Reflections

October 25, 2012

Reflections

Tomorrow I leave Guatemala, ending my 20^th trip to the highlands over an 8 year period. Each and every trip has made a lasting impression which has shaped who I have become and who I am becoming.  I have cried. I have laughed. I have been humbled. I have been educated. And I have made lifelong friends on this journey. I have come to know our Lord like never before and have embraced the call He has placed upon my life. I am blessed, so very blessed by this mission.

Life in the Ixil is nothing like life in the States. I refuse to state the obvious impact of generations of oppression, war, isolation and poverty. That story is over told. Instead, my mind is focused on the unbelievable determination of a local indigenous leader who is driven to make a difference. Tabita Juana Toma de la Cruz. Her rock solid resolve to change a community for Jesus Christ is unwavering. Her story is made for TV – growing up without during a savage civil war; daughter of a prominent evangelical pastor who was executed for his beliefs when she was but 15. Beating the odds and escaping the chains of war and oppression. Getting educated in a culture that inhibits opportunity for women. Faced with choices, she defied the norm and decided to return to Cotzal – for the children; to lead the charge to provide a way up through education. She defines the term “street saint.”

God gave Tabita a vision in 2006 to start a private Christian School in Cotzal. Without resources, without a building, without teachers, without a recognized organization, she put up signs promoting the new school. She moved forward out of obedience, with great faith and abundant prayer. Twenty parents embraced her vision and signed their children up to begin classes in January of 2007. She scrambled to find classroom space, become recognized by the Ministry of Education and find teachers willing to work for nothing. Colegio Horeb had become a reality. Tabita gives all thanks to God.

Today, five years later, I watched as eight children graduated from 6^th grade. Six of the eight are girls, each with the intention of continuing on in their education.  In all, 86 children attended the school this past year (grades 1-6). W.I.N.D of God had the opportunity to come alongside Tabita this past year, providing financial support which allows the school to remain functioning. God led us to Tabita’s doorstep at the perfect time. It is an honor to be used by God in this way.

I am excited to get home tomorrow. Spending time with Tabita can only inspire. Her vision includes continued growth, the acquisition of property and the construction of a new school for the children. I am anxious to continue to tell this amazing story to W.I.N.D. donors and invite them to join into this amazing story.

Our Friend Don

July 6^th

I find myself thinking about a Guatemalan friend who passed away last Saturday. Don Langley (also known as Popi) lived in Nebaj. He operated a little restaurant which catered to gringos who might pass through the area. He also founded a non-profit called Mayan Hope which operated a little Special Needs School. We were told he went into the Nebaj hospital with stomach pain, was transferred to Quiche and died a couple of days later. He was in great pain when we last saw him in June. Of course he was still smoking like a chimney.

Don was a friend to many of the local gringos who lived short-term in Nebaj. It took a little while to warm up to him when we first met him. I would describe him as gruff; a man with an interesting history, perhaps coming to Guatemala to hide away or to escape the insanity of the world. He was quite opinionated about current Guatemalan politics. He followed Buddha for awhile and explored other religions, but chose none. He loved cooking. Each year he would prepare a huge gringo Thanksgiving feast, always making enough to take plates to the jail. His apple pie was the talk of the town. He cherished his rare orchids. He loved the children in the community, particularly those with special needs. He raised ducks.  He housed strangers, and hired only local people (even when he did not need the help). He took in stray dogs and cats. I do not think he ever cared what people thought of him.

Don would sit with us as we ate, a cigarette constantly hanging from his lips. He always seemed glad to see us again. I never told him the role he had in forming the identity of WIND. Once on one of our early visits, he told us of his founding of the special needs school. Nancy asked him, “Why did you decide to start the school?” He stared at us and paused, letting his eyes move to each of us and looking as if we had just asked the dumbest question in the world. I will never forget that look. Then he answered, “Because they needed it.” And with that he turned and walked back to the kitchen, leaving a cloud of smoke in his wake. Such simple wisdom! They needed a school, so he started one. Later as we were forming our thoughts for WIND of God, those words returned to me during a fitful night of sleep. WIND became an acronym - When It Needs Doing became our charge.

I will again be in Nebaj in a few days time. It will not be the same without Don. I hope to visit his grave site and spend a few minutes in remembrance. I will miss Don. I will miss his awesome Taco Burritos. Don will not make any church honor roles, will never be recognized as a missionary. But he impacted so many people in his years in Nebaj.  The wake he made in life touched many – even this sojourner.

Looking forward to 2012

Dear Friends of WIND,

I enter 2012 full of excitement for what God is doing through the growing W.I.N.D. of God  ministry. It was so exciting for Maurina and me to participate in the graduation ceremonies in Cotzal this past November. I had many opportunities to visit with students and family members – and every one of them wanted me to extend their heartfelt thanks to all the supporters back home.  Without the support from many of the individuals on this distribution list, none of this would have been possible.

We joined in a celebration for 18 men and women who graduated from the Bible and Pastor training programs. It is difficult to put into words, but the ministry is so much bigger than the education of these 18 students.  Eight teachers received an income due to the program. However the incredible thing is the out pouring of community support for the graduates. The churches were packed out with family and friends of the graduates.  It was literally standing room only for the three hour event, a very  festive occasion. It was a privilege to represent all of our supporters  during my “extended greeting” at the ceremony. 

W.I.N.D of God continues to grow as we attempt to meet the needs in the Ixil. We will be expanding both our Bible Training and Pastor Training programs next year. This will result in a record number of students involved in these programs. We are very excited about a new relationship we are building with a private Christian primary school in Cotzal. Consider these facts:

·         The average Indigenous Mayan only has 2.5 years of education.

·         Only three of ten children (30%) graduate from sixth grade.

·         Only 39% of Mayan women are considered literate.

·         Only 54% of Mayan girls will ever enter school.  

Our initial plan is to help support the dedicated teachers who very seldom receive any income due to lack of resources. We are praying about our potential role in constructing a building for the school (they currently meet in rented space that provides a bleak learning environment at best). And if we dared to dream, the future school would provide a holistic approach toward serving the entire family. Our son Jordan will be teaching English at the school for the next three months. This will give us a much needed on-the-ground evaluation of the school and curriculum. You can keep tabs on his journey at: www.jordanrichardrice.blogspot.com.

Thank you very much for your ongoing support. Be assured that your contributions make a significant difference to the education process in this region.  I look forward to providing you with future updates on all these exciting projects as the year progresses.

Dream with me

Although primary school attendance is compulsory in Guatemala, starting at age seven, only one-half of those Mayan girls of primary-school age, who are classified as extremely poor, have entered school. Fewer than 10 percent of these girls aged 13–24 who entered primary school have completed the sixth grade, and just 14 percent of these primary-school graduates have ever enrolled in secondary school.

So let me do the math for us.

Start with 100 economically poor Mayan girls age 7.

50 will enter primary school.

5 will graduate from primary school.

1 might go onto secondary school.

Acceptable? Dare to dream with me. What if we could change this paradigm - even slightly. According to a 2002 census, Cotzal has a population of 9,037 people (the municipality which includes the outlying villages has a total population of slightly more than 30,000 people). With the Lords help – dealing with one family situation at a time – what if we were able to achieve a 100% primary graduation rate for girls who enter the program. We would see lasting change that would impact every aspect of the community within two generations.

Something to throw into the dream machine.