Guatemala Mission Trip

Blog posted by Twila Crawford

 

 

This morning I awoke grateful for another day, but a bit sad and disoriented, thinking I was late for something.  Ever have one of those times that it takes a minute for you to wake up enough to realize you really are in your home and not somewhere else?  My disorientation was due to me just arriving from Guatemala.

 

The CUMI team of 10 people went to love and minister among some of the most humble and amazing people. We were there to minister to the Achi Tribe of people now re-located in Rabinal and Pacux. They are survivors, or children of the survivors of the 1982 Rio Negro genocide, one of five that took place.  To say this outreach was impacting in our hearts and souls was an understatement.

 

[click_to_tweet tweet=”From the first moment to the last, as they shared their stories, they had a captive audience. They stole our hearts!  The torture and trauma they went through, the human soul is unable to grasp and was never meant to carry. ” quote=”From the first moment to the last, as they shared their stories, they had a captive audience. They stole our hearts!  The torture and trauma they went through, the human soul is unable to grasp and was never meant to carry. “]

 

Yet that is not what captivated us the most.  It was rather the constant phrase on their lips; “gracias”, always accompanied with a gentle hug and smile.  Never once did I hear them complain.  As they told their stories they gave God glory for their lives.  Only as we met with them individually or in the personal conversations did the gravity of what they endured come to the surface in tears.

 

BEING JESUS TO THE LEAST OF THESE

‘Banners of Love’ Guatemala is the ministry we served through:

• Prayer Counseling.
• Feeding programs for young and old.
• Ministry to:
  • Malnourished children and their parents.
  • Church leaders
  • Local leaders and their staff
• Participated in the annual Celebration of the grandparents who survived the massacres.
• Repairs made around the ministry house and yard.
• Filters of Hope, Tuscaloosa, AL provided over 40 water filters towards helping the people in this village have clean water. (More filters coming soon)
• Sharing the gospel and our testimonies on the radio, reaching others locally as well as nationally.

We all worked together with ‘Banners of Love’ team and accomplished more than we could ever imagine through the power and love of God.

TENDER MOMENTS SHARED | A HEART CRY HEARD

Jan Hicks was sharing a story about her eyes being drawn to a flower lying on the ground during the Guatemalan Independence Day Parade.  As her eyes were drawn to the flower, without a word, one of her spiritual sons picked it up and placed it behind her ear.  A touching moment for both of them, knowing it was a God hug.

As I heard this story my heart turned to the stories of the Achi people and this is the poem that developed inside of me:

Heart Cry of a Trampled Tribe

As the parade music resounds,
I spot the little red flower lying there on the ground,  

Beautiful crimson petals all around.

Seems a bit normal, un-profound.

 

Yet as the parade passes by,

I could hear a faint heart-cry…

Of a people of a tribe.

 

We are trampled don’t you see?

Our babies dashed against the granite stone,

Fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters all,

Wiped out in genocide….

Another people their fate to decide.

To fulfill their own desires and selfish pride.

[A dam they wanted and for this, we died].

 

Justice, justice was the cry…

Why, oh why, did they all have to die?

A response arose from a faraway place…

The Creator responded outside of time and space!!!

On that hill, the King of Justice hung,

On a cross, blood running crimson…

Crying out equally loud: come, come by Achi and Kekchi

People.

 

Justice served: Redemption today in your land is heard.                                               

-Jesus

 

 

PRAYER

Father,

Thank you for your love for all peoples everywhere. Thank you for the privilege of getting to be Jesus’ hands and feet among the Achi Tribe as well as here at home.   Continue to show them who they are in you:  LOVED and FREE.  In Jesus name.  Amen.