Travel Day with Victoriano, II

Yesterday was our second Travel Day with Victoriano. This time we stayed close to home - visiting the church camp and misión.


Every three-four months the church meets at the campo for servicio, baptism, and of course, good eating.


There is no electricity in this area so the water must be pulled from the deep well and emptied in the baptism pool. That is COLD water!


Located on the grounds is a small coffee plantation.


The coffee is harvested, staored at the church, and later roasted for use at special meetings.

Across the major highway in Chimaltenango, we traveled up the mountain on bumpy trails to the misión. It is obvious not many vehicles pass this way. Thankfully "Clyde" has four wheel drive :)





The misión is only about a year old and has about 15 regular attenders but the potential to reach many others. Ludwin, is the pastor, are is boldly proclaiming the Gospel in this area.



Here we find David playing his harp. This old wooden harp was in the children's classroom.


On up the mountain, we were rewarded with fantastic views of Chimaltenango and the surrounding area.




Pray for the people of Chimaltenango.

Traveling with Pastor Victoriano

We will be traveling about once a week with our pastor Victoriano into Cakchiquel areas, identifying regions where people do not have the Gospel in a language they can understand. What a priviledge we have to glean information from our pastor who is Cakchiquel, having grown up in this region. He is taking us to areas we could never find on our own (or be brave enough to travel to by ourselves!).

On Wednesday, we had our first trip with Victoriano and church member Guillermo (William). About 2 hours west of Chimaltenago we first visited Iglesia Bautista Nueva Vida where the congregation of about 80 people worship in Cakchiquel.

We met Nacho, a dear brother who lives next door to the church, and his grandaughter Susana.


We plan to go back soon on a Sunday for a worship service.

Iglesia Evangelico Bethesda was the first evangelical church in this area. In the turbulant years of civil unrest during the 1980's - Victoriano's family had to keep moving from place to place to escape death. Victoriano, his father and grandfather carried adobe bricks over a kilometer up the mountain to build this church and share the Gospel. His father traveled across the mountain to a nearby village to preach the Gospel but was beaten, arrested and carried by horseback for many hours back to Chimaltenango and jailed. His family was persecuted for the Gospel but continued to lead others to Christ. For many years, his family fled from place to place continuing the share the Gospel. When we took his picture beside the orginal church, he was so honored...it is the first picture that he has of it.

The blue church beside the orginal was built after an earthquake made the orginal building unsafe.



Back down the beautiful mountain, down the interesting road, we traveled to Tecpán to visit Iglesia Bautista Horeb and school which worships in Spanish.




This church is located in the center of Tecpán and many children attend the school.



On the way back to Chimalentango, we visited a church started as a mission from the church in Tecpán. Iglesia Bautista Arca de Noe (Ark of Noah) is located on a beautiful vegetable farm (finca in Spanish). We visited with some brothers who were working in the fields nearby. A young man named Cristobal told us that the children and young people speak more Spanish, which they learn in schools, but the older adults speak only Cakchiquel, so the worship here in a mixed worship - both Spanish and Cakchiquel.

Music from Antigua

Recently in Antigua, we stopped in to enjoy some traditional marimba music. Hope you enjoy it too!

Bits and Pieces of Life

This week has been busy as I have worked on window treatments in the bedroom, living room, and dining room. Thought you might like to see my designs. Today we went to Antigua. We met two journeygirls who have just arrived a week ago for language school. Amber is headed to Peru to work with some friends of ours from CR, Jeff and Leisa Holeman, and Katie is headed to Columbia. We enjoyed some special time with them and of course, enjoyed lunch together. Amber had brought a package to us from one of our children...thanks Miriam and Mike. By the way, we enjoyed our lunch in honor of your anniversary today...6 years already?! Hope it has been special for you guys today.

Sad Day for Glynis

The funeral for Aunt Georgia, Glynis' mom's sister, was this morning in Macon. Though Aunt Georgia has been sick for quite awhile, we were sad to say goodbye to her. She has known the Lord for many years and is now free from suffering for which we are thankful. It is on days like today when family gathers back home for a funeral that we experience the reality that obedience to God's call is not without some sacrifice. Though Glynis was not able to be present with her family today, she has carried them closely in her heart as she has worked here at home in Chimaltenango. Though she is physically distant from them today, she is spending her day with Uncle Claude, MaMa, Aunt Mary, and other family members in her thoughts and prayers. We too are comforted that our children have stood today with their grandmother in our place. As you can, thanks for lifting up Glynis and her family to the Lord in prayer.

Different Views of the Week

Monday we traveled back to the lake area, only a couple of hours from the house, yea! - to purchase some material for our windows and to enjoy the day. One of our favorite restaurants is on the way so we stopped for breakfast and this beautiful arrangement was in the restroom. I know, strange to be taking pictures in the restroom, but it was pretty.


The next day we returned to the capital to visit with Wendall and Jane. They had come with our friend, Miss Fran, to welcome Gabrielle who is visiting Fran for a month. Miss Fran had to be hospitallized for a couple of days with pneumonia. She is doing much better and was released yesterday to return home. So it was our priviledge to accompany the three to the relief map. The air was filled with the wonderful fragrance from this tree...something like a magnolia, maybe not quite as strong a fragrance.


And then on to lunch at the PanAm, you remember, the wonderful coconut cream pie restaurant...and yes, we made sure we all had room for dessert! Some enjoyed the famous banana cream pie but for me, it is always the coconut cream pie...


While visiting Miss Fran in the hospital, she lamented that she did not have her camera to take pictures of the old knarled eucalptus tree and gardens outside her window. So these pictures are for you Miss Fran...




Then on our way home, we stopped at the new mall in the capital. This play area is in the midst of the food court...looks like fun!


And finally today's picture...this morning I was hanging out some wash and looked up at the sky (ok, really checking to see if there is enough time for them to dry before the rains come) and saw this beautiful rainbow. It was just a reminder of God's promises...always faithful, never ending, blessed promises!


Trust your day is filled with the reality of God's promises!

Gorgeous Views

Today was an absolutely gorgeous day. These pictures were taken in front of our house.



The gate's open...ready for your visit!

Getting settled at home

Yesterday we stopped in town at one of the markets. I have NEVER seen so many clothes and undergarments for sale in all my life. That is no joke! But as we were winding out way around through the many paths of this market I happened to see cloth for sale. Found just what I wanted for the kitchen...




It is actually a red and black plaid 12 foot length of material for a corte (woman's skirt). Got a few more touches that are needed to complete the kitchen but it's coming along. Today, even the house smelled like home as I baked hokey pokeys for the first time. Gotta get the plain four and gas oven figured out better but the cookies are good anyway.

One of things David really wanted in a house was some yard. Now it's not much but it is some. And last week, even before we had unpacked all the suitcases, I found David outside in the dirt! The plants and grass are beginning to grow. It won't be too long, it will actually be a beautiful garden area!


One of David's BIG projects this week was setting up the office. Monday we drove to Office Depot in the capital to purchase the two desks and chairs. Since partical board doesn't handle the rain too well, we had all the boxes wrapped in saran wrap, put them in the back of the truck, covered and tied them down with the tarp, and headed home to beat the afternoon rain. We arrived home, got the boxes in the house and the rain came. Thank you Lord for your blessings! My desk had 12 pieces and David was able to put it together fairly quickly. Then he opened his...41 pieces!! Needless to say it took a little longer to put together than mine did. Now comes the BIG job of organizing all the stuff to make it a very functional office.


The other fun thing that I did today is wash clothes! Many many thanks to those of you who helped supply the washer and dryer and stove.