Home Again...Home Again

We left on Wednesday and headed east, arriving in Chiquimula and the Pearl of the East Hotel about 5 hours later. Don't get too excited - it is just a name...but clean and with air conditioning yeah but with no hot water boo!

Thursday to continue our research, we stopped in Camotán hoping that perhaps our friends from last week might know someone who could travel to the aldeas with us. Alas everyone was working, and we were on "our own." The maps we have found don't match the roads we found so we went to the Honduran border and started back, beginning to map the roads by kilometers. At 1 km we turned left into the first town, Caparja and then left on a very dirt road, adjusting to 4 wheel drive, heading down the mountains, then up the mountains to the aldea Guayabo...up and down we went...around the tall mountains we went...across dry dusty rocky roads with drop-offs that were like looking into a well hundreds of feet deep...all the way to a casero (community) named Filinca (plantation). We found the Gospel has been shared through the ministry of the Amigos (the "Friends" or Quakers) but so few have responded to the Gospel as compared to the numerous people who inhabit these mountains.






Returning to the major road 12 miles and 2 hours later, we continued marking the map along the way. Gaining information from a man waiting for the bus, we turned right and headed up to Morolá. Everytime we came to a "Y" in the road, the Lord put somebody there to tell us the correct road to take. After finding Morolá, we headed back, taking a side road to a Church of God church where we had a wonderful visit with the pastor and his family. Another couple of hours later, we entered Camotán for a late lunch. Afterwards we talked to the owner of the cafe and got more great information, and headed out to find the towns of El Volcán and La Lima, closer to Honduras. Again after a couple of hours "riding the dirt roads" we returned to the highway finished for the day.

Friday, again not having anyone to accompany us and not knowing where to head, we stopped and asked a policeman for assistance who graciously led us to our dirt road for the day, and we changed to 4-wheel drive. Why should we be surprised that the Lord helped us at every cross road? We found His chosen people all along the way every time we needed direction...and all along the way, we found people to share, people to direct, people to wave and smile as we traveled the unbelieveable 55 miles of heights and depths of beautiful mountain sights. The very furtherest we visited was El Limón, an area dark without the light of the Gospel but with precious people who need to hear...such a field ready for workers. We circled back to Marimba where we visited with a local pastor weary because there are so many people and so little workers. At the end of the day, we returned to the Pearl weary and worn.

There are not enough missionaries to reach all these aldeas. In reality the only way the people of these mountains can be reached is for the churches in Guatemala, for all Christians, to realize the call of God on their individual lives and go out sharing the Gospel with their countrymen. It is just like in the states, just like everywhere in the world...Christians MUST realize their personal responsibility to share the Gospel and disciple those who receive the gift of salvation. This is the mandate of all Christians, not preachers or missionaries... each one MUST reach another and another and another.

Easy? No way. This area is hot and dry. The villages are remote and hard to access. The terrain is difficult, even with 4-wheel drive. The people are desparately poor and backward. The grip of Mayan paganism mixed with Catholicism has a stranglehold on the people. Why would anybody want to go there? Because Jesus died in order that these people's sins could be forgiven. He is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. No one has told them, so they live and die in spiritual darkness. Surely the Lord is calling someone to bring the Gospel to these Chorti. Who could it be?

Back to the East again...

So why are we headed to the east again tomorrow?

Currently, we are researching the C'horti' who live in eastern Guatemala in the Chiquimula Department and the Copán Department of Honduras. The C'horti' in Guatemala, numbering over 55,000, live in regions surrounding four large towns (municipios): Jocotán, Camotán, Olopa, and San Juan Ermita. As part of our research, we visit and study these towns and each aldea (village) of the municipio, learning about the culture and any presence of a Gospel witness.

During our last visit, we focused on the municipio of Camotán which has 29 aldeas and 59 family communities surrounding it. The Friends Church, (Iglesia Amigos) or Quakers, have sought to evangelize this area for many years and have established several churches. A few Pentecostal churches also have been started. We learned that eight aldeas have no evangelical church.

We are returning to Camotán to continue our work. Maps are poor, so we will map the location of each aldea, which means traveling to each village. We will continue to identify the areas that have the greatest need for the Gospel. After we have completed our work in Camotán, we will move on to the other three cities.

A new missionary family has arrived in Honduras to work with the Ch'orti'. From our research and recommendations, they will come to the area with the goal of planting new churches in the area.

The Ch'ori'are very poor people. This area of Guatemala is very dry and the soil is poor. Illnesses and death related to malnutrition are common. The Catholic Church is dominant in the region, mixed with the influence of the old Mayan practices.

Please pray for the Ch'orti'. Please pray for us!

As you pray... People in this region can be suspicious of North Americans. In past years, North Americans have been accused of kidnapping children to sell for adoption or for body parts. In 2007, three local women were accused of kidnapping a young girl to sell to North Americans. The mutilated body of the child was found with body parts removed. The crime was settled with vigilante justice. We will travel in the community where this atrocity occurred. As we enter these aldeas, pray that we will communicate a spirit of peace and not suspicion.

As you pray... We are aware that the enemy has already sought to intercept the advance of the Gospel to the Ch'orti'. We really need prayer warriors who will come against this stronghold of Satan expressed in a very specific way. Will you be one?

And a week later...

It is so good to walk in the peace of God day by day.

Last week after carrying official papers to police stations, enjoying the company of special friends, we headed to a new area for research. We had ridden through the area as we returned from Belize and were anxious to return. God went before us and led the way.

Saturday we spent several hours traveling with the Baptist pastor from Chiquimula to the surrounding municipios and several aldeas. We noticed the evangelical Amigos (Friends or Quakers) church in Camotán and planned to return for worship on Sunday. What a joy to worship with them on Sunday and visit with the new pastor. One of the leaders in the church invited us home with his family for cafecita, which in reality was a delicious lunch, with a couple of hours of very insightful information of both the surrounding aldeas and the Ch´ortí, giving us a great headstart on further travel to the area.
Then Sunday night we worshipped with the Baptist church in Chiquimula and again gave greetings...sweet, sweet fellowship. We are looking forward to returning to the area to continue our research and foundational work for the spread of the Gospel to the Ch´ortí.

Earlier in the week a missionary coworker had told us that our experience would connect us with the Guatemaltecos. We have definitely found that to true. God is using our experience to bond us together in a unique way...new opportunities. Isn't God good to use what we would consider bad to bring glory to His name? Looking forward to the future!

Peace at ALL times and in EVERY way...

We want to thank you for your prayers for us. Be assured that our God hears and answers your prayers on our behalf. We experienced such an answer on Monday, January 4.

We left Guatemala City in the early afternoon to return home on our usual route with six lanes of busy traffic after having been on the road for a week. After traveling about two miles in the city, a car pulled beside us having three men with guns who demanded that we pull over. The car pulled in front of us, stopping us. One man with a pistol entered the passenger side beside Glynis and another into the driver side, pushing me into the back seat. They drove us away, demanding that we keep our eyes closed. We were driven for 10-15 minutes into an obscure area of the capital where they demanded that we get out of our truck and get into their car. After getting into their car, we were driven for several more minutes with pistols to our sides and our heads down until we came to an obscure alley where they told us to “Get out and go home!” We exited the car, and they drove away.

You can imagine that we prayed continually the whole time. One time, one of the robbers told Glynis “silencio” because she was praying. We were amazed at the peace the Lord gave us during the whole time. The Lord reminded us that what we have taught and preached for some many years is real. We found it to be so. We are thankful for a peace that we cannot explain that has continued.

We believe that in answer to your prayers, we were never harmed physically. They even gave us back our passports which were in Glynis’ purse, and they returned our credit cards to us. We did lose our truck, with all our personal effects inside- including a week’s worth of clothes, new mini-computer, GPS, etc. The IMB has excellent insurance coverage so we will be able to file a claim for most of our loss. Regretfully, we had just picked up our mail, which included some wonderful Christmas packages from family.

Today, we are regrouping and getting back to the task of bringing the Gospel to Guatemala. Robbers may take our possessions, but they cannot touch our purpose for being here and our determination to fulfill God’s call on our lives. Please continue to pray for us.

We will continue to be faithful to the task with a trust that is stronger than fear for He ALONE is our PEACE.

Continued Merry Christmas Times...

Wednesday, December 23, we invited our close neighbors to dinner. We enjoyed white chicken chili, fresh fruit, avocado and tomato salad, and of course, desserts. The greatest past of the evening though was sharing in conversation and fellowship. Our neighbors to the right, Eddy and Flor and their three boys, Cristian, Kenneth, and Ian are not believers yet but are precious friends. Our neighbors to the left are Derick, Lupita, Pircilla and Cristy. He is the pastor of an evangelical church here in Chimaltenango and we enjoy sweet fellowship. Armin and Kati are a newly married couple who live on the other side of them and also attend the same church. It was funny when at tmes tey realized that they were talking way to fast for us to understand, one would tell the other..."Despacio! Despacio!" ("Slower!")

Christmas Eve, our pastor and his wife brought homemade tamales and ponche (traditional hot punch, much like apple cider in taste) which we greatly enjoyed. They are the traditional Christmas Eve dinner. Then at midnight came the fire...firecrackers and fireworks lightening up the sky and echoing thoughout the air. No need to go to bed before that was finished!! We certainly enjoyed the colorful display...quite traditional Guatemala Christmas.

Then Christmas day, several missionaries, enjoyed Christmas lunch at Carol's house. Her family, whom we had met in Costa Rica, came to spend the holidays with her. They brought a special treat...Chick-Fil-A sandwiches. Never had one that tasted any better!!

Christmas is not traditonal food, special friends, nor even family. It is the Gift of God, Jesus, born to die to provide salvation for all. Pray with us that Eddy and Flor and millions like them around the world will hear and respond in repentance and faith and receive eternal life.

Merry Christmas Times...

Although we missed being with our family during the Christmas season, we appreciated the bond of fellow misionaries who are our family here in Guatemala. We are of the family of god and are bonded together for eternity...praise God!

On Saturday, December 12, we enjoyed having the 10 IMB language students who have been studying Spanish in a small town south of Antigua. Eight recent cllege grads and a married couple have spent almost 3 months there learning to communicate the gospel of Christ before they head to Mexico and South America. We gave them each a pan of homemade cinnamon rolls as their Christmas gift.


Then the entire Guatemala IMB Mission family gathered for our Christmas Luncheon. Again, lots of food and great fellowship was enjoyed by all.






White elephant gifts added to the fun!



It was also a time to say goodbye to Janet, who has been our treasurer for eleven years. Due to the restructuring of our mission adminstration, she will be moving to Santiago to become a part of the financial ministry team. We are going to greatly miss her, but she is only a phone call away.


Then it was time for the traditional mission kids photo.


Obviously, our youngest mk did not like having her photo taken without being in the arms of her mom!



Thank you for continuing to give to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering so that the work of IMB missionaries would continue to spread the Gospel of Christ to a lost world.

Pochuta...Finally

The department (much like a state in the US) of Chimaltenango has 16 municipios (much like a county seat). One of our goals has been to visit each of them to investigate the number of churches, types of churches and relative percentage of the evangelized population.

On December 3, we started out with the ambitious goal to visit 5 of the municipios. They were relatively close together so it seemed feasible. We visited Patzicia, then Patzun, then almost to Acotenango where we turned left to go to Pochuta. First sign...dirt road, and not such a good road either...but off we went...and went...and went...30 minutes riding the roads through the coffee fincas...1 hour...30 minutes more windy roads on the steep sides of the coffee mountainside...2 hours...surely we must have missed a turn somewhere! We returned to the aldea we had passed about 30 minutes back to ask the way to Pochuta. Well, he said, that's the carretera (road), only 2 1/2 more hours on that road. there's one road in and out and that's it. We still had to visit Acotenango and Yecopapa and it was getting close to 1 o'clock and since we had not eaten lunch we decided to continue on to these two municipios and save Pochuta for another day. But what beautiful sights we had seen that enticed us to return soon.


Saturday, December 5 we started out very early...6:45am because we wanted to ensure we were home in time for the SEC championship football game at 3 pm. Off we drove. We passed the little tienda where we had inquired the way. Rounding one of the very rocky dirt curves, we heard a pop and then a shhhhhhhh. It can't be...we haven't even reached the place where we turned around on Wednesday...but it was. A sharp rock had pierced one of our brand-new tires and was gone :( Now we spent about 30 or 45 minutes changing the tire in the middle of nowhere but with tons of little bugs who feasted on some tasty flesh...us! Well, we had to return home...no going forward without a spare. Another day!


We decided that Wednesday, December 8 would be the day. Packing a lunch and water, we left at 8:15 am. For the third time, we took that sharp left turn on the dusty dirt rough road...and kept going. At least we were being entertained with puffs from Volcan Fuego.


Then we came around another curve and could see volcanoes from around Lake Atitlan. Such a beautiful sight!


We passed the little tienda where we had been told to continue on. We passed the place where we had the flat tire. We continued on...and on...and on. Now we had thought that the road we had traveled before was rough, but it was like smooth glass compared to these roads!!


Ride along with us for a few seconds...


Knowing that we must be close for Pochuta about noon, we topped the hill to see


men tearing up the boards of the bridge and replacing it with rebar wire. David inquired as to when they might possibly be finished...by three o'clock. David returned to the truck saying he just couldn't turn around and return another day. We would just wait, go into town and get a place to spend the night and return home on Thursday. So we ate our banana and peanut butter sandwich and waited. We talked with a friend, Jose who told us we were only about 20 minutes away from Pochuta.


Finally around 4, the men put the boards back at the end of the bridge...and said they would return the following day to complete the work. We watched about 5 cars, trucks, vans cross the brige coming toward us then we headed across into Pochuta. We entered town and began the search to secure a place for the night. Within 10 minutes, we realized there was "no room." There were no hotels and only one farmacia which had a room upstairs which had not entertained people for quite some time and therefore was not ready for us. We visited briefly with some evangelicals and returned to the truck. What a sinking feeling to know that now we had to retrace our ride home and now at this time of the day with dark coming soon.

I don't have pictures to verify that trip home. But let me tell you those roads that looked awful in the light of day were ten times worse at night. The side roads that feed into the main trail/road look like the return road in the black night. But the same God that directs our paths in the brightness of day continues to lead the way in the darkness of night. We arrived home five hours later completing a 13 hour day of traveling! Thanks for praying for us as we travel major highways, roads and jungle trails searching the areas without Gospel access in order that the Good News of Salvation would pierce the darkness and shine in the hearts of men and women and boys and girls.

That is the reason we travel all over Guatemala...that they may hear and receive. Continue to pray for us. Continue to pray with us. Continue to give that all may hear.