The rains began a few weeks ago. Here in Guatemala, we have two seasons, dry and rainy. Each has its own beauty but the transformation that comes when the rains begin is incredibly beautiful. By the end of the dry season, the earth is cracked and open, dust swirls continuously and everything has wilted. Wildfires on the mountains are a continual hazard, and it is not uncommon for the men to rush out with water tanks on their backs to fight the fires on foot.
Over the years, I have realized what a blessing the rain is. I remember one cold, rainy day up in Chiminisijuan (and it can be so cold when you are wet there!), an elderly gentleman walked into the clinic completely soaked. When I began to complain about the cold and how miserable he must be, he looked at me in surprise and said, “Oh no! This is the greatest blessing from the Lord!”. I was rebuked in that moment, and I realized that great truth. I have never again complained about the rain…no matter how much mud I have to wade through to get to clinic! It is a joy to hear men laughing as they follow behind oxen plowing up the rain-soaked soil. And to see them planting, single seed by single seed the next day.
The dry season
After the rains settle in
I, Leslie, have learned so much from the people here about acceptance and finding joy in the simplest of moments…a laughing child, a meal shared together, a beautiful sunset.
May you, too, find joy and peace in the simple things of this life that we have been given.
“This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it!”
-Leslie (and Duane) Ficker first came to Guatemala in 1996. They moved to Guatemala in 1999, they, with their six kids, drove through Mexico to Guatemala with a school bus and a pick-up truck. They founded AIM in 2002, and have lived in Guatemala ever since. Leslie is a nurse and helps to direct the Medicine division of AIM. Both Duane and Leslie are spiritual mentors of AIM as a whole. They live on the mission base with two of their daughters: Grace and Abi.