Desperate Situations

I am sure many of you have been following the challenges that have plagued Guatemala recently. I know Les sent out an email describing the devastation in the country following the erruption of Pacaya and the tropical storm Agatha. The team that was with us in the capital when Pacaya errupted was a group of young adults from Western Canada. They were due to fly out the morning following the erruption, but the airport was closed. Because it was a natural disaster, the airline was not responsible to cover any costs incurred by travellers. Thankfully, a few on the team had a delux insurance package which would cover hotel and food costs.
As we tried to find a hotel, we discovered that all of those who would have been travelling that morning were now stranded in Guatemala City and all the hotels were booked. All they could find was a hostel. They re-booked their flights for 2 days later, and called the hostel's shuttle to come pick them up. Rocky and I said goodbye, somewhat reluctantly, and drove back to Tactic. This was a first for us - leaving a team in the capital and returning to Tactic. We had marvelled the entire time the team was here at how easy going this group was, and they continued to amaze us. They weren't angry that their flights were cancelled and they seemed to take everything in stride. Amazing! We arrived back in Tactic and gave Les the contact information for the group and left things in his hands.
As we watched the news headlines on-line, we learned of tropical storm Agatha, and how the heavy rains were complicating the clean-up of the volcanic ash at the airport, and that it would now be closed for a week. A week! I cannot imagine spending 1 week in the Capital with no vehicle, no money, no clean clothes, and nothing to do! This group, again, took it all in stride. Somehow they made contact with an Alliance Church and were resettled in there and were very pleased with that arrangement. They finally were re-booked to leave the country, but were rescheduled in two groups - one to leave Friday, June 4th (a full week after their original flights) and the other Saturday, June 5th.
Les went to the capital on Wednesday night and took the group to Antigua for the day on Thursday. When he got home, he shared with us how well they were all handling this unexpected delay. He saw the first group off at the airport and then picked up the mother of one of the girls who is here for a year and left for Tactic. While driving, he received a call that the second group from the team who was scheduled to leave the next day was out walking and got robbed, losing everything they had on them, including 1 passport.
We were thankful that they were physically okay, but an event like that is bound to shake a person up. Again, they seemed to take it all in stride and immediately contacted the Canadian Embassy, got a temporary passport so they could still travel and flew out of Guatemala the following morning.
We don't know why this group experienced what they did, but we are trusting that the Lord is going to use all they experienced, the good and the not so good, for their benefit. I have to admit, I don't understand this, but I know what the Word says, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. " Romans 8:28. And I believe the Word to be true! Bless you, Lighthouse! We love you guys!
Blessings,
Karren and Rocky