Author: Vona Wilson

On my grandparents farm in Western Kentucky there is a modest farm house where we gather for stories, food and encouragement.  In the earlier days, there was a back room distinctly named “the girls room”.  About 2 hours after arrival a whole pack of people would be “missing” from the living room and that was a sure sign that there was a meeting in “the girls room”.    

Last night I was taken right back to that memory as I sat up late telling stories, laughing, shedding a few tears and being overwhelmed by the friendships formed over the past 8 months.  Irene has known my church for many years, but we have only truly discovered one another on our own. She and her sister, Lucia, have become my “Guatemalan sisters”.

 Like my Pincho (my sister, Liz) and I, there was once a brother in the trio of children in their family; we share a similar grief and we share a similar joy.  God brings people into our lives with such grace.  I hope every family has a spot for telling stories and sharing life. I pray every person is open to the people God brings so carefully and beautifully into their life.  

It started several weeks before Christmas…and it continues.  Be aware to follow…and like the shepherds, the “wise men”…all those seeking, simply follow where the Spirit leads. Today we followed the star. Steve had an agenda (Steve being the lay person from my church who is here and planned the agenda) and although it was all created in a state of constant revision, when we began today we just agreed to follow it.  Following proved to be the right thing to do. 

Zunilito. It’s hard to explain but this certain Methodist church is on the priority list for the country. We simply went to see.  The “church” is not discoverable from the road.  We found it after Adolfo went on a little hike with a local stranger and then came back for us. We trailed down a little jungle path and tucked inside the huts, homes and flora, we emerged in a tiny spot of bamboo walls, beautiful art and a pulpit: the church. 

What happened next is just a move of the Spirit. A woman came and she immediately sent for the pastor. She was a lay person of this church with a spirit so strong and courageous there are not words to contain; I will not try.  What I will say is that God is so faithful and the prayers said today were beyond any of us…beyond words, beyond cultures, beyond everything we are, and totally everything God is.  

After the Spirit visited us in there, we had great conversation and sharing. It was a blessing and an encouragement to all of us.  Thankfully Adolfo and Chester were both with us to witness the good happening among us and to help as we shared.   As we walked back up the path we all were certain of what we had heard and seen. It is nice when things are clear.  We will be back to Zunilito. 

 

 

 

 

How do you package the joy of girls giggling in “pillowcase” dresses?  How do you write the gratitude in the smile of a child who knows someone truly cares about their dreams?  How do we fail to dream when God is so faithful to bring about the impossible?  We experienced all these things today (Monday) and more.  All I can feel is that the love of the church called Franklin First United Methodist is spilling all over Guatemala today. 

We learned of the pastor in a local Metodista church who recently died.  We were told his wife was stepping up to lead the church.  So we ventured into the neighborhood in hopes of making a brief visit to express sympathy and offer encouragement.  Thankfully, they welcomed us with stools to sit upon and sharing even their heavy hearts.  The wife was away – attending a conference of pastors; two of her daughters (and their children were home).  It was a little covey of 10 children – the other 5 were somewhere else today.  Oh my!  About 7 or 8 little girls flurrying around and they have no idea (nor did I know I would need them so badly!) that my backpack is full of pillowcase dresses.  

Before we left that home the girls were donned in dresses that were made with pure love.  Those dresses today were like prayer shawls being wrapped around a child of God where grief had tried to lodge but “love is stronger than death”.  I don’t know why Solomon’s song comes out …it is a spillover.  Prayers, tears, laughter and peace are here.  We share it all. 

Our visits to Halo Guatemala over the past three years now have been increasingly joyful.  It began with Ezekiel but, of course, now it is much more than one child. It is the school, the vision, and the special way God is offering light and love to these children.  Their mothers wait expectantly and full of hope as their children receive an education that will allow them to participate in the fullness of life.  We were able to see them sing their national anthem, say the pledge and engage in their classroom studies. Awesome. 

Herencia de Vida is a foundation here through which our church is sponsoring nine children.  Monday was the annual day of gathering for all of these students (about 60 students) here at the Bambu.  It was wonderful.  I have never had the opportunity to meet one on one with these students as this is an unexpected sponsoring that emerged last year.  What fun!  Discovering each one of them and meeting their moms.  Shared stories and dreams.  And lots of friends in that room full of people – from La Toma, San Antonio and even Xela.  God is so good.  

The Dickson Team (team 1) is here so we enjoyed devotions with them last night and a great supper.  Hospitality and grace. We are thankful for all. 

There was more in this day…a visit to La Toma, a palm farm drive through adventure and more than time allows for me to share. We are on “spillover”…it is a time to simply follow and trust in the Spirit’s river flow. 

 

It is good to land. There is something grounding about rising and setting with the sun….to experience it as God gives it to you.  It was cloudy flying out of Nashville but once we were above the clouds we experienced the sunrise. It was beautiful.  A clear reminder of the truth we already know….when things look difficult, scary, “cloudy”, there is always something more going on above. God is still creating, redeeming, innovating and moving.  I welcome these reminders! 

The sun was setting as we drove the way to Mazatenango. The road is better..progress. (this President is changing things) The sunset was so beautiful. I tried to capture a few pictures but over each hill and around the curves…its beauty was for my eyes, not for the camera. I tried and then I released my human “drive” and said to Adolfo: “I’m just going to enjoy it with my heart”.  And so we did. 

When I arrived in my room this piece of art was hanging on the wall. It seemed like that sunset to me…the colors, the shades…the words of the prophet Isaiah: “You will keep him in perfect peace, him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.”   Today I am going to be aware to follow wherever God leads….because I trust the one who created me. Let it be. 

 

Yesterday I was in a group conversation which ended with our Bishop blessing us by saying: “Go! Get out of here!”  Go to the neighborhood….go to the town…go to the places where darkness needs Light. Go wherever God sends us.  I hear his words, “we are a sent people”.  Yes, indeed we are “sent” people.  Wesley said it differently: “The world in my parish”.  I am helplessly that: a “sent” disciple into the neighborhood and into the world. 

This morning our church assembles to hear the Beatitudes shared from our pulpits as a theme of Love emerges.  There is an element of brokenness in all of our lives that needs to be touched by Love. That is the message and the “sending” is simple: go share that Love with your neighbor.  And I am between “here and there”, on my way to Guatemala….again. But it doesn’t feel like “leaving” …it feels like a connected “going”.  The church spreading out into the neighborhood.  How blessed I am to be able to “go”. 

Today I carry an expression of “Love” in my bag.  I have pillowcase dresses!  The Sewing Circle ladies from church have created these beautiful little dresses out of pillowcases and attached a card to each one.  I have this little feeling that I am carrying the love of our entire church in my suitcase.  Oh my….

I came to silence
to rest
listen
study
to hear
be changed
be faithful
be with You.
There is no other
place so beautiful for me.

I went south
in obedience
hesitation
Aware only
of hearing
seeing
needing
to trust You.

I am here now
to sit
at your feet
to fall
into your arms
to look deep
into your Love
and Follow your star.
Let it be.

I love my cousins.  I have more than I count and they keep arriving daily.  It is wonderful.  From my mom’s side (the Lesters) with 9 siblings, I have 29 first cousins. But that is only the beginning.  There are 21 in the next generation (maybe 1 or 2 more)!  We have all been close from the start, but that closeness is changing; it’s growing deeper.

This morning in my readings I encountered a couple of cousins in the 2nd chapter of Luke: Elizabeth and Mary.  They were both caught up in a movement of God. They both had to be AWARE enough to hear, see and discern God’s direction and then they had to be willing to FOLLOW.  Elizabeth and Mary did an awesome thing! They joined in what God was doing – completely. Both had to deal with “odd” situations:  A late pregnancy and then a child that lived on locusts and wild honey; An unplanned pregnancy and then a child that was the Son of God. Gracious! That’s a lot of courage.

My cousins and I have many amazing experiences.  But it doesn’t come with the status quo. It comes, rather, with a new awareness to follow what God is doing with us.

Our extended family was given the spiritual gift of unconditional love. It was passed on to us by our grandparents: P.E. and Myrtle Lester.  What I am enjoying so much, is the unique ways God is showing us to live that out in these days.

My Pincho (sister) and I have named this year:  Awareness to Follow (A2F).  They are words quite different from those we have received over the past few years.  I trust completely that God has prepared us for these days and for this special year of 2014. I know God uses families and I believe God is using us. What we have to share is not measured by wealth or fame. Our primary gift is Love. I believe if we give that first, all the other things we are supposed to share will come. Like Elizabeth and Mary…like my Lester cousins…like the generation that passed it all on to us….Let it Be! A2F

Advent

Like waiting for the return
Of light
The longest day
Comes first
Like waiting for the return
Of Love
After healing
Has its way
Like waiting for the return
Of peace
The despairing
Come seeking solace; release.

You inch your way
Back into light
Back into love
Back into sight
Like the sun on a winter’s day
Certain of its warmth
When the cold persists
The draft wind cannot
Prevent its shining.

Winter solstice
Your soul or mine
Welcome the darkness
For soon there will
Be time
To shine
Again.
Like the return
Of Christ.
Let all lamps be full
And burning.

I give you space for Peace today
To not have to “be” anyone but you
Strong you, weak you, sad you
Happy you, faithful you, doubtful you
Loving you, sick you, fit you
Just…you.

God formed each one of us
Before we were ever known
Our creator knew…and created.
Yes, things got messed up
along the way
Yes, we made mistakes that led, sometimes,
To terrible outbreaks
Of greed, hate and even illnesses.

Still, we are here…
And today
I give you space for Peace.
To be. You.
Be loved.
I won’t try to change you or condemn
You.  Belittle you or dishonor you.
Shame you or rearrange you.
Be loved.
Be you.
Be free.
I give you Peace.

Do you ever get knocked down by Joy? That unexpected, unplanned “something” when you are offered a grace you didn’t deserve, or a hospitality you didn’t expect or simply a conversation that you never dreamed would happen.  But it DOES happen!  And you DO receive grace when you least expect it and there ARE people in the world that offer you hospitality just because it is who they are to do it.  I am on the receiving end of such Joy too often. It seems every week. I even hesitate to write about it because if I write of one, shouldn’t I write of the 100 others? But that’s impossible so I am just going to write about a few experiences…in a foreign land.

I never knew what it was really like to be a “minority” in a place where I am the only one that looks like me, and I am the only one that doesn’t speak the language. I STILL don’t know what that is really like, but I am getting some glimpses.  And while I have a heart for other cultures and truly enjoy the learning … when you are in another country you really appreciate the moments when you happen into someone from your “home”.   Sometimes “home” is the town you grew up in, other times it is the place you live now…but when you are out of the country it is just someone from your own country! Or…in the most surprising way… it is when you are with someone that has been with someone you love.  Do you know that feeling? 

When I was in Guatemala this December I had the gift of meeting two families in Guatemala, whose families I know here in Tennessee.  Some of them have not seen their family member for years….4 years…12 years…6 months.  Parents separated from children,  brothers and sisters waiting for the next time they can see one another face to face. Family. These meetings required two of us to “want” to make the connection.  Me…from the USA;  “them” from Guatemala. And you know what….we WANTED to make that connection! Perfect strangers.  No project is involved. No specific “task” to do.  Except, of course, the task of Love, hospitality and grace.  Maybe these are experiences in grace.

The first encounter happened here in the USA. It began with a man working on the steeple of our church this summer.  From there it was one connection after another until late November when I stood face to face with the parents of a man who lives in the USA but hasn’t seen his Guatemalan family for 14 years. We had no language.

We only shared desire, a recent picture and a JOY to be connected.

 

The second encounter happened here in the USA.  It began over a Wednesday night supper at church. In conversations at the table I heard about a local lady who was available for some helping work. I called her. We met. Three months later, I am sharing hot chocolate with her sons in Guatemala…sons she has not seen in 4 years. Again, we had no language, we only shared desire, a common bond through the mom and a JOY to be connected.

The third encounter was not so new, except that it is all from this year in Guatemala. This year of 2013. Beatriz was once a child sponsored by mission team members. Today she is a young adult.  We have shared moments of family experiences this year…the time of her mother’s death, the unexpected death of her cousin, and most recently, this December – the arrival of her first child! Death, grief, life…Family. Again, no language, only shared desire and a JOY to be connected.

The fourth encounter happened when my cousin and I showed up at Lucia’s home in Guatemala.  There had been an open invitation but it didn’t include the details of bringing a cousin…or 3 nights and language encounters and a host of other events.  But we were welcomed by the entire family. The nativity was set in place prior to our arrival. Fresh baked goodies were on the counter waiting; breakfast beautifully prepared each day.  It was a table of grace set before us, every day. No reservation. No payment. Only a deeply shared desire and JOY to be connected…

I believe we are in a season of great opportunity to build bridges across the greatest divides. I believe we are in a time when the Spirit of God is moving about the earth and looking for ways to connect us…to really connect us to SEE one another as real.  Not as numbers or projects or resources. But to say, “you are human; I am too. And you are worthy of a moment of my life to look you in the eyes and say to you: ‘I am your friend’.”  Jesus said, “love one another as I have loved you.”  The way Jesus loves me most often is not measured by a project, task or production. It is rather, by grace. Lord, forgive us when we reduce your creations to projects rather than beautiful expressions of you. 

What unexpected JOY is being placed in your path today?  Just notice it. Notice the person. That’s the first step. The rest will come in time. God is that good!