I would like you to meet Beth Lott, wife of David Lott, missionary to Guatemala
Beth Martin Lott was born into a godly family who lived in Texas. When she was only three years old her parents, who were missionaries, moved to Mexico. She became fluent in both English and Spanish by age 4. They were in Mexico City for about five years and Puebla, Mexico for nearly twenty years. They traveled into southern Mexico to visit Indian tribes with the Gospel there. They were US citizens living in Mexico, so frequently needed to return to Texas for passport renewals. That afforded them the privilege and opportunity to get to spend most Christmases with her grandparents in the States.
At age 10, Beth surrendered her life to be a missionary. She now has spent over fifty years on mission fields, the last 20 with her husband in the Central American country of Guatemala. Life there is much like what she’d been living in Mexico, so she really experienced no culture shock concerning language and customs.
She has known her husband, David Lott, and his family, most of her life. In fact, her father was preaching in his grandfather’s church the night David was born! They grew up, married and have served the Lord as missionaries ever since. They have four children, two boys and two girls. The two girls, Cristina and Rebekah, still live with their parents. One of their sons, Jonathan, is studying in Bible college with the goal of becoming a Bible translator. The other son Timothy, will start as a parajumper with Special Forces beginning in January.
Jonathan plans to marry a fine Christian young lady, Rocio, in her native country of Peru in June of 2012. She has already spent some time working with the Lotts, helping out with workshops they presented for Sunday School teachers in Chiapas, Mexico last August. God has answered Beth’s dearest prayers for her children. He has molded their characters and they have close walks with Him. She is more than thrilled that God has blessed her with a godly future daughter-in-law. It is what she’d asked Him for.
She also has home schooled her children. It has been her number one goal in raising their children, to keep their their hearts sensitive, so that the Holy Spirit could work in softened hearts. “And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse,” Malachi 4:6. God answers prayer.
Guatemala is known as the ”land of eternal spring.” The Lotts live in Guatemala City, the capital and largest city in Guatemala in the mountainous region of the country. Unfortunately, even with its temperate climate, beautiful mountains, and marimba music, it is also a country of political unrest and crime. Crime and corruption in Guatemala is the worst in all of Latin American and has been for many years. Kidnappings and theft are frequent. Her daughters don’t go anywhere alone, purses aren’t carried on the streets, and they don’t drive with their windows down. Safety is of paramount concern for them.
Guatemalans live in a matriarchal society where few men make lasting commitments. Many times the women are even the breadwinners of the families. Their way of life carries over into their spiritual lives too. Beth estimates that they disciple 7 women to every l-2 men.
The Lotts are church planters and have started three churches in Guatemala. Their present church congregation is small, with about 30-35 in attendance. She teaches Sunday School and helps her husband with a lot of marital counseling. She meets monthly with other pastor’s and leader’s wives at a restaurant and teaches them.
Beth is a very experienced teacher who especially likes to teach about the Book and character of Esther. Esther was courageous, unpretentious, and willing to give her live for her country. This is what Beth wants for herself and for the ones she gets to teach.
When I had the awesome opportunity to speak with Beth “in person” via Skype on the computer, she impressed me as being a very humble lady. She places value on the things of God, definitely not on things of this world. She enjoys reading Christian novels and Bible studies when she gets the time. Beth loves to cook and bake, and fixes a lot of authentic Mexican food, some from recipes passed down to her from her grandmother, preferring it to the typical bland Guatemalan diet.
When I asked Beth to share some of her favorite Scriptures, she quickly related the two below and linked them together with the connection between pulling down strongholds and having one’s mind renewed.
II Corinthians 10:4, 5 : “(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations,and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ:”
Romans 12:2: “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
These Scriptures are so important to her, and to the lives of the people they work with in Guatemala. God can be counted on to change yielded lives!
Beth wants me to pass on to all of our church ladies how very much she appreciates all of the correspondence, prayers, and gifts that she has received from us. She relates that she has more contact with us than with any other of their churches. She seems literally overwhelmed by our care for her. Let’s just keep it up!
The Lotts are praying that God will provide a national man to pastor their present work. They also need a permanent meeting place. They plan to begin furlough next April. Will you pray with them that they will have a pastor to take over the work during their time away and a woman to teach the ladies there?
What a great privilege it was for me to get to visit with this godly lady who has spent her life serving God. She is such a treasure. I want her to know that people in our church do pray for her, for her family, and for God’s blessings upon those with whom she shares God’s Word as she lives her life sold out to Him.
