Sometimes there's a miracle

Dear Friends in Christ -

Several weeks back, I wrote a "blognote" about a terrible landslide in Guatemala, and asked for your prayers for the people there. Many people died in the landslide, and many others had their lives and livelihoods seriously impacted by being cut off from friends, family and jobs.

I was relieved today to finally hear from my friend who is a missionary near where the slide took place. I knew that she and her family were spared from the slide, but I also knew that this tragedy would take a toll on her and her family as they tried to help those impacted by the slide.

As my friend's husband was helping people in the aftermath of the slide, he heard one story that was increadible - and inspiring: On the morning of January 4 before the slide happened, a man crossing the mountain, with many other people in single file, suddenly felt a strong wind whipping against his body and he heard a terrible thunder. He stopped, bewildered, and suddenly everything went black! He was caught in the avalanche, but because he was standing just under a large overhang of rock, the landslide roared right over him and he was safe. He said it was as black as night where he stood for about 20 minutes while the tons of earth passed over him. When the slide stopped, he said there was so much dust, and he cautiously ventured out beyond the overhang. He saw a young woman's broken, lifeless body nearby. Then several feet away, he saw a bundle of cloth. Approaching, he lifted the cloth--and a 6-month old baby, unhurt, stared back at him! He scooped up the tiny survivor and they both hurried to safety. Beautiful!

I asked Beth if there was any way that I/we can help them in the aftermath of this slide and she replied: We appreciate your offer of help. Your prayers are vital. If anyone is moved to give financially to help needy families, earmark your gift to Wycliffe "for Boris and Beth Ramirez, to help landslide refugees" and we will see to it that the offering gets into the hands of the Pokomchi families who need it most.

Miracles do happen - in two ways. There's the straight from heaven kind. And there's the kind that we help make when we join hearts and hands to help in whatever way we can.

If you want to join me in helping Beth and Boris and the Pokomchi families, just let me know.
Faithfully yours,
Janet+