Who do YOU say I am?

These past couple months have been a whirlwind. In May we had the privilege of hosting a cross-cultural missions class with Kuyper College students. We spent two weeks sitting at the feet of leaders in Guatemala, learning about cross-cultural mission and the role of foreigners in its development. 

The class textbook was ‘When Helping Hurts’ and we spent a lot of time discussing principles for mission that relate directly to that text. However, the class went beyond principle, and students were challenged to consider their calling and context at this present moment in their life. They were encouraged to ask who the least, last and lost are in their own community, and how God is calling each one of them to serve Him in that place. We also discussed ‘prepositions of mission’, examining concrete examples of what it means to do mission ‘to’ or ‘for’ others, in comparison of serving ‘with’ them.

Through a series of reflections we also learned about the way that our understanding of Jesus directly affects our life and ministry. Interestingly, this has also been the theme for June’s urban mission intensive, 'Born from Below'. We spent 7 hours over the course of two days asking questions such as that which Jesus asks his disciples in Mark 8:29:

“Who do you say I am?”

I was touched by this particular topic in a deep way. What image of Christ am I carrying around and how does it affect my ministry? Is Christ a light-skinned, long-haired, glowing being whose feet never quite seem to touch the ground? Do thus I limit myself to seeing his reflection only in light-skinned people, or those whose feet are never dirty?  Or do I carry around the baby-in-the-manger Christ around whom kings gather? Do I thus limit my ministry to gathering and gift-giving? Or do I see Christ the rabbi, talking over theological questions late into the night with Nicodemus? Is my ministry centered on getting the facts straight, irrelevant to life's every day needs and demands?

These images all represent a part of who Jesus was. However during the Born from Below intensive we looked at the many facets of Christ's being and what they mean for ministry. We even 'smashed' some images that were limiting our true understanding of Jesus. 

Well, these are just some initial thoughts but hopefully there will be more to come on this topic! :)

Kim <><

"Faith Giving"

I had the privilege of joining one of our leaders, José Armas, for a trip to the CENMA Market last week. He and a team of staff & volunteers go to this gigantic "farmer's" market every Tuesday from 6am - 2pm. It's like a beehive of activity... loading and unloading of fruit and veggies, purchases in bulk for local business and restaurants, conversations between vendors and constant 'haggling' to the passer-by. 
José has been visiting this market for over 5 years. He began by talking with the vendors - asking them about their lives, offering to pray for their needs, and even, when possible, helping them with those needs. Many of the vendors themselves are very poor, dependent on the produce of the land. Yet José would ask for donations for 'the kids in zone 18' and would explain that the ministry of Hope for Guatemala was focused on helping the next generation of Guatemalans change the cycles of violence and poverty that mark their communities. It was a process, and over time more of the sellers began setting aside vegetables and fruit for José every Tuesday. More and more of them began asking him about the ministry, asking him to pray for them, and opening their hearts to the Good News of the Gospel.

Now, the donations have exceeded their wildest imaginations, overflowing their pickup truck & trailer with produce! We ran out of crates on Tuesday, and started piling lettuce, carrots, and tomatoes loosely on top of everything. 

At one point, I came across José with tears in his eyes. I promptly asked if everything was all right. His response was 'It's just so cool to see God working'.  God gifted us that day with a ' shaft of glory'; a glimpse of true faith. One of the vendors shared that he was going through a particularly difficult time with his family, and was not selling enough fruit to make ends meet. José prayed for him and encouraged him to keep trusting the Lord's hand to provide. At the end of their conversation, the vendor told José to take a crate of mangoes. But he didn't donate the overripe or bruised mangoes like many of the sellers do. He gave us the best mangoes at his fruit stand, as he handed over the crate of mangoes, he was acting in faith. He was professing the words of the Apostle Paul: "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 4:19)


After listening to José share this story, the Lord brought to my mind a story from the gospels. In Luke 21 it says: "As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. ^'Truly I tell you,' he said, 'this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.'" 

  (a photo 0f Jose talking with one of the vendors at the market, a faithful supporter of Hope 4 Guatemala!!)


It is so easy to give out of the 'extras' or over-abundance that we have been given, and that is not wrong. In fact, God commands the Israelites in Leviticus to leave the edges of their fields to be gleaned by the poor. Yet how many times has God given me the chance to 'sow' despite my own need? It actually goes against the grain of my upbringing in a certain way - giving my last 'hope' in the offering plate means I have no savings, no emergency fund, no 'fall back'.  I am not saying we need to administrative disasters. However, God has been teaching Kevin & I that what may at times seem 'foolish' in the world's eyes is exactly what faith calls us to do. We have been asked to give in moments of difficulty, when we are down to the last $15 in our bank account. Yet he has been faithful in providing, and truly does meet our needs out of the 'riches of His glory in Christ Jesus'... meaning not only giving us financial provisions, but also the spiritual, emotional and physical provisions he knows we need. 

Here I'd like to share a representation of those challenges and His abundant provision...
**Note: We are not asking for your support or trying to 'glorify' ourselves through these examples. We simply want to celebrate a lesson God is teaching us at this time in our lives!!

Gerson, Maria, & Daniela, who have been adopted by our church during their adaption process... from living on the streets to working and living in community. It has presented challenges because they are learning to earn their living instead of simply taking it or being given what they need. God has called us to give to them both materially and emotionally, despite our own poverty at times.

The provision of additional funds, making the purchase of a full-size van a possibility. Yet as Kevin would say, "every blessing comes with an expectation." We are called to serve the community in more ways than before with this additional resource. But the sacrifice is rewarding!

We are celebrating the official presentation of the book Prince and Princess, or Frog and Toad, a bilingual project that Kevin & I have been investing time and resources in over the past months! We have already been able to see some of the fruits of our sacrifice!

Stefanie comes to visit nearly every day. Often she comes looking for someone to talk to or meet her emotional needs... She is one of seven and usually left to care for her younger siblings while her mom looks for work. Despite Kevin & my desire for privacy at times, we have been asked to give of ourselves even in the most stressful or exhausting moments. We also had the chance to buy her a school uniform this past weekend despite all the expenses we had for the book presentation. God also reminded me this weekend that she is the most detailed, sweet friend I have here in Guatemala.. her constant letters and artsy gifts are a ray of sunshine on gray days :)

For example:

Our mission with Center for Transforming Mission & Christian Reformed World Missions is to "see and celebrate Good News in hard places." Jesus is our teacher in this process... observing and naming the generous widows among us, taking a moment to name and celebrate 'faith giving'. What is more, he goes on to give the even greater gift of his own life, leaving nothing to hang his hopes on. He places his full trust in God's plan for redemption.

<><

GuateTrivia for February 2013

Here are your answers for the update coming out TODAY! :)

1. Which of the following is the highest volcano in Central America?

A. Volcán de Fuego

B. Volcán Acatenango

C. Volcán Tajumulco - This volcano, located in the department of San Marcos, is the tallest in all of Central America, measuring a total of 4,220 Meters (13,845 feet).  Click HERE to see more info about the volcanoes in Guatemala

D. Volcán Santa Maria

2. Who wrote the Guatemalan National Anthem?

A. José Joaquín Palma - Yes! This national anthem is very long, thus they have a shorter version used at political activities. Yet the words have a deep meaning for many Guatemalans, take a moment to read the translation HERE.
B. Andrea Castellanos
C. Julio Obregon
D. Maria Isabela Cerezo

3. What is the sign for when to harvest coffee from the tree?

1. Dry, brown beans
2. Juicy, brown buds
3. Yellow flowers
4. Juicy, red beans - Coffee beans look like ripe cherries when they are ready to harvest! However, they grow all along on the branches of the tree, not in clusters just at the end of the branch. Click to see pictures and more info!

GuateTrivia December 2012

1. There is a Catholic tradition of decorating with colored sand (pictured above). On what surface do they decorate?

A. The doorframe

B. The roof

C. The street -- During the Catholic processions at Advent and Easter, the streets are decorated with colored sand in intricate designs, part of a tradition of 'preparing the way' for Christmas!

D. The church sanctuary

2. What is the Spanish word for the ‘Poinsettia’ plant?

A. Navideño
B. Arbolito
C. Petaleros
D. Pascuas -- This word is also the word for Easter, also is the word for the Poinsettia plant! 


3. What activity is a common favorite among children at Christmas?
A. Shaking presents under the tree
B. Sleeping in until noon
C. Setting off fireworks & bottle rockets -- This is one of the most popular  activities at Christmastime!  Our dog is terrified of fireworks, so she has a rough couple of weeks.  But it is always quite the show on Christmas eve!  :)
D. Eating broccoli

GuateTrivia Answers for October 2012

1. What is the name for the giant kites built for the All Saints Day celebration in Sumpango?

A. Papalotes

B. Barriletes  ... We went to see these kites in Sumpango this week! What a work of art, to make giant kites out of tissue paper! CLICK HERE and HERE for pics!

C. Volados

D. Cometas

2. What is the name of the dish served on All Saints Day (and only that day)?

A. Tamales de Elote

B. Paches

C. Revolcado

D. Fiambre ... Yep! this dish has lots of packaged meats (sausage, salami, etc..) and has a pickled sort of taste to it.  I think it’s an acquired taste; almost every Guatemalan likes it, but I can’t seem to like it very much!

3. Which of the following birds is not found in Guatemala?

A. Red-throated Parakeet

B. Ocellated Quail

C. Brown-tailed Woodpecker ... Yes, these other three are found in Guate. Click on the other three birds to see pictures!!

D. Blue-throated Motmot