The little town of Xenacoj, Guatemala is gorgeous. It's set in the mountains near Antigua and Guatemala City, but that's not why it captivates the soul.
It's the people in this remote place that take your breath away.
The little old men who say "buenas!" with a smile whenever you pass them. Carla and the other children who beg you to play with them even though they've never met you before. The women with their long dark hair tied up into lavish knots, gracing the street with their exquisite and elaborate clothing. The whole town proceeding down the road at sunset towards the cemetery to honor a friend who had just passed away.
Also, our host, German, who yells, "Wazzup Foo'!" out his front door at close friends. German's wife, Susie, makes us 3 filling meals a day, and that woman can cook! They have 6 children, and German dearly loves his family as well as the whole of Xenacoj. He works tirelessly for this town, constantly visiting widows, helping people move, encouraging kids to go to school, feeding kids, etc. His heart bleeds for his community. In him, we get to see the heart of Christ, a heart set on fire for these people.
Yesterday, German got very choked up over a widow, Linda, and her 5 children (pictured below). He has carried the family through very hard times, and is trying to get the kids enrolled in school. We helped them move to a different home yesterday. Despite all is care for them, he felt convicted about his harshness in tone and frustration towards them sometimes; it made him break down, because he wants to be the love of Christ to them.
There is beauty in the broken people of this place, also. We know that Jesus sees their pain and is there with them in it. German tries to remind them of that, and many of the widows know His love and provision very well. We've met so many people in complicated situations, but these are some that weigh on my heart. Please send up a prayer for them this week:
–Linda and her 5 children: Linda is 31 and considered a widow; she will likely never remarry. The family was abandoned by their father, and we just helped them move to a new part of town yesterday. Pray that Linda may understand the importance of school, and that her kids may get to go and enjoy it. They are supposed to start tomorrow, and it will be first grade for all of them, even Aura who is 14.
–Diego, Maria Raquel, Magdalena Susana, and Juan Pablo – They are 4 kids that recently lost their father. Their mother has to work often and the house is such a disaster (i.e. chickens, clothes, food everywhere) that the baby is getting sick. Pray that they can have some relief from their poverty. Diego (age 10) is also smart and responsible and loves school – pray he (and his siblings) may continue to study and grow.
–Fellipa – She is an older widow crushed by loneliness and sadness. 3 of her children are fighting over a piece of land, and it is breaking her heart. She sobbed and clung to us as soon as we showed up and was so grateful for someone to share her pain with. We plan to return next week to hopefully bring here some more comfort.
–Sergio – He works at the internet cafe, but has some kind of leg issue or injury. Although our interactions with him have been brief, he caught my heart, and I am praying his leg is healed.
Team update: My whole team is doing well. I had some kind of food poisoning a few days ago, but it wasn't too bad and I'm better now. The 7 of us are getting along very well in our little cinderblock house. We are learned to bucket shower and hang our laundry. We are trying to find more ways to serve and love this community. We are wanting to return to some of the widows to paint their nails and wash their feet and talk with them. We start feeding the school children breakfast tomorrow, and we hope to be able to love on them also. Even though there are happy families here, many are hurting and love is needed here.
Thanks for your prayers and support! Send me an email if you have a chance ([email protected])! When I see it in my inbox, it is a little bomb of joy!
