What it is all about...

When friends visit us we try to take them to places they have not visited before and expose them to new avenues of insight to expand their prayer ministry for Guatemala.  As we traveled with Jim and Patsy in the Chorti area, their eyes were opened to the task in that area of the country, and gave them personal insight into how to pray for us as we travel the roads there in ministry.  After we returned to our home from those days of travel, we decided to focus on closer areas.  We renewed some friendships of theirs and ours with venders in the markets and shops here in Antigua and even enjoyed lunch in a favorite place of all ours from many years in the past, Hotel Antigua.

But Tuesday afternoon, we took a short trip to see the mayan ruins at Iximche outside Tecpan.  We have been there before and have been amazed.  Although much smaller than the ruins in Tikal, they are well worth the view.  We had forgotten that the gates close at 4, so we only had about an hour to walk the area.  According to Wikipedia, Iximche was the home of the Kakchikel who broke alliance with the K'iche' and founded their own center in Iximche in 1491.  It survived wars, human sacrifice, locusts plaque, fire, smallpox, but it could not survive the greed of the Spanish conquisadors in 1524.  I really recommend the reading of the brief history on the Wikipedia site linked above as it gives much insight in the maya world.

As we walked the rear of the ruins, we noticed a family coming up from the woods.  We decided to explore a little more, thinking it might be a picnic area.  However, instead we understood more fully just why we are "on mission in Guatemala." 

This sign says, "Ceremonial area - no climbing the temple."

Yes, it was a mayan temple and the family had been there to make sacrifices.

Here you can see the candles, the flowers, and the food and fruit offerings on the altars.

This is an up close photo of one of the altars with rose petals and pine needles scattered around.

In front of the altars and encircling the entire temple were rings with burning fires in the center.

 A fire burning in one of the circles included pine branches, flowers and something else.

As we approached the temple, we saw several dogs atop the altars eating the food/fruit offerings.

They even were scratching in some of the burning circles;

evidently the "something else" was some type of food.

As we stood here, my heart was broken for those who walk in darkness.

So many generations have been deceived and do not know the love of the Father.

Their sins separate them from the One True God and thus they try

to appease His justice by useless sacrifices.

But these burning sacrifices attest to the fact that once in their history

they knew they were guilty sinners and sacrifice must be made for their sins.

Yet, however many sacrifices any man tries to make to satisfy the justice of Almighty God 

will never bring peace and forgiveness of sins.

Jesus, God's only Son, paid the sacrifice for all sins for all mankind.

 That eternal forgiveness can only be received through faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

So why are we "on mission in Guatemela?"

We are here to share the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ with those

who have not heard,

 who do not know,

who have never received the forgiveness of sins.

After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."

Revelation 7:9

 I trust that this post will challenge your prayer ministry.

Pray the lost peoples of Guatemala and around the world

will have the opportunity to hear and receive forgiveness of sins through Jesus alone.