Monday: Work in Zapote and Membrillal

Riding in the back of the church’s pickup truck, with a tarp blanket, Mike and I were talking about our past experiences here in Guatemala. As we drove, I remembered landmarks and sights I have seen in years past, but one in particular brought me right back to where I’ve always been emotionally and spiritually while in this beautiful country. As we approached it, I told Mike how it was that stretch of road that broke my heart for these people. We hit the end of the pavement and started down the dirt road through the jungle and it broke me again.

I’ll try with my feeble words to paint the picture. The road is filled with people, seemingly busy, but likely not going anywhere, because the time of day indicated they had no work. Trash, feet deep and wide, poured from the street into the fields. The picture of poverty.

This was all before we even got to our work site in Zapote. We stopped at the school in Zapote to drop off enough spaghetti noodles to feed a small army, then headed to the church. When we arrived, we carried our tools and bricks from the church to a nearby house. This house was lived in by a lady and her 3 children. She was without a husband or other provider, and often went without work, and out of necessity had sold a stove the church had already made for her. This was her second chance – she was being shown grace and mercy by the church because it was necessary. We are, after all, commanded to care for the orphans and widows. Once the reality of the situation was made known to us all, it was a somber team.

We built the stove, working as a team and trading off roles and responsibilities, and once completed, grabbed a sandwich. We then installed a really incredible solar lighting system in the church and the pastor’s home. We also installed the same system on the house the Risen Life Church team had built last year (remember the incredible electrical work we did there guys? Needless to say it went out every time it rained.) While Steve and Matt did the installation, the rest of the team canvassed most of the village, handing out tracts and invitation cards. Many people knew the church well, and it was a really great experience to bring good news to people so far from the comforts of a city, or even a grocery store.

Today, I felt at home. Like I was making a difference. Like God intended me to be here. Truths that humble me.

Greg

Today our team was divided into two groups – twelve of us went to Membrillal, and the remaining six went to Zapote.

The first thing I saw when we got to the worksite at Membrillal was the church building.  I was blown away by the progress that had been made since we left last year.  I reflected on how God has been working through so many of His people to build this structure.  Each team who comes adds layers to this project that will soon be a house where God’s people will gather to worship Him.  Our goal this week will be to put the roof on the building that will make it available for use as the finishing touches are being applied.  Building this church is an example to me of how God is calling us to work together to accomplish much more than any of us could individually.

Before beginning to work, we got to visit the classrooms where the children were doing their schoolwork.  The youngest ones sang a song for us as their faces reflected so much joy.  The school provides two meals a day and an education to children of families that would not have an opportunity to attend school if they weren’t being sponsored through the Hands of Hope ministry.  It was such a blessing to see these children who have so little radiating so much joy.

Our plan to begin work on the roof was derailed since the materials hadn’t been delivered to the work site.  However, God’s plans are always perfect, so we accepted our situation and did other work that needed to get done.  Some of us went on a “treasure hunt” which consisted of shoveling a huge pile of rock looking for the access cover to the underground electrical feed to the building.  After having moved much of the pile based on directions we first received, we were informed by a second person that the access was probably directly under the location where we had first shoveled the rock…  We eventually found the access and this task was completed.

While some of the team laid out templates for the roof trusses so that they could be built when the materials arrived, others bent and tied rebar for columns to be poured on the second floor of the school.  Meanwhile Scott and I were asked to repair a section of sidewalk made with pavers.  This was an activity that we had done on another section of sidewalk last year, so it was very special to be doing the same job together again.  As I was on my knees doing this work, I was led to pray for the children in the school, their families, and those who make this school possible.

When I reflect on the fact that a small church in San Lucas Sacatepequez Guatemala has made such an impact on their community, I am praying that the Lord will show me how he wants to use me when I get back to my community.

Gerry Griffin