Making Friends

For the past two weeks, every day between 5:30pm and 8:30pm we have been teaching English to a family from our church.  But, more than teaching English, we have been making friends.  For those of you who have lived in a different culture or been on the mission field, you can understand what a blessing it is to simply build relationships and make friends.
This photo is just a part of the family we have been spending a lot of time with.  Walter and his wife, Blanca, have 6 daughters (Viviana, Blanca, Hubeny, Linda, Esmirna, Maria Jose), 2 sons (Walter, Guillermo), 1 daughter-in law (Lily), 1 son-in law (Uri), and 3 grandchildren (Jasime, Yancy, Waltercito).  The majority of the family has participated in my class. 

Rocky was in charge of the little ones - boy that was a full-time job.  After the first class, they were calling him Papa (grandpa)!  I had the task of teaching the rest.   

Everyday Blanca would feed us part way through the class.  She is an amazing cook!  We had to be careful what we said, although, because if we said we liked pizza, they ordered pizza for us.  Needless to say we at like kings!    

Hospitality is something that this culture has down pat!  It seems to come so naturally to them and this family in particular made us feel welcomed and appreciated.  Walter owns a mechanic shop and parts store and he and Rocky have spent quite a bit of time together.  He has helped us with our car and Rocky has helped him with some constructions jobs around the shop.   

Today was presentation day - each person had to interview someone else, in English, and then present them to the rest of us. It was a lot of work, but it was so good to see how much they have learned over the past two weeks.   

Over the two weeks Rocky and I taught them a number of simple songs - they love to sing!  We sang God is So Good; My God is so Big!; Father I Adore You; He is the King of Kings; More Precious than Silver; Open the Eyes of My Heart.  This was a great way to learn English and praise the Lord at the same time!  

I am happy to say that they did learn a lot, but I am even happier to say that so did we!  We laughed, shared, prayed and sang together - we shared life and made friends.  What a blessing!   

That's a Switch!

We just spend an amazing week in Texas, but I was grateful to set foot again in the more familiar country of Guatemala.  That's a switch!  Y'all would think we'd be more comfortable in the US culture, eh?  Well, we have spent the better part of 3 years here and the longer we are in Guate, the more this place feels like home.  We are becoming accustomed to the culture, the sounds, and the wonderful people.  Of course, sleeping in our own bed is always a relief after being away, even if my feet hang off the end by about 6"! 
Travelling to the US reminded me of the many differences between developing countries and those countries which lead the world in economic stature. 
In the Guatemalan airport, after you go through customs and security (take off your shoes, empty your pockets, remove your belt, go through the scanner, get patted down, open up your carry-on luggage for inspection, re-dress), a very sudden change takes place.  As soon as you leave this area, there is a high-end perfume, liquour and tobacco shop and the majority of the magazines and books are now in English.
The transition from those who don't have to those who do (including us), boggles my mind.  Don't get me wrong; I am grateful to the Lord for His amazing provision in my life, but it really is a shock to the senses when you travel from here to North America. 
The purpose of our trip was to attend an orientation session with our support team and sending agency, CTEN (Commission to Every Nation).  We, along with 25 other missionaries from around the world received teaching, council, encouragement, Texas hospitality and food, and were commissioned to fulfill the calling of God on our lives. 

 CTEN really focuses on pastoral care and helping ordinary people like us accomplish extraordinary things with God.  We worshipped and prayed together and enjoyed great fellowship.  We thank the Lord for another part of His body stepping up to see His Kingdom move forward.
We also took time in Texas to replenish our depleted supply of North American goods and picked up some items for Arryn's wedding.  We maxed out the weight on our two duffle bags and our carry-ons were stuffed to the top!  I know we will be thankful for the non-stick frying pan (which I carried on the plane!), the jar of peanut butter, brown sugar for baking and essential toiletry items. 
Karren is putting the final touches on our next newsletter.  If you don't receive our ministry updates and would like to, please send us an email with your contact information (karrenchupa@hotmail.ca).  Maybe you do receive our newsletters, but you know of someone who doesn't, but would like to.  Just sent us their info and we'll get them on the list before this next mailing takes place. 
Blessings,
Rocky 

Life in Guatemala

Life in Guatemala is different than life in Canada.  For us, however, what was once strange now seems very normal.  It is as though we get into a routine and we forget about some of the challenges facing the average Guatemalan.  Yesterday, although, we were reminded. 
We live in a small house (casita) in behind a larger home.  The owners of our home, Giovanni and Marissa, are simply wonderful.  They have not only opened up their home to us, but their lives as well.  Yesterday, they were attending the funeral of a friend when a young man was murdered right in front of them.  He had refused to pay an increased rate of extortion and so he was killed.  Last week a young man from their church was shot in his car because he, too, refused to pay the extortionist's increased rates.  Two friends in two weeks.  I wish I could say this is uncommon, but it isn't. 
Corruption is rampant in Guatemala.  I know we have corruption in Canada as well, but not like this.  Everyone has their hand in the pie including many police and government officials.  It affects everything from the seemingly small things, like the bus attendant pocketing a part of the take for the day, to big things, like murder and the police accepting a bribe to look the other way.  This kind of injustice often fills the people with a sense of helplessness and despair. 
Recently it seems as though the newspapers have been more full than usual of stories of murder - in particular, the murder of small children.  Although some murders are related to drugs and gangs, the majority have to do with extortion.  For example, take the young man who was murdered yesterday.  He moved to Coban to help him mom out with a private school that she is the director of.  He has a number of buses that he runs in the capital and normally was paying a flat rate to a gang for the privilege of operating his buses on their turf.  Then, the gang wanted more money...more than this young man could afford to pay and stay in business...so he said he wouldn't pay.  They threatened him and when he didn't succumb to the pressure, they sent someone to kill him right in front of his family.  If he had been married or had children, they most likely would have taken or killed one of them to teach him, and others like him, a lesson.  The majority of people who run a business here, pay someone for protection or the privelege of doing business in the community.  It is commonplace. 
At night, in between the barking dogs, firecrackers, and other noise, we often hear gun shots.  We don't go out walking at night very often, because it just isn't safe.  This is reality for those living here.  It is not surprising that the current president won the election with the slogan, "saftey and security."  The truth is, although, that the challenges facing this country are too big for the government to fix, even if they were honest and above reproach. 
The only source of real saftey and security is the Lord.  It sounds so simple, but it is a very profound truth.  "I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress.  In Him will I trust." We know that our Heavenly Father is watching over us, and we are not afraid. 
Please pray for this country - that the message of the Gospel would be preached to those who haven't heard; that the church would continue to grow and thrive and set an example for the unbelievers; that justice and truth would prevail; and that those who are in places of authority would govern with integrity.