Hope in the Midst of Tragedy

It's Christmas Eve, around 5:00 in the afternoon and we are about to head out to Buena Vista to hang for the evening, celebrate the night with fireworks, an incredible view of Guatemala City, and enjoy time with friends and family.  Phone rings and on the other end is a friend of ours... a friend of many of you as well - Milagros (you might remember her from recent blogs and updates - we helped her with a surgery almost two years ago)  I greeted her, asked how she was doing and was met with great sadness.  She proceeded to tell me that she was very sad because just the day before her husband, while working, had been shot in the chest five times and killed.  Gone. 

I can't imagine.  What do you say?  What can you say?  As we talked a bit more, she explained that the family had just returned from burying him, from saying their last goodbye - to their husband, their friend, their father.  Milagros has three children:  Ever (19), Lucy (17) and Sara (9).  Just days before, they had plans of celebrating Christmas Even, the biggest party of the year here in Guat, together, but in a moment all was changed.

Today, we hiked over to the village of Tablon to visit Milagros and her family - bringing words of encouragement and hoping that in some way we could speak love and peace into their worlds.  Along with us came our friends, the Johnson family, and a team from a partner church in Memphis, TN who was hanging with us for the day.  As we showed up at the property gate, Milagros met us and fell into the arms of Gina and I, sobbing, saying over and over that her husband had been killed and that she didn't know how she was going to take care of her children and home.  We could only hug, speak soft words and cry with her - telling her that we are here for her and that everything will be o.k.

All 25 of us entered into the property and loved on this family for a moment - a moment that I think will have an impact on each of us forever.  We let Milagros share more of the story, but mostly asked how we can help.  You see, we believe that God intersected us with Milagros and her family, almost 2 years ago, knowing that in this moment He would have a plan for us in their lives.  A plan that includes loving, sharing, and giving.  She shared her worry over her two daughters not being able to study this year, due to no income.  She shared how her older son who is registered and scheduled to start his career school this January, might need to go to work instead of studying.  She shared how she had to go and get a Q2800 loan ($350) in order to claim her husband from the morgue and bury him.  We stood and watched as she poured out her heart and worries as her two daughters looked on.  We watched as a team who had no idea who Milagros was, opened their hearts to her today and completely erased the debt associated with her husbands untimely death, taking that load off of her mind.  Never before in my life has the following verse felt more real and alive to me than in this moment, this morning, in this village.  

James 1:27 - "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this:  to visit orphans and widows in their affliction..."

As we stood in her home - my mind was racing as this verse played over and over.  What can we do to visit this women in her affliction.  These kids who are "orphaned" in a way - what can we do to show that God hasn't forgotten them, that Jesus is present in their world and here for them???   

Pause and watch this quick video...

I believe that God intersected each of us who stood there with Milagros today, as well as each of you who have taken to time to read this blog and watch this video, for a purpose.  Many who were there were used to help financially today in a way that I know blew this family away.  We are all invited to "visit this widow in her affliction" as James wrote.  For us, we will visit her, we will pray with her, we have plans to help with many of the needs that we know they will have - we need help as we do this.  Here are a few tangible ways that we feel we can be a blessing to this family as we continue to shower them with the love of Jesus.

• The Gateway Program is committing to sponsor the 19 year old son (Ever) who is continuing on to his career training - TO HELP CLICK HERE...   His education will probably be around $800 for the year, but we will know more info this coming week.  Milagros agrees that it is much better for him and the family if he studies for the next 2 or 3 years and is able to get a better job - this will have a greater impact on the family than his working right now.  However, this leaves the family with no income.

• Educate BV is committing to helping both of the girls with school expenses this coming year which includes around $50 per girl for uniform and supplies.  ($100 need)  TO HELP CLICK HERE

• We are praying for economic ways to bless this family and keep all three kids in school.  A possible monthly sponsor for the family would be a huge help, something in terms of around $150 monthly.  TO HELP CLICK HERE 

 As I type, here in my home, with my kids running around, my wife downstairs, I'm thankful that we are all here together and I can't erase the thoughts of Milagros and her three kids back at their home, still in shock of the loss.  I hope that today, in some she felt the love of Jesus and His peace.  I know that she heard it as we stood there and shared with our words, but I hope that she continues to feel these other burdens lifted one by one. 

Milagros will come to our home a week from tomorrow to talk through some "next steps" for us as we help her.  Pray for us as we walk with this family through the next weeks and months and if you can - help us help them.