My least and most favourite things!

Sometimes in life you have to do things that you don’t like. It is the same thing here in guate as it is in Canada. I totally dislike working on vehicles but because I own one, it needs to be taken care of. So, from time to time I am in the shop with grease on my face and wrenches in hand.  Changing the oil, brakes, bearings, installing a new radiator - it always seems like something needs repairing.  But part of being on the mission field is being willing to wear many hats – and I have a wide variety, let me tell you!  But of all the things I do here, I have to say that crawling under the Pathfinder is my least favourite.

 

On the other hand, one of things I really enjoy is packing up the projection equipment and heading off to show the Jesus movie. When we were home last May we ordered a projection system from the U.S. and had it shipped down here in a container.  However, after the first showing,  I was unable to recharge the battery. So, you can imagine my frustration. The process to return something on warranty from here is a challenge, but Manny and Cindy were heading to the US, so I sent it with them. They were able to exchange it for a new one and last week, Manny handed me my new battery!  Now I am able to share the wonderful news of Jesus in the indigenous language of Q’ekchi’ through the medium of a movie!!  On Sunday I will present the movie in a Nazarene church in Chisec. I hope to work with the pastors of this area to take this movie into remote areas for the purposes of evangelism. The great thing is, it has its own power-pack, we can take it anywhere and are not dependent on electricity.  On the down side… I (or we) may have to sleep in some remote and primitive places as travelling at night is sometimes not an option.

Please pray that the hearts of the people will be open to receive the good news and that lives will be changed for His purposes and His kingdom.  Karren and I are blessed to be a part of all that is happening here and we count it a privilege to share this work with you.

1 Cor. 15:57-58 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory though our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Rocky

One Year Anniversary!

Well, we have completed one year here at mission2guatemala and it is almost the end of 2013.  Time to reflect… 

When we arrived at mission2guatemala we were not really sure what to expect.   We believed God had opened up this door for us and so we walked through.  At that moment, that was enough.  And now, one year later, we are so glad we said yes! 

For me, moving to a rural setting was a challenge and moving an hour and a half away from the nearest grocery store an even bigger challenge!  But, God, in His infinite mercy, provided work for Hector and Arryn in Chisec, just down the road about 10 minutes, and so we have family close by.    What an incredible blessing. 

Working with teams is very precious and something we have always loved.  It really is a very unique kind of work.  We get to be a part of both sides – the team and the Guatemalans they have come to serve.  We see how team members are challenged to stretch their world view and their personal walk with the Lord, as well as incorporate missions into their daily lives.  We also see how the Guatemalan people are blessed by teams and the local church here is encouraged.  We have hosted 12 teams so far this year and team number 13 arrives in a couple of weeks.  We have really enjoyed getting to know how mission2guatemala works with groups and have been blessed to make many new friends.  We are also super excited to host our first Canadian team in the spring of 2014 (prayerfully the first of many, eh!). 

We had prayed about finding a place to serve where we could not only work with short-term mission teams, but also develop ministry outside of teams.  And, we are able to do that here.  There are more opportunities than we know what do with.  Because we do not run back-to-back teams all year, we have time to become a part of the community and use the gifts and talents God has given us to serve others.

Cindy and I, both former educators, have a real heart for education.  This past year we started a program to help get kids into school.  With the donations we received we were able to send 83 kids to school!  Simply by providing school supplies, uniforms and shoes, kids who would not have been studying, were in school.  Amazing!  Now we are looking at January 2014 with an added facet to the program – sponsorship for the Christian school.  We have already signed up 3 families with 11 kids, and I know there will be more(students and sponsors) before January arrives. 

And, the icing on the cake…we really enjoy working with Manny and Cindy.  They have a lot they can teach us, but we, too, make a valuable contribution to the team.  It is a partnership and a friendship – something very valuable on the mission field. 

So, my reflection…I am so thankful to the Lord for His grace and mercy.  He is the reason we are here serving and it is to Him that we give thanks.   I am thankful for all of the experiences that equipped us and lead us to this place.  I am so thankful for family and friends who never lost confidence in us and supported us through our time of transition.  I am grateful for mission2guatemala and Manny & Cindy.  I am thankful for CTEN and the wonderful work they do and the support they provide for us. 

Blessings,
Karren  

Road Closed...Again!

This week I have been teaching English to the teachers at the Christian School in Chisec.  Normally, the travel back and forth between the mission site in San Simon 1 and the school, takes about 10 minutes and is an easy drive.  But this week has been anything but normal.
The price of cardamom dropped and the people were in an uproar.  If your only crop is cardamom, you have this one window of opportunity to sell your produce and make your annual income.  They were in panic mode! For them the drop in price is the difference between being able to fee their family or not.  And, only way for them to express their frustration is to block the road and shut the country down. And, so, the road was closed again.     
 They cut down trees and drag them across the highway and pile up large rocks so no car or truck can drive over them.  They usually burn tires as well and the people all stand in a line across the road.  The people here say this is the only way for them to communicate with the government their disagreement over something.  I cannot say that I either agree with or completely understand this process, but it happens a lot around here.  
In my North American mind, I don't understand why the police don't come and clear the road.  They are blocking all of the traffic on the major (and only) highway in this part of the country.  It would be like us closing HWY #1 every 5 km between Chase and Merritt, to ensure there would be no way to get around the blockades.   
But here in our little corner of the country there are no police, only army, and they certainly don't attend blockades and wouldn't clear them even if they themselves were stuck.  And so, the people demonstrated their power by shutting things down.  Nothing and no one got through.  Including me! 
When this happens, I feel the full range of emotions.  Frustration - I am frustrated that I cannot fulfill my responsibilities, and that I am being punished for something out of my control.  Empathetic - The cardamom farmers will not be able to feed their families if the prices don't increase.  Sad - How sad is it that the people have no other means by which to express themselves to the government.  Afraid - Because I am North American, I am a target for anger - I am part of the affluent sector of society (even if that is not the truth). 
Will this system ever improve?  I don't have the answers, but I serve the One who does.  And, so, I pray!