Guatemala Short-term Missions trip

Day 4

Today was the first day our team worked in two separate groups. One group went to pour the foundation of the second house being built and the other group went to visit Guatemalans in three separate homes in the same area. 

Maria
We met with Maria in what she hopes will be her future home. From the outside looking in you maybe wouldn’t know that’s what it is intended to be. Four walls of concrete block and nothing else. But the land is hers and in Guatemala that is a lot. She is 50 years old with three adult children - her husband left when the children were young and her oldest child was recently killed. The church she attends built the four walls of her home but can’t currently finish the rest. She rents living space from a family member but her job of selling bread and cheese only brings in enough money to cover her rent, and sometimes food for herself. Maria needs a roof, a floor, a toilet, and windows for her home, as well as food, until she can get into her home permanently and no longer needs to pay rent.

Romelia
The first thing we noticed when we pulled up to Romelia’s home was a sign outside the door that said ‘Dios es Amor’ - God is love. The home had many children running around, as well as dogs and chickens. The space we sat in might have been 8 x 20 to offer some perspective. Romelia is 63 and is grandma to 8 grandchildren, 6 of which live with her without their mother and father in the picture. She works at markets for about 3 hours at the end of each day and comes home with about $1.50. The children are not in school as she doesn’t make enough money to send them, and the mother will often show up and take them from the home, living on the streets with them until she then returns them back to Romelia who acts as both grandmother and mother. Her husband passed away 9 years ago but she does have some help as she has two other daughters who also live in the home, one of which has two kids of her own. She has diabetes that is uncontrolled. She is behind in rent. Their home hasn’t had electricity in a year because it burnt up (charred light fixtures were still hanging from the ceiling). Even though Romelia attends church infrequently, she brings the grandchildren to many church events. 

Deena
Deena is 66 and a retired nurse. Sadly, instead of her long career ending in celebration, it ended in her being bullied out of her job because at her ‘older age’ she was no longer seen as useful. She has an adult son and a daughter. Her daughter Daisy lives with her. Daisy lost a son when he was a month old due to health problems and her husband left shortly after. Deena’s son does not live with them but his 16 year old daughter Diana does. Diana’s parents abandoned her after a tumultuous marriage and long court battle over child custody. Diana has been able to stay in school and is a junior. She is hoping to study Business Administration and Finance. Deena used to own her own land but when the bullying at work forced her out of her job, she ended up having to move as well. Three months later she began having several health problems - high blood pressure, Parkinsons, and most recently was diagnosed with Alzheimers. Because of her longtime work in healthcare she has a decent retirement income (very uncommon in Guatemala) but because of her health problems and large debt, that money is not enough. She continues to need more healthcare examinations with her most recent diagnosis but those can only be performed in Guatemala City. This requires money for travel, food, hotel, etc. With her Alzheimers diagnosis, she spoke with Ben (one of our missionary partners here) about her fear of losing her salvation. 

It’s impossible to read through these situations and not feel the weight of these burdens. Yet, in each situation, these women were able to talk with our group about how their hope was in God and how they knew He loved them. They were so grateful for what they had even though it was so little. Sweet Diana (the 16 year old in the last home we visited) even snuck away to the store to get cookies and lemonade to serve us while we were there. Not only was the treat refreshing on a warm afternoon, but so was the smile and the joy that exuded from her in doing so. We were there hearing of tremendous need and yet she took joy in serving us. 

As we continued in Matthew 5 tonight, Diana, as well as many others we’ve met here, came to mind.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. - Matthew 5:6-8

Tomorrow our team will split up again: more home visits and we will put the walls up and complete the first of the two homes.