At the site of the first house build, Isabel and her boys were quite shy throughout our interactions with them. Obviously all very wounded by the “man” who was once the husband and father. Not a lot of hope was present when we first arrived but with God’s presence and provision, life was looking up. This family no longer had to worry about their shelter and they were also provided with a two week supply of food, some hygiene supplies and now had a stove that blew the smoke out of the house. Once the house was finished, Isabel said, “I don’t deserve this.” Does anyone deserve the grace of God?
The best part about meeting this family was seeing them at church on Sunday afternoon. There is hope in Christ who is the church.
Pastor Juanito
Juanito works part time with Bethel Ministries as a builder, minister, “Juan” of all trades and is the pastor of the church in Tecpán. I had the opportunity of meeting Juanito the first year that I went to Guatemala in 2012. He had gone ahead of us that year to lay a foundation for a house that we were building. This involved him lugging pounds and pounds of cement, rocks and sand, mixing it manually and then laying the foundation with the help of some inexperienced locals. He then took a seven hour bus ride back home while preparing his sermon for the next day.
He and his wife Anna, along with their three kids run the church in Tecpán. And when I say run, I mean Anna and her daughter run the Sunday school in their house, which is through a backdoor of the church directly behind the stage, their son Esdras is a deacon, in charge of ushering and whatever else he is asked to do and their younger son David is a twelve year old, self-taught drummer extraordinaire for the music team.
When we attended the Sunday afternoon service we caught how to worship God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength. Not the suppressed murmurs that we can sometimes be droned into, but uninhibited, Christ exalting, soul-thirst quenching EXPRESSION of joy for the One who delivered us.
Pastor Juanito didn’t preach that day, perhaps because he had helped the team build a house that morning. But, standing humbly and steadfastly, what he did proclaim was, “Gloria a Dios.” So easy to want to seek praise and acknowledgement, so hard to get ourselves out of the way and in love, remember that all the Glory is to God. Every good and perfect gift is from above coming down from the Father of heavenly lights.- James 1:17
Many verses were shared in Spanish that afternoon. Here are a few I may have caught:
2 Corinthians 5:15 - And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
Ephesians 2:8 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God
Romans 6:12 - Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.
Milton
Milton is a 12 year old boy who lives with his mom Jendy and sister Xiamara 5 minutes away from the church in Tecpán. We had visited them Sunday morning and provided them with food and clothes. Milton was unbothered that his toes were coming out of his shoes but was thankful for a couple of new pairs, including the soccer cleats that he pleaded for.
This fatherless and troublesome boy grabbed my heart because he was clearly at a volatile stage of life. He could go either way. A life of crime, adultery, irresponsibility; basically never grow into a real man. You see Milton was at an awkward age where he hadn’t done six straight years of school like kids around here. He might have done one or two years sporadically, it’s not like he could just jump into grade 6, nor do grade 2 with a class of seven year olds. He will however, have an opportunity to get back to school when he is 15...which will then be more his choice not so much his mother’s, who without the father to “lay down the law” is already losing control of this young rascal. Dad left to start another family then ended up in jail. The former is very common.
Chris and Donna Mooney
Chris and his wife Donna are two of the founders of Bethel Ministries, the people who organize our service on the ground in Guatemala. I say two of the founders because, Chris also calls his original wheelchair technicians founders; they have been there since day one, 14 years ago. These Guatemalan founders do their work in wheelchairs themselves and would likely be out on the street if it wasn’t for this opportunity. One way that Bethel serves God in Guatemala is by hosting 30 or so teams per year, who spend a week serving in various cities throughout the country. A week of service usually includes a wheelchair distribution, two house builds and many house visits with food, clothes and hygiene kits for the neediest families in the area.
Whenever we enter a house to meet a family we always follow the lead of Chris, who with the Spanish language and prayerful discernment, focuses his attention on whoever God brings him. He begins by asking questions about the family situation, he listens and weaves God’s story into their story. Chris then invites them to be part of God’s story. Whether that is to make a decision to follow Jesus or simply to come to church, indecisiveness is not an option. We do not know what will happen tomorrow. So make a choice, in or out and be willing to live or die with it.
Milton decided to come to church that Sunday afternoon with his mom. His Spanish ears allowed him to hear a lot more than I did that afternoon. What we both saw though, was a single mom and three kids soften their hearts to Jesus and let Him be their saviour. At the end of the service, the mom, with family in tow, came to the front of the church and gave her life to the Lord. This family was visited by Chris and members of our team on Saturday morning and blessed with food, clothes and most importantly an invitation to come follow Christ.
Maria
When we arrived at Maria’s to lay a foundation for a new house for her family, we learned that she had lost her baby at birth just three days prior. You wouldn’t know it from her welcoming hugs, kisses and gratitude. I told her that I was sorry to hear about her loss. When I asked her how she was feeling, she said that if God permitted this then it was probably a good thing. This perspective from a lady whose family was living on $126 per month and taking care of 6 children in living conditions that are unequaled anywhere in Canada. Her husband Augusto is often away for long days trying to earn what he can for the family.
Here is a link to a video that shows the building of the new house and its happy occupants.
Josue
As the second oldest son of Maria's family, Josue is studying in 5th grade and was excited to get his own personal copy of the Bible. Unfortunately I didn’t get the opportunity to read it with him as has been the tradition but I’m hopeful that with his education and reading skills he’ll be able to one day enjoy the brilliant, living and active very words of God.
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. -Hebrews 4:12
God’s word is brilliant not only because no human being could ever invent this gift but also because God’s very words will shine a path for young Josue. Although he was born into a challenging life, he will have the words of the Creator of the universe at his fingertips. From his mother’s biblical wisdom he is already learning about rejoicing under trials. From his father, who chose to stay and work amidst the culture’s call to flee and fumble, he will learn that perseverance must finish its work to be mature and complete, not lacking anything. -James 1:4
Facing Life's Big Questions
Every year upon return from this trip I am at a loss as to express what actually took place. We see so much physical and emotional hardship in such a short period of time. I try my best to digest it all as the days of the trip roll on but I wall up instead of letting myself well up. It’s too hard to face life’s big questions. Why was I born in relative physical affluence and not in a garbage ridden shack? Why, despite the physical challenges, are the Guatemalan souls so much more full than materially empty ones we see in North American cult-ure? Why were we given 4 healthy children? Why, for so many years, did I choose death over life? Why did God grace me with His Truth seven years ago?
Because eventually you have to face it. We are well too minute to figure out this life on our own. We are but a grain of sand amongst hundreds of billions of people who have ever lived on earth. There is someone bigger than all of us who has a beautiful plan for Isabel and Anna and Juanito and for Chris and Donna and for Milton and Josue and for YOU! If you don’t believe me read His Word, the Bible, the greatest book ever written, living and active, through which God will speak to you every day from right now until He chooses to end your life.
Face it, you don’t have all the answers, nor do I, nor will I. But don’t run away and get lost in the trivialities of today's cult-ure: mind numbing magnet screens, social/gossip media abysses, unnecessary, endless possession accumulation. Find Jesus! Because by His grace you face your true place. It hurts, it’s hard but you grow towards the Son, the man who came and died, so you could become the man or woman in right relationship with your Heavenly Father who created you. In Jesus' own words from John 8:32: and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
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