Guatemala Day Two- Sunday- Continued

In my last blog, I described the beginning of the day, and I regret that I could not finish the story in one post. But nevertheless, here is the rest of it. So, now we are coming through a field of corn, and a small Mayan woman has saved us from the dogs. We thought we were lost, but found our way once again, to find the place at the mountain where locals come to burn offerings to their mayan god. The woman, who we learned to know as Michaela (Mik-eye-ela), pointed us into the right direction. She quickly ran to her house again andback to catch up with us as we walked to the point. She carried a basket of small trinkets all of dark color, dark green and black Jade. It seems as though she may be trying to sell them to us. "No Gracias," we tell her, as we have been used to saying those words all day through the market as everyone tries to sell you everything. When we got tothe top, we all just stood and looked for a moment, silent, at the spot-black, charred, dark, and burnt everywhere. There were candles, flowers, fruit, cigars-all burning on stones with crosses too. All black. But God was with us, so we had no fear.

We learned from Bill and from Michaela how the locals use this spot to burn chicken, turkey, and other animals here for "cleansing." They hope for some sort of blessings in return. This news made me sad. As I had been reading in Deuteronomy and Leviticus of the Old Testament and this all reminded me of the many many different types of offerings that the Israelites were commanded to give. They were required to give peace offerings, sin offerings, guilt offerings, and list goes on. Offerings of animals, grain, and wine. It all seems so needless. So many offerings, so much time, effort put into something that is really no benefit. Since Jesus Christ made the ultimate offering, the Israelites were no longer required to make of those old offerings commanded to them long ago. God does not want our incense and our b

urnt offerings. Only our open heart! How wonderful!

But this thought is so foreign for the Guatemalan culture. Upon further inquiring, we found out that this biggest rounded top rock is to believed to be the mayan god that the locals give their offerings to. It is said to resemble the face of their god, but I don't see a face at all. Perhaps it's all been burnt away. And what should stand right next to it?

Only a small cross with a figure of a person carved into it. Michaela told us that it is indeed "Jesu Christo" that was positioned on that cross. Bill began a conversation w

ith Michaela asking about the mayan god and Jesus. It is discovered that she believes in both the mayan god and God of the bible. But she believes that her mayan god is stronger ("mas fuerte") that Jesus, and this is why the Jesus on the altar is so much smaller than the mayan god rock.

In our conversation with Michaela, her mother joins us-Manuela. Ask we asked Michaela about the rest of her family, she told us of her father, Jose. Jose was in her house, sick. He has been sick for 11 years. She said it with a casualness in her voice. It was as if-it's so hard to find the words-maybe she was so used to him being sick, and never expected him to get better. It was just a state of fact, without any sign of emotion. But it is common for the Guatemalans to hide any signs of emotion for the most part. I, on the other hand, was not without em

otion. I was filled with a broken, crying heart and the words came to me "Pray for him." As I searched for the spanish words that I might use to ask her if we could pray for Jose, Bill began to ask her if it was ok for us to pray for him.

She said OK! And Oh, the excitement that filled my heart at that moment is indescribable! How awesome, that we get to pray for this man! That we get to bring the Holy Spirit into their house, be blessed and be a blessing. I walked with Michaela while Bill gathered the group and told them of what we were about to do. I shared with Michaela that I know t

hat God is bigger and stronger than anything, and that he can do anything. I told that He is great and full of love for us. I trust that through even my broken spanish, the Holy Spirit could give her an understanding of the Lord that was greater than she had ever known before.

As we came into Jose's room, which smelled of a bathroom, he began to sit up in his bed, with obvious discomfort. We told him that wasn't necessary, but he sat up anyway. He reached out his hand to touch our hands, each one of us. His hands were trimmed with long fingernails which curled on the ends. I imagine they were 11 years long.

After Jose shook everyone's hand, we began to pray for Jose with our hands laid on his body. There was no translation necessary. He couldn't hear very well, and probably knew mostly Quiche, which none of us could speak. As the prayer began, Jose began humming

aloud, and I could feel the Holy Spirit in the room with us. It was as though we were all floating there in the room. I was filled with "Amazing Grace" in my heart, so I let it out and began humming with Jose. As the men prayed aloud, I could hear Jose begin to say "Preparo, Preparo, El Senor, El Senor." (I'm ready, Father God) Jose was ready to receive God's gift for him. And I could physically feel Jose's body change as we prayed there for him. His hard stiff body slowly began to relax and soften beneath my hand. God was doing His work in Jose.

When we finished praying, we said our good byes, and thanked Jose and h

is family for allowing us into their home to pray for him. Michaela followed us back to the altar sight and showed us the way down the mountain toward the town of Chichi. We would not be going back the way we came, as it would be twice as far to get to Manos de Jesus. The skies were beginning to get dark with rain clouds, and thunder began while we were still in the house praying. But before we left the mountain top, we prayed as a team once more. We prayed for protection over Jose and his family and that God would take possession of this mountain top. While the thunder rolled once again, I had a vision of Jose showing God's glory through his healing to all who would pass his home on the way to the mountain top. He would tell them all that our God of the bible, the One True Living God, is stronger than these false gods. El Senor was his healer, and it came through grace, not burnt offerings!

As our prayer ended, the rain began. Our way was unknown, but we followed the path before us and kept moving toward the direction of the town. We did get very wet, but we also got home safely! I still pray for Jose and his family. There is no doubt that their life has been deeply moved and changed for their benefit since the Holy Spirit came to visit in a big way that day. They are not the only ones, I too was moved by the events of that day, as were the rest of my team. And now, I pray, that Jose's story has moved you too. God is big, and strong, and great, and full of love.

Now to Him who can do more than we could ever ask or imagine, to Him be all glory and honor forever and ever, Amen!