GuateTrivia Answers for Oct. 2011!!

When does Guatemala celebrate independence day?

A. January 25 B. May 5 C. September 15 D. December 1 ... It is actually a holiday throughout all of Central America! It's also the date written on the white section of the Guate flag!

Which of the following bodies of water does NOT touch Guatemala?

A. Gulf of Mexico B. Lake Izabal C. Caribbean Sea D. Pacific Ocean ... Check the map!

Which of the following describes a ‘pila’?

A. a car battery

B. a cement laundry sink

C. a seed from a coconut tree

D. a sweet drink

... This is where we do our dishes, wash our laundry and pretty much anything else that has to do with water! Some Guatemalans don't even have a sink installed in their house, the 'pila' works for most everything!

What is the national tree in Guatemala?

A. Palm Tree B. Coffee Tree C. Rubber Tree D. Ceiba Tree ...This is the tree from which the Marimba (national instrument!) is made. They are protected and grow to be very large!

How did you do this time?? :)

Kim <><

GuateTrivia Answers for Summer 2011!

What fast-food chain does not exist in Guatemala?
a. IHOP
b. Chick Fillet... can you believe they haven't arrived yet?!?
c. Dominoes
d. Applebees

What is the Guatemalan slang phrase for ‘cool’?
a. “Que padre”
b. “Que chido”
c. “Que chilero”.. this is the most 'Guatemalan of the phrases, though a&b are used in Mexico! Try using one yourself!
d. “Que camila”

What do stop signs say in Guatemala?
a. ALTO.. Not sure why this word was chosen but its the one they use!!
b. PARA
c. STOP
d. ROJO

What is the famous Mayan ruin found in Guatemala?
a. Miraflores
b. Tikal.. Yes! I haven't visited them yet but they are supposedly very intriguing. Anyone up for taking a trip with me? :)
c. Chichen Itza
d. Mercadeus

Crunching doors (and bills)..

There are two experiences that I'd like to share with y'all.

First, that God is a God of purposes! I am sure many of you can relate to a situation in which something bad happened but you could clearly see the hand of God throughout it?

Most recently, that happened this past weekend in the car crash Kevin & I had. I was turning left and a micro-bus (a.k.a. 15 passenger van) was passing in a no-passing zone. I barely had time to react and the van blindsided the driver-side front door:

We were frustrated, and for the first time I experienced how much the police & judicial systems here are controlled by fear and bribery. Death threats and extortion are very unfortunate realities even today, especially in the rural areas like Jutiapa where we were traveling. In the end, the driver, who was a worker (not the owner) of the van, admitted that there was no way he could pay the damages on either much less both vehicles. And since the police were unwilling to assign 'fault' to someone, the van's insurance will have nothing to do with the situation. (Plus we haven't had time to take out the insurance for our car yet, either, we just exchanged for it last week!) So we chose the high road, and will be covering the damages. It was a time when the Lord was clearly leading us to 'show mercy' and not be overly insistence on 'justice'. I came to realize how truly difficult it can be to "act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God" (Micah 6.8) all at the same time! I don't know about you, but I find it much harder to 'love mercy' and 'walk humbly' than the whole justice part.

Since then, we have successfully found all the parts necessary and a mechanic who will be repairing the damages. We have been praying for the driver, as he will still be paying the damages to the van as they were also significant. He was without work and had a false license, so before he starts paying off the van he will probably spend some time in jail.

I share this experience with you because I have learned a lesson in provision. Had we been driving our older car, we would have probably suffered a lot more damage from the crash. Because of the car model, it have a galvanized steel bar inside of the door. Upon impact, the door was crunched in until it hit the steel, which was slightly bent, but nothing further. Luckily (or providentially?!) I only suffered a few scratches. Now, every time I open my (new!) door, I will be reminded of the way God protected and continues to protect me in a country where the levels of crime and violence are rising each month. It's like he's sealed our car with his promise, although the lesson came at a price.

Secondly, I wanted to share about another encounter we had while driving our crunched car back to the capital. We stopped to buy pizza for lunch, and before we had reached the sidewalk outside the parking lot we were greeted by a woman asking for money. I personally try give money only to elderly and handicapped children who are begging on the street, but avoid giving to those that are able-bodied. I would prefer to see them seek out work, even if it starts simple. And this woman seemed to fit into the able-bodied category.

However, this woman was very persistent. We gave some coins to a child that was with her, and he disappeared, while she continued to ask. Apparently the boy wasn't her son. I bought a few slices of pizza, rather annoyed and feeling tricked, and headed back to the car. It wasn't until the following day that Kevin & I returned to discuss the matter. He had a very good point when saying we bought 2 portions of pizza, and weren't even willing to spare her some change... It was at that point that I felt bad. Not so much for the situation, I am sure on the public corner she was located that others were generous to her. However it hit me: how am I doing on the generosity meter?

There is a lesson God has been trying to teach me. It's that which is also illustrated by the story of Jesus feeding the five thousand. A little boy offers up his five loaves of bread and two fish. Jesus, with this small offering, provides food to 5,000 people, with 12 baskets of leftover bread for the disciples to pick up. Do you think they understood the lesson? With God, little means much. And the abundance begins with offering the 'little' that we have.

Here is the reality. I am coming up short each month ('short' as in less than $500 income per month when I need just over twice that to make ends meet!) I have begun to tighten my belt and look for side sources of income. I started to cut back on my tithes. However, after the incident with the woman at the pizza shop, I was confronted with the reality of Christian giving. It's based in an attitude of the heart, and should not be dependent on what I have. It's based on my trust in God's provision. So despite the extra car expenses and the lower income, I will be giving my tithe in full this month. And when someone on street asks me for some change, I hope to have a much different response. God has proven to me in enough ways that he will take care and provide for me.

"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"

Blessings to each of you!

Kim <><

The Other Half of Seeing

"With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation." (Is. 12:3)

I remember a period of time when the burning question on my mind was 'what is the gospel?' I had been so steeped in Christian education since childhood, had heard the term thrown around so many times, but I had never learned exactly what it referred to. What is the gospel? How do I articulate salvation? Thus, I set out on a journey to define the gospel. In many ways, I was articulating for the first time what I really believed. I was on a journey to open my eyes; I wanted to see.

Logically my search began in the scriptures. I came across a terrifying verse:

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (2 Cor. 4:3-4)

Could I really be one of those who are perishing? Because I felt pretty in the dark on this gospel thing. What did it mean? Has the god of this world blinded me? Who is the god of this world? "The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths but do not speak; the have eyes but do not see; they have ears but do not hear, nor is there any breath in their mouths. Those who make them become like them, so do all who trust in them (Ps. 135:15-18) I came to realize: if we apply this principle to the modern world, it speaks to technology, toys, material things, and often, status. We shape and create these things - without life or breath or sight - and as a result we become like them; blind to the spiritual promise we have been given; blind to the spiritual purpose to which we have been called. We become like Israel: "ever hearing, but never understanding; ever seeing, but never perceiving." (Is. 6:9)

At this point in my search I was able to make 2 conculsions. One, the gospel message seemed veiled to me; I could not articulate it. Two, my 'blindness' to it came from an alliance with the 'god of this world'. I felt very discouraged at these realizations. What I did not realize is that my discouragement was really God's way of revealing to me my sin. My discouragement had to preceed my repentance.

For some reason (perhaps the Spirit's gentle nudging) I decided to take a closer look at the passage in 2 Corinthians. Something different caught my eye: 'keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ'. This had to be relevant. I had gotten so caught up in the 'blindness' of the passage that I had not seen the mention of the gospel as the glory of Christ. So I asked myself: What was the glory of Christ? Well, it was his suffering on the cross, and beyond that, his resurrection and conquest of death. I was beginning to see what 'gospel' meant.

It was relieving to have my hands around the concept of the gospel. It was the death and resurrection of Christ, his sacrifice, his 'passion', that brought me redemption. Now I felt ready to 'hit the streets'.

Yet after a few weeks of ministry, I started to realize that understanding is only half of seeing. In order to truly grasp the Gospel message I must also experience it. Maybe that is not the best word to use, but it certainly gets at the idea... Not only do we understand the gospel, but we behold it's greatness. The other half of seeing is rejoicing in our sight. We cannot stop at understanding the Gospel, we must also taste its sweetness.

Metaphorically, I was like the blind man at Bethsaida. Jesus spits on his eyes, and as it says, he began to see: "I see people; they look like trees walking around" (Mark 8:24). I came to understand the gospel message, but I did not see fully. Have you ever lost a contact or had to suffer blurred vision for a period of time? It can be rather tiring, even frustrating. The blind man could not yet rejoice in his sight. Once Jesus completed the miracle, the blind man was filled with joy: "Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly" (Mark 8:25). I was trying to evangelize with the knowledge of the gospel, but without joy. Once my heart began to rejoice and delight in the wonder of my salvation (as opposed to the 'gods' to which I had been bowing), then I was ready to 'hit the streets'. What a refreshing thing to see clearly

"Restore unto me the joy of your salvation, and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me" (Psalm 51:12)

Kim <><

Putting some flesh on things...

Sometimes you just have to sit down and take a deep breath.

The past year has been a whirlwind for Estrategia de Transformación team here in Guatemala. We have had Reparando movie showings, American vision teams, interns, and been serving a network of over 30 ministry leaders. Quite frankly, we were in over our heads! And the month of January served as a time to dry out.

However the last 3 days have been filled with 8 hours of rigorous ministry planning! This coming year a lot will be changing.  We are seeking to optimize resources and centralize our objectives. And of course, to be a blessing.


It starts with asking 'who are we'?  You might be asking that question as well?
The EdT vision is "to develop communities of grassroots leaders that serve marginalized people in hard places".  We desire to equip and encourage the local leaders that are serving in really difficult places. We provide them with a community in which they can learn and converse, exchange ideas, & share resources. 

What is more, in the coming year we will be networking a plethora of volunteers that have come to us after seeing the film Reparando here in Guatemala. Many are young people who never realized the extent of the need in their own city, and their desire has been awakened to serve. We will be taking them under our wing and setting them up to serve with the ministries in our network, and try to provide some tools to do so.

One of the tools we provide to our leaders is theological training. It's training honed for work in the urban context. Check it out here. 
We are also hoping to share the stories of our leaders through film this coming year. I can't wait... it will be a beautiful way to share their experiences

It also looks like teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) has been removed from my official EdT job description. We have to many things going on to add an entire program. However, that is not to say I will no longer be doing it!
The truth is, the year 2010 was in a lot of ways about understanding my purpose for being in Guatemala. I am coming to grasp that God is using me in big ways through EdT. But he's also going to use me in other ways... my 'mission' is a lifestyle, not a job. And my way of living, my wiring, involves English classes. I am hoping to get started sometime after getting married (in 9 days!!!!) and that will be a 'side ministry' in my own community.  The past year it led to deep relationships and Christian witness in the community.  Not to mention the needed boost of confidence it gave to some of my students, who were convinced they would never learn English.  (I say: Never say never!)  I'm hoping to expand that into a larger class and am considering a children's class, maybe halfway through the year.



So anyhow, I am embracing a number of things in my life starting this month.  One is Kevin. :)  Another is EdT. Another will be the ESL project. There are others as well, like a cell group with Kevin at our local church, and possibly starting up piano playing again in order to participate in the praise and worship at church... Bottom line, I seek to make my ministry more holistic, more authentic. More incarnational.  After all, "the Word became flesh", right? And as disciples, we are to become like Christ..... :o)  I'm looking at a long journey.



On a last note, please continue praying for me! My upcoming marriage is a big item, that we are able to adjust, and build a strong foundation for a future together. We are completely in love with eachother, but also passionate about the kingdom of God here in Guate. We desire to serve the Lord together. I also am tight on financial support- in the last 2 months only two-thirds as much funding per month has been coming in, and I was breaking even before that. I want to be honest with you, I'm living on very little, but I can't continue without funding! :o( But God is a BIG God, and I am also seeking out ways to continue growing my support base. Prayers (and suggestions) welcome!

Lastly, pray for EdT as a team (info to come soon)! We are going through changes in focus and have some new members this year, thus unity and communication will be of the utmost. And as always, pray that my heart and that of our team is centered on the glory of God and his kingdom!


Keep serving the Lord where he's placed you!!!
Kim <><