My team was prayer walking around Chichi, when God stopped me and told me to turn around. He told me to approach a man on the sidewalk that I probably would have otherwise overlooked for his small size and meek spirit. We were blessed to have Lynneal with us, our Spanish-speaking teammate, who was able to translate our conversation. The man introduced himself as Samuel*, and told us that his life was changed 20 years ago, when a drunken fight left his body broken and in constant pain. When we asked him if he had prayed about it to ask for healing, he said that he had tried many things- praying to the gods (plural), seeing healers, seeking out remedies- but had given up after years of no improvement. When we asked if he knew the Christian God, Dios, he nodded, saying he knew about Jesus, the one who died. We asked if he wanted to know more about Jesus, and if he wanted to have a relationship with Him, but this seemed to confuse Samuel, and our conversation started to go around in circles. Our team laid hands on Samuel and prayed for physical and spiritual healing, bought food for him, and went on our way. Our encounter with Samuel really left an impression on me.
The people of Chichi are very spiritual. The culture is influenced by a combination of the indigenous Mayan religion and Roman Catholicism from the Spanish conquests of old. There are large churches in town that honor a combination of these traditions. On one side of the church are depictions of the nativity and the 12 disciples, while on the other are the Mayan gods. People come to burn incense, offer sacrifices, or meet with a shaman, in hopes that their prayers will be heard. Despite all this “spirituality,” there is a profound darkness hanging over the city- they’re missing it. The religious syncretism not only honors false idols, but has created distorted images of Yahweh God and His son Jesus, where fear and superstition drive activity, not a loving relationship with the Father.
I try to imagine my life without the grace, love, and freedom of the Gospel. A life where I am afraid of being smited by angry gods, constantly making offerings and praying without confidence that they will even listen to me. A life where I fear the consequences of my actions, where I feel shame knowing that anything bad that happens to me was deserved. It’s heartbreaking. What actually makes the Gospel different- why is it so powerful? I think it’s exactly the part that Samuel was missing, the part that maybe a lot of people miss, that Jesus isn’t “the one who died”- He is the one that beat death and is alive! In His sacrifice, He conquered the enemy without our help, bore God’s wrath so we didn’t have to, and reconciled us to the Father though we didn’t deserve it. Friday was important, but Sunday changed everything, forever. Praise God!
Throughout launch and orientation, one theme kept recurring for our Squad- that we are an army, reclaiming places that the enemy has stolen. I am praying into this each time I enter Chichi- would you join me in this prayer? The fear and darkness here is no match for the light and freedom brought in the name of Jesus. His name holds power to heal, redeem, restore, and protect- our best weapon against the powers of this world if we only take hold of it. Let’s say His name!
*The gentleman’s name has been changed for his own privacy.
PRAYER REQUESTS:
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Physical health for our team here and squad-mates in Guatemala
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Blessing over Pastor Juan and new facilities at New Generation
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Open doors for us to encounter and minister to the people in the neighborhood we are staying in
