Compassion

´´May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.´´  Romans 15:13

Everyday here in Panajachel has been filled with so much joy and peace.  I am constantly learning new things about Gods character, but for the past few days it has been compassion.  At the beginning of the week I was drawn to John 11 where Jesus is comforting Martha and Mary for the loss of their brother.  When Jesus saw how deeply saddened they were, he was deeply moved and he wept.  After reading this I began to pray that God would give me the opportunity to truly experience compassion and to break my heart for what breaks His.

God has been faithful, I have received many encounters much like John 11.  The first was during a hospital visit where we were to pray healing over the sick.  In the maternity ward there was a 13 year old girl who had given birth to a beautiful and healthy baby girl that morning.  In talking with her, she informed us that she is a victum of sexual abuse.  My eyes began to well up with tears as this young girl, holding her baby, told us that as hard as things may be she is so thankful for the gift that God had given her through the life of her baby.

In another encounter, I met and have become good friends with a 23 year old girl named Josefina.  Josefina has two sons, a 4 year old and an 8 month old.  When we met she had been separated from her husband for 3 days because he has fallen into drugs and alcohol and physically abuses her.  I asked if she was scared to have to support her family on her own, her answer left me in awe.  She said, ´´I would rather feed my family tortillas and salt and be happy than have chicken to eat.´´  Josefina has been staying with a close friend, and through that friend has accepted Jesus into her life.

Medium, the friend who led Josefina to Christ, has also been such a blessing to get to know.  She has welcomed me into her home for two meals although she doesn´t have much to offer.  Her faith in the Lord is so incredible to me.  One afternoon, as she was teaching me to make a typical Guatemalan dish, she was full of joy as she told me all that she has to be thankful for despite her troubles.  Her husband has not been supporting her and her three children but when she asks for food to feed them, the Lord freely gives in abundance.  I have learned so much from each one of these woman…strength, endurance, and trust.  If God had to bring me all the way to Guatemala only to teach me these things in order to build my faith in Him, I could not be more thankful.  For His plans are so much greater than my own!

Medium and I making Pupuseria in her home.