Appologies, I somehow deleted all my pictures, so what I have below are the few I gleaned from others.
April 3, 2015
People like what we get to do.
Who doesn't wnt in some way to help out orphans. There are some who do not understand a love for people with special needs, but in general, most people think of ministries that help those with special needs, or the poor, or the children as humanitarian aids. The thing is, meeting physical needs is only at the very surface. Christian missionaries are known to work to help build schools, and set up clinics. They can be seen helping to feed and cloth and love the unfed, underclothed, and the unloved. But if that is what the world sees, then I think we are missing something pretty big. By definition, "humanitarianism is the doctrine that humankind may become perfect without divine aid." Christians are not humanitarians. The goal of a Christ follower is not to physically aid the tangible ailments of the body, but to minister to the soul. Don't get me wrong, it's pretty hard to sing praises through lips parched from thirst. But we were not sent to treat the symptoms while ignoring the disease causing them.
Who doesn't wnt in some way to help out orphans. There are some who do not understand a love for people with special needs, but in general, most people think of ministries that help those with special needs, or the poor, or the children as humanitarian aids. The thing is, meeting physical needs is only at the very surface. Christian missionaries are known to work to help build schools, and set up clinics. They can be seen helping to feed and cloth and love the unfed, underclothed, and the unloved. But if that is what the world sees, then I think we are missing something pretty big. By definition, "humanitarianism is the doctrine that humankind may become perfect without divine aid." Christians are not humanitarians. The goal of a Christ follower is not to physically aid the tangible ailments of the body, but to minister to the soul. Don't get me wrong, it's pretty hard to sing praises through lips parched from thirst. But we were not sent to treat the symptoms while ignoring the disease causing them.
It can be a little hard to focus on this because I want to help people. The problem is that this has never been, and will never be within my power. We focus so much on helping someone we see physically hurting that we ignore their spiritual deficit. We throw food, medicine, and advice at the need we can see. This makes us feel good about helping someone, but truly we have missed it if that is all there is. What a sad thing it is that we are so spiritually blind. We feel good like we had a part in helping them because we see a physical transaction of goods. This puts the feeling of power in our hands. This makes us rob God of His credit. What a shame.
We are sent to "Preach Christ to the nations, and to only use words if we have to." So while it looks like we are here to fix wheelchairs and help families get enough food, we were really sent to share the gospel with them through actions of love.
April 5, 2015
Here are a few pictures of the alfombras laid out for processions during Holy week. [Ooops, all my photos were deleted] These are intricate patterns made of colored sawdust, or pine needles, or vegetables. They can include candles,or animals, and can be massive or quite small. Alfombras and processions are mostly performed by the strongly catholic peoples here. Processions show pieces of biblical stories, and during holy week these correspond with the story of Christ's crucifixion. What a beautiful thing it is to see this form of worship.
April 7, 2015
God is good.
April 11, 2015
This week has involved a lot of time on the road. I traveled with the rural village ministry team to our two farthest villages. At least, farthest for now as we have heard about some great needs in areas even more distant. What this has meant for me is time away from our group home and the kids I adore, but being blessed by visiting dozens of families and sharing God's love. I love this!
This week has involved a lot of time on the road. I traveled with the rural village ministry team to our two farthest villages. At least, farthest for now as we have heard about some great needs in areas even more distant. What this has meant for me is time away from our group home and the kids I adore, but being blessed by visiting dozens of families and sharing God's love. I love this!
But this week I saw more of the hard side. Just under two months ago, a family we visit and love lost their daughter from complications ultimately related to her special needs. This was heartbreaking although I understand that God has brought this daughter home to where she will no longer suffer. I thought this was going to be the hardest part about serving in a ministry like this. I was wrong.
On our trip to San Pablo, one family asked us not to come anymore. This was quite a surprise, and was both frustrating and very sad. As a result of their decision, their daughter will no longer be receiving the formula she needs. Through the formula, this 12 year old child has gained a lot of weight from her original 12 lbs. Without it, she will not be able to maintain all the progress she has made in two years.
During this visit as I listened to words be translated from English to Spanish, then to Tz'utujil, then back to Spanish, and finally into English again. The entire time I found myself praying and praying yet again for God to work through the words spoken to resolve this situation in a way that we can continue bringing the formula for Marta. As time drew on, I began to plead with God, laying out my prayer as a petition stating all the reasons why it would glorify God and help Marta if He were to allow us to continue bringing the formula. But God said no. I do not understand because in all my logic in all my reasoning, it seems good both for the benefit of Marta, and for the glory of God that her family and their neighbors could see His hand continuing to provide for Marta. I still do not understand. But I know that God is good. I know that He must have some purpose in this though I cannot see it. "For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God". 1 Corinthians 3:19. I admit that even knowing this, it is hard to look past what I see as a very sad situation and trust that God really knows what He's doing here. I have been thinking about this situation a lot over the past few days and it is hard to know what to pray about it.
Please be praying for Marta, that God continue to fulfil His plan for her. Pray also for her family, that they might come to know Him. Also please pray for us because, even though our translator, who is a native from this town, assures us that we did not act incorrectly, it sure feels like we personally have let Marta down.
On our way home from San Pablo, we began to have vehicle trouble. The ministries truck was already in the shop, so we had taken our other vehicle with four wheel drive because I don't think any other type of vehicle could make it down the mountain to San Pablo (I could be wrong here because Guatemalan drivers are a mixture of brave and crazy so I'd believe almost anything). Roads here are death on vehicles! Between the potholes a foot deep and the inclines, it's a wonder anything drives. The transmission began to give us trouble. We were able to make it into chimaltenango, a city 45 minutes or so from home, when the clutch just hid the floor with no results. We were caught in stop and go traffic in a busy city for nearly a mile and a half of forcing into first gear, and trying to keep rolling as long as possible before stalling again, only to try restarting the engine and trying again. But praise God we made it home.
This meant that now we had two vehicles in the shop, so we had to borrow Mr. Beyer's truck for Friday's trip down to Sipacate and La Gomora. I admit that after two days on the road already, and the second day having a number of frustrating moments and one heart breaking visit, I was not feeling refreshed before leaving for this all day trip. But God is so good and he showed me that His mercies are new each morning. Along with a multitude of families and children who are truly beautiful, each of the children we visited were in good health, and good spirits.
The drive home from Sipcate and La Gomora
During this visit, we went to visit a new family, a young boy who now has a sponsor. We drove up and down dirt roads, looking at tin walled house after crumbling cinderblock house until we started just asking neighbors if anyone knew of a little boy with special needs named Selvin. Finally we found a neighbor who knew of a boy with special needs, but when we knocked on that door, the woman who answered said that nobody by that name lived here.
But her son does have special needs. So we were introduced to 12 year old Gelson (my Spanish is still pretty terrible so this may be grossly misspelled). His family is quite poor and he has significant cerebral palsy. when we met him, he was in a makeshift walker because his wheelchair was both too small and very worn.
While Gerardo and Manuel were collecting some information about him, and taking measurements for a proper fitting wheelchair, I met his younger brother. He played the shy hide and seek which is common to toddlers, until he finally came out and started drawing with me in the dirt. Smiley faces, stick men and hearts decorated the floor proving that dirt floors are s source of endless amusement. I loved playing with my little friend in the dirt.
While Gerardo and Manuel were collecting some information about him, and taking measurements for a proper fitting wheelchair, I met his younger brother. He played the shy hide and seek which is common to toddlers, until he finally came out and started drawing with me in the dirt. Smiley faces, stick men and hearts decorated the floor proving that dirt floors are s source of endless amusement. I loved playing with my little friend in the dirt.
After we left their house, we resumed our search for Selvin's house and found it almost immediately. We had literally driven right past it three times but God had kept our eyes from recognising it. If we had not been so lost that we asked all the neighbors we could find, we would never have found Gelson. God lets us get so unbelievably lost that we cannot find our way on our own. Because only then do we find where He was leading us.
I am continually astonished by what God teaches me, and how many times he must teach me the same lesson. I praise God for his provision, and I thank Him for putting up with the slow ones like me.
Thank you for your prayers, we all sure need them.
~Katie~
--after His heart--
