"For to us a child is born..."

This Christmas, I hope and pray that many of us took the time to pause and reflect on the real reason for the season - the birth of Jesus Christ, who came to this earth in the form of a child in order to deliver us, save us and offer us eternal life. Isaiah 9:6 prophecied that "For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Almighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
For me, the image of a child always paints a powerful picture. It was an infant baby who came to save the entire world. It is a child after whom we are instructed to model our faith (Matthew 18:3; Mark 10:13-16; Luke 18:17). I don't know...maybe this image spurs off of my passion for children. From a young age, I have loved babysitting, volunteering in nursery, and holding my baby cousins in the hosptial shortly after they were born. Maybe such a powerful picture has been painted in my mind after witnessing young children living in such poverty in Guatemala. Maybe it is just the way God wired my brain. I don't know what it is.
What I do know, however, is that on Christmas day, I bore witness to another beautiful image of children who change lives, and the world, for the better. Christmas 2010 got off to a rocky start for our family as my sister, mother, and father all fell victim to the flu by the time Monday rolled around. However, my dad was still feeling well enough to accompany me to my grandma's house on Saturday evening, where I was able to spend a few hours with my dad's side of the family. Traditionally, the cousins usually draw names so that every cousin purchases one gift for the cousin whose name they drew, but due to some trying economic times for those in my extended family, we decided not to do cousin gifts this year. However, we proceeded to open gifts from Grandma, and as we ended that time, my aunt stood up and announced that she had a surprise. In her one hand was a cute colored bag, and in the other hand, an envelope with my name written on it. As she handed both items to me to open, she explained that all of the cousins, ranging in age from 4 years old to 23, had decided that instead of giving gifts, they still wanted to donate a small amount of money to a good cause. That cause, they decided, should be my work with Paradise Bound Ministries in Guatemala. As I peered at the collection of coins and bills in the bag and read the "We're so proud of you!" comments that showered the card, I had to use all of my strength to hold the tears back. That bag was filled with their allowance money, the change from their piggy banks, but more importantly, their hearts. Speechless, I mumbled a humble "Thank You" and began making the round of hugs. In each of their eyes, I saw not only the faith of a child, but the love of Christ...the love that He showed us that very first Christmas by sending His Son to this earth in the form of a baby.


I love you all so much and can't even begin to express how much this gift means to me and the many young boys and girls in Guatemala whose lives will be changed forever because of you! Thanks for reminding us all of the REAL reason for the season!

Next comes Thursday…

Sooooo, now that I’ve been back in the good ole U.S. of A. for a couple of weeks, I figured it was about time (actually, more like long overdue time) to continue updating you on my life down in Guatemala. I will pick it up where we left off…on Thursday. Every Thursday morning, Hermano Jesus and I will prepare the items we need to conduct a discipleship follow-up program in a village called La Reina/ “The Queen.” This past summer, we began building homes in this semi-coastal village with our fourth ministry team as a collapsed bridge, caused by Hurricane Agatha in May, prevented us from reaching this village earlier on in the rainy season.


When we first began investigating in this village, the people were extremely timid…shy…almost scared. Barely anyone would greet you…talk to you…shake your hand…make eye contact…give you a hug. But now, all that has changed thanks to the challenge that Dan Smith presented to the first team to build in this village. The challenge was to break down walls, soften hearts, and build relationships with these people by reaching out to them with the love of Jesus Christ. After those first three days of building, barriers were being broken, and now, after five months of being involved with La Reina, the difference in the atmosphere is a clear as night and day. Smiles and hugs greet us as soon as we arrive; children begin running up to our car from every direction; and families who we barely knew a month before are opening their new homes to us as we share a meal with them, worship with them, pray with them, and dive into the Word with them. Three families in particular have opened their arms and hearts to us as they have invited us to share in their birthday party celebrations, share in the birth of a grandchild, and join in an all-night prayer vigil they held at their local church.


In this village, we also reach out to these families in both a physical and spiritual manner by providing them with much needed medications. In one family, illness has hit hard upon every member; but one by one, they have experienced firsthand the healing power of the Great Physician. For another family, our offer to assist with discovering why her young son cannot hear nor talk has had a far greater influence. Since then, her two sons have become my adopted baby brothers, the mother has become a sister in Christ after dedicating her life to Him for the first time during a medical clinic, and her 9-year-old son has assisted me in praying for other children as they have chosen to commit their lives to Jesus.








To say the least, it has truly been a blessing to be apart of what God has done in this village thus far, and the view of the volcano, Fuego, from this village is an example of what He has promised to continue among these, His chosen people, in the very near future.