Hi everybody!
For the past several weeks, I have been in Guatemala working behind the scenes with Cesar Gonzalez on preparations for the upcoming year. In addition, Linda Wright, a horse trainer for equine therapy horses, was there working behind the scenes with Humberto Solares to train the horse that we purchased last year.
Thankfully, while in Guatemala, we got to see the Chiefs win the AFC Championship, and now that I’m back I am so pumped about the upcoming Super Bowl that I can hardly stand it!!!
Touchdown, Kansas City! Patrick Mahomes es magnifico! It was fun seeing the game in Guatemala and hearing the announcers do their play by play in Spanish!
Most of the time, we stayed close to Cesar’s place in Amberes. But on a few days, while Linda was working with the horse, Cesar and I took the opportunity to visit both new and old friends. I want to share about a couple of these visits. One was with a new mayor and the other was with a Xinka Indian leader. In coming updates, I hope to share some of the exciting steps we are taking to impact more groups in 2020.
Linda Wright gave Humberto Solares some pointers in working with Bambino, our horse that is being trained for an Equine Therapy ministry in Guatemala.
The Latest Developments in Guatemala
It was a great honor to be invited to the inauguration of our friend, Luis Gabriel, the newly elected mayor of Jutiapa, Guatemala. Luis is a veterinarian by trade, and for more than 10 years we have worked with him on various projects with the cattlemen’s association of Jutiapa. As an underdog in the mayoral race, his integrity and likability won the day versus a candidate who spent a lot of money and was considered a shoo-in.
In Luis’ speech, he shared that his relationship with Jesus Christ is the most important thing in his life and that he wants to invite the community to ask God to help them make their city better. He even cited the story of how Jesus took a small boy’s 5 loaves and 2 fish to perform a miracle. Luis was incredibly bold in stating that he believes that God can multiply what they have to help make a difference in their region. I was amazed and grateful. Please pray for Luis as he starts his administration. This is a dangerous job. Two of the past 5 mayors have been murdered.
After the inauguration, we met with some old friends at the restaurant of our friend Otto (standing between Cesar and me in the center). Otto came to Nebraska about 13 years ago on a reverse missionary trip and is part of the cattlemen’s association in Jutiapa. Tino, the guy kneeling, is a good friend who heads up the department of transportation that builds roads in the region. On the far left is Rogelio, an assistant of the mayor and a friend who works at the weekly cattle sale. On the far right is Carlos, a new friend that Tino introduced to us. Carlos is a Xinka Indian, and leads a group of 800 Charismatic Catholic youth in a mountainous region where Tino just built a road to their village.
Because Luis was so inundated with people clamoring for his attention, after congratulating him, we turned to some of our friends to enjoy catching up. Before we could say much of anything, Tino pulled us in closer to Carlos.
A New Invitation…
“You have to do with Carlos what you do with the Kekchis in the jungle,” he implored. “I have been working with him for several years now in building a road up the mountain to their village. For years the only way out of their village down to the nearest road was about an hour hike. They have the best coffee in the world, but had to get it out on their backs or on mules. We got the road to them, but now they need to know what to do to help them prosper.”
Cesar and I agreed to go visit Carlos and his village a couple days later.
Sitting at 4,623 feet, this is lake Ayarza. We had to snake our way around it, and then go up a mountain to get to Los Anonos, the closest town to Manantiales, which is Carlos’ village. Manantiales means “springs” in Spanish. This village has several springs that flow out and down the mountain to supply water to about 15 villages.
We met Carlos at the public health entity in the bigger town of Los Anonos. Here we met with health officials to discuss the logistics of a latrine program for Manantiales.
Here the leader of the public health team hears of the needs of Carlos’ village and offers to train them in how to build the latrines for the community.
After the meeting in Anonos, Carlos got in the truck with us and led us up the new road to his village. To construct the road, the able-bodied men in the villages along the proposed roadway were commissioned to help the road construction crew in clearing the initial barriers for the road to be cut with bull dozers and other heavy equipment. For several months last year, Carlos led the charge in recruiting volunteers to work side by side in this project.
Once we got to Manantiales, Carlos introduced us to the two teachers at the school. Several years ago, the men of the village helped build this school by carrying every concrete block and every construction item on their backs or with mules the hour from where the main road used to end.
Carlos invited the leaders of the nearby villages to come meet with us at his parent’s house located near the school. As a part of our discussions, we talked about having a relationship with God, so Cesar used the multi-colored soccer ball and pot holders to share a gospel message. All were very receptive and want to continue having these spiritual conversations.
After the meeting, Cesar and Carlos talked about how Carlos needed to delegate leadership like Jethro counseled Moses to do in the Bible.
This view out the back of Carlos’ parents’ home shows Carlos’ house a little further up the mountain. In the foreground you can see the red coffee beans turning ripe for harvest. Because of their higher altitude, this is some of the highest quality coffee in the country. Yet, through the years, they have received less than fair market value. We hope to connect them with other coffee grower friends who have done some things to get higher prices for their coffee.
After meeting with Carlos and his people, we felt that we just clicked. Cesar agreed to come back in a couple of weeks for some leadership training. In the meantime, he will be introducing Carlos and his friends to some of our friends in coffee and agriculture who can coach them on how to maximize the opportunities they have to improve their coffee production and diversify in more than just coffee. Stay tuned!
10:02 PRAYER
Please pray for Luis and his family as he embarks on a tough job. Pray that his faith shines as he goes about his work. Also pray for wisdom for Cesar and Carlos as they ask God to help impact a mountainside for Christ. Finally, we ask for your prayers as we work hard this next month on more behind-the-scenes preparations.
ENGAGE
This next year, we have two needs for groups to go down and work with Carlos. One would be a coffee and agriculture focused trip. The other would be a hiking related trip to hike in the mountains with Carlos and some of his young people. Let me know if you know anybody interested.
INVEST
Your generosity has kept us moving and shaking going into this new year. Thanks so much! And may your tribe increase!
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Until next time, root hard for them Chiefs!
Love y’all!
Steve
Gooooo Chiefs!!! Woo hoo!!!