We ALMOST had another great K'iche' teacher... Ernesto, who is 30 years old. I (Heather) met him 6 years ago when we first moved to Chichicastenango, where he worked in our town's grocery store. He was also studying business administration in a nearby university, where they require a few English classes for graduation. He asked me to help him, so I agreed to tutor him in English. Then, after his class finished, he agreed to teach us K'iche' once a week.
Michael began by teaching Ernesto the K'iche' grammar rules that we have figured out. He is very smart and was able to grasp his native language's grammar quickly. BUT, after only a few K'iche' classes, the grocery store relocated him with an upgrade to a management position in another city! This is a common practice for business chains here, and Ernesto wasn't able to turn down the offer without losing his job altogether. Jobs are very hard to find in Guatemala, so he needed to keep his employment. His wife, Tomasita, who also works in our grocery store and doesn't want to give up her job either, and his 7-year-old daughter, Lindsay, are still living here in Chichicastenango. They were very sad about the separation.
I had bought a Bible as a gift for Ernesto, since he isn't a Christian, but the store relocated him before I had a chance to deliver the gift! His family has believed in the traditional Mayan religion for generations, and this was a great chance to teach him about Jesus since he agreed to help Michael translate the Bible.
So I ended up giving the Bible to his wife, Tomasita. She cried, saying there are many people who say they are your friends but don't follow through. She said we showed we really are their friends by giving them a Bible! I was able to share with her that if she will give her life to Jesus, he will always be with her. Then, on one of his days off of work, Ernesto came to our house to visit us and thank us for the Bible. He also cried when I told him that Jesus loves him and always offers to protect him and his family while they are apart.
Please pray for our continued ministry to Ernesto, Tomasita, and Lindsay, who has become friends with Veronica. Please pray for their salvation and that a management position will open up here in our grocery store in Chichicastenango. We would love for Ernesto to move back home so that his family can be reunited and we can have an excellent K'iche' teacher again!