Keep them rising to the Throne!

Well, the journey continues.  Paula was able to see several doctors today and then the final visit was to a national hospital.  But when they arrived, the doctors said it was too late in the day for her exams.  So keep those prayers a'rising.  They returned back to Salitron today; David returned to Jocotan.  He will return to the capital with the team tomorrow.  Friday they will come to Antigua for some shopping and sightseeing before returning home on Saturday.  Sunday afternoon, David will return to get Paula and parents and Rolando, return to the capital for her Monday early morning appointment and then return to Salitron.  David will return home either late Monday night or early Tuesday morning.

Raise those prayers to the Throne!  We are so thankful for the grant that Brainerd Baptist Church received for medical work among the Chorti which is financing the appointments and all the physical details to improve Paula's life.  Your prayers will make the spiritual difference in her life, her family's and the entire village.

Keep them rising!

Many miles to go before he sleeps...

 

 

Paula from Salitron

We first met Paula and her parents back in January at a medical clinic in Chaunco' with the first partnership team from FBC, Mt. Pleasant, SC, and Iglesia Bautista Shalom, Zacapa.  They had walked about an hour to the clinic from their home in Salitron.  Her malformed ears are crossed with nasal passages.  At this time, due to severe infection, she was unable to hear or talk.  After being treated by a local doctor her infection cleared and he recommended a ear and eye hospital in the capital that specializes in unique cases. 

 

In March, David and I and the national partnership pastor accompanied she and her parents to the capital for her first appointment.  It was the first time for either of them to travel that far from home, first time to visit the capital...so many firsts for them.  After exams from a couple of doctors and several technical scans, they believe there are things that can be done to help correct Paula's problems and scheduled her next visit...April 24.  Yes, it is right in the middle of the medical clinic in Nearar.  Makes things a bit interesting for sure.

 

So PRAY

 

*PRAY for the medical clinic and open doors in Nearar these next several days

*PRAY for hearts to hear, understand, receive, and desire to grow in Christ

*PRAY for open doors in the Lemus family as physical needs are being met in Paula

*PRAY for their salvation and the salvation of many in Salitron

*PRAY for the doctors to know how best to treat and correct her problems

*PRAY for physical strength for David

 

Tuesday afternoon, he and Pastor Rolando will meet the Lemus family again and travel to the capital,  They will spend the night at the mission house before her appointment early tomorrow...it is the "arrive before 6 am and get in line...first come, first seen" appointment.  After all the exams and appointments, they will return to Salitron Wednesday night and David will continue on to Jocotan where the medical team is staying for their return trip to the capital on Thursday. 

Thus the title...

Many miles to go before he sleeps.

 

PRAYER Covering requested

 

 





How do you go back?

There is no way to go back in time.  Just suffice to say, I haven't been diligent in blogging and I will commit to returning to my return.  Just as a highlight, I will say that the past several months have included some wonderful adventures:
* visits from long time friends
* visiting touristy places in country
* visits from other long time friends
* visiting fellow missionaries throughout the country
* "retreating" with fellow missionaries from throughout the country
* meeting grandson #1 John Mark Adams and spending time storing up snuggles and loving
* being the hands and feet of meeting physical needs in a little girl's life offering financial aid for doctors to care for her
* sharing the Miller Bed and Breakfast with new future longtime friends
* celebrating abundant eternal life through Jesus Christ in the midst of the litany of religion
* saying tearful goodbye to fellow laborers - twice - but celebrating with them the hope of a new dawn
* giving and receiving of unconditional "doggie" lovin'
* receiving and working alongside teams opening new doors in at present un-evangelized areas
* experiencing the joy of seeing new brothers and sisters in Christ receive salvation in Christ alone
* launching out again in ministry sharing the love of Christ in remote areas still living in darkness
* anticipating the arrival of grandson #2...almost any time now

And since, we are in the anticipation of almost soon arrival, I remain at home manning the phones and emails while David and the team from Brainerd Baptist in Chattanooga have returned to Nearar sharing Jesus love and salvation message through medical care.  Today was the first day of the clinic but this time held at Reyes' home.  Remember the tales of the trail to Reyes' house?  Well, all the medicine, medical supplies, food items, and people had to traverse that trail...down and up.  And least you think it is easier going down than it is up...think again, deep crevices on the side of the mountain with sandy pebbles sprinkling the STEEP incline...only about 25 minutes down and then the return trip in the afternoon...up...up...up...breathe...breathe....breathe.  It is HOT there these days.  They were praising God for the "cooler" weather...only 98 instead of the recent 107 degrees.

PRAY for fruitful ministry.  As the doctors and dentists meet physical needs, may the deeper spiritual needs come to light and the hope of Christ be implanted in many hearts and lives.

PRAY for fear to be dispelled through VICTORY in CHRIST.Though many have received Christ in the past, some are falling away from fear and confusion.

PRAY for spiritual growth.  Pray for the ones who have genuinely received Christ to have a desire and longing to know Him and His word.

PRAY for safety, health, and stamina. It is difficult at best.

PRAY for rest for the weary and refreshment to the body.

A God Designed Team

Yes, we trust that they are all God designed but it was so obvious that this team was designed by God.

First Baptist Church, Greenwood, Arkansas, is in a partnership with La Iglesia Betania, San Maurico to reach Conrado de la Cruz.  They planned a Vacation Bible School in both this village and Bolivia for the last few days before school starts the 2013 year.  As planning began back in the summer, they were seeking their team and finally six members were in place.  Knowing that there could be as many as 300 to 400 children attending, they placed their trust, not in people, but, in the Lord. 

In late October, we were contacted by email that a Baptist Association in Alaska was interested in a mission trip to Guatemala.  Since our work is not in facilitating volunteer teams but rather developing a long-term partnership with a national church, we wondered what God had in mind.  In talking with the Director of Missions, several things were discovered. 
1.  Many years in the past, the DOM and his wife had worked in another area of Guatemala with another missionary and national worker. 
2.  Though for the last several years they had been working in another area of the world, the Lord closed the door to return there this year. 
3.  So they had a small team, still planning to go on mission, but just didn't know where they were headed. 
4.  Remembering his great love for Guatemala and her people, he wondered if perhaps, here in Guatemala is where they would be going. 
5.  Hearing the dates for their proposed trip, David shared that the VBS team from FBC, Greenwood, Arkansas was coming during those same dates and their joining with them might be a possibility.
6.  "That's it!"  he said, "just the place God has for us!"

So by email, phone conversations, the teams prepared.  Meeting each other in the Guatemala airport (even God-ordained arrival timing - landing just a few minutes apart), their hearts and vision began to mesh together.  Then later that afternoon, packed into a van and our car, as we took our "three hour tour" down to the hotel where we would be staying, more of that "meshing" took place between the 6 team members from Arkansas and the 4 team members from Alaska and the 3 translators and van driver from Guatemala. 

God was gracious as the two days of VBS in Conrado de la Cruz were great and laid the foundation for the next two days in Bolivia as well.  Teachers were already at the school preparing their rooms, schedules and curriculum for school to begin on Monday.  Several of the team members were/are teachers and often spoke to the principal and teachers of how much they appreciated their profession and the dedication these teachers show to their students.  Most of the teachers live about an hour and a half bus ride from the school, leaving their homes at 5:30 every morning to begin their teaching day at 7:30 before returning in the late afternoon.   With little materials and no frills, they invest in these little ones.  In most classrooms, there is only one textbooks and the teacher writes everything on the white board for the student to copy in their spiral bound notebook, if they have one.  One of the team members is already beginning to plan to return in June for teacher appreciation.  Her team will spend time with each teacher in an exchange of teaching ideas.  I look forward to seeing the plan unfold.  But I degress...VBS...

VBS in Conrado de la Cruz ministered to about 120 children and their moms.  Some of the moms (in their teens) attended and enjoyed the stories, games, crafts, and refreshments as well. This is the area where the local church has told the people that if they attend the evangelical meeting they will not receive the beans and corn from the food distribution.  I noted its impact as a trio of sisters arrived and were quickly summoned by the father to return home.  One the second afternoon, we visited in several homes sharing the message of salvation and ministry.  With one family where the baby had been sick for three days with fevers, vomiting, and diarrea, we were able to take the mom and sick baby to the pharmacy to purchase medicine and pedialyte as well as pedition heaven for healing.  As we left the aldea, the door had been opened wider for the ministry of the local believers.

 

And VBS in Conrado de la Cruz was preparation for VBS in Bolvia for on the first day, they came...and came...and came...all 340 of them!  What an awesome team as they continued to pour out teaching and blessing and ministry as though each one was the only student there!  The lesson for the day was Jesus feeding the 5000 with 2 fish and 5 loaves...what a very appropiate lesson for that day in particular.  Jesus meets ALL our needs! 

 

 

During the picnic lunch for the national team and US team, the national pastors each shared their testimonies.  What a time of heart binding and family unity as together we praised God for His salvation, available at any age, for any who will repent and turn to Christ alone for forgiveness of sins and a sure hope for the future.

 

 

Elder is the pastor of Iglesia Betania, the partner church, reaching these two aldeas for Christ.

 

 

Oscar is the pastor of the mission church in Conrado de la Cruz.

He and his family have been working in this area for 2 years.

 

 

Daniel is the pastor of the mission church in Bolvia.

He and his family have been ministering here for a year.

Both families live in San Maurico and travel to their ministry areas several times each week.

 

 

Walter is the associational promoter (much like a DOM in the the states).

He lives about 3 and a half hours away. 

When he comes to this area, he must take several buses and travel 5-6 hours.

 

That evening, plans for the next day were massaged and reconfigured and they launched outthe next morning, ready to be the hands, feet, and voice of Jesus.  The attendance was back down about 175 due to intense soccer games being held on the field beside the school and some other children's activites held elsewhere in the aldea.  But again the message of Christ went out in strength and power as a real life Zacchaeus climbed the tree on the soccer field of the wall, settled carefully on the limb, and listened intently to the story Jesus calling the biblical Zacchaeus to himself.  May those same words bring young Zacchaeus to the Truth. 

 

 

Dividing into several groups, nationals and internationals invested in several families as we visited and shared the love of Christ.  It was so good to see God bind His family together and share in ministry.  Guess it is only a foretaste of the family gathered together in heaven for eternity.

 

 

Thanks Jacque for your planning, facilitating, and reflecting Christ

in your ministry and your sweet smile.

Looking forward to the next time!

 

A Glimpse back at December

We met these friends at the Atlanta airport and flew back to Guatemala on the same flight.

This group from Central Baptist, Phenix City, AL, arrived to work

with a fellow missionary in the capital.

It was while serving at this church in the early eighties

that God first opened our eyes to the people of Guatemala.

 

 

We met the vision team from Abilene Baptist, Augusta, GA, and watched

as God opened their partnership with Iglesia Bautista Belen, Santa Barbara, Guatemala,

to reach an unreached area in Pochuta.

 

 

 

It was back to Mazatenango to meet Pastor Walter and his wife

to "ride the roads" viewing possible future partnership sites....

 

and home in time to hear

to join Grandson Adams.


We spent a little time with one of the heros of the faiths,



shared a ladies lunch celebrating this dear one's birthday
(another hero of the faith)
 

 

and Christmas cheer with the entire Guatemala mission family.



We sent these two back to the states to collect some GRANDloving

from their seven delights and their moms and dads too,

and brought this little cutie home with us
who gave us lots of loving too.

We celebrated Christmas lunch at one of our favorites places 

 

 

and then welcomed this team

 

 

 

and assisted as they worked alongside the pastor and his entire family

 

 

sharing the love of Jesus with boys and girls in

 

Vacation Bible School in El Porvenir II.

 

 

We enjoyed a visit with long time special friends

 

 

and their children 

 

 

 before welcoming in 2013 back in the capital greeting friends

home  from their Christmas loving and

returning sweet "Mitzi Lou" to her foster family #1.

 

 

Knowing God has prepared the way,

we are now refreshed and ready to launch out into 2013

Keep following our journey as we walk where He directs.

 

 

 

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!

 

 

 

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.