This team was blessed yesterday with a really good second day of ministry.  Here are the highlights:

We used the “My Hope America” dvd for our morning devotional.  Powerful stuff!  One salvation decision.

The team built four more houses up to the point of being ready for the concrete.  Three more were framed.  Six more houses received concrete which brings that total to ten.  Four were “finished” which means they are completely done.

Pastor Mark Mast led a VBS and I am told there were a “bunch” of children in attendance.  He will do that for the next two days.  He is certainly gifted in that area and has a host of folks helping him.

Our day in the village was intentionally cut short as we left there at 2:00PM headed back to the mission house.  After some quick showers, we made our way down the hill to the feeding center where we hosted a meal for the children and families who will be in our inaugural group beginning in January.  Personally, that was a highlight of the week for me.  I spoke to Tyrone Crawley and I think he shares those sentiments with me.  God confirmed in my heart that this is going to be an important aspect of GRACE Ministries from this point forward.

Today, we head back to the village but will leave there at 1:00PM as we will host the boys from Vencedores this afternoon.  Our day begins with Dr. Mike Clark bringing the message in our morning devotional time.

Everyone is well.  Thanks for your prayers!

A good first day of ministry.  The team built 8 houses (minus one roof) with four of those receiving concrete.  We have four or five folks on this team who have never been on an international mission trip period.  A good number of others have never been on a GRACE Ministries trip.  Our morning devotional went a little long (too much music maybe?) and we had to make three stops on the way to the village which meant that the actual building of the houses did not begin until around 11:00AM or so.  So, it was a very good day when one takes all of that into consideration.  God is good!

Today calls for more of the same.  However, our day will end early as we will be hosting supper for the 35 children who will be taking part in our feeding center program.  Their families will be involved as well.  This will give this team the opportunity to meet these children and to better know how to pray for them.

Everyone is well.  Thanks for checking on us.  Keep praying!

Quick update – everyone is present and accounted for.  Long day of travel yesterday and most folks found the bed fairly early last night. Will update either tonight or first thing in the morning.  Thanks for checking on us.  Pray for us.  Blessings!

A good final day.  Some of the team worked at Casa Aleluya while the rest visited a children’s home that Lazaro works with.  That was followed by a visit to Casa Aleluya.  Upon their return, the vans were washed inside and out.  An 80th birthday worship service was held for Bro. Paul Leytham.  Manolo & Mildred Padilla led the musical worship, others shared, and a brief message from Joshua was shared.

After supper, we will have our final share time.  It will be up and at them early in the morning.  The good part of that is that everyone should be at their respective home airports by mid-afternoon (not as early for the Michigan folks but earlier than normal).

Thank you for taking the time to follow these abbreviated blog entries.  Pray for us as we travel home tomorrow.

The day began with our men working on the road inside the property.  They used rocks, sand, and cement mix and it has made an immediate positive difference.  We will see if it works long term.

We then went to the village and dedicated the 24 houses.  There were several salvation decisions.

This evening, we went out to eat.  Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.

Everyone continues to do well.  Pray for us.

A really strong Monday!  First, we hosted three Bible Schools with a total of 430 children.  What a great blessing!

The building teams were able to finish the construction of the houses today by building ten more and putting concrete in twelve today. We came back to the mission house tired but grateful for the day.  We have plans to dedicate the 24 houses tomorrow because we have ministry opportunities on Wednesday.

Some of the team came back to the mission house early in order to do a food/clothes distribution in the El Tejar area.  I understand that went well.

Everyone is well.  We are thankful!

A good Sunday.  The team slept in, ate breakfast, and then spent time in musical worship followed by a message delivered by Lazaro Suruy.  Pastor George Lamorena translated the message for us.

We then headed to the service at Rios de Agua Viva.  Pastor Walter Aju preached with Pastor George serving as his translator.  It was a good service.

The rest of the day was spent “as usual” for us with lunch and shopping.  Nice, restful evening.

They needed that rest as tomorrow will see us building more houses, doing concrete, and hosting a food/clothes distribution in the evening.

This has been a historic trip as eight “slacker” shirts have already been distributed by the “committee!”  Seven were given last night!  We have had a husband & wife and a dad & lad receive shirts – never before in the history of GRACE Ministries have we had this.

Thanks for taking the time to read this update.  Pray for us!

A good second day of ministry.  More houses were built, two VBS’s took place, and another day of work at Casa Aleluya.  Everyone is in good spirits and serving with great attitudes.

Tomorrow is a usual Sunday for one of our GRACE Ministries teams – morning devotional, church service, lunch in Antigua, shopping, and then an evening at the mission house.

We appreciate those who are checking on us.  Keep praying.

Blessings!

A usual first day of work for a team.  We made our way west of Tecpan.  We actually drove past where the team that just left yesterday was building.  As I figured, this team did very well completely finishing one house, three more received the concrete, and four more are up to the point of being ready for the cement.

One of our very best workers, Ross Genzink, and his wife, Kathy, made their way to Casa Aleluya and spent the entire day working there.  They will go back there at least one more day.

Everyone is well.  Tomorrow we go back to build and we will also host two Bible Schools – one in the morning and one in the afternoon.

I appreciate you checking on us and deeply appreciate the prayers.

Forty six folks flew from Grand Rapids, Memphis, Atlanta, Birmingham, Gulfport and Mobile early this morning.  Two flew in last night and stayed in a hotel near the airport.  By 3:30PM, all 48 were in the mission house.  We met, went to the store for candy, ate supper in town, and came back to rest and recharge for tomorrow.

Everyone is well.  Thanks for your prayer support.