Mayan Rituals

1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ^2 [a]He was in the beginning with God. ³  All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. ⁴  In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. ⁵  The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not ^[b]comprehend it. John 1:1-5

Today, we trekked once more, into the village of Chumisa, to set up clinic for the day.  We worked out of plastic medicine boxes, in small dark adobe homes, and saw 90 or so people. Fortunately, all of our translators came, and we were able to be very efficient in attending to all the sick.  When our day had come to completion, we stood beside the truck waiting for our village guide to lead us to a home visit of a very sick woman. As we stood there, we looked upon a site that appeared to be a Mayan ceremonial site.  There were two large charred pieces of ground where fires had been. Flowers, had been strewn about, in a circle. And, beside this spot was a kind of an arch way made with green bambo that served to encircle another area that had pine needles all over the ground. As we were examining the area, our friend, translator, and local pastor, Armando begin to describe the Mayan rituals that he believed must have taken place there. He began to describe the Mayan rituals that included sacrificing chickens to pay for sins, followed by blessings by the local Catholic priest.  

There is no litmus test for spirituality. But, to me, this was a perfect picture of the spiritual state of this particular village. There is a mixture of Catholicism with Mayan Religious sacrifices that has tried to replace the fact that Jesus is the perfect and pure sacrifice. Jesus, was the ultimate sacrifice when he died on the cross! He is still the ultimate sacrifice today! There need not be any more sacrifices of animals to pay for sins! HE paid for our sins once and for all!  

There is no litmus for spirituality. But, this Mayan ceremonial site was a great reminder of the village's need for Jesus. It made me more aware of the need for the light to pierce the darkness, and for the darkness to comprehend the light. 

an elderly woman from Chumisa

 Sometimes, as we work in these villages, and the spiritual atmosphere feels so heavy, I often wonder why. I wonder why, while these truths are going forth as our friend preaches at every clinic, do the people seem so dull to understand? We need a transformation in these villages. Transformation has to take place, or they will be stuck in their rituals that lead them to ultimate destruction. How does transformation take place, you ask? Prayer, prayer, and more prayer.

Join us in crying out for these villages! 

Dear Father in heaven,

Come to Chumisa! Change and transform this village! Let truth pierce hearts! May they know your son, Jesus!

Amen

Tios Xabaj

Tios Xabaj is a new community we have been going to once a month for clinics. It is a spiritually dark area that needs the love of the Lord.  The spiritual understanding of the community seems dull and dark. Join us in praying and crying out for this village. We have been praying continually that the Lord would pierce the darkness in this dry and weary land. That His Spirit, would fall like rain upon it.Here is the story of the last time we went there on the ministry's blog:
http://adonaiinternationalministries.blogspot.com/

June Photos

This past week we have had three visitors- Debbie, Kala, and Josh. Debbie,pictured here, is an Occupational therapist, and was able to help us start therapy on this little girl who has CP.

Kala, pictured here with Anna, is a nurse and has been a huge help (especially with  helping organizing our Chiminisiguan clinic)

Here are three of our amazing translators,who faithfully come each week to help in our Canilla' and San Andres clinics.

Here is a sweet elderly couple we met in market in town...may they know Jesus.

Here's my favorite little boy in the Hogar de Vida (an orphanage in San Andres) his name is Oscar, but they  call him "Coca"

The End

(thank you to Kala Brand for the great photos)

Southgate Church: Feeding Children and Working Miracles

This past week my home church sent a group to Cerro de Oro, Guatemala. Thankfully, I was able to meet up with them for 5 whole days! It was really great to see everyone. It was especially wonderful to spend some time with people like Jo Ann Powers, and Terry Joggerst, who have made an impact in my life over the years.

The team built two widows' homes, and helped run a children's feeding program at lunch time, everyday. There were over 150 kids being fed each day. Of that 150, there were a few children that were obviously from a very impoverished home, and were very malnourished.  It was such a "holy moment" (as Jo Ann says) to see these particular poverty-stricken children pray to ask Jesus in their hearts. That was the very moment that changed their lives for eternity. All glory to God!

We had another "holy moment" when Jo Ann knocked her finger out of place. She tripped on her skirt while getting out of a boat we had taken to the other side of the lake.  When she tripped and fell, one of her thumbs ended up completely sideways.  The group called for me to help since I was the only "medical person". I had never actually set a thumb back in place, and I really didn't want to practice on Jo Ann. We went into a the restaurant we were eating at, and I immediately asked for some ice. Next, I started looking for things to  use as "splints," and for any first aide equipment. While I was collecting the materials, my old youth pastor, "Mr. J" began praying for Jo Ann's thumb. After he finished praying, her thumb was completely back in place! It had been sideways, but was now completely straight!!! What a miracle!

   Later that day, I returned home to Canilla'. The next morning, an orthopedic surgeon from the States came to visit our clinic to see if he wants to work here in the future. I asked him for his expert opinion related to Jo Ann's thumb. Among other things, he said that it was very unlikely for a thumb to go back into place by itself.  And so, the miracle was confirmed! It truly was a miracle! All glory to God! Now praying that her thumb heals completely.

Mercy It Falls Like a Sweet Spring Rain

Since I have returned to my sweet little home in Canilla', the rainy season  has begun. The dusty country roads have turned to mud, and the dry, crunchy grass has turned into a lush, green carpet. Just as the natural season has changed, I too have felt some "spiritual shift". It is too early to tell what all a "spiritual shift" entails or means exactly, but I sense some kind of difference. It's almost as if the Lord took everything "up" a level, which sounds a bit frightening, but exciting at the same time. I noticed it in the clinics as I have encountered some new challenges, and thankfully, Leslie has been there to look out for me. I know sometimes, when you go up a level in something, it could be easy to get discouraged, as it feels that everything is harder, and not life as usual. But, I also know that the Lord is stretching my spiritual muscles to prepare me for the next step. I am expecting good things, as I lean upon my beloved, and lean into to whatever He has in this next season. I hope this does not sound too vague. I am just asking for prayers mercy & grace during this time, as I wait and see what God has in store. Blessings.

Home Sweet Home

On Thursday, I got back from a very short, but sweet trip into St. Louis. It was a great time of visiting friends family, and being a part of a very special wedding of my friends Kelly & Craig. Here are some photos from the trip home:

         

 Visiting the cutest boy in the world....my nephew Ira.

   

Visiting my good friends Mindy & Jess & all their wonderful kids

Visiting my good friends Julie & Jess at Craig & Kelly's wedding

I had a great time visiting friends and family. I especially appreciate my loving mother who generously offers me her home and car when I come home. Thank you mom, you are the best. It was great to be with you on Mother's day.

If it's not Jesus, then it's not justice. We want Jesus. We want justice.

   I recently heard someone say, that when we help the poor, we need to point them to Jesus. And that if we are not pointing them to Jesus, then we are just putting band aids on them, as they go on their way to hell.  I weighed this in my heart. We all weighed this in our hearts for some days.

   

  On Wednesday, our Sabbath here, we got a call from a village inviting us to come do clinic in their village.  So, after scrounging for translators, packing and stocking our medication boxes, charging the ultra sound and otoscopes, we set out Friday morning. As we climbed the winding, dusty, mountain road to the far away village of Tioxjaba, Orelia, one of the Family's good friends who was going to translate, suddenly spoke up. She began to tell us that she had, had a prophecy that one day she would come to a village like this one. She said it was in this village, that God would speak to her here, according to the prophecy she received.  As we rolled into Tioxjaba, the dark spiritual atmosphere hovered over us. We soon observed, that these were religious people, but did not have Jesus living inside of them. We also, once again, encountered the great need for medical care. So after praying, we began working on the long line of out of two large boxes stock with medication and equipment.

  We worked hard, checking blood pressures, and blood sugars diagnosing several with diabetes and gastritis. All the while, I was trying to figure out, how to tell a very closed and hardened people about Jesus. Ringing in the back of my mind, I heard the quote about putting band aids on people on their way to hell. So I continued to work, wondering if the line of people outside would ever diminish. Then, a little while later, Katie came bursting into the room. "If it helps any, we just had three people accept Christ", she told Leslie and I.  My mouth dropped open in disbelief.  "Really?" I could help from asking. "Yes", answered Katie. I wanted to hear all the details, but we still had a long line awaiting outside. "I'll tell you the whole story later," said Katie, and she left to go to the other room.

   Later, on our long drive home, we heard the story of each salvation. We soon found out, it was Orelia who had stepped each person through the understanding of accepting Christ. She explained to each one, that Jesus was the only door to God. She explained that there was no other way, and no other person that could get us there. She also explained, that Jesus was alive, unlike the idols/saints they prayed to in their religion. As Orelia was telling us what she said, I again felt a wellspring of joy bubbling up inside me! She also told us that one of the elderly men that received Christ was so excited. She said that as he prayed the prayer to accept Jesus, he could barely contain himself! Then, as he left, he thanked her and Katie over and over again!

  What a beautiful, beautiful thing when someone receives the living Jesus into their lives! I know that all of heaven rejoiced that day, and heaven and hell were forever changed. The cloud of darkness that hovered over Tioxjaba was pierced!
 When we help lighten the burden of the poor and needy, it is an act of justice. We know that God himself contends for the poor, and that they are his people. It also says in the Bible that when you do unto the least of these, you do unto him. But, we can't forget Jesus. Jesus is the only way to eternal life. He is the only one who can bring absolute justice. He is a righteous judge who will come and make all the wrong things right. If it's not Jesus....it's not justice. We want Jesus. We want justice.