Recently in our reading of Radical by David Platt, the following statement really struck home with me: "In our quest for the extraordinary, we often overlook the importance of the ordinary, and I'm proposing that a radical lifestyle actually begins with an extraordinary commitment to ordinary practices that have marked Christians who have affected the world throughout history."
I know that many of you have read the book and have been challenged to "take back your faith from the American Dream" and live radically changed in your Christian walk by committing to those ordinary practices, including radically challenged prayer for the world.
The week of Semana Santa, we will be accompanying a medical mission team from our church to Nearer. Although David accompanyied them previously, this will be my first time to go with them. I am listing some prayer concerns that I am asking you to specifically lift up for the next two weeks. If you will commit to pray for these, please leave a message either here, on facebook, or by email to let us know of your prayer covering.
1. Remaining fruit in those first believers from the trip in January
2. Discipleship of these new believers
3. Fertile ground for others ready to receive Christ as Savior
4. Medical clinic to meet needs of people of Nearer and open new doors of ministry
5. Raising up of a missionary to live near/in Nearer to continue the ministry fulltime
I look forward to sharing with you amazing answers to your prayers. God is at work and we want to be a part of what He is doing and continue the cycle of growth.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Monday, April 4, 2011
On the hill...
Yesterday afternoon was special. Our young friends, Marvin and Britani wanted to take us to Casa Santo Domingo del Cerro.
Casa Santo Domingo was one of the grand old convents of Guatemala. Today it is a very nice hotel we often pass as we enter Antigua from the capital. Rosary prayers and Mass is still held at the Chapel of our Lady of the Rosary every Sunday. The Casa Santo Domino Cultural Center includes a Colonial Museum, Archaeological Museum and displays of Pre-Columbian Art and Modern Glass. The Casa Santo Domingo del Cerro (of the hill) is located on a hill just outside Antigua. Here beautiful gardens are set on the hillside overlooking Antigua. A giant bird aviary houses some local and African birds. Contemporary art is scattered throughout the grounds. We spent time wandering the grounds and salon areas for services, weddings, receptions, etc. We were ending our time at the restaurant for a delightful dinner only to find that it closes on Sunday at 5 pm…we should have gone there first! But we had such a neat time walking the gardens, looking at the views, and just being together.
We couldn't eat on the hill, but we found a neat little restaurant not too far from their apartment where we enjoyed delicious food and sweet fellowship.
Casa Santo Domingo was one of the grand old convents of Guatemala. Today it is a very nice hotel we often pass as we enter Antigua from the capital. Rosary prayers and Mass is still held at the Chapel of our Lady of the Rosary every Sunday. The Casa Santo Domino Cultural Center includes a Colonial Museum, Archaeological Museum and displays of Pre-Columbian Art and Modern Glass. The Casa Santo Domingo del Cerro (of the hill) is located on a hill just outside Antigua. Here beautiful gardens are set on the hillside overlooking Antigua. A giant bird aviary houses some local and African birds. Contemporary art is scattered throughout the grounds. We spent time wandering the grounds and salon areas for services, weddings, receptions, etc. We were ending our time at the restaurant for a delightful dinner only to find that it closes on Sunday at 5 pm…we should have gone there first! But we had such a neat time walking the gardens, looking at the views, and just being together.
At the entrance to the garden was this beautiful carpet made of sawdust and vegetables. Since it the time leading to Semana Santa (holy week), we see these carpets throughout Antigua.
Denise is here to spend time with Marvin and Britani as they await the arrival of Jacob. She's one proud grandma :)
This beautiful waterfall was the setting for several photos.
This wooden carving was quite touching...the foot of Jesus with the nail. He died for me...for you...for each one in Guatemala and around the world.
This is an unusual carving of a quetzal.
Friday, April 1, 2011
And off we went...
Indeed we have traveled, but as we have, God has continually opened our eyes and hearts for the great need within Guatemala. We will travel back to some of these areas with the purpose to plant growing reproducing churches in areas with little or no light of the Gospel of Truth.
Begin praying with us now:
1. For a united strategy of purposefully planting growing reproducing churches throughout Guatemala.
2. For Guatemalan pastors and churches to have a heart to reach their own country with the Gospel of Truth and ultimately the world.
3. For the salvation of people.
4. For the raising up of men to be leaders and pastors in these new works.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
How did I do that?!
Arriving at "el campo" this morning for our church service, I realized that I had left our camera at home. How did I do that? I knew that it would be a special day and I forgot it?! Oh well, words will have to suffice since there are no photos to document the day.
About once a quarter or so, our church has a special day of worship. Last July 4, we went to Escuintla to a water park for worship, baptism, and fellowship. About four months ago, another one was held at the campground a little ways out of Chimaltenango. (We were unable to attend.) We had been anticipating attendance today. Again this service was held at the camp area. We arrived as the service was beginning.
One of the young boys encouraged us to sit in the chairs. Later, Pastor Victoriano was encouraging others to sit in the remaining chairs - those who were pregnant and the elderly. haha. After a time of praise and worship in song, prayer, and reading of the Word, we were divided into groups - married/older men, married/older women, single young adult men, single young adult women, teenagers, children. It was a good study time as the men studied the importance of men before God, with his wife, and in his home; and the women studied the importance of women and dispeling the lies that Satan casts upon women and the freedom found in Christ.
A small cement pool had been half way filled for the baptism of three new believers. The water had been added one bucket at a time from the nearby well and had not been greatly warmed by the sun. But what a sweet joy to watch as two women and a young man displayed their passing from death in sin to life in Christ through salvation. The husband of one of the ladies who does not attend church was present and heard a strong message the difference between "presentation and baptism," the declaration of baptism, and the deliberate life of the disciple. Pray that he too will come to faith in Christ.
Since tomorrow is Pastor Victoriano's 49th birthday, we sang Happy Birthday. I must admit I did not know there were that many different Happy Birthday songs. We must have sung four or five totally different ones. And of course, the songs were accompanied with the traditional firecracker explosions. David was asked to pray for Victoriano and his family. During the repeat of one of the Happy Birthday songs, folks came to him to give hugs and presents.
People scattered around the campground for lunch. Such good tastes were shared with a special treat for everyone...a strawberry ice cream cone. I must admit though I saw several folks (and not just the kids) going back for seconds. Why not? It was so good!
Felt like we had been to an old fashioned campground meeting ---good singing, good preaching, good food, sweet fellowship. Probably a little picture of what it will be in heaven.
About once a quarter or so, our church has a special day of worship. Last July 4, we went to Escuintla to a water park for worship, baptism, and fellowship. About four months ago, another one was held at the campground a little ways out of Chimaltenango. (We were unable to attend.) We had been anticipating attendance today. Again this service was held at the camp area. We arrived as the service was beginning.
One of the young boys encouraged us to sit in the chairs. Later, Pastor Victoriano was encouraging others to sit in the remaining chairs - those who were pregnant and the elderly. haha. After a time of praise and worship in song, prayer, and reading of the Word, we were divided into groups - married/older men, married/older women, single young adult men, single young adult women, teenagers, children. It was a good study time as the men studied the importance of men before God, with his wife, and in his home; and the women studied the importance of women and dispeling the lies that Satan casts upon women and the freedom found in Christ.
A small cement pool had been half way filled for the baptism of three new believers. The water had been added one bucket at a time from the nearby well and had not been greatly warmed by the sun. But what a sweet joy to watch as two women and a young man displayed their passing from death in sin to life in Christ through salvation. The husband of one of the ladies who does not attend church was present and heard a strong message the difference between "presentation and baptism," the declaration of baptism, and the deliberate life of the disciple. Pray that he too will come to faith in Christ.
Since tomorrow is Pastor Victoriano's 49th birthday, we sang Happy Birthday. I must admit I did not know there were that many different Happy Birthday songs. We must have sung four or five totally different ones. And of course, the songs were accompanied with the traditional firecracker explosions. David was asked to pray for Victoriano and his family. During the repeat of one of the Happy Birthday songs, folks came to him to give hugs and presents.
People scattered around the campground for lunch. Such good tastes were shared with a special treat for everyone...a strawberry ice cream cone. I must admit though I saw several folks (and not just the kids) going back for seconds. Why not? It was so good!
Felt like we had been to an old fashioned campground meeting ---good singing, good preaching, good food, sweet fellowship. Probably a little picture of what it will be in heaven.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Submission
Recently, when confronted with two options for us when we return to the field in January 2012, we struggled with the choice to make.
Our hearts were first stirred for Guatemala in the eighties, and we have prayed for, visited, brought others to share the work and vision, have taught/preached missions, and rejoiced as we saw others develop a heart for and ministry in missions around the world.
When the door opened for us to continue our ministry in foreign missions, it was an extra blessing that it was in Guatemala. We delighted in doing the work of researching the indigenous of Guatemala, riding the back roads, the high cliff sides, the dry winding trails, the slippery muddy ruts looking for those areas of lostness with little or no Gospel witness. It seemed only natural that upon completion of that work here in Guatemala that we would move to southern Mexico to continue research.
We were totally unprepared for the entrance of another possibility of ministry. The opportunity to remain in Guatemala and work as Catalytic Connectors, connecting US and Guatemalan churches for the purpose of long term partnerships to plant and develop doctrinally sound reproducing churches was a surprise and a bit of an inconvenience. Now we had to seek God’s direction, not just take the next step.
Our hearts were first stirred for Guatemala in the eighties, and we have prayed for, visited, brought others to share the work and vision, have taught/preached missions, and rejoiced as we saw others develop a heart for and ministry in missions around the world.
“Have not I commanded you? Be strong and be courageous.
Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged for
the Lord your God will be with you, wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9
When the door opened for us to continue our ministry in foreign missions, it was an extra blessing that it was in Guatemala. We delighted in doing the work of researching the indigenous of Guatemala, riding the back roads, the high cliff sides, the dry winding trails, the slippery muddy ruts looking for those areas of lostness with little or no Gospel witness. It seemed only natural that upon completion of that work here in Guatemala that we would move to southern Mexico to continue research.
Lord, send me, O send me forth, I pray;
The need is great, Thy call I will obey;
Thy love compels me I must go
I’m willing, ready, longing to go.
Not what I wish to be, nor where I wish to be,
For who am I that I should choose my way?
The Lord shall choose for me, ‘tis better far I know;
So let Him bid me go, or stay.
This new opportunity would be a step out, a challenge for us. The move to Mexico, though leaving the familiar territory to move to the unfamiliar, the job itself was the same confidently familiar research. With over 140 indigenous groups without reliable research, the need is great! Our neighbor’s question, “Is God finished with you in Guatemala?” caused us to pause and reflect. Who will reach these areas we researched where little or no vibrant Gospel witness grows? With the Baptist mission force redirecting personnel to darker areas of the world with less than 2% evangelical witness, who will partner with Guatemalan believers to continue the task? In many areas, doctrine has become a mixture of everything so that Truth becomes unrecognizable. Guatemalans need to be challenged to be doctrinally sound, to reach their own people, to reproduce strong churches that continue to preach the Gospel of Salvation around the world. The need is great! It involves so much more than we have done before. It is a massive undertaking of researching, training, teaching, developing, praying, growing, going…oh, Lord it is too much!
“But now be strong…declares the Lord.
Be strong…. Be strong…declares the Lord, and work.
For I am with you, declares the Lord Almighty.
This is what I covenanted with you when you came out…
And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.” Haggai 2:4, 5
Many have covered us in prayer, asking God to give neon lights to light the way. God continues to work and bring release and peace. We will return to Guatemala after our stateside assignment to continue the work for which He brought us.
No sweeter joy could my heart know
Than this that He’s called me
To spread abroad His wondrous grace
That makes blind hearts to see.
Songs include: Lord, Send Me by Wilda Savage and Submission by unknown
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Happy Birthday to our first born!
Happy Birthday Miriam!
Where have the days gone when we first held you in our arms and wept in gratitude to the Father for you? We have watched you grow and develop into a precious young woman. Your obvious desire for others to know and serve Jesus continues to bless and encourage our lives. We love you and wish you a very special day of celebration. Happy Bday, sweet lady!
Saturday, March 12, 2011
It's the time of PURPLE
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