{A message from Zach Thomas, who is leading the Vision Team in Guatemala}
What a joy to be writing you from Guatemala. I bring you greetings from Maria Modesta, the church’s godchild. John, Joyce and I visited her today in San Rafael, a small pueblo north of Antigua. Her family’s property as well as their kitchen is surrounded by a cornstalk fence. Fortunately, they can sleep on a cement floor and not a dirt one. Their one-room concrete block house has practically no furniture. We sat out on the edge of the cement floor that served as their porch. Chickens and their biddies pecked around us from time to time. A couple of dogs slept in the dirt.
Maria Modesta slowly warmed to us during the one and a half hour we visited. At first she was so shy that Rocio (Common Hope’s professional social worker who coordinated our visit) comforted Maria with her hand and encouraging words. Maria as well as her parents received from us Caldwell Memorial’s support. We emphasized the importance of her trying her best in school. As you may know Maria has not passed a couple of grades. She also has a younger sister in her class who outshines her in some respects. This could be eiher an obstacle or a challenge depending on how Maria responds.
When we left we wondered if Maria was relieved to see us go. However, a few yards down outside her cornstalk fence, we looked back and saw Maria standing in the opening waving goodbye — a heartwarming moment that Joyce captured on film.
We were sad to say goodbye to Ann Dorsette today. We’re still a happy group, but not as happy were she still with us.
In two days we return and cannot believe the time has passed so quickly. What we do believe is that we are pretty well spent energy-wise and closer to the truth that Christ’s energy will see us through.
Much love in His name,
Zach Thomas