Sunday, November 9

Meet with 27 people at Border Esso in Emo, Ontario who are going to Guatemala with Grace Ministries – Mission Team #1
Leave at 12:30pm
Stop in Virginia, MN for gas and shopping
Drive to Best Western Plus hotel in Bloomington, MN
Arrive at 6:30pm
Have dinner at Tony Roma’s at Mall of America

Monday, November 10

Get up at 2:00am
Breakfast at hotel
Leave Best Western at 3:00am
Take shuttle to MSP airport
Fly from MSP to GUA at 5:00am via United Airlines (connection in Houston, TX)
Arrive in GUA at 12:15pm
Drive to Mission House in El Tejar
Meet the additional 11 participants from Michigan, South Carolina and Guatemala
Unpack and get settled
Go out for dinner at Maxi Despensa
Team meeting to discuss ministry plans, schedule and guidelines – 38 total participants – Mission Team #1
Early to bed…

Tuesday, November 11

Morning devotions – Mark Mast
Purchase 100 chairs for Grace Ministries – Dream Center
Drive to Pajales Dos (near summit of Acetanango)
Build 10 homes
Bible School in Pajales Dos at school – 200 children
Organize suitcases of items that we brought to Guatemala

Wednesday, November 12

Morning devotions – Lazaro Suruy
Drive to San Miguel (El Tejar)
Build 8 homes
Bible School in San Miguel (El Tejar) at Iglesia Amor y Gracia (Love & Grace Church) – Pastor Edgar Gamboa – 50 children
Meet Pastor Edi Figueroa from Pajales Dos in Chimaltenango and purchase a keyboard and guitar for his church
Have ministry and meal with families of Grace Community Church (Grace Ministries – Dream Center) – Pastor Lazaro Suruy – 200 present
Organize “give away” items at Mission House

Thursday, November 13

Morning devotions – Pat Giles
Two groups go to San Miguel (El Tejar) and finish homes
Three groups finish homes in Pajales Dos
Bible School in Pajales Dos at school – 200 children
Visit Guatemala Biblical Seminary
Prepare for pizza party for teen boys from Casa Aleluia
Have 42 teen boys from Casa Aleluia for pizza party at Mission House
Pack 40 food bags for dump ministry on Saturday

Friday, November 14

Morning devotions – Ben Mast
Leave mission house at 7:00am
Drive to Pacaya volcano
Take horses up Pacaya volcano
Walk around on Pacaya volcano
Drive to Antigua
Go to The Fork (El Tenedor) in Antigua
Shop in Antigua
“Lupper” in Antigua
Return to Mission House
Prepare for dump ministry
Prepare 125 bag lunches

Saturday, November15

Morning devotions – Dean Kapenga
Dump ministry in El Tejar
Dedicate homes in San Miguel (El Tejar)
Dedicate homes in Pajales Dos
Food & clothing distribution in Pajales Dos at school
Church service in San Miguel (El Tejar) at Ministerio Tirando la Red (Throwing the Net Ministry) – Pastor Max Archila

Sunday, November 16

Morning devotions – Bob Petkau
Youth Conference in Pajales Dos at Full Gospel Church of God (Iglesia De Dios Evangelio Completo) – Pastor Edi Figueroa
Church service at Full Gospel Church of God (Iglesia De Dios Evangelico Completo) in Pajales Dos – Pastor Edi Figueroa
-Dedicate piano and guitar that Mission Team donated
Share testimonies at Mission House
Mission Team #1 prepare for trip home

Monday, November 17

Get up at 2:30am and take members of Mission Team #1 to the airport in Guatemala City
Return to Mission House and organize things
Go with Lazaro Suruy to see building sites in El Tejar
Go with Lazaro Suruy to music store to purchase a piano for the Dream Center
Go to Guatemala City and pick up Grace Ministries – Mission Team #2 at the airport
Return to Mission House – violent thunder storm – heavy rain – power out
Team meeting to discuss ministry plans, schedule and guidelines – 19 participants – Mission Team #2
Go to “open air home” of Norma in El Tejar to show team why we are building homes for the poor in Guatemala
Go to Maxi Dispensa for dinner at food court
Meet with Mission Team #2 to give further instructions
Early to bed…

Tuesday, November 18

Morning Devotions – Mark Mast
Drive to La Alameda (Chimaltenango)
Build 11 homes
Bible School in La Alameda (Chimaltenango) at Casa de Paz (House of Peace) – Pastor Erika – 150 children
Shop at Maxi Despensa
Organize suitcases of items that we brought to Guatemala

Wednesday, November 19

Morning Devotions – Ken Larsen
Drive to La Alameda (Chimaltenango)
Finish building 11 homes
Bible School in La Alameda (Chimaltenango) at Casa de Paz (House of Peace) – Pastor Erika – 200 children
Bible School at Dream Center (Grace Ministries) – 40 children
Shop at Maxi Dispensia

Thursday, November 20

Morning Devotions – Lazaro Suruy
Drive to El Tejar
Build 5 homes
Bible School in El Tejar at Iglesia Evangelica Pentecostas (Evangelical Pentecostal Church) – Pastor Rogelio & Olga Sulecio – 70 children
Meet with Pastor Max Archila of Ministerio Tirando la Red (Throwing the Net Ministry) and show him the Grace Ministries Mission House
Have 48 teen girls from Casa Aleluia for pizza party at Mission House
Pack 25 food bags for dump ministry on Saturday

Friday, November 21

Morning Devotions – Mark Nussbaumer
Go to El Tejar
Finish building 5 homes
Bible School in El Tejar at Iglesia Evangelica Pentecostas (Evangelical Pentecostal Church) – Pastor Rogelio & Olga Sulecio – 70 children
Dedicate 5 homes in El Tejar
Dedicate 11 homes in La Alameda (Chimaltenango)
Food & clothing distribution in La Alameda (Chimaltenango) at Casa de Paz (House of Peace) – Pastor Erika
Church service in San Miguel (El Tejar) at Iglesia Amor y Gracia (Love & Grace Church) – Pastor Edgar Gamboa
Prepare for dump ministry
Prepare 60 bag lunches

Saturday, November 22

Morning Devotions – John King
Dump ministry at El Tejar
Bible School in El Tejar at Lazaro & Glendy Suruy’s house – 60 children
Drive to Pastores – cowboy boots
Drive to Antigua – shop
Lunch at Luna de Miel (Honeymoon) – crepes
Go to The Fork (El Tenedor) in Antigua
Shop in Antigua

Sunday, November 23

Morning devotions – Mark Mast
Church service in La Alameda (Chimaltenango) at Casa de Paz (House of Peace) – Pastor Erika
Have ice cream at Maxi Despensa
Bible School in Chimaltenango at Iglesia Cordero de Dios (Lamb of God Church) – Pastor Jose Hernandez – 70 children
Wash vans
Church service and meal at Grace Community Church (Grace Ministries – Dream Center) – Pastor Lazaro Suruy – 200 present
-Dedicate piano that Mission Team donated
-Dedicate children of Likasty (Joselin & Josue) and Stephani (Monserrat) to the Lord
Share testimonies at Mission House
Mission Team #2 prepare for trip home

Monday, November 24

Morning devotions – Mark Mast
Leave Mission House at 7:00am
Drive to Pacaya volcano
Take horses up Pacaya
Walk around on Pacaya
Go to Casa Aleluia and play with the kids
Tour of Casa Aleluia
Dinner at Burger King in Chimaltenango
Pack for trip home
Wash van

Tuesday, November 25

Leave mission house at 3:00am
Arrive at GUA airport at 4:00am
Fly United 1501 to Houston
Fly United 4612 to MSP
Drive to Rainy River…

Well it’s hard to believe that another day has already flown by. It’s late Thursday evening and everyone is in bed. We have had a long day of serving and experiencing God’s grace upon our lives.

The day began with Pat Giles sharing a message from the Word during our devotions. The teens have been doing a great job leading worship with the help of Rachel at the keyboard.

Two groups went to San Muiguil to finish the homes that were built there yesterday.  Another three groups went to finish the 10 homes that were built in Pajales Dos on Tuesday.

The remaining people participated in a giant Bible School for the children of Pajales Dos.  At least 200 were present!

It was a perfect day to enjoy the beauty of the mountains near Acetenango volcano.

We all finished up around 2:00pm and drove to the seminary in Chimaltenango to see the home of David Vargas.

We were able to spend a little bit of free time relaxing at the mission house before the arrival of 42 teenage boys from Casa Aleluia. Once everyone was settled down and enjoying pizza, we had a very meaningful time together.  There was lots of singing, asking questions and introducing everyone by name, along with finding out what they would like to do with their life.

Last evening was a tremendous highlight when we prepared a meal for over 200 people at the Dream Center.  Mark shared a challenge from the Word and the children sang and recited verses of the Bible from memory.  It was a very precious time!

Tomorrow, Ben will share a devotional before we make the journey to Pacaya volcano, located near Guatemala City. We plan on taking horses up most of the way and then will walk up the remainder of the distance, while enjoying the beautiful sites that are afforded us.

There is so much more that could be said, but the best news of all is that Jesus is doing what He does best… bringing children, teens and adults into a personal relationship with Himself through the power of the Gospel and the life that we find in knowing Him.

Everyone arrived safe and sound in Guatemala on Monday!  It was a bit “touch and go” in Minneapolis with very heavy snow falling and flights being cancelled… but not ours!

On Tuesday, we had a great day of building 10 houses in mountainous village of Pajales Dos. This village is on the slope of Acetenango volcano and is extremely beautiful!  We also had a wonderful VS with approximately 250 children present.  On Monday night we sorted through mountains of clothes, school supplies, blankets, toys, stuffed animals, etc. for VBS ministry, Home dedications, Dream Center, etc.

Today, Lazaro Suruy will share a devotion with us before we head out to the village of San Muiguil to have VBS and build 8 homes.  This afternoon we are hosting a party and meal at the Dream Center for the children and their families.  Bring out the pinatas!!  Please pray for us.