Sometimes working with folks in Guatemala brings joy and sometimes it brings heartache.



We were finally able to take a gentlemen in one of the villages, who has been ill for quite sometime, to the hospital. He has passed off his illness and pain as of no consequence for a long time until he could no longer stand the pain. Now it is too late. He has cancer and more than likely has about three or four months to live.



I didn't want this to happen. I don't want Beto to die. I want him to get well and go back home to his family, to work and take care of his wife and children, of which he has five. But I don't always get what I want. Things don't always turn out the way I want them too and I'm sure as much as I want him well, his family wants that more. He is not an old man, probably in his forties. His wife will make it o.k. work wise. She has been pretty much supporting the family for quite a while anyway but had to quit as of late to take care of him. I truly don't know how they have been living.



At times like this, there should be something deeply profound and spiritual I could think to say, but I can't think of anything, except a scripture I read this morning in Psalm 84 where it talks about those whose strength is in the Lord who passing through the Valley of Baca, (the Amplified Bible says Valley of Weeping) make it a place of springs.........they go from strength to strength (increasing in victorious power).... [v 5-7] One step at a time, one day at a time, strength for today and building on that for strength for tomorrow.



From all that I have been able to observe of Beto, he is a believer, as well as his wife. So they have a source of strength.