Home and forever changed...

These 2 girls are 18 yr and 15 yr old sisters they are the oldest of 7 children. No father in the home...mother has no job. Both girls are pregnant...the oldest one already has a 2 yr old. They are standing in one of the two rooms of their "house". There was no food in the house the day I was there. I asked the girls if there was anything they needed, they asked for food. We brought them one months supply of rice, beans, flour and sugar. I also made sure that all the children in the house got a new pair of shoes. Wish I could have done so much more.

Shoes, shoes, and more shoes....we had 2 days of a shoe drive. I can't tell you what it meant to those children to get a new pair of shoes and clean socks!!!!

Giving much needed medical care to the children...treated many colds, tonsilitis, fever, diarrhea, worms, jaundice. Once they found out there was a nurse on the team I kept pretty busy.

Sweet Nelson

Please pray especially for Nelson and his little cousin. They are VERY poor. I treated Nelson for worms, his house is extremely poor. He was hospitalized because he did not have anything to eat for 4 days. He has a difficult home life, many kids, no father and an abusive mother. He is usually found wondering around all day. He is five years old but the size of a 3 year old. He talks very little. Any body that knows me knows that I would take Nelson home in a heartbeat if I could....actually I would take his entire family to get them out of what they are living. Fortuneately for Bill...that is impossible. But please pray!

Hot Dogs...and fun!

Building houses!

People here are living in "houses" that we americans wouldn't put our lawn mowers in...what a blessing to these families...

Another wonderful day in guatemala

Where can I begin. As we work in the little village of Los Conchas (in the mountains) we are struck by the extreme need of these wonderful people. They in fact they are starving. We decided to take a day and just simply feed the people. So we planned a Fiesta like the people have never seen before. An american barbeque. We served over 700 meals (hot dogs, chips, drink and an apple) we also had carnival like games for the kids...with prizes! A women's section for fingernail painting and hair fixing. We spoiled them!! The men and boys had a soccer tournament. We ended the day by giving each family a months worth of rice, beans, sugar and flour. It was a wonderful day...truly a blessing to both the Guatemalans and Amercians.

Those of you who helped with money, who brought in toys, fingernail polish, hair bows etc...helped in that wonderful day.

Blessings,

Debbie & Brock

Day 4 in Guatemala

Overwhelmed!!!!!!! But in love with this beautiful country and its people. The area we are working is so poor. The children are all adorable and of course remind me of my baby girlls. Internet access is very difficult here. Today I visited many families with my doctor kit and saw many patients...one little baby only 15 days old with a high fever and dehydration, another little 5 year old with fever and very swollen tonsills, many colds, many children with worms, many malnourished. We are in the mountains and it is unbelieveable beautiful. We ride a bus up to the village every morning and it is quiet an experience. We also gave out 200 shoes, I saw 400 little feet and put a pair of new shoes and socks on each one. Brock is doing awesome, making many friends, playing soccer with the kids and working hard building houses. We are both exhausted and sun burnt today. We are very busy and loving it here. Feeling like we are really making a difference with our team. It has only been four days but it seems like we've been here 2 weeks. My spanish is coming along well...they even used me as a translator one day?? Brock is doing good with spanish too. Please continue to pray for us, safety, and health. Also please pray for the family of a little boy named Nelson....this little boy and his family has really touched my heart and I wish I could bring them all home!

I will try to update again...if possible. Love you,

Debbie & Brock

arrived safely in guatemala

we are in guatemala and already workin hard. No problems with the flight or travel. We're meeting lots of cute kids. Keep praying pictures coming soon.

thank you Debbie and Brock

We leave tomorrow at 4:00am to Guatemala!

Brock and I will leave for the airport at 4:00am...by 12:00noon we should be in Guatemala. Please remember us in your prayers. Pray for SAFETY...there have been many acts of violence against tourists in Guatemala and the US Embassy is sending out a warning to travelers...So safety is a big concern. Also pray that we will be able to be a blessing in the lives of the Guatemalan people we go to serve.

Thank you....Debbie & Brock

My piano students donate items for the children of Guatemala

These are just a few of the piano students who brought in things for the Guatemala Mission Trip. I can't wait to use all the things they've brought. Keep checking if you don't see your picture here tonight you will soon!

Rebecca thank you so much for the cute stuff you brought...the bandaids will really be helpful too.







Ben & Molly brought lots of little toys and mini beanies...perfect! Thank you guys.







Wow...wow...wow...Kenadee & Jeramiah brought in so many toys, 20 color books, crayons, about 40 puzzles, unbelieveable...You guys rock!! Thank you.





















Matthew & Gabby brought toys, bows & clothes...their family also donated $300.00. Thank you so much!

















MacKenzie and her little brother brought lots of toys and clothes! Thank you the children will really appreciate it.






Amber brought tons of hair supplies, bows ties, toys, nail polish...and much more...thanks Amber :)

5 Days until we leave...packing

After lots of shopping and organizing all the stuff that people have SO generously given it was packing night. At least the totes had to be packed tonight, tomorrow we take them to the church. Then we will pack our suitcases and carry ons full of good stuff too!! As you can see my piano studio became packing central...and that was a fitting place because so many students donated wonderful toys, puzzles, games, snacks, color books & crayons, hair bows, clothes and much much more...

Neighbors have been so good about bringing items for the trip too. From helping with the garage sale to stoping by and bringing clothes and beanie babies!!


Thanks Roman & Anthony...and mom Amanda for the clothes and all your support!!

Garage Sale Pics

Girls Working the Lemonaid Stand...earned $24!

Garage Sale and many blessings

Our family with the help of neighbors, my piano students, and friends had a garage sale last weekend with all the proceeds going to our mission trip to Guatemala. It was so amazing to see how generous people were. The strangers that just stopped by and bought something then paid over the amount, neighbors bringing things (nice things) out for us to put in the sale. One family (the Vanzants) had their own garage sale and brought us the money that they had made. We met so many awesome people who offered to pray for us and our work in Guatemala.

I took the girls for a their regular teeth cleaning at Franklin Pediatric Denistry with Dr. Yezerski, we spoke about the girls and our upcoming mission trip. He spoke with the Oral B rep and gave me a box of NICE toothbrushes and toothpaste to take down with us! Thank you so much Dr. Yezerski!!!

We are getting so close to our goal. THANK YOU to all who have sent in money and prayers and things to take down. Only 16 more days until we leave...we STILL are just a bit short. PLease pray that we will reach our goal.

Only 24 days until we leave for Guatemala City!

Turning over the calender to July was an eye opener this morning! Only 3 1/2 weeks until we leave. We are still short of our fund raising goal and that is causing a bit of stress. We are having a garage sale this Friday & Saturday...neighbors and piano students have been so great to donate items for me to sell. The students have also been donating tons of things for me to take down to the children and the families...I am so excited to share their things with the children! While it is only Brock and I who actually get to go on the trip, it is amazing all the people who are going with us "in our hearts" all the piano students and their families who have helped collect things and donated money...our neighbors...family...friends...and not to mention people like our dentist & doctor and of course our pastor and church family.

Please be praying for Brock and I as we prepare to share and minister to the wonderful people of Guatemala. Pray for a very successful garage sale this weekend and for the rest of the funds to come in for our trip. Thank you so much,

Serving Him,

Debbie & Brock (Bill, Bri, Ben, Noah, Mia & Gabi too)

Our beautiful Guatemalan Princessess...Mia Daniela & Gabriella Kimberli Lutes. We are forever connected to the awesome country of Guatemala. I want my girls to know that we care about the people of Guatemala...their people and their birth country. I see my girls faces in the faces of the children below.

It's June! The end of May was quite interesting...first I had to have oral surgery for an infected root canal...ouch! One week later I was in the hospital getting my gallbladder out...what is going on?? Am I being tested? The good news is I have recovered from oral surgery and I'm doing very well after my gallbladder surgery...so all is well and I'm still planning on going to Guatemala! I decided that since I was seeing several new people lately...namely doctors/dentists etc... I took the opportunity to send them a support letter. And you know what...Dr Edwards donated $100...thank you soooo much!



We are 1/2 way there with raising support. Both our flights are booked and paid for...now we are raising the rest of the money for the supplies to do our work once in Guatemala.



Debbie

Guatemala Mission Trip 2009

Dear Friends and Family,

I am excited to share about my upcoming mission trip to Guatemala with you. I will be serving in Guatemala on July 24 – August 1, 2009. I will be traveling with my son, Brock and a group from West Franklin Baptist Church. Our team will be working with an organization called Shalom Foundation in Guatemala City. The shalom foundation has been active serving the acutely poor of Guatemala City for the past decade. They have opened a school and medical clinic as well as built homes for many families in Guatemala City. I will participate in building houses, providing a children’s program, working in the clinic, teaching hygiene to the women and whatever else the Lord leads us to do. We will also be bringing much needed supplies for the families, clothes, shoes, toothbrushes, food, household items etc… Here is an example of the need in Guatemala:


Meet Leticia she is 5yrs old. Her sisters Silvia & Alicia (6 & 8yrs) are able to start school this year through a family sponsoring them. .They live with their mother, father and sisters and brother in a two room mud brick home. They have no electricity and the water connection to their house is very sparse, so they usually have to carry water long distances. The father works as an unskilled laborer, doing what he can for work but this is not a stable income. The mother who is 6 months pregnant works in the onion fields making $2 a day. The older 2 girls (Rosa & Patricia) are 12 & 13yrs old they have only a 2nd grade education but dropped out of school so they can work in a tortilla factory to help their family. We hope to help this family by building them a new home with a water filter and a stove, and hopefully electricity. Can you partner with us to help them?


My prayer is that many lives, including my own, will be touched by this outreach. Many of you know that we have adopted 2 little girls from Guatemala (Mia & Gabriella). I am excited to be able to go to their birth country and serve the people who desperately need help. I ask for your prayers now as I’m training and preparing for the work I will be doing in Guatemala. I also ask for your prayers during the time I’ll be spending there, that our trip will be safe and that I will have a dramatic impact on the families will be serving. Finally, I ask for your help with our financial support if possible. Any amount will be greatly appreciated and put to good use.

Thanks again for your prayers and support in serving Him,
Debbie Lutes