To Animate

I used to watch as church after church would honor my father and mother with gifts and a blessing before they left to work on a different ministry or in a different church. Every time, my mother's eyes would fill with tears. And my father would stand and look tall. Honored.

Today, I stood in front of a congregation. Better than that, a family. My view was distorted, a bit misty as my tears expressed the blessed and honored feeling that was deep in my gut. Because in just one short month, the church, Comunidad de Fe, took me in as a daughter, a sister, a friend, a pastor. As they stood and thanked me, I caught glimpses of smiles, of tilted heads, of lips that were mouthing 'thank you,' and of eyes that said, 'you better come back!'

This is a church that knows how to "Animate" people.

There's a word in Spanish that is often used with the sentiment of motivating or encouraging people. That word is: Animar. Literally, to animate. And it's more than just motivating (because there's already a word for that in Spanish). It's putting movement, action, steps into someone's life. To animate is to fill with life.

And maybe that's the best way to wrap this Guatemalan summer up. I have been animated by the people in Guatemala. Filled with life. Filled with movement and action. And really, I (and you and all of us) have been filled with life. Filled. To the brim. With life. Because through Christ's death and resurrection, God animated us by filling us with life. Now, every time that we 'eat of this bread and drink of this cup' we are animated.

I hope pictures of cartoons come to your mind as you read this. Full of color. Full of movement. Full of action. Because someone took a pen and a piece of paper and animated these drawings. Because the Artist of our souls fills us with color and movement and life.

Thank you for praying for me this summer, for keeping up with my trip, and for blessing me.

So, here are some pictures of the very people who have animated my life this summer:

Selina y Sonya (Cooks at the School)

(School teachers)

(Estreillita, Ilka, Bryan: Star students)

(La Familia Ruano)

(Albita: School Director)

May God bless you richly,

Micaiah Thomas 

A Child's First French Fries

Today I had the privilege of taking Alejandra and her brother, Maycol (Michael) out for lunch and ice cream. Maycol is usually not permitted to come to school. He has to stay at home and help his aunt. These two kids live with their aunt since their parents abandoned them as babies. Alejandra convinced her aunt to let Maycol come to school just for this week so that he could meet "Seño Micaiah."

I wanted to do something for these kids because they have grabbed my heart. Talking with Alejandra, I learned that she had never been out to a restaurant before. Ever. So that's when I began scheming. I arranged it with the school director, got it cleared by her aunt, and made a plan to take her out to eat lunch. When asked which was her restaurant of choice, she answered, "Pollo Campero." The equivalent of KFC. Then again, she's only 10.

Luckily, Alejandra and I are close to the same size. I figured if we were going out, she'd want to dress up some. So with a jacket and some jewelry she was one happy little girl. 

At one point during lunch, the two of them had opened up every packet of condiments just to try them all and see which they liked best. They  landed on a combo: ketchup and chile sauce. 

                                         

For her, and for her brother, today was a day of firsts. First time in a car. First time figuring out how to roll down the car window. First time inside a restaurant. First time to eat a french fry. First time to try ice cream.

We all had fun today. Laughing. Smiling. Playing. Sitting in joy. Delighting.

Monday night I took the two cooks (who do more than just cook at the school; they basically run the place) out to eat dinner. They were beaming. They even threw on a pair of heels, and off we went. While out, they made this comment: "You are the first person who has ever taken us out to eat. You see us as people. You don't toss us aside as 'just the cooks' or 'just the cleaning ladies.' You really see us."

What they don't realize is that they see me. Everyday when they bring me a cup of coffee as I'm tutoring or counseling. Everyday when they offer me some of whatever they're cooking. Everyday when they hug me and bless me. Everyday when they pray over me. When they gift me with rings and bracelets that they've hand-made. In all those actions, they see me.

And they don't just see me. They see and care for all the kids in that school. I think these two women probably know the names and stories and likes and dislikes of the children at that school better than anybody else. Because they've learned how to truly see people.

The Eyes of a Giver

"One Quetzal. Ms. Micaiah, look! I have one Quetzal." Which is about 1/8 of a dollar. 

"Alejandra what are you going to do with your Quetzal? Buy an extra snack at lunch today?" 

When I asked her this question she began to pull a handful of coins out of her front pocket. Small coins, 10 cents and 25 cents and so on. Obviously, she had been collecting pocket change for several days. She holds it up and counts it. 

"No, Ms Micaiah, I'm not going to buy something for me. I want to buy you something." 

You see, Alejandra woke up this morning and had no breakfast. Black beans and a piece of bread is all the food she'll get today, and that is food she gets at school. 

Later she brought me a hard taco with some black beans on it. A snack for me. A gift from her. 

I tried to convince her to eat half of it, to share it with me. She defiantly said, "No!" Grabbed my face with her two little hands, looked me in the eyes and said, "You taught me how to add my numbers. Yesterday I felt stupid in class when my classmates could add 2 and 1, but I couldn't. Today, I don't feel stupid. I'm smart. I know that because that's what you told me. This is your snack." 

I think I've met my match in Alejandra, that stubborn and generous child. I've never been so overcome with gratitude. Because this child knows what it means to give everything. Everything. 

She had something she could offer me. And that act of giving made her feel more valued than any gift I could have given her. She had something to give me. Something of value. Of highest value: All the money she had. 

If only I (we) would do the same. Offering our best, our everything to the Father. Pouring out our year's wages of perfume at the feet of Jesus and wasting our lives to follow Christ, to be his disciples. 

Alejandra blessed me in a way that's too deep for words. 

All through one taco and black beans. 

This is the face of a girl who can now do basic addition. That's the smile of a girl who for the first time thinks she is smart. Those are the eyes of a giver. 

Grace,

Micaiah 

Mangoes and Multiplication

Now that the New Hope team is gone (all the kids are asking where you all are, by the way), I am working with certain students as both counselor and tutor. There are lots of kids who could really use a personal tutor all the time. For instance, there are some who are still learning the alphabet, the sounds letters make, and basic counting skills. 

So, I sit in the middle of the school with a desk and some plastic chairs and pull kids out of class for tutoring sessions. The second grade teacher sent me the three boys in her class that are the trouble-makers. (Side note: There are kids in second grade who are 11 and 12 years old. It all depends on their level of education, not their age). She told me that once they were out of the class, she was finally able to get some teaching done. After working with these boys I fully understood why. But that just meant I had to change my teaching tactic. Multiplication was making no sense to them because order and graph paper and numbers made no sense to them. Luckily, all those things make little sense to me, too. Pictures and patterns- that's what made sense. Two groups of seven mangoes is how many mangoes? 14. "Easy," they told me. Then I let them in on the little secret: You just did multiplication. For the next 30 minutes we drew pictures and multiplied. Trouble-makers they may be. But they're smart. They're craving attention and a challenge. So by Monday they will all have their multiplication tables 1-5 memorized. And if they get stuck, they can always draw me a picture. :)

In between tutoring sessions, kids stop by my table to talk about life. Their families and friends and struggles and joys. And that's when I get to love on them and tell them that there is a Father in Heaven who cares so deeply for them. 

Here are some of the faces I get to see everyday: 

They truly are such blessings. 

Grace and Peace, 

Micaiah 

When you Wear the same Clothes Everyday

La Comunidad de Fe Church started a school several years ago. Alba noticed that there were kids on the streets who weren't in school. When she realized they weren't in school because they had no money to afford an education, she took it upon herself to start one. She spends her days directing the school, teaching older students, and fighting with the government to find scholarships for these street kids to be able to come to school. 

Each day the school provides a meal, one that is calorie-packed and nutrient-filled, and hot. For many students, that's the only meal they eat all day. Most kids come back to school after Christmas break having lost some weight. 

Most students have a uniform. But there are a few who wear their own clothes because they can't afford to buy a school uniform. 

Estrella and Yonatan (below) have worn the same clothes everyday this week. They live on the streets. They have no food. Not much is known about their parents or their home life. 

But when you wear the same clothes everyday, you have a different perspective on life. When you wear the same clothes everyday, you slowly suck on your sucker for a couple of minutes and put it away to save for later. When you wear the same clothes everyday, you don't take the sticker off it's paper because you want to make sure and stick it somewhere it won't be torn up. When you wear the same clothes everyday, a piece of chalk is a like a brand new car. 

Estrella likes to dance. Yonatan likes to draw. She twirls and giggles. He finds a corner by himself so he can work on his pictures without any distractions. And because they have little, they are creative with everything. 

Maybe, if I wore the same clothes everyday, I'd  be a  better dancer and a better artist. 

Maybe, that's why God calls us to clothes ourselves in: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, and love. Because that way, we get to wear the same clothes everyday. And in these clothes, we learn to be creative with the gifts God has blessed us with. In these clothes, we are as beautiful as Estrella and Yonatan are. 

When we wear the same clothes everyday, our hearts are open to see the little blessings God throws upon us as big blessings, savoring those moments as these kids savor their suckers. 

Blessings, 

Micaiah

PS: The New Hope team is doing a wonderful job with these kids at the school. Today is their last day with them. Their hearts are full and sad to leave. 

A Note from Larkin

On Saturday a youth team from New Hope CP Church arrived. This week they are working at the Comunidad de Fe School in Guatemala City. I will be with them all week as one of their leaders. And when the leave, I will continue working in this school. 

So that you can hear from someone else, I asked Larkin Sumerlin, the youth pastor at New Hope, to write a blog entry detailing Day 1 in the school:         

  Today was one exciting day!  We awoke knowing that today we would have an opportunity to go to school where we would get to spend time with the adorable children that we have been dreaming about for months.  We had our morning quiet times and went over all we would be doing at the school.  After another delicious meal that was prepared by Mrs. Rena and a few rounds of four-square to get ourselves pumped up, we headed out.  I am not sure how to explain it, but I am not as taken back by the poverty level of the area surrounding the school.  I do not feel very out of place.  Everything feels so at home.  Even though there are armed guards every 100 feet, and shards of glass and barbed wire lining the tops of walls to keep out intruders, even amidst it all I somehow feel a sense of peace and contentment.  It almost feels like I belong here.  A primary factor in my prayers since we arrived is asking God if this is where He is leading Jessica and me.  I cannot lie, after the past two days I am starting to hope so.

                                        

          We arrived at the school and set up all of the activities and small group areas we would have with the children, and finally the time had come….the children came out!!!  The kindergarten children came running out smiling from ear to ear.  They were so happy and excited to come and leap into our arms.  We were able to hold them, hug them, kiss them, and love on them in every way we knew how.  It was beautiful, yet astonishing.  We were informed after the day was over and we were debriefing on all we had experienced that many of these children are not loved at all.  Rarely if ever are they held, or hugged, or kissed.  They long for love but are being denied it.  Praise God for all of the men and women who work at the school who love on these kids and provide them with such an important part of life!  Even though these kids are not loved on much, they were so willing to run into our arms.  They were finally getting to let out all of the love they had wanted to show, and they were finally receiving the love they had always desired.  Everyone here is so loving; both children and adults.  The kindness and graciousness we have been shown has been amazing.  In America, when compared to the reception we have had from the Guatemalans, we do not acknowledge nor appreciate people nearly enough.  I have been so convicted of the lack of love I show towards people I encounter back home.  The people here actually notice you and care about you, at least the ones I have encountered. 

                                          

                                         

        I was excited when Micaiah asked me to write the blog for today’s activities.  I hope I did not ramble too much.  I thank and praise God that He would, in His infinite amazing love, take a man like and allow me to come here and experience the love and joy of these people.  What a great God we serve and love that He loves us enough that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us, and also, that while we are at times so blinded and wrapped up in our own lives that He would bring us to a place like Guatemala and open our eyes to a whole new way of living.  I feel so much peace here and could see myself here in the future.  I pray that God will continue to open the eyes of our team, and also the eyes of the Church, that we would be able to see a world that is hurting without having hope.  These children need physical love and affection, and to know that people care for them.  Many all over the world are lost and without the hope of the Gospel, and they go on having never heard it.  I pray that we would all begin to love everyone we meet.  I think we are all at times like these children here.  We just need someone to show us love and that there is One who cares for us.

     Grace and Peace,

          Larkin Sumerlin

Markets and Hikes

Sunday morning I left Coban. It's beautiful to know that I have a family there, now. There are many opportunities for ministry there, many opportunities to love on people and serve them. There is a clear division between the indigenous tribes and the Guatemalans. Almost all indigenous families live up in the mountains in wooden shacks. They eat tortillas, cheese, beans, and rice everyday for every meal. The farm and they make homemade goods. They don't eat the vegetables and fruits they harvest because they know they can sell them in the market for profit. And as a people group, they are not seen and they are not heard. They work to serve society and that's their only role. To me it seems that the church has to respond. Even Jesus served his own disciples. Where's the church to serve these indigenous peoples, these servants. 

Upon learning all this and seeing it first-hand, my rash and impulsive self wants to learn K'iche (one of 23 tribal languages) and work with families who live in the mountains. 

There is lots of work to be done with the women of indigenous tribes. They work and raise children and are often abused and violated by men in their families. Children are dying of malnutrition and starvation. Most don't have access to much education. Those that do can barely afford it.

Young girls (Mayan descent) in the market selling bracelets. 

Open-air market in Panajachel, Guatemala 

Mom and I are currently taking a slight detour/vacation in Panajachel, Guatemala on Lake Atitlan. I celebrated my birthday yesterday by hiking through this rain forest on the Lake. It was breath-taking. 

Lago Atitlan

Just a little suspension bridge on the hike:) 

Gearing up and getting things arranged for a youth team coming from New Hope CPC on Saturday. Don't be fooled by all the gorgeous pictures: there's still work to be done ;) 

Blessings,
Micaiah