Our first partnership team arrived on May 19. The dedication service on Sunday at church knitted the hearts of the team from Brainerd Baptist in Chattanooga and the church in Chimaltenango as we launched out for the first vision/planning trip.
When we returned from the Chorti area, we had a day for a little fun and sightseeing.
We took the boat ride over to Santigo; the guys did a little shopping.
After lunch at El Pescador, we rode the boat back to Panajachel.
And before our ride back home, we stopped at one of David's favorite places.
This is my favorite spot to wait...
the flowers are so pretty,
while we wait for these guys to do their thing...
I think it was Todd and Jonathan's first time to zipline...and what a place to do it!
We did a little traveling after the team returned to their family in the states,
visiting in two different areas of the country and
laying the foundation for two more partnerships.
Then on the 31st, we were thrilled to have Bert and Rod
and their daughter and her husband join us for a few days.
Bert and Rod are "long time friends" from early in our marriage.
We served at their church back in the 70s and 80s.
They had married the week before us and so we both celebrate 35 years of wedded bliss this year.
For their anniversary celebration, they wanted to be involved on a mission trip together.
They joined a team coming from their home area to Guatemala.
It was a success and life impacting trip for them.
On the plane to Guatemala, Bert led a young man to Christ.
Then the team, working with another IMB missionary here,
worked in an area south of us and made eternal investments there as well.
They joined us onTthursday, and we threw in a few special treats as an extra celebration.
A trip to one of the top 10 lakes in the world, Lake Atitlán, was spectacular.
We took the boat ride over to Santiago.
The widow lady has become a precious friend of ours.
We long that she become a sister too.
Our terraza with Volcán Agua, was one of their favorites places.
Then on Saturday, Ed and Adrienne and their granddaughter,
who were also on the same mission trip, joined us.
Ed and Adrienne met with Pastor Apolinario and his wife Maria.
Their church Bull Streeet in Savannah, GA is entering a partnership with
La Iglesia Dios es Amor in San Andres Itzapa
to reach an unreached area with the Gospel of Christ.
Partner certificates were given to each church
as the work began with vision-planning meetings.
Ed, Adrienne, Kalee, Bert and Rod against the backdrop of Volcán Agua.
After we took the nine of them to the airport on the 5th,
we drove over the the national softball fields
where we met more friends who were visiting-working here.
Leigh and Will, friends of ours from Augusta,
are coaches for a girls softball tournament team.
They brought a portion of their team, along with some of the parents,
and two assistants to Guatemala with Athletes in Action.
Their assistants were two young ladies who were youth when we served at their church.
They served the Lord ministering in schools and a children's ministry,
as well as played the National and Junior National Softball teams of Guatemala.
Wished we could have visited more with them during their time here.
We did reminisce a little as we watched the girls play.
Oh the hours we spent at the ball fields when our kids were younger.
I still love the thrill of it.
On the 7th, off we drove again, this time with
Pastor Victoriano and his wife, Cristi, to meet with some pastors.
We are praying that more partnerships develop from these meetings.
And then we have another one tomorrow.
So it has been a busy almost month of visitors and traveling.
But we wouldn't trade this life.
It is exciting to be a member of God's team.
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