Global Outreach Website

Jul 21

OK, so we're not really "home" but it is certainly beginning to feel like home. The people of Guatemala are so warm and accepting. The whole team has commented on how great it is to be greeted with a hug and kiss from those we have only just met. It was late when we arrived "home" last night (10:00ish) and the computer was down so we didn't get a chance to share about our three days sleeping out. ~

What an amazing reception we received in each village!! The people were so happy to see us. The first church we arrived at after a 6.5 hr drive on Monday gave us the opportunity to meet so many people. The needs of the people ran the gammet from simple headaches to demon possession. It is a good thing Hermann prepared us with 2 hours of devotionals that morning. We certainly needed that time with God to prepare ourselves for what lay ahead. God was faithful and carried us through our inadequacies and we were able to pray with and share Jesus with one and all. As we worked through the evening there was a group of girls (around 12 yrs old) that just LOVED our three blond headed boys. They are quite the novelty here. They spent most of the evening trying to get them to come to the window to talk to them. The boys turned beet red at all the attention. :)

We had the luxury of staying in a ministry center in San Pablo that offered indoor toilets and semi-indoor showers. This I am told is NOT the norm when sleeping out. Again, God showed us His favor. When I say that I mean...no bugs. You think I joke. Nope. So here we spent our first night out all sleeping in what amounted to a porch, yet safe and secure behind the gated walls of the ministry center.

Morning devotions with Hector, Mario and Geovani were so wonderful. These times fortified us, drew us together as a team wiht the doctors, translators and each other. Without these times of sharing in worship and God's word there is no way that we could have seen the miracles of healing and people coming to Christ that we each saw.

Tuesday was a day filled with rain, patients, heat, rain (yes, I know I already said that but it rained A LOT!) and hope. The hope of Christ that the people needed so badly. To look into the eyes of these that came for a doctor and met with the Great Physician was something marvelous to behold. To see pain, fear and hopelessness replaced with joy, light and the hope of salvation is, in a word humbling.

Wednesday was a quick clinic day (we only saw 60 people) since we had the long ride "home" but we still managed to meet and serve many. The church there in the village hosted our breakfast and dinner and were just so welcoming and greatful that we would come to meet with them. One personal miracle I witnessed was when a man sat in my counseling station and I asked him if he had ever heard of Jesus. The answers I had recieved up to this time were,"yes, yes". This man had not. I was amazed that I got to be the one to introduce him. How humbling! Was I prepared for that? Absolutely! I asked if I could tell him the story about Jesus and he said yes. As I walked through the Evangicube he sat quietly and listened. When I finished I asked if he had ever heard that story before. "No", was his reply. Do you believe what I have told you? "Yes" was his quiet answer. Would you like for this Jesus I have told you about to live in your hear? With tears in his eyes he nodded his head. Together with one of our ever present, ever faithful translators we prayed the sinner's prayer. As he wiped tears from his eyes I then asked if I could pray for his healing. He had been working and fell from a tree and hit his head. His head had been causing him pain ever since (about a year now) and he was unable to work because he would often fall down due to the injury. I prayed, Maryann translated and he wept. When we were done praying I asked how his head was feeling. "Better", was his simple answer. In the space of a few moments, a soul was added to the kingdom and a witness to God's power was born. Amazing!!!

Some of the most beautiful people God has made live in Gautemala and they came to our clinic today. Most of the people with whom I prayed today were Christians. Not in the nominal sense of the word but truly loved God with all their hearts. When asked if they believed that God would heal them when we prayed I would get a resounding, "Yes!". It was another day filled with God's presence and power. Truly life changing and faith affirming.

Be sure to search for Tracy Baird's name and read her blog too. I'm sure she has just as many stories to share as I and has great perspectives that were different than mine. She has been such a great leader. Leading, rather than pushing, guiding and defering to our preferences when she could. She also got perspectives from the rest of the team that I have not included in this blog.

Tomorrow is market day. While I am looking forward to it, at the same time I know that it will be the final time we get to spend with our wonderful Guatemalan family. Our translators and the doctors have taken us into their arms and loved and served us with such passion and humility. Always preferring us to themselves and truly representing the God whom they serve. We have been SO blessed by them.

More tomorrow if technology cooperates with us. :)

Lori