What happens when you follow a cat down an alley in San Pedro, Guatemala? You come to a red metal door. What happens if you knock on the red metal door? Mariano Gonzalez will open the red metal door. What happens after Mariano opens the red metal door? Mariano will begin pulling out chairs for you and everyone else. What happens after you spend an hour or so visiting with Mariano and his wife? Mariano and his wife will join you and everyone else in a circle while someone prays for them. What happens because someone prayed for Mariano and his wife? Mariano will say that the prayer that was prayed for him and for his wife was what had real ‘value’ to them versus the money that had been given to him for his paintings that you and the others had bought.
This all started when one of the Hopkins, Minnesota church youth team members felt the Lord impress on him about a cat and an alley way during a time of listening prayer. As we began walking up a San Pedro street towards San Pedro’s market area, a cat was seen turning down an alley. Minutes later – as if they were expecting our visit, we were being warmly welcomed by Mariano and his wife Vincenta.
The t-shirt that Mariano was wearing – which had Bridge Builders written across the front of it, immediately caught my eye. Bridge Builders is Wooddale Church’s name for their short term teams. Teams from Wooddale have been going to the Lake Atitlan region – which is where San Pedro is located, each year since the mid ‘90’s. The Hopkins church is located about ten minutes from Wooddale. The Hopkins church team participants have good friends who attend Wooddale.
When Mariano said that he was an ‘artista’, we asked him if he had any paintings that we could see. The photo below is an example of Mariano’s small paintings. Mariano has had his paintings shown in expositions in the U.S., Canada, Japan and in other countries. Many of Mariano’s paintings are of the ‘huipil’s’ or the blouses that women in the different Mayan groups and regions wear.
After almost every small painting that Mariano had completed or had begun painting were bought, the conversation turned to what church he and Vincenta attended. A short time later we were all standing in a circle holding hands as Justin led in prayer. As I walked with everyone else back down the alley that leads to where Mariano and Vincenta live, I sensed that we had all been encouraged – including Mariano and Vincenta, knowing what a blessing it can be inviting oneself into another person’s home and life.
