What a mighty God we serve! After a few women from our team were up most of the night praying, we learned that she slept through the whole night without night terrors for the first time in months! Praise God! Never doubt the power of prayer my friends!
Today was a great day and there were great things acomplished! There were workers in the baby house who were able to serve in whatever ways possible including; changing diapers, feeding the babies, and just playing with them. Tom and Mike were up early this morning for a trip to the market where we spent a good chunk of our team money buying fresh vegetables, fruits, and other things. The men from our team spent most of the day working on the sewer line and made some great progress with the help of the rented backhoe man! The team from Southwest Baptist University has also been a great blessing with all their hard work and them work on the sewer line as well.
Kay-Marie and I were able to work in the bodega and scrub down the food shelves that were covered in dirt and mold and rotting fruit. Although scrubbing with bleach and rough scrubber pads wasn't the most comfortable things in the world...we made such great progress and the shelves already look so much better. Now we are just waiting for the paint to make them look even better!
In the afternoon the women of the team were able to go back to Casa de Alabanza and complete the empanada making process. It was so much fun! We made fruit empanadas with apples, brown sugar, and cinnamon; and we also made some with a chicken and vegetable base. It was great being able to eat the chicken ones at dinner time...they were delicious! All in all we made about 500-600 empanadas! It is so great to see how the people here take pride in what they do. Since everything is made by hand, they have much more appreciation for what they complete.
In the evening it was really great to see Ethan being able to practice music with the Guatemalans. Although they don't have the same sound technology we have and they might not sound as good as our choir and band at Cornerstone, they still have the ability to priase God and we know He enjoys it!
At our debriefing meeting tonight, we had a discussion about the "business" end of things...in other words: money. We came here with about $1300 and we are already down to only $170. We have bought a lot of things to minister and help out here at the orphanage and there are still so many other things that we want to help with. Please be praying that God would provide more money somehow so that we can minister to each group that we can. We know what God has in store for us to do, but we have such a desire to serve more than expected. Besides praying for the provision of more money, we ask that you pray for good decision making in what we do with the money we do still have.
Tomorrow is a big day for our group because it is New Year's Eve and that means we get to cook for the entire campus of Casa Bernabe! We have an entire meal planned out and we are excited to serve in that way! Please pray that God gives of focus and excitement and that we don't get frustrated with everyone in the kitchen!
Thank you as always for your prayers and HAPPY NEW YEAR'S EVE! :)
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
What a Day!
Gracias a Dios para su gran poder y amor!
What a day it has been here at Casa Bernabe and God has truly been working through our team already!
There are many projects taking place here at the orphanage right now and it is an honor to be able to take part in all of them! This morning the men started on the sewer trench that is going to be replaced...the men certainly showed what it means to be hard-workers and most of them came back with sun burns to prove it! The men were blessed by a young girl named Ophelia who jumped in and began working with them on the trench. It is such a blessing to see such young children with a desire to work and serve!
Today we also had the opportunity to sort through MUCHAS BANANAS! The orphanage recieved a donation of at least twenty boxes of locally grown bananas and there was simply too many to handle here at Casa Bernabe. It was such a blessing to see the orphanage decide to donate some of them to other shelters and orphanages around here in Frijanes.
Justin went to work today on the shelves in one of the bodegas where all the fruit is stored. At one point in time there was contact paper that was put on the shelves and now it needs to be removed and they all need to be painted. It was great to witness Justin volunteer to take on the job of removing the contact paper all by himself...and he made great progress. Now we are just waiting for the paint.
It is so inspiring how the women here take pride in their work. After working in the kitchen, it is evident that because everything is homemade and home-raised, there is much more pride in what is being done. It puts it in perspective as to how lazy us Americans can be when we just run to GFS to get a big bag of frozen fruit or vegetables...but not here, there is no GFS or Costco, everything is done by hand; gardening, cutting, etc.
This evening the women on our team were able to minister to the girls in Casa de Alabanza [ages 12-18]. This afternoon we had the opportunity to start making the dough for empanadas [sort of like a crepe, only much better] with the girls and it was so much fun! After dinner, we prepared a devotion and gave it to them which was such an awesome experience. We talked with them about how Christ is such a great gift and we were able to emphasize the excitement that comes with recieving a gift with a small regalo [gift] for each girl. They were so thrilled to recieve something so small as a notebook and pencil! After we were finished with the discussion and prayer, we were able to comfort a nine year old girl named Maria Fernanda. Maria and her sister both live in Casa de Albanza and about a year ago their dad was killed. Maria [Mafer...her nickname] has been really struggling with this and wakes up in the night with night terrors and panic attacks. After the discussion tonight, it was evident that the devil was attacking Mafer. She was not herself and she began to sob uncontrollably claiming that she couldn't breath well and her heart was beating really fast. It was evident that she was filled with fear as she cried out "mi papito" or "my father." We ask that you would lift Mafer up in your prayers, commit her to the Holy Spirit and pray that she would seek out the love of Christ at this time in her life. What a horrific thing to be encountering at such a small age. But God is in control of all situations and we have faith that he knows what Mafer can handle.
One other thing that we need prayer for...a refigerator. The refrigerator in the kitchen is not working well and there is a huge need for a new one. Please pray that the people here at the orphanage would find a way to fund a new one and that our group would be called to help them in that area.
There are constantly needs around here and we ask that you would continue to pray for Casa Bernabe. It is a great place where the love of Christ shines throughout.
May God bless you as you are praying for our group and for the people here in Guatemala!
What a day it has been here at Casa Bernabe and God has truly been working through our team already!
There are many projects taking place here at the orphanage right now and it is an honor to be able to take part in all of them! This morning the men started on the sewer trench that is going to be replaced...the men certainly showed what it means to be hard-workers and most of them came back with sun burns to prove it! The men were blessed by a young girl named Ophelia who jumped in and began working with them on the trench. It is such a blessing to see such young children with a desire to work and serve!
Today we also had the opportunity to sort through MUCHAS BANANAS! The orphanage recieved a donation of at least twenty boxes of locally grown bananas and there was simply too many to handle here at Casa Bernabe. It was such a blessing to see the orphanage decide to donate some of them to other shelters and orphanages around here in Frijanes.
Justin went to work today on the shelves in one of the bodegas where all the fruit is stored. At one point in time there was contact paper that was put on the shelves and now it needs to be removed and they all need to be painted. It was great to witness Justin volunteer to take on the job of removing the contact paper all by himself...and he made great progress. Now we are just waiting for the paint.
It is so inspiring how the women here take pride in their work. After working in the kitchen, it is evident that because everything is homemade and home-raised, there is much more pride in what is being done. It puts it in perspective as to how lazy us Americans can be when we just run to GFS to get a big bag of frozen fruit or vegetables...but not here, there is no GFS or Costco, everything is done by hand; gardening, cutting, etc.
This evening the women on our team were able to minister to the girls in Casa de Alabanza [ages 12-18]. This afternoon we had the opportunity to start making the dough for empanadas [sort of like a crepe, only much better] with the girls and it was so much fun! After dinner, we prepared a devotion and gave it to them which was such an awesome experience. We talked with them about how Christ is such a great gift and we were able to emphasize the excitement that comes with recieving a gift with a small regalo [gift] for each girl. They were so thrilled to recieve something so small as a notebook and pencil! After we were finished with the discussion and prayer, we were able to comfort a nine year old girl named Maria Fernanda. Maria and her sister both live in Casa de Albanza and about a year ago their dad was killed. Maria [Mafer...her nickname] has been really struggling with this and wakes up in the night with night terrors and panic attacks. After the discussion tonight, it was evident that the devil was attacking Mafer. She was not herself and she began to sob uncontrollably claiming that she couldn't breath well and her heart was beating really fast. It was evident that she was filled with fear as she cried out "mi papito" or "my father." We ask that you would lift Mafer up in your prayers, commit her to the Holy Spirit and pray that she would seek out the love of Christ at this time in her life. What a horrific thing to be encountering at such a small age. But God is in control of all situations and we have faith that he knows what Mafer can handle.
One other thing that we need prayer for...a refigerator. The refrigerator in the kitchen is not working well and there is a huge need for a new one. Please pray that the people here at the orphanage would find a way to fund a new one and that our group would be called to help them in that area.
There are constantly needs around here and we ask that you would continue to pray for Casa Bernabe. It is a great place where the love of Christ shines throughout.
May God bless you as you are praying for our group and for the people here in Guatemala!
Monday, December 28, 2009
Necesitamos Leche! We need Milk!
Hola amigos y bendigas en el nombre de Jesus!
We have completed our 1st full day at Casa Bernabe and we have already begun to see how God has called us. The children have already begun to grow to love us more than we can even imagine.
The day began with breakfast at 7am with French toast and homegrown pineapple [it was so delicious!]. We then had devotions with our team and were able to discuss how God has called us to be here and what we must sacrifice in order to be obedient to our Heavenly Father.
Following devotions we were given a tour of the orphanage campus and how it all operates. During this time Tom and Tony [Tony is a full-time missionary here] began to discuss the major projects for the week. The men then started work on the bodegas [storage sheds] and removing the accumulation of black mold...yuck and the women began a rotation with working in the baby house.
Spending quality time with these children is what this trip is all about. These children are starved for attention and it is evident in the way they want to hug and love on each of us. For example, I was able to form a special bond with a 3-year old named Mauricio who just wanted to bed held. Everywhere we went, he wanted to be carried. At one point I put him on my shoulders and when I went to put him down, he clenched his legs around my neck because he just didn't want to get down. It is so frustrating to see God's precious creation who are in such great need of physical touch, love, and attention.
Also, after working in the baby house we are given a new appreciation for what hard work means. The house mom deserves super-mom of the year award. From sun-up to sun-down she is at work with fifteen babies who are constantly in need of something. It is such a blessing to be reminded of how someone's passion and desire to serve can change the lives of the smallest children.
As we debriefed with the group tonight we were able to discuss future plans for the week and what needed to be done or bought. There is one thing that they are in great need of and that is milk. The dried milk that they buy is quite expensive and we ask that if you are capable and willing to make a donation in order to help fund the purchase of milk for the orphanage. All you have to do is go to www.FOCE.org and make a donation on-line [specify for milk]...the people here at the orphanage would greatly appreciate your heart and desire to serve the Lord through the purchase of food.
There is much more to come so stay tuned and please continue to pray for our team as we step out of our comfort zones to do Christ's work.
Gracias y noches [good night] :)
We have completed our 1st full day at Casa Bernabe and we have already begun to see how God has called us. The children have already begun to grow to love us more than we can even imagine.
The day began with breakfast at 7am with French toast and homegrown pineapple [it was so delicious!]. We then had devotions with our team and were able to discuss how God has called us to be here and what we must sacrifice in order to be obedient to our Heavenly Father.
Following devotions we were given a tour of the orphanage campus and how it all operates. During this time Tom and Tony [Tony is a full-time missionary here] began to discuss the major projects for the week. The men then started work on the bodegas [storage sheds] and removing the accumulation of black mold...yuck and the women began a rotation with working in the baby house.
Spending quality time with these children is what this trip is all about. These children are starved for attention and it is evident in the way they want to hug and love on each of us. For example, I was able to form a special bond with a 3-year old named Mauricio who just wanted to bed held. Everywhere we went, he wanted to be carried. At one point I put him on my shoulders and when I went to put him down, he clenched his legs around my neck because he just didn't want to get down. It is so frustrating to see God's precious creation who are in such great need of physical touch, love, and attention.
Also, after working in the baby house we are given a new appreciation for what hard work means. The house mom deserves super-mom of the year award. From sun-up to sun-down she is at work with fifteen babies who are constantly in need of something. It is such a blessing to be reminded of how someone's passion and desire to serve can change the lives of the smallest children.
As we debriefed with the group tonight we were able to discuss future plans for the week and what needed to be done or bought. There is one thing that they are in great need of and that is milk. The dried milk that they buy is quite expensive and we ask that if you are capable and willing to make a donation in order to help fund the purchase of milk for the orphanage. All you have to do is go to www.FOCE.org and make a donation on-line [specify for milk]...the people here at the orphanage would greatly appreciate your heart and desire to serve the Lord through the purchase of food.
There is much more to come so stay tuned and please continue to pray for our team as we step out of our comfort zones to do Christ's work.
Gracias y noches [good night] :)
Sunday, December 27, 2009
New faces, new places.
Well, we finally arrived to the orphanage Casa Bernabe in Frijanes, Guatemala and we are all elated to be here! As we got on the road this morning we encountered ice, car accidents, and scary driving situations. We arrived at the church at 3:00am and we loaded up a trailer full of 28 suitcases and we all boarded the church bus ready to face this journey that God called us on!
All went very well with our flights, there were no issues with customs or security and we were ready to board our plane to Miami at about 5:15am! Both of the flights went well accept for some turbulance and most of our group was able to get some extra shut-eye before these days of exhaustion.
Flying over Guatemala was such a magnificent experience and it allows us to admire God's beautiful creation even more than at home. We were able to snap pictures of cloud-covered mountains and even some of the volcano. We are surely able to see God's creative mind when we encounter these beautiful landscapes.
We landed in Guatemala City at 2:45pm local time and it was so fun to see all the natives up against the fences watching the planes land. As we finally collected all our luggage and crammed into the small vans from the orphanage, we were on the road with all the CRAZY Guatemalan drivers. Let me be the one to testify to you all...it was a scary ride up the mountain to the orphanage, cars whizzing by and people sitting in the back end of pick-up trucks going nearly 70 miles per hour! (This is quite typical of Hispanic culture).
As we arrived at the orphanage, we were met with many smiling faces of young children who were excited to see those of our group whom they already knew and right away the children were giving the new members of our group hugs and inviting us to play. It is such a sad and hard concept to grasp how starved for attention these children are. Yes, the house-parents here at the orphanage are here to love these children and to show them Christ...but it is just not the same as having a real family. The kids will do whatever it takes to get your attention.
For the first couple hours we were here, we were able to spend time with the kids; meeting them and learning what they were all about. We also got to meet those adults who work here at the orphanage and how they have been called to serve in the name of Jesus Christ. As we heard the dinner bell ring we were excited to see what was in store for dinner...we were all so hungry! Dinner consisted of: scrambled eggs, fried plantains (similar to a banana) with a cream sauce and sugar, and a very liquidy form of black beans. There was also peanut butter and jelly sandwiches available :)
We were then given orientation by Tony who is a missionary here and is originally from Wisconsin...he's a cool guy! Throughout the rest of the evening we were able to explore and simply spend more time with the kids and loving on them!
God has brought us here for a reason...we know our purpose is to serve him in whatever way possible. We are so excited for this experience and this journey and we hope that you will be blessed by hearing about our experiences.
Please continue to pray for us...a girl that is also dorming with us here has been ill and has a fever so PLEASE pray for good health!
We love you all and thank you for supporting us through this wonderful opporutnity...stay tuned :)
All went very well with our flights, there were no issues with customs or security and we were ready to board our plane to Miami at about 5:15am! Both of the flights went well accept for some turbulance and most of our group was able to get some extra shut-eye before these days of exhaustion.
Flying over Guatemala was such a magnificent experience and it allows us to admire God's beautiful creation even more than at home. We were able to snap pictures of cloud-covered mountains and even some of the volcano. We are surely able to see God's creative mind when we encounter these beautiful landscapes.
We landed in Guatemala City at 2:45pm local time and it was so fun to see all the natives up against the fences watching the planes land. As we finally collected all our luggage and crammed into the small vans from the orphanage, we were on the road with all the CRAZY Guatemalan drivers. Let me be the one to testify to you all...it was a scary ride up the mountain to the orphanage, cars whizzing by and people sitting in the back end of pick-up trucks going nearly 70 miles per hour! (This is quite typical of Hispanic culture).
As we arrived at the orphanage, we were met with many smiling faces of young children who were excited to see those of our group whom they already knew and right away the children were giving the new members of our group hugs and inviting us to play. It is such a sad and hard concept to grasp how starved for attention these children are. Yes, the house-parents here at the orphanage are here to love these children and to show them Christ...but it is just not the same as having a real family. The kids will do whatever it takes to get your attention.
For the first couple hours we were here, we were able to spend time with the kids; meeting them and learning what they were all about. We also got to meet those adults who work here at the orphanage and how they have been called to serve in the name of Jesus Christ. As we heard the dinner bell ring we were excited to see what was in store for dinner...we were all so hungry! Dinner consisted of: scrambled eggs, fried plantains (similar to a banana) with a cream sauce and sugar, and a very liquidy form of black beans. There was also peanut butter and jelly sandwiches available :)
We were then given orientation by Tony who is a missionary here and is originally from Wisconsin...he's a cool guy! Throughout the rest of the evening we were able to explore and simply spend more time with the kids and loving on them!
God has brought us here for a reason...we know our purpose is to serve him in whatever way possible. We are so excited for this experience and this journey and we hope that you will be blessed by hearing about our experiences.
Please continue to pray for us...a girl that is also dorming with us here has been ill and has a fever so PLEASE pray for good health!
We love you all and thank you for supporting us through this wonderful opporutnity...stay tuned :)
Friday, December 25, 2009
T Minus 28 Hours
Feliz Navidad! Espero que nosotros tengamos una Navidad fantastica!
Merry Christmas! I hope you all had a fantastic Christmas!
We are coming very near to our departure for Guatemala and for Casa Bernabe orphanage! So many months of planning and anticipation are closing in and we are more than excited to see God's providence through it all! God has continued to provide for our team with financial donations and donations for the orphanage including blankets, clothes, craft items, etc. We have seen God come through in various ways in this planning process and finally being able do His work at the orphanage will be so thrilling!
I can't help but think about the night when baby Jesus was born and I am sure I will be even more reminded about God's love and His gift of Salvation when I encounter these small babies who have been abandoned. God sent his only Son to give us a bigger gift than we will ever be able to comprehend and his Son is able to conquer the world. I think of the children at this orphanage who have the ability to be world changers in the name of Jesus Christ. God calls us all to "go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit..." and this is what our team is going to do. We are going to be Christ with skin on to these children. We are going to show them that they have the ability to change the world with the love of Christ. With all the negatives and disappointment we see in this world, we will be able to find joy in the smiles of the children and their passion for life...even when they have nothing compared to us.
As you are praying for our team, we ask that you pray for the children, that they would be found by the grace of God and that they would take heart and hope in the gift that God has sent to each of us. I challenge you all to find the joy in your lives, count your blessings, and be grateful for the Gift that Christ has given you!
May God be with you through the rest of 2009 and through the new year! By the grace of God we have made it through another decade and we are blessed for what we have learned through these last years.
I encourage you to stay tuned, stick with our blog through the next two weeks! There will be updates throughout our trip and we excited to share with you what God is doing in Guatemala! :)
MeRrY ChRiStMaS!!
Merry Christmas! I hope you all had a fantastic Christmas!
We are coming very near to our departure for Guatemala and for Casa Bernabe orphanage! So many months of planning and anticipation are closing in and we are more than excited to see God's providence through it all! God has continued to provide for our team with financial donations and donations for the orphanage including blankets, clothes, craft items, etc. We have seen God come through in various ways in this planning process and finally being able do His work at the orphanage will be so thrilling!
I can't help but think about the night when baby Jesus was born and I am sure I will be even more reminded about God's love and His gift of Salvation when I encounter these small babies who have been abandoned. God sent his only Son to give us a bigger gift than we will ever be able to comprehend and his Son is able to conquer the world. I think of the children at this orphanage who have the ability to be world changers in the name of Jesus Christ. God calls us all to "go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit..." and this is what our team is going to do. We are going to be Christ with skin on to these children. We are going to show them that they have the ability to change the world with the love of Christ. With all the negatives and disappointment we see in this world, we will be able to find joy in the smiles of the children and their passion for life...even when they have nothing compared to us.
As you are praying for our team, we ask that you pray for the children, that they would be found by the grace of God and that they would take heart and hope in the gift that God has sent to each of us. I challenge you all to find the joy in your lives, count your blessings, and be grateful for the Gift that Christ has given you!
May God be with you through the rest of 2009 and through the new year! By the grace of God we have made it through another decade and we are blessed for what we have learned through these last years.
I encourage you to stay tuned, stick with our blog through the next two weeks! There will be updates throughout our trip and we excited to share with you what God is doing in Guatemala! :)
MeRrY ChRiStMaS!!
Monday, December 21, 2009
Five Days!
As we prepare for Christmas and our trip to Guatemala, I can not help but think about the young ones in Guatemala who will not have the privilege of celebrating Christmas the way that most of us Americans do. What does Christmas look like in your home? Is it full of sparkling lights, a Christmas tree, maybe a Nativity scene? These are all things that are present in my house and many other American families. However, these young orphans who have been abandoned and left behind never get to experience Christmas like we do. Myself and my team challenge each of you this Christmas season to experience Christmas in a different way, focus on who Christ is and what His gift of salvation really means. Focus on the true meaning of Christmas and how God sent his only Son to give us eternal life.
We are five days away from our departure for Guatemala and there are many emotions as we all look forward to this experience. We pray that Christ will shine through us to these children and that they can see how Christ can change someone's life.
Please continue to pray for us...for safety, for courage, for passion. God can do great things and our group is excited to see how the Love of God shines upon these children.
Finally, I challenge all of you to consider sponsoring a child this Christmas season, these children need love, they need family, and this could be a wonderful opportunity for you and your families to share the love of Christ with a child. You can go to www.FOCE.org for more information!
May God bless you and your families this Christmas season and may you be convicted to remember the true meaning of Christmas.
Merry Christmas and stay tuned! :)
We are five days away from our departure for Guatemala and there are many emotions as we all look forward to this experience. We pray that Christ will shine through us to these children and that they can see how Christ can change someone's life.
Please continue to pray for us...for safety, for courage, for passion. God can do great things and our group is excited to see how the Love of God shines upon these children.
Finally, I challenge all of you to consider sponsoring a child this Christmas season, these children need love, they need family, and this could be a wonderful opportunity for you and your families to share the love of Christ with a child. You can go to www.FOCE.org for more information!
May God bless you and your families this Christmas season and may you be convicted to remember the true meaning of Christmas.
Merry Christmas and stay tuned! :)
Thursday, December 3, 2009
And We're Getting Closer...
Hola amigos y gracias para sus rezos!
Hello friends and thank you for your prayers!
As of last Friday, we officially are one month away from our long-awaited trip to Guatemala. Last Saturday we had our second-to-last official meeting and it was a great one!
It is still such a blessing to see how God is working in lives as we prepare for this trip. There are various families represented that have been blessed by you, our supporters, and all the wonderful financial support. God is so good and has provided tremendously in providing the great amount of finances to support our team.
We are still in the process of taking donations and finding fun crafts to do with the kids down there. We are excited to see how we can touch the lives of these children just by doing fun things with them like crafts.
It's funny because I was sitting in my 19th Century American Literature class today and my professor made a profound statement about faux moral outrages. He made a point that in the news lately our society has been so concerned with Tiger Woods and all that's occurring in his life. Or how last year everyone freaked out when Michael Phelps was caught using marijuana. How is it that there are children all around the world and in our country living in orphanages, being abused, killed, etc. and we are so concerned with the latest celebrity. How would our world be different today if we stopped worrying about celebrities and clothes and grades, etc. and started caring for the orphans and widows, for those who are lost and need Jesus more than anyone.
I challenge you all to be praying and praying hard for those who are less fortunate than us. To see people through the eyes of Christ and understand that what's important in life is not celebrities and their lives, but those who are malnourished and starving and for those who don't have a voice to speak out and cry for help.
May God bless you all and keep you safe and healthy. We look forward to sharing more of this experience with you along the way! :)
Until later...
Hello friends and thank you for your prayers!
As of last Friday, we officially are one month away from our long-awaited trip to Guatemala. Last Saturday we had our second-to-last official meeting and it was a great one!
It is still such a blessing to see how God is working in lives as we prepare for this trip. There are various families represented that have been blessed by you, our supporters, and all the wonderful financial support. God is so good and has provided tremendously in providing the great amount of finances to support our team.
We are still in the process of taking donations and finding fun crafts to do with the kids down there. We are excited to see how we can touch the lives of these children just by doing fun things with them like crafts.
It's funny because I was sitting in my 19th Century American Literature class today and my professor made a profound statement about faux moral outrages. He made a point that in the news lately our society has been so concerned with Tiger Woods and all that's occurring in his life. Or how last year everyone freaked out when Michael Phelps was caught using marijuana. How is it that there are children all around the world and in our country living in orphanages, being abused, killed, etc. and we are so concerned with the latest celebrity. How would our world be different today if we stopped worrying about celebrities and clothes and grades, etc. and started caring for the orphans and widows, for those who are lost and need Jesus more than anyone.
I challenge you all to be praying and praying hard for those who are less fortunate than us. To see people through the eyes of Christ and understand that what's important in life is not celebrities and their lives, but those who are malnourished and starving and for those who don't have a voice to speak out and cry for help.
May God bless you all and keep you safe and healthy. We look forward to sharing more of this experience with you along the way! :)
Until later...
Saturday, November 7, 2009
The Journey Continues
"La religión pura y sin mancha delante de Dios nuestro Padre es ésta: atender a los huérfanos y a las viudas en sus aflicciones, y conservarse limpio de la corrupción del mundo" (Santiago 1:27).
"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world" (James 1:27).
This verse has become the "official" verse of our team and will be put on the back of our team T-Shirts as our inspiration. God commands us to look after the orphans and widows and that is what God has called each of us to do on this trip!
We just had our third team meeting and it is such a blessing to see the Providence of God. We have had two editions to our team since three others were no longer able to join us...Bob Muhleck and his son Matt have decided to follow the call of God and join our trip in the past couple weeks. It is amazing to see how God has provided for them as they were crunched for time to get funding in. They were able to send out an e-mail support letter and have found immense success. God is so good and we are excited to have them as a part of our team!
During this meeting it was eye opening to hear the testimonies of each member and how God has worked and changed their lives. We have a group of young adults who have come from Christian homes and adults who have come from all different backgrounds. By God's grace we have all seen His love and mercy and are called by him to do His service. It is amazing to see how God can let people be transparent and willing to tell their testimonies, what a great form of worship.
For our next meeting we all get to discover more about Guatemala and have the opportunity to do some research about the culture so that we are prepared for what we encounter. It will be so exciting to see how God uses us in that culture and opens our eyes to the a culture other than our own...which is an opportunity that many in life do not get!
God is continuing to be faithful and our supporters have been so gracious and giving! We appreciate all the prayers and support and we are excited to see that work that God has in store for us! Continue to pray for our group, that our hearts would be prepared and that the Holy Spirit would use us in ways that are indescribable! Pray for those people who we will encounter and that they would be receptive to the Holy Spirit and his Gospel.
We look forward to continuing our journey that God has called us upon and we hope that you are enjoying reading about what God has done in our group!
Muchas bendiciones!
Many blessings!
"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world" (James 1:27).
This verse has become the "official" verse of our team and will be put on the back of our team T-Shirts as our inspiration. God commands us to look after the orphans and widows and that is what God has called each of us to do on this trip!
We just had our third team meeting and it is such a blessing to see the Providence of God. We have had two editions to our team since three others were no longer able to join us...Bob Muhleck and his son Matt have decided to follow the call of God and join our trip in the past couple weeks. It is amazing to see how God has provided for them as they were crunched for time to get funding in. They were able to send out an e-mail support letter and have found immense success. God is so good and we are excited to have them as a part of our team!
During this meeting it was eye opening to hear the testimonies of each member and how God has worked and changed their lives. We have a group of young adults who have come from Christian homes and adults who have come from all different backgrounds. By God's grace we have all seen His love and mercy and are called by him to do His service. It is amazing to see how God can let people be transparent and willing to tell their testimonies, what a great form of worship.
For our next meeting we all get to discover more about Guatemala and have the opportunity to do some research about the culture so that we are prepared for what we encounter. It will be so exciting to see how God uses us in that culture and opens our eyes to the a culture other than our own...which is an opportunity that many in life do not get!
God is continuing to be faithful and our supporters have been so gracious and giving! We appreciate all the prayers and support and we are excited to see that work that God has in store for us! Continue to pray for our group, that our hearts would be prepared and that the Holy Spirit would use us in ways that are indescribable! Pray for those people who we will encounter and that they would be receptive to the Holy Spirit and his Gospel.
We look forward to continuing our journey that God has called us upon and we hope that you are enjoying reading about what God has done in our group!
Muchas bendiciones!
Many blessings!
Monday, October 19, 2009
Hola amigos! Espero que estén teniendo un otoño bueno!
Hello friends! I hope you all are having a good autumn!
The team is doing well! Although two of our team members are no longer able to be with us on this trip, we know that God has a plan for our team and that we will find some other people who are well-equipped to do God's work in Guatemala.
We had our second team meeting about a week and a half ago and we are excited to say that God is continuing to bless us. It was so wonderful coming together to see our team and the stories about sending out support letters. God has such wonderful ways of connecting us to long lost friends or those we don't communicate with often. We are still in the process of raising funds for our trip but we know that God is the ultimate provider and that his provisions will endure.
At our last meeting we had a time of praise and worship...in Spanish! It was so fantastic, seeing everyone worship in another language besides our own is very eye opening. It shows the majesty of God even more knowing that he can hear and understand so many different languages. We also were excited to learn some more Spanish and common phrases that we will be using around the orphanage.
We are also in the process of deciding how we are going to bring something to the orphanage. In the past years, the group has done "Jeans for Teens," etc., but this year we want to do something unique. We have thought about doing school supplies and underclothes, but we still have some decisions to make.
We are getting more and more excited about our trip and we are excited to see how God uses us and teaches us through this experience. Please continue to pray for us and our preparation for this trip. We hope that God is blessing you through your devotion to praying for us.
Hasta luego!
See ya later! :)
Hello friends! I hope you all are having a good autumn!
The team is doing well! Although two of our team members are no longer able to be with us on this trip, we know that God has a plan for our team and that we will find some other people who are well-equipped to do God's work in Guatemala.
We had our second team meeting about a week and a half ago and we are excited to say that God is continuing to bless us. It was so wonderful coming together to see our team and the stories about sending out support letters. God has such wonderful ways of connecting us to long lost friends or those we don't communicate with often. We are still in the process of raising funds for our trip but we know that God is the ultimate provider and that his provisions will endure.
At our last meeting we had a time of praise and worship...in Spanish! It was so fantastic, seeing everyone worship in another language besides our own is very eye opening. It shows the majesty of God even more knowing that he can hear and understand so many different languages. We also were excited to learn some more Spanish and common phrases that we will be using around the orphanage.
We are also in the process of deciding how we are going to bring something to the orphanage. In the past years, the group has done "Jeans for Teens," etc., but this year we want to do something unique. We have thought about doing school supplies and underclothes, but we still have some decisions to make.
We are getting more and more excited about our trip and we are excited to see how God uses us and teaches us through this experience. Please continue to pray for us and our preparation for this trip. We hope that God is blessing you through your devotion to praying for us.
Hasta luego!
See ya later! :)
Monday, August 31, 2009
The Journey Has Begun
Saludos en el nombre de nuestro Jesucristo del señor!
Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ!
The journey for this year's trip to Casa Bernabe Orphanage in Guatemala has officially begun! This past Saturday our team of fifteen met for the first time with an outpouring of excitement. As we began our meeting we were blessed to begin learning some songs by Hillsong...but in Spanish! The Lord has blessed our team with at least three individuals who have a strong background in Spanish and we are excited to see the rest of the group learn more as we prepare for this trip!
It is so beautiful to see who God has chosen for this particular trip including: two families, four college students, some wise men, and a mother-daughter team. It will be so interesting to see how God uses each of our gifts and talents to serve each other and the individuals we come in contact with along this journey!
Our team will be meeting five or six more times before we set off to Guatemala on December 27th at 7:20am and each meeting we will be doing specific tasks to prepare us for the work of our Lord. One meeting will be dedicated to testimonies and getting to know our team mates to better our understanding of working together while another week we will be spending time in cultural exploration, familiarizing ourselves with the Guatemalan culture.
God has the ability to work in great ways when His people obey His commandment: "Go and make disciples of all nations" and we are so thrilled to see God move during our trip!
Stay tuned for a beautiful journey of Christ's people coming together to serve Him!
Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ!
The journey for this year's trip to Casa Bernabe Orphanage in Guatemala has officially begun! This past Saturday our team of fifteen met for the first time with an outpouring of excitement. As we began our meeting we were blessed to begin learning some songs by Hillsong...but in Spanish! The Lord has blessed our team with at least three individuals who have a strong background in Spanish and we are excited to see the rest of the group learn more as we prepare for this trip!
It is so beautiful to see who God has chosen for this particular trip including: two families, four college students, some wise men, and a mother-daughter team. It will be so interesting to see how God uses each of our gifts and talents to serve each other and the individuals we come in contact with along this journey!
Our team will be meeting five or six more times before we set off to Guatemala on December 27th at 7:20am and each meeting we will be doing specific tasks to prepare us for the work of our Lord. One meeting will be dedicated to testimonies and getting to know our team mates to better our understanding of working together while another week we will be spending time in cultural exploration, familiarizing ourselves with the Guatemalan culture.
God has the ability to work in great ways when His people obey His commandment: "Go and make disciples of all nations" and we are so thrilled to see God move during our trip!
Stay tuned for a beautiful journey of Christ's people coming together to serve Him!
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