7/13 We had another great day today!  We had one crew go and work on houses and another group prepare for tonight and tomorrow.  We should finish our houses in the morning and will   go to dedicate them in the afternoon.  From there we will do a village feeding of 100 families and return to the house for pizza!  Those that do not go and work on the houses in the morning will go to the dump and minister to those in need.  This morning, we had a moving devotion from Miss Alba!  Tonight, we have invited the seminary men and their families to supper and a service tonight that came and worked with us in the village!  The Lord spoke to our hearts this week to minister to these students preparing for the ministry!  It was confirmed when we found out they were out of school for a week and available to join us!   I am looking forward to Miss Kittie and what the Lord has for us in our devotion tonight! Yes, we are having two worship services today!  We also hope to have some special music tonight as well!  This morning, those who stayed behind fixed our baskets for our house dedications and our service tonight and also helped cook and minister at the feeding center!    Miss Alba brought a bunch of blankets from the states to give at the dump , the village, and anywhere else she can so we are preparing to give them out as well!  Great day so far!  Looking ahead to a wonderful meal prepared by our great kitchen workers!   God is good!

7/12 We had a great day of fellowship and worship today!  Lazaro preached in English on God’s Amazing Grace in the worship service!  Lazaro’s son, Josh, did the interpretation for the congregation!  They both did an outstanding job!   The Spirit of God was moving in the service!  We are praying for a good day tomorrow!

Greetings from Guatemala and the second of three summer trips from Friendship!  We arrived in Dallas on time with a seven hour layover (love it) so with the special help from Melissa Brady, her mom, Mona, Bobby (bus driver) & Martha, and First Baptist Church of Lakeside for the use of their mini-bus, we loaded up, went downtown Dallas, ate at Sonny’s BBQ, and spent several hours at the JFK Museum!  We returned to the airport and ended up with an hour delay due to mechanical problems (that’s encouraging)!  Landed in Guatemala at 8:30 pmGuatemala time.  Arrived  at mission house at 11:30 pm!  Long story but it all worked out well…made for a very long day!  We let the folks sleep in an extra hour today!  Had a wonderful breakfast, did devotions, and went to a new village as far as houses are concerned!  We were working on our sixth house in various stages of completion when the rains set in for the day.  Only one house ready to do concrete so we have a ways to go!  Our plans our to get up early and go directly to work tomorrow.  We will have our devotion after supper.  The pattern of rain is typical … afternoon rains into the night.  The team of 7 men and 18 ladies total did a fantastic job today!  Looking forward to another great day tomorrow!  I have to mention that our cooks  made a meal fit for a king!  The clean up crew were amazing!  Several of our good friends showed up to eat!  (They were invited!). Ha! Ha!   We chose to help several married seminary students this week!  We had three of them work with us.  We were blessed by their presence!

Greetings from Guatemala,

Here is a quick round up of our trip so far: Our travels on Friday 4/15 went well with no problems at all.  We had a scare at the Guatemala airport when they wanted to search and scan our luggage but God allowed everything to go through.  After arriving to the mission house we spent the day setting everything up, shopping for groceries, and resting after a long day of travels.

Saturday 4/16 we started a little later than usual and headed to the Seminary to paint.  Another crew went to Love the Child (Steve Osborn’s orphanage) to spend some time with the children there.  God provided some great workers as we finished painting the whole seminary and God touched some lives at the orphanage.

Today 4/17 was our break day because of the hectic week of Holy Celebration week in Guatemala.  Early this morning we headed out to Panajachel and spent the day shopping and eating.  We just finished with an amazing service with worship from Carlitos and a great message from Tico Vargas from the seminary.  God really spoke to our lives and used both of them to give us an amazing service tonight.

Tomorrow we embark on the journey with the students to build 15 houses.  Pray everything can go well and we can minister to some amazing people here in Guatemala.

We had a good final day as it contained a variety of projects – the fifth, and final, medical clinic of the week; a visit to Casa Aleluya; a visit to the village where this team built last year; painting at the seminary; securing the screens on the windows of the Camp house and Ford house; washing vehicles; et cetera. 

A large number of guests joined us for supper and then we had our final share time of the week.  Of course, as always, we had some “slackers” among us and the committee rewarded them accordingly! 

The greatest news of the week was that twelve folks prayed to receive Jesus as their personal Savior.  All of these salvation decisions took place during the medical clinics.  That is why GRACE Ministries does ministry! 

The Michigan folks are leaving on a 7:00AM flight, the Californian at 1:05PM, and the rest of us at 1:50PM.  Pray for us to have safe travels to our respective homes today.  Thank you for taking the time to follow us via the blog.  I will possibly update the numbers on Monday, 2/8.  Blessings!

This entry is being typed on Friday morning as I simply could not get online long enough last night to post.  Sorry about that!

Yesterday was a good day as the construction team completely finished all 20 houses in the village.  We were also able to dedicate all 20 houses and that was a special time.  The folks in Parajbey were very, very appreciative.  To me, the dedications are always such a special time and yesterday was no different.

The medical team saw another 200 plus folks.  It was good as we were all in the same village so the entire team spent the day together. 

We enjoyed a nice meal at Paulino’s on the way home.  That was a good time of fellowship too.

The seminary painters were able to get a lot more done yesterday and should finish today. 

Pray for us as we do a variety of things today bringing this first GRACE trip of the year to an end.  All is well here and we appreciate your interest and your prayer support!

Today saw the construction folks go back to Parajbey Santa Apolonia and the medical team got to Aldea Los Corrales, Parramos. 

The MT saw 360 (don’t remember the exact number) folks which kept the three doctors and the pharmacist busy.  That puts them in the neighborhood of 850 folks seen thus far. 

The building team now has 18 houses that have received concrete.  Basically, only a couple are not completely i.e. barrel bolts, door handles, et cetera.  Two more have to be built but we intentionally delayed building them until tomorrow so one of the doctors can have that experience.  

The team members are in the big room spending some quality time in fellowship.  This team as a whole does not spend a lot of time on the internet which is a good thing. 

All is well here and we ask that you keep praying for us.

Good day!  Let me give you the highlights – no wait, let me give you the “lowlight” for starters.  Carla Mast had the “gall” to lead the group in singing the chorus to a team’s theme song.  The team wasn’t Bama and it wasn’t even AU – it was worse, much worse!  I will probably have nightmares tonight!

Our medical team was expecting a huge crowd today but ended up seeing 255 patients.  I really haven’t gotten the details but know they had a good day. 

The construction team completely finished one house, poured cement in three others, have another ready for cement, and have three more basically needing about thirty minutes of work to be at the point of being ready for cement. 

The building conditions are pretty tough i.e. fairly steep.  Dave & Donna, we are looking “down” (literally) on the houses your team built!  However, it’s all good!

Two ladies went to the seminary today and did some painting.  I don’t know the details but know they have a lot of work to do – won’t get it done. 

My wife leaves for home in the morning.  It has been great having her here.  Pray that she will have uneventful flights and that we will have a productive Tuesday.

Yes, this is the first GRACE trip of 2010.  This is one of those “we got folks” from everywhere trips that are so neat to see how “strangers” become “family” after basically spending six days together. 

We plan on doing medical clincs for five days while building twenty houses and doing some painting/art work at the seminary too.  It is going to be busy and that is how we (I) like it. 

The team arrived today and all of the medicines cleared customs without a hitch.  I so appreciate our Yankee friends who diligently packed the suitcases in proper order.  Great job guys!

Tomorrow we will do church, a little shopping (not I), and then do village ministry tomorrow afternoon late.  That will be followed by a pill sorting party in preparation for the clinics. 

I am thankful this team is here but we do miss Caroline Ford.  We are in capable hands with Jan Kapenga but we still miss Caroline and are praying for her complete healing. 

Pray for us.  Check back Sunday night for an update.

This entry is coming way late in the day as it is already 11:30PM.  So many folks have been on the internet that I could not connect as I am the last one on line.  I must get in touch with Al! 

We had a good Thursday.  The team went back to Santa Cruz Balanya where they hosted another day of VBS, built five more houses, cemented six more, and completely finished all eighteen in that village.  Basically in two and one half days this team has completed 18 houses! 

Late this afternoon we hosted the boys from Vencedores.  As always, it was a good time for them and us.  They have new dorm parents, Lee & Candy, and Candy came with the boys.  She was joined by Carolyn Ciak & Olga. 

Tonight, Max Lara and his family shared some songs with us.  What a great family! 

Tomorrow we will dedicate the houses in Santa Cruz Balanya, finish the one in Panimaquin, build one in San Lucas, and cook for the wedding reception.  Tom Compagner & I will attend the civil wedding ceremony for Samuel & Reina at 5:00PM. 

Thanks for reading this update and keep praying.

Blessed day!  The team went back to Santa Cruz Balanya to continue to build houses, do VBS, and host a block party. 

Mark Mast once again led the VBS and I am told it went well again.  We hosted a block party led by Garrett Wright & Rita Vice that was attended by 400 (probably a conservative figure) children.  They had a great time and I really appreciate Mike Parker and Clubhouse Guatemala allowing us to use their equipment.  PJ & Pablo did a great job of filling in for Mike!  The children had a blast especially with the cotton candy which having the machine was a small miracle in itself.  Lets just say it involved my forgetfulness and a pair of girl’s sandals from a used clothing store.   Or, lets just say that God showed up and made it all work for His glory and our good!

The building team built 8 more houses today while the cement team did 9 more.  That puts us at 13 built in the village with 12 having the cement.  I think 7 or 8 are completely finished.  Great team with great work ethic! 

Thank you for reading this entry.  Keep praying!