With our partnerships, we allow a day for shopping and visiting in Antigua. So the seventh found us in Antigua. As we were walking along the street, headed to the artesian market, several noticed some cars that looked as though kids inside were rocking them. Others mentioned that they felt a little dizzy. When we entered the market and saw the buzz and heard the comments, "Did you feel that?" and "Wow, that lasted a long time!" it took a few moments to realize that yes, indeed that was an earthquake and a big one at that. We were glad that we came to our house after shopping and could answer many calls that came regarding our safety and that of the team's. All in God's timing.
The team departed on the eighth, so after getting them safely settled at the airport, we traversed the road back to Antigua to wash a week's worth of clothes and get things packed for us to head to the states on the ninth. Deborah and her MIL met us at the Atlanta airport with the inlaw's car for our use while in the states. (Isn't that a special ministry? Yes, indeed it was!) And off to Chattanooga we headed to finish the night of the ninth and the tenth, we special long time friends Bill and Vicki.
By now the cold/flu bug which had begun earlier in the week was in FULL bloom, but we prevailed. The eleventh we headed to share ministry at Brainerd Baptist Church for their Missions Forum. God proved a welcome refuge for us in the home of Bob and Marsha in their downstairs missionary apartment. We could visit with them and then slip downstairs to load up on medicine and rest before heading out again. (Thanks so much for ministering to us in special a needed manner! Rest, rest, rest in a quite place - just what we needed.) We invested in the lives of children on Sunday night at their missions dinner (while the adults enjoyed their own missions dinner in the BX). We look forward to gathering around the throne one day and seeing the fulfillment of the seed we planted of world missions.
The twelveth was the opportunity to refresh long time frienships too. Glynis was able to have an early breakfast, brunch, and almost lunch (thanks Cracker Barrel) with long time friend Jeanne. (From BMA camp days many just a few years ago - haha) Then that evening we reconnected with several from past mission teams at the home of Dr. and Mrs. Clay. We are anticipating how God will continue to use mission teams from Brainerd in their partnership with La Iglesia Canaan to reap the harvest in La Cumbre de Nearar.
At the missions lunch on the thirteenth, we were challenged with a vision for Kenya, followed by fellowship with our long time friends, Barry and Scarlett Wilks, now missions pastor at Brainerd. He took us to the Christian book store with instructions that we were to spend $250, no questions asked, as directed by an unnamed donor - what a treasure! what a gift! what an opportunity to gather materials in Spanish to share with dear pastors here in Guatemala and also to refresh our own spiritual lives! Thank you! We capped the evening with dinner with a long time hero of the faith, Bill Stafford, one of his sons, a granddaugther and her husband, members of previous Brainerd teams here in Guatemala.
Chapel at the Christian School on the fourteenth began our day. What a gift to be able to share with 1-5 graders of the adventure of following God's call wherever He leads! And then we received a treat with lunch with Pastor Carlos at a favorite Mexican restaurant. The evening closed with dinner and two sessions of training about ministry in Guatemala.
On the fifteenth, followed breakfast with strategic future team planning and sweet fellowship with Randy and Nancy, we took another road trip down the highway to Macon to spend a couple of days (the fifteenth and sixteenth) with these very special ladies, my mom and sister.
And the month is only half way through! Are you tired yet?
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