[News] Guatemala mission, Feb.15,2009

[Berkshire Mission]

Sunday, Feb. 15, 2009

 

Hello mission friends,

 

This morning our group loaded on to the buses we use and off to town they
went.  Shopping in the open markets and then on to the only souvenir place
near here. We felt it our duty to enhance the local economy and suffer
through having to bring home these unusual hand carved items.  Poor us,
someone has to do it I guess.:-)

Bob and I, along with Pastors' Jon, Mark and Rigo, Went in to see the Mayor
of Poptun.  Bob and Eric had talked with him on the pre trip and we needed
to make sure all details of our interactions were ironed out.  The areas of
which are in the most need were once again discussed and hopefully set in
stone for the timing of our arrival tomorrow and onward.

The Mayor is a very intelligent and dedicated man.  It is easy to see that
his heart is for the people and that he wants what is best for them.  His
name is Angel Elkan and his surname means "the force of the fire" in the
Mayan bible.  He also said the area people have inherited their love of work
from the Mayans. Poptun means "city of pines" and "top of a rock or mound
"which comes from all the mounds of mountains in this area.   They are not
volcanic matter and are fertile.  The city of Tekal where we will go right
before we come back to the states means "city of voices".

Mayor Elkan has a very modern and beautiful home and yet he brought us into
the back yard to show us the kind of house he lived in when younger.  It is
a huge hut made out of the Guano palm fronds.  He said they are much cooler
than what he is living in now.  He wants this large hut to "help rescue his
culture and living style."  He is an organic agriculturist by education and
he held a prestigious job in a bank before becoming Mayor.  He said his
heart is with the people and he would rather work to help his people than
make more money.  Although it is obvious that he is doing well as Mayor too.
His little son is sick with a bad cough and he asked if we had a
Pediatrician with us and we said yes and invited him to bring the boy to us
tonight. Dr. Price will be able to examine the boy before we start our
evangelistic meetings. Before leaving his home we wanted to add a blessing
on him and his home.  He said oh yes.but let me put a shirt on first.  He
had talked to us for the entire time with a bare chest but when it came to
talking to the Lord he had to be properly dressed.  We really can learn so
many things from these wonderful people. How many people today think nothing
of walking in to the house of God wearing  jeans and this respectful man
would not even bow his head in front of his Maker with out being properly
clothed.

After leaving his place we went on to the community center that we will be
using for our meetings tonight.  It is a huge hall and will be perfect for
what we need.  There were about 6 or so people there from very old to very
young.  They had hosed down the floor and were sweeping all the dirty water
out the doors.  It really was a hard task and they seemed to be enjoying
doing it.  When Bob thanked one older woman for doing such a good job she
smiled and said she wanted to do a good job for God.   What a wonderful
response, oh if we could all have that attitude and remember that what we do
is never unto ourselves but unto God, so make sure to do it well

I just now saw the Keel-Billed Toucan near my hut and I am so excited I am
almost hyperventilating!  I had to write this down quickly just in case I
should croak before the gang gets back from swimming and I don't get to tell
them.  Now I have a permanent record of it.:-)  Yahoo.

As I write this our team has gone down to a waterfall at a beautiful river.
There are also some very high rocks there that many of our group had the
nerve to jump off of and into the deep water below.  Others used the hand
made diving board that was still fairly high off the water. They had a great
time but there was a near tragedy involving Rigo and Bob.  The local taxi
are nothing more than 3 wheelers with canvas on them., and they are
everywhere. Well one driver was very involved in watching the Americans and
then flipped his taxi over and skidded a considerable way, aiming right
towards Bob and Rigo and missed hitting them by about 2 feet.  The fellow
was knocked out for a few minutes.  He awoke with a bloody face, nose and
gashes on his head.  The first thing he tried to do was to hide the bottle
of liquor he had with him as he was obviously drunk.  Bob wanted to call the
police and an ambulance as he was concerned to move a head injured person.
The other local taxi drivers came right in to pick up the 3 wheel scooter
and get the guy out of there.  We think it was to protect him from the
police as he was drinking.  Well thank the Lord it wasn't worse and Rigo and
Bob were fast enough to jump out of his way as he skidded sideways after
flipping.

It is a good thing they went as it rained here all afternoon but didn't shed
a drop where they were swimming.

Last night Pastor Mark was walking past one of the huts just in time to hear
screaming and then ladies running out of the hut.  He was able to come to
the rescue of Gladys, Bev, Carol and Stephanie.  He chased down the scorpion
that was in their room and killed it. Hmmmm.just when you think it is safe
to go back in the bed!:-)  

The Mayor and his family joined us for dinner this evening and told the
whole group just how grateful he is for our work. And also how happy he is
that the Americans can join hands with the Guatemalan people which are a
very proud people.

The evangelistic meeting is going on but the rain is coming down so hard
that many people are having a hard time getting there as most have to walk.
The children's program is packed though.  At least 54 children at last count
and they were still coming.  The bus picked up 27 of the people that were
already involved with the Bible studies.  Bob said he is just so impressed
with our Bible workers.  They are just young men and they present themselves
in such a Godly manner.  They make sure they are all clean shaven  with
shirts and tie on, extremely humble respectful men that love the Lord with
all their heart.  It is no wonder with their dedication that they have had
such pre event success.  The Lord certainly lead Berkshire Mission to the
right men at the right time.

How beautiful it is to watch the brethren dwell in unity here.  Every one is
watching out with love for each other and relationships are being
strengthened and prepared to last for eternity.  How fortunate we are to
have this opportunity to serve Jesus with each other.  We are a blessed
bunch that is for certain.

 

Please make sure you drop us an email, we are so encouraged when we get
personal or group letters from home. (Just no forwards please.) It is very
important for us and keeps our spirits up during this hard labor that starts
double time as of tonight.

Just send it to mail at berkshiremission.org

 

Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.  Let all
your things be done with charity. 

1 Cor.16:13, 14

 

We know He lives; we see His hand everywhere,

Smiles to you as always,

Jennifer Young, mission reporter

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mail.berkshiremission.org/pipermail/news_berkshiremission.org/attachments/20090216/3b784489/attachment.html>