Iglesia Bautista Canaan - 59th Anniversary

Recently our church celebrated it's 59th Anniversary. It was quite a celebration.

The music team led in praise worship.


The Word was shared of the faithfulness of God and His challenge to the people.


Even the Sunday school children sang.




Gifts were given to Pastor Victoriano and Cristina.


But what Guatemalan celebration would be complete without...FIREWORKS!!


Though I don't know who had the most fun...the children or the guys who lit the fireworks!


Faithfulness to the Word and in sharing the light of the Gospel...Iglesia Bautista Canaan. Pray that more and more people will be reached through the ministry of the members...Shining the light of the Gospel.

Goodbyes Again...

David, Glynis, Regina, Jane, Carol, David, Wendall, Ann and Jim

We all enjoyed lunch at Applebee's as we gathered together one more time, although it was the first time we had met the Weedman's.

Wendall and Jane Parker - Wendall and Jane Parker invested almost 40 years as missionaries (30+ years in Guatemala) and now though retired, return yearly for continued kingdom work. This year they arrived May 14th and returned to Georgia October 23. What wisdom it was that Gary Stone, our supervisor, designed part of our orientation to include time with the Parkers! We were blessed to spend quality time traveling throughout the country and gleaning wisdom and insight from them. And our trips always included the question, "Did you bring the dominos?" We are so thankful for their investment in our lives and in our ministry and so look forward to their return next year.


David and Regina White - David and Regina White have invested about 3 years as short term missionaries in Coban, Guatemala among the K'ekchi. Their term is completed, and they are in the process of "turning around" and returning as career missionaries. We have spent wonderful times together at the Arkansas House and in their apartment in Coban. Precious folks and dear friends, we look forward to their return in the spring. We're going to miss you so much. Enjoy your time with family and friends!

Hello/Goodbye

Hellos and goodbyes are probably two of the most common things in the life of a missionary. Recently our Guatemalan missionary family celebrated another such time.
"Bienvenida" to Carol, who arrived in August to work with unjiveristy students in Guatemala City.
"Despedida" to Keith and Glenna who, after a 6 month stateside assignment, are headed to Panama to work with volunteer teams.


Keith and Glenna are on the left and Carol is on the right.

I am so glad that in eternity, the brothers and sisters in Christ will never have to say goodbye...we will all meet at the throne and praise the Savior together, never again to say goodbye.

Road Trip to Belice

Last Sunday, we met missionaries Jane and Wendall Parker and Fran Eachus at Hotel El Atlantico at Santa Cruz, Zacapa for what will be our last road trip with Jane and Wendall this year...a trip to Belice. El Atlantico is where friends of ours stayed last month...but thankfully we didn't see any of their friends - they found a big scorpion in their room :)

These trees grow abundantly in this part of the country and produce a gourd type fruit which grow right out of the trunk of the tree. When dried they are often cut in half, painted and used as cups or bowls.




Monday, we drove to the coastal city of Puerto Barrios, Guatemala and took a water taxi (passenger boat) across the Gulf of Honduras for about 1 and 1/2 hours to Punta Gorda, Belice. At Guatemala immigration, we disovered a small snagfu...we were illegal...our visas had expired on September 22nd. WOW! What do you do? Pay a fine of course - Q10 for each day past the 22nd, leave the country for 72 hours (which our visit was to be), re-enter the country and have the passport restamped for 90 more days during which time our two-year visa should be processed by the mission attorney.




I think this picture of Miss Fran is one of my favorites.



In Punta Gorda, we stayed at The Sea Front Inn. We visited with special friends from language school, Cohen and Amie Ezelle and their family - Samuel, Iva, Levi, and Nathaniel whom we had not seen before.


We had lots of good hugs and special time together. Cohen and Amie are missionaries with Global Outreach. Cohen is developing an English-speaking Bible Institute in Punta Gorda. The official language in Belize is English, but Creole, Spanish and K'ekchi are also spoken. They were honored to meet Miss Fran who with her Wycliffe partner, Ruth Carlson, translated the entire Bible, a major concordance, and other books into the K'ekchi language. In addition we spent time with their ministry partners, the Farleys and learned much about the indigenous population of Belice.

We arrived home Wednesday night about 9:00 very tired but refreshed in spirit. It is always a blessing to travel and fellowship with God's annointed - veterans and future veterans of His work.

Birthday Party and City Tour

Sunday evening we headed to the capital for Missionary Fellowship to celebrate Jerry's birthday. Good times around the table of delicious lasagna and carrot birthday cake.


His actual birthday is today...Happy Birthday Jerry!

Then Monday we were "tourists" as we joined Carol, a fellow missionary, and Esther, a friend of Carol's, for a city tour.


Among some of the things we visited were several outstanding architectural and old churches, exclusive residential colonias and contrasted poor colonias, and the presidential palace.




At the presidential palace, we found 0 km - for from here all roads commence.




It was sad as again we realize that many know of Jesus, but still see him as the dead Christ, not the living risen Lord who willingly forgives sins and freely offers an eternal home to all who believe, ask and receive His pardon.

Xenacoj - La Iglesia Bautista Restoración

About three weeks ago, we were invited to attend La Iglesia Bautista Restoración for a special morning worship of prayer for Muslim women around the world. In my best Spanish comprehension, I understood that Ruth would have the program and we were attending to give support and confidence as this was the first time they had undertaken such a task. I clarified several times that she was in charge and we were to come. Whew!


We were excited to attend this morning, our first solo type meeting. We arrived fashionly on time - 9:20 for the 9 o'clock meeting. We entered and visited with folks gathered for the meeting.






The room was set up around a table prepared for tea and cookies which I had read in some IMB info was a good preparation for a prayer time for muslim women.

Finally (about 25 minutes later) the pastor arrived (they live in another town about three different bus rides to arrive)and we entered the prayer circle to begin. Ruth said that the pastor would speak first.

Pastor Lazaro spoke on prayer, then Ruth said something and looked at us. Deer in the headlights look. Good thing we had prepared a few notes...just in case...because we were the speakers. Isn't it good that God can take our fubblerings and our heart of worship and bring them together to be understandable (I'm sure not perfectly) with brothers and sisters in Christ? What a sweet time of prayer and fellowship!

As we returned, we passed a "processional" complete with parade and float.

Spiritual blindness is the darkness that holds people in bondage separated from God. Wherever the country...whatever the thought. But thanks be to God for victory in salvation through Jesus Christ alone.

Where the fire never goes out...

Yesterday David and I took a road trip by ourselves to visit Chichicastenango and Santa Cruz del Quiche. The trip was beautiful; the weather was like a September day in the mountains of Georgia, especially as we drove past apple orchards with small road side stands selling sweet smelling, delicious apples; the roads were good but with muchos curvos peligrosos (many dangerous curves) going up and down the mountain. Arriving around lunchtime we visited a unique hotel restuarant. The courtyard was beautiful and hosted several large (and at times, noisy) parrots. I am glad that we enjoyed our visit because after we received the bill for the meal, we will bypass this place the next time...expensive!





As we walked around town viewing the brilliant colors of the housands of tablecloths, placemats and napkins, wraps, skirts and blouses, we came to the church.

It is on the location of a former mayan temple, destroyed and replaced by the catholics during Spanish conquest. However, the religion has become a mixure of both beliefs...shamans practice their ancient traditional rituals in the midst of the church. Even the original steps were rejected and replaced by steps to represent the days of the mayan calendar.


At the base of the steps the fire continued to burn to appease the evil spirits.


We were approached several times to be carried into the church and led in religious rituals. No thanks, we believe in the one true God in Whom there is freedom and release from fear and death. Sadly many thousands of Guatemaltecos are walking and even worshipping, in the lostness that only Satan provides. Pray that they will hear the Truth that brings freedom and salvation.