Shifting Priorities

The last hours of our time in Guatemala were spent in Antigua.  While there a group of us took a tour at the Jade Factory.  The end of the tour found us in the store of jewelry and items made of jade.

Beautiful!

The bracelet on the left cost $2800 US dollars.

I jokingly told my husband to start saving up...and then a moment later told him to never mind. Or at least not to spend it on this.

The realization hit me!

For the cost of this bracelet, we could fund the cost of building 2 more homes in Guatemala.

Priorities began shifting while we were in Guatemala...

The Bible Alive in Guatemala

The Bible came to life for me in so many ways while in Guatemala.  Here are a couple of examples where Scripture immediately came to mind as the scene played out before me...

Using a plumb line while building the house:

"I saw the Lord standing beside a wall that had been built using a plumb line.  He was using a plumb line to see if it was still straight.  And the Lord said to me, 'Amos, what do you see?'  I answered, 'A plumb line.'  And the Lord replied, 'I will test my people with this plumb line.  I will no longer ignore all their sins.'"
~ Amos 7:7-8 (NLT)





Oh that my life would line up in obedience - plumb to His word...






We carried drinking water into our work sites.  The water would have made us ill otherwise.

While filling my water bottle one day, the lady of the house came rather sheepishly... carrying a chipped cup.  Her eyes looked to mine, and then to our clean water pleadingly as she questiongly held out her cup.  I motioned asking if she was wanting a drink from the jug, in which she indicated she did.

I filled her cup and handed it back to her.  So very carefully she carried that cup to the side of her tarp home.  I watched from the corner of my eye as she sipped ever so slowly, seeming to savor every drop.

"Anyone who is thirsty may come to me!  Anyone who believes in me may come and drink!  For the Scriptures declare, 'Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.'"  ~ John 37b-38 (NLT)


Oh that my heart would desperately and longingly seek Him as Living Water to quench every thirst and craving as only He can fill....

Do you watch for and notice Scripture come to life during the normal everyday activities of your days?

Guatemalan Riddle

While we were in Guatemala I witnessed something happen that I don't have a concrete answer to.  Maybe someone can enlighten me?...

A Little Background

Running through the villages around Lake Atitlan are 2 different type of animals.

One type are the wild dogs.  They are in no way considered pets.  Their well being and feeding are completely up to them as the people do not provide for those things.  (Especially since the people don't often even have those things for themselves, let alone the animals.)

The other type of animals roaming free are chickens.  Evidently they do belong to specific families, but during the days they are allowed to roam free through the villages and then they automatically return home each evening.

 What I Noticed

One day in our ventures, I noticed one of the obviously underfed (ribs showing) wild dogs rummaging through a pile of trash.  I'm assuming it was looking for some food.

Just feet from this dog were chicks.  Not full grown chickens as in my picture, but little yellow chicks.

All of my previous knowledge and experiences would have led me to believe that there was no hope for those chicks.  They would be devoured immediately, especially in the hungry condition this dog appeared to be in.

It took me a moment to fully realize what I was witnessing.

That dog showed absolutely no interest in those chicks.  None at all.  It was as if it didn't even see them, but with the proximity that they were to the dog, there is no doubt it was fully aware of their presence. 

My Only Explanation

So explain that to me?  How is it that chickens and hungry wild dogs co-exist when all of my experience has taught me that a situation like that does not typically have a good outcome for the chickens.

The only explanation I can come up with?......The people need those chickens as part of their survival. 

Is it that God keeps those dogs subdued as a way of provision for the people of the villages of Lake Atitlan?

What do you think?

Adapting

When we went to Guatemala there were a number of things that we had to adapt to... and instantly.

*  Not touching the shower head while in the shower due to the electricity running directly to it.

*  Hand washing with soap and water but then following immediately with alcohol hand rub... every time... to kill the bacteria still on your hands from the water. 

*  Throwing your used toilet paper in the trash can instead of flushing as their plumbing system can't handle the paper.

*  Using a water bottle for all water needs, including brushing your teeth.  Forgetting and putting your toothbrush under their running tap water even briefly demanded that brush be put into the trash and starting with a new toothbrush.

*  Not opening your mouth in the shower in any form... talking, singing, rinsing, etc.  The goal was to get NO water in your mouth.

At first these items required conscious thought and intentional purpose to accomplish each one.  However, I was surprised by how quickly they just became more of habit.

I was even more surprised at how quickly I had adapted to them.

After passing through customs to enter back into the states, I entered the airport public restroom. 

*  My first instinct was to look for a trash can rather than flushing my tp. 

*  After washing my hands, I instinctively reached into my bag, pulled out and even used my hand sanitizer before I realized I didn't need to do that anymore.

*  That evening when brushing my teeth, I grabbed for a water bottle before remembering I could turn on my sink.


And all of this got me to thinking...

I was surprised at how quickly my thinking and even basic lifestyle behaviors changed in such a short amount of time.

I wonder how often that happens in other areas of my life?  And how quickly? 

Am I consciously aware of what all is coming my way in my day to day of living?  Am I armed and ready to tackle each one, determining whether it is worth my time of adapting to?

Am I focused and intentional in identifying those things and areas that would not be beneficial for me to adapt to?

I think we would be amazed to discover how quickly we adapt to the things around us... good or bad.

What are you adapting to?


Romans 12:2

"Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." (NLT)
  
"Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you." (MSG)

Where You'll Find a Piece of My Heart

As was indicated in my last post, I am far from done when it comes to talking about Guatemala.

As I also indicated in my last post, we are sensing a draw to a general area and people.  Although it does not appear for our family at this time that it is Guatemala, I did leave a big piece of my heart there!

I told the family that we built for that very same thing the day we were leaving them.  They were assured, with tears in my eyes, that a piece of my heart was remaining there with them.

Our team had the privilege of building for 2 families.  My part of the team built for a very young couple in the church there.  Miguel was 27 and Maria was 21.  They had a 4 year old boy, little Miguel.

This is what had been their home...  

CORN STALKS!

The corn stalks, their home, had been cleared away because that same site was where we would be building their new home.
 

This is where they were living when we arrived as they were waiting for their new home.

A tarp around a mattress that was barely lifted off the ground with trash, wood, or anything else that they could find.  There was no walking room around that mattress.  The path that you see is all that was in that little room.

This was their home.

I didn't quite understand exactly why the mattress was lifted off of the ground with whatever could be found... until it started to rain.

I was sitting on that little stool (to the right) for a time while it rained.  As it continued to rain, the effort in keeping the mattress lifted became very clear to me.

You can't see it very well in this picture, but the water came pouring in under their mattress.  That single dirt path in their house became mud.  In fact, the water was flowing through so steadily that it was rushing up and over the children's feet who came to stand inside.


And notice their little fire area for cooking and warmth to the right in the picture above.


And so we went to work.  It wasn't work like building a house in America would have been.

There was no equipment, cement trucks, or even bags of cement brought in.  It was all done by hand.  The bricks, bags of rock and dirt, and anything else that was needed were all carried in to the job site.

One of the tasks I was given for quite some time one afternoon was to sift dirt.  I didn't see the purpose immediately, but I went to work without asking any questions.

I had the opportunity to work alongside Maria, the lady of the house.  Our interpreter had to leave earlier in the day so we were left with my limited Spanish.  Even so, she and I had such a lovely time together.

I will forever cherish that afternoon deeply in my heart.  We didn't have many words to communicate, but somehow our hearts communicated something so much greater...

It didn't take long for it to become clear what this sifting was for.  The fine dirt was sifted onto a clean tarp like material while the rocks were put into another pile.  Both would be used for the variety of different cements and mortars that were needed for various places on building the home.

And even that cement and mortar was all mixed by hand right on the job site, using the different materials that had already been sifted... also done right on the job site.

Cinder block was formed and cut with a machete.

We put that house together one brick and one dollop of cement at a time.


The process of putting the roof on came to a screeching halt when Maria began chattering a mile a minute as she went running off into the trees surrounding her home.

Next thing we knew she was dragging an extension cord from who knows where over to her house.  She had the men put it in through the roof so that she could hang this... her light.

She was so proud of that light and wanted to be sure it became a part of her house.

Miguel, bless him, took her light and immediately found a piece of wire to hang her light... even before the final pieces of the roof went up.

When it was all finished, there was still a dirt floor.  Imagine my delight when I learned we would be able to also give them... a cement floor!!

Our family and new friends, standing in their completed house.

On the day we left, we had a prayer of dedication for the home.

We then gave them 2 beds that can fold up during the day.  We also gave them a suitcase of housewarming gifts such as sheets, towels, shoes, toys, plates, cups, and whatever else we could fit into that suitcase. (Which we learned they will probably also use for some daily need.) 

As we left I gave each of these dear new friends a teary hug and said, "Te amo mi hermano/a en Cristo."  (I love you my brother/sister in Christ.")  And they extended the same parting words.

For me, it was not a good-bye.  But rather... an until later.  For I have every confidence that if we don't get to meet again on this earth, we will meet once again in heaven.

And our homes won't be so far away there...

Our Radical Experiment

One of the books that we read some time ago was "Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream" by David Platt.  At the end of the book he extends a challenge for the next year.

My husband, myself, and our oldest son all read this book.  When we got to the end, we had a family meeting and decided that we would take this challenge.  We committed to the one year experiment.

Little did we know that God would use this to begin a stir in our hearts that would be life changing...

I do not share the following to give the impression of "wow, look at us."  Instead, I offer it as an example of how it might look for a normal family taking it on.  I also hope it might encourage and inspire others to take the challenge as well. 

We're just an average American family convinced there is more to life than living what we call this American dream.
~~~~~

*  Our trip to Guatemala was part of that commitment: To give our time in another context. (By the way, there are many more stories of Guatemala still to come!)

*  We began using the book "Operation World:  The Definitive Prayer Guide to Every Nation" to meet the challenge of praying for the entire world. 

This book gives information on countries alphabetically and covers the entire populated world.  It also gives us a side of geography with our prayers as we have our globe right with the book.  As we are reading about each nation, we locate it on the globe to give an even greater perspective on that country and their needs.

*  Another of the challenges is to sacrifice your money for a specific purpose.  Over a week's time we sat down as a family and re-worked our budget.  We cut out many items we considered "essential", agreeing that for a year we would do without those items and that money would all be given away to others.  We then agreed as a family what those needs would be. 
 
*  To read through the entire Word is another one of the challenges.  Although we have done this before, we have committed to do it again. I have never read through chronologically, so I am using the "NIV Once a Day Bible Chronological Edition" to go through this time.

*  To commit our lives to multiplying community:  Our church body is in the process of making some radical decisions and changes for the sake of reaching others for Jesus.  We have renewed our own personal commitment to this body and this vision in the days and months ahead.

"If we are going to live in radical obedience to Christ, we will need the church to do it.  We will need to show one another how to give liberally, go urgently, and live dangerously." ~ David Platt

~~~~~

And in the process of this one year radical experiment... there has grown a pull on our own hearts.  A draw to an area.  A draw to a people.  But a process will be required to land us in that place with those people.

This week the actions to begin the process of answering that radical pull on our own hearts have been put into place.  Logically, it doesn't make complete sense.  It won't make sense to a lot of onlookers.

It will cost us.

But it is right.

"Christ's command to make disciples is an invitation to give our lives for the sake of others." ~ David Platt

Give of What You Have

When we were preparing to go to Guatemala, I had a plan.  It had been stated that they really like (and need) our clothes, especially our jeans.  I decided that I wanted to leave the clothes I wore behind for the people.

I knew of a local thrift store that had dollar days.  Certain colored tags would be $1.00 on certain days.  I have often found great deals in the past.  When looking at my calendar there was one dollar day that was going to happen before we left.

I went.  My intent was to buy clothes to take with me to then leave.  As I was looking, looking, looking...  would you believe I could not find even one thing that was $1.00 in my size?

How could this be in this huge store?  With this huge inventory?  When I had always found something in the past?

As I continued looking my frustration was also increasing.  I began to notice a prodding in my spirit.  A voice that kept saying over and over...

Give of what you have..... Give of what you have.... Give of what you have...

With having recently returned to work I had an abundance of jeans and t-shirts that I could no longer wear with the frequency of when I was home.  Even so I was tempted to rationalize.

"But God, if I take and leave what I have, that will only leave me with a few pairs at home."  The response?  "And that would still be more than what they have."

I left the story empty handed. 

Even now when thinking back, I am convinced I found nothing that day because I needed to learn an important lesson. 

I need to learn to give of what I have.

Not just material possessions.  I need to give of my time.  Words.  Prayers.  Encouragement.  Life...  It may not seem like much, but it very well could still be more than what someone else may have.

And so my luggage was packed... with items from my own drawers.  Items I already had.

At the end of each day working there, a black bag was filled with what I had been wearing that day.  Not only did I participate, but the plan caught on and both my son and husband participated as well as others from our team.

The mission organization was going to wash those big black bags of clothes and distribute them to the people in the lake area.  Not only were our clothes left.  Some of us even left our shoes and extra suitcases.

I would like to believe that God affirmed our plan, as one of the suitcases we took completely ripped open on the trip.

If we were planning to bring everything back home that we took, this could have been very upsetting.  As it turned out...it was no big deal.  For after we left all that we did, we would have had nothing to put in it when we came home anyway.

And so I challenge you with the same lesson that has resonated in my heart and throughout my days since...

What do you have to give?  In your things, yes.  But what about your time?  Words?  Attitude? Encouragement?  Prayers?  Presence?  Life?...

It may not seem like much, but it just may be exactly what someone else is needing!

My Guatemalan 1/2 Sleeve Tattoo

I went wild in Guatemala!  I ended up with a "1/2 sleeve" tattoo.

While working on our house one day, Olga, the 11 year old niece of the family we were building the house for came and lifted my sleeve.  She showed me the smallest nubbin of an ink pen and then pointed to my arm shyly grinning up at me. 

It didn't take me long to realize that she wanted to draw on my arm.  It didn't take me long to grin back at her and lift my sleeve even higher.

And then she began her work.

She obviously had something in mind.  She was in no rush.  She took her time.  So much time that I continued to translate for the building as best as I could in my very limited Spanish while she continued to work. (our translator had been called away from the building site) 

And she worked...

We were all shocked by the detail of her finished product!  I don't know what I expected, but it wasn't this beauty!

~~~~~
The translation of what she wrote on my arm is this:

"Does Donnetta (she wrote and called me "Toneta") love God?"

And in the heart down below she answered by writing, "Yes, Toneta loves God."
~~~~~

Needless to say, I was more than proud to wear that!!!

We were going back to the house the next day.  I guessed that she might want to see it, so I was very careful in the shower that morning to be sure I didn't scrub it off.

Sure enough.  Not long after arriving on the job the next morning, while talking with someone, I felt the sleeve to my t-shirt creeping up.  I looked and there was Olga.

Her face was in a full grin as she reached up and rubbed my arm.  I reached out and put my hand on hers, returning a full faced grin.

One of our team members had brought his photo printer.  I was able to give her a copy of these pictures.

And how to explain the look on her face when she received those escapes my ability to even begin to put words to it...

I will forever treasure this, my Guatemalan 1/2 sleeve...

Friday's Favorite Five: Perspective

It's another week of recognizing and sharing our favorites hosted by Susanne.   She's posting her 200th Friday Favorite Five today!  Wow Susanne!  Thank you for faithfully inviting us each week to pause and consider favorites in our weeks!  

Feel free to head on over!  

 I found my five favorite things of this last week to be all about perspective.


1. Rain: We went camping last weekend with a group of friends from church... family really. :-) Our first night there we experienced one of the worst thunderstorms I have been in for quite some time. 

The lightening was bright.  The thunder was loud.  The rain was torrential.

In the past I might have become quite frustrated at the mess we were going to encounter come morning.  But instead, as we were in our tent, my thoughts wandered to a place they would not have even weeks ago.  I found my heart swelling in gratefulness as my thoughts drifted to my new friends in Guatemala.

This is their rainy season.  Many of their homes have dirt floors that turn to mud when it rains.  They don't always have warm food to wake to in the morning.  They don't necessarily have a change of warm, dry clothes.  Somehow, during this long, wet night I felt an unexplainable kindred spirit with them... and I found myself so very grateful.

Perspective in the rain.

2. Fresh Cut Grass at the end of a long day:  I was driving home from a long, grueling day at work.  My drive takes me past a few large fields and grassy areas.  It was then that I noticed it.  I slowed my car a bit.  I rolled down the windows.  I inhaled deeply.  The smell of fresh cut fields and grass filled my car. 

I am convinced that so many other times I have probably whizzed right past without even noticing.  That day... I noticed.  You know that sweet, fresh, hard to explain but so wonderfully beautiful smell?....yeah, that one!

Perspective at the end of a long day.


3.  A Sticky Mess:  We had a family ice cream treat earlier this week.  The little guy was given more than we had envisioned it would be when ordering, but we decided to let him go for it.  What a sticky mess!  Hands, face, clothes...

I could have been frustrated at the mess on him, me, us... but I began to think of how grateful I was that we had the funds to buy the treat.  I was mindful that we even had access to the treat.  And that we were all able to enjoy the time of having a treat together, as a family. 

Perspective in a sticky mess.

4.  Exhaustion:  I have been feeling the effects of the last weeks mounting in recent days.  One night this week my husband began to ask me about it.  To learn what I needed.  To ensure that I was "okay".

As I pondered on this the next morning driving to work, I was overwhelmed.  By his recognition of where I find myself.  By his concern.  By his wanting to help me to navigate this if he can.  By his wanting to be available for what I need.  By his love for me. 

The exhaustion led to this, allowing me to be reminded of how very blessed I am with him in my life.  I told him later that night, "Thank you for marrying me."  And I meant it!! Yes, so blessed indeed!


5.  A Long Drive:  We were on our way home.  It was late.  We were tired.  We were ready to be home, but we still had a ways to go.  Had we been closer to home, we may have missed the moments to just sit and take this in.  God's way of saying, "Hello.  Be reminded that I am here."...

Perspective during a long drive.

Gifts...Grace... Perspective!

I could have so easily missed each one of these.  I cringe to think of how much I have missed in the past.


O Lord, help me learn to live more and more with my eyes wide open...

What became favorites in your week?

FFF: Guatemalan Style Part 3: Redefining Blessed

When planning to join with Susanne's Friday's Favorite Five this week, I was again noticing and thankful for more things that we have that those in Guatemala don't have.  I have already shared 2 weeks worth (part 1 and part 2) of favorites regarding the things that have become so very visible to me. 

My list was, once again, going to be including things we have here that those in Guatemala don't have.  As I was noticing these things, living my week, and preparing my list... my perspective began to change.   

This week I have been thankful for those things that I noticed in Guatemala... that I don't always seem to have or even notice. 

This week, these 5 things became favorites for me as I realized...  it may very well be me that misses the blessing and so often does without.  

1. Love:  I experienced a love there that was so very constant.  A love that overcame ANY perceived obstacles.

Meet Kim.  She and I seemed to connect from the moment we met.  We played soccer together.  We shared a story of Jesus together.  We sat together on the bus.  She helped me carry all of the items I was trying to juggle.  We enjoyed each other.

On Sunday morning Kim had come to church and we were sitting next to each other.  My dad was sharing, through a translator, about the death of my brother one week earlier and his decision to still make the trip.

Kim knew he was my dad.  As he was sharing, my tears began.  She put her arm around me and pulled me close, patting my shoulder the whole time.

We were together for a short time.  We are not of the same age group.  She has a tragic family situation.  We are not of the same country or of the same culture.  We do not speak the same language.

Verbally... that is.

The language of Love... she spoke to me.  It came through very clear!  And I loved her back the very best I knew how.  Oh how I learned to love her in that short time!
 

2.Community:  They have a sense of family and community that we largely do without here.  I especially noticed this in the villages around the lake area. 

Often they are born, marry, live, and die in their own village community.  They "do life together" in the truest sense of the word!  There is so much that I could learn from this!


3. Laughter:  I distinctly remembering at one point, when hearing those children laugh, that their laughter sounded just like the children here in the United States.  And with those children it doesn't take much to get that boisterous laughter pouring forth.  Oh how they laugh!

What a beautiful sound!

4. Family of God:  We had the opportunity to attend 2 different church services while there.  One was in Guatemala City on a Sunday morning.  One was a weeknight service in one of the lake villages.

Words don't even begin to describe the experience. We were singing in English (when we knew the words) while they sang that same song in Spanish.  We shared (through a translator) words of hope, truth, promise and blessing to each other. 

Having had this experience, I can't even begin to imagine what heaven will be like!!

Every Nation.  Every Tribe.  Every Tongue.  Together for eternity...

All for His glory!

Be still my heart...

5. Jesus: What a beautiful thing it was to be able to share Jesus... not just to them... but with them!  Whether it was through a simple Bible story or mixing cement together, we were sharing our God that spans across all the differences, any differences... because He loves...

I have considered this week and concluded that if I am not consistently aware of, thankful for, and purposely noticing the above as favorites in my every day's... then maybe I'm not the one so blessed after all.

What about you?  Is it just the material things we have that you find the most blessing in?  Or have you stopped to consider all of the gifts... grace... that we are given that could still remain if every piece of material goods were taken away?

Yes, the greatest blessings and favorites of my week indeed!

Witnessing the Feeding of the 5000... er, um... almost 100

During our time in Guatemala, we spent a day working on a big project that the mission organization we were partnering with needed completed.

They had put out a call to the local's of the need as well.  Many came, volunteering of their time (huge for these people to give up a day of work!) .

At last count the mission organization had figured and heard to have about 68 or so showing up.  The local women of the lake district agreed to make lunch and bring it for all of those in attendance.

God was faithful to send workers!  Instead of the original count, close to 100 ended up showing.  Praise God!

But what about the count for the lunch that had been prepared and brought to the site?  There were only plans of 60 or so...

We had already had one earlier break to give the local men each a piece of bread as most of them had been working without breakfast.  When lunch time came, no one even thought twice about letting them get in line to eat first.

For many of them this would be their only meal of the day.  We, as a team, knew dinner would be waiting for us later in the evening.  Most of them had no such thoughts or hopes.

After all of them had been through the line, there was still food to be served.  The rest of us went through.

We all sat and ate together rejoicing in a hard morning's work and a job accomplished.

And then I noticed it.

Men going back for more food!  No one stopping them.

More.  More.  More.

When we had our full, it was noted... not only was there enough food to feed the almost 100 instead of the 68 that had been expected and prepared for... there were leftovers!

Miracles still happen today!

I wonder... how many times do I miss them because I'm too busy in my own frenzied world to stop and notice?...

FFF: Guatemalan Style Part 2

Once again, my week has been completely overtaken by how much I take for granted!

Joining up with Susanne to share my five favorite things of this past week.  With the smells, sounds, and sights of Guatemala still so very real... I bring to you FFF:  Guatemalan Style... the 2nd part.

{If you missed Part 1, it is here.}


1. Safe Food:  The ability to purchase and eat without concern of intestinal parasites due to no refrigeration.

2.  Education:  The ability to read and write.  I had an English/Spanish dictionary with me, but it was often of no help for them to converse with us.  A lot of them can not read or write.


3.  Electricity Free Showers: Not having to remember not to touch the shower head while in the shower due to the electrical wiring running to it.  (and not having the electrical box in the shower with me.)

4. Hot water:  While in Guatemala... I never had a cold shower.  I never had a hot shower.  Just warm enough to tolerate getting in, getting clean, and getting out.


5. A job... with an income of more than $100/month (average income in the lake area) to support and provide for the family.

Oh so blessed! So overwhelmingly blessed. The question now is how to keep sharing the blessings with others?   I am convinced that I have not been blessed purely for the sake of my own comfort and enjoyment!  It is to be shared and given away...

Have you stopped to consider the blessings and favorites of your week?  Do I dare take that one step farther?.... Have you stopped to consider how to share those very things with others?...