God leads where no man can plan...story in video

God leads where no man can plan

The timing was not our choosing – late night arrival from ten days in the states one day to early morning departure the next day.  His strength is made perfect in our weakness.

The vehicle situation was challenging. After the cancelation of a couple of other vehicles at the last moment another truck was secured. God even uses "things" to perfect His plan.


The original plan was to make a couple of stops along the way, but reach El Limón Wednesday afternoon, begin some ministry there, spend the night, and do more ministry on Friday before launching out into nearby areas. Yet, even the stops were God timed.


Stop #1 – Guatemala City – tire repair on “the truck” – about an hour into the trip


Stop #2 – El Rodeo – rest break – about 3 more hours later


Stop #3 – Chiquimula – visit the pastor at the Baptist church – about 2 more hours later


Stop #4 – San Juan Ermita – visit the mayor’s office for approval of the trip; purchase of tortillas and use of their fire to heat water for ramen noodles and coffee for lunch – about 1 hour later


Stop #4 – Nearar – “the truck” brakes stopped working – about 1 hour later


God’s Plan: Car trouble and Ministry in Nearar


Included in the group of 15 were two seminary students, one of whom was a mechanic. As he worked on the truck and the evening began to darken, it was obvious here was where they would pass the night. Victoriano received permission to use the schoolhouse to house some of the team and part would pass the night in the man’s home across the road. Kristina, Victoriano’s wife, and the other woman on the team quickly set up their campfire with the use of a couple of cement blocks close by (and right before the man’s house entrance!) and prepared the dinner of handmade tortillas, black beans, and scrambled eggs and coffee. Friendships were begun with the surrounding children but it was too late to do anything but go to bed…on the concrete slab. Victoriano had neglected to share this tidbit of information with David but God had placed a rug in the back of Clyde “for such a time as this.” The usually warm Nearar was now cool…cooler…cold but with his jacket over his long sleeved shirt, blue jeans, socks and boots, and a cap, plus a towel for cover, laying on the rug using his small duffle as his pillow, he passed the night.


After a chilly night and a breakfast of black beans and tortillas and eggs, David and the guys working on the truck went to get supplies while the others began the outreach. Games, clowns, and clothing give-a-ways were inroads to the real reason for coming – the presentation of the Gospel. When David returned, Pastor Victoriano came and told him to come to the front of the group with him. While he was away, a man with a machete came from the community saying that the gringo was there to steal their children. Pastor V introduced David to the group saying that David was a member of his church, had come with the group to help, is a missionary, and that indeed “he did not come to steal children.” Wow! We had heard of this happening in other places but never where we actually were. But from then on, wherever David passed through Nearar, the children called “David, David!” We have passed through Nearar many times in the past but now he is known.


Securing a chicken in the neighborhood and preparing it (yes, that included the beheading, the plucking, all that “stuff,” as well as the cooking), the ladies added the meaty broth to their lunch of ramen noodles. Now with the truck repaired, it was on to El Limón! David needed his navigator, but alas she was at home, so instead he was taking the long way around to El Limón when he noticed there were no followers. Not a good sign. Going back, he discovered "the truck" was stopped – dead stopped. Needing to continue on the way before night fell, David and Victoriano put as much and as many as they could in their vehicles and headed on the journey with David to return to help. Continuing the long journey around to El Limón, David inquired along the way – everyplace was El Limón! They stopped at a school to stay for the night as David journeyed back to assist the other truck and found no vehicle! Definitely not a good sign! But he found the guys had pushed/sputtered their way back to the previous night’s schoolhouse lodging and parked it for continued repair in the morning. Now when they arrived back at this night’s lodging it was dark but the meal of black beans, tortillas boiled eggs, and warm coffee was delicious.


God’s Plan: Car trouble and Ministry in El Limón

To say this area was backward might be an understatement. Maybe it was the heavy amount of rainfall they have had, maybe it was the continuous drizzle, maybe it was the cold chill in the air, maybe it was the lack of bright lights, maybe it was the red muddy hill climb to the outhouse…whatever it felt really “third-worldly” that night. After some ministry time with the children and distribution of clothes, they all slept in one room. (This night was a warmer as one of the guys shared his blanket with David, however, it didn’t stop the breeze flowing from the window.) The next morning started with a quick breakfast of ramen noodles. They discovered that instead of being in El Limón, they were actually in Limoncita, a small village of El Limón. Here, as in Nearar, they were well received and open doors presented themselves.


On to El Limón they went which they discovered is actually Timoteo. The whole area is El Limón with many caserios (small grouping, kind of like a farm community). Though the people were friendly and some outreach was held, there was not the warm reception they had received before – probably not the place to begin to plant a ministry.


Next day, they returned to the broken truck and sputtered it back to the nearest town and to discover it was lunch time and the mechanic was closed. Knowing they all needed some nourishment, David took them to lunch at a place we have frequented several times. The mechanic diagnosed the problem as being the fuel pump. And after a couple of hours of trying to find one nearby and some other confusion, the driver decided that they could make it back to Chimaltenango. "It was probably just some bad gas that needed to spray out." So leaving about 4:00 in the afternoon, on to Chimaltenango they headed. With rain, lots of traffic, road block in the capital from a truck driver demonstration, the ride was interesting to say the least. But they arrived home about 10 pm – road-weary, tired, and rejoicing in the foundation that had been laid for future ministry among the Ch’orti’.


So what do you need to have a successful mission trip?


Well, at least for this one – 3 cases of ramen noodles, a case of #10 cans of black beans, a bag of maza, 5 flats of eggs, a bag of coffee, a bag of sugar, several large jugs of pure water, and 17 people anxious to be about God’s business.

The foundation has been laid.  Continue to pray for fruit to blossom...Nearar, Limoncita, El Limón...and to the ends of the earth!

Three Weeks at a Glance

Just reading our daugther's log and I find that it has been indeed three weeks since we lasted updated the blog and what a three weeks it has been!

First of course, was the training meetings in Lima.  I'll finish off the pictures with some special time with some friends and flowers.

We were home for a few days catching up on some work, taking a couple of short trips, and getting ready for a short vacation to the states. Before we left, our pastor's daugther celebrated her 25th birthday and we joined several families for the celebration and delicious homemade tamales.  Included are some pictures of some of the children at the party...don't you just love the little girl in her traditional clothing? 

While we were in the states, we shared several times about our ministry. I was glad that Kristy, our pastor's wife, had given me pointers on dressing in traditional attire.

We enjoyed our time with new friends, long time friends, and family. And evidently we enjoyed our time so much we forgot to take many pictures. But here are a few that bring some smiles as we recall these sweet memories.

And the fun continues...

Henry is REALLY enjoying all things American!!

He hasn't seen these goodies in three years!

Tina and I made sure we got our pic today.

We enjoyed lunch together again today;

this time at a Peruvian sandwich shop.

Tina says, "It is the little things that count...

especially when you're sitting in meetings all day!"

Old Friends...

Having a good time reconnecting with some old friends.  From the photos you'll realize that they are really "long time" friends...and we're the old friends.  haha

Henry was our Big Brother when we arrived for language school. 

He and Tasha were a wealth of information and encouragement,

as well as neat friends. 

He was definitely enjoying...

We missed you Tasha. 

Enjoy your FILL of everything American in CR in December!

Tina ate lunch with us too.

I forgot to get a pic of us...silly me...tomorrow.

Tonight we enjoyed dinner with good friends,

Jeff and Liesa, Hayley and Jackson,

good Old Miss folks

What a view of the Pacific!

It was beautiful in both directions.

Then the nightly view with the Cross shining in the distance.

Enjoying our time!

Springs of Water

Recently as we returned home, we took a side journey in Aguacatán to the Fuente San José, the wellspring of the River San José.  It was amazing to see the bubbling up from deep inside the earth the beginning of the great and mighty river.

Isaiah 12:3

"Therefore you will joyously draw water

from the springs of salvation."

Revelation 21:6

"Then He said to me, 'It is done.

I am the Alpha and the Omega,

the beginning and the end.

I will give to the one who thirsts

from the spring of water of life

without cost.'"

John 4:14

"...but whoever drinks of the water

that I will give him shall never thirst;

but the water that I will give him

will become in him a well of water

springing up to eternal life."

I am reminded of the old Gospel song,

Springs of Living Water,

by John W. Peterson.

I thirsted in the barren land of sin and shame,

And nothing satisfying there I found;

But to the blessed cross of Christ one day I came,

Where springs of living water did abound.

Drinking at the springs of living water,

Happy now am I, my soul they satisfy;

Drinking at the springs of living water,

O wonderful and bountiful supply.

How sweet the living water from the hills of God,

It makes me glad and happy all the way

Now glory, grace and blessing mark the path I've trod,

I'm shouting Hallelujah every day.

Drinking at the springs of living water,

Happy now am I, my soul they satisfy;

Drinking at the springs of living water,

O wonderful and bountiful supply.

O sinner, won't you come today to Calvary?

A fountain there is flowing deep and wide;

The Savior now invites you to the water free,

Where thisting spirits can be satisfied.

Drinking at the springs of living water,

Happy now am I, my soul they satisfy;

Drinking at the springs of living water,

O wonderful and bountiful supply.

Seek the Lord while He may be found;

Call upon Him while He is near.

Let the wicked forsake his way

And the unrighteous man his thoughts;

And let him return to the Lord,

And He will have compassion on him,

And to our God,

For He will abundantly pardon.

Isaiah 55:6,7

The Journey Back to Huehuetenango

There were some interesting shots on the journey back to Huehuetenango that afternoon. 

• Wood is so important in Guatemalan culture.  It provides heat and fire for cooking.  All along the roadside, we see people with loads of wood of their backs or heads.  It is a constant daily chore.  This particular tree had been "trimmed" and the wood stacked to be carried home another day.
• We passed several houses and tiendas with some beautiful doors and windows.
• The "hill" is actually made of garbage...tons and tons of garbage stacked high. 
• The fog continued falling and lifting off and on the journey.
• Again we passed through the high altitude.
• I love the shot of shepherds and sheep. 
• Then the afternoon sky gave another brillant display.