Home Visits

Vona Wilson
Nielson's family. Juan with Joselyn, Carol, Neilson, Aliciaa and Nayeli
Nielson’s family. Juan with Joselyn, Carol, Neilson, Aliciaa and Nayeli

Today we embarked on home visits with Pastor Felix.  It is a special day here .. the National Day of the Woman.  That means no school – and also an opportunity to wish each lady a “feliz dia de la mujer”!  We walked house to house and listened to the thoughts of the women and youth.  We also ran into a few men!

As I listend to the ladies speak and watched the joy of their children hustling about – I caught a glimpse of what may be missing.  The joy in the children is certain.  Children play from their heart whether they play in the sewer or the playground.  They squeal with delight as they play with a chicken, the same as if it is a pure bred canine.  The spark in their eyes is alive!

Brenda with Evelyn, cynthia, Marcos and Rose Maria.
Brenda with Evelyn, cynthia, Marcos and Rose Maria.

But there is a different look in the eyes of the older youth and the adults.  The light is a bit dimmer…the questions show through more than the bliss of not knowing.  I think what they are wondering about is hope.  Will there be better nutrition for their families? Will there come a day when they do not walk for water or travel long distances for medical care?  Will there be a time when their children’s education results in consistent work that does not always mean the sugar cane field?  And the question no one wants to ask…”Does anyone even care?”    The women I met today were courageous and full of grace.  They welcomed us and welcomed our prayers.  They are eager to learn and poised for change.

Adiranna and the rural Guatemalan version of a snow cone machine
Adiranna and the rural Guatemalan version of a snow cone machine

Conversations in the Rubber Plantation

Vona Wilson

March 7, 2013

Story telling in the rubber plantation
Story telling in the rubber plantation

Today I was reminded of the miracles of grace that happen when you are “available” to be with friends. It is the joy that teenagers know about and the leak adults experience little by little as “production” or “tasks” become the priority.  I always appreciate the way God teaches me. Well….maybe not always! It may be more accurate to say I am thankful that God continues to teach me. Yes…that is it.

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This is where La Toma gets its name. “Tomar” is the spanish word for “to take” and this is a place where people “take water”.
Rubber plantation
Rubber plantation
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Felix resting after our 2 mile walk. His son, Bryan, is playing ‘school

So we are walking through an area called Aldea which includes a rubber plantation. This is simply across the road from La Toma but I have never ventured in this direction.  We have a purpose: we are walking the water line of what will soon be 8 miles of pipeline for the water/well project. That means 500 families will have water in their homes once this is complete. I wanted to see it.  So…there was a “goal”.

Much more happened than my learning about the water project.  Felix began to share his story and it just so happened that the rubber plantation held a bit of it.  He stopped to rest (it’s very hot walking but the canopy of the trees is wonderful) and after he stopped he began to say, “I didn’t always live here; I lived over there”, pointing to a distant area.  “But we moved when I was 10 and that is when I saw her…Aurora.”  The story continued.

Pastor Felix and Aurora
Pastor Felix and Aurora

After sharing the love story and a few other life challenges along the way,  I asked him to give his wisdom on marriage.  His three things:  First, place God in the center of your marriage because you cannot do it successfully without God. Second, you must learn to understand one another. Third, you need someone to help you understand what marriage is…that it is not like dating and it is not being single. It is responsibility and a whole different focus for living day to day.  Felix recommends a class prior to marriage so people can grasp the changes that will be needed. What struck me about his sharing was the clear “change” necessary when you move from a life of singleness to a life of marriage.  We call this “pre-marital counseling” in the USA. Felix is just saying, “there has to be a change and most people have no idea what they have to to do to make it work.”

As an aside – Aurora is helping us think about ideas for the summer mission and particularly ministering to the women in the community. It is good to hear her voice.

Felix and his padre, Alejandro, who happened to be walking through the plantation this morning.
Felix and his padre, Alejandro, who happened to be walking through the plantation this morning.

I know these visits under the rubber trees are a gift.  One of the things I appreciate about this culture is that it’s OK to spend hours strolling through the rubber plantation looking at a vision of water lines and telling stories.  I am reminded of Hebrews 12:1  “Do not forget to entertain strangers for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.”

Watch for surprising moments to have conversations under the rubber trees in your life today.

January Morning

Vona Wilson

There is no wildlife on the pond this morning…only ice. The reeds are still and cold. The edges of the water sticky against the grass.  The ducks and geese have chosen a different location for their morning chat.  They are using Plan B. I wonder where it is? I wonder if they flew in this morning and saw the conditions…then chose another way…like the Wise Men.  Or are they here and I cannot see them….nestled in the brush all huddled together for warmth…waiting for the thaw. 

Maybe they were here early…dancing on the ice…slipping and falling because they are better at swimming than dancing.  Yes… busting their feathers then jumping up to fly off  with bruises and joy for the good time!  Probably so. Sometimes conditions change and a new approach is required. You have to make the most of it – embrace the moment and see what happens.  So ducks and geese fly off in reckless abandon this morning….with joy on their wings.  And maybe gratitude that something has changed, even if it involved some bruises.  

The Parade

Vona Wilson

Yesterday was the celebration of independence here in Guatemala and other Central American countries.  The bands began the day before and even continue this morning.  I walked my way into the sea of people yesterday and tried to blend in which is a ridiculous attempt when you are “white”…but the people are so gracious and I was fine.

I watched the children in mayan dress with their eyes wide open and hearts full of anticipation. The students processed in uniforms, costumes and dreams….all displaying the expressions of honor, respect and love of their country.  I could feel their dreams in the sounds of the trumpets, their strength in the beating of the drums and their joy in the bells. I prayed for the opportunities of their futures.

So this morning my reading is from Revelation and the verses 21:24-25 tickled my ears.  It is a vision of the “Holy Jerusalem” and the parade of the nations.  “Its gates will never be shut by day and there will be no night there.  People will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations.”

What we do on earth can give us a glimpse of what we will experience in heaven.  The difference is that the boundaries of our individual countries will be no longer.  The gates will be open – the tribes will be welcomed. I won’t stand out as “white” and we will all be sounding our trumpets and dancing to give our Creator honor and glory.  I really enjoyed the celebration yesterday and it gave me a little bit bigger picture of the parade in Jerusalem to come.   God speaks in mysterious ways.

An Order for Life

Vona Wilson

Scripture:   Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.  The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no greater commandment than these.  (Mark 12:30-31)

Observation:  The is the order of a life surrended to God. It is the order of life for Love.

Application:  Over the past couple of days a new prayer for my life has emerged and it is a prayer for justice. It surprised me.  But as I thought about it, it seemed to fit.  God’s justice is about setting things right. It is about alignment.  As I read the scritpure this morning, I’m reading from that lens…justice…order…alignment.  “My heart” is the wellspring of life and it is to be guarded and protected. Not isolated or unyielding but guarded and protected as a treasure (Proverbs 4:23).  That provides some great food for thought in daily decisions…
“My soul” is the voice of God within me…the place of inspiration and spiritual gifts..the source of what God will contribute to the world by my presence on earth.  (I Timothy 4:14; and 6:20). This seems like a great start for daily priorities…
“My mind” is the wisdom and understanding developed through learning, skills and experiences given to me on earth.  All of it is to be refined and ever growing. Jesus was frustrated with the disciples and religious leaders for then lack of comprehension. (Mark 12:24, 27) (I Corinthians 2:6-16).  This is my list of learning and applying all of that learning to my daily life…
“My strength” is my physical energy for life…staying healthy and fit so I can live well in the environment of earth. It is taking care of the temple in which my spirit is present.  (I Corinthans 6:19).  This is my care of my body…all of it from health, fitness, nutrition…everything.
If I order my life around these ways of loving God, it leads me to love myself by taking care of the way God created me.  And by loving God and myself….I am free, able and willing to love with my neighbor.

Prayer:  Lord, I know you are a God of justice.  There is an order to the way you created all of creation, including the way you created humans. Help me to live into your order, your justice and your love. Thank you for always teaching and providing wisdom for life.

Yield:  Be true to what I know allows me to love the Lord with all my heart, all my soul, all my mind and all my strength.  Everything else will be “justified” and fall into place.

The Bridge

Vona Wilson

Calle en AntiguaThe transition place from our work to the return home is Antigua again this year.  It is a beautiful city. There is not much “rest” but rather, a change of environment. There are many historical and beautiful sites to see.  It is a place to soak in the culture…to breath in the music and the art…to learn from what others are doing.  There are many volunteers in Antigua who are teaching the children and learning spanish.  If you talk with anyone on the street you will meet one of these volunteers.

I visited two special places in the last 2 days  The Moore Pediatric Surgery Center in Guatemala City and God’s Child Project in Antigua.  Both of these centers of hope were established by people who were stirred by a need and decided to act.  The two things I noticed about these projects that made me take interest:
1.  They listened to, respected and engaged the Guatemalan people in the project.  The murals on the walls of the Moore Pediatric Surgery Center are the result of 15 Guatemalan artists collaborating and painting to create a beautiful place for children when they come for surgery.

The mural at God’s Child Project. It was created by Freddy E. De Leon Cruz. Febrero del 2000.

The murals at God’s Child Project were also created by Guatemalan artists.

A view into the outdoor chapel at God’s Child Project. The chapel’s stone door is completely open…never closed. A sacred space for all to enjoy.

2.  Both projects engaged others in a way that allowed something amazing to emerge.  In each of these special places there were small tiles with names or a statement that provided a little history of who or what contributed to a certain room or area being established.  It was not done with a “look what I did” feel to it…it seemed more to be saying, “I’m honored to be a part of this vision”.

When I walked onto our church campus in Franklin, Tennessee Sunday morning I was greeted by a church family that I love.  I took off my coat and put on my robe.  I placed a stole from Guatemala around my neck. It has many colors, including purple, because it is the season of Lent.  The robe reminds me to set aside “me” and allow God to use me this morning.  The stole reminds me that I am here to serve.  Many people asked about our mission experience.  The prayer team had taken the journey with us in spirit.  The congregation took the journey with us in provision, in sponsoring of children and in prayer.  It is humbling to be a part of a community of faith that is willing to follow wherever God leads.

There was no anxiety when I got on the flight to come home.  There was no concern of leaving behind too much undone.  I only sensed peace.  The peace that surpasses all understanding. (Philippians 4: 6-7). The peace that says, “this is no longer a project or an event. This is life and the bridge between here and there is open.  Come and go with peace.” Let it be.

The palacia decorated for Lent in Antiqua

Honoring the Voice Inside

Vona Wilson
Julia has served as our Translator for this trip. She has been our “voice” with the local people. She has served with much grace and love. Here she assists Hania, the Principal, in making her final speech to the team on Wednesday morning.

Sometimes it is hard to hear your own voice in the “life noise” of all other voices.  There are voices of other people, but also of culture, technology, institutions and society.  The voice “inside” us can easily be drowned out by “life noise”.  All of us are created with a voice that speaks something amazing of God, our Creator.  “You knit me together in my mother’s womb, I am fearfully and wonderfully made” – Psalm 139.

The children presented several dances and the teachers gave us handmade gift as they expressed gratefulness and friendship to the team.

How do you honor the voice inside?  The ancient scripture teaching tells us that to honor the voice inside, we have to first love God..the one who created us and gave us life.  Some teachings are specific about this “honoring”:
* Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind. (Deuteronomy 6:5)
* He who honors me, I will honor (I Samuel 2:30)
* Love God and self and neighbor  (Matthew 22:29)
* Who do YOU say that I am?  Know OUR relationship first! (Mark 8:19)

Woody’s voice includes an intentional and careful discipleship that is expressed in many ways. One of those ways is leading a group of skilled and unskilled volunteers in finishing a roof over 3 classrooms! Shelter is provided.

Part of the joy of being with a team is watching everyone find their specific gift for the total work and then put it into place.  B.J. offered a great devotional about this earlier in the week.  We have all seen it…Russell in the kitchen, Dudley at the dental clinic,  John and Calvin on the saw, Jack with the children….on and on and on. Beautiful.

The team has graciously allowed me to venture out and honor the voice God has placed in me.  Because of that grace, I have met many more people of this land and connected with local people who are engaged in sharing Hope and Love and Grace in whatever way God has given them to do it in this land.  These “adventures” have taken me off the roof (a place I actually really love to be) and into the homes, businesses, and streets of Guatemala.  Places I did not dream I would ever go….paths I didn’t know I would ever take. But “adventures” that have been deep inside me for many years. Let it be.

An unplanned home visit with a new family to me: Romelia Ceguan and her children: Luis, 14; Jonathan, 12; Adelia, 10; Eddy, 8; Jorge 5,; Jerimias, 3; and Jose, 1. Adelia and Eddy invited me to come.
Marvin is 16 now. He worked with us last year. His father, Andres, helped build the school at La Toma and is a dear friend of Norris. I just stopped by because I haven’t seen Marvin this trip. They brought out a framed picture of Norris and team when the school was dedicated. Continued friendships..old and new. God’s grace.
Magdelana’s Bible. She read Psalm 23 and 91 to me during our visit Wednesday

We stopped by Halo Guatemala to take care of Ezekiel's tuition and support for their great work in teaching deaf children to communicate. Jose Pablo directs this school. This was a meeting of joy to see their continued work in the community.

This is a visit to Halo Guatemala, a school for the deaf where children learn to communicate. Ezekiel goes to school here and we are honored to have the opportunity to support their work in Mazatenango. 20 students go to school here and over 100 are on the waiting list of wanting to go but not able to afford it yet.  The staff volunteers their time for this amazing work.