And the fun continues...

Henry is REALLY enjoying all things American!!

He hasn't seen these goodies in three years!

Tina and I made sure we got our pic today.

We enjoyed lunch together again today;

this time at a Peruvian sandwich shop.

Tina says, "It is the little things that count...

especially when you're sitting in meetings all day!"

Old Friends...

Having a good time reconnecting with some old friends.  From the photos you'll realize that they are really "long time" friends...and we're the old friends.  haha

Henry was our Big Brother when we arrived for language school. 

He and Tasha were a wealth of information and encouragement,

as well as neat friends. 

He was definitely enjoying...

We missed you Tasha. 

Enjoy your FILL of everything American in CR in December!

Tina ate lunch with us too.

I forgot to get a pic of us...silly me...tomorrow.

Tonight we enjoyed dinner with good friends,

Jeff and Liesa, Hayley and Jackson,

good Old Miss folks

What a view of the Pacific!

It was beautiful in both directions.

Then the nightly view with the Cross shining in the distance.

Enjoying our time!

Springs of Water

Recently as we returned home, we took a side journey in Aguacatán to the Fuente San José, the wellspring of the River San José.  It was amazing to see the bubbling up from deep inside the earth the beginning of the great and mighty river.

Isaiah 12:3

"Therefore you will joyously draw water

from the springs of salvation."

Revelation 21:6

"Then He said to me, 'It is done.

I am the Alpha and the Omega,

the beginning and the end.

I will give to the one who thirsts

from the spring of water of life

without cost.'"

John 4:14

"...but whoever drinks of the water

that I will give him shall never thirst;

but the water that I will give him

will become in him a well of water

springing up to eternal life."

I am reminded of the old Gospel song,

Springs of Living Water,

by John W. Peterson.

I thirsted in the barren land of sin and shame,

And nothing satisfying there I found;

But to the blessed cross of Christ one day I came,

Where springs of living water did abound.

Drinking at the springs of living water,

Happy now am I, my soul they satisfy;

Drinking at the springs of living water,

O wonderful and bountiful supply.

How sweet the living water from the hills of God,

It makes me glad and happy all the way

Now glory, grace and blessing mark the path I've trod,

I'm shouting Hallelujah every day.

Drinking at the springs of living water,

Happy now am I, my soul they satisfy;

Drinking at the springs of living water,

O wonderful and bountiful supply.

O sinner, won't you come today to Calvary?

A fountain there is flowing deep and wide;

The Savior now invites you to the water free,

Where thisting spirits can be satisfied.

Drinking at the springs of living water,

Happy now am I, my soul they satisfy;

Drinking at the springs of living water,

O wonderful and bountiful supply.

Seek the Lord while He may be found;

Call upon Him while He is near.

Let the wicked forsake his way

And the unrighteous man his thoughts;

And let him return to the Lord,

And He will have compassion on him,

And to our God,

For He will abundantly pardon.

Isaiah 55:6,7

The Journey Back to Huehuetenango

There were some interesting shots on the journey back to Huehuetenango that afternoon. 

• Wood is so important in Guatemalan culture.  It provides heat and fire for cooking.  All along the roadside, we see people with loads of wood of their backs or heads.  It is a constant daily chore.  This particular tree had been "trimmed" and the wood stacked to be carried home another day.
• We passed several houses and tiendas with some beautiful doors and windows.
• The "hill" is actually made of garbage...tons and tons of garbage stacked high. 
• The fog continued falling and lifting off and on the journey.
• Again we passed through the high altitude.
• I love the shot of shepherds and sheep. 
• Then the afternoon sky gave another brillant display.

Beside the Road...

These random shots from beside the road were taken as we drove Central American highway 1,

but most of them are seen throughout the country, as well.

Poincianna or Flamboyant Tree

Derrumbes

Gasoline for sale in plastic jugs

This is the first time we had seen this sight.  And there were gas stations up and down the highway.

Interesting.

Coffee growing on the hillside

Derrumbe on the hillside

Huge rocks as results of derrumbes

Crosses marking the place where a loved one died

Huge cliffs

Typically dressed women

Baby coffee plants growing under the shade of vines

More gasoline for sale

Man and woman

 Note that she is dressed in typical clothing and he is dressed in western clothing.

Brillant poinsetta tree

They are not just for Christmas around here, but it is the beginning of the "flowering" season.

I just love the many different varities.



Our Journey to San Miguel Acatán

Last week we were in the deparment of Huehuetenango.  One day we traveled over to San Miguel Acatán as we researched the Acateco.  It was indeed a beautiful day...filled with the splendor of His handiwork.  We never knew what we would find around the next curve.

The journey into San Miguel Acatán took us from about 5000 feet (mas or menos) in Huehuetenango to over 11000 feet.  It took us from a nice paved road through the dirt, sometimes mud, road to the paved streets of San Miguel.  It took us through the fog.  It took us over the mountain to the high plains. It was another reminder of the diverse geography of this wonderful country in which we are priviledged to live.  It took us among some of God's blessed saints who will join us around the Throne.  Praise God for those who have carried the message to the Acatecos!

Come ride with us...

In 2010 Guatemala has received a record amount of rainfall.  Many times we have mentioned the damages to the roads from the rain and often show photos for you to better understand how to pray for us as we travel. 

Central American highway 1 is the major corridor from Mexico to Panama.  It enters Guatemala in the northwest and passes through Chimaltenango to Guatemala City and then heads south to El Salvador. Some of it is four lane and provides wonderful passing lanes.  We travel it often and are very thankful for it.  However, it is also very dangerous, due to many landsides causing the roads to be covered in mud, dirt, and/or huge rocks.

For several days this week, we traveled on CA1 in the west.  Yesterday, as we were returning home, I took this video of some of our travels again to say how thankful we are for your prayers and God's covering of protection.  Sorry it is not the best video but it will give you an idea of the road and dangers. We never take it for granted! 

Prayer...World Impacting Prayer...Prayer

Today I want to share parts of an article from Dr. Roy King, Professor of Leadership and Church Health at CIU. 

The Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization in Cape Town South Africa begins on Sunday Oct 17, with 4,000+ church and mission leaders gathering together from around the world to pray and strategize to reach the world for Christ.

"Praying Scripture and praying for more than my own needs called me into identification with those outside of Christ and a desire to see the church of Christ bold and intentional in spreading God’s good news. A disciple is made by expanding their vision of God and modeling a bold and yet humble prayer life. After tasting how prayer changed me I began to teach others to pray. I began to see that what a person or a congregation prays shapes motives and prioritizes attitudes and actions. Prayer is one of the first seeds to grow as a person follows of Christ.

"I do not dismiss the importance of research and planning for engagement in the work of world evangelization. But they are not the end or the critical means to God’s work being accomplished, in God’s way, by his power. Prayer is the critical foundation. Hebrews 11:6 teaches we can only please God as we live with expectant faith. Prayer is to be faith in conversation. Prayer is to be hope in enduring seeking. Prayer is to be love flowing out to others.


"Perhaps we should see the Cape Town 2010 event as a call to prayer and be intentional in training every Christian we know to see the harvest, the need for laborers, and how prayer in faith brings partnership with the global work of the Spirit in planting a church among every people."

October Breezes

Yes, it is finally October...pretty days, cool nights, maybe the "endish" of rainy season and KITES. Such a joy to sit at our desks and listen to the squeals of children as they flew their kites.

But alas, this little fellow went home sad.  Time to make another kite to fly tomorrow.

Happy Birthday, Glynis

She's the best wife I know. She is the best mother I know. She is the best missionary I know. Everyday, I am the recipient of her love and care, and I am blessed. She rides with me on roads where most people do not travel. She rides with me for hours without access to a bathroom until the only option is a solitary place alongside a mountain road- easier for a man than a lady! She stays with me in little hotels where most people would be challenged to stay. She eats with me in places where most people might decide that they are not hungry. She has shared more peanut butter and banana sandwiches with me than I can count as we found ourselves in remote areas at meal time. While doing this, she continues to be my greatest encourager just as she has been during our thirty-three years of marriage. I am the most blessed man in the world, and with great joy say to my sweet wife, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GLYNIS!  

From the Air...

Recently we traveled to Oaxaca, Mexico for a research training meeting. David enjoyed taking pictures from the air and I thought for your enjoyment as well, we would share a few of them.

We left early in the morning and could see the triple three volcanoes Fuego, Acotenango, and Agua as the background for Guatemala City.

Mexico City is such a awesome sight...everywhere you see there are houses...houses...and houses.  With nearly 9 million people, it is the 11th largest city in the world.

Maybe David did get a little bored as we were flying...close up view of his jeans...haha

Beautiful clouds guided us to Oaxaca.

Coming into Oaxaca...love seeing these "spikey mountains with the road down the middle of the range.

On the way to the conference center, we passed the area where the circus was setting up for the week.  Don't you just love these camels?

Here they are even smiling at us.

The morning we wer to leave Oaxaca, there was extensive fog and cloud cover.  This is as we were leaving 4 hours later at 3:00 in theafternoon.

It was a good conference offering new insights for research into the world of unreached people groups.  So many still needing to hear the message of salvation in their own heart language...where are they located?  how do we get to them?  how do we share?  who will go? 

Will you pray? 

Will you give?

Lottie Moon Christmas Offering is coming soon.

What will you give so that others may hear?

Kent Welcome

Last night, the family gathered again to welcomed new friends to Guatemala.  I am sorry that I didn't take a photo of the pot luck dinner we shared...just like an old southern church potluck dinner.  There was chicken tetrazinni, chicken echaladas, chicken pot pie, (notice a pattern here?), chicken and dumplings, pasta chicken salad, fried chicken (KFC no less - we have had two to open in the capital this year YUM!), lasagna (sorry it was beef and not chicken), slaw, brocolli casserole, garlic green beans, corn casserole, and biscuits.  Oh yes, then the big temptations - chocolate chip cake, chocolate cake, and another chocolate cake, blueberry cheesecake, peanutbutter/chocolate delight, egg custard pie, apple crumb pie, peach crumb cobbler and ice cream.  Not too shabby...and that is just what I remembered.  I think there were a few other thing there that I forgot to mention.  It was so good!  We baptists sure know how to cook...and the fellowship was great too.  Welcome Kents to your new family.