Changed

One whole year in Guatemala has flown by now and I believe the whirlwind has left me (Shane) a changed person, in many ways.

This last week a friend commented that I drive more like a Guatemalan now. Not sure if I should take that as a compliment or not, but you may not want to catch a ride with me when I'm back in Montana. I carry a purse (a man bag here) to town sometimes and am not the least bit embarassed. In fact, purses are actually very practical men. I don't even mind hopping on the back of a motorcyle with another guy now, it's totally normal. The extremely over sugared coffee in the communities does not taste so bad anymore (I've had to get some cavities filled at the dentist though) and for some reason I have not noticed the food being nearly as salty lately (and I should probably get my blood pressure tested).

I'll also see the world through a different pair of glasses now. I've seen first hand that material possessions don't lead to happiness, and though I knew this truth before, I now understand it much better. Related to this, I also understand that poverty is not just a of lack of material things, but of relationships, with God and other people. I also understand much better how every culture has it's evils and goods and how shaped we are from the culture we live in. I've learned the only way to truly sort things out in this world is to better understand God's will revealed in the Bible, this will take a lifetime.

Recently, while doing some surveying in "Caclaib" for a water project I was invited to join the community for a special lunch. It's corn planting season here and communities all plant corn together, taking turns planting eachothers fields. The family that is getting their field planted cooks a special lunch for everyone on that day. I was very grateful to be able to celebrate with them and as I sat at the table not understanding Q'eqchi, I thought about how cool it was that God has placed me here in this tiny community in Guatemala to be a part of their lives. Not a scene I could ever had pictured a year ago, but now a memory that I don't think I'll forget.

Festival de la Familia

As I mentioned in an earlier post I've been participating in our Festival for Families. We go to each of our 15 communities and two dramas are performed. The first is a grumpy, unloving family where dad doesn't interact with his children, orders his wife to bring him food and she shoves her child out of the way as she frantically prepares the meal and cleans house. Laughter is so loud that it's hard to hear the actors at this point. Next Flory, an FH worker, shares about Christ loving the church as a husband should love his wife. Also, children are taught that God commands them to respect their parents. Then a second skit is acted out of a family who is loving and interacting in accordance to these biblical principles. The husband even offers to hold the baby which is so out of the ordinary and foreign that everyone erupts in the loudest burst of laughter yet. I had asked for prayers in this activity and thank you for them. Yesterday, in Chioya a man came to the front of the group and said that he was unable to laugh during the first skit because he was reflecting on how he treats his family. Even though he is a faithful church go-er he hadn't heard about these biblical principles and was convicted to change. Although the majority of people go to church, far too many know little about the Bible, including the Gospel message. Pray that God will help this man, among others, to begin treating his family in a way that brings glory to Himself and that they will accept Jesus. This is a clip from the first drama. It's in the Mayan language but you'll still get the idea.

Getting Personal

Yesterday a few of us went to visit an 84 year old woman, Aura. She fell three weeks ago and hasn't been out of bed since. We sang some songs, visited and finally prayed for her. We wanted to cheer her up and see how she was doing. She has a wood bed, without a mattress or even cushions, and she is wrapped up in some blankets. It's chilly, damp and dark in the modest home. There is a rope hanging from the ceiling, so she can clutch it to pull herself to an upright, sitting position. Aura is in pain and without any medicine to help relieve it.

Initially, I only notice what she doesn't have and feel sorry for her. Then, I start thinking from a different perspective, and I notice what she does have… some food, dry shelter, blankets, a neighbor who is visiting, and her daughter’s care. Although she is in poverty, physically that is, she is blessed through her relationships. She lives with family whom she is around everyday. I’ll bet she likes hearing the kids play out front and the clanging pans as her daughter cooks a meal for the family.

Silence is the enemy in the U.S. For many aging adults (every other age group as well), boredom, isolation, and loneliness is a devastating form of poverty. It is relational poverty and is all too prevalent in the States. As I think about the contrasts between Guatemala and the US, I've realized that to me I’d rather be in pain and near people I love as opposed to being drugged up and feeling good but all alone in my final years of life.

When Adam and Eve chose to sin, all areas of life are affected…including our relationships with each other. Fortunately, through Jesus ALL things, even relationships, can be reconciled. When the book of Acts describes the church growing by thousands, I think this is due to relationships. Christians were close, sharing time, conversation, debate, and were also reaching out and showing Christ's love to others.

I urge you to consider poverty from the relational rather than the physical standpoint As you are reading, does anyone come to mind when thinking about this form of poverty? Put the busyness of life aside and give them a call or better yet…stop by.

Workin' for a livin' or workin' for more?

Kallie and I definitely get our fair share of praises for being in Guatemala. We often hear things like "I'm so proud of you for following God's call to Guatemala, I could never do that", "Thanks for giving up an immediate career out of college to serve God overseas", or "You guys are so awsome for doing what you are doing". But though the compliments are nice, something has always struck me as a little off.

I think many Christians have the idea, whether consciencely or unconsciencely, that the best Christians have given up a normal job to enter into full-time ministry; but this is simply not true. There is a couple of articles written by Bob Thune on "The Theology of Work" that I found very helpful to understand how God wants us to see work. I think they are biblical insights that are both encouraging and challenging (and short for those busy with work). Follow the links below...

What are you called to do?
Created For Work
Work Cursed and Redeemed

The fourth article will probably be posted tomorrow.

What's your method?

I was just asked by the pastor of our church, "Are you unable to have children or are you using birthcontrol and, if so, what type?" Wow, very straightforward. Keep in mind we´ve barely spoken with the pastor pryor to this. This isn´t the first time I´ve been asked this, but it still surprises me everytime. The majority of the men in our office have asked me this same question followed by, "Does Shane know you are preventing pregnancy?"

In many of the communities the man is completely incharge and makes all the decisions without regarding his wife's desires. Normally within a year of the wedding a couple will have their first child so when it is discovered we've been married almost four years and don't have children people are curious. At times a woman who has more kids than her husband can provide for will secretly take things into her own hands since birth control is free at the public health centers; hence the question about Shane's knowledge of the situation.

This question stems from two roots, one, pure curiousity (our pastor) and two, the belief that women don't have rights and shouldn't. As one may assume, this idea of women not having worth has a very negative impact on families. This question takes me off guard everytime, but has been a great way to talk about how God views marriage and women.

This month we are putting on skits and dramas (people LOVE these) and sharing what the Bible says about the family in all 15 communities. Pray that God will opens hearts, especially the fathers, as we address family issues with His Word as our guide.

Let the Good Times Roll

We were blessed with back to back visitors last month. Scott and Nancy
(Shane's parents) came for two weeks followed by a two week visit from
Mindy (Kallie's sister) and Charlie. We loved spending time with them
since we have only seen one family member in 10 months, which is way
too long.

With the Hoffner's we used a few vacation days to see Tikal, the
famous Mayan ruins which are so extensive we only saw half of it in 5
hours. In the U.S. I would expect everything to be roped off so the
structures could be "properly preserved" but instead we could walk
through them, climb them (at our own risk and peril), and touch them. I wasn't expecting them to be anywhere near as cool as they are. We also camped and explored some caves where Mayan's had once carried out religious ceremonies and lived, this seemed like a good idea until I saw hundreds of little bats hung upside down. Our puppy, Scout, didn't wake them, though, and our first spelunking experience was a good one.

With our next guests we headed east, ditched our car at the base of a river and canoed with Mindy and Charlie to Livingston. A ship of Nigerian slaves wrecked off Guatemala's coast a long time ago and still to this day there isn't a single road going into this area. This people group is called Garifunas and many of them even speak English along with Spanish and Garifuna. We ate delicious seafood, hiked and kayaked.


Many Guatemalans are busy with birthday parties or weddings of family members (extended family out to 4th or 5th cousins) almost every weekend it seems, and so making friends is a slower process. Therefore, we loved spending our evenings playing cards, cooking together and just being able to spend time with family.

How much?

Here it comes. I cringe as I anticipate the question that so often gets asked. How much did that cost? Even when we made a fellow staff member meatball subs for dinner he asked, "how much did these cost to make?" Really? Why do you want to know? Are you considering making them, are you just curious, or are you being nosy? People have asked how much our dog cost before they even cared to kow what kind he is. These are the questions we have grappled with and, in the midst of a different culture, we don't always know what to think.

We think one reason behind this question is an idea that everyone in the States are born very rich and there is a curisosity to know how rich. Blame it on Hollywood I guess, but because of this we are always trying to avoid this blunt question. My co workers can hardly even believe that we don't have a house back in Montana just waiting for us and many have asked me, "why don`t your parents buy you one?" I'll be sure and put that on my Christmas wish list next year.

Although I am not a fan of this question, it has made me think twice before I buy something. Many know that I am already a tight wad, but I still end up accumulating a bunch of things that I really have no need for. While around so much poverty my idea of needs and wants has definitely been challenged. For instance, a refrigerator or hot water is not a household need, it's a blessing from God. Don't get me wrong, the solution to poverty isn`t about redistributing resources, but I find that I'm noticing more of all the Bible verses about money I typically haven't lingered upon.