My nephew Mac, Kristin and Darrell's son, is a huge Star Wars fan right now, having recently graduated from the days of Thomas the Tank Engine. Whenever I saw those movies I was hit with the picture of Light v Dark. Good v Evil. Hope v Despair. Just the mention that there exists a Force that can't be seen, but yet is somehow making everything move in the galaxy is an idea I can't help but consider without thinking of the Holy Spirit. My friend Matt once asked me who I thought the "HERO" of the movie was. I thought, well...it's got to be Luke Skywalker. He's the golden boy. Or maybe you could even argue that it's Darth Vader who in the very end turns to the light side and destroys evil just before his death. Matt told me those are obvious choices, however, he's always thought of Han Solo as the real hero. He's a guy who came in and sacrificed everything he had, for a mission he had no business being apart of. He came out of nowhere, and without him, Darkness would have undoubtably prevailed. Something to chew on for sure... and yesterday, I couldn't stop thinking about that. Let me take you through our day.
We first set off to see the new Ortiz home that we had put two days work into. We saw the progress (They're almost ready to move in! Only a few more trucks of dirt to fill in the floor!), and we said our goodbye's to the workers and kids. Later that afternoon, the Ortiz family invited us to their current home for an authentic Guatemalan meal.
We arrived at their street, which by the way is a LONG few mile bike ride uphill into the town where they work and go to school. Next, we made the steep uphill hike into their home. Veronica, the mother, put out her best for us. The nice plates, silverware, and tablecloth. And a steak dinner to feed 15. I was blown away at how they served the very BEST of all they had to offer.
Above is a picture of a journal with song lyrics. After we enjoyed the meal, Veronica surprised us in the beautiful way she unveiled her heart. She had written us a song, which was sung with deeper passion than I've might have ever witnessed. I am sure the video will make it to this blog eventually. She was singing to God, a song of gratitude for the way He provides hope. When our friend Victor translated the lyrics for us, their were several of us in tears. When he read, "I thank you for your servants who listen to you..." I almost lost it. After all, all of this started with an unexplained voice calling my sister to listen.
ESPERANZA
Next we heard from Estuardo, Veronica's husband. He shared his story to us. With tears he explained how his dad had told him from the beginning that he would amount to only a thief... a vulnerability that Mayra told us she had never experienced from him. The thing about Estuardo is that he loves to bake. Cakes are his specialty, and he prepared for us the best carrot cake I've ever had. And I don't like carrot cake. It was good. Real good. He also showed us his gift with the whipped cream decorating. A gift he eagerly and earnestly wants to use to reveal God's glory.
You see, Estuardo has lived a tough life. He has without a doubt not helped his cause either. He's a guy in desperate need of a second chance. I feel so blessed to have a God of Second Chances. He's a God of ESPERANZA. It being New Year's Eve, our deepest hope is that the new home we helped provide would be, along with other things, a catalyst for hope for this family's life. I believe that Estuardo never really believed he was worth all of this. You could tell. Veronica too. Yet we have a God who craves the opportunity to lavish us with how much we matter to Him. Darrell hit the nail on the head too when he told Estuardo that his family is his ultimate pastry. They are a gift from God to decorate and treasure and present. I felt lucky to talk to him as well and share that he is in desperate need for men to encourage him in his faith. PLEASE pray that God would provide these men in Estuardo's life.
It mattered that we were there. I mean how often do ten people sacrifice and leave behind life to chase after the one lost sheep out of the 99. I thought of Han Solo and how we really appeared to have come from nowhere...
However, it was Christ that came from out of nowhere. He placed us there. And I'm thankful for Him being the Han Solo of my life as well. I was a mess, living in a square room, and he came from across the universe to find me. I think of this lovely woman Mayra, a Han Solo to the children and families of this town. My sister... who listened to something crazy that God told her when everyone asked, "Why Guatemala?"... My mom. My dad. My wife. A 63 year old man named Renaldo. A 12 year old boy who loves his mother enough to stand up to his dad. My whole family really.
I'm thankful that Christ is my Han Solo, who would stop at nothing to restore the Galaxy from the powers of the Dark Side.
ESPERANZA
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