Today is Tuesday, March
15th. How does time move so
quickly? Three weeks ago today I was
double-checking my packing list to be sure I had all that I needed to leave the
next morning for a week in Guatemala City with my friends Lisa and
Stephanie. I had read the Facilitator’s
training guide from Yobel International for the business skills program we
would be teaching. I had attended my training meetings with Stephanie and
Lisa. The supplies were packed.
This was to be like no
other short term mission team I had served with before. There would be no reading to children, no
camps, no retreats, no painting walls (glory!), no interpretive dance, and no
children’s home tour. On this trip we
had the awesome privilege of sharing the very terminology and skills that I had
trained for in college and used to varying degrees over more than 20 years in
the business world. In my mind, this
would be a very factual mission. I had
no idea how my heart would be touched.
Fast
forward through security checkpoints, weather-delayed flights, a lot of
turbulence, an airport sprint and the usual customs maze and we arrive at the
good stuff. On day one, we met the three
ladies we would rely on so heavily for in the coming days, our
translators! Yessica, Licasta and
Siomara would prove invaluable. (They
would also prove to be talented actresses!)
One of the most crucial
parts of Yobel’s Entrepreneurial Training Program is information
gathering. At the beginning and end of
the program, we met with each participant to learn about her. We began with each lady’s current living
situation, income generating activities and plans for the future. This was my first chance to really get to
know some of the entrepreneurs. I was
excited to learn about their skills. Some could sew, others enjoyed cooking, a
few made jewelry and a couple of ladies were good with bookkeeping and
accounting. There were plans to sell
clothing, shoes, cosmetics and more.
Sadly, there was also a
frightening common thread. Every single entrepreneur I interviewed that first
morning mentioned the dangers of having a storefront in her community. Each lady shared that gang members who knew
there was a profitable business in the area would target business owners and
extort them, demanding money with threats to harm family members. Time and again the entrepreneurs answered
that they did not plan to open a business in the community because it was too
dangerous. One by one my heart grew
heavier for their unjust affliction. But
these 24 ladies were here! They signed up, they showed up and they were
committed to learn what would be presented.
Determined. Fierce. Courageous. Unstoppable.
Quickly we moved right
into the heart of the program. Dreaming
Big! The entrepreneurs received truths
from scripture about being fearfully and wonderfully made, believing the Lord
would give them the desires of their hearts if they delighted in Him, being a
valuable part of the body with necessary gifts & talents, and trusting that
with God all things are possible. They
were given permission to decide on their biggest hopes for themselves, their
families and their communities. They learned
how to recognize and overcome obstacles, and how to make SMART objectives to
achieve their goals. They participated in every discussion and dug in when we
learned about customer service, treating others the way we would want to be
treated, meeting the needs of the community, marketing and gaining advantage
over the competition. They persevered
through tough concepts like pricing, mark-ups, percentages, record keeping and
ethics. They embraced saving for business
and family needs, tithing and budgeting.
I remember having lessons
in the foyer of the new Building of Promise on Saturday. The sun was shining brightly. The ladies had just finished a role-play
activity and were shining just as brightly as the sun. There was excitement in the air. I remember realizing how much this training
would mean to each of them and to the community. I recall realizing that these ladies were
going to embrace these news skills, concepts, ideas and tools and they were
going to grow successful businesses. I
remember realizing that a little while in the future each of these ladies would
be equipped to share what she was learning with a friend. I recall telling them how excited I get when
I think of each of them mentoring a friend like the wise women of the Bible did
for their younger sisters in Christ.
Day after day they
participated. In small groups they shared how what they were learning applied
to their own business ideas. Small ideas
became dreams, logistics were discussed, and plans were made. I recall the glimmer in Lis’ eye as she
talked about her sweet shop, gave it a name and decided how she would perform
market research before she launched her new business. I think of how Beatriz realized her tasty
tamales could become a delicious meal when served with bread and coffee. Brenda’s beautiful smile brightened and she
drew out the plans for her handmade doll clothes to become outfits that
included shoes, tiaras, purses and other accessories. Favi welled up with emotion when she realized
the God-sized potential of her snow cone business.
I still pray for them
every day. You can too! Pray that they
remain brave as they face obstacles. Pray they are not discouraged by the
enemy’s lies, but rather they are encouraged by the truth of God’s Word. Pray they stick to their objectives, take
daily steps to overcome obstacles and achieve their goals. Pray the seeds they
plant now will be nourished over and over again until they produce fruit. Pray
their families and friends will press on alongside them. These women, they are ready! Let’s hold them up high in prayer and
encourage them every chance we get.
Oh! And there were a few
personal favorite memories from this trip!
This was the first time I’ve ridden in the bed of a truck in Guatemala
City rush hour traffic. This trip also
included my first volcano eruption (from a safe distance, of course!).
Also, I enjoyed a few minutes catching up with
this little first grade cutie!
Here’s one special little
way that God reminded me how much He loves me.
Back home I sleep with a fan running to drown the noise of the nearby
highway. I wondered how well I would sleep
without a fan in Guatemala City. We got
to the dorms and what had Delmi left for us in the room? Yup, a fan just because on a CP trip I am always reminded
that I’m God’s favorite!