Yesterday one of our scholarship student’s grandfather died. We got the call today asking if we could please come over, so Todd, Wendy and I did just that. Somehow I got the message that it was the grandmother who had passed.  So, imagine my surprise when I walked in and there she was, greeting people.

I thought it would just be us and the family. Instead, each of the grandkids’ classes and their teachers came by as a class. Wow!!

The abuelo and abuela lived in a small, three room house made out of a thin sheet metal and the family had taken the sheet metal down to make room for all the people. It was big and open and spacious. The family cooked and as a visitor you are expected to stay and eat.

Each of Alejandra’s siblings hugged us, sat with us and introduced us to their family and friends. We got to offer comfort to the family.

This was a cultural learning experience.

This was a chance to see God working.

This was a privilege.

In what new experiences have you seen God recently?

This is my dear friend Engli.
This is her first weaving project and she wanted me to have it as a gift. I was moved to tears.

Women in Guatemala learn to weave at a young age and then sell their goods to help provide for their family. So, even though it was a gift, I told Engli I wanted to pay her for it. She asked for 5Q, which is less than a dollar. A table runner in the market would sell for about 75Q.

“It is worth much more than 5Q! On Saturday when you come to my house I want you to give me a price more than 5Q”, I told her.

Can you see where this is going?

When she came over on Saturday, she asked for 6Q. I paid her 25Q. But, in my heart it is worth so much more!!

My sister, Eileen, came to visit. She is tall, thin and beautiful. I took her to meet the two Godly sisters in Santiago, Zamora. I was so excited for them to meet my sister.

“Maureen,” they said, “You are fat and your sister is thin.”  Wow!  In the US that could end a friendship.

I have lived here in Guatemala long enough to know that saying someone is “gorda” or asking their age is not rude. However, it still catches me off guard. It was their next line that changed my perspective.  “Todd is able to provide food for you. You are blessed to never go hungry.”  I assured them that my sister’s husband provided plenty of food too, my sister just eats less and exercises more.

What a paradigm shift. The next time you look in the mirror and are about to complain that you think you look fat, use it as an opportunity to thank God that you have enough food to eat.

I have been working on losing weight because it is a better witness and much healthier. I just hope it doesn’t reflect badly on Todd.

Warning: this blog is not appropriate for small children.

This past weekend on CBS was the TV show Yes, Virginia there is a Santa Claus based on the letter written by Virginia O’Hanlon to the New York Sun in 1897. The topic of Santa comes up every year around this time. Last week I saw a story on Fox News where some parents wanted a teacher punished for telling the class there was no Santa Claus. I get it, I have kids and I was a teacher.

This same topic comes up here in Guatemala. While having a conversation with a Guatemalan friend, she relayed a story about her childhood. She asked her older brother if Santa was real. He said only in rich families. She then asked if they were rich, he told her no.

We work closely with a family in the village of Santiago Zamora. Last year just before Christmas the dad was riding back to his village on his bicycle, his only form of transportation, with cereal and milk for Christmas Day (a treat they can’t normally afford.) Half way up his road he was robbed. They tied him up and took his bike, the cereal, milk and a few other gifts he had bought. This family can’t afford to believe in Santa.

But that is where the good news comes in. This same family loves Jesus. This same family shares testimony after testimony of how good God is to them. They may not have gifts but they have joy. They may have no hope of filled stockings but they do have the hope of a God who is not just for the rich, but who offers a new life for all.

So, I get it, go ahead, tell your kids about Santa, but make sure you tell them about Jesus too, because He is real.

This same family has a son who, without a scholarship, will have to quit school. Please consider giving to our Servants 4Him scholarship fund. Education is a great gift, even if your teacher tells you there is no Santa.