Guatemala Short-term Missions trip

Day 3

Today we woke up and met for breakfast at 7am at the hotel. Breakfast for us is a good place to get to know one another in a personal way through conversations and simply passing food to one another. (Our rides to and from the sites act the same as well, as venues to simply know one another.) Then after breakfast, we packed up and met at the truck in our matching shirts from Bethel Ministries for a devotional led by Nick (our missionary), before we left for the site where we were to distribute wheelchairs to those who can’t afford them. The devotional was about the man at the pool of Bethesda and realizing that we are not only giving wheelchairs to these people who are marginalized, but giving them dignity and kindness.

At the facility where wheelchairs were given we had so many thanks from people receiving and so much patience as we tried to modify wheelchairs to fit properly to each person. Some of us didn’t know what we were doing but God was with us as was his promise in the great commission. We definitely learned how blessed we are and how God provides in even the toughest of circumstances. We’ve never seen so many grateful faces.

Then we had lunch in a mini soccer field next to the Rec center, and afterward we got back to distributing wheelchairs. Also, there were a series of pastors from local churches who were praying for those individuals that we had built the wheelchairs for. The hope was that these men would be able to make our ministry whole and tie our work to God, and in doing so glorify him.

These men were particularly interesting, as it had been explained to us that there is a large population of illiterate people in Guatemala, and it begged the question how did these men direct their congregations to God’s word, when that word is primarily communicated through writing on a page? How did this change their focus and priorities as ministers of the word? As such we asked them about this over lunch, and very kindly they explained that while not all can read, all can listen. So their strategy was to not only faithfully preach the word, but to also encourage congregants of theirs that could read to read to those who couldn’t. In other words, they encouraged their members to come together in small groups, and to disciple one another, just like we do. It was greatly encouraging to know that despite all the differences, the heart of the local church was the same, individual believers guiding one another in their walk with the Lord.

After our day, we all gathered again for dinner and devotions and got to bed early so we could prepare our hearts and minds for tomorrow’s home building work and for our many home visits. Pray that we are safe on the construction site, and pray the the Holy Spirit speaks directly to the hearts and minds of those we visit tomorrow. Thanks for your prayers Grace!