be ye glad

end of year update from the Nelsons in Guatemala 🎄

Pickup soccer game in the village by our house under golden December skies.

Dear friends,

MERRY CHRISTMAS!! We are regaining our footing after a staggeringly bad stretch this fall (more on that below) and grateful for God’s provision, kindness and presence as we close out the end of a truly crazy year.

When I last wrote, we were just back from home assignment and full of energy and affection for Guatemala. The girls were happy to be home, our work felt meaningful and interesting in fresh ways, and we were riding REAL high on our proverbial horse.

The first week of October at the same time the war in Gaza broke out, Guatemala descended into chaos.

Turns out, the oligarchic power structure that controls the courts and power structure really was NOT going to let a democratically-elected underdog who campaigned on a platform to reform the education and healthcare system and (actually) prosecute corrupt officials, ascend to the presidency. (Good summary of the basic situation here.). The net result was that massive protests basically shut down the entire country for several weeks. We were encouraged in a lot of ways that the largely-indigenous Guatemalan people had the will and energy to rise up in protest— Guatemala had it’s own genocidal war that left a quarter of a million people dead in the 90’s and the older adult generation still carries those scars and left/right ideological orientation. Confrontation and open protest has not been a part of normal Guatemalan society, so for the next generation to come out in force was… significant.

Our grocery store the week after protests began.

October was already off to a rough start for us. We had some drama (not worth going into) with our organization. Jeff had shingles after a mild case of Covid in late September. Clinic work had been particularly complicated/intense and we’d had some other extraneous noise with a car repair, stuff breaking at our house in Portland and a lot of small fires to put out. The protests closed literally all of the main arterial routes around Guatemala, which meant that fresh groceries did not make it to market, gas stations ran out of fuel, drinking water was not delivered, trash was not picked up, and schools across the country were closed or online. It was suddenly, horribly reminiscent of the early days of the pandemic. By the second week of protests, the airport was in real danger of closing because of lack of fuel. Things continued to escalate and became violent in places; the Peace Corps evacuated its volunteers and Serge organized a crisis management team to discuss evacuation criteria for our team.

Around the same time, Jeff and then Lucie contracted dengue. (Very similar to malaria— mosquito borne and causes fever and horrible joint pain.) They were both quite ill, and I had a few nights of wondering if we could get to the hospital in the city if we needed to. Insult to injury, I have been dealing with a rotator cuff tear since this summer and my shoulder froze up in the wake of that— I was taking prednisone to deal with that inflammation, in excruciating pain and NOT SLEEPING. Hopkins finals were the third week of October, and Cora turned 15, had a party… by the end of that month, I felt like a kid flying downhill on a bike with no brakes, wheels wobbling wildly.

recent sunny day in Zone 3.

Thankfully, by November, Jeff and Lucie had recovered and we drove to the beach in El Salvador for a few days of retreat and renewal with the Serge Latin America teams. The kids swam, many pupusas were consumed, and we were encouraged by time with close friends that have lives parallel to ours. I finally had a chance to rest, and spent some time gazing at the ocean, reflecting on the past couple of months and feeling rather distant from God.

In a quote that makes the rounds on Instagram a lot this time of year, a pastor named Rich Villodas says that “the good news of Advent is not that we are faithful in our waiting (we often aren’t) but that God is faithful in his coming.” I am SUCH a Martha, and often find more meaning in working than sitting with God. I’m not sure how to sit with God, if I’m very honest. Fortunately, the reality of God-with-us, Emmanuel, is not actually dependent on our capacity to sit still and rest from our labors, etc etc. It is certainly a great blessing and gift to regulate the pace of work, to be present in the moment and in the good world that God made, to find space to be quiet with God, but… I’m relieved that it’s not necessary, that God will do and be in the world whether I can slow down or not.

So, as we wrap up what was by all accounts a very good, fruitful year that has yielded a lot of growth, pray for some Sabbath rest for us. For the joy of the Lord to pervade our lives, and for us to no only do justice and love mercy, but also to walk humbly with our good Father who looks on the broken and bleeding world with love and compassion.

With so much love and gratitude,

Abbie, Jeff and the girls

Hazel and Jeff climbing Pacaya last month

Some metrics from 2023, in no particular order:

• Approximately 30 clients received regular psychotherapy from Jeff. This included some couples, some Guatemalan ministry leaders, some zone 3 clinic patients, and some missionary/expat cross-cultural workers. Some of these have “graduated” out of regular therapy, and some continue in weekly or bi-weekly sessions.

• 215 adults with diabetes received regular care and medications in the Zone 3 diabetes program. The majority are stable, which is the best I can hope for in the setting of an incurable chronic disease, and a few have dramatically improved in terms of glucose management, renal function and preservation of vision.

• 12 foot ulcers were resolved with regular clinic wound care.

• 3 patients that are bed or home-bound for various reasons received house calls and regular care that would otherwise be totally unavailable.

• Our team grew in love for one another and overall stability in their work. Chris and Holly Steed continue to facilitate farming and leather work for 8 women in the village of Magdalena, providing income, discipleship and the tangible love of Jesus in their lives. Heidi Johnson has a thriving counseling practice with kids, especially in the setting of trauma history and complex adoption situations. Linnea Ness continues to provide mentorship and teach English classes with at-risk youth in the Zone 3 community, and is a vital member of Iglesia el Redil, a plant of Iglesia Reforma.

• Cora started high school, Lucie started 7th grade, and Hazel started 3rd grade. All three are growing in depth of relationship and Spanish fluency with the kids in their lives. Cora is playing soccer, Lucie is running track.

Specific ways you can pray for us:

• Rest! and the discipline to actually do it. Pray against the all too common idolatry of work that is deeply ingrained in our hearts, for us to remember that we can work from joyful obedience and love for the Father, rather than out of concern for accomplishment.

• Our fund is pretty stable/healthy, but as ever, pray for God’s provision and for our funding needs to continue to be met.

• Spiritual growth and a community of believers for our kids, especially our teenagers.

• Health, joy and unity within our team, and wisdom as we consider recruitment opportunities for new workers with a calling to Guatemala.