Blessings come from the United States!

     Before the missionary team from America heads for home, they are sure to stop at each of the affiliated ministries for a visit.  For people who have travelled to Guatemala for the first time, this is a great opportunity to see the overwhelming need that prevails in this beautiful country, in addition to the attempts of some wonderful people committed to making a difference.  For those who come on the trips annually, they have a chance to see how God has moved in the different programs, meaning, to see how the programs have grown and improved since the year before. They are also able to see the areas that are still lacking, and of course, everyone is given the opportunity to help.

       Our guests from America got the full tour of the facility from top to bottom.  People took a lot of pictures and asked a lot of questions. One man who is enrolled in our program and living at the house was able to give his testimony to the group and share what God has been doing in his life since he arrived here at Hogar de la Roca.  I noticed most everyone on the missionary team took special time throughout the convention to get to know the guys in the program a bit, as well as to encourage them to keep going forward in their new drug and alcohol free life.

         There was an seemingly endless amount of love coming from this group of American missionaries that continued throughout the entire convention.  Above is a picture of myself with my new "moms" from First Cathedral Church.  We had never met before the week of the convention but when i was introduced to these ladies i learned they had already been praying for me since they heard i was sick with parasites. It was like we were old friends after our first meeting.  Some of them were nurses and they were always inquiring how i was feeling, what i was eating, and advising me what to eat and what not to. They gave me bags of antibacterial wipes and hand sanitizer, and even durring this picture they were scanning my room to make sure i was getting enough fresh air circulation through the windows.  I learned quickly that everyone on the team, whether i had known them previously or not, had a genuine concern for my well- being.  Every time I turned around i was handed a care bag of Gatorade, some chicken soup, or an impromptu prayer.  It was amazing.

       As the tour was ending and the team was getting ready to leave we all met up on the rooftop.  There people  took turns as they felt led and gave Chris and myself advice and encouragement regarding all the important work that lies ahead of us.  We met in a circle and all prayed together.  Then the team took a financial love offering amongst themselves and gave it to the ministry as a final goodbye blessing.

      After a lot of hugs and goodbyes the mission team was in the bus and on their way.  Chris, the guys, and myself were left with a week of emotional, spiritual, and financial blessings that will help fuel us into the new year and new projects we undertake in this mission and ministry. 

     We spend a lot of time talking about spiritual blessings in this blog, for this moment let's focus on some tangible blessing we have received!

     It is part of the tradition of the convention that on the final night that the group is in the hotel, we have what is called blessing night.  Every year the group is asked to bring a suitcase for themselves (of course), and an extra bag full of clothes or items they would like to give away to the programs.  One morning after the convention i was able to set up and fill two tables full of suits jackets, ties, shoes, sneakers, belts, soaps, jeans and so much more. Many of the clothes had been worn previously but there was no junk here.  These were real blessings consisting of great clothes and cosmetics in excellent condition.  I have been part of 4 or 5 intakes in guatemala (where we bring a new guy into the program) and they have all come in to this ministry straight from the street with literally only the clothes on their backs.  It meant so much to the guys to receive these clothes and toiletries.  Not only does a new pair of shoes and socks help your situation tremendously when you only have one pair that has bonded to your foot through fungal infection, but it also helps your self image to put on some nice clothes before you go out to church or to the market.  When you start to feel like a human being again, the desire to preserver through this difficult time of getting your life back together in the program increases in grand proportions.

      Clothes are terrific.... especially when you have a place to put them!  Up until this convention Hogar de la Roca had no furniture whatsoever in the bedrooms except for bunk beds.  The guys and myself had to pile our clothes neatly in a corner on the floor, live out of a suitcase, or put our clothes on an empty bunk bed if there was one in our room.  I have to admit it was kind of weird to start unpacking and not have a place to put books or deodorant or hang your jacket or dress clothes.  So everything was on the floor or an empty bed. 
     But with the money we were able to collect from the convention, adding up our shirt sales and financial blessings from the team, we were able to bring furniture to Hogar de la Roca!

     Clothes, dressers, closets, chicken soup, Gatorade, soap, and even money.  These are all wonderful things.  A lot of people come to third world countries and start to get resentful towards people who are "rich" or exceedingly comfortable.  There is even the tendency to start bashing America and it's people for maintaining it's blatant and boastful overabundance, and yet remaining seemingly obliviouss to it's starving neighbors on all sides.  While i can understand from where those feelings are percolating, i believe that view is too myopic.  Families need money to support themselves, churches need money to reach people and do their work effectively, and this ministry of Hogar de la Roca needs money to get a hot water heater so the guys don't have to take freezing showers when they come in off the street. In fact,  it takes money to open the doors of any organization designed to aid in a humanitarian capacity.  
     1 Timothy 6:10  For it is the love of money that is the root of all kinds of evil.  And some people, craving money, have wandered away from true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.  
     Everyone has the ability to make a difference in this beautiful world that sadly remains under the subjection of it's harsh elements and realities.  People are placed in different positions, by God, and are given the ability to help in a unique capacity.  However each one is equally as important.  Just as the human body needs it's arm as well as its leg to function at it's full potential, so does the body of compassionate people need those who are willing to live with less and sacrifice themselves on the mission field for example, as well as those willing to support the work  financially.  In ancient battle formations the treasury was kept way behind the lines of soldiers and protected, as it was their crucial duty to send supplies and funds to the soldiers up front as needed.  That picture is illustrative  of the position America has been standing in  for many years.  America has remained relatively safe, protected, and prosperous since it has been established.  
     However this position comes with great responsibility as well as a a temptation for greed.  There are some, such as the most recent example the American missionary team, and many others of course, who are using the blessings they have received in a rich American pursuit of happiness to look after their families as well as the happiness of others. There are others however, who have more than enough, yet are never content.  Enough, is never enough.  There is a difference between need and want, and yet that line has blurred in places like the United States.  We let ourselves become anxious and discontent over what we merely want.  When we live in this state of a constant and unnecessary compulsion to please ourselves, the desire in our hearts to help others cannot compete nor even exist.  We say to ourselves "When I get "this" i will be all set and can relax and be happy."  A lot of time, after some hard work we get "this" enjoy it for a only a mere moment and then our sights are instantly set on "that."  If we focus only on ourselves, or even the people immediately around us, it is my experience and belief that we will always be let down and left wanting more.  But if we can get a heart for others, and start investing in the happiness of others, either with our time or money, a change will take place in us.  We will start seeing the world with different eyes, and we will then continue on our true journey to the pursuit of happiness.