God Has Better Plans: Tony

Magdalena, who was sick and taking care of her three orphaned grandchildren, could see the reality.  There was no money, there was only so much she could do.  So when her middle grandson Tony graduated from 6^th grade, she told him that he couldn’t continue in school, he had to work full time.  Tony shined shoes in the town square, it’s what the poorest children have to do.  If they are lucky enough to get business, they earn 1 quetzal (about 13 cents) for one pair of shoes. 

Tony in the town square with his shoe shining buddies

We knew about Tony through his sister who attends Colegio HOREB.  God had led us to visit the family several times, as we were aware of the dire need they had.  When the scholarship program was started, children like Tony were firmly in our minds and hearts.  We felt a desire from the Holy Spirit to give children like him a chance to receive an education.

When his grandma told him he would not be able to continue in school, he was devastated.  This was evident when we went to his house to interview him.  He began the interview trying to act happy with a smile on his face, but it lasted only 3 seconds.  He said, “My story is…” and then he broke into tears. 

Through tears he continued, “I want to continue studying, but the money doesn’t exist, we don’t have money to continue…”

He told his story, how his mom had passed away, how his dad had abandoned them, and how his grandma is old and is not able to work too much.

 

“Yes, we work, but the money only exists for a moment, it goes fast to the others.  We use the money, but only to buy corn, we eat, only for this.”

Tony with his grandma and sister

Through the connections that God creates, we were able to offer Tony a scholarship.  A sponsor from the United States heard his story and kindly offered to support him.  He not only was able to continue his studies, but God sent him to arguably the best middle school in the area, founded two years ago by AGROS.  Besides the usual work load of middle school, they provide a tutor in the afternoons, agricultural and carpentry workshops, and devotions once per week. 

Tony is making the most of this opportunity in his first year at the new school.  He is scoring above the average in his class and turns in all his homework assignments.  He is very participative and takes advantage of the tutor that stays in the afternoons.  His attitude is one of thankfulness, knowing how close he came to giving up further education.  In the future, he dreams of being an accountant or a lawyer, using what he has to help others.

I ask that you keep this young man in your prayers, pray that God would use his life in big ways for His kingdom and for him to grow deeper in knowledge and draw closer in relationship to our Heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.  I ask that you pray the same for the other three wonderful children in this program as well.

 

God is doing a work in the Ixil.  I can see it.  I see it in children like Tony.  Though many fathers have abandoned children through alcoholism, divorce, or desertion, this generation of children are getting educated, the Spirit is moving, and schools like HOREB in Cotzal and Filadelfia in Chajul, are giving sound biblical teaching.  Through the ashes of a devastating war, God is raising up a people after His heart here.  I see great hope in this generation of children.  The harvest is upon us.  I invite you to be a part of it. 

Learn more about WIND (wind-guatemala.org) and consider donating to this cause.  You can also consider sponsoring a child for a scholarship for the next school year (information to be provided later) and let God use you to change the trajectory of a child's life, like Tony's.   

The WIND scholarship kids at their school, from L to R: Abigail, Mayerly, Tony, and Dionicio

Down the Path - The beginning of our relationship with Colegio HOREB

He stopped the car and pointed.  “Down that path is a woman who has a Christian school.”  Paul, a missionary here in the area, kept driving and moved on to the next subject.  But my mom and dad did not forget that brief moment.  They had planned on leaving the next day, but they both knew they had to return to see what God had for them down that path.  

Down that path was a woman named Tabita.  The Christian school which she founded was floundering.  They didn’t have money to pay the teachers and she was considering closing the school.  She prayed to God for help.  My parents, by following the stirring in their spirits, and showing up to Tabita’s house were a part of an answer to her prayers.  Through WIND, they would later pledge financial support for the school.  I came that next school year to teach English to the kids.

Tabita didn’t have to start that school.  Paul didn’t have to say a word about Tabita.  My mom and dad didn’t have to follow that path to Tabita’s house.  But they did.  It was all in God’s plan from the beginning.  He was answering prayers, He was doing something big, and He was using all of us to accomplish this purpose. 

Many lives have becoming affected through our relationship with HOREB.  The school itself has grown, nearly doubled in size.  It has been the start of many life changing relationships and has opened doors into many homes.  New stoves have been installed in houses, dramatically improving the quality of life.  Dental needs have been taken care of.  In one case, a dying boy was saved from his Leukemia.  Most importantly, children and teachers have accepted Christ, and God has been glorified more and more.  This is all the work of God, who works through our relationships.  He sees the big picture and He is working through us as we do our best to obediently follow him.

We never know when God is going to do something big through us.  There is a path of good works that God has prepared beforehand (Ephesians 2:10).  No matter where we are in our walk with God and fellowship with Jesus, He has something prepared for us every day.  We need to be open and attentive, living our lives with purpose, as sons and daughters of our great loving Heavenly Father.

The Faith of Showing Up

It is an amazing thing to be used by God, to be His hands and feet.  I have learned from my work here in Guatemala that what God calls us most to do is simply to show up.  That is an act of faith.  I believe that we Christians (especially American Christians) tend to overthink and complicate things a great deal.  We think we must have a master plan, be thinking ten steps ahead, to provide the best help as possible.  There is wisdom to that to be sure, we should be thinking!  But sometimes it tends to paralyze us to the point that we do nothing at all.  The problem is too big, we say.  It is like not feeding a hungry person because we can’t solve the problem of world hunger.  It’s not taking a step to help somebody in need at the moment because that help is not sustainable or we might begin a cycle of dependence (as if we’re not all dependent on God to provide for us in the first place).  We think of all these bigger problems and it keeps us from taking that first step, just to show up and see how God moves.  It’s okay not to have a grand plan.  It’s okay to be unsure of why you are even there.  

I have seen God use me in this way over and over again.  Sometimes I don’t know what I’m doing, sometimes lacking even a clear objective, but I visit a house, I show up, and little by little I find God blessing that person, that family, through these visits.  It is God that does it, of that I’m sure.  In any particular moment I may not feel His hand, but when I look back, I see how He has directed me ever so subtly.  This happens EVEN WHEN I DON’T FEEL PARTICULARLY “IN THE SPIRIT” as the phrase goes (though if we are Christian the Spirit is with us always, even if we choose not to be aware of it).

I write all this not to pat myself on the back, but to show how amazing God is.  He uses me DESPITE my weaknesses.  I struggle with bad attitudes and low faith.  Sometimes Maria and I show up to a house after a day filled with disputes and conflicts with each other.  Sometimes we show up at a LOW or a valley in our walk with Him.  But God uses us even in that state.

On one particular hard day, we showed up to the house of a girl we were thinking about putting in the scholarship program.  It was the end of the day, we were tired, feeling defeated, but we went.  That day the girl decided to open her heart to us, sharing how her dad had died from alcoholism, and she wanted to continue in school to help her mom.  Maria felt moved to give her a hug and we prayed for her.  She is now receiving a scholarship from WIND.

If we wait to be in the perfect mood or attitude to do good, we will miss so many opportunities and ways God wants to use us.  He wants to use us right here, right now.  Even if we don’t have a plan or a great attitude in the moment.

Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. (Romans 6:13)

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, that God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10)

I write this as an exhortation to fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.  SHOW UP!  Do you know somebody in need but not sure of how you can help?  Do you know somebody who is struggling but don’t know what you can say?  Perhaps God put these people in your path for a reason and what He is asking you to do is simply to show up.  Do so while praying, do so being open to the Holy Spirit inside you.  GOD WILL USE YOU!  That has been our experience.

I hope in the coming weeks to share a few stories, how the Spirit has led us to certain people, how we have had the honor to be a part of answers to prayers, and how God has been glorified through it all.  

Por Fé, Hermano

My father Rich (WIND Exec. Director) and I with Francisco Chamay

“God, if you save my leg, I will give my life for you!”  That was the prayer that brought Francisco Chamay to Christ.  Since then, Francisco has struck true to his promise, miraculously walking each week to far out villages on that same leg that was almost amputated, making disciples for Christ.  In my 30 years of life, it’s possible that I have never met a man with more faith than this short, humble Ixil man whom they call “Hermano Chamay.” 

I first met him almost 3 years ago at the Bible Institute that WIND supports.  At the time my Spanish was very poor and I only roughly understood as he spoke of his ministry of walking to all the villages.  I did conclude, however, that a person that spends the majority of their time walking to villages, and who pastors only a handful of people at a tiny church, would likely have financial difficulties.  So I asked him how he had money to live and support his family.  His response I did understand and remember to this day, “Por fé, hermano (by faith, brother).”

I have had two meetings with him over these past two months at his tiny church, trying to pin down how extensive his ministry actually is, but he seems to have no interest in numbers.  Discipleship making books made by the Global Church Movement were loaned to him and he went out and started a 4 book diploma program out of them.  Eventually, I was able to gather from him that this program has 6 teachers and over 200 students spread across at least 10 villages.  He informed me that he has to give the books back by the end of the year while the students are in the middle of the series.  We estimated how much it would cost to make about 200 copies of the books, estimating it to be a little over $1000 which might as well be a fortune to the Ixil people.  Having no idea how these books would get paid for, he told me he was leaving in a few days for a “run” of the villages to tell them the program would continue again in February.  I laughed out loud, shaking my head at this man’s bold faith.  He smiled and said “Si, por fé, hermano.” 

He showed me his leg, which is slightly deformed below the knee.  He says God always gives him the energy he needs to walk and not feel pain.  We talked about faith, how people often wait for money first before moving to serve God but sometimes God is waiting for us to move first, to show faith.  I had had a conversation just an hour earlier with another local church leader who said he would love to evangelize in the villages but that first he would need to have money for gas, materials, etc.  It is human nature to want to know what will happen or know we can succeed before we set out but sometimes God is waiting for us to simply obey him and boldly dive into the unknown, trusting that He will provide for us.  Francisco gets excited with this topic for he has seen personally how God always provides exactly what is needed for him to complete His will.  “Por fé, hermano.”

I ended my visit with a walk to his home (or as he calls it his “ranch.”)  As I expected, the house was small and impoverished.  A little 4 year old girl greeted me and I asked if it was his granddaughter.  “No, she is an orphan that we are caring for.”  HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD.  Francisco, with no guaranteed income to support his own family or ministry, still has enough to support this little orphan girl as well.

POR FÉ, HERMANO

The world may not know who this small man is, living in a tiny house in the remote mountains of Guatemala, but in the Kingdom of Heaven, I know we will see Hermano Chamay as one of God’s mighty warriors of faith, who walked on a miraculously healed leg to all the villages that surrounded him, giving his life for the sake of making disciples for Christ.    

Juan's Story

Picture taken during our interview with Juan

“There is something different about him,” I told my wife after interviewing one ten year old boy. We had been interviewing 24 students at HOREB who were receiving scholarships, but this one stood out.  His eyes were full of light as he shared deeper things about himself, demonstrating a maturity different from the other children his age.  He was small in stature but talked with confidence and conviction, sharing how he had changed from an angry boy to one who had become more at peace.  We decided to dig deeper, visiting his family in their home and talking with his teachers.  This is the story of how God changed his life and used HOREB and WIND to facilitate that change.

As in every story, this one begins long before Juan was born.

Tabita

Tabita Juana Toma de la Cruz is the daughter of a Pastor who was shot dead on his way to a nearby village.  She doesn’t know who killed her father, whether it was the army or the guerillas, but it doesn’t matter.  Her father was dead, but he left an imprint on her life; a seed that would grow and one that would carry her to start the first Christian school in her town of San Juan Cotzal.  She worked hard to receive her education, receiving a four year degree from a university in Guatemala City, a very rare feat for an Ixil woman.  Then she did something even rarer, she came back to her town.  A missionary heart had been formed inside her, and the children of her home were on her mind.  The town was in the midst of much gang-related violence, and teenagers were killing each other.  Her concern for her town led her to begin a school where the Word of God would be taught in the classrooms in an environment of love and care.  After a couple years of prayer, Colegio HOREB was founded.

Four years later as Juan entered the first grade, the school was in trouble.  Tabita didn’t have money to pay the teachers and felt a lot of pressure.  She confided in a close friend that she was thinking of closing the school.  Her friend, a missionary from El Salvador asked her, “Whose school is it?  You can’t shut down a project of God.”  It was in this period of great need that God provided for the school in profound ways.  The founders of WIND were on a vision trip when they found themselves in Tabita’s home listening to her story.  After returning home, they sent an email offering a little support to help pay the teachers for that next school year which was the year Juan entered the second grade.  The project of God moved on.

Juan with his third grade teacher, Joel

At that time, Juan was a very angry child.  He explains, “I would throw my books on the floor and yell in the middle of class.  I could not control myself.”  At home his father was battling with alcoholism, a problem that runs rampant in the Ixil.  His family was poor and didn’t have much to eat.  His mom would ask him to help in the home and he would only scream back, “NO!  I don’t want to!”  He was on a path to destruction, but everything changed his third grade year.

One catalyst for this change was a teacher at the school, Joel, who spent a lot of time mentoring Juan.  In particular, he led Juan to Proverbs 14:17 which is a verse he continues to recite to this day.  It reads, “A man of quick temper acts foolishly.”  Juan learned about the Bible and Jesus through his teachers at HOREB.

That same year, his father died from alcoholism.  Juan was sad, but his mom shared with him a dream she had when her mom had died from anemia.  “Don’t be sad that your father died, because that happened to me when my mom died.  I was so sad, but the people in the church prayed in my room and that night when I was sleeping, my mom appeared to me in a beautiful house with a lake that shines like gold and she was fat and better and she said to me, ‘Don’t be sad because I’m better, I am a singer here, you need to accept God in your heart.’  After I woke up, I was not sad for my mom anymore.”

Enma working with a student

A woman named Enma, the acting Principal of the school, saw his change throughout the year.  One day she called him out of class.  Undoubtedly, Juan walked with a little apprehension as he approached his school principal wondering what he had done wrong.  She had a simple question for him.  “Juan, I know how you love God.  Do you want to accept him?”  This question probably took him by surprise as he remembered the dream that his mother had shared with him.  He said yes, and the two prayed together.  Afterward she said, “Since the moment you were born, the name of God has been in your heart.” 

Since that day, he is a changed young man.  He reads a borrowed Bible alone in his room and goes alone to the church every Saturday and Sunday.  His new stepfather is good to him but only makes $4 per day working in the fields.  His uncle buys shoes and clothes for him or gives him a corn drink called atol.  Sometimes that is all he has to eat, but Juan accepts it and doesn’t complain since he has received God.  He also works more in the home, is more obedient to his mom, and doesn’t get angry like he used to.

Juan shows off the family's new stove (with his mom and sister)

His mom is very thankful to HOREB for all they have done for her child as well as to WIND for giving him a scholarship to study there as she can’t afford the $3 per month it costs to attend.  She is also thankful for the stove that was installed this year in their home by Westminster Chapel.  It has helped bring in a small income for the family as the mom is able to cook tamales and sell them. 

During our interview with Juan, we asked him a question we asked all the scholarship students: “What do you want to be when you grow up?”  Without hesitating Juan responded, “A lawyer.”  That seemed like a typical answer.  “Why?” we asked.  He replied, “Because I want to help people.  One day somebody tried to accuse my mom of something she didn’t do, and I stepped in to defend her.  That’s what I want to do, to defend those who are being unfairly accused.”  That is a young heart set on the Kingdom of God and a great hope for the upcoming generation.  But there is still a lot of work to do and a lot of children who are on the wrong path, like Juan was.

It is Tabita’s vision to grow HOREB to include a middle and high school.  There are currently no such Christian schools in San Juan Cotzal.  HOREB also desperately needs a new elementary school building as the rented space they meet in is dilapidated and unsafe, making for a very difficult learning environment for the children.  Tabita is currently trusting God and waiting on His provision of the land for building.  I hope you join us in prayer for the children of the Ixil, praise God for stories like Juan’s, and think about how you can support this ministry.  This is indeed a project of God, and God will provide according to His will.  

Juan with his family and a new Bible provided to him by WIND

Juan enjoys art, here he shows off one of his paintings