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.
