August 2015 - HopesIn

HOPE’S IN Brings Hope to The People of the Guatemala City Dump Communities

Posted by Courtney Quigley
On August 19, 2015
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Over the course of the first two weeks of August, Hope’s In led a total of 77 volunteers to serve in the Guatemala City garbage dump communities through the partnership with the local host organization, Potter’s House Association. These volunteers went to Guatemala City to bring hope to some of the 11,000 people living in the surrounding dump communities. During our trip we built eight cinder block homes, hosted two weeks of medical clinics through out the communities that brought much needed medical help to nearly 600 people. We also hosted soccer and dance camps for over 125 children living in these communities. Though these numbers give a quantitative look into the impact […]

Week 2 Day 5, 2015

Posted by Courtney Quigley
On August 14, 2015
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Dear Hope’s In community, It was difficult to say goodbye to those that we love in Guatemala but we returned with a renewed passion to continue to serve and love not only the Treasures but those around us too! So let me say it now, we love this community! Thank you for pouring out your support over the past few weeks. This new season of service is going to be filled with exciting new steps, initiatives and leadership development. Please see this note as not a “see you next year” but as an invitation to continue or start getting involved with Hope’s In! The trips next year will to take […]

Week 2 Day 4, 2015

Posted by Courtney Quigley
On August 13, 2015
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Dear Hope’s In community, Last year one of our volunteers Matt Coy was moved when he noticed so many small children running around the communities with no shoes. Community streets are often lined with scraps of metal, broken glass, dirt and dog waste so shoes are necessary for good health and sanitation. Feeling convicted, Matt started an initiative called Hope’s In Stride where he collected over 500 pounds of shoes to give to the Treasures. Yesterday over 40 children left soccer camp with a new soccer jersey donated by BASA, a pair of shoes collected by Matt, and a soccer ball (soccer balls and jerseys were collected by our volunteer […]

Week 2 Day 3, 2015

Posted by Courtney Quigley
On August 13, 2015
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Dear Hope’s In community, Concrete day was a success! All six houses have a solid concrete floor that will protect from bacteria build up, prevent the Treasures from breathing in harmful methane gasses that come off the ground, and provide a much cleaner environment. In the afternoon we did the Prayer Walk project. All our volunteers entered into different families homes to hear their stories, listen to their challenges and dreams. We also prayed for the families and were eager to encourage everyone we met. One volunteer said started her prayer so beautifully: “Dear God, thank you for bringing us to this woman’s door.” Amongst these exciting projects we have […]

Week 2 Day 2, 2015

Posted by Courtney Quigley
On August 11, 2015
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Dear Hope’s In community, The second day of week two is coming to a close. Potter’s House Association always strives to have their volunteers develop as better servants throughout the week. Today we learned about stewardship and excellence and how they relate to serving. One of our volunteers made a very insightful comment about excellence: “Excellence and perfection are often viewed as the same thing but excellence is actually just giving your personal best while perfection is a false standard we try to set for ourselves or others.” -Nicole Niro, IL Every day that we serve in the communities we are learning how to give more genuinely, build stronger relationships […]

Week 2 Day 1, 2015

Posted by Courtney Quigley
On August 11, 2015
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Dear Hope’s In community, All 55 of our week 2 volunteers arrived safely and have completed an amazing first day of work! Six houses are under construction, sports and dance clinics are being hosted and our medical clinic is running! Every volunteer has a purpose for being on this trip. Some find out the first day, others will encounter their “reason” later in the week. It’s so exciting to think about how every person on the trip is going to make an impact and also be impacted. 55 lives are going to be forever altered and we are hoping that throughout the week we can share with you some stories […]

Week 1 Day 6, 2016

Posted by Courtney Quigley
On August 7, 2015
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Dear Hope’s In community, Two very special Guatemalan families awoke in a beautiful new house today. Yesterday we completed the houses, distributed 300 sandwiches to one of the poorest communities, and held a medical clinic in the garbage dump. What a day it was! Friday is “pay day”. When the house is completed the whole team goes to one house at a time to have a special ceremony celebrating the family that is receiving the house. It is quite emotional as we get to know the families really well and the joy the house brings to their family and our volunteers is undeniable. Hope’s In dedication traditions include serenading the […]

Week 1 Day 5, 2015

Posted by Courtney Quigley
On August 6, 2015
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Dear Hope’s In Community, Our fifth day was so purposeful. Between finishing House 1, learning about Potter’s House’s sponsorship program and serving the children lunches it was an all around great day. Also today was the last day of the soccer camp and all the volunteers involved with that project agreed that though it started off like a normal day at soccer camp, by the end it was such a special experience. The Treasures expressed such a deep interest in hearing about the volunteers’ lives and talking with them they didn’t even want to play soccer for longer than ten minutes. As you may know Hope’s In mission statement is […]

Week 1 Day 4, 2015

Posted by Courtney Quigley
On August 5, 2015
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Dear Hope’s In community, We had another awesome day today! Though it was physically and emotionally exhausting, I believe we ended the day extremely inspired. Below is one account from our experiences: “Today we broke up into small groups to visit families throughout the community. One family that our group visited was an elderly woman with severe respiratory and heart problems. She wore a surgical mask to filter the polluted air, and could not afford the oxygen tanks that the doctor prescribed. She has trouble eating due to nausea. After a long tough life living in the garbage dump community, illness seems an unfair added burden. However, she is very […]

Week 1 Day 3, 2015

Posted by Courtney Quigley
On August 4, 2015
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Dear Hope’s In community, “”The treasures of the Guatemala City garbage dump are just that, treasures. I am so blessed to grow up in the United States but unfortunately my level of appreciation can fluctuate depending on my circumstances. As we walk through the dirty alleys and cluttered streets there are so many smiling faces. I want to adopt these peoples outlook on life. So in a sense, I’ll be taking a piece of treasure home with me.” -Hope’s In Volunteer Today was one for the books! The houses are ready for concrete to be poured tomorrow, the soccer camp was a blast, and the medical clinic saw more patients! […]

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