Last Day

Today, Friday, March 18th, is my last day in Guatemala after a visit of five and one half years. That visit was supposed to be for six months. Often when I start in one direction, I find that God has other plans. Many people have asked me what I'm going to be doing in the states, and at this point, I have no definite plans.

I took one last turn in my garden this afternoon and looked at all the flowers and lanscaping that Freddy has done. He is truly an artist when it come to gardening. Some have inquired about Freddy, Pedro, and Berto. All are very much still in need of prayer. Freddy does not have a job yet and his spiritual condition needs improving also. He is a hard working young man who is trying to keep his life on the straight and narrow and a relationship with the Lord would help him so much. Pedro is still incapacitated and is in need of physical therapy. I don't know if the hospital here provides that or not but I intend to keep up with his progress. Berto is not doing well as is to be expected. He is increasingly getting worse. The only thing that can be done for him is to make him as comfortable as possible. He is with his mother and dad now as there has been some difficulties with him and his wife.

I've said goodbye to a lot of people this week and have more to see tonight. If all goes well, I will see many of you this Sunday in church. God bless you all and thank you for following my blog. My plans are to continue to blog from time to time, just to vent if nothing else.

Luisa

Walking the Walk

I did not realize the symbolism until today of people walking with the family to a cemetery to bury a loved one. For those of you who know Samuel who works with teams here in Guatemala building houses, you may know that he and his wife Reina lost their four month old baby girl yesterday. They are still reeling from the shock and disbelieve that this has happened.

Today at about 1:00 we will walk with the family from their house as Samuel carries the casket with little Genesis Raquel's body to the church then to the cemetery. It will be the longest walk he and Reina have ever made and he will have many friends and family walking with them. This is what the body of Christ does. We walk with our brothers and sisters in grief and sorrow as we try in our feeble way to comfort them and love them. As much as we may try, there is no one who can comfort them like God's Holy Spirit.

Last night we went to the wake which is different from anything I have been to in the states. They actually had a service at the house with singing and a sermon and then all the guests were served food and coffee. I watched Reina as she sang right along with the rest of us and thought "how can a person sing when their heart is breaking". Of course, the answer is only by the grace of God. God is truly their Sheperd as they walk through this valley of death, He is with them, His rod and staff comfort them. He is the strength of their heart.

Please remember Samuel, Reina, and their teenage daughter, Denise, in your prayers today and the days to come.

Luisa