My little friend...

I would like to introduce you to one of our sponsor children, his name is Isaias. He is 11 years old and has 4 other siblings. He has 2 older brothers, a younger brother and sister. His younger brother attends school with him at the AMG's Arca de Noah school in Oratorio. He lives in an house made out of adobe bricks, with windows that are open to anything and everything to enter and leave as it pleases. The door has no lock, the house has 3 rooms, 1 is the Kitchen and the other two are bedrooms for the family. He has no father. A very typical situation is Dad leaves to provide for his family because of lack of work in the area, usually with good intentions, but after awhile the family is abandoned and left fatherless. His older brother is 22 and is working hard to provide for the family. He is also building a new home for the family because the house they are living in is on rented land. He was able to save up to put a deposit on a piece of land. It is a treacherous walk to the location of the new house. Down small narrow paths, down the bank of a stream and up the bank on the other side climbing over large roots and rocks. I am careful with my footing, but the kids run up and down quicker than I could on a set of stairs. Using their speed as a propellant to launch themselves to the next step they have already planned out their route in their mind! We walked to the new location to see a new house built of recycled metal roofing attached with whatever nails could be found with maybe a few new ones thrown in here and there. The posts for the 4 corners are trees that he has cut down and set into the ground, and a door post made the same way. The metal is just nailed into the logs, and there is no way to keep the bugs, insects , rats and mice out of the house. The pride of ownership with the new house was evident, and they are working hard to be able to move into this new house in January when they finish paying off the land. The house is deep in the woods on a hill, with a stream cutting it’s way around the earth around the house to make a sort of moat around the front and sides. It is all I can do not to cry about the living conditions. This is the way of life for them, they know no difference. Their new house will stand up to the earthquakes better, and for that they are very excited. Seeing as we have experienced 6 or more this past week alone! But will it stand up to the things that climb in and out their windows? They have no protection. I watch the mother as she looks at us with very little joy or hope. Poverty stricken people, with little ability or means of changing their situation.
When looking at Christs time on earth we see a model of service that focused on the only thing that will permanently help which is knowing Christ as your savior, but He never ignored the physical needs of the people as well. This is the ministry of AMG. Reaching people where they are at with the love of Christ both spiritually and physically. Isaias is taught the Bible and is learning the truths of God in school everyday. I may not be able to be with Isaias and his family all the time. I am however, assured in knowing that at his school he is learning very valuable truths about his life and about the life of Jesus. And in turn he can teach others about Jesus' love for him. What a powerful tool that is!
The first time I met Isaias he was 9, and very scared of me. He had driven in a car for more that 2 hours to meet his sponsors. He thought we were going to take him away with us. We gave him a bag with some things for the family, and some small gifts and showered him with hugs, but that just made him for afraid of us. We couldn’t communicate with him without a translator, and I think that may have added to his apprehension of us! The second time we saw him was a little easier for him, he smiled and actually hugged us back. We were able to communicate with him, what a joy and blessing that was for us. All of the kids were able to meet him and now they know who he is as well. They played a little “futbol” or soccer and that made his smile even bigger! And now when he sees us, his face lights up, he hugs us without us going to him first and we are able to really communicate with him and find out more about him and his family. Can you even begin to imagine the joy that is in my heart because we have him in our lives?
This family is only one of many that live like this. Unfortunately there are people who live close to Isaias that will never have this opportunity to attend school, be educated, be able to provide for their family's because they don’t have a sponsor to make a difference in their life. What would it take to sponsor a child and make a difference in their life? You can find out about that right here at AMG I know he says we have been a blessing in his life, but he has bless us far more.

Looking Up

As we were driving to school a few weeks ago, I was struggling with a few things. I was also overwhelmed at the daunting thought of what was ahead of me that day. I was struggling with being in Guatemala when friends and family at home were having children. And, also loved ones at home were dying. I was overwhelmed with the daunting thought of all that needed to be done that day: language school, cleaning, cooking, and shopping. All stuff in a normal day but we are in the midst of a language barrier here. I was praying that I would have a better outlook on the day, and that I would not be thinking of things at home, but rather of things here in Guatemala. I was praying that I would see outside of my world, and see the bigger picture. Not many of you reading this have actually been to Guatemala but some of you have, pictures do it no justice. Let me tell you what happened when I opened my eyes. We were coming off a mountain into the city where we go everyday for language, and as we rounded the corner right in front of me was the most spectacular view of a volcano. It was just purely magnificent! And at that moment, I thought to myself, I need to keep looking up! I see this beautiful volcano everyday and many others like it. I see the natural beauty all around me every day here in Guatemala. You need to look up to see the mountains and the volcanoes. When you look down you see the trash and the filth.
Where am I going with this? When we look at the little things the “trash” that is around us every day we can (I can) get so overwhelmed that I forget what needs to be done. And I forget the purpose of why I am doing things. Is it still hard to be away from home and not grieving with friends YES! Is it still hard being away from home and not rejoicing with friends YES! Is it hard being 3000 miles from family as my Father in Law walked into the arms of Jesus? YES!! BUT, we have the hope and promise that we will one day be together again. We are here in Guatemala serving our loving sovereign Lord. We have a hope! We need to share that hope with a lost and dying world. We need to focus on Jesus and not on the “trash” that is lying in our path. We need to focus on the people around us and their souls, not the daunting daily tasks, don’t worry I still clean my house and make meals for them. But we need to look at opportunities that God places in our lives. Who do I talk to in the grocery store? Who do we talk with when our washing machine is being fixed? Who do we talk to at the market when we buy our fruits and vegetables? These are people that need to hear of the love of the Savior that came just for them. And when we are focusing on looking up I know I can definitely see a difference in how I look at the day ahead of me.
Are you looking up?

Motorcycles deliver what??

We are just starting our second month here in Guatemala. We are having fun learning new things everyday. The learning starts the second we walk out the door until we all drop back in bed at night.

Here are just a few things that we have had to learn.

Well, the language obviously! School is going great for both Phil and I. After 3 weeks, I decided to switch teachers. (which is common to do until you get the right teacher) This week has been so much better by far. A much more involved teacher who "shows" things instead of "reads" things.

Pray expectantly! As Phil prayed about making contacts last Saturday he heard a whistle outside of our gate. Thinking it was someone walking up the road to sell coffee, he opened the gate. Well, the guy sharpens tools, Phil ran to get his new machete which had no edge on it yet and let they guy do his thing. While he was working Phil shared a cup of coffee with him. He had just prayed that the Lord would bring someone to us to start making friendships with, and he met someone. Along the pray expectantly lines, we had a couple bags disappear from the house before we moved in there we a few things that were important to us like Claire's juicer (YES, she has her own juicer) we were sad that it was gone and were trying to figure out a way to purchase a new one they aren't cheap you know! Well, I prayed on Saturday morning about finding a new one. Fast forward a few hours and I went to Mega Paca with a friend (it is a glorified Goodwill for those of you who are wondering) we were talking about praying specifically for something when I turned the corner into the domestics and what did I find? A working juicer!! (it's a little banged up and used but hey, we can juice again).

Driving is another thing that we need to learn. Yes, relearn how to drive. These people drive so fast, they can whip in and out of lanes in between cars...but, merging is totally off their radar. But, we are learning. The first time I drove my legs were like rubber when I got out of the car. BUT, I did it! I actually need to do it a little more, but an still a bit too timid to be trying it.

Trusting people we don't know. In the states we would NEVER just hand out house keys to someone we don't know and say, see you in a few hours. That is just what we have to do with our empleada. Or even letting her open the doors for the workers to put the remote on the gate (today). We have many example of that from last month but, I won't bore you with those stories.

Windows, for some reason you can see right in all the windows here. Someone mentioned that it could be because they are not double pained I think that this could be the reasoning behind it. So, when someone rings the bell and you go to peek out the window to see who it is, they will see the smallest motion and know that someone is home and won't leave until you answer the door. (yes, I know this from experience)! so, we need to hang up double curtains in the windows for privacy.

Armed guards are everywhere. You actually look for them, if you pull into a store and one isn't there you probably should leave. hmmm, what would we do in the states if we were to go into a store and there was a guy standing with a machine gun ready to roll? probably leave really quick!!

Propane tanks are delivered on a motorcycle! 100 lb tanks strapped on the back of a motorcycle. I wish we had gotten a picture of it yesterday when our gas was delivered. Maybe next time!

These are just a few of the things that we have learned this month. So many more things to learn and we are excited to learn them.
We are so thankful for God's watch and care for us, and see Him at work in so many ways around us. It is so amazing to take ourselves out of the picture and see Him at work. In so many ways that we would never give credit for when we are "doing it ourselves".
Thank you for your continued prayer and support. Please let us know what we can be praying for in your lives.