April 2012
Poisonwood and Gumbo-limbo Trees
My wife Grace and I just returned from a trip to Belize where we had the opportunity to visit the
rain forest in the Maya Mountains near San Ignacio on the western border with Guatemala.
While hiking near Cha Creek, our guide, Eder Ponti, showed us many different trees and plants
and explained how they are used to treat different medical problems.
Perhaps the most fascinating of all the trees and plants we saw was the Black Poisonwood tree
which grows next to the Gumbo-limbo tree. The root system of the two trees nourishes each
other. One cannot survive without the presence of the other.
Sap from the trunk and roots of the Poisonwood tree causes a terrible skin condition like poison
ivy. Early chronicles of the Spanish conquest reported that some native people tortured their
captives by tying them naked to a Poisonwood tree and splitting the bark to allow the sap to run
down onto the hapless victims. Amazingly, however, the antidote for the rash is made from the
boiled bark of the Gumbo-limbo tree that always grows close by.
As I reflected on these two trees and their relationship to one another, I remembered two other
trees described in God’s Word: The forbidden tree in the Garden of Eden and the tree of the
cross upon which our Savior gave his life for the sins of the world. By eating of the tree in Eden,
Adam and Eve, our first parents, disobeyed God and suffered the consequences described in
Genesis. From this point on Adam and his descendants have had to labor to survive and Eve and
her descendants have had to suffer the pains of childbirth—symptoms of our sinful condition.
Sin does have serious consequences, and we all have experienced some of these consequences!
But thanks be to God, because of his mercy, he has provided an antidote for our sin and its
consequences, the tree of the cross upon which our Savior died! His death on behalf of all
mankind has opened the door to new life and we can now live victoriously. His resurrection from
the dead which we celebrate on Easter, reminds us that we who continue to live in a sinful world,
will one day be free from sin’s chains. Our baptism is God’s action in our lives connecting us to
Christ, marking us as his redeemed people and calling us to make disciples!
Pastor Steve Hughey, CALMS’ Executive Director
While on our trip to Belize, we also saw two other examples from God’s creation that reminded
us of Jesus’ suffering and death and his resurrection from the dead for us! The passion flower
on the left and the blue monarch butterfly on the right are vivid reminders of our Savior’s love
for us and for the lost people of Central America and our own communities!
Thrivent Choice Dollars Help CALMS Reach Out to Lost
and Hurting People!
CALMS is one of the charitable organizations eligible to receive Choice Dollars through
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Will you help us serve more people by designating your
Choice Dollars? Here’s how you can help:
Visit online at thrivent.com/choicedollars or call 800-847-4836 and say “Thrivent Choice.”
Marina…in Need of a House and Hope!
Marina Duran is a member of Jesus Es La Vida (Jesus is the Life) Lutheran Church in La
Fragua, a small village near Zacapa, Guatemala. She and her family have been chosen by her
congregation and CALMS to receive a new house in the coming months.
Several weeks ago, Pastor Miguel Torneire and DCE Sean Chapman, CALMS’ missionary-atlarge and board member respectively, visited Marina and her family to see their situation firsthand. With them were two representatives of Faith Lutheran Church in Jefferson City, Missouri,
who are hoping to work with CALMS to help families like Marina’s and her congregation in La
Fragua.
Marina explained that just a month earlier, her son, who was the main breadwinner for the
family, was killed. This left her and her daughter Otilia Anton and two grand-daughters, Susan
and Hilary, with the double tragedy of losing a son, brother and uncle—and almost no financial
support!
Marina and Otilia, a widow and single mother, more than meet CALMS’ criteria since they and
their children are among the most vulnerable people in their community.
(Far left and far right)Pastor Josh Knippa and Mission Leader, Patrick Martens, from Faith
Lutheran Church in Jefferson City, Missouri, met Marina Duran (Center) on a recent
preparation trip to La Fragua, Guatemala. The trip helped them bring hope to a family in need
of God’s love and encouragement and to prepare for building her a new house later this year.
Carmel Lutheran Partners with Fellow Lutherans in El
Maguey, Guatemala
As part of their five-year commitment, Carmel Lutheran Church in Carmel, Indiana, continues to
equip leaders in their church and in El Maguey, Guatemala to reach out with the Gospel and
demonstrate Christ’s love.
Their latest trip in March (one of three planned for 2012) focused on constructing two houses for
families, visiting those who had received homes in the past, sharing school supplies with children
in the local school, taking and distributing photos of families (few people in the village have
family photos), sharing a Bible study and cancer awareness night with the women of the village,
hosting a culture exchange night and visiting a nearby orphanage.
These projects all involved Guatemalan leaders and reflected CALMS’ value of building
relationships with local people and involving nationals in ministry in order to help equip leaders
for mission and service.
The Carmel team included seven new people who had never visited El Maguey and several
experienced leaders who had developed previous relationships with the community. CALMS’
board member David Reed and his wife Sharon were the team leaders.
One team member, who had not been attending Carmel or any church, has now decided to look
for a church home as a result of his mission experience.
The Amarilis Cristina Perdomo family (left) &
Maria Azucena Garcia family (right) received new houses
thanks to CALMS and the Carmel team during their March outreach.
Pray for Us…
Thank God for the recent ministry of Concordia Lutheran Church in Kirkwood Missouri and
their effective intergenerational team led by Pastor Monte Haun. The team served with Pastor
Floyd Bood and his congregation in Burmuda Landing, Belize.
Sisters Riley and Marcy Shelp belt out a
Gospel Rap to help share God’s Word with
children and adults at Bermuda Landing,
Belize, where they served with their parents
and other adults March 17-23, 2012.
Pray for the children in the new Tutoring and Renewal Ministry being launched this month in
Panama by CALMS and our partners in five Panama congregations. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide
this ministry so that neighborhood children can grow intellectually and spiritually.
Pray for an emerging new discipleship and housing ministry for Belize, “Hearts to
Homes…Homes to Hearts” being initiated by CALMS in partnership with the Tubal Technical
Institute and area congregations in Ladyville, Belize to benefit needy families and at-risk youth.
Ask God to guide the efforts of Mr. Lionel Bailey, director of Tubal and CALMS’ leaders, Chris
Rodgers and Pastor Steve Hughey as they work together to make this ministry a reality. Watch
for more information in coming months.
Pastor Steve Hughey, CALMS’ Executive Director and CALMS’ representative in Belize,
Peg Wolfram (far left) and Housing Consultant, Chris Rodgers, (far right) met with
Belizean pastors and church leaders recently to plan for the new ministry.