Merry Christmas

 

May your holidays be filled with the JOY

of knowing the One who was born to die

for all mankind to provide

Salvation full and free

for all who will receive His gift of Love!

 

Merry Christmas!

David and Glynis



Partnership Number 6

When we returned to Guatemala on January 13, 2012,

we had in the planning stages

Partnership #1 - only.

And God...

has done ABUNDATELY more than we could ever ask or think.

 

It is indeed Partnership Number 6!

 

 

This national church, Iglesia Bautísta Belen (Bethlehem Baptist Church)

in Santa Barbara, partnered with

 

this US church, Abilene Baptist Church in Augusta, GA,

 

 

dedicated themselves in a commitment covenant

(Pastor Brad, David, Pastor Benedicto)

 

 

to reach this area, Pochuta, with the Gospel of Christ

 

 

and plant a growing baptist church.

 

The vision team of Joe, Pastor Brad, and Will visited December 3-6

to gain an understanding of the needs for future

mission teams.

 

Pray for the people of Pochuta to hear, understand, and respond

to the message of salvation through Christ alone!

 

 

 

December 2012 Prayer Letter

To view the entire prayer letter on fullscreen: Scroll until you see the Scribd bar below the prayer letter. On the far right is a box with the bottom left corner darkened, place the curser on this symbol and the following will appear "view in full screen" and click. The prayer letter will appear full screen on your computer for easy reading. To exit full screen view: Place the curser on the same box and the "exit fullscreen mode" will appear, click and the screen will display the regular blog view.

PrayerLetter December 2012

F*A*M*I*L*Y...

The twenty-fifth, twenty-sixth, and twenty-seventh we were able to spend some time with Rebecca and David in their little cabin in the woods.  We visited Ryan and Leigh Ann's and delivered some Guatemalan treats, well some Peruvian ones too. 

 

Ben loved his super hero finger puppets and

 

 

his Captian America cape complete with mask.

 

Among Anna Grace's treasures was a necklace with Guatemalan children charms.

 

She liked to pose in traditional Guatemalan dress.

This style hupil, corte, and belt is worn by girls in

Santa Maria de Jesus, a village close to us.

 

Love this f*a*m*i*l*y pose -

Papa D, Ben, Anna Grace and Mama G.

 

There was one of just the girls.

 

 

And one that will melt your heart!

 

The twenty-eighth found us on the road once again to spend a little time with this little lady who loves us...and ice cream too.  What better hertitage than to have a mom who prays for her children and grandchildren everyday, several times throughout the day! 

 



 

Time quickly came to a close as we headed back to Augusta on the twenty-ninth to share time with Deborah and Chris before she took us to Atlanta on the thirtieth. 

 

 

We got a little extra time at the hotel that night and then dashed to the airport on December 1st to fly away, fly away home, filled with many memories that make us smile.

 

We look forward to March when we get to travel back to the states and greet this family.

 

 



 And we look forward to greeting this family in April.

 

 

Well, it was a whirlwind of a month but filled with ministry and memories.

Thanks for being a part of our lives as you hold us before the Father.

May we continue faithful to the task to which He has called.

 

And more F*A*M*I*L*Y time

After David preached at his home church there in Adrian on the eighteenth and after a "DELICIOUS too much food" lunch, we headed to Augusta for more f*a*m*i*l*y time.  We enjoyed a community Thanksgiving worship at our sending church, Abilene Baptist before heading to the lake house.  Barry and Liz have been so kind to offer us the use of their country home to spend f*a*m*i*l*y and each time, we have made such special memories.  So on the ninteeth, twentieth, twenty-first, twenty-second, twenty-third, and twenty-fourth we made memories.

 

And shared two holidays in one...Thanksgiving round the table....

and Christmas gifts.

 

Dad gives the kids special angels each year.

This year Miriam's is mom and baby.

 

Rebecca's is a Noah's ark.

We had already ordered hers when the news was discovered.

 

Stephen's was the patriotic angel.

 

And Deborah's was the woodland angel, complete with bunny.

(She and Chris have a pet bunny.)

 

There was Dad and son time.

 

There was Mom and girls time.

 

 

There was Mom and son time.

 

And Dad and daughter time too.

And it all passed so quickly.

But better a little time than no time at all.

 

We treasure these F*A*M*I*L*Y times!

 

 

It was F*A*M*I*L*Y time

We enjoyed our f*a*m*i*l*y time with Mom and Gayle on the fiftheenth and sixteenth, and headed out for more family fun on the seventeenth to celebrate Loy and Claudette's 50th wedding anniversary!   That's a LONG time!  I think they got married when they were just babies!  We celebrated with a tea in the afternoon.

 

And then it was a great opportunity for the ladies to gather at a local Italian restaurant for dinner and a Miller Baby Shower for Miriam. 

 

 

The tired Momma to Be, Miriam - it's been a long day!

 

And since our family is very crafty, she received many handmade gifts too.

Aunt Claudette made a soft and cozy blue blanket.

 

 

Dianne made a receiving blanket and burb clothes.

 

 

 

Aunt Ruth made a special quilt.

 

 

Debbie wrote a book, The Ketchup Boy, and even autographed it.

All right, it wasn't just for babay Adams, but still how cool is that...

your cousin is a published author and you get her special book?!

 

 

She got other books too - some Golden Book ones and some others even in Spanish!

He will grow up to be the translator for Mom and dad when they come to visit.

 

Aunt Wrena gave him a prayer covering blanket.

 

David D choose this special bib..."My Dad is Cooler than Your Dad."

I guess he plans on Baby Adams wearing it when he is NOT around Baby Durham.

 

 

She received many gifts, perfect for baby and mom too.

But the greatest gift was being able to celebrate with a loving family.

We're kinda partial to this wonderful Miller fam!

 

 

Rebecca, Deborah and Miriam - Deborah is balanced on each side by her pregnant sisters.

She'll wait her turn till sometime in the future.

 



November keeps rolling along...

The sixth of November began the first of many travels that week.  We closed up business in Jocotan and headed back to the capital.  [Since we stay at a hotel about 45 minutes down the mountain from Nearar (the closest to the ministry site) it is not feasible for us to return there for a half day ministry and then drive the four and a half hours back to the city in order to arrive before dark.]  We realize though that our ministry is not only to the people in Nearar, it is also to the owners and workers of the hotel where we stay, the van drivers, the people to whom we come in contact as we travel when we refuel and stop for lunch.  It is wherever and to whomever He places in our path.

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?

 

November Ministry Continues

The fourth and fifth days of November continued active ministry of the Brainerd team. 

 

There was children's ministry,

 

 

sharing the Message of Jesus in every place.

 

 

On front stoops of homes with family members gathered,

 

they shared testimonies, Bible stories, message of Hope and salvation.

 

 

Boys know soccer!  Pastor Carlos uses soccer as opportunites to present Jesus.

 

 

So on the community soccer field, they prepared a smaller field for the children.

Reyes is showing the team how it is done Ch'orti' style...

 

 

using your machete, cut a sapling, sharpen it, and dig a hole for the goalposts.

 

 

Line the field

 

 

and enjoy the view.

 

Not many soccer fields have views like this one.

But remember it is a LONG way down when the ball goes out of bounds.

 

 

The boys were divided into four teams - two younger and two older.

The two younger teams played each other and presented a winning team.

The two older teams played each other and presented a winning team.

 The young men, along with Reyes, formed a team to play the gringos.

[Willie and Antonio (from Canaan) played with the gringos.]

Then the two winning boy teams played each other for the champion.

 

 

While the boys waited to play their games, the team used the opportunity to share Bible stories.

 

As time passed, we realized that we needed to feed the entire crowd - they were not leaving until it was all said and done.  So as they continued to play, David and a couple of the team, walked to a tienda to buy bread to add sandwiches to our 10 lunches, returning with only crackers, drinks, baggies, and straws.  We prepared paper towel plates with half a sandwich, a few chips, some candy and a third of can of drink.  As we ran out of peanut butter sandwiches, we made cracker peanut butter sandwiches.  As chips ran thin, we added a couple more pieces of candy. 

 

While the championship game was played the other children ate their lunch.  Knowing there were only a few cups, the children unselfishly returned their cups for the next group.  Following the winning goal, prizes were awarded and the remaining lunches were eaten.  Cups and drink cans now emptied, baggies were filled with drink and an added straw for the next ones.  When the straws were depleted, we knot tied the baggies and they bit a hole in the corner to drink. The young men and the team ate as well.  We served ALL 61 people gathered.  And they even gathered all the trash in plastic bags while the young men played the gringos once again.

 

As we gathered the trash, tore down the shortened goalposts, and climbed the road back to the cars, we were surrounded with boys and girls and young men in whose lives, once again the seed of the Gospel had been planted, watered, and nurtured.  Some of them are beginning to understand more of the saving faith in Christ alone.  Some of them are growing in that knowledge.  And some of them have received that salvation in Christ alone. 

 

Using every venue, using every opportunity, using every conversation

as a method of tilling the soul soil,

planting the seed of the Word of God,

watering the tender stalks of awareness of truth,

nurturing the baby plants of understanding of the Gospel,

gathering the harvest of faith.

That is what Missions is all about.