At the beginning of 2006 I travelled for the first time to Guatemala. This was just a few moths after a hurricane hit the town of Panajachel and we found many families without a place to stay.
One family we met were living under iron sheets that were placed at an angle against a wall. We were so touched by there need that we really wanted to help them. Working together with some locals and trusting in God to provided we found a piece of land for them and also enough funds to build them a new house. Working side by side with Pedro and his family we were able to finish the house in less than 10 days.
I still remember the last day so well when we were able to give the house over to them. Without them asking for it, without them paying a sent for it, God knew their need.
This was a great moment. Using this “gift” of the house as an example we were able to explain that Christ’s grace and his love for them was also a free gift which they only had to accept, just as they accepted this house.
Now, more than a year later I had the chance of going back to their home and was so pleased to find Pedro and his wife still happily living there!
They immediately remembered our faces and I saw a lasting joy in their eyes…
A lasting joy that can only be because of their new found love for Christ!
Stefan