Xenacoj – A Family Transformed – Zuli’s House

Last year, you may recall my leap of faith decision and the big ask associated with this decision.  To refresh your memory, I decided to go to Guatemala with our high school youth group.  Then I asked The Stretched Community to join together to build something big – a house.  The Stretched Community put their heads, hearts, and wallets together to pay for the materials used to build a house in Guatemala.

Our team of 25 teenagers and 6 adult leaders arrived in Xenacoj to a piece of property with a small dirt floored hut and a dirt yard.  Two and a half days later, we had finish a brand new house for a little girl (Zuli) and her family.  It was an amazing experience for our team and for The Stretched Community.

When we returned to the States, I often wondered how this family and their new home was doing.  Did they use the paint that are team had purchased and given the family right before we left the village?  Did the house help the family?  Did they keep up with it?

Many of my questions were answered when we returned to Xenacoj last week.  We were able to visit the house and Zuli’s family multiple times.  It was clear that our efforts last summer had made a big difference for this family.  Not only did they use the paint for the house but they also extended the front porch overhang, and they installed a concrete front porch.  They cleaned up their yard, and they built two other buildings and a kitchen on the property.  They were proud of their house, and they were taking care of their property.

Our family was welcomed back with open arms by Zuli’s family.  We talked together about our families and about God’s love.  We encouraged Zuli to keep learning.  And we prayed together.  Before we left, the family came and saw us at the Center where we were staying.  They wanted to make sure we knew that we were always welcome at their home, and they expressed hope that we would return again next year.  It was a very touching moment.

It was great for me to see how our help was a real springboard for this family.  Sometimes a little boost is all that is needed to help someone stand on their own.  Sometimes a little help is just what will get someone moving forward.  Seeing Zuli’s house and her family last week was also a great reminder to me that there is tremendous power when a few people get together to do something good for someone.  Thank you Stretched Community for being part of something good in Guatemala!

How have you seen a little help change the course of your life or someone else’s life?  How could you change someone’s life today by a simple act of generosity or by a basic word of encouragement?  What questions to you have about Zuli, her family, or the house we built?

Xenacoj – A Stretching Experience

Guatemala was life changing.

Trying to find the right words to capture my experience is challenging and perhaps even impossible.

I will continue to reflect on this trip for a while.  I was up in the early hours of the morning thinking about it.  I think about it when I’m driving in the car.  I think about Xenacoj when I’m eating my meals, when I’m talking to people, and when I’m running.  This experience is on my mind all the time.

The people of Xenacoj have left a permanent mark on me.

I was stretched in making the decision to go in the first place.  It took a lot of faith and trust for me to take my whole family there.  Would they be safe?  Would they stay healthy?  How would they respond to the poverty, the language, and the living conditions?  How would we pay for a trip of this magnitude?  Would people really support us after what we went through three years ago?  All kinds of questions went through my mind when we initially decided to pursue a trip to Guatemala.

I was stretched during the trip.  Three of our family members experienced illness while we were there.  I had to sleep on a bed that was about a foot shorter than me.  Sleep in general was tough for me most of the trip (the rest of my family seemed to sleep fairly well).  We slept right in the village where we heard fireworks, roosters, dogs, music, talking, snoring, and church at all hours of the night and morning.  The language barrier was initially a challenge.  It took a couple of days until we actually felt like we were serving.  Once we started serving, we saw some pretty deplorable conditions and desperate poverty.  We couldn’t fix everything.

And I obviously continue to be stretched following the trip.  How do I respond?  I don’t want this trip to simply be a “nice” experience.  What is next for our family?  When can we go back to Xenacoj?  How should we live our lives differently now that we are home in the States?  How can we continue to help GO! Ministries and the people of Xenacoj and Guatemala?  How can we inspire others to stretch outside their comfort zone and consider missions?  Questions, thoughts, and ideas permeate my mind constantly.

And yet, it’s difficult to fully capture what we experienced.  Perhaps the easiest way to show you is through a video that Dave Sgro (founder of GO! Ministries) put together using our pictures.  There are a few inside jokes and stories in the video, but the video does a pretty good job touching on many of the things we did on the trip.

How have you been stretched by a missions experience?  What questions do you have for me (or my family) about our experience in Guatemala?

Saturday In Xenacoj (and Antigua)

As I indicated yesterday, I am still getting my U.S.A. Legs under me. With this in mind, allow me to share the details of our day on Saturday in Guatemala. I’m hoping to add pictures into each of these posts, but you can hop over to my personal Facebook profile if you want to see all the pictures.

Saturday in Xenacoj (and Antigua)

This was a tough day for me as it was my turn to pick up some type of bug. I woke up anticipating the feeding program and VBS which would be taking place at the Center where we stayed in Xenacoj. Unfortunately, I spent the whole morning in bed fighting a fever and sleeping. I woke up around 11:30 just as everyone was leaving. I was able to see Blanca, a young girl we met last year, who has a rare allergy to the sun. It will be exciting to share pictures of her with those on our trip from last year. I also met one of the doctors in town who confirmed that I should continue with Cipro and ibuprofen to fight the bug/bacteria that I must have picked up.

I gathered enough strength to journey with our team to Antigua where we did some sightseeing and shopping. Honestly, I was pretty weak as we wandered trough this popular tourist area. The kids enjoyed bartering for souvenirs.

At night, GO! Ministries hosted an appreciation dinner for our group. Dave cooked five different kinds of shrimp, and we also had salad, tortillas, and cake. If I had been feeling better I’m sure I would have enjoyed the food portion of this dinner very much. Dave showed us a video that he put together highlighting our experiences. And then we each had an opportunity to stand up and share with the group about our week.

This trip was a huge deal for our family. Many of you know that Leanne and I had to cancel a planned trip to Nairobi, Kenya three years ago when Leanne was dealing with some significant health problems. I am so proud of her for stepping outside her comfort zone into Xenacoj. While the beginning of the week was challenging, it was obvious as the week went along that she was in her element experiencing the joy of serving in and around Xenacoj. Isaac and Hannah both did a great job as well this week. They both served with full effort, and they engaged with our team and with the people of Guatemala with such compassion. I am so proud of them. It was so great to meet the Spooner family (Jeff, Amy, and Sharett). In a week’s time, we went from complete strangers to wonderful friends. I love the spirit and spunk of their family. German is the man, and his family left a huge mark on our family. Never before have I met such a servant and servant-family. German’s prayers throughout the week were some of the most beautiful and powerful prayers that I have ever heard. He is truly a man after God’s own heart. Jesse Sgro was our team manager, and he did a great fob leading us from his devotion on Monday night to his translation to his constant comedy. And to Dave, thank you for inviting our family to walk alongside GO! Ministries for a week. This is a week that has clearly left a mark on our family.

After everyone had a chance to speak, we closed the evening in prayer. In Guatemala one mode or method of prayer involves everyone praying out loud at once. Our team was placed in the middle and the leaders and locals surrounded us and put their hands on us as they prayed. It was another beautiful moment.

Friday In Xenacoj

Our family arrived home very early this morning from Guatemala. I’m guessing that it might take me a couple of days to get back into the blogging routine and to catch up on some of the things I have missed this week. With that in mind, here are some of the details from our Friday activities in the village of Xenacoj.

Friday In Xenacoj

We drove up to El Calvario this morning to serve 50 of the poorest children in this school which is one of the largest schools in Xenacoj. Hannah and I had been here last year when we hosted a football/sports camp with our high school youth group. I was excited to make a return visit to this school. As soon as we got close to the school, I was amazed to see a brand new roof structure over the soccer field of the school. I’m sure this will be a major help in giving the kids a better place to play.

During our visit, the school was having a huge festival/fundraiser. We fed meals to the kids first. Leanne and our kids each had a chance to share about God’s love for each of the children. From there, we wandered by a couple of classrooms. Leanne and I stumbled upon a classroom full of 18 four and five year old kids without any adult supervision. The kids started running around their classroom screaming when they saw “the Gringos” standing at the door. Soon the young teacher showed up at the door. Leanne and I were able to talk with her about her class and about her training. She definitely has her hands full as she leads this class without any assistants.

We then made it to a playground/courtyard where kids were running around and playing. I ended up playing basketball with some of the kids. It was fun to teach some of the younger students how to bounce pass. Our group of Gringos were clearly a hit with the kids.

We spent most of the afternoon packaging beans and rice and sorting out goodies to give to the widows. We assembled over 150 baskets that included: corn, rice, beans, sugar, ibuprofen, toothpaste, toothbrush, potatoes, soap, oil, granola bar, chocolate, hairbrush, hand sanitizer, Chapstick, t-shirt, and matches. These goodies were all donated by our H.O.P.E. group back home in Pennsylvania. H.O.P.E. stands for helping other people everywhere. Most of our service projects are directed towards local outreach opportunities. The “everywhere” part of our group took on new meaning with these baskets which truly made a difference in the lives of the widows.

After packaging up the baskets, we walked back over to Zuli’s house where we dropped off three bags of beans, rice, and sugar. It was neat to show Dave Sgro and Jeff Spooner the house that Hannah and I helped to build last year. Dave was very interested in building some similar homes in the town in the future.

Friday night, we threw a big party for the widows of the community. We handed out bread, coffee, and ice cream. There were several speeches given by important people in the community. I had an opportunity to share as well. It was an interesting expense having my words translated into both Spanish and Kaqchiquel.

Ice Breaker – Foreign Language

Each week on The Stretched Blog, I ask an ice breaker question. The questions are designed to help us get to know each other here in The Stretched Community. I’ll provide my answer to the question here in the post, and then you can leave your response in the comments. While you’re in the comments section, see how others answered the ice breaker question.

This week my head is filled with a foreign language.  Our family is in Guatemala, and it definitely seems like we’re in a foreign land.  Our trip to Guatemala is the inspiration for this week’s Ice Breaker question.

Question:  Do you speak any foreign languages?

My Answer:  I’m sure our family is getting many lessons this week in Spanish and some type of Mayan language.  I took Spanish in junior high and high school.  I wish I had stayed with it and studied more, but I’m thankful the amount of Spanish that I did learn.

Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment. I look forward to reading your response! (As always, feel free to share links.) And keep STRETCHING!

Also don’t forget to sign up for the weekly Stretched newsletter.  Check out this postto find out how to sign up.

Thursday In Xenacoj (and San Pedro and Santa Clara)

We woke up in the lap of luxury this morning along the rising shores of Lake Atitlan, and we’re now ready for bed back “home” in Xenacoj.

Today featured many amazing things.

We served a meal to approximately 50 children in a school in San Pedro. These kids were very engaging. I went into most classrooms and had a great time talking with the students and teachers. We learned some sad things about the support of the teachers and the school. While we were in San Pedro, we also visited the town Central Park where we wandered into a special education school. We witnessed a few children with pretty significant deformities. Leanne was able to speak French with one of the volunteers at the school. It was an interesting and unexpected stop on our journey.

Before leaving San Pedro, Isaac took a dip in Lake Atitlan. How often can you say you swam in One of the most beautiful lakes I the world. A sad part about the lake is that it is rising several feet each year, and homes are literally being submersed. Local residents are actually hoping for a major earthquake that could help drain some of the water.

On our way back to Xenacoj, we stopped in a town called Santa Clara. Our main purpose for stopping here was to give one of our sick team members a chance for fresh air. What was initially planned as a 15 minute stop turned into a couple of hours as we scoped out the town for future ministry opportunities. It was amazing to watch things fall into place as we ran into a local pastor who shared with us about the town. The details of this,meeting is probably something for another post. It was a clear reminder to me that our detours can sometimes be God’s Devine Appointments.

We are doing well. The adventure and serving opportunities have been incredible.

I expect tomorrow will be a huge day as well.

Stay tuned!

Wednesday in Xenacoj (and San Antonio and San Pedro Laguna)

Wednesday in Xenacoj (and San Antonio and San Pedro Laguna)

Today, we visited the small mountaintop village of San Antonio which is about three or four miles outside of Xenacoj. We literally served a meal to some of the poorest people I have ever seen. The group of 70 children which included younger kids who were not students I’m addition to the students received rice, beans, warm rice milk, and tortillas. We were also able to bless the kids with Popsicles and other frozen treats that we picked up at a store on our way up to the village. The cold treats cost the equivalent of $12.50. Can you imagine feeding nearly 100 kids and teachers ice cream for $12.50?

These children broke our hearts. They were dirty, malnourished, and poorly clothed. We sat down with them and played games with them. At the end of our visit, we toured one of the homes of the village. The home consisted of a small kitchen with an open fire for cooking and a small bedroom with a twin sized bed that slept four. The living conditions were absolutely deplorable.

In the afternoon, we took a long drive to the village of San Pedro Laguna where we stayed for the night in absolute luxury along the shore of Lake Atitlan – one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. It was quite a contrast from our morning experience.

Stretching Past “But I Was Born This Way” (Leah Adams)

Today, Leah Adams shares some thoughts that will stretch all of us.  She is guest posting while I’m away in Guatemala this week.  Leah writes regularly on her blog as part of The Point Ministries.  Check out her links in her bio at the end of the post.

Have you ever used the words ‘but I was born this way’ as a way to excuse your behavior?

I have.

Recently I read an article that addressed this very thought pattern. About a year prior to reading the article, I had been in conversation with a couple of friends who told me they felt they, or a family member, had been born with homosexual tendencies. Fast forward a few months to when I read this article from pastor Brian Jones. I agree with much of Jones’ article. If a baby can be born with physical birth defects, it is plausible to think a baby can be born with emotional birth defects, such as the tendency toward homosexuality. We live in a fallen world and the area of sexuality is one where Satan is doing everything He can to destroy us.

The latest article I read, entitled “How Celibate Gay Christians Deal With Desire” was written by Stephanie Pappas, who is a senior writer for LiveScience.com. In the article Pappas referenced a small study undertaken by a sociologist at Hollins University in Virginia. In the study, the researcher named Creek, interviewed 5 individuals who self-identified as Christian and homosexual (4 men and 1 woman).

The results of the study were not what piqued my interest as much as the fact that, while these individuals did not deny their homosexual urges, they chose not to act on them.  Each of them felt it would not be compatible with their faith in Jesus Christ and the biblical stance on homosexuality.

One portion of the story, in particular, is what caused me to think about how application could be made to all who name the name of Jesus as Lord and Savior, gay and straight. Allow me to quote it for you.

“‘Erin,’ a celibate lesbian, told Creek she found a connection with married couples in her Orthodox Church who also tried to lead chaste lives.

“‘Allen’ told a story of a straight Christian retreat administrator who stood up for him, pointing out that Christian straight men and Christian gay men have similar struggles.

“Every day, ‘Allen’ wakes up and looks around, and he sees guys he wants to have sex with — and he doesn’t have sex with them because he’s following Jesus,” the male administrator said. “And every day, I wake up, and I see girls I want to have sex with — and I don’t have sex with them because I’m following Jesus. So, we’re both not getting any because we’re following Jesus.”

I am reminded that we are all born with tendencies that the Scriptures clearly call sin. Allow me to use myself as an example. Humility has not always been high on my list of accomplishments. All too often I fail at having a humble attitude. In addition to being prideful, I also tend to be judgmental. My parents did not teach me those sinful traits. I was born with those tendencies. However, because I am a follower of Jesus Christ and have the Holy Spirit living in my heart, I can overcome the sins of pride and judging, and walk humbly before God and my fellow human beings. How?

And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Galatians 5: 24-25 (NKJV)

It is all about choosing to allow Jesus to control my actions and attitudes rather than acting on my natural tendencies. I cannot do it in my flesh. When I try to be humble or think I’ve accomplished humility, I fail miserably. I must turn over complete control of self to Christ and allow Him to live through me

Regardless of what natural desires, actions or attitudes you and I deal with, it is possible to make godly choices. Perhaps for you it isn’t homosexual desires, pride or judgmental attitudes. Perhaps you struggle with alcohol addiction, lying, gossip or being a workaholic. The key is making Jesus the Lord of your life and allowing the Holy Spirit to work in your heart to change your desires, actions and attitudes into ones that are pleasing to God.

MEDITATION MOMENT: Where in your life are you using the old ‘but I was born this way’ excuse for not walking in holiness and obedience to Jesus Christ? I’d love for you to share your thoughts. 

An anointed speaker and communicator, Leah lives in northern Georgia with her husband, Greg, who is also her dentist. She holds a Doctor of Pharmacy Degree from Mercer University School of Pharmacy. Leah is a CLASS certified speaker and is the author of a Bible study for ladies entitled, From the Trash Pile to the Treasure Chest: Creating a Godly Legacy. She writes for Internet Café Devotions, CBN.com and Christianparenting.org. Visit Leah at her ministry website at www.leahadams.org. Find Leah on Facebook at Leah Colwell Adams and on Twitter (@PointMinistries).

Tuesday In Xenacoj

Today held several ups and a couple of downs. All in all, it was a great day to serve and share in Xenacoj.

The day started out bright and early (after the roosters woke up at 4AM) with a three mile run with Hannah through the streets of Xenacoj. Our run took us by women cleaning up the streets, men heading out to the fields, and children making their way to school.

When we arrived back at the Center, we learned that Isaac wasn’t feeling so great. He was starting with a bug most likely brought on by exposure to a third world bacteria. Right before breakfast, it took on another turn as he puked out whatever was in his stomach. And so, he started with the Cipro.

After breakfast, we journeyed to an elementary school on the edge of town. Here we had a chance to feed the kids a meal of rice, beans, and tortillas. 170 kids go to this school, and for most of the kids, this is the best meal they will have all day. GO! Ministries has set up a program that feeds these kids a hot meal every school day. After they ate, we had a chance to play games with them at recess, and we had time to share with the kids in a couple of the classrooms. We played some games that helped them with their English, we shared some words about God’s love for them, and we prayed with them. It is truly remarkable to me how open they are to the message of the gospel.

We returned to the Center where we worked on taking inventory on items that had already been gathered for a giant Christmas outreach. GO! provides Christmas gifts for over 5,000 children in and around Xenacoj. I was also relegated to help “build” a playhouse for kids who will visit the Saturday morning feeding program. We joked that this is the second house that I helped to build in Xenacoj.

During the afternoon, we visited two women who just became widows in the last week. It was sad, but it was also an interesting experience to bring the message of God’s hope and love to these families who clearly needed some comfort in their lives.

After this, our family walked over to visit with Zully’s family (where we build the house last year). We had a great time visiting with her family. Hannah is amazing with her Spanish! She served as our translator.

Tonight, we spent some time working on our widow baskets for the widow party on Friday night. We also enjoyed a time of devotion and reflection. Joshua 1:9 was the verse that sparked much of our conversation.

Isaac was doing much better by the end of the day.

It was another great day in Xenacoj. We will see what tomorrow brings.

Thanks for your prayers for health, safety, and effectiveness as we continue to serve this week in Guatemala.

The Sting of Stretching (@JosephLalonde)

I’m thankful today for Joe Lalonde.  Joe is guest blogging today about a recent stretching experience in his life.  His post is featured as part of The Network.  Joe writes an excellent leadership blog.  You can find more information about Joe along with the links to his blog in his bio which follows this post.

I’ve always been a fan of stretching. It’s helped me grow and reach my potential.

However, the last couple of weeks have tested my stretching limit.

Image by Mike Baird via Flickr

I’ve experienced so much stretching I don’t know how I’m coping with it.

Last month we had to make a tough choice and put one of our beloved dogs down.  My dad was hospitalized after three visits to the emergency room.

It feels like life has been stretching and stretching me. And it’s been painful.

Tears seem to continuously stream from my eyes. Sleep comes but it is not restoring. And there’s such a heaviness on my heart.

There are times that stretching stings. It creates a pain that is almost unbearable.

And yet there can be awesome results from the stretching.

I’m becoming more attuned to feeling the pain of others: I try my best to understand how others are feeling but I can fall flat in this area. The stretching I experienced with my dog has opened up a new avenue of feelings that focuses on the loss others are feeling.

There’s now a connection that I’m able to share with those grieving over a major loss. It’s a blessing a curse.

I’ve become more open with my feelings: Realizing how fleeting our time on this earth can be, I’m stretched to share my feelings more. Especially with my wife.

Nightly I weep and nightly I try to pour out my feelings to my wife. I’m feeling more broken than ever but there’s also the feeling of openness.

I’m learning what’s really important: Losing my dog and almost losing my dad has given me a sense of urgency with how I should live my life. It needs to be lived with unction. With a passion that’s unrivaled.

It’s also showing me that I need to spend time with those that I love. And to show them that I love them and value their lives.

Don’t neglect this fact.

The stretching has been painful. Honestly, I don’t like it so much right now.

Yet it’s helping me to become a better man. A better son. A better husband.

I’m not sure if you’ve experienced stretching like this in the past. It’s so difficult I pray you don’t have to experience it as well.

The truth is, we will all have to experience loss and the threat of loss.

Still, I know you can survive the stretching and come out better. Don’t let the pain destroy you. Let it grow you.

Question: What have you learned from the sting of the stretch? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.

This is a guest post by Joseph Lalonde. He is a youth leader at Oak Crest Church of God and leadership blogger at JMLalonde.com. Joseph shares leadership tools and encourages you to become a better leader. Connect with him on Twitter or at his blog.