Guatemala Trip Report, Part 2

by Gary L. Cox

Songs of Joy Home

In part one, I described the culture of poverty that exists in Guatemala.  Such poverty always seems to foster large numbers of orphaned children. Songs of Joy Home is a children's home operated by missionaries Robert and Carla Rose.  They have lived in Guatemala for over 16 years, and the present home has been built by them in the last 9 years.  While they have served nearly 140 children in the sixteen years, they have begun evangelistic outreaches with local pastors into the poorest villages in the area.  Our main purpose was to assist in these outreaches.  We led two medical clinics at the home, and four in outlying villages.

The Songs of Joy Home was the base of all our outreaches and served as our our residence and headquarters.  The home was built with typical Guatemalan construction.  This included cement posts and beams with block walls and concrete floors.  Finish was tile and rough sand plaster inside and out, with galvanized tin roofs like those found on old barns and sheds.  There were six buildings built along the property edge into a square, which gave the inner area a courtyard-like appearance.  Inside was found the most flowers, grass and ornamental shrubbery that we saw anywhere.  However, that is  true of the whole country; if you want to have something esthetically nice, you better keep it under lock and key inside your own compound, or it will disappear.  There are around 40 children in the home.  They loved the American visitors and our presence made for a holiday of course made it harder to manage their schedule.  Some of the children served as translators for the Americans when we were evangelizing.  I was amazed to see 14 year old orphans helping Americans share the gospel and pray with the villagers as if they did it everyday.  Some of these children have a real zeal for God. 

Edgar

On Tuesday, I set out to talk to the village children who had gathered in the school yard.  I grabbed Edgar, a 13 year old orphan, and began speaking to the girls while others addressed the boys.  Because this was their familiar playground, the children readily responded to the slightest organization.  Most of the girls appeared disinterested, but God had pressed me that morning to look deeply into the eyes of the people I met and let His love flow from me like a river.  I noticed one girl whose heart seemed to leap out, hungry for His love.  After sharing some rope tricks and gospel stories, I asked if anyone wanted to accept God's invitation to join his big family (John 1:12). Only this one girl responded, and while the other girls laughed, she prayed with apparent fervor and sincerity.  Walking away, Edgar said, "that is amazing, I can't believe what I just saw!"

Village Boys

When Edgar and I talked to the village boys, we found them enthusiastic like no one else during the whole trip.  After sharing the gospel with them through several venues, we called aside those who wanted to pray, every boy rushed upon us and they all prayed out loud in joyful unison, everyone opening the door of his heart to Jesus.  We wrote down their names so pastor Miguel could follow them up (this was Miguel's childhood village).  Edgar and I went door to door after we were finished with the boys.  I was amazed at how simple and earnestly so many responded when invited to pray.  One older man gave us a long visit and prayed with his son-in-law and his daughter.  When we took his name, we discovered that it was one of pastor Miguel's own relatives.  Miguel's son Migelito (little Miguel, 25) was also with me.  He was so happy to meet and pray with his own relatives.  God knows if the converts were real, but he taught me to be available and share as the opportunity affords.  One plants, one waters, but God gives the increase.  By the end  of the day, Edgar and I had 31 names to give to Miguel. 

Learning Compassion

Jesus trained the disciples to be moved with compassion for the spiritual needs of the multitude, and to begin their ministry with prayer for laborers to be sent by God into those harvest fields (Matt. 9:36-38).  This presented a challenge to me.  Perhaps the most difficult aspect for me of sharing the Gospel in Guatemala was dealing with the culture shock of poverty.  I could not easily relate to the people in a way that gave me a sense of their needs and how the Gospel could meet their needs in a personal way.  The resulting effort to share the Word can best be described as scattering the precious seed of the Word of God, and leaving the results to Him by faith (Ps. 126:6; Matt. 13;3-8).  The challenge clearly was to "look not at the things that are seen, but the things that are unseen" (2Cor. 4:18).

A Strategy

My strategy for sharing was to present a comprehensive teaching about sin and salvation beginning from the creation, and to emphasize salvation as the means to become adopted into God's family.  The great invitation from God is to receive Jesus into one's life and by so taking Christ, to becoming adopted as a child of God (John 1:12).  Such an invitation, given is a spirit of love is very attractive, especially to those who seem to receive no one's affection or care.  Love communicated from the heart and through the eyes of tenderness has no language barrier.  I was amazed at how attractive the love of God appeared to be to so many of the contacts.  During the long waiting periods, the children were attracted to any activity and whether or not they understood what was being discussed,, they loved to participate out of the hunger for love.  I had learned some rope tricks and by such means drew crowds of children like bees to honey.  That was easy!   I remembered the parable of the sower and the seed;  not every soul is ready to receive the Word.  We sow and trust God to bring the seed to full harvest as only he can do. 

Tracts

Tracts were very helpful, at least the one we had.  We had a Spanish-Chick tract that had pictures of the different aspects of the Gospel.  This allowed a visual reference to look at while any discussion took place.  This tract did more to bridge the language gap than anything else.  The gospel is very simple and a simple presentation is most effective, especially in these kinds of circumstances.  This simplicity helped me to practice looking on the unseen things and not my own estimate of the effectiveness of the presentation.  The most important part of the gospel presentation that seemed to draw attention was the constant declaration that God loves the sinner and wants him/her to be in his family.  Such an invitation given with love and warmth really seemed to impact many of the listeners.  Willingness to reach out was half the battle, and having a tangible strategy insured a simple and direct sharing of the gospel.  Only God knows which seed fell on good ground, but the job of the sower is to sow the seed in faithfulness, and leave the increase to God.

Campaigns for Evangelistic Outreach

Campaigns for evangelistic outreach seem to be an important method for sharing the gospel.  A campaign has a specific campaign objective (ours was medical help) which provides contact with people over a specific need. Evangelistic outreach occurred by making the most of the contact through the various outreach activities offered by the different members of the team.  Teamwork really made the outreaches easy and not a burden.  Each person had a reasonably manageable part but the total effect was a well orchestrated system of outreach.  Pastor Miguel's church played a major role with our team at the first clinic.  They came prepared with a large group of workers (all young adults) who paired up with us and allowed fluent Spanish to be spoken in all the contacts.  They held successful children's activities which were strategic to children enduring the long waiting in the clinic lines and introduced the gospel to them in a friendly, happy manner.  These young adults will follow up new contacts in the days and weeks ahead.   Sowing seed is the best description of the evangelistic portions of our campaigns.  That is why follow-up can make or break a campaign.  Follow-up continues the work with new contacts  by local pastors and churches long after the event.

Methods For Sharing the Gospel

God let us use several methods for sharing the Gospel.  Every method included an initial request to share with the listener, once engaged, discussion was very easy to direct through the simple gospel presentation.  Going door-to-door, we simply identified ourselves as members of the church medical team that was visiting homes which explained why we were in the area.  Everyone knew by word of mouth that we were coming because these medical clinics are rare and very important to them.  Once, I tried reading scripture in Spanish to those standing in line on the first day.  My efforts proved interesting to those listening because I did such a poor job, but they were honored at my efforts.  The scripture reading made easy lessons about the gospel with very little explanation needed.  After each person was treated in the medical station, and received their medication from the pharmacy, they went to a prayer station.  The prayer stations provided personal care and sharing; it was by far the most effective means of outreach.  Our team usually had 3 - 4 prayer stations in a tent set up for that purpose.  Everyone was encouraged to participate in the prayer station for at least a brief time, to experience the special blessing there.  On the first day alone, there were 43 people who prayed in just one of the three prayer stations. 

Challenging Young People

By the last day, the young people in our team had really proven their sincerity to preach the gospel.  In the final testimony meeting, many of the adults commented that there was no room for them in the prayer tent because the youth were filling up all the stations.  I gained new understanding and respect for discipleship that includes youth in outreach activities.  The youth were as effective or more so as the adults in presenting the simple plan of salvation.  Youth have a lot of energy.  By directing that energy toward eternal activities and sharing together, children with their parents, in a fellowship of the gospel we saw amazing things among the youth. 

First, there was the determination to serve together.  That was evidenced again and again by selfless service in labor.  No task was too hard or below them, everything was done happily and well.  Often, youthful initiative resolved a need before anyone could ask.  The needs of our outreaches and schedule were also challenging.  Breakfast was served at 5:00 am, which required getting up shortly after 4:00 am for devotions and getting dressed.  This required getting into bed by 9:30 pm.  Everyone responded without complaining.  The days were long and often very little free time was available.  However, when there was free time, there was a joyful, family like atmosphere.  Play was friendly and a wonderful outlet for the young people at the end of a long day. 

Extreme Sports

Extreme sports are a growing craze among youth in the U.S.  I believe I saw in our youth in Guatemala, the source of such energy and the proper satisfaction of it.  Youth have an inclination toward high adventure.  A proper use of that energy is a valid and important consideration for discipleship of Christian youth.  There was much danger inherent to the country of Guatemala.  Sometimes that danger had to be embraced in order to do the work required.  This was illustrated by our mountain village outreach. 

On our regular outreaches, we has a large school bus to haul the team.  However, getting up the rugged dirt terrain of the mountain roads required the use of open 4x4 pick-ups.  Some of the adults were concerned for their children's safety, riding in the back of the pick-ups, but the young people were looking forward to it as if it were the best ride in an amusement park.  The readiness of youthful zeal to risk their necks for the need at hand was one thing; however, the joy and delight by which they embraced the danger and hardship tipped the scale for me.  Obviously, God can greatly use every desire we have for His glory if it is dedicated to Him and not ourselves.  Probably the greatest fear I had was anticipating the open truck bed mountain ride; however, the greatest joy I had was watching the youth revel with delight at the necessary danger they embraced.  I couldn't hold back the smiles as I listened to them yelling for joy when the heavens opened up and drenched everyone to the bone on the ride home.  (That was their greatest hope, a real drencher to ride in.)  I'm sure it was God getting in on the fun as he let the heavens open upon these servants who were rejoicing in hardship like only youth can.  This gives fresh meaning to Paul's admonition to his youthful disciple Timothy, "Endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ".  Is it possible that the adventuresome nature of youth is given by God for embracing hardship as soldiers of Jesus Christ?  I trust that God will open doors of opportunity for the families of WCFS so that we might use our home-schooling days to maximize the training of ready servants of the Lord.

Conclusion

In conclusion, my family went to Guatemala at the request of our own youth.  They  truly reveled in the opportunity, and Sally and I enjoyed one of the most precious experiences of ministry with our family.  Our eyes and heart have been opened to the simplicity and joy of working together as a family.  We have much opportunity back home to put these lessons to practice.  The biggest lesson perhaps being just the observation that we are serving the Lord when we serve the need closest at hand instead of ourselves.  As a team, we all have different roles, but we are a unit and need to pray for each other and care for each other, lending hand and support, if only in prayer, to achieve the common goals given to our family.  

As a family, we want to thank our supporters for your love, support and prayers for us while we were gone.  We expect God to continue enlarging the borders of our hearts and home in the days and years ahead.  To summarize in our children's own words,  "this was the best trip we have ever been on!"  All thanks and praise to God.