Antonio

On Monday we went to the capital to work on our Guatemalan residency.  As we were driving out of the gate, two women were waiting for us.  Rocky recognized the older woman as the same one who had been at the gate Saturday morning.  He had tried to communicate with her then, but she spoke no Spanish (only Kekchi) so he asked if she could come back on Monday when the workers would be here so they could translate.  

So, we got out of the car.  The older woman’s daughter was there to translate between Spanish and Kekchi.  As we started to hear her story, a boy of about 12 or 13 came out from around the corner.  It was clear that he was severely malnourished – a walking skeleton.  Apparently he had not been able to eat for about 5 months.  Every time he ate, he vomited, so he just stopped eating.  They went to the Centro de Salud (Health Clinic) in Chisec and were told he needed an operation to remove a growth in his chest/stomach area.  But, because the fair to travel to Coban (the nearest hospital) was Q15 a person one way (just under $2) they were not able to go.  It is hard to wrap your head around this level of poverty – for lack of $4 her child was going to die.     

As I type this I can still see Antonio’s face; his sunken, desperate eyes.  I can see the worry and fear on his mom’s face.  And they were at our gate looking to us for help.  Oh man!  We gathered around Antonio, laid hands on him and called out to the Living God to intercede in his life.  We gave the mom a financial gift and encouraged her to get her son to the hospital as soon as possible.     

It was overwhelming, humbling and an incredible privilege all wrapped up into one big emotional bundle.  It is only by His grace, calling, infilling and strength that we are here, serving the Lord in Gautemala.  And it is only in His perfect timing that we were driving out of the mission site at exactly the same time that these precious people arrived.  God is good…no,… God is absolutely amazing!