I Found Him

For my regular followers you'll remember a recent post (from Aug. 11) about this young man. Well, I drove out to his village today to find him. Samuel went with me and on the way I prayed it would be a divine appointment.

About 9 miles from town and off the main road we drove down a dirt road until we reached his village. Laguna village has a population of 310 people according to its sign I saw once we arrived. So, how do you find someone whom you've never met and who's name you don't even know in a village you've never been to? That's a good question. You stop at the first thatch (short term for thatch roofed house) and ask! Thankfully I had his picture too; that really helps.

When I pulled up to the first thatch I immediately knew this village didn't receive many motorized visitors. A group of young children came running out of another thatch behind the one closest to the road. They were waving and smiling and one of the boys (probably about 4) was completely naked. You get used to it.

I showed the picture to two ladies who seemed to be mother and daughter. They immediately said, "Oh, Ricardo" and told me where he lived. They would talk with me then converse in K'ekchi (a Mayan Indian language.) All this going on while I occasionally exchanged smiles with the excited children staring up at me. I learned that he only lived two houses down.

We pulled up and Samuel and I got out and approached what we hoped was the right house. I could tell there was someone there because I saw smoke lightly billowing from the roof. In the villages they make a fire either on the dirt floor or on a raised counter type thing and cook over it. So, we walked across the plank of wood to cross into their yard and "hailed" the house as they say here. "Hello" I said. A young lady and little girl then showed up at the opening in the side of the house (the doorway with no door.)

I was at the right house but Ricardo was not home. I told them of my intention for coming and the whole story of how I even learned of Ricardo. They seemed happy and surprised at how I received his picture over e-mail and they smiled and pointed at the print out I had of him. His brother Vinsante was there and we got to know each other. Apparently Ricardo also farms and isn't home during the days. Ricardo's wife and brother both seemed to think that he would be interested in receiving the training.

So we planned on me returning this Sunday at 2pm. I'll get to meet Ricardo, Lord willing, and hopefully he'll be interested in joining our very first class. Please pray for this meeting. We'll see what the Lord does and trust Him, come what may.