Sunday Worship and Chichicastenengo

The Lifting Hearts Team overlooking beautiful Lake Atitlan

Many of us slept a short night with our bodies being used to two hours earlier back home.  Even though the clock moved back an hour in Indiana, I was awake at 3:45 a.m. and did not fall back to sleep.

Not to be discouraged I spent the time building a playlist on Spotify.  There are some comforts from home we can enjoy here.  The showers at Cacique Inn are nice, hot, powerful and spacious.

Breakfast was served at 7:30 a.m. and we enjoyed omelets, pancakes, fruit plates and eggs made to order. Michele and I offered the morning devotions that were from the mission book we studied in preparation for the trip. we were reminded to not behave like tourists, but as pilgrims.  We are going to try and be aware that God is ever present and in every conversation, every meeting.  We are to reflect on each encounter and be transformed by this reflective process.

ZUMC Worship on Skype

Our first encounter was with ZUMC!  We worshiped with our church family via Skype!  It was fun and meaningful.  Rev. Tom Heaton, executive director for Mission Guatemala was interviewed along with myself and Dr. Jill Wilson representing the team.  Tom prayed the pastoral prayer on this All Saints Sunday.  We were moved by the tolling of the bell as we each heard the names of loved ones who passed away this year. I was particularly moved as we sang "Above All."  I thought of our friend Doug Benge who had lead us in this song many times before he became ill.  Sweet memory filled me.  Pastor Glenn's sermon on "hope" was great.  We will face much suffering here. I will be expecting to see hope in the midst, even if it is our presence.

We spent the afternoon at the large outdoor market in Chichicastenengo. Merchants sold their colorful wares and shoe shine boys worked the streets.  Hard working people walk up and down the streets trying to entice passersby to purchase something they carry.  Many children support their families by trying to sell trinkets at the market.  All around families are working together, eating together, laughing and living.  It was a colorful place.

Market at Chichicastenengo

Chichi was difficult for many of us because of the constant approaches from vendors.  Words we used to describe this difficulty were "conflicted," "colorful contradictions," and "torn."  We felt for their need to sell and provide for themselves and their families, but there was no possible way to care for them all.  Not to mention, we didn't need what they were selling.  If was hard to connect at any personal level when there was the continual pitch.

We desire to greet each person with the knowledge that God is somehow a part of the encounter, that Christ is in them and in us as we speak. I found that i was often defensive and unable to connect at a human level.  But there were three occasions when we moved beyond an economic transaction to learning names and sharing smiles and a few words of kindness.  The most significant for me was hearing a vendor call, "Hey pastor!" I turned to him and he asked if I had been here before. He said he knew me.  I doubted that, but asked how he might know me. He said that he remembered me from installing a stove.  That was a year ago!  I was stunned. He said he was going to be meeting another team in his village in April 2013.  I wonder if it will be ZUMC's spring break team?

God is at work in Guatemala.  We support an excellent life changing mission with Tom Heaton.  I feel very good about this partnership.  Tonight Tom made us aware of the feeding programs they are starting at local schools.  Some students are not able to concentrate or stay awake for lack of proper nutrition.  Tom stated confidently that a church like ZUMC could easily feed 100 children a good meal every day in Guatemala. The cost would equate to around $14,000 per year.  People on this team are praying about this vision to care for 100 kids and their health.

Good thoughts.  LIFT lives!

Pastor Scott