Day 15, June 20th, 2009

Woman models Mayan baby carrier



Me holding the baby


Jodi holding the baby

From left- Xamen, Ester, and Xunic

Editing 1 Samuel

Coya (the village we stayed in).

Another image of Coya

The church we stayed at in Coya

Mountain view from the church

The church courtyard where we were lodged (the second room on the far left is the room where Hannah and I stayed. Sam and Raymond were across the courtyard, which is not pictured)

Today, we rose at 6:35 sharp and prepared ourselves for the day. Ester was already in the kitchen, playing a K'anjob'al worship station while she worked to fix us a scrumptious breakfast assortment of eggs, tomatoes, peas, and tortillas. Accompanied by cups of coffee with a healthy dose of sugar mixed in, it was a unique meal to chow on.

During this time, Sam recalled something- we had forgotten to make our village map as the handbooks told us to do. Having eaten all we wanted, then, the four of us set out to trek up the unpaved path for a bit and identify our surroundings.

Before we got far, however, a man hobbled out from the shadows. In slurred English, he stammered out a few sentences, asking Sam where he lived, and then proceeding to tell us everywhere he's been in the States. Then, he shook our hands, and when he got to Hannah, he said, "I love you, Baby."

My companions were already walking, so I darted up to Hannah and asked, "Did he really just say 'I love you, Baby?"

"I think that's what he said," she replied.

By then, you could say I was a little creeped, but, thanks to God, a lingering walk and breathtaking views stole my attention and cleansed me of my fear.

He did spot us again when we were returning to the church. Having been talking to a fellow Guatemalan, recognition lit his as he called out:

"Pray for me because I love you because of this lady."

My first instinct was let's get out of here, but quite a different thought ran through my mind next. We should pray for this man- that God would open his eyes to the truth of His Word. After all, he is a person created in the image of God, drunk as he was or not, and God loves him. Will you join me in praying for this man and others like him?

At long last, the van came to take us back to San Miguel. Having crammed three groups of villages, we cozied up to one another and hung ten for the long haul.

We met Arvid at the same hotel we had left, and removed our belongings from Sam and Raymond's room, where we had moved it to minimalize the cost. Heading over to the church, we sared our stories of village life and then got to see a very neat scene- real Bible translation in live progress! Arvid had brought his correction of 1 Samuel, Chapter 1 with him, and, together with head translator Xunic, went over it with us looking over their shoulders. Explaining to us a bit aobut how this part of the translation was accomplished, Arvid spoke to us in English and answered our questions.

Next, came time for Xunic, Xamen (pastor in Coya), and Ester to share their testimonies and such (the latter two having traveled from Coya after we had left). They kept repeating how happy they were that we came and that we are one big family in Christ. Xunic even made the comment that it is uncommon for believers from so far away to meet each other, and so he was gald to ahve the chance to meet us. By the end of it all, I was nearly tearing up. We couldn't have asked God for more hospitable hosts- and He gave them to us. I stand both weakened and strengthened. Strengthened by the faith of my fellow believers, but weakened beneath the strength of God Almighty, Who brought us here together.

In Christ,

Brittany