As I'm sure you remember, Yalu is the remote mountain village I've been working in here in Guatemala. When we first began to work in this area the people were very remote and reserved. They would hardly speak to us or even acknowledge us and that was a bit difficult to figure out how to handle. But as each day has passed they have warmed up to us, talking to us more and more. We've learned since being here that about five years ago some Americans were coming into this village stealing their babies for black market adoptions. They are understandably still very leery of Americans as a result. We are praying every day that they will see that we are reaching out to them for no reason other than we love them because Christ has first loved us. As we spend time with them we pray that this will become very apparent and clear. Every nail that is driven, every screw drilled, every wall replaced, every meal served is another declaration that God loves them and that we are not here to take, but to give.
Today my building team worked at a home of a family that housed several generations together. Here's a video - rough and dirty for sure! - that will show you where I worked today. Enjoy!
Gutemala Housebuilding in Yalu from Jan Owen on Vimeo.
It was wonderful to have them help with the construction. The grandfather helped during the day, being such a gentleman while holding my ladder as I worked on the roof. Before lunch we had replaced the old, rusty section of roofing. I am pleased to say that Melissa (one of our teammates from North Star) and I completed most of this task on our own. It was a good feeling to be able to accomplish something physical that helped this family. You can see our great new roof below:
But for me, today was about being with the people. Melissa and I became very popular, mainly because we are the ones who brought candy (dulce) and stickers (no one in Yalu could tell us a name for these in either Spanish or the local Mayan dialect many of them speak). I used the stickers to bribe them to tell me their name (Comos te llamas?) and how old they were (Cuantos anos?). Then I would translate to English and we had our very own little Spanglish class going on.
Later this afternoon Melissa and I were really without a task to do so we took out the coloring book and crayons I had bought at Target before leaving home. Their faces lit up and they were so excited! And this is what made me cry......
They moved in their only small table, took out their handwoven table cloth, brought in rocks and stumps, crates and little handmade chairs to sit in and sat down to color. Even the mother colored with us! They took such delight in this simple pleasure and treat. We got out stickers and used those and so Melissa and I continued our little English/Spanish lessons, this time using colors. I laughed at Melissa (who knows even less Spanish than I do I think) and said it was her way of getting them to teach HER! So now we know most of our colors!
As we colored children from all over arrived until we had about twelve kids coloring all over the room. Melissa put stickers on her face and so did they. One day if they visit the U.S. they'll wonder why no one is wearing stickers like earrings! We learned their names and ages and communicated as well as we could given that the two of us know very little English and the mother seemed to speak the Mayan dialect mostly. But it was a sweet time and we enjoyed this so much. We gave them the book and crayons as a gift and they treated it as a special treasure. It really touched us and we're already talking about what we could do when we come back to minister to the women of the village who have very hard lives. We would love to make sure that they know that they are created by God for a purpose and loved dearly! You can pray with Melissa and I as we consider how God might want us to step out and minister in this way.
As we left for the day they told us over and over again "Muchas gracias" and when we said "Dios te bendiga" (God bless you), they nodded and smiled. We pray a door has been opened.
That brings me to our prayer request. We will be hosting a block party at Yalu Wednesday night at 5:00 pm. We'll have clothing for them, sing some worship songs in Spanish, do a skit, a puppet show, and share the gospel and then feed them dinner. Please, please pray for their hearts to be open to the good news of Jesus Christ and for our love for them to also be apparent. Please pray that many of them will come to know Christ as their personal Savior tomorrow, that it would indeed be the day of salvation for them.
In closing I want to share with you a picture of me holding Brenda, the little girl that God used so mightily in my life as we worked at Hermano Pedro. Although her body is weak and crippled, her smile is so beautiful. Callie and I both fell in love with her and I felt God's presence in such a vivid way as she smiled up at me.
We are so thankful for your interest, support and prayers. We read your comments and know that you're back home keeping us lifted to the Lord.
I love the video - sounds like you swallowed Minnie Mouse! :D The smile on these faces is priceless, something to treasure. I hope that you're feeling better today. I'm praying for you. Miss you and will see you soon! Love Ya! Debbie
Posted by: Debbie Blackburn | June 10, 2009 at 09:21 AM
Great video- so good to see pictures of some of you.
I pray for the block party to be a continued blessing to each of you and those around you. I pray for the Lord to continue the good work HE has begun in each of you and around you.You are missed but so thankful for ALL the Lord is doing were you are. We praise HIm to continue to use each of you and give you renewed strenght in HIM this day that HE has made for you. We Love you and are so very proud of each of you.
I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them. Isaiah 42:16
Posted by: alice | June 10, 2009 at 10:30 AM
the Children!!!! uuuuuhhhhhhh! Bring me several home with you! They are such a beautiful gift, and it is a blessing to see you in a picture holding Brenda.
I watched the video first and was so struck by the mother coloring. We do these things for 'the kids' all the time, never realizing the adults may never have experienced these things either OR that they may have no creative outlet either.
Missing you very much and praying for you everyday! Love you!!! Dios te bendiga!!!!
Posted by: Stacy Nesselrotte | June 11, 2009 at 06:17 AM