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It is a good time of year to
be with all of our friends , even if only in spirit. I would
like to share with you our Christmas here in Guatemala. First,
we are fine and the clinic is going well. It has turned winter
here in Xela. Some nights we have frost in various places. That
may not sound like much to those of you looking at some snow,
but in this concrete pillbox we call a house and with no heat
and cold water to wash dishes in, IT IS COLD!! Down at the coast
, where the clinic is, it is warmer and it has been great
weather for the last month or two.
Our Christmas has been very special. For us it is already over,
except for a service on Christmas Eve at Xela Community Church.
We have no decorations or tree, although Xela looks about like
the States with the lights and such. But do not feel sorry for
us. Sunday the 14th, we went out to Paquila and we took the 6
people who have worked with us this year to the Bambau Motel,
where we stay, for a buffet breakfast. This was normal
Guatemalan food and you cannot believe the number of tortillas
eaten. After breakfast we showed the folks the grounds at the
motel, which are very nice. There is a children's wading pool
and we have a picture of Maria, in all her traditional Mayan
cloths, wading in the pool. About 11:00 we took them back to
Paquila where, on Friday, we had hidden a little surprise. We
had gotten each a handmade woven basket and filled them with all
kinds of little stuff. Books, candy, cookies, ink pens, coffee,
shampoo, a cassette player for our young man, Gorge, stuffed
animals for their kids, some black beans and rice and things
that I have forgotten.
We went Thursday, 12/18, the day before
the clinic, with a car load of stuff. We gave Gaspar, the
Methodist pastor, a gas stove, 4 burner top only, and a tank of
gas. This was for his family and his church. There are about
8-10 special people or families we have gotten close to or are
in great need because of health. We took them bags of cloths,
rice and beans, stuffed animals and such. A little side note
here. The teams that come down sometimes bring children's cloths
and also leave some of their own cloths. They also bring other
stuff, the animals which I think came from McDonalds, school
supplies and many other things. Some special Christian friends
of ours, Jan/Gayle Flaegle, came down with 120 little metal
cars. We collected this stuff over the year and added some
things and presto a Christmas is born. Friday and Saturday every
family that came through the clinic got a pound of rice and a
pound of beans. Every child that came into the clinic, patient
or not, got candy, toothbrush, cars if a boy, bracelets,
balloons, etc. We gave out 200 pounds of rice and beans, all 120
cars, over 300 pieces of candy, about 150 toothbrushes and I
have no idea how many bracelets, necklaces and hair thingies.
This has been about the best Christmas I ever have had. Oh,
Dianne gave out a big trash bag full of shoes to special people
and a hand full of dresses to some very cute little girls.
After about a year here I am just
starting to really understand what it is like to be poor. Their
priorities and the needs that have to be met. I would like to
close by asking for a couple of favors. Sometime before
Christmas, let's pick Christmas Eve, please offer a prayer for
all of the blessings that we have by just being born in the US.
I'm not asking that you give it all to the poor, just be
grateful for what you have. The other favor is say this prayer
for the poor, not just in Guatemala, but all over, that they can
go to bed with a full stomach, washed down with a glass of cool
clean water. And when they lay their head down, let it be in a
place where it is safe, warm and dry. When they close their eyes
let them know the peace and love of Our Savior, Christ Jesus.
Good night and Merry Christmas from
Guatemala,
Jim and Dianne. |
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