Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Miracles in Plain Sight

Bananas starting to emerge in our garden.
      I personally struggle in my faith walk as to why it seems all so magical in the bible. Why is it that the miracles Jesus performed and the amazing actions of God in the Old Testament are things I have never witnessed in my life?  Frustrations mount when I hold these expectations for God to answer my prayers in an instant, or desire to see the change through our work at Casa Hogar but things stay the same.  However, we could be, and more often than not are missing something that God wants us to see.
     When I was looking at our banana trees this morning it is amazing to witness the miracle of the provision of food starting to emerge from the central stalk.  My science mind boggles at the idea of how God designed a plant to absorb carbon dioxide, sunlight, water, and minerals from the soil to construct a beautiful shade baring plant that in turn provides food.  The complexity of the process is miraculous in itself but can often be ignored due to its common place in our life.
10 000+ bottles = miracle
     Recently a former student of mine carried out a task that surprised all of us in the community that knows him.  Not being the strongest in academics I think most of us would cast him off as being more of a follower under the guidance of someone with a stronger academic skill set.  However, he managed to prove that heart, belief, and faith are more powerful than the ability to get high marks.  His efforts and determination managed to collect enough beer and wine bottles to raise over $1000.  I can't imagine being a pre-teen and pulling off this through my own drives and to be selfless to give away that much money.  To miss the idea that he and many other stories like his of 'underdogs' coming through to prove that they are made more unique with skills that have been gifted to them would be denying the thought that miracles happen.


    Even thinking back to our first trip to Guatemala, my wife and I had debated for years about adopting.  I was a firm no, being happy with our three kids.  What I didn't realize is that when I was thirteen years old the first of my children was being born thousands of kilometres away and being cultivated to fit into my heart.  Francisca and her three sisters definitely are a part of our family and to experience a deep change in my heart when we met these girls is miraculous.
A complete family photo.
     What I firmly believe is that God requires us to see Him in all that we do and to be aware of the miracles that surround us.  How grand the miracle is more of a perception.  God is working and if we fail to see that we miss our opportunity to see God.

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

What's not to like?







Gettting to know people.

Small farm in the yard.
It is funny for us when we say that we are living in Guatemala and how many people back home wince  at the idea of it.  However, there is so much that is awesome down here that it seems to me that we are getting more of the benefit of living here than what people can imagine.

What I like about living in Guatemala is that:
Crowding around a small TV
 to watch the World Cup
-you can buy items directly from the truck and cut out the middle man
-the climate is permanently spring and summer
-a 500mL bottle of name brand pop is 65 cents and no name is 40 cents at the corner store
-they deliver water bottles and propane tanks to your door and take away the empties
-you can have a small farm in your backyard in the city
-despite how small the prisons are you are able to interact with people walking by in the street to keep a sense of what is going on in the world and socialize with people outside of the prison walls
-car insurance is only $140 a year
-cell phones are cheaper and more reliable than a landline
-taking a taxi across town is only 32 cents
Campfire in the driveway,
followed by fireworks.
-fresh fruit and vegetables are always in season and you can load up for the week for your family for about $13
-people value the relationship more than the business
-even though people are poor they band together to try and help one another out of their poverty
-resourcefulness carries you far and little is wasted
-biological processes and fluids within animals are not completely gross but a part of life and not feared and pointed and gawked at strangely
-people understand that personal space is not necessary in the short run while trying to travel
-going to the gas station means that they will check your tire pressure and wash your windows as well
-the market is every day of the week and loaded with new items every visit
Clowning around.
-there is a corner store at every corner (and in between too) where you can get all of your basics
-bakeries are all over the place and give a pleasant odour to the air
-rent for a beautiful four bedroom home is $300 a month
-people that lived in the United States want to speak English with you
-you can walk up to someone's house and buy fresh hot tortillas for 4 cents each
-when you go to leave people stop what they are doing and make sure they give a hug and/or kiss followed by a blessing
-the expectation for an house party or get together is very casual and everyone in attendance contributes  with food and bringing their own seat
Getting ready to do traditional dance.
-when someone passes away they close off the street to let the family and friends mourn in silence
-your car horn is a communication device in the positive regard to show gratitude or that you are passing by
-kids go to school in uniform
-a section of the police department only monitors the highways not to only enforce traffic laws but more to serve those citizens that break down at the side of the road to keep all drivers safe
-they have fireworks to celebrate every occasion and it doesn't matter what time of the day it is
-there is no hot water tank but heated on demand with little waste heat
-entertainment is found in being with people and seeing their talents
Taxi or horse?
The horse might get you
there in these roads.

and most of all.

I like Guatemala because it gives our family the opportunity to do His work through the support of our network of friends back in Canada and the United States for the benefit of the the girls that we love so dearly.



Getting tortillas from the neighbours.











Friday, June 15, 2012

missionary..what does that mean to you?


Every now and then, I read a really inspirational book, watch a revolutionary film, listen to a innovative speaker (on TED talks) or listen to a spiritually rich message.  I feel overwhelmed with concepts; the power that words can hold.  It can grip us and stir up emotions. Sometimes they are feelings of hope joy, love; sometimes anger, despair and sadness. I often come away feeling fired up to see change, and wanting to make a difference.  But how often do those thoughts last only moments before we either feel overwhelmed and unaware of where to start, or just too busy to really care.  I find I'm "pinching" myself these days.  I have been called to an exceptional ride to say the least.  I have felt honoured and humbled by this role of a missionary.  I would never have dreamt this in a million years.  To hear someone refer to me as a missionary sounds absurd.  My proud momma introduced me as her daughter the missionary to everyone on the street last week while I was in town visiting.  I felt a little embarrassed, not at the joy and excitement that poured out of my mothers conversations, but more out of  a sense of inadequacy.
I intended on sitting down before my trip back home to write and catch up.  Unfortunately, time got away on me and I before I knew it, I was on a plane back to Canada.  During the last couple weeks away, I feel like I have had some time to process things and again see the work of our great and awesome God.  Things I want to share with you.  The time spent back home was a time of filling up,  being loved and cared for by family and friends.  I learned again some things about myself from being here in Guatemala.  Things I want to continue and pursue when I do go back.  I often get asked, "What is it that you have learned the most?"  For me this is a loaded question.  I have learned a lot to say the least. I have learned how people come together and care, I have learned that a 2pm meeting is more like a 3pm start, I have learned that there are many layers to helping and it isn't as simple as one may think, I have learned to get over my fear of cockroaches and lice, I have learned that I actually love writing, I have learned that I was living WAY to selfishly in Canada, and most of all I have learned that God wants us to be in relationship with Him and when we are willing, He wants to show us great and mighty things.  I can't help but get a little emotional as I am sitting here blogging away.  The idea of even venturing out on this path seemed daunting a year and a half ago.  It seemed scary and impossible.  I remember the beginning days here and how dark they felt.  We were, and still are trying to find our way in ministry.  
I teach a bible class to a group of teenage girls once a week.  I handed out spanish new testament bibles and a work book.  The very first class I asked the girls if they had ever owned a bible. No hands went up. I had a hunch what the answer would be to my second question.  "Do you ever read the bible?"  Again no hands went up.  I explained to them that the Word is like food to our bodies.  If we want to grow, we need to study.    In class yesterday, one of the questions talked about opposition we face when we tell non christians about Christ.  I explained that when we share  God's Word with others we are planting seeds in the hearts of those who will hear.  Sometimes we may never see that seed grow, mature and bare fruit but our job in planting that seed is crucial.  The rest is up to God.  It is His work He does in us and through us.  Nothing is by accident.  Last night, God affirmed this in the book I am reading, "Follow me to Freedom".  (It's a book co-written by John Perkins and Shane Claiborne)  I need to share this with you.  John explains, " When God blesses, the blessing is not stagnant: it moves and multiplies.  The idea is to plant a seed, then water it and grow it-and then give it to the next generation.  The blessing is not for one person (it is not just for you or me alone).  Rather, it was given to Abraham and is now given to us so that we might be a blessing to others. That's the real purpose of ministry."  I dug around in the book of Genesis for a bit this morning.  Just thinking about the story of Abraham and the promises God spoke of.  Promises of something better, something more.....blessings.   How often do we hold on to things so tightly and don't want to let go.  What are you willing to forego, deny or give up to experience the promises and blessings God has for your life? 
Coming back to the idea of a missionary.  We know there are people that donate items, finances, support, and prayer for different ministries.  But did you know, when you plant seeds and share God and His word with people, (even in your own community) you ARE a missionary?  God spoke these words to me a couple years ago. I keep them tucked away and find myself repeating them more often than not.  He said, Mandy, do the best you can, with what you have. And so I want to be the best that God intended for me to be.