Can't help them all

Every conversation with Paul Townsend provides small jewels of wisdom or counsel. I often call him My Apostle Paul, but he would be angry with such a comparison. Today Paul took the time to tell us a little about Chajul. He often stops, moved to tears as he recalls some of the people who gave their lives to preserve God’s word during the war. The list of those killed because of who they called their King – is numbing.

This afternoon, in the quiet of his office, he broke our hearts with a story that runs parallel to our stay in the Ixil. A young shoeless shoe shine boy stuck his head in the office and Paul politely shooed him away. As he stared at the empty doorway, he said, “That was Manuel. He started coming around here a while back – wanting to shine my shoes. I paid him little attention at first.  Then I let him shine my shoes, and I learned a little about him. Sometimes I would give him a little soup which he would wolf down to fill his starving stomach. Over time I got to know him a bit and went to visit his home - such an extremely poor family, even by Ixil standards! Today I made arrangements to pay for his education; in January he will begin classes at the Christian School. I took him to Nebaj and purchased a pair of shoes and a shirt for him and his little brother. He was so pleased.” As he turned his eyes back from the empty doorway, I asked him, “With all this need everywhere you turn, how do you decide who to help and who to say no to?” He replied, “You can’t help them all. The Ixil people have one of the highest levels of malnutrition in the world. I have people coming to my door all the time – asking for food, asking for money, asking for medicine for a sick baby. You just have to say no sometimes. I’ve had people come back and tell me – thanks a lot - because you did not give me medicine for my baby, my baby died. It is hard, but you have to compartmentalize it. Sometimes God puts people in my path that I feel a overwhelming conviction to help. You just can’t help them all.”  

When there is such abundance back at home in the States, it is hard to accept that we cannot at least help more of these beautiful people. I pray that W.I.N.D. can help in some small way. With a focus on providing affordable quality Christian education, it might help a little. But I guess you can’t help them all. Oh God, give us a passion for the oppressed, the poor and the widowed.

But the Church grew

From my journal… We met today with a man named Ramando. He the Director of a Christian School in Chajul. It is connected with to the local Methodist Church. He showed us around his Church and we toured the school. Then we finished up in a beautiful sanctuary where about 600 people cram into the pews every Sunday for a 6am service (which last two hours – mas o menos). They have home groups and offer a VBS program.

He told us a little about the history of the church – specifically around the war years. He showed us an interesting looking garden area. Apparently during the war – the army forbade them to go to the river to hold baptisms. So they built this tub like structure behind the church. There they continued to secretly hold baptisms until the war was over. After the war they filled it with dirt and planted a garden. From it new life continues to emerge. During the war, everyone needed to be inside their homes before dark. Ramando explained how the army would scatter empty cans all around. In the pitch black of night if the soldiers heard the cans being kicked, they would start shooting. The next morning they would often find dead dogs which had been shot as a result. Sometime there were friends who had stumbled on the cans on their way to the bano during the night. They were shot and often killed as well. He told of the instance when one night the Army hung a dead body over the doorway of the church – saying that only death mattered. The Church did not matter - it was a waste of time. He said; “The army was trying to destroy the church. But the Church grew during this time. God can not be deterred. To this we said, Amen.

Rich

Open Door

Open Door

This is a picture of a door leading to a classroom in the current space being used for the Christian School in Cotzal; 82 students, grades 1-6 being taught under a leaking roof in dank facilities. The parents of these children have decided it is worth the 25Q per month (about $3) to have their children in a Christian learning environment. Public education would be free – but the public education is not effective. So they dig deep into their limited budget and pay the 25Q. If a family cannot come up with the 25Q, Tabita and the teachers quietly help cover their cost. They do not turn anyone away who wants to learn. Sadly, as the children learn to read and write, the number of students drops off as the parents feel they have learned what they need to know. But Tabita and her staff tirelessly work to inspire the students.

God led us to Cotzal. He called us to raise the education level of the people in the Ixil. He led us to Tabita, a real saint to the children she teaches. He showed us the way to this open door to new possibilities – an open door to making a difference to the children of Cotzal. An open door to bringing a better tomorrow to a region weighted down by years of war and oppression. But what? How? With what resources?

The real question is:  Do I have the faith required to jump in with both feet and say yes, we trust that God will provide the financial resources required to build a new school? Or would I rather hedge my bet and throw in a few dollars to provide materials and perhaps scholarships?  A question of faith?!  If I feel called, why would I doubt that the resources would be made available – and in abundance!  It requires a kind of “Sun Stand Still” faith to make it happen.  Do I have the confidence to look Tabita in the eye and say, “I believe God will raise the necessary money to build a school where He will be glorified.  Let’s get started!”  It is a question of faith, is it not?

Amanda sent me an email asking what was I doing on 11/11/11 at 11:11am. I was literally standing at the open door way of Tabita’s home – being invited in to hear her story. I believe we were being invited to take part in a new chapter. I invite you to join us on an 11:11 path of prayer. Everyday – when you can think about it – join us at 11:11am in prayer for the children of Cotzal. I trust God will tell you how to pray. I believe that amazing things will begin to happen. When God whispers a reply, I ask you to drop us a note and tell us what you heard.

Rich

If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14

Tabita

November 11, 2011

We entered the day without plans or objectives. Over breakfast we decided to discuss the plans for the day and we both had been given the same idea for the day – the need to connect with the director of a Christian School in Cotzal. Clear leading. So we postponed our trip out of Nebaj and set out trying to find a way to connect with the director, Tabita. Within a half hour we had an appointment to meet with her in Cotzal at 11am. Clear leading.

Tabita runs a Christian School for students in grades 1 – 6. She operates the school on a shoestring budget – in fact her teachers do not receive compensation most of the time. The school is a shared/loaned space with a leaky roof and one very nasty bathroom (for all the students and their teachers).  She has 82 students enrolled who each pay 25Q per month for enrollment (about $3).  

A little about Tabita – her father was a prominent pastor in Cotzal in the 1980’s. This was at the height of the war. He was one of the many unfortunate who were caught in the middle.  He would go out to the villages and preach, where the Guerillas would think he was a spy of the army. He would go back to Cotzal to his home church and the Army would think he was a spy for the Guerillas. Somewhere in between he was executed in 1983. Somehow Tabita was able to rise above her difficult upbringing and get herself an education. Eventually she earned a Licenciaturo en Adminstracion Educativa degree. She felt called back to help the children of Cotzal, so 11 years ago she returned to teach.

Tabita recently organized some times of prayer in the community of Cotzal. She was able to get 20 churches in Cotzal to open their doors for prayer. Then at 5pm for 5 minutes the entire town came out and prayed for their pueblo 2 Chronicles 7:14 - If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Please join us in praying about what role WIND might have in enhancing the learning environment for this school. We have felt lead to this doorstep, and we have found an open door with a huge need awaiting us on the other side.

Jacinto Perez graduation

Nov 5, 2011

Today was the Graduation for Jorai (the Bible institute in Cotzal). Only one student graduated from the Diplomado Program this year. Jacinto Perez, the pastor of a Methodist Church in Cotzal, completed his third year of studies and earned a Diplomado Degree. Twelve individuals completed their second year and fourteen individuals completed their first year. The day started with a devotional time for all the students, teachers and staff of the program. This was a time of speeches and a sermon, prayer and thanks. We had the opportunity to say a few words on behalf of WIND and extended our congratulations from all of the supporters of the program.

I would like to put a few things into perspective here as it relates to what WIND is supporting at Jorai. Jacinto Perez has been the pastor of the Methodist Church for six years. He is a married man with six children. Every Sunday and Wednesday, in front of 50 – 60 of his flock, he preaches a sermon at his church. He is a man of very little education whose only requirement for acceptance into the program at Jorai was the ability to read (some) and write (some). His education the last three years at Jorai is the only formal education he has ever had. The degree he received, the Diplomado, is the equivalent to a sixth grade education. The Diplomado program offers very basic fill-in-the-blank Bible teaching. It is provided to pastors and individuals in the church who wish to obtain a greater understanding of the Bible. It does not offer any deep theological training. For Jacinto, the past three years has opened his eyes to the Bible which he has been teaching. By any standards of man, he is under prepared to lead his growing congregation. He remains hungry to learn more, but his economic situation does not make this possible. Through WIND, he was able to get some initial training and has a strong desire to continue if finances make it possible in the future. He sends his deepest appreciation to all the WIND supporters, and as he looked at us with emotion of the day written on his face he said, “You are an answer to my prayers.”

Jacinto was so very proud of his degree. His family and friends packed his church for the graduation ceremony. He held the diploma in his hands as if it were the greatest treasure ever received. At one point during the ceremony, his emotions got the best of him and he covered his eyes  as tears streaked down his face. He gave thanks to God for his education. Perhaps today Jacinto is a little more enlightened to the truth of God’s Word. It was a most amazing day and a great celebration.

Poco a poco

November 2, 2011

This chill time in Guatemala has been good. My head hurts from my two hours of intense Spanish lessons. Guillermo, my Spanish teacher, ends each session with the phrase “poco o poco”. Little by little. I pray for the pouring down of the Holy Spirit and a miracle of tongues – preferably Spanish. But nothing.

Today I wrestled with a question from our morning Bible Study.  It related to how the Christians in Jerusalem felt about the newly converted Gentile Christians during the Apostle Paul’s time of ministry. The Christians in Jerusalem were Jews – God’s chosen people. It was clearly recorded in all of their sacred scriptures that God had set them apart. He had promised them great things. He had led them to victory over their enemies. He had rescued them from slavery. He was their God! They were having a hard time with this new way of thinking and letting go of the old law; that Jesus had come to save more than the Jewish converts.

The Gentile Christians had not received all the formal training. Paul had shown up one day and told them the good news of Jesus Christ. They had listened – they had heard - they had accepted – they had been baptized. Then Paul and his mission team had departed. The new believers did not have the NIV Study Bible to help them in their newly found faith. They only had Paul’s testimony and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. They had little of the history of the Old Testament.  Sure, Paul would return to encourage them. But they were left to learn on their own. I can certainly understand why the Jewish Christians felt like their way was the best.

 I fast forward to our work in the Quiche region. I once asked a man in Cajixay, who had recently given his life to Christ, how he gains his knowledge about living a Christian life. He looked at me, then his gaze returned back to the surrounding mountains – and he slowly pointed to the sky and said, “From the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit teaches me and convicts me.”