Guatemala is a country that I have fallen deeply in love with over the last four years. The reason being: over the past four summers I have traveled to the country four times on mission work. Each time is different, no doubt, but my most recent trip, summer of 2016, was more personal than before. My team and I quickly realized that God functions in mysterious ways, and there’s an unmistakable reasoning behind each phenomenon He executes. In 2001 my brother, Nate, was born with Spina Bifida. Spina Bifida is a birth defect in which a baby’s spinal cord fails to develop properly. This resulted in Nate being born with a hole in his back, exposing his spinal cord and ultimately erasing the chance of mobility below the waist. Over the…show more content… The oldest son, Carlos, and the youngest, Josue, were the only two children that I got to know. A hefty reason this family was getting a new home was for Carlos. Four years ago, he was visiting a store and quickly became the victim of a drive by shooting. He simply was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Consequently, despite various efforts to save his mobility, Carlos lost function to both legs. In the mean time, their living quarters had consisted of two, approximately 15 feet by 5 feet, tin shacks side by side, one bed, an outhouse, and a stove for heat. In America, some people have size-able bathrooms. The house is located on a hill and the only way up is a steep cement path. The word steep may in fact be an understatement. Walking up the path felt as if my eyes were moving, but my legs were not. Ultimately, Carlos doesn’t leave often. We desired to give him, and his family, not only a new home but a sense of…show more content… Neighbors, friends, and the local pastor attend to witness a family’s life be forever altered. The pastor was in attendance to dedicated the home. Carlos had a pretty beaten up, old and worn wheelchair so our team came together to buy him a brand new one. In like fashion, his new chair resembles a hospital wheelchair here in the US. Once the pastor was finished, the family caught sight of the wheelchair and were evidently overjoyed. Tears were streaming down Berta, the mom, and Carlos’s face. The sight was beautiful. Once Carlos transferred into his new chair everyone made their way up the path and into the house. We allowed the family to spend a few minutes alone in their home and then our team was quick to follow. When I walked into the house, Carlos was sitting on his bed,
