These are questions I see when I look into eyes of people I encounter in everyday life here in Guatemala. Jesus made people know how much they mattered to him and to God in how he loved them.

In Guatemala, it is cultural to greet every person individually when entering a room or to say good morning or afternoon on the street. Since my early days of feeling a bit awkward with this custom, I have learned to put into practice greeting everyone. And to my amazement, it has transformed my thinking around how much others matter to me and how much God can do with a simple greeting.

It takes intentionality to greet a person. It shows us that we play a part in each other’s lives. It challenges us to see our need for each other. And it provides individual recognition of the fact that you matter to me and I matter to you. And, it is an incredible opportunity to open a door into sharing with others how much they mean to God. Even the common greeting on the street becomes an avenue to demonstrate love and speak of the person’s value as a person created in the image of God.
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I praise God for using my greetings to demonstrate His love for people who ask “Do I matter?” with their eyes and not their words. Pray that more of my greetings bloom into sharing the gospel with those who so desperately need to know they matter so much to God that He sacrificed His only son for their sake.

Candy and I are finally back in the same place. We both left Washington state on January 30th. Candy flew to Guatemala and I flew back to Pennsylvania to participate in Lancaster Bible College's missions conference. I returned to Guatemala on February 19th after the conclusion of the missions conference to a wife who was ever so glad to see me. 

While in PA I also helped my parents clean out their storage unit from their move about a year ago. While there, it came to my attention that my mother is showing signs of either a small stroke or advanced dementia/Alzheimer's, and she had a doctors appointment to confirm something had changed significantly for her. Her memory and navigation skills have been significantly affected. She has some follow-up doctor's appointments that will hopefully help to better understand what is happening and what the prognosis is for her. Please be praying for wisdom for the doctors and peace for our family, especially my mom.  

Candy has been busy teaching the Guatemalan finance to close the accounting books for a year. They are doing a super job in grasping this training quickly. The finance office also added a new staff member, which is helping them get caught up and will provide for future transitions of staff in and out of the office. Whether it be elementary school students, horseback riding, or accounting software, God has always provided Candy with great joy when those she teaches have what she calls "light-bulb moments". That is the teacher's heart God has given her for those she teaches or trains. God has blessed her greatly in this with those she is training in the finance office. ​

As we have traveled around the country, we have seen a true cross section of the country. With politics dominating the airwaves this past fall it was interesting to observe as people passionately defended their candidate while tearing down the opposing candidate. The division and hatred for the other side reached a level that I have not personally witnessed before. It seems as if we have a difference of opinion, we can't be friends anymore. We are truly saddened by the state of affairs in the US right now. We have had several Guatemalans ask us what is going on, and all we can do is shake our heads and say, "We don't really know". 

How are we as Christians to respond? One friend, trying to put things in perspective said, "We voted for a president, not a savior. I already have one of those". As much power as the president of the United States has to set the tone and direction for the country, he or she is not and will not be my savior, nor the savior of the USA. We personally believe only Jesus can fill that position. No matter what your particular political persuasion is, each and every one of us, myself included, are called to pray for our leaders, whether they are part of our preferred political party or not. While I am often challenged by a passage of scripture, Romans 12 is worth reading and taking to heart with our current climate in the US. I'd like to share with all of you that the Lord has laid Romans 12:9-21 on my heart given all the different people we've interacted with, and I am going to go as far as to challenge us all to use our sincere love to point those around us to the true savior, Jesus Christ.  

​9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:
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“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good

BIbleGateway: NIV

​Can we all extend more grace? Can we seek peace? Can we share with others who we don't agree with? If we, who call ourselves Christians, can't demonstrate the love of Christ, who will?