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?

 

Update on Reyes...God is at work!

For an update on what is happening in Nearar please click the LINK to David and Regina's blog and REJOICE with us.  As I read it I had tears in my eyes.  I remember well, those first days as we bumped along on these roads  just finding our way on the unmapped roads.  I remember well, the first time we saw how the roads fit together.  I recall the first visit David and a group from the church in Chimaltenango had to Nearar.  And then there were more visits and more visits in the area, more investments made.  I remember the sudden shock as it seemed the work might stop but God had greater plans.  For out of persecution comes growth, maturity, and fruit.  Contnue to surround these believers with the prayer.  Hallelujah!  God is at work! 

Second Partnership is well underway!

The second partnership between Iglesia Bautista Dios es Amor, San Andres Itzapa, and Bull Street Baptist, Savannah, Georgia, has officially begun with the first team's evanglistic ministry.

 

 

Iglesia Bautista Dioes es Amor has begun a work in El Porvenir II, Cantón, San Lorenzo.

Pastor Apolinario comes every Sunday morning to meet with the attendees -

a group of eager to learn children.

No adults attend at this time but weekly he works diligently with these children,

 teaching them songs and Bible stories with eternal truths.

 

 

The enthusiastic group arrived ready to be the "ayudante" to the church and the pastor.

Each day they visited homes in the colonia,

often accompanied by some of these young smiling faces,

and shared the love of Jesus, leaving behind a gift of the Gospel of John.

 

 

And on Wednesday afternoon this group of children grew

 

 

and included parents and grandparents

for an afternoon Bible story and activity.

 

Attentively they listened.

Even some parents helped prepare the needed supplies.

 

Little eyes were amazed at "it" all began to come together.

 

Everyone was involved in the activity...note Pastor Apolinario right in the middle.

 

 

And the finished product...a sock puppet.

Yes, Pastor Apolinario will use these in his Sunday morning teaching lessons with the children.

Another method to share the Gospel of Jesus with little ones like these.

 

Reminds me of the chorus we used to sing when I was a little one too:

 

Jesus loves the little ones like me, me, me.
Jesus loves the little ones like me, me, me.
Little ones like me,
Sat upon His knee,
Jesus loves the little ones like me, me, me.

 

Jesus loves the little ones

so much He died for them too.

Anyone, any age, of any nation

can receive Christ as Savior and become His eternal child.

 

Prayer Covering Needed

We ask for your prayer covering this week.

Bull Street Baptist from Savannah, GA arrives tomorrow to begin their first ministry team in El Porvenir II in Cantón San Lorenzo, San Andres Itzapa. 

There will be house to house visitation and family activities. 

The team is excited. 

They are ready to minister. 

YOU can be a major part of their ministry this week by your PRAYER COVERING. 

Will YOU become a member of this team

as they launch out into an unreached area

with the freeing GOSPEL of Christ?

 

We'll be counting on YOU!

 

La Iglesia Dios es Amor, San Andrez Itzapa, Chimaltenango, Guatemala

Bull Street Baptist, Savannah, GA

Partners to reach El Porvenir

 

Won't it be exciting when you enter heaven and see those for whom you prayed?

Will you meet me in heaven?

The door has been opened

as Jesus has been shared -

Pray for my salvation

and look for these eyes

 

For this reason, since the day we heard about you,

we have not stopped praying for you

 and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will

 through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 

And we pray this in order that you may live a life

worthy of the Lord

 and may please Him in every way:

bearing fruit in every good work,

growing in the knowledge of God,

being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might

 so that you may have great endurance and patience,

and joyfully giving thanks to the Father,

who has qualitfied you to share in the inheritance of the saints

in the kingdom of light. 

 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness

 and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves,

in whom we have redemption,

the forgivenss of sins.

Colossians 1:9-14

She'll be there.

Will you recognize her?



Another adventure...

 

It was another adventure with another group.

Reyes, Pastor Nahum and son Daniel were in the lead,

 

sharing Jesus along the way, even in the middle of the road.

Then off the road, down the trail,

 



 

they go,

 

down and around,

 

past a new outhouse, sitting in the middle of "nowhere?"

Following the trail, wherever it goes,

 



 

 over and under and through,

 

to a simple home

 

where needs abound...physical and spiritual...

 

seeing others along the way,

 

passing giant "homes" of termites, no less,

 

continuing the trail,

 

seeing different styles of home,

far removed from the road,

only accessible "down the trail."

Then again to return later that afternoon

to bring medicine to a sick lady,

opening the door to come again

and share the love of Jesus

and the message of Jesus

once again.

 

As Pastor Victoriano shared his final message of thanksgiving to the team,

 

friendships had been forged,

lives had been changed for eternity,

never to be the same...

 

 

Thanks to the investment of these who came to live out the love of Jesus

and share the message of salvation in Christ alone.

Keep praying until the next time!

Another view of the medical team

One of the most difficult things for a mission team to do is to best tell the story of the week.  I mean, there are hundreds of pictures that for the members of the team are memories but to anyone else are just pictures.  I find this challenge with every blog I write, with every presentation we do while visiting churches in the states - how do we tell the story, how do we challenge the people to future work; how do we present the need for prayer - and it be fresh and stimulating at the same time?  Well, once again I will try to put into words and pictures the memory, the challenge, the call to prayer, the burning need.  I trust you catch it.

One portion of this August partnership team was the actual medical clinic held everyday on the front porch of the accommodating house.  A HUGE portion of the week was the clinic as hundreds of people were seen by the doctor and the dentist, received medicine, heard the presentation of the Gospel and were ministered to in the name of Jesus.

 

Even a cup of cool water given in the name of Jesus

has refreshing ministry.

 

And without speaking the language, the love of Jesus flows out.

 

Not content to wait for people to come, Pastor Victoriano, Pastor Nahum, and Reyes were ready to launch out into the community areas, visiting homes, meeting needs, sharing Jesus.  While the clinic was meeting physical needs, other groups went out into the "highways and byways." 

 

 Off on adventure...

 

 

It began just walking down the road and then...

 

it was up the mountain...

 

following the leaders.

 

 

It went through the corn fields...

 

beside the cornfields...

 

 

 

through the cornfields again...

 

beside the baby coffee beans...

 

over the mountain, looking out over Nearar

and over to the other side.

 

It was blazing hot

 

to be served boiling hot altol upon arrival

 

followed by boiling caldo de gallina.

Thankful that is was boiling meaning that the water was purified,

but when they are "dripping" even from their ears...!

 

Continuing on to visit more...

 

down narrow trails on the way back...

 

looking over the valley,

praying for the many lost,

claiming Christ's victory over sin-held people...

Freedom found only in the forgiveness

of God through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus

for ALL who repent and receive

Christ as the ONLY way to God.

 

 

There are the roads, but look at the houses scattered across the mountain,

only reachable by walking the trails,

like this 1.5 hour hike one way,

 to share the love of Jesus to those who do not know.

It was indeed a "three hour tour,"

but OH so worth it, as one man entered the family of God,

and still remains faithful, in the midst of strong family persecution!

Hallelujah!

 



Pastor Victoriano and Reyes against the background of Nearar..

so many still to hear...

Are you praying?