Monday, November 5, 2007

Meanwhile, in Guatemala . . .

We played soccer with the kids and men from the village of San Nicolas, Guatemala, on a sunny day in November 2005, and this time, had a video camera handy. Seems like every time we visit San Nicolas, we end up playing soccer with the kids and the adult men. And it always ends up being one of the best parts of our trip -- they laugh at us and how badly we play, and we enjoy watching them whoop it up because they're so much better than we are.

The village is nestled in between a couple of ridges, high in the "Ixil", the central, mountainous region of Guatemala, at about 6500-7000 feet in elevation. Don Nicolas, now about 80, is the "founding father" of the village. Just about everyone else in the village is related to him, the eldest, most respected member of the clan. They told us about their history, and we were aghast, but tried not to show it. After 36 years of civil war, these precious people fled their home territory after so many were killed off by either the government troops or the rebels. This village is home to 13-14 families, members of the Quiche band of Mayans. From the first minute we began our journey with the families of San Nicolas, we were in love. What precious people they are!

Our little group has visited San Nicolas 3 times, January and November 2005 and November 2006. The trips are organized by Agros International (Seattle), which is committed to breaking the cycle of poverty for rural families in Central America and Mexico by enabling landless communities to achieve land ownership and economic stability. The Agros development model is holistic, sustainable, and focused on long term results. This commitment to the long-term sustainability of a whole community serves to break the cycle of poverty in all its forms.

Want to show true love to those who are not as blessed as you are? Contact Agros and commit to journey with a village, and see what God can do through YOU.

Sunday, November 4, 2007

Initial Musings 11/4/07

When I got up this morning, I never thought I'd be creating a blog. Well, that goes to show you - you think you know, but you never know. So here goes. Might as well set the bar high:

May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Galatians 6:14

To burn one’s boats is to cut oneself off from all means or hope of retreat. The allusion is to Julius Cæsar and other generals, who burned their boats or ships when they invaded a foreign country, in order that their soldiers might feel that they must either conquer the country or die, as retreat would be impossible.

The “world” system and I are supposed to be cut off from each other; I am dead to the world system, as if I had cut all my ties to it. It offers nothing to me for pleasure, for all my pleasure is found in Jesus Christ. I have arrived in the Promised Land and there is no going back – I’ve burned my boats.

Now all I have to do is live up to it.