Lives have been changed

So many lives have been changed this week and want to thank everyone who made this trip possible. For all of you who have helped us financially and with your prayers. For our hosts in Guatemala City and Palencia. For all of the children, women and men who came to our activities. And to all of the 23 team members who made it such a special time while coming with their families. Thanks for letting us be a part of this team of reaching and showing people the love of Jesus.
It was a wonderful week and we pray that you might join us in the future on one of these teams.
God bless all of you and the people of Guatemala.
Mr. John signing off for now. 

Prayer walk in the communities

We did a prayer walk through many of the communities around the dump where over 10,000 people work each day. there are 16 communities and we were able to vist 7 of the them and prayed for specific things that they had requested. We also visited 40 families and prayed with them and gave them a bucket of food staples that Potter's House had provided. Quite a day for all of us. 

Guatemala Dump ministry

On Friday morning we visited the large trash dump in Guatemala City. It is a very large area the size of 24 football fields and 5 stories deep. We went to an overview as we are not able to go into the dump after the fire that took place early in this year. many good changes have come about by this happening, less hours the workers can be there and the minimum age to work in the dump now is 18 years old where as before it was any age. Some of the surrounding ares of this place are very tough wot walk through as seen in these pictures. 

Then just a time to BE

Shots from Thursday at Palencia as the many faces that God loves. 

Helping others

There were times of helping others to feel better. 

Last day in Palencia

The last day in Palencia with VBS and crafts. Kevin Hicks did a great job with Bible story time each day and Rhenala Beck with all of the wonderful crafts, of course there were many more helping each day. Today was our largest group so far. Below are times of excitment for Luke and Davis scoring a goal from long range and Kellie doing jump rope with all of the girls. 

Dr. Kem at his best

Well as you can see there is more to Dr. Kem than we sometimes realize. He is a teacher, a painter, a communicator, a team player and a card. But most of all he loves people and building relationships. Today he is spending time during the break to meet with Pastor Minfel to encourage him and his church. They have grown close over the past couple of days of being here and have a real connections as pastors. God is at work. Kem has shown all the kids most of his magic tricks of which some are amazed easpecially pulling off his thumb and replacing it. Darwin one of the boys yesterday would continually ask other boys to come over and see this amazing feat. Then there were others who it figured out as soon as it was done. Kem was sad that he could not fool everyone. Most of our team was excited to see this master at work, but Mr. Imrie has been rooming with Kem and I think he has just been overwhelmed with everything that Kem does (these things can not be put on this blog). Have a great day.

Wednesday with the kids

 

Clinics

Today we started the clinics with John Imrie in the dental clinic, Luke Oberholtzer in the eye clinic, Curt Beck sticking fingers while Austen Beck and Davis Hicks fill meds with Axel's guidenance. Jan Oberholtzer praying with patients after their appointments. Neat time today, probably close to 100 seen today with more tomorrow. 

Men's breakfast in Palencia

Here we are this morning after a great meeting with the men last night with a home made breakfast of pancakes, eggs and bacon. Rolando is mixing the pancake mix (he is single girls and 24 bilingual and funny) Kyle is mixing the eggs (he is married with kids) Tito cooking bacon while Kevin and Kyle drink coffee and then the final breakfast cooking on the stove. Nice job guys it was excellent food. Now off to work. Where are the ladies they must be sleeping in this morning so we are going to go ahead and start working painting and taking care of the folks who are here for the clinics today. Have a great day. Everyone here is doing great and having a blast. 

All the men

Here is photo of all the men who were at the meeting last night. 30 Guatemalans and 12 North Americans. We spend over 2 hours sharing and praying with each other. Each Dad from the team shared about his relationship with his Dad and what he is doing with his family in leading them. We were honest in our discussions and told them of the hightlights of being a Dad but also the mistakes that we have made and are still making. We wanted this meeting to be real and in the end they really appreciated our honesty and for coming. It was a real honor for each of us to share with them and to spend the time together. We went away feeling new friendships and a bond to prayer for these men as they become better husbands and father's in their famililes. We will not forget this incredible time together as only God could have made this happen. Thanks for all of your prayers. 

Here are a couple of shots of the men after they arrived for the men's meeting last night. We were expecting 12 and 27 showed up. All of the men stood up and intoduced themselves and told of some connection to Amercian Latina school. Several of the men and their wifes have actually attended the school over the past 15 years and many told of the children who have attended this special school. 

Living in Palencia

The guys spent the night in Palencia so that we could visit with the men on Tuesday night. As you can see we had a fun time. 

Kids at camp

Some of the sites of kids around the school this week. 

See what you can get at the market in Antigua

What happens in Guatemala stays in Guatemala. Take me home Mommy 

SFA alumini

The great minds fom the Harvard in East Texas S.F.A. University 

Sites in Antigua Sunday

Here are some of the sites we saw Sunday in Antigua. They were celebrating their 482 birthday. 

Made it to Guatemala

Well the team has made it ok on Saturday night great day of worship on Sunday and then a trip to Antigua to shop and sightsee. On Monday we headed to Palencia and started on some projects after a 2 hour drive due to a major accident on the highway we had lots of kids at VBS over 150 and then a lladies meeting of 50. It was quiet a day for a first day. This morning we had the chapel service at American Latina high school with 700 students lots of great music lead by Willie our friend here and then a Christian group sang. Get this they live in Houston. the lead singer parents were missionaries to Guatemala and that is how he got the connection. the kids really enjoyed them and the message was great. Now we are getting ready to leave for Palencia with another VBS and ladies meeting then tonight our bif meeting with the men. All of the guys are staying in Palencia tonight while the ladies come back to the city. PLease pray for this very first meeting of this kind in the city. We will be sharing about being fathers and sons and how God is working in our lives. More on this later. I am having problems sending some pictires but will try later. God bless and thanks for praying. It has been an incredible time so far, I wish you were all here. JC for the team  

Having fun

Having fun 

Team arrives tonight

We had a great team this past week in Guatemala with VBS with the children, medical, dental, and eye clinics during the week and many lives changed and touched during the week. That team has arrived back in the U.S. and headed to their homes. we are now waiting for the next team to arrive tonight late. We have a really full week ahead for us and we would appreciate your prayers for this team of 23 as we minister in the town of Palencia, Guatemala City with schools, children, women and men. We will also be working with Potter's House later in the week with the families that live around the large city dump.
We are asking for your prayers for health, travel safety each day, stamina to keep up with the full schedule we have planned and most importantly that God's word will be heard throughour everything that we do and say. That others will see Christ's love in us and understand who the One True God really is. We will try and keep you updated daily. Mr. John

Getting ready for Guatemala one week to go

Our team is preparing to head to Guatemala on Saturday July 22 for a week of work in Palencia Guatemala with the American Latina Ministry and Schools and also the Potter's House. This is a our second all family ministry team from our church Faith Community in The Woodlands. Last year was such a wonderful time we have 5 families sign up to go this year. One family returning are the Becks but they have done a great job of recuriting the other families. The Imries, Hicks, Mays and Oberholtzers along with John and Diane. There will be a total of 23 on this trip with lots in store from doing VBS, women's meetings, clinics for the community and a special men's meeting one night at the school. We will also be spending a day with Potter's House in the largest garbage dump in Guatemala City. We will be walking through several of the communities that surround this area and visiting with over 30 families praying with them, encouraging them and giving them a small basket of food. Prayer for these special times together not only for the ministry each day but for the team members as they work together as families in this incredible time of ministry.
Thanks for praying for us. We will try to keep the blog updated as much as possible depending on the internet service each night.
God bless. Mr. John