Life in the Deep End

Break My Heart for What Breaks Yours…

June 6, 2013June 7, 2013Vona Wilson

We woke up early but we left our hotel with heavy hearts…knowing today was our last day in La Toma. Before we left the parking lot we were belting out the chorus of “Hosanna”…the specific line that says, “break my heart for what breaks yours”. We acknowledged before we ever arrived at the church and school this one truth: it’s OK for us to let our hearts break when God is in it. And so we went…willing for our hearts to break and knowing that somehow in the breaking, we are being molded into the image of God.

At the church Pastora Myriam finished the women’s sessions with another powerful lesson. Part of this teaching included the shattering of a clay pot and the creation of a cross from both the broken pieces and a variety of items that symbolized the week.

The teachers of La Toma gathered with us as we made presentations to them, and they to us. The friendships between the Tennessee teams and the school at La Toma are long lasting. This week they were extended further…as they will be with the next team and the next team. It is so much fun to see new people added to this connection. And isn’t this so precious? The SHARING of God’s grace…one new person after another.

Olivia shared her voice during those presentations as she spontaneously sang a solo to the teachers, “Welcome to this Place”. Michael shared his music by just picking up his guitar and adding some ambiance to the heat and squeals of children playing. Bonnie carried feathers just looking for the right moment to add them to the mix. Kristine Kline (a member of FUMC that sent a gift) added handcrafted bookmarks with Christian symbols and messages in Spanish. It goes on and on….a dance of God’s grace.

Our last moments with Pastors Felix and Manuel were so powerful I hesitate to describe it with words. I want you all to know about it, but also to know I am so limited in sharing it in a way that you can know fully what it was like in those moments. The children had crowded in on us so tight we had to make an exit. They just kept coming.

So here we are standing outside the church. Pastor Manuel was on his motorcycle about to leave and we asked him to stay. (In Guatemala when a friend stops you and asks you to stay, you stay. You would never look at your watch and say “I don’t have time”). So both pastors are standing there and the team has assembled. We are literally covered in kids…maybe 30 or 40. We said words of thanksgiving for the time and then we presented each of them with soccer balls so the churches can use them with their youth.

Michael presented a poster card to Pastor Felix from our team

We know that playing soccer and learning to be a team can be a powerful way to share the gospel with the children. And then…it was Ashley’s turn to share.

Ashley presented Pastor Felix with her guitar. She shared with him how it was given to her by her parents…her first guitar and how much it had meant to her life. Her prayer had been that it would mean even more to the life of the church in making music for God’s glory. All of our tears were flowing as we watched this 17 year old child of God present Pastor Felix with this gift.

Ansley presenting the guitar to Pastor Felix. May God bless this gift.

Ansley and Kenny...friends forever — Ansley and Kenny…friends forever

Kenny and Ansley playing tug-of-war with the kids. Kenny is a young lady that helped us every day this week...lovely lady! — Kenny and Ansley playing tug-of-war with the kids. Kenny is a young lady that helped us every day this week…lovely lady!

Bonnie receiving "thanks" from one of the teachers. We were all given expressions of thanksgiving. — Bonnie receiving “thanks” from one of the teachers. We were all given expressions of thanksgiving.

Later, when we were standing at the altar with soccer balls, guitars, posters, feathers and the cross piled on high… Pastor Manuel said he was looking forward to Pastor Felix becoming a guitar playerJ Several years ago…Jeff Blum left a guitar in the hands of Pastor Manuel and he also began to make a joyful noise in the house of the LORD. It changed his church. We lay hands on these two pastors as we gathered around this altar for prayer. We remembered the words of Jesus when he said to Peter, “ on this rock I will build my church and the gates of hades will not overcome it.”

We did not say “adios” as we drove away from La Toma today. We simply said, “hasta luego”.

Amigos Nuevos

June 6, 2013Vona Wilson

Cata, me and Letty (Cata's sister) — Cata, me and Letty (Cata’s sister)

Every day we meet new people who quickly become new friends. Wednesday morning we were blessed when our amiga nuevo, Cata, joined us for breakfast. I met Cata through a mutual friend from the United States who is in Guatemala on water projects. We met for the first time in person on Tuesday. She graciously agreed to return a share a little bit of her life with us over breakfast the next day. Cata is Mayan and her sharing of the cultural traditions of her family was such a gift. She connected to the USA through a missionary who came here when she was a young girl. A long friendship was established across cultures, languages and distance.

There is a Scripture in Revelation 21 that says there will be a day when we are all together from “all tribes, nations and languages” worshipping at the throne of God. I’m so glad we met Cata here so when we get there it will be a joyous reunion.

More Team; More God

June 6, 2013Vona Wilson

This team amazes me every day. I go to bed at night with my spirit wiped out AND full of thanksgiving. I wake with anticipation because while I don’t know all that will happen today – I do know without a shadow of doubt – that God will reveal a clear presence of the Holy. It happens every hour with us.

Last night in our reflections of the day Pastora Myriam shared that she needed a Bible for one of the women in her sessions that has expressed a desire to preach. Terry and Julie immediately said, “we brought a Spanish Bible but we didn’t know why!” This is one of our DAILY examples of provision and following.

I am up early and when I waved to Felipa in the kitchen she knew I was really looking to see if the coffee was made. I sit on the steps outside to write because this is the best internet connection. After a few minutes I hear her sweet voice in the morning air: “dos minutos tienes café”

Felipa in the kitchen making breakfast this morning!

Sherri Joyce is one of those people that after getting to know her you think, “OK…I would go pretty much anywhere with this lady!” She is a champion of flexibility and engagement in whatever is happening in the moment. And there is a light shining through Sherri’s eyes that, as with many team members, is getting brighter every day we are here.

Sherri Joyce and her buddy making bracelets

Michael and Jake are musicians at heart and in daily life. Jake just graduated from high school a week or so ago, and Michael is a young adult navigating through life with a job, a band and a dream. Michael was in Nicaragua in 2008 and this is Jake’s first international mission. Both were part of the youth group in our church in earlier years. From guitar strumming, drumming and stove installations..these guys rock! They have emerged as leaders in music sessions, stove installations and generally “hanging out”.

Let me be clear: “hanging out” is just a way of saying that the team is meeting each person exactly where they are…taking time to “be with” them and in doing so they provide a clear message: You are a child of God and worthy of my time and attention. You are not my project.” I praise God for this attitude and Love.

Jake and Michael...the drummer guys:) — Jake and Michael…the drummer guys:)

B.J. is a veteran missionary in Guatemala and other Latin American countries. She is a part of our church and has a heart for missions that runs deep and wide. Her love for the people is overflowing and her gift of helping is endless. Over the years, she has developed many friendships here. It is a beautiful thing to see someone just offer love and love and love. She has washed stove parts, visited in homes, played games and many more things to express the love of Christ here.

B.J. Elder is helping and loving the people wherever she goes. — B.J. Elder..a. veteran in mission with a gift of helping and loving the people wherever she goes.

Michael during recess...a little soccer along the way. Music, soccer, lead singing..."whatever it takes" is his daily attitude — Michael during recess…a little soccer along the way. Music, soccer, lead singing…”whatever it takes” is his daily attitude

LaVerne and her new best friend... — LaVerne and her new best friend…

LaVerne has served as the church’s Finance & Business Manager for many years. She recently shifted to part-time as she contemplates retirement. It is such fun to witness LaVerne experiencing a country where the church has been in mission for so many years. From checking writing and hearing stories.. to holding the hand of a child…God has perfect timing. It was LaVerne’s “time” to be in Guatemala. We give thanks for this blessing.

Michael, Olivia and Ansley leading singing in the school on Wednesday. FABULOUS trio!

Olivia and the "Esther crown" made from bamboo leaves. It is our "Plan B" story in case we need another. — Olivia and the “Esther crown” made from bamboo leaves. It is our “Plan B” story in case we need another.

Olivia is a sophomore at Samford University. This is her second international mission; she was in the Dominican Republic last year. Olivia grew up in our church and is gifted in her music and love for children. She brought along a host of crafts and songs to share – all of which have been needed! But I think what has touched me most about Olivia during this mission is the spiritual insights she has shared. She has opened her heart to the Spirit and it is pouring through her in a beautiful way.

I’m losing track of who I’ve introduced through the stories and who you have yet to meet..but more it coming. Our conversations have been seasoned with salt (Colossians 4:6) day and night. Our eyes are being opened to one another as God has shown us how we are connected to one another through our Creator. I don’t know that I would ever see the gifts God placed in each person except by first being connected to God. It is through the eyes of our Maker that we are able to see the Holy in each person. What an amazing gift of grace!

What is God opening your eyes to see today?

Overflow

June 5, 2013June 5, 2013Vona Wilson

Hania (La Toma Principal) greets the team and makes introductions. A happy reunion for me!

There is a place in the experience of God’s grace and revelation that you are on “overflow”. At first that sounds like mountain top when you hear it, but overflow today is poured out, overflowing and yet trusting and knowing there is more to come today. The dental team is feeling it physically and emotionally. The teaching teams are feeling it as they encounter needs too great for us to control or fix. In our chaos we are finding peace. In uncertainty we are finding the Spirit moving strongly in us and in our friends at La Toma. It is beyond us and yet, here we are, standing in the middle of what God is doing.

The musical trio leading singing in the classroom. So much fun!

Pastora Myriam is seeing many women in the sessions each morning. Yesterday’s teaching was on reconciliation. Of the 18-20 women attending each day, about 15 of them have never stepped inside this church. They are experiencing God’s grace and love in a place they did not know had it to offer. They are engaging and asking for special prayers and ministry. Forgiveness was overflowing yesterday and with laying on of hands, oil and love…Sherri, Bonnie, Myriam and BJ witnessed the Spirit at work.

Maybe the "overflow" is like the river in the mural. The river of God's love...touching all of us and changing us day by day by day. — Maybe the “overflow” is like the river in the mural. The river of God’s love…touching all of us and changing us day by day by day.

In the school our lesson for 4-5-6 grades is focused on Integrity; Respect and Trust in God. We are using the story of Joseph and I think we will add Esther today. We sing for a while (thanks to the amazing trio of Michael, Ansley and Olivia), then they tell us about their family and then we tell them the story. The next part is a melodrama where they act out the story. Ansley (by the grace of God) had a towel of many colors so the “coat” was easy to find. The craft is a bracelet with 3 beads (standing for integrity, respect, trust) and after the children make it we place it on them and say the words as a blessing of God upon them. After all of that we ask them to write a prayer to God for their family and we collect those prayers. We will divide them up at the end of the week and take them into our prayer time.

Yesterday Olivia led our devotion with Proverbs 15:15. It was beautiful and it is what we see. The people of Guatemala are richest where we are poorest. We often measure our happiness, contentment and peace by our material wealth. They measure it all in relationships, family and faith. We all are in need on earth. For the basic of water, food, shelter….AND equally basic: Love and grace from one human to another. Our creator made us this way. This mission has been a reminder to us and possibly even to the community of La Toma that we must see one another as Jesus did those he encountered…truly SEE, listen and share the love that every soul needs so much.

Aurora expresses the love of Christ in her cooking. We came home to a wonderful supper with fresh veggies, meat, tortillas and fruit! Wonderful!

My prayer today is that we will all receive a glimpse of that love before we lay down to sleep tonight. Let it be.

Monday Blessings

June 4, 2013Vona Wilson

Our first day in the church was great. It was clearly God’s arranging and blessing. Our focus was on three things:
1. A women’s group in the church
2. A youth activity in the afternoon
3. The art mural

The women came in and embraced Pastora Myriam’s leading and teaching with great joy. They laughed, they shared, they prayed. It was incredible.

Pastora Myriam holds a women's group at the church. — Pastora Myriam holds a women’s group at the church.

The children that flocked to the church with their moms or just from rumors of us “making bracelets” (which I think the mural team began!) were met with a spontaneous craft session, singing and the love of many team members. Ansley and Olivia and LaVerne handled the surprise congregation with grace. It was awesome to see them connect and just love.

In the afternoon Michael and Jake did a music session with guitars and drums. Manuel (pastor from neighboring area) joined them in the later part and there was a jam session, a teaching, and Guatemalan youth making music before the day ended. Priceless!

Sometimes art just speaks for itself. Often it does. The eyes of the students when they saw the mural…..the words of gratitude from adults…and even our own team just being awed at watching the mural take life….all these things encourage me and tell me that if we simply follow what God shows us to do, amazing things will come into being. How hard, though, just to follow!

At the end of the day one of the great blessings was finding Sergio (Pastor Felix’s son and a study of architecture in the university) and Will (our driver this week and Adolfo’s son) contributing to the mural. Both of these men have gifts of drawing and architecture. To see them participate and contribute to the mural is a great encouragement. This mural is an expression of peace and unity in this community. The peace that comes from the work of God here.

Sergio and Will drew the letters and Terry painted them

Everyone found a place to be and serve today. Bonnie pulling out her creative gifts, Julio translating in unexpected moments, B.J. visiting families and telling stories…Sherri connecting children with her smile…the list goes on and on. We are overflowing. Please pray for us to be humble, open and obedient. It is all we can do here. Let it be.

Whatever you do….

June 4, 2013Vona Wilson

Robin prefers pulling teeth by light instead of dark....imagine that? — Robin prefers pulling teeth by light instead of dark….imagine that?

Who lines up for the dentist? I often think going to the dentist is one of the more courageous decisions people make in their healthcare. So far Dr. Robin and his amazing dental team have treated over 100 patients and dealt with over 200 teeth! And we’re just finishing up the 3rd day of services!

And then there are some that don’t need a tooth pulled or a cavity filled. Honestly, they just crawl up in that chair and receive a blessing …then they are on their way. It’s not the dental care, it’s the dentist. It’s the presence of God in the form of a man and two lovely ladies that carry Love wherever they go. The Scriptures indicate that we are full of the Holy Spirit and that we are the presence of Christ on earth. If you ever doubt this is true…go crawl up in the chair of Dr. Robin in Guatemala and be blessed.

Abby and Lucy. Lucy is a Guatemalan friend who is translating for Dr. Robin. She is the sister of Irene who was a translator prior to her permanent career in international relations.

Dr. Robin blesses me with his many years of experience in Guatemala and his humble service to do whatever is needed and to do it as if he were doing it to and for and with Christ.
Who in your life is one of those persons that just being with them is being with the presence of God?

The Small World of Connections

June 2, 2013Vona Wilson

It is sometimes hard to say what makes the perfect team but it is easy to see when God brings a group of unlikely people together for a greater purpose. It happens often but still has that special sense of being a bit like a miracle. It is a small world of connections when the Creator is concerned.

Julie and Terry Hopkins just celebrated their first year of marriage. She's a social work professor at MTSU. He is a wildlife biologist and loves bats! — Julie and Terry Hopkins just celebrated their first year of marriage. She’s a social work professor at MTSU. He is a wildlife biologist and loves bats!

Julie and I met on a mission to Mountain Top when she was in middle school. It was her first mission as a youth; my first mission as a chaperone. We’ve come a long way since then and now we find ourselves together in Guatemala. She and Terry have a great love story.

We ventured out on Saturday night to the local Sarita’s…AKA… ICE CREAM. After a very hot and long day, much of the team was ready for a treat. I am personally not a big ice cream consumer but I’m pretty sure 99% of the world is…and so we did partake!

Julie, Robin and Abby. A fabulous team pulling teeth or eating ice cream!

I met Dr. Robin Wilhite on my first mission in Guatemala in 2010. What an incredible man! A dentist in Columbia,TN who seems to use all of his spare time (like anyone has “spare time”) to help those who need dental care in other countries. Robin has been to Guatemala over 20 times…and also Honduras, Costa Rica….etc. etc.! On this particular mission he brought along a fabulous duo: Julie and Abby. Both dental assistants and instruments of grace…these three are pulling teeth and relieving the pain of many. They bring hope and care in the most basic and critical way. In my mom’s first career she was a dental assistant and later a hygienist. It’s nice to meet others who know the dental chair is a perfect opportunity to express the love of Christ. God works everywhere!

Angellie on her first overnight mission experience. — Angellie on her first week-long mission experience.

Angellie is Pastora Myriam’s daughter. This is her first international mission. She is an awesome soccer player in Nashville and she is great with the children of Guatemala! She just has a gift for making a quiet connection. One of her new friends is a young boy named Brian. He decorated her backpack so she will be taking home art from a child to carry on her back everyday:) Creative and filled with a beautiful spirit, Angellie is our youngest team member.

Laura Hood is an interior design professional with an incredible gift for art!

Laura and I have a connection that could only be the hand of God. When I moved to Tennessee in 1985 I worked at Baptist Hospital in the Pharmacy for a few months while I made the necessary steps to have my Kentucky Paramedic certification accepted in Tennessee. Laura’s mom, Cindy, was one of the Pharmacists at Baptist. Years later we landed in the same United Methodist Church in Franklin, Tennessee. About 3 years ago Cindy said to me, “my daughter really wants to go on a mission, can she call you?” Today as we were riding on the bus I was remembering those first conversations and just appreciating how perfect God’s timing is in bringing people together.

Well…that is about half of our team. I’ll write about others later. Who has God brought into your life as a clear and powerful sign that the one who created you is also sustaining and blessing you with just the right people at just the right time?

Sabado Bendiciones

June 2, 2013Vona Wilson

Sherri, Jake, LaVerne and Michael putting together the stove. They became quite good at this work!

We had the privilege of going into homes for stove installation on Saturday. It is humbling to be invited inside, to see the cultures clash – we with our cameras, the people with their joy. Children with their hands outstretched to give whatever they have, we with our awkward and eager hearts wanting to connect.

Olivia and Lucy (Lucy is a Guatemalan translator working with the dental team) with their new friends!

The stove is the excuse around which we all gather. We stumble across the language and cultural barriers. Sometimes the stumble is full of grace. Other times it is painfully wrong. And the Spirit of God stands right there with us and covers all of our gaps when and if LOVE is the primary motive. This is important teaching. “love as I have loved you”. However, we cannot love carelessly. We must love – as Jesus loved – with humility, with respect, with grace.

Pastor Felix, our friend and teacher at La Toma, Celeste, BJ and Pastor Myriam.

As Pastor Felix led us to each home and closed our prayers with his pastoral prayer we could feel the movement of the Spirit with us. It is strong. Pastora Myriam’s presence with us is a blessing and a gift. It is nice to hear Julio and Angellie speaking with the translators and locals with ease. It is nice to have more of the cultural perspective added to our conversations.

One Body, Many Gifts

June 2, 2013June 2, 2013Vona Wilson

The culture, learning, leadership and love of the church are finding an expression in the mural that is emerging right before our eyes. The artist is our Guatemalan friend, Chester Zepeda.

Chester and Will (Aldofo’s son) chat as that art project continues.

Chester is joined by a team of joyful painters, encouragers and helpers. Laura’s love and gift of art is shining through like the sun as she works with Chester and his original finds life. The children come and say, “los montanas! Rio! Café!” Julie is encouraging and observing with her social worker mind and her open heart. Terry is finding JOY in painting that he never knew existed. And Ansley and Angellie are taking on the futbol (soccer) pros in the school courtyard. For me, this is a picture of I Corinthians 12.

Indeed one body with many gifts. I see this at work in this team hour by hour, day after day.

Ansley and Angellie playing with the children

On Saturday morning Pastor Myriam led our devotional with a powerful message grounded in Matthew 25:14-29. She encouraged us to give out everything the Holy Spirit gives us each day so we will be empty enough to receive what the Spirit brings to give us the next day too. It is receiving, sharing and emptying that keeps the fullness of God’s presence filling us and flowing through us. Every day.

Terry. Look at how those mountains dance! Like the Scripture..." and the mountains sing your glory hallelujahs!" — Terry. Look at how those mountains dance! Like the Scripture…” and the mountains sing your glory hallelujahs!”

Mario (Pastor Felix’s son-in-law) loved the mural too and picked up a brush and joined in the creation!

Laura is a great art partner for Chester. As it turns out - she studied art in school and is now an interior designer! — Laura is a great art partner for Chester. As it turns out – she studied art in school and is now an interior designer!

Presence & Peace

May 31, 2013May 31, 2013Vona Wilson

We have had an amazing day. We started with the prayer of yielding the day’s plans to God and when we shared our experiences around the table tonight it was obvious that God honored that request and yielding. We needed the surrender and we needed the blessing of trusting.

The dental team took care of 48 patients today and 84 teeth! That’s a rocking day in the life of any dentist. Dr. Robin, Abby and Julie came to the table tonight with stories of courageous kids, humble men and determined women. The people were waiting in line when we arrived this morning…maybe 20 before Dr. Robin ever set up the chair.

First a white background....setting the stage — First a white background….setting the stage

The art team took a blank concrete wall, a vision on paper and some paint….and the miracle of inspiration began to take life before day’s end.

They played soccer in between with the children hanging around. There was no school today. The teachers were out on a project to raise money for the school…something they do often and with diligence. The teachers that work in the La Toma school are highly committed. They love these kids.

The remaining team had a day of learning and conversation that will we never forget. We learned how to install stoves. Bonnie called them the “Jenn Air of Guatemala”, which tells you how impressive they were once put together. The first one took us 2.5 hours! The last one of the day took about 45 minutes. Haha…this is a skill that improves with practice.

After installing the stove...teaching the family how to use it. — After installing the stove…teaching the family how to use it.

After building the stove and installing we shared a card with each family and a prayer. The cards were made by the children of our church; their sweet words and art reaching across the boundaries of language and culture…again.

Ansley and Angellie with their newest buddy!

We are certain as the night draws to an end that the most important thing that happened today was not about teeth, or stoves, or art…although all of those things were incredibly good! The most important thing today was being together. Conversations in local homes, holding the hands of little children, learning the culture and allowing God to change our hearts. Miracles happened in us while we were making friends and living into the vision that in Christ, we truly are one. Peace be with you. Peace be with all of us.