By Karlita Gomez

Ever since I was a girl I knew what I wanted to be when I grew up: a teacher. My poor parents found so many papers and books of theirs marked and graded by me. I remember when I was finishing high school I was very confused because if I started my studies in teaching then I wouldn’t be able to study with my friends, but after a lot of thinking I made one of the best decisions of my life, studying to be a teacher where I made new friends and met some exemplary teachers.

My first job was in a preschool where I only had 4 students and it was quite the adventure. I learned and enjoyed so much while there. With only 4 students one can work miracles. I remember during their graduation that one of my students played the Hymn of Happiness on the flute. Now believe me when I say that it wasn’t me, it was the fact that I only had 4 students.

After this I had the the opportunity to teach in different places, with different grades, teaching different subjects, and having different experiences that formed me as a teacher. Howard Hendricks teaches us that the “Law of the Teacher” is this: If I stop growing today, I will stop teaching tomorrow. This has made me reflect a lot because as a teacher I can’t simply depend on the experiences, knowledge, and information I have, but I must continue learning and I must continue growing.

Here in El Faro I have had the opportunity to continue growing (spiritually and personally that is…I’m still a shorty on the outside). During the 7 years that I have lived at El Faro I have had the opportunity to teach in many different areas, and last year God gave me the opportunity to start and direct the El Faro Teaching Center, which is a distance learning extension of the America Latina Evangelical Institute for adults(A renowned private school in Guatemala). We offer classes to finish up elementary school, junior high, high school and even some college career tracks. This has been another new experience that has made me grow as a teacher, as a daughter of God, as a person, as a Christian, as a woman, as a wife, as a daughter, and as a student.

It’s a challenge teaching adults. All my teaching experience has been with kids and the majority of my students now are older than me, some have families, there is no culture of studying here in this area, many haven’t had schooling in years and because of all of this many want to throw in the towel every Sunday when they come for classes. So, I’m not only their teacher, but the cheerleader that has to encourage them to continue despite the obstacles.

I am definitely not the same person I was when I graduated (I’m not gonna say what year that was so you can’t figure out how old I am), and I’m not the same person I was even a year ago. I know that I am not a finished product and that I am not perfect. Nor do I want to have a conformist attitude. I want to continue growing. I want to be warm clay, soft in God’s hands, easily moldable to his will. I want to live by learning and learn by living. I dream of a changed Punta de Palma and other communities surrounding El Faro but I must remind myself that to be able to be an agent of change, I must be constantly changing and growing. I want to continue teaching but will not be able to if I don’t remember that it is about God and not me, that He is working in me and that all that I am learning today, He is using to form me to be able to teach tomorrow.

If you are reading this I want to ask you a question. What areas of growth in your life from the last year are most notable to those who you are teaching today? Remember that even if you aren’t a teacher by profession, you are always teaching, always influencing those that are around you.

By Katie Matthews

A friend of mine recently told me about the idea of Global Citizenship or World Citizenship. This term is usually defined as, “a person who
places their identity with a ‘global community’ above their identity as a citizen of a particular nation or place.The idea is that one’s identity transcends geography or political borders…” Though the terminology was new, the basis of the idea was not.

In Luke 10:25-37 Jesus is asked by a lawyer, “Teacher what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus responds with a question, “What is
written in the Law? How do you read it?” (verse 26). The lawyer responds, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and
with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus affirms his answer but is
quickly met with another question. Verse 29, “But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?’”

Using two completely different and opposing people groups to demonstrate the idea of love and mercy was something unheard of to the
Jews at this time . Throughout the Old Testament we see God instructing the Jews to stay pure because they were His chosen people,
to not intermarry or become influenced by different nations or cultures. They did not listen and their acting out against God further
revealed our need for a savior.

Jesus begins…

The road from Jerusalem to Jericho was extremely dangerous, also referred to as the “Way of Blood”, due to all the blood that was shed
at the hands of robbers. Jesus uses a pertinent setting to begin the parable. Jesus tells us this man, “fell among robbers, who stripped
him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead.” Who does Jesus describe are the first two men to pass by this wounded man? A priest and then a Levite. Both of whom, “…passed by on the other side,” as to not be bothered with such an inconvenience.

Then comes the Samaritan.
“He had compassion.” Luke 10:33

Jesus tells us that the Samaritan goes on to clean and cares for this man’s wounds, puts him on his own animal and takes him to an inn where he can rest and recover. The following day the Samaritan gives his ONLY money to the owner of the inn, asking the owner to take care of the wounded man for however long it takes until he is well and says he will pay the owner of the inn whatever other costs are aquired.

Jesus finishes the parable by asking, “Which of these three do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” Luke 10:36.

The lawyer responds, “The one who showed him mercy.”

And Jesus says to him, “You go, and do likewise,” Luke 10:37.

A Samaritan and a Jew. Two sects of people that, at this time, hated each other. Jesus used these polarizing characters to get His point
across: Love everyone.

If I am honest, I am guilty of being a priest or levite, walking to the other side of the road as to not become inconvenienced by someone
else’s “wounds”. I use the excuse of having a baby to withdraw from getting involved in other people’s lives. I am guilty.

Last week however, I was was gently reminded of the importance of this unrestricted love.  Long story short there was an altercation between two brothers in the village, and their kids and wives were left scared and shaken. This altercation did not just end with these two families but the hurt and fear permeated into their extended families. Because of our sin things get messy, they get ugly, and many times they hurt the ones we love most.

There is so much heartache in this world, yes we have joy that Christ overcame death and conquered the grave and left us with the Holy
Spirit, but this world is hard. Relationships are hard. And they hurt.

In spite of this heartache we are still called to love and show mercy. We are to walk with people and let the Gospel be the foundation of our relationships, every relationship. We are to view everyone with compassion, because we were first loved, even in the midst of our sin.

I challenge you, who are the people that you do not want to be inconvenienced by? Who are the people you walk to the other side of the street to avoid? How can you better love them? How can you better serve them?

God has reminded me the importance of getting in the battle and staying obedient to two words: make disciples. My prayer is that we
(I) would not become lazy or insensitive to people, that we (I) would take time to invest and nurture relationships, even more so if they
make us uncomfortable.

By Mayra Duran

Over the last few months I have been reading a fascinating historical novel, which I had originally decided not to read because it contains almost 1,000 pages. When I began the book, I felt like I wasn’t making progress and every chapter felt like an eternity to me. Now that I have read more than half the book I don’t want it to end and I am trying to enjoy every chapter the best that I can. Had I not discovered how extraordinary this book is I never would have dared to take the first step: read the first page.

Thinking about this, I am reminded about how 3 years ago I had the desire to do something for Melvin, a boy who lives here in the village with cerebral palsy, who spends a majority of his time in bed without the ability to walk or talk. With the intentions to help him, I asked God if there was something that I could do for him. And you know what? I didn’t receive any answer and I didn’t dare do anything because it was a big challenge. It wasn’t until one year later that I decided to so something for him. I was encouraged to take the first step and I went to visit him. The first visit was a total disaster as I made him cry with what I had come prepared with for him. I was a little frustrated and it was only the first visit. However, God had it all perfectly planned.

The next week a group from the United States came to El Faro and they were exactly what Melvin needed, physical therapists. It was in that week that the perfect help arrived at Melvin’s house. The physical therapists showed Melvin’s family and me a few exercises that we could use to work with Melvin. Now, after 2 years, he receives physical therapy 2 times a week with the purpose of exercising his bones and muscles. His family has seen big changes physiologically in Melvin’s body. There is no doubt that God does everything in His perfect time and invites us to take small steps to be able to contemplate his great wonders.

Is there something that God has been calling you to do and you haven’t done it? What is stopping you from taking the first step? A lot of the time we wait for distinct confirmation when God is simply inviting us to take the first step. I firmly believe that Melvin’s life has changed greatly all thanks to God, but He wanted someone to take the first step.

     “But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold. My foot has held fast to his steps; I have kept his way and have not turned aside. I have not departed from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food. But he is unchangeable, and who can turn him back? What he desires, that he does. For he will complete what he appoints for me, and many such things are in his mind.”

-Job 23:10-14 ESV