It is the last morning here at Common Hope and we are washing, drying and packing our clothes, which are always dusty from the work we did or riding in the pack of the pick up. (This is the dry season, so it’s always a bit dusty.) More important, we are taking inventory of all of the experiences and learnings that have piled up so much faster and higher than the dirty clothes.
We all agree that we can see how tempting it would be to stay. The country – and the people – are beautiful. The work is meaningful and deeply appreciated by the people here. Common Hope is as (if not more) effective in using its resources as any international mission organizations we know. And, there are clear signs of progress against the tremendous challenges the people here face. From one generation to the next, the people of Guatemala are improving their abilities and their lives, albeit slowly.
Yesterday we dedicated and blessed the new house we built while here. It amounts to two small rooms for a three-generation family of eleven. We shared American coins and talked about what Abraham Lincoln (on the penny) did to liberate people and what John F. Kennedy (the silver dollar) did for international relations. We gave the children North Carolina quarters and presented a pineapple, which represents hospitality. Finally, we said our good-byes to the staff and enjoyed a nice closing dinner in Antigua.
The signs of Christmas are increasing here. A nearby village hung up a beautiful banner near the church and we catch Christmas music in Spanish here and there. As we return, we focus deeply – and differently – on the meaning of the Advent Season. We have witnessed the hope and patient waiting for a better day by the people here and how they see signs of Christ’s coming in the steady forward progress of their lives and families. Thanks be to God.
With thanks for the prayers that have surrounded and protected us and with eagerness to see you all,
John (On behalf of the team)