We shared awhile back about the Mateo family moving to Linda Vista so that they would have more opportunities to provide for their family and we could serve them better.  Things seemed to be going well once we got them settled.  Ludwin started painting and we have some of his paintings for sale, one of Ludwin’s brothers is working in the church’s carpentry ministry to try to make a little money, and the kids tell us they love their new home.  Last week our missionaries in Guatemala visited them to talk about the upcoming school year and to sign some paperwork for school for the children.  After talking with them and going over Servant’s agreement to assist them with schooling Ludwin asked if he could have a few minutes to talk with him his wife Ceci.  A few minutes later they asked us if they could talk with us away from the children.

Once we were all settled in the back room Ludwin and Ceci told us that they have been having marital problems for quite some time and they have decided to separate.  They wanted to be up front with us before they signed anything because they are not sure which children will stay with Ceci and which will stay with Ludwin.  We encouraged them to take some time to pray about this, to seek counseling from the local pastor, and to continue fighting for their marriage.  All of our missionaries encouraged the family with biblical truths and encouraged them to seek the Lord’s will together and to start attending the local church’s celebrate recovery ministry to help with healing from their hurts, hang-ups, and habits.  Two of our missionaries who are a married couple had the opportunity to share with them the challenges they have experienced in marriage but that it’s always worth fighting for your marriage and that the only way it will succeed is if they are putting God in the center of their marriage.

Please continue to pray for this family and for healing in this marriage.  Ludwin wants to try again because he has admitted they have never sought outside help the have always just tried to take care of it on their own.  However, Ceci is still set on them splitting up because she does not see hope for their marriage.  They will be continuing to live together until January when Ceci has a job starting in the city and they have agreed to talk with the local pastors during this time.  Please pray that God would use these next few weeks to soften their hearts and give them desire to continue to persevere in their marriage.