Snowballs

This year is very different for many of us - it has been so cold that it snowed in regions where you normally would think of desert-like heat and beaches. Also in Guatemala, it has been unusually cold, it still is, and snow fell in some areas in the north of the country, like Quetzaltenango and Huehuetenango. But unfortunately, no snow fell in Lisatenango :(

Some people might know that I grew up in Tirol, which is situated in the beautiful Austrian Alps. A country full of mountains and lots of snow throughout the winter season. Being used to playing with snow, I got a little bit nostalgic thinking that my kids only got the cold part here, but not the fun part of snow. The snowball fights and building snowmen especially came to my mind.

For those who haven’t had the blessings of knowing snow, this is how it basically works: A snowball can be very small and placed on a hill, and when it rolls down, it grows as all the other snow on the way downhill sticks to it. One never knows how big it will get and where exactly it will stop. All this is completely out of our control.

This snowball effect reminds me of our dear ministry, Holistic Hope (Esperanza Integral). The very first thoughts about it in January 2024 were like snowflakes slowly falling. And the very first seeds planted in April were becoming medicinal herbs, and so the snowball formed and started to grow with each month. Something beautiful to observe has been the Hand of GOD that was there guiding us and blessing us with so many people to meet, to share HIS word and HIS promises.

Like dandelion seeds that fly with the wind to who knows where, the word of GOD as well as useful knowledge is shared and even if we think or feel that nobody listened to what we shared that day with people of a community, we really have no idea what is going on below the surface of a person or if people remember our class just when they need it the most. That could be a Bible verse to encourage one of their family members in a dark hour. It could also be a life-saving hack that they learned in one of our CPR classes. Whatever we do should always be the best on our part, because without knowing, GOD can convert it into a growing “snowball" in a family or community. 

Let us all be more aware of what we do and what we say, because of that unpredictable snowball effect. Let’s strive to be the best possible version of ourselves to glorify GOD at all times in everything we do, but also let’s not forget that only HE is perfect and good. HIS love is patient, forgiving and great, Amen!

So, for example, if you are an engineer and dedicated to inventing new machines, don’t forget that you can glorify GOD on the way to work and back, within your group of colleagues, and that all the things you invent or build should be to improve the lives of many. And if you are also a husband and father, always remember that GOD gave you the role of the spiritual leader and provider for your wife and kids. This is a huge responsibility, but also gives you the opportunity to set the example for your daughter's future husband and your son's future role as a husband and father. Thus starting a generational snowball effect of good men.

If you are a housewife taking care of your husband, children, and household, please never forget that you are doing one of the most important and hardest jobs out there. You can be a teacher of the Word of GOD to your children, a nutritionist and cook for your family to prevent and treat diseases, a nurse to take care of wounds and a precious wife and mother (described as in Proverbs 31) to help guide your family and disrupt generational curses putting JESUS as the cornerstone for present and future marriages in your family.

These are all snowballs that GOD blesses to grow within our families, churches, communities and countries.

However, there are also negative snowball effects that we should be aware of. In the Bible, GOD warns us of the snowball effect of sin. This can be read in 2 Samuel chapters 11 and 12, which is the story of David and Bathsheba, where the sin of desire grows out of hand and leads to murder, a lot of pain, and even death.

In the book of James, we can also read about how temptations we give in to, snowball into sin and the payment for sin is death (“But each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." James 1, verses 14-15, NIV)

Snowballs also remind me of gossip. Sometimes we get to hear something about friends or family, never knowing what or how much of it is actually true. We can make the decision to stop it right there and to not even let our ears be poisoned by it. So instead of gossiping about the “news” of people around us, wouldn't it be better to “gossip” the Word of GOD?

I want to finish and encourage you with the following verse, and send out my blessings to all readers!

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble,

whatever is right, whatever is pure,

whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable

— if anything is excellent or praiseworthy

- think about such things.”

(Philippians 4, verse 8, NIV)