“Will you be ready to teach on the Wednesday night after we arrive?” Charlie asked me about a week before we left.
“Yes,” I replied, as I put finishing touches on the lesson for that night. Fortunately, I had been asked to do a teacher training seminar in Chicago for a Spanish church there not too long ago, so I had this lesson almost ready.
We arrived on Tuesday night, well after midnight by our morning rising time, but only a little after 10:00 local time. The next day we sat down with our host to discuss our schedule for the time we would be there. We found out that it was similar to their normal schedule, only they were adding a few things because we were there.
Wednesday night prayer meeting is taken seriously. Except for a brief devotional from the Bible, the rest of the time is given to prayer. Several times during our weeks there Giovanni said to me, “We really enjoy praying together. I know we are a small group, but that is fine because the ones who come really want to pray.” One Sunday he told the people, “If you know there is sin in your life, I am asking that you not come on Wednesday night to prayer meeting. Your prayers would be a waste of our time and God’s.”
Kneeling on the hard, tiled floor with heads bowed and arms resting on the seats of plastic stackable chairs, we prayed around the circle. When it was my turn, I found it difficult to really pray as I groped for the right words in Spanish. How I longed to pour out my heart to God the way the rest did, but as I stumbled, I was grateful that the Holy Spirit would take the requests of my heart and make them known to God. As prayer continued around the circle, I reveled in the fervency and emotion of each person praying. At 8:00, Giovanni dismissed those heading to my class, while the remainder would continue praying until 9:00. As I walked toward the classroom, I knew that God had heard their prayers and would act on their behalf. How glad I was to have this group of people praying for me and for our class as I taught.
We began the class with nine people. At about 8:30, another five people, whose jobs ended at 8:00 p.m., showed up. I was encouraged by their commitment. I taught on “Basic Questions to Ask Before Teaching.” At the recommendation of the Avendaños, I had made 15 copies of my outline. (The next week that was not enough, and by the fourth week, 22 people attended the class.)
The next day was a “free” day, we were told. Of course, I knew that on Sunday I would be teaching the ladies on “Teaching Young Children,” so I needed to spend my time getting ready. This was brand new material for me to be teaching in Spanish. I desperately needed large blocks of time to get ready, so I spent the morning working.
Lunch, the main meal of the day, was ready by 2:30 p.m. We sat down to a delicious meal of stewed chicken and vegetables, rice, tortillas and limeade, made from freshly squeezed limes grown on the Avendaños’ property.
After lunch, as it was considered a free day, we took the Toyota station wagon into San Juan 
Sacatepéquez, the nearby city. Charlie was looking for an anniversary card for me, and he eventually found an “I love you” card that fit the bill. Barbara needed some supplies for home school and for the children’s ministry. They also wanted to buy flowers for a church member who had just suffered a miscarriage. I was intrigued by the market, especially the flower vendors who had stacks of flowers to sell.
We made our purchases and left for Laura’s house. She was in bed recuperating. The doctor had told her she would need a week of rest, but it was her emotions, even more than her body, that would need recuperation as she mourned the loss of her child. The flowers were lovely, but she barely noticed them. After talking with her and kneeling around her bedside to pray for her, we left and returned home.
As soon as we returned home, Barbara left to take her very sick mother-in-law to the hospital. Later that evening, Giovanni headed out to disciple a new couple in the church, so we stayed with their three delightful children while they were gone. When they both returned home, we enjoyed a light supper and then retired to our room where I resumed studying.
The next day dawned bright and clear. The only thing on the agenda for that day was the evening service at church. That allowed me more time to work on my lesson for Sunday. Both of us worked since Charlie would be preaching that night.
On Saturday, there was a men’s meeting in the morning and a teen meeting in the afternoon. Charlie spoke at both.
On Sunday, I taught my class on teaching little ones to the ladies, and Charlie taught the men’s class. Giovanni preached that morning. In the afternoon at 4:30, Charlie preached at the service in the new church plant.
On Monday morning I was back to studying because my lesson for Wednesday night would be a new one. Not only was it material I had not taught since before I was married, but I also needed to do it in Spanish. I would need lots of hours to prepare. Charlie headed out with Giovanni and Otilio, one of the men from the church, to buy boots. He had heard they were inexpensive there, and Otilio wanted to buy him a pair. He returned with a beautiful pair of brown boots which had cost about $39. The same boots in the US would have cost about $150.
Tuesday night was Charlie’s night to teach. Bible institute started at 8:00 and went until 10:00. By this time, however, Giovanni had become quite ill and there was no one to translate for Charlie. Although my Spanish is hardly adequate, I was the only one available. So with the help of a dictionary and lots of patience on Charlie’s part, we muddled through.
When we went to bed that night, I said to Charlie, “It’s hard to believe we’ve only been here a week. It seems like a lot longer than that.” It felt like the longest week we’d had in a long time. Now that we knew the schedule, though, it would be easier.
I had to admire Giovanni. Yes, this was a more intense week for him because of illness (both his and his parents), but this is not much different from normal. Every week, he prepares for all 
his meetings and he disciples three different couples. He has three churches he is trying to lead, one of which is strong and healthy. The other two are still in their infancy. He is also the regional director for IPM, so missionaries in other countries report to him. He has his aging parents living nearby, and he has a young family to take care of as well.
Barbara, too, amazed me. She is an excellent children’s teacher. Every week she was teaching children’s Sunday School and she traded with another woman to do children’s church during the afternoon service. There is also children’s club twice a month, and she directs that. She also directs the women’s ministry. In addition, she is an always-ready hostess. Several times people showed up at mealtimes. We added plates, scooted chairs closer, and she served them with a heartfelt welcome. People come to her for prayer and counsel. And, of course, the work at home takes up much of her time.
It was a huge blessing to be in Guatemala. We look forward to future visits, and now we have a better idea of what a week will hold.
The church gave us some mementos as going-away gifts, but to be honest, the best gift they gave us during our time there was themselves through the gift of hospitality. Through that, our hearts were bound to them. We understand those families better and have an appreciation for their lives. Had they not chose to share their lives with us in this way, we would not have gotten to know them nearly as well. As a result, we found we did not want to leave because they had become so precious to us.
