I feel like I have been out of touch for awhile. So much to catch up on that I feel my mind is spinning. We welcomed our friend Kait last Monday. Her visit is very timely. Leading up to her arrival, I was feeling really down and missing family and friends back home. With the holiday season and family gatherings, I felt a little homesick. Having a familiar face and someone to share our life with here has been really encouraging and a breath of fresh air.
We carried out a tradition we started last year with the help of Kait. Last night we prepared a dinner for the nuns of Casa Hogar. Going to buy all the supplies was a chore in itself. It's not like going to the Super Store and picking up everything at once. The nuns giggled with delight as the boys escorted them to their seat. It was so awesome serving them as they chatted over a candle lit dinner. We shared with them after how we respect what they do and how we appreciate the life they are dedicating to serving the girls.
Kait and I spent an afternoon with the nuns making angels and snowflakes and decorated the cafeteria. It always amazes me how the simple things can bring so much joy.
It's not all work and no play when we have special visitors. Along with other missionary friends, we went to "Pino Dulce" (means Sweet Pines) for a hike through the mountains and picnic lunch. We hoped the fog would clear so we could experience the view while we zip-lined. We literally were up among the clouds. It was AWESOME!!!!!! I felt silly that I was more afraid than my six year old daughter. God has given her a free spirit and one of no fear.
On our way home we stopped in at a local friend who lives with his entire family up in the mountains. They generously invited us into their home that consisted of not much more than a few plastic stools and a table. In the corner stood a small plastic christmas tree. It was so cute how proud of it they were after they plugged it in. That experience was hard for me. I looked around and tried not to look utterly shocked at the way people live. Dirt floors, big open gaps near the roof, mud and brick walls, chickens running in and out......With the nights being especially cold this time of year, I couldn't imagine how they keep warm. This christmas season has been a very unique experience. I know we talk a lot about having too much and cutting back on spending, but how much changes for us. For Matt and I, this has become a reality this year. Trust me, I often think back on what I would be doing back home now. Probably would have filled my freezer with so many baked goods, I wouldn't know what to do with. My house would have been all decked out for christmas, and I would have joined the commercial rat race of finding all those gifts. If you ask me if I am missing out on things, I would have to say absolutely not. I am finding joy in the little ( yet very big things for us) Going back to Emmanuel's family, I would have to say the same. They have each other. Nothing fancy....just simple. Really if we reflect on how Christ entered this world, it was simple. Jesus' whole ministry was about investing in people, not things. We visited with this family that afternoon and had the privilege of spending time getting to know them. During our visit, they offered us coffee that they grow on their property, and then sent us on our way with bananas and a chicken. Here is a family who has so little yet so much to give. They wanted to bless us.
Sometimes it's hard to receive a gift like that. We were humbled and thankful. Speaking of being humbled and blessed, our paster surprised us and took us out to a ranch for lunch and later on to his farm to cut a tree down. I had mentioned how I have always wanted to cut down a christmas tree. Apparently this is a HUGE deal in Guatemala and they have laws against cutting trees down. In order to cut one down you need a special permit, which of course cost money. Last Saturday, Paster Ed and his family took us out to visit his father's farm in the mountains. It was AMAZING! We hiked out to find the perfect tree. All I have to say is that it looked a lot smaller on the side of that mountain. We came home and still had some trimming to do. Again, words could not describe my joy and thankfulness. I always have a hard time excepting gifts....I sometimes feel like I owe or need to repay the favour. God's gift to us comes with no strings attached. We didn't earn His love and nothing we can do or don't do will make Him love us less. And I guess in a way that is a gift I can pass on this christmas. The gift of Jesus' love!
