Can You Pray With Us?

A couple of weeks ago, I blogged about a young man named Antonio who was desperately sick.  Well, I want to give you an update.  First, his name is Alberto, not Antonio – sorry!  I don’t know how I got the names confused, but I did. 

In my last blog I shared how Alberto was nothing more than skin and bones with a large lump in his stomach area.  He needed to go to the hospital in Coban and that we were going to help his family get there and follow up on his condition.  Well, he went.  He saw a doctor, had some x-rays done and spent the night.  The next morning they discharged him with a prescription for an antibiotic and some pain meds.  Alberto’s mom came here to the mission site to show me the x-rays and the prescription.  Although I am not a doctor, nor a nurse, I looked at the x-rays and saw black spots all over his chest cavity and in his stomach.  I took the mom, Camila, to Chisec and bought the medicine Alberto needed and took her home.  Camila tried to explain to me, through her daughter, what the doctor said and what was wrong with Alberto, but it was really tough to understand and she didn’t really understand.  So, I suggested that after he finished with the medicine we go to the Centro de Salud (health clinic) in Chisec together to see what the next step should be. 

So, they came yesterday and we went to town together.  As soon as the nurses saw how serious the situation was, they ushered us into an office and began to gather information.  The doctor wasn’t in, but they said if we returned at 8am the following day, we could go straight in and talk with the doctor.  As I drove them home, Camila shared with me that her husband is working on a farm and he makes only Q50 a day (about $6).  She said that was just barely enough to pay for their rent and food.  There was no extra for healthcare.  That is the reality for the majority of the people in this area.     

This morning, I picked them up at 7:30am and off we went.  When we got to the clinic, we were able to see the pediatrician right away.  She went over the x-rays and the notes that were taken at the hospital in Coban and then proceeded to tell me what was wrong.  Alberto has cancer.  The huge lump we could see in his stomach region was a secondary cancer and it had already begun spreading throughout the body.  The x-rays didn’t show the primary source of the cancer, but the doctor said there was more cancer than just what we could see, physically.  She said the blood work showed he was also diabetic, but the most pressing problem was the cancer.  She did not believe there was much hope for Alberto, short of a miracle.  She went on to explain that if the family did want to pursue care, they would have to first return to Coban – a 1 ½ hour trip.  But the hospital in Coban is not equipped to deal with cancer patients, so they would send him to the capital, a 5 hour trip.  They wouldn’t have to pay for the medical consult in Coban or the capital, but would have to pay for any transportation, all tests that would be done and for any medication that would be given.  The doctor said that most likely they would only be looking at palliative care in Alberto’s stage of cancer.   

As I listened to all of this, I felt helpless and heartbroken.  This family had waited too long to seek help and now the situation was desperate.  Feeling overwhelmed, I drove them home and went home myself.  I talked to Rocky and we spent the afternoon processing and praying about what we should do. 

I am struggling to process all of this.  I believe that God sent them to our gate and honestly, I just want to make it all better; I want Alberto to be well. But, there are times when we can’t do anything in the physical realm and then, the most valuable thing we can do is pray.  Alberto needs a miracle.  It is as simple as that.  I know my God is big enough to heal Alberto and I am willing to step out, in faith, and pray, trusting that the Lord will move in whatever manner He deems best.  Are you willing to step out with me?  If you are, pray for Alberto.  Pray that God would touch and heal his body of all sickness and disease.  Pray that Alberto would know that he is in the hand of the Almighty and he need not fear.  Pray for peace for the family and strength to continue on.  Pray!  

An Interesting Day!I

Although it has been pretty quiet around here without any teams and without Manny and Cindy, Friday was an interesting day!  We were in town in the morning and saw three truckloads of police at the gas station.  This is super unusual, as Chisec just got police this past year and I think we have 1 truck and maybe 2 or 3 officers.  We asked the gas attendant what was happening and he told us that there had been a gun fight and 5 police were injured and 3 people killed, so now police were coming form all over Alta Verapaz to settle the situation.
As we learned more throughout the day, the activity centred around an area about half way between the mission site and Coban.  About 6 months ago people just started building little shacks at the side of the road; they were squatters, which is not unusual around here.  At last count there must have been well over 50 shacks within a 2 km stretch of road.  The posted signs read that they were "in negotiations" for the land.  Well, I guess the "negotiations" came to a halt on Friday.
By the time the situation was at its peak, there were about 200 police there(buses full of cops arrived on the scene). People were being evicted from their little homes and the police were maintaining a presence so no one would try to return.  Then to make things a little more interesting, in a community just a couple of kilometres away from this area, the police arrested one of the CODECA leaders and the people were rioting in response.
CODECA is the illegal organization that helps people steal electricity by connecting them illegally. I guess because of the road blocks and police presence due to evicting the squatters, the police happened to find one of the CODECA leaders and they arrested him, publicly.  The people of the community went crazy.  They were shooting off guns and throwing rocks on the cars in the road.  Needless to say, the road was closed until things settled down.  
The police were still there 24 hours later only allowing a small number of vehicles to pass through the area at any given time.  It meant what normally takes 1 hour 15 minutes to drive took 2 1/2 hours.
As I reflected on the unrest, I was thankful that the police did come and they were able to restore order in a reasonable amount of time and that they stayed to monitor the situation to ensure the safety of those travelling between Coban and Chisec.  I was also thankful that a CODECA leader was arrested.  I know the price of electricity here is unreasonable, but stealing is never the right alternative.  There has to be another way to solve the ongoing problem with electricity.
I was also sad, although, as I thought about all of those families who were evicted from their homes, humble as they were.  Where were they sleeping that night and what were they going to do now? Sad for the families who lost loved ones in the battle.  Most likely those lost will have been the men of the home - the providers.
The longer we live and work in northern Guatemala, the more we realize the problems and challenges facing this area are not simple; they are complex and often no one comes out the winner lest of all the Indigenous we work with and live alongside of.
It makes it challenging to figure out what to think or what to do.  Our North American thinking simply doesn't fit. This is a different culture and we have to respect that.  I am thankful on a daily basis, although, that my God is able to bridge cultural divides and provide us with a common ground where we can come together, in Him, seeking guidance and wisdom.  His ways are not the ways of man...they are so much better!

  

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! 

Medical Clinic for Yalmachac

We currently have an all ladies team here from Jacksonville, Florida. On the team are various medical people and so, today and tomorrow we are doing a medical clinic in the village of Yamachac, about 45 minutes from the mission site.

A week ago, the leaders of the community gave out numbers/tickets so that those who were truly sick would have priority.  What happens here is that everyone wants to see the doctor, whether they have a need or not.  It is not uncommon for them to have never been to see a doctor and when word gets out that there is a North American doctor in town seeing patience, the crowds arrive!  

This group also brought with them enough fluoride treatment for the entire community.  Every child had their teeth checked, received a toothbrush and a fluoride treatment.  And, after seeing the doctor they also received whatever medicine they needed, free of charge.    

While the appointments were taking place, those not involved in the medical clinic were outside doing crafts and activities with the kids. They brought with them t-shirts for the kids to paint, play dough, colouring sheets, bubbles, balls,...you name it, they had it!

What an amazing blessing for this community!  

The Precious Word of God!

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  John 1:1

As a North American who was brought up in a Christian home, I was always surrounded by Bibles.  I remember my dad’s office had a book shelf behind the desk and he had numerous different Bibles along with concordances and other study tools. In my parent’s bedroom, there was always a Bible on the night stand and I think there was one that “lived” on the kitchen table, too.   I remember as a child having not one, but multiple Bibles of my own.  I didn’t count it a privilege to have a Bible; it was just the norm.   

This week I was reminded multiple times how precious the Word of God is and what a privilege it is to have a Bible and be able to read it.  We had a group here from Xenia, Ohio and one of the things we did was pass out Bibles. 

After doing children’s ministry and passing out shoes, clothing, school supplies, candies (you know, all the good stuff), we announced that each student would be receiving their own personal Bible.  To my surprise and delight, the kids cheered.  Yes, cheered!  They were thankful for the other things we gave them, but they cheered when they heard they were going to get a Bible.

As the team handed them out, I watched the face of one young guy, probably 12 years old and definitely one of the “cool kids” in the class.  He had a silly grin on his face as he received his Bible and he held it very gently.  He rubbed the cover and turned it over a couple of times to really have a good look at it.  Then he sat down, opened it up, and began to read.  There was chaos all around him, but he was drawn into the Word and nothing was going to pull him away.  God spoke to me in that moment and I don’t think I will ever forget the picture of this boy’s face. 

My prayer for this young man is that God will minister to him in a very real and powerful way through His Word.  That he will grow to become a man after God’s heart.  That God’s Word will be alive and active in his life and accomplish much!  

 I have another prayer, although, and this one is for me…Lord, may I know what a privilege it is to hold Your Word in my hand, to read Your Love letter to me.  May I have an unquenchable thirst for your Word.  May I value Your Word as the treasure It is and allow Its truths to speak to my spirit and change me into who You want me to be.      

The Value of a Short-term Missions Experience

When I worked at Kamloops Christian School, we used to send two short term mission teams to Guatemala every year.  And, every year people questioned the value of these teams.   They would say the money we spent on the trip would be put to better use if we just sent it all to missionaries already working in the area. 

The truth is, it is expensive to participate in a short term missions trip.  The cost is usually between $1500 and $2000 per person for a 10 day trip.  A portion of that is set aside for the project ($300 - $500), but the majority is used to cover flights, in-country travel, accommodations and food. 

If all you do is run the numbers, then it is easy to see how you come to the conclusion that it is better to just send money.  Missions and ministry, although, is about more than just numbers.  It is about relationships and that cannot happen if we don’t engage, personally. 

This week, as we sat in a circle for our evening debrief with the team from Trenton, I listened as a young man gave words to how this missions experience was affecting him.  He shared how he could see now how materially focussed he was back home and how hesitant he was to share the Gospel with others.  He said what he was learning and living out here in Guatemala was teaching him how he could live back home.  It was changing him; changing his focus and his heart. 

David Platt, in his book Radical, issues a 5 point challenge to believers, a part of which is to “spend your time in another context (missions).”  It could be a car ride away or a plane ride away – the distance isn’t important.  What is important is to go somewhere where you can share the gospel and care for the needy in Christ’s name.  “If we are going to accomplish the global purpose of God, it will not be primarily through giving our money, as important as that is.  It will happen primarily through giving ourselves.”   

We see, time and time again, how people are impacted by the missions experience and how, if they are willing, 1 week away from their home culture and context  can affect the other 51 weeks of the year.   The value of a short term missions experience is not just what can be accomplished, like building a classroom or a church, or giving shoes away to an impoverished community.  The value is in the relationships that are built with the local people and the inner work of the Holy Spirit in both those being ministered to and those who came to minister.  As the Master Card commercial used to say…Priceless!  

A Beautiful Exchange

This week we hosted a group from Xenia, Ohio.   They were a small group and chose to bless a family, rather than focus on a large project somewhere.  German, the brick layer that works with M2G, has been working on building a home for his family for the past year and a half.  As he had money, he would purchase a few materials and little by little his house was being built.  The entire family contributed to the project.  His wife and daughters were getting up every morning at 4:30 am to make tortillas to sell.  Every day they made about 450 tortillas – all before the kids left for school in the morning. 

When Cindy was talking with the group from Xenia, and they expressed the desire to work with a family, German’s family immediately came to mind.  All they were missing to complete their humble block home was the concrete floor and the bathroom.  The team leader agreed that this would be a perfect project for them and plans were made. 

The amazing thing that transpired, although, was not simply a gift from the Americans for the family; it was an exchange.  The family received the financial help and physical encouragement of the group, and the group walked away richer for the experience.  How beautiful is that! 

This economy of exchange is so like our heavenly Father.   When we are willing to say yes and invest our time and resources we don’t walk away empty and broke; no, we walk away fulfilled and blessed.  The team from Xenia experienced this truth as they extended their hand of blessing to another. 

If you are feeling drained and tired, like you are simply going through the motions, I challenge you to reach out and bless someone else without expecting a return.  I promise you, you cannot out give God.  As you give, He will pour into you, refresh you, and energize you.