Blessed by Those Who Have Been Blessed

While I'm often tied down with the house and school and don't get to travel much, when I do, it's always a blessing.  (I have to admit, though, I dread it ahead of time. . .especially with the preparations I need to make at the house for me to be gone even for a few days.)

Lauren Chapman's visit was a good excuse for me to get away for a few days, though, to show her the side of Guatemala most gringos never see.

We took this opportunity to visit a family of seven who recently lost more than everything when a drunk driver plowed into their house in the middle of the night, killing two of their seven children.  When they took two of the surviving children to the hospital, their neighbors robbed them of what few things that were not destroyed in the collision.

The youngest daughter was a bit afraid of us, but she warmed up a lot
when Dick "found" a coin in her ear!

Through a friend in the US, Dick learned of their situation and went down to visit.  After posting a story about them on his blog, donations flew in to help them rebuild their lives.  And they are doing so.

Interior of the Perez family's new home

They have moved to Santa Rosa, far away from their memories, and, with the funds provided, have in only about a month, built a home for themselves.  When we were there, they still needed doors, windows, and a floor.  Dick gave them funds to buy the door and windows, and I'm sure that by now they have put them in.

This house was not built by a mission team.  The work was done by the family and local tradesmen.  But it could not have been built without the help of missional minded friends in the US.  This is a great example of God's people working together.  Through their donations, the family was able to not only construct a new home, but provided work for local artisans in the process. . .connecting them immediately to their new community.

They could not be more proud of the new home which they have helped build with their own hands.  They are so grateful to so many people who they might never meet, but showered them with the love of Christ.  I don't know that the folks in the US who sent us donations feel the same sense of satisfaction that teams who come here to build houses do.  I'll tell you, though, they should and more so.  They gave expecting nothing in return--not even the good feeling that comes from being able to say, "Look at what we did!"  I doubt if many of folks have even shared with their friends at home who generous they have been.  But make no mistake. . .God sees and He knows, and He blesses in return.

I had not previously met these folks personally, but immediately fell in love with them.  While they had every reason to be bitter and angry, they are not.  They are nothing but grateful.  To God and to His people who have helped them in their most desperate need.  They have forgiven the man who crashed into their house.  As the father said to us, they themselves would be destroyed if they chose to hate.  Through love they can move forward.

Don't for a minute, though, think that this has not been hard. . .it's been tremendously hard.  Mom bursts into tears as she tells me about her two little ones who are now with Jesus.  She misses them terribly, but is confident that she will see them again in heaven one day.  She tells me how she must continue on for the sake of the five remaining children.  She explains how she can only do this through the strength of Jesus, and I can see in her eyes just how difficult this is for her.

Photos of the two children killed by the drunk driver

The older boys are not yet in school.  Their previous school had not sent the correct records for them to enroll in Santa Rosa.  They plan to return to school in January, though they know they will have to repeat their grade.  They are grateful, however, that they will be able to continue studying.

Please continue to keep this family in your prayers as they heal, rebuilt and more forward with their lives.