Visitantes! We love visitantes!

We love friends who come and visit...yes, we do!

 

We recently had some long time friends come to visit.  Many years ago, we lived in Huntsville, Alabama, where David was Minister of Education at Southside Baptist Church.  We met Steve and Lisa and a couple of months later their baby girl, Hollan was born.  Hollan and our daughter Deborah were friends together in the nursery.  Steve first fell in love with Guatemala on his mission trips with David back in the 80s.  But alas, times changed, jobs moved us, and we said good bye.  But both Steve and Lisa accompanied David on mission trips to Guatemala in the 90s even though we were then serving in another church.  Their love for Guatemala and her people grew as their family grew and moved away for career changes as well. 

Several years ago, they located a prayer card of ours and contact was established again.  (Isn't neat how friends can just pick up where they left off many years in the past and friendships continue to grow?)  A couple of years ago, they began to sponsor a Compassion child, Angel, from Guatemala.  Love continues to grow :)  Then in July 2010, their daughter spent two months working at the orphanage Casa Bernabe in Guatemala City.  We weren't able to connect with her because we were in the states during that time.  She had a wonderful experience.  Love for Guatemala continued to grow.

Back in June, they contacted us with information that this time Hollan was returning for six months to continue working at the orphanage and that they were planning to accompany her to Guatemala.  We were so blessed that they were able to visit with us for about 5 days, visit Angel and his family (their Compassion child), do a little sightseeing as we returned to Lake Atitlan (sure looks a LOT different from 25 year ago!), spend a little $ for special gifts and rememberences, worship with us at Iglesia Canaan, share a few stories of life, catch up to date with family and friends from the long ago past, sit around the table and partake of some meals and even a game of dominoes along the way.  Then Monday, came so quickly, and we gathered their things and headed to Casa Bernabe.  What a wonderful time they will have as they share in ministry with Hollan for a few days before Steve and Lisa head back to the states and Hollan continues her ministry for several more months!  Sharing in ministry, keeping an eternal view in focus, draws the family even closer!

Love for Guatemala continues to grow!

 

Steve, Lisa, and Hollan - so glad you came.

You refreshed our spirits and ministered to our lives.

Love you!

 

Now who's next?

A Month Filled with Guests

We have had a fun time this past month with friends visiting.

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.



Bye...Thanks...I Love You!

Last weekend, we were blessed to have some of our special friends come visit.  We become good friends as we sat in class at ILE studying spanish together. They left school a little before us as they returned to the states to birth their fourth child before they headed to Belize as missionaries with Global Outreach International.

Cohen and Amie Ezelle with Samuel, Iva and Levi

We have been blessed to visit them twice since we have been in Guatemala.  On our first visit in October 2009, we met Nathaniel for the first time...you might remember the fun video with David and Nathaniel.  Then we enjoyed another visit over New Year's in December/January 2001 as we returned home we were reminded of God's peace at all times. 

But this time they were able to come to see us.  They took the water ferry to Guatemala and then enjoyed the bus ride to Guatemala City where we met them.  It was an ALL day trip for them...what troopers!  What joy and excitement they brought - it has been a LONG time since we have had four little ones at home!  Some of my special memories of the weekend:

1.  croquet children style - that means however they want, not by the official rules

2.  shopping with four children - interesting, oh, I remember the days :) They each were able to choose their favorite thing to purchase for a keepsake.

3.  sightseeing in Antigua and having a group of high school girls on their field trip stop to have their picture taken with Nathaniel - his kissing one of them and her commenting "I"m so excited, I'm going to die"

4.  visiting Antigua's beautiful McDonald's - with a cloudy Agua in the background

5.  boat ride to Santiago

Amie and Iva

Cohen and Nathaniel

Samuel sitting by himself and enjoying the view

Levi, my seat partner

David and Samuel enjoying the frontal view











6.  sightseeing and shopping in Santiago

beautiful young girl selling items in her shop

"Please buy from me!"

Oh yes, it was definitely market day in Santiago.

Don't you love the colorful men's attire?

7.   Nathaniel playing with a little baby sitting beside us as we ate our picnic lunch

One of my favorite shots

8.  good friends sharing time together

David and Cohen

Regretfully, too early Sunday morning, we had to take them back to the bus station to send them on their way home.  But what sweet words we heard..."Bye...Thanks...I Love You!"

I can hardly wait until they get to come again!  The house is way too quiet.  Sure do miss those sweet little hugs!  Hurry back!

Special friends celebrate birthdays too...

God has placed special people in our lives that have been life impacters. 

 Preacher Leon and Ms. Peggy invested in our lives

by living out Jesus in our midst,

by being friends that touch the deepest parts of the heart,

by loving us unconditonally,

by feeding us physically and spiritually,

by praying for us and holding us up to the Father on a daily basis.

Bro. Leon preceded the journey to glory several years ago

but Ms. Peggy with her quiet and calm spirit continues to invest in lives

speaking godly counsel,

living holiness,

deeply loving family,

sharing friendships,

covering lives with impacting prayers.

Thank you dear friend for loving us.

Thank you dear friend for living victoriously in Christ.

Thank you dear friend for your investment.

It's a little early but celebrate BIG on your special day...

March 16.

We love you!

Time is passing...

and we have already had to two trips to the Chorti area in the east.  We have a medical team arriving February 11 to work with our church in Chimaltenango in some new Chorti areas.  Since we needed to make hotel and restaurant reservations for the large group (there will be 27 for the team, translators and drivers) we took a little trip to settle those plans.  While there we were able to visit with David and Regina White and little Cruz.  They have recently moved to Camotan to begin working among the Chorti. We were so excited to spend some time with them and get a little lovin'

Check out their blog and pray for them as they begin the task among the Chorti.

Then Thursday, long time friends Jim and Patsy Brannock, arrived for a visit.  They are dear friends who first came to Guatemala with David in 1991 and have continued coming at least once a year ever since working throughout the country.  But they had never visited or ministered in the Chorti area, so off we went to catch the vision to share with their home church as they pray about becoming partners. 

The whole earth is filled with His glory! 

When we travel in this area, we are amazed at its beauty. 

It is so different from the lush green of our area

but still is such a gorgeous place, resplendant with His majesty.

Patsy said that she had prayed that God would give them an adventure this time,

something they had not experienced in the past.  

As we road these roads, she knew that God had answered her prayers.

 

We were reminded that even the rocks will cry out that He alone is God!

Continue to pray with us for Guatemalan churches who will accept the call to reach the Chorti for Christ. 

We have many US churches ready to partner but we need the Guatemalan ones who will lead the way.

Pray with us that God would lead us to the right ones ready to lauch out into the deep.

More Memory Making Times

Recently we spend some memory making time at Whitestone Inn

with special friends, Ron and Margie and Wendell and Jane.

Both of these couples invested in our lives as we traveled to Guatemala as volunteers. 

Now we are priviledged to serve alongside them. 

Ron and Margie are completing their stateside time before returning home. 

Wendell and Jane, retired from full time missionary service, 

have recently returned to Georgia after spending several months in Guatemala as volunteers. 

The beauty of creation was overwhelming. 

We visited the Scottish Highland cattle at the barn.

Ms "Curly Horns" stopped and posed for the camera.

We were able to feed them, even by hand.

Can't you tell that Margie really liked feeding her?

David chose a less slurpy manner.

He posed so gallantly as well.

Friends making memories.