Friday night at the Hospital again

Victor, Roberto, Miguel and Alejandro joined me and Russel Leatherman at the hospital tonight.  Sally York and Erve York prepared the coffee, but stayed getting ready for a team tomorrow at the house.  The men from En El Corazon de Jesus as well as Russela and me enjoyed being able to share some blessings to the persons waiting for or on their loved ones.  Of course as always the Lords greater blessing is received by those who give.

Victor said wonderful prayers and laid hands on those who are waiting for their loved ones in surgery.  Russell left viewing  of his Rangers winning the American League to go to the hospital.  Its a great way to spend a Friday night.  Pictures later internet is slow tonight.

Come in from the cold

In the past few days we have housed many people that are homeless.  Some are addicted but others are just down and out.  The Major of Quiche asked for help on the cold nights and we have been able to help. Our rented home is now safe as the landlord wanted to replace us and rent to a house of prostitution.  With lots of prayers and the help of the Lord we paid 4 months rent in advance and are able to stay.  We hope to stay until we have new facilities built on our Land.  Prayerfully that will be sometime in 2011 Photos on facebook and I will add later, tonight the internet is slow.

Friday night at the Hospital

Six persons went with me to pass out coffee and rolls to the people waiting for their loved ones who are in the hospital.  All the men and one woman, had a great time and blessed many people.  Victor (the director) Araceli (his girlfriend), Roberto, Domingo, Miguel and Genaro helped make the coffee and passed out coffee and rolls to all the people at the hospital tonight. 

There were not as many people as ususal, but they were extremely grateful and you could see the smiles on the men from the center.  Pictures attached.   You can see the people stay in a room and sleep on the floor or outside and it is cold.

For those who do not know, the rainy season has been very difficult in Guatemala and all of Central America.  It is now one week without rain, and hopefully the worst is over.  Now the weather has turned colder and we have very low night time temperatures.  We have been asked by the local TV station to offer abergue (shelter) to residents who are unfortunate enough to have to sleep on the streets.  Most are alcohol and drug users but not all.  For the first time we will offer housing and food to anyone who knocks on our door and the local news radio and TV are going to send people our way.  We don't know what to expect, but we have added more blankets food and medicine to get ready.  We hope this will be a blessing to those who are most needy.  As we get people in, we will post pictures and news.

The men are going to join me tonight to take coffee and sweet bread to those people who are staying at the hospital to be with their children and loved ones who are in the hospital.  We also take it too the hospital workers.  Sally York, Erve York and I have done this for the last two weeks.  Sally and Erve have  gone to Canilla for the weekend.  The men of En El Corazon de Jesus are going with me tonight. 

I  pray the men  will gain the gift and pleasure the Lord gives us when we give to others.  This will put these men on the other side to be giving instead of receiving.  I think it will be a very special evening.

Mario's Wedding

Tonight, Mario Estrada and Aura Morales (Aury) were married in the audittorium of the Utatlan School.  Mario has been with En El Corazan dd Jesus almost since it began.  He now works as second in command and does an excellent job.  It is a pleasure to see him find happiness.  Mario and I have always been very close.  Aura is a teacher at the public school.  The wedding is very similar to one in our country. One of the differences is there were two ceremonies one was legal and the second was the church wedding. The law requires the legal first and that is the picture where they are sitting down.  We had rice, but instead of throwing while they leave, they stood under a type of pinata and when it was opened, a lot of rice fell on them.  The ceremonies were short and the preacher preached which was also short.  We had meal and cake.  About 2-300 people attended and you can see by the picture they got a lot of gifts.  Another difference we all stood in a line to give them their gifts. May God bless this union.

I will post a few pictures also.

Supper at the Center

Wednesday night, the medical team led by Jessica Edquist generously offered to prepare and share supper with the men at the center.  Thanks to a local protest at the Hospital grounds where I live and the team is staying, the ladies could not go to the market in time to purchase and prepare the food. Our new Domino's Pizza in Quiche saved the day. 

We had a great evening and one of the men was able to share with us how the Lord has touched his life and brought him into a renewed relationship with his children.  Thanks to this group for coming to visit us sharing their food and love with us.

A wedding at our house

Today, July 3, 2010 we had a wedding at our house in Quiche.  It was a Mayan or verbal ceremony and only took a few minutes and then everyone waited for the next two hours while the meal was being prepared.  The ceremony only requires one witness to speak for the groom and one for the bride. Victor spoke for Juan Gomez and the brother of Cristina Jolomocox Cajchun spoke for her.  Since the ceremony is not a legally recognized ceremony Victor Tevalan asked the couple to have another ceremony in a church/  It is doubtful they will as most of the Mayan marriages are this way. 


 One of the pictures posted show part of the ceremony as Victor is praying for the couple and they are on their knees.  The brothers part was just a discussion.  The discussion is between two parties representing the two families who are joined together through this marriage.  Juan has no family and that is why Victor represented him.

 A usual Mayan courtship takes three visits by the prospective groom to the brides family. The first one, the prospective groom brings one pickup of food for the grooms family, the second he brings two pickups of prepared food and the third he brings four to five pickups of prepared food to the brides family along with some money (dowry).  As both parties are very poor, this was not done this time.