Ever since we have come to Guatemala and arrived at our hosts for the 5 and half weeks we are serving here, there has been one big obstacle in our way. In Guatemala, communities are almost like towns and each community has its own set of leadership which comes together, like a mayor and city officials. The community we are in has some of the more strict rules because of COVID. We are allowed to come and go in order to go to Chichicastenango but we have not been allowed to serve in the community. We have to stay within the walls of the community center/church that we are helping build (check out my previous blog about some of the work we have done). We have been able to invite police officers for worship, service and lunch but not interact with any of the locals. However, that all changed on Wednesday when we were able to minister to 10 local families.
Preparations started on Tuesday when we packaged the food and goods. Each family was to receive; 18 pounds of corn, 5 pounds of rice, 5 pounds of sugar and a mixture of jams, beans, seasonings, snacks, shampoo/conditioner and other assorted items. Together we weighed out the bulk items and tried to make the bags look nice.
Come Wednesday, 8 of the families arrived shortly after 10 am. It was a mixture of all ages and most were in their nice clothes, the women here have a traditional outfit, with specific colors that pertain to this region, that never gets old to look at. Typically a blouse can take 6-12 months to hand stitch and weave. They are very beautiful. There was one older gentleman in particular who would stand up to speak every now and then, thanking us or blessing us. We learned later that these were the poorest of the poor within the community and had been nominated by the community leaders for this.
Our worship team Sarah, Jacken and Kevin helped lead 2 songs in Spanish and afterwards Jacken shared a part of his testimony and a message. 90% of the population here speaks a dialect so the whole time, we had a dialect translator. Her name is Marleny and she is a really sweet christian who works with Pastor Juan a lot. Pastor Juan prayed several times, the community leaders got to speak and we gave out snacks before giving the families their food and wrapping up. Between Jacken’s powerful message and Pastor Juan’s prayers and leadership, you could tangibly see the holy spirit moving.
2 families were not able to make the walk to the community center so for the first time, some of us got to leave to bring them the food. I quickly jumped at the chance, eager to serve these families and to prayer walk the community for the first time. With the community leaders showing the way, we left the center. The dirt road turned into a paved road, then a dirt soccer field, then back on the road. After going up a hill, we went off the road onto a dirt path that went alongside a hill and then we walked straight down for 7-10 minutes.
Towards the bottom of the hill we got to the first family. The matriarch of the family has been losing her hearing, and her daughter and Pastor Juan had to shout in order for her to hear us. We got to give her family the food as well as pray over them. Next we went a couple homes down to the next family. We got to meet the patriarch of that family and learned that a couple years ago he lost his ability to speak. The second Pastor Juan started praying over him, he started crying and all of us were moved. The community leaders joined us in prayer for him and his family. When we went to leave heading back to the community center, the first family flagged us down because they wanted to serve us a drink. We received a cup of fanta and a bread roll. Using a translator, I started talking to Marleny, since she didn’t speak English and I don’t speak Spanish. In the corner of the space we were in, there was a woman working on one of those blouses I mentioned earlier and she let us take pictures of her and her work. Again, so so beautiful and crazy to think of how much time and work goes into one piece of clothing.
After making our way back up to the main road, we said goodbye to the community leaders and went back to the center. As we were sitting down, telling the rest of the team what had happened, Pastor Juan came and sat down with us. We asked him if the leaders had said anything or what they thought of the day. He told us that they had been very appreciative and were blown away by our generosity. He also gave us the news that because of today, they have given us the green light to do more within the community!! This is HUGE news since this has been our prayer since day 1. We will be allowed to give out more food and to go visit families to pray over them in small groups. On my last blog I shared this as a prayer request and to see how that it has already been answered is amazing. I am so excited for what is to come for us here.
Please continue to join us in prayer for our community. That miracles will happen and that needs will be met. That the name of Jesus Christ will become known and the truth of the gospel. I haven been thinking about the families we got to visit and a theme was that they were elderly. They literally can’t leave their homes because of the terrain and rely on their children and grandchildren for help. Between their thank you’s, giving us drinks and tears; it is so obvious how much this meant to them. Despite language barriers, to have been a part of bringing encouragement, love, and Jesus meant the world to me. I am so excited for what is to come. Love y’all.
I am currently $1,401 from my next fundraising goal which will allow me to stay on the mission field through May.
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Thanks!
