Home for Christmas!

We arrived in the capital this afternoon and are flying out for Canada in the morning.  It feels like it has been a long time since we've been home, but it has only been 5 1/2 months.  As Rocky and I were driving today, we were talking and realized our last trip in May was a real whirlwind.  We were in Canada for only 2 weeks and during that time, we moved all our possessions to storage, had a garaged sale, re-roofed the house and our youngest daughter, Hope, got married.  We were hardly able to connect with family, let alone spend time with anyone else.  The one Sunday we were home and went to church, we were an hour late - they had changed the evening service time and we arrived just in time for the alter call!  Oops!
This trip is going to be different.  We are "home" for 9 weeks!  We do have a speaking schedule and some travelling/visiting that we are going to do, but we have 9 weeks to do it in.
We are super excited that our son-in-law, Hector, was able to get a visa and he and Arryn will be joining the rest of the gang for Christmas. We are really looking forward to hanging out with family and reconnecting with friends.
As we won't have a cell phone while in Canada, if you want to get together, please call us at my parent's place 250-377-6996, send me an email, or message me on facebook.

Today I remembered...

This morning we attended church, as usual.  After a wonderful time of praise and worship we shared in communion and as I was looking at those serving, I remembered a word that was spoken over me about 2 1/2 years ago.
In a church in Coban, the worship leader came to me after a service and said as we were worshipping  she saw a picture of me ministering to women in white guipils (the traditional tops worn here by women).  I received the word, but had long forgotten...until this morning.
As I looked to the front, the 6 women helping with serving communion were all wearing white guipils and the word from 2 1/2 years ago came flooding back.  There was a moment of confirmation from the Lord - I am where I am supposed to be!
How cool is that!  

You know you are in Guatemala when...

 Many times throughout the week, Rocky and I shake our heads and say, “Man, you know you’re in Guatemala when…” because some things occur here that would never happen in Canada. 

For example, a motorcycle is a family vehicle here and it is not uncommon to see dad, mom, 2 kids and a baby all on a small 125cc motor bike.  And…all without helmets! 

Another example is at our church; the wall is full of large nails hanging at about 4 feet.  These are for the babies!  Mom’s carry their babies (actually up to 2 years old) in a fabric sling on their back supported by a strap on their foreheads.  I have tried it and it is difficult, uncomfortable and heavy.  Once the baby has fallen asleep, they take this sling and hook the strap over the nail and literally hang the baby up.  That is where the baby sleeps during church! 

Then, the other day the truck we are using to deliver supplies to Yalicoc (where the team from Pritchard is doing a water project) got stuck in the mud and called for help.  A Guatemalan style tow truck came running (literally) to the rescue!  50 guys with 10 ropes pulled a 5 ton truck out of the mud and up a steep slope!  Crazy!     

But this last week we saw a first.  We went to a birthday party of an older man in our church.  Basically the entire church attended and the one room was not big enough to hold everyone.  So, they simply removed the back wall and extended the area into the outdoors!  Man, you know you’re in Guatemala when they remove a wall from the house to accommodate people for a party! 

These are just a few of the humorous things we see as we share life with the lovely people of Chisec.  We also, however, see some sad things that cause us to shake our heads and realize how difficult life is for the many people living in poverty.

 Just this week a one year old baby from our church died en route to the hospital in Coban 1 ½ hours away (in public transportation).   The family waited too long before seeking medical help and their little one died.  We got a call from our pastor letting us know that the couple had used all of their resources to pay for the transportation to Coban and now had nothing left to buy a coffin for their baby.  As is custom here, the body stays in the home for 24 hours and the community come to visit throughout those 24 hours and then they make the trek, on foot, to the church for a service and then the cemetery for the burial.  Because there was no coffin, this little one was laid out on the kitchen table. 

I don’t know about you but I wrestle with all kinds of different emotions when a little one dies. 

I know the people living in rural Guatemala do not have easy access to medical care.  The clinic we have in Chisec really is not able to address anything more serious than routine vaccinations and the common cold.  It is not their fault, but rather the fault of a broken system.  So, when you are really sick, they tell you that you have to go to Coban.   Just that in itself is often deterrent enough for a family to do nothing.  They know they cannot get help in Chisec and they don’t have the means to make the journey to Coban and support themselves while there.   And so they wait.  By the time they realize it is serious, it is often too late. 

So, how do we help?   How can we make a difference?   That is a question we ask ourselves every day.  We know that simply throwing money at a situation does more harm than good.  Years ago we read, When Helping Hurts, and more recently, My Business My Mission.  These two books have helped us to have a healthy perspective of our work as missionaries.

In situations of crisis, like the death of a child, it is right to step in and help in whatever manner you can.  But, these are one-time interventions in an emergency.   The poor don’t need a handout; they need a hand up.  And whatever we do must be encased in the Gospel.  Just like me, the poor need to know who they are in Christ – sons and daughters of the King!  Princes and princesses with access to their heavenly Father.    They need to have their hope, confidence and dignity restored.   

These are the things the Lord is stirring in our hearts as we journey along with Him.  What a privilege it is to live among and serve these dear people.    

Getting Geared Up...

We are getting geared up for the 2015 school year.  Our education program is growing and we are excited!  For 2015 we will have 32-35 sponsored students in the Christian school and about 150 in the public schools!  Amazing!

We are so thankful for the generous donations/gifts of teams throughout the year who have brought with them pencils, pens, rulers, etc, and for those who have raised money through their summer VBS program or Sunday school program to support education in rural Guatemala. Thank you so much!
The last team that was here from Michigan brought with them over 200 back packs along with a huge amount of supplies and they helped us pack 150 backpacks.  They are just waiting for a few finishing touches and then, in January they will be distributed.  

We are also excited and encouraged by the number of people wanting to sponsor children to attend the Christian school.  We have seen first hand the impact this has, not only on the child, but on the entire family.  What an amazing expression of love between a North American sponsor and a poor family in Guatemala.  It is such an honour for us to be the  ones helping to facilitate this.  There is no way these kids would have the opportunity to attend a Christian school (perhaps no school at all) without the help of their sponsor.  As this school year draws to a close, we are so proud to see many of our kids names on the honour roll; they recognize the gift they are being given and they are working hard.

Thank you, again, for being a part of the lives of children in Chisec.
Blessings!
 

Staying Focused

Sometimes we find ourselves distracted by the many challenges that seem to steal our focus and attention here in Guatemala.  Currently we are waiting for parts to fix the Pathfinder.  It is out of commission for the moment (C .V. Joint).  The amplifier for showing the Jesus movie had to be sent back to the U.S. for repairs after just receiving a replacement battery.  The walls inside our room were filled with little army ants determined to claim new territory.  No bank in Chisec would open up an account for us.  The power is off for the 4^th time this week.  And the list goes on!  

It can be distracting and sometimes takes a little wind out of our sails but thanks be to the Lord.   He always has a way of bringing us to His Word for encouragement, focus and motivation. 

“Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord.”   Ps 31:24  NKJV “We pray that you will have the strength to stick it out for the long haul-not the grim strength of gritting your teeth, but the glory- strength God gives.”  Ps 1:11  MSG.

We are here to share the good news of Jesus Christ through word and deed. This remains our focus. The temporary setbacks only help to build character and faith. They challenge us to keep moving forward for the purposes of the Kingdom. The Lord helps us to turn these moments of frustration into stepping stones of faith. He gives us His Word and sends encouragement through the body to strengthen us.

On the team that was just here from Michigan there were two mechanics to help with the car. The team was also able to take the amp back to the States for repairs. The army ants were introduced to vast quantities of Raid and we were able to open up an account at a different bank in Coban, a town we visit regularly to buy supplies.  And…the power came back on after only 15 hours!  There always will be bumps in the journey but if we stay focused and in expectation of God’s goodness, we will see the reward. We are looking with anticipation to the future and we see some new things on the horizon. Our newsletter should be sent out soon to give the update. Stay tuned!!

Alberto's Passing

Last night at 8pm, Alberto died and went to be with the Lord. 

I know the right thing to say is that he is better off now, because his pain has ended and he is with the Lord.  And I know that is true, but it doesn’t take away the pain that his family is feeling because he is now gone.  I cannot even imagine how I would feel to lose a child – I don’t think words can describe this kind of loss.  The other day on face book I saw a posting that read, “You call a man or woman who loses their spouse a widow and you call a child who loses their parents and orphan, but there is no word to describe one who loses a child.”  So true. 

When we got the call around 10pm, I didn’t know what to say.  It was a moment of loss – we were praying for a healing and yet he died.  What words could I possibly say to comfort them?   Now how do we love and support his family? 

Lots of questions, and honestly, not a lot of answers.  Talk about feeling inadequate.  This family came to us for help and we did what we could, but Alberto still died.  It is in those moments where I have nothing, that the Lord gently reminds me of what is true and where I can place my trust.  

·               God is who He says He is: He is our loving Father, our Provider, our Healer and our Saviour.

·              God can do what He says He can do: He can and does perform miracles today, some of which are        miraculous physical healings and some are a healing of another kind. 

I may not understand everything that happens or that doesn’t happen, but I can trust in Him.  God gave Alberto peace in his final weeks and even moments of enjoyment.  He gave us the opportunity to play a small roll in his life when he needed help.  He stirred my heart to take some family photos for them 2 weeks ago and have them developed.  He knew what was around the corner and He made preparations.  Our God is an amazing God.    

I feel privileged to have shared this day with Alberto’s family.  We didn’t do or say much, but we were there, and we shared in their loss. 

An Update on Alberto

Thank you to those of you who took up the challenge to pray with us for Alberto.  
We have been back to see him 3 times since I blogged last, and each time, he seems more at peace.  This last time I asked him if he was feeling any pain, and he shook his head and said no.  Praise the Lord!
We found a radio/cassette player in the market and brought it along with a mattress to Alberto this past week.  Although you can't tell from the photo, he was very happy.  He has been spending the majority of his time in the hammock because it is the softest place for him to rest.  You can see his bed behind him - just wooden planks with a piece of material covering it.
Now he is able to rest comfortably and has a radio so he can listen to the Christian.
Every time we visit, we lay hands on him and pray and I know the Holy Spirit is at work.  The circumstances have not changed - Alberto is still desperately ill - but there is peace and joy - yes, joy - in the house.  Thank you Lord.