May 2004 Newsletter from Jill Horn:During the past few months at CAG, there have been several events at school. At the beginning of March, there was the annual Sport’s Day. This is like a track meet for the whole school. The classes compete against each other in track and field events in the morning and then soccer and basketball in the afternoon. The boys love it and most the girls hate it. Another event was honor society induction. Eight 10th and 11th graders were selected to be members of the honor society. High School Banquet was also in March. This event is similar to prom only without and dancing. We have graduation, baccalaureate, final exams and senior trip left yet this year.
Holy week in Guatemala is the biggest celebration of the year. Only Good Friday is highlighted not Easter Sunday. They have many processions, which are like parades featuring the dead body of Christ. I saw one last year and felt that was enough. Pray that Guatemalans would see the real reason to celebrate is Jesus’ resurrection, not his death. Many people leave the city to go to Antigua, where the processions are or go to the beach. I stayed in the city and worked on a paper I have to write. Our church had Good Friday and Easter Sunday services. After church on Sunday, there was an Easter egg hunt for the children and Easter breakfast for everyone.
The person I’m featuring in this weeks newsletter is Dulce, which means sweet. Dulce and her daughter also named Dulce, were one of the first baptized members at Servant’s Heart, our ministry near the dump. The daughter was in my ESL class at Servant’s Heart. The mom works as a secretary and is very involved in the Bible studies and attends both church services, one at Castillo Fuerte and the other at Servant’s Heart. Pray for her safety as she lives in one of the most dangerous parts of the city.
Since I came to Guatemala, I notice how many blessings I have. I regularly ask myself, "Why me, Lord, why do you bless me so much?" Lately, it seems I have had only enough money to pay the bills and buy groceries and then my money for the week is gone. I realized what a blessing that is because many people don’t even have enough money for those things. But I was praying for a tutoring job so I could have some extra and then a few weeks later, my boss announced at a staff meeting that there was a family in the school that wanted ESL tutoring for their kids that don’t go to CAG yet. I called and am now tutoring two days a week after school. God continues to provide. Also, I have since that prayer received several donations from many of you. Thank you for all you do to keep me in Guatemala.
Jill Horn
Guatemala
May 2004 Newsletter