these children are desperate for 
family… adults who love them just for who they are. Numerous times each day children would declare to our team members, “Tu eres mi papi” or “Tu eres mi mami” (You are my father/mother). Each member of our team took advantage of the short time we had there and gave love, care, and compassion to each of the children we encountered.
This year our team was blessed to have Giuli Mendoza (Buckner staff from Peru) join our team. Guili is a gifted actress and story teller. She mesmerized all the children each day with the Bible story of Joseph. Through the life of Joseph, Giuli effectively communicated to the kids that 1.) God has a plan for 
each of their lives even when life seems dark and that 2.) God desires for us to forgive others. Our hope and prayer for our Xela children is that these truths would take root in each of their hearts. After the last story about Joseph, one teenage girl approached Giuli and told her that she liked the story and that she now knows she needs to forgive her mother for abusing her. These are the moments that make our team’s efforts worthwhile.
On our last day, Red Dot 100X once again threw a huge “Tu Eres Especial” carnival for all the children. Music, food, and fun abounded that afternoon. Our team manned all the diffferent carnival booths… we had pie and sponge throwing, putt putt, photo, dice throw, ring toss, bean bag throw, 
and face painting booths for the kids to enjoy and win prizes at. The day ended with each child being given special gifts to remind them just how special they are to each of us and, more importantly, how incredibly special they are to their Creator… the Father who will not leave them as 
orphans, but will come to them. (John 14:18) and the Father who will always love them with an unconditional and perfect love. It was a wonderful way to celebrate all the incredible moments of this special week.
Leaving a home is always difficult and this time was no different. Tears and clinging hugs were all around as adults and children alike realized it was time to say goodbye. But our team left knowing God used us to bring the light of love and service into the lives of 
these wonderful children. What a blessing it was for each of us to be part of such an experience!
And for those back home, the truth remains the same. By contributing to the success of Red Dot, YOU impact lives of children in need around the world. Your impact was felt this week in Guatemala. And it was our privilege to personally witness and experience it during our time there.
Blessings to all of you,
Tod Bush
Director of Red Dot 100X
P.S. – At end the week our team installed a grass play area in the Buckner babies home in Guatemala City. We also visited Carlos, Angel, Luis, and Umberto, the four teenage boys living in the Buckner/ Red Dot 100X group home, also in Guatemala City. And on our last day we took these impressive boys to the ancient Mayan pyramid city of Tikal in the jungles of northern Guatemala.
*** Check out all the images of our Guatemalan experience in the PHOTOS link above.
________________________________________________________
Team members: Tod Bush, Ted Bush, Chris Morgan, Coby Porter, David West, Steven Evers, Grant Gunderson, Kelby McCoy, Jason Dering, Melissa Bush, Connie Allen, Holly Allen, Jeni Dillingham, Laura Morgan, Carrie King, Penny LaPlant, Kristen Brown, Rick Brown, Jennifer McCoy, Meagan Young, Giuli Mendoza, and Jouleen Castillo (Buckner trip coordinator)
