Dios te bendiga! (God bless you!)

Hello once again and greetings from Guatemala! Thursday was a very emotional day for the team. The day began around 8:30 as we packed into the vans for Amatitlan for more house visits.

We caravaned with the other team (from Trinity Lutheran in Davenport, IA) to Amatitlan.

After a quick pit stop, we split into two groups for house visits. The first stop for some of us was the home of Maria Olinda, a woman we first met Monday when we had a women’s Bible study/service in Amatitlan. We were greeted by her adorable, flea-infested dog, cat and pigeons. (Yes, we’re all getting bit up by fleas and other bugs. I think I should have taken some of my dogs’ Frontline flea repellant before I left!) Maria Olinda has a heavy heart. She is currently battling breast and lung cancer…and the doctors think it’s spreading to her back and the rest of her body. Her 36-year-old daughter, Leti, and three grandchildren are currently living with her. There are twin 10-year-old boys, Oscar and Jose…and a 9-year-old named Maria.

Maria Olinda is so proud of her grandchildren. They’re all in school and doing well. This is such a blessing down here in Guatemala!!! Maria Olinda touched our hearts deeply. She is very ill, and yet, she told us, “I know nothing is impossible with my Lord.” She is currently on chemotherapy which really drains her energy. She has a heavy heart because she worries what will happen to her family if she doesn’t make it to tomorrow.

We shared a couple Bible passages with her – Lamentations 3:19-26, which says:

“The thought of my suffering and homelessness is bitter beyond words. I will never forget this awful time as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness, his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore I will hope in him!” The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him. So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord.”

We also shared Romans 12:13-15 with her.

“When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them, pray that God will bless them. Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.”

After this, we gathered around Maria Olinda and with our arms, minds and bodies wrapped around her, we said a special prayer for her. What a special moment it was, to see the Holy Spirit at work in that cramped space. He certainly can fit anywhere! Please say a prayer for Maria Olinda that God will keep her in his loving arms and that he will keep her faith in him strong…so that she knows her body will be perfect when she meets him face to face in heaven.

This house visit was a little difficult for our new friend and brother in Christ, Coca. Afterwards, he was drive-heaving and we weren’t quite sure what happened. We would soon find out.

We walked back to the ministry and hopped into the van to head to our next stop. We kept getting lost and had to ask for directions on more than one occasion. The ministry workers have not had this type of problem before this week, so it was a bit odd. Later in the day, we realized the devil was hard at work to keep us from meeting our new sister in Christ Jesus.

Hugo (another young ministry worker) knocked on the door. I cannot speak for my other group members…but as I approached the building, I was overcome with an indescribable feeling. As I describe what transpired upon our entrance, I feel I must tell you that I cannot effectively paint the picture for you. I fear I won’t do this special moment in time justice, but I will certainly try. This was an experience that shook us to our very core, the very essence of our being.

After a short time, an older woman opened the door. We also recognized her from Monday’s activities. Her name is Dominga. Dominga is suffering from severe head pain (we’re not sure what it is from) but she is also cross-eyed, so perhaps that had something to do with it. She invited us in the front room and then told Coca something. She left the room and came back with her friend, Alba. Alba was also ill (we’re not sure what). Alba was not a Christian. She was born Catholic but had fallen away. Coca spoke with her for awhile and then told us that Alba wanted to accept Jesus in her life and in her heart. Coca then turned to us and said he was scared. His hands were sweaty and he told us he’d never felt anything like what was happening right then. We all felt it. What “it” was can only be described as God at work. Coca then approached Alba and started speaking to her. By this point, some of us were so overcome with emotion that we were physically shaking. As the group surrounded Dominga and Alba, you could feel – not see, not hear – but FEEL the Holy Spirit at work.

None of us in the room could really speak Spanish, but for some reason, we knew what Coca was saying. What was most eerie about this experience was every time Coca said “Diablo” (the devil), the metal doors would rumble and shake. When he said Jesus, the birds chirped. And every time Alba said she wanted to have Jesus in her heart, everything was calm.

Please say a prayer of thanks for Dominga who brought her friend into our lives – and more importantly, into our hearts. Say a prayer that the seed of faith planted in Alba today will become a strong branch and grow into the glorious vine of Christ Jesus. Send a prayer of thanks to God for Coca and for using him to bring this special child of God back to faith.

Even more than 10 hours later, this experience still has many of us shook up. When others from our team and the Iowan team ask us about the experience, there’s not much we can say. Unless you were in the room, you could never know the things we felt this morning.

Please keep our team in your thoughts and prayers. Pray for our health and continued safety here in Guatemala.

Blessings and love,

Amy