Friends in Paquiacah

Margarita had her baby and I missed it by a mere 6 hours. Start to finish, she delivered in 90 minutes, how is that for second baby? She has become very special in my life. Her family received a newly built home by St Johns Epicospal Church in McCallen Tx. Her husband gave his life to the Lord after years of drinking and abusing her and their first child. As a gift for our involvement with the house project they brought us a young rooster. He is now awaiting the soup pot in our freezer. Mayans are very appreciative and kind people. Erv and I have really learned to love them and their hungry hearts for more of God. They have a form of religion but deny the power thereof. Margarita and husband Miguel work hard to eat and provide for their family. Up to her delivery she was walking around with her machete bringing in wood for the stove for cooking. She insisted to teach me how to cook "Guiscoy flowers" which are squash flowers. The Mayans are carriers of peace. Indigenous people have suffered since the Spanish Conquest and are still mistreated and discriminated against. It is true that at times they have a mob mentality but wouldn't you if the law never protects you or watch over your own? They amazed me at their perseverance and resilience against their odds. This is their land, their inheritance and their portion. We are here with them to love them as God does and to touch their lives in His behalf.

Imprints...

I am really never lost for words. Those that understand that, are like me. Our minds are constantly full of words, thoughts and ideas. I should be a pro at this blog but in reality it is the learning my way around that slows me down. Technology has left me behind a long time ago. We are home in Michigan taking a time off Missions to visit with our children and grandchildren. Such joy to see them in person and receive those hugs and kisses that melt our hearts! We are bonding with our youngest ones as they are too little to remember us regularly. It is very important that they know who we are, so they can understand themselves better when they grow up..(joke) After this cold spell in May here in Michigan I've decided to scratch that month of May out of our visiting schedule. At that pace we are limiting ourselves to a couple of possible months a year...(funny, isn't it).
Many friends have contacted me in hopes to have a visit and a chat in person. How much I love walking downtown, go to the grocery store, to a restaurant or to a gas station and have people say how are you and how is it going in Guatemala! Only in a small town USA you experience such warm and homey love. I must admit, I miss Guatemala and cannot wait to head up those Highlands in June. My puppies await me, Vicenta and her family, the warm people at the clinica and my fellow missionaries. This week the news gave some disturbing information about a "massacre" in Peten, 10-12 hours away. How disturbing to know that the Mexican Drug Cartel continues to want to take over Guatemala so they can freely traffic their drugs to the USA. The government has ssized the area but they were not able to stop the brutal murder of dozens of innocent farmers. First the Civil War and now more Drug Wars...Lord, when will it end? When will these people have real peace and left to survive day by day? So what can I do? I pray. I shared with others so they can pray. I do my part while I am there and when I am here. I love my neighbor like myself (well, not always succesful but I should try). I teach these concepts to those around me. So see, even when we are at this "home" we long for the other. That is as an "imprint" that makes us want to be there and partake on their sadness and suffering. It is like watching Canadian Geese with newly hatched gooselings that know exactly who they belong to. We are gathering several things to take back. Erv is bringing more tools. I am bringing things the traditional birth attendants (rural midwives) need to be equipped. I have a group of 50 plus eager ladies wanting to learn how to save lives and keep them healthy. My guess is that there will be 100 before the year ends. In the meanwhile, we will go and hug grandbabies, squeeze them a lot and try to "imprint" their smell and little faces in our hearts and minds for the months to come...

After a year...

I've always been some sort of organizer. Since the elementary days of organizing events to organizing my head so I can get multiple tasks done. Today, I hardly do that. Burned out perhaps, too many years planning lesson plans for multiple level children, planning meals for my family, planning Sunday School, planning church activities, planning these moves, don't know but I can't live without it. After a year here in Guatemala, we've moved 3 times, gotten 2 dogs, an apartment full of "stuff", more school scheduled and trying to narrow our scope of ministry. I would like to say that our highlights have been saving lives and bringing people to Jesus but in reality it has been adapting and searching for our "niche". Those that know us, know what we are good at. Those that are getting to know us give us words of encouragement and gratitude for our service to those we come in contact. Deep in my heart I know what my purpose is...it is not what I am good at or what I am known for. My purpose is to please my Father, enjoying His Company in my day to day walk, and be good to my fellow men. There are things I want to do for example, I want to get to know my neighborhood and perhaps show Jesus in being a good neighbor. My hope is to teach the Mayan Women about health, birth and God. In return I hope to learn from them resilience, patience and endurance among many other qualities they have. I must focus and organize myself, my house, my time and my priorities to accomplish those things I desire to do and those things that pleases my Father in Heaven...hope to continue bloggin..