I love that the bible uses “story” to draw us in! It invites us to be participants. We shared together as a team what was the story that drew you to Guatemala? Our team leader is a physician, his wife, a gifted leader. But if you look closely, you can see that they are really storytellers! So many on our team, including myself, came because of a story Phil and/or Linda Johnson told!
We heard this morning about a young woman laden with years of female problems, all ending with disappointment…there is no child. But Dr. Irene Stafford sat before her and even though her most recent negative pregnancy test was only 3 days ago, she felt a nudge, almost heard a whisper from God….do it again….do it now. So, against all reason she did the test. SHE WAS PREGNANT! Oh, there were tears all around, tears that broke into laughter! When Irene next reads in the bible the story of Hannah or Rachel, I’m pretty sure she will stop and smile and tell her story again!
As an orthopedic surgeon who has seen tens of thousands of patients over his long career, Dr. Mark Wolf told me about a man he sat with yesterday, who couldn’t be helped by a surgery or treatment. Yet there was such grace shared as they talked, such compassion in the interaction. Sometimes what we want to happen looks quite different. But it can be such a tender moment. I couldn’t see clearly, but I think they were both barefoot and standing on holy ground.
At 4 AM this morning, long before our team even woke, a group of Q’eqchi (Kekchi) Mayan women, dressed in their most beautiful huipils, left their homes for the clinic. The majority of the indigenous population don’t speak Spanish but one of 22 indigenous languages in Guatemala. Our team has been gifted with a translator who after arriving into Guatemala in 1989, fell in love with the people and felt a call to serve. In addition to being fluent in Spanish, he is fluent in Q’eqchi. Watching him interact with patients in their native language is a beautiful sight to behold!
I can’t help but wonder at what stories we will each return with. What stories we will share, and what stories others will hear that will be their call to participate? Your story awaits!
Julie Eberly, Volunteer and Blogger
