I Can Smile in Spanish!

A 20 foot wall marred by no graffiti surrounds our steeple-less prefabricated church house. Just outside the wall, the cluttered busy streets of Pueblo Nuevo Vinas echo with revving motorcycles, chatting people, and crowing roosters. Inside the wall, we have no problem finding a parking space because Sunday after Sunday, ours is the only car. Villagers arrive gradually on "Guatemala time." By the end of sacrament meeting, about 50 people have walked to church.

The challenge for Jay and me is to figure out how to help our brothers and sisters in this struggling little branch. Jay speaks to them in Spanish, bears his testimony, and contributes to priesthood lesson discussions. During Sacrament Meeting and Relief Society I smile a lot and try to look alert during the rapid-fire garbled sounds of the language that is virtually meaningless to me.

One of the small things we do each week is bring a care package for the two Elders stationed here. One Elder from Peru is healthy and quite at home in his surroundings. The Elder from California, however, has been sick for most of his mission and has lost over 30 pounds. He was so excited when we first brought him a jar of peanut butter. 

"I was going to ask my mom if she could figure out a way to mail me some," he said. Of course, it would never have arrived even if she would have been able to pay the exorbitant postage on UPS-type service (where packages simply "disappear" before they are even delivered). Additionally, there is no national mail service--no mail boxes, no post offices, no delivery. In Pueblo Nuevo Vinas, there aren't even addresses on houses.

Next Saturday, we are having our branch open house. With my limited language skills, I asked the Relief Society President if I could furnish anything. She told me to bring "finales." I knew that meant dessert so I asked if cookies would be OK. 

She said, "yes."

"Cuanto?" I asked, "how many?"

At first I thought I had misunderstood her answer. Jay confirmed that it was correct. 

"Bring 150."

Jay then asked, "What are we going to drink?"

"Whatever you bring," was her answer.

So we are bringing cooking, punch, napkins and paper cups for 150 people. I hope a lot of non-members show up. 

While we were still standing in the parking lot, the branch president produced an unused keyboard from a storage shed. I'll be playing prelude next week. My piano skills aren't good and I've never played a keyboard before; but Jay says I am the best (and only) keyboard player in the branch - probably in the whole town!

The Lord uses what and who is available at the time. If He can feed 5000 with a few fishes and loaves of bread, it should be easy for Him to help us provide cookies and music for 150 Guatemalans. Oh, and peanut butter sandwiches for two missionaries. 

P. S.
Jay took this picture during Priesthood Meeting. The dog is sleeping so we think he may be a High Priest.