Guatemala Photo Of The Day – Casting A Shadow
Time flies over us, but leaves its shadow behind.
Nathaniel Hawthorne
We purchased several bottles of Coca-Cola (made with sugar cane – not corn syrup) and some other snacks for a late morning snack. We found a shaded area where we could sit down and share the goodies with the family while we took a break. As we watched the back weaving I mentioned yesterday, Betty brought out some of her products. She knew we were potential purchasers, and she wanted to show off her talents.
As I look at this picture again, I notice the shadow being cast on the green wall by the flash of my camera. Within a fraction of a second the shadow is gone. It’s a brief moment in time, but Betty is leaving her mark. She is leaving a mark that will last longer than the shadow on the wall. She is impacted her kids. She is impacting her extended family. And she is impacting her community.
This picture reminds me that we all have the opportunity to leave our mark. We are here in this life for a short time. Relatively speaking, our life is like the shadow on the wall. We are here, and we are gone in the blink of an eye.
This isn’t meant to be depressing. It’s a challenge to make the most of the time you have. Cast a shadow that makes a difference in the world. Keep things in a proper perspective.
What legacy are you leaving? How are you making the most of the time you have here?
Find out how you can make a difference in Guatemala by clicking here.
Guatemala Photo Of The Day – Weaving Something Beautiful
We look at life from the back side of the tapestry. And most of the time, what we see is loose threads, tangled knots and the like. But occasionally, God’s light shines through the tapestry, and we get a glimpse of the larger design with God weaving together the darks and lights of existence.
John Piper
This woman was part of Betty’s family. She seemed to be respected as a grandmother, but I’m not sure exactly what her relationship was to Betty and her family.
In this picture, she is back weaving. This is a skill learned by girls in the community, and it continues on throughout life as a way for women to contribute to the family income. The woman in this photo is making a scarf or table runner. As you can see, the colors are brilliant. With each pass of the thread, a beautiful work begins to take shape.
She is weaving a piece of fabric, but she is also weaving a beautiful story. Her face shows a path taken – one which has not always been easy, and yet it is about surviving amidst the hardships of life. I recall seeing her as we worked on Betty’s house that this woman was always busy – washing dishes, back weaving, and cooking tortillas. She is setting the tone for Betty and her young children. The story she is weaving is an example to keep working hard and to keep contributing to what is going on around you.
What story are you weaving with your life? How are you making a difference today? And what legacy are you leaving for those behind you?
Find out how you can make a difference in Guatemala by clicking here.
Guatemala Photo Of The Day – Polite Or Pissed Off?
As I look at this picture, it looks like German and Betty are pretending to be happy about the progress of the house. Maybe they are just being polite.
El Abuelo’s face seems to be telling a different story. He looks a little pissed off and disappointed by the poor workmanship of the back wall. He knew we could do better, and he was right. Shortly after this picture was taken, we began the painful task of tearing down the back wall of Betty’s house.
Let’s see if El Abuelo changes his face.
Find out how you can make a difference in Guatemala by clicking here.
Guatemala Photo Of The Day – Determination Matters
Who needs a fancy fiberglass or aluminum extension ladder when you have this adequate handmade wooden ladder? This was a key tool for our building project especially as we approached the top of the structure.
We didn’t have all the fancy power tools which would have accelerated this project, but we managed with a few hammers and a hand saw.
Tools make a difference, but determination matters more than tools. With determination, you can find ways to get around the problems that arise.
Find out how you can make a difference in Guatemala by clicking here.
Guatemala Photo Of The Day – Fernando’s Super Power
Fernando!
Fernando has an amazing super power.
Fernando is warm and inviting. He has a magnetic personality. His smile is contagious. If you’re not smiling as you look at this picture, there might be something wrong with you.
Fernando is not the only one with this amazing super power.
You and I have the super power too!
All we have to do is smile. It’s contagious, and it will spread to others.
Try it today. Take time to smile!
Guatemala Photo Of The Day – Get Back To Work!
I’m sure Rosita and Fernando were glad to see us when we arrived back at the work site, but I kind of wonder if they were actually thinking “Get back to work!”
You can see they discovered some of our left over scraps of wood from our first day on the job, and they were using them to build some time of structure in their dirt floored backyard.
The new work day brings great expectations and hopes for accomplishing something spectacular, and we were so blessed to have these young children as cheerleaders (or slave drivers).
Guatemala Photo Of The Day – Mixed Feelings To Start The Second Work Day
This is how Betty’s house looked on the second morning when we arrived at the job site. When we finally made the decision to tear down the back wall and start over, I have to admit I was feeling discouraged.
How in the world would our small team manage to complete this house and another one before we left just a few days later?
This picture is a reminder that God provides just what we need at the right time. And this was true with Betty’s house. Stick around for more photos and you will see amazing transformation.
Guatemala Photo Of The Day – Burden
This statue stands on the front steps of the Town Hall in Santo Domingo Xenacoj in Guatemala. The statue depicts a familiar sight in the streets of Xenacoj. Workers carry a huge load of firewood on their backs. More than likely they spent a large amount of time cutting logs and splitting the wood at the beginning of the day, and they use the remaining hours of day light to carry the wood up into the village.
Firewood is an essential element for homes in the village. The wood is primarily used for cooking. Some ladies cook on open fires, and many cook on a wood-fired stove.
I am always amazed when I see the men (and sometimes women) carrying loads of wood on their backs. The statue is another reminder of the strong work ethic of many of the villagers. It’s also a reminder of the burden many villagers carry as they try to scratch together the funds to provide food and clothing for their families.
What burden are you carrying?
Guatemala Photo Of The Day – Supermarket!
If you have never been to Santo Domingo Xenacoj, this picture probably means very little to you. It’s a supermarket. Here in the USA, we have grocery stores all over the place. I can be at one in five minutes if I leave my house right now.
This supermarket opened sometime between our visit in 2013 and our visit in 2014, and it’s the first store of its kind in the village of Xenacoj. Here you can purchase fresh fruit, refrigerated meat, and other household needs. Prior to the construction of this store, villagers purchased foot from corner convenience stores or from street vendors near the center of town.
It’s my understanding that there was a lot of health issues in the year that led up to the opening of this store, and many street vendors were shut down while officials tried to gain control over the spreading health concerns.
The grocery store is also a sign of small advancements being made in and around Xenacoj. Hopefully, this will be one of the advancements that benefits villagers for years and years.
We shopped here several times during our visit, and it’s where we picked up several edible gifts for the friends we have made over the past few years in Xenacoj.
Guatemala Photo Of The Day – Hang On Tight
After breakfast, we headed out to the job site. We used the van to travel several blocks to Betty’s house. To get a different perspective, Hannah, Isaac, and Leanne climbed on top of the van for the ride from German’s house to the job site. Speaking from experience, it’s not the most comfortable ride, but the view from on top of the van is always amazing. As there are not any seat belts up on the luggage rack, you have to hang on to the side rails.
Going on a short-term missions trip to a place like Xenacoj means new and amazing perspectives, and it more than likely means you need to hang on to the side rails as you travel outside your comfort zone.
As you can see by the smiles, the journey outside your comfort zone is worth the risk.
