We had no internet access on Tuesday night which meant no entry to this blog.  So, I will summarize the past two days in this entry.

Our Tuesday went extremely well as the team was completely finished with the twenty five houses by 3:00PM.  Wait, the number was 24, not 25.  At breakfast on Tuesday morning, Lazaro shared that one of the families in our feeding center program had been displaced and were homeless.  We had a team go back the materials and build a house for that family on Tuesday as well.  So, this team built 25 houses lock and key when all was said and done.

We gathered in the upper room at 5:00PM for our share time.  As always, that was a special time.

Our Wednesday consisted of the team going back to the village to dedicate the 24 houses there.  We divided into four groups with each group dedicating six houses.  There was one profession of faith during those dedications.  Praise the Lord!

It was then to Rincon Suizo for lunch.  Good food and great fellowship.

We then came back to El Tejar.  One group went to put the door and window on the 25th house and then to dedicate it.  Everyone else began to get ready to leave.  Pastor Keith Martin and the folks from Kennedy Baptist Church left the mission house at 8:00PM as their flight departed Guatemala at 12:20AM.  I am typing this at 3:30AM Guatemala time and the computer says their plane is basically landing now in Atlanta.

The rest of the team left the mission house at 3:00AM.  Everyone except Bro. Chris is flying United and is scheduled to arrive in Mobile at 12:59PM.

This has been a really good team.  Great attitudes.  Great work ethic.  Great worship.  It was a joy to be a part of this experience.

Pray for safety in travel today.  Thank you for following us on this blog.  I apologize for the lapse in the internet service.  Blessings!

Our Monday was a full day.  The focus was on two things – building the houses and distributing food and clothes to 150 families.  Both ministry opportunities were a success.

Here is where we stand on the construction of the houses – twenty three are up with two only needing the roof tin before receiving the concrete.  Of those twenty three, twenty have already received the concrete as our team was able to concrete eleven houses yesterday.  Nine of the houses are completely finished.  So, the team has two roofs to put on, one house to build, and four houses to concrete and we will reach our goal of twenty four houses being built lock and key.  God has certainly blessed us!

The food and clothes distribution went very well too as it took place in the same village where the team is building houses.  That is always a special ministry.

The team has had a bump here and a bruise there but all in all everyone is well.  Attitudes have been great!

Thank you for checking on us.  Keep praying!  Blessings!

Yesterday, 6/14, was a good day of worship and rest although it was a very full day.  We had our morning praise and worship time and then Jordan Lollar brought us the word from the Word.  He, along with his wife, Lana, Rachel Baines and Jimmy Thomas have done a really nice job of leading our musical worship each day.  I am grateful.

We had about fifteen folks to leave early heading to the zip lines near Antigua.  Everyone else, minus me, hit Antigua to shop and just look around.  I had the privilege of preaching at our daughter church that meets on the campus of the seminary.  We all then met up in Antigua for our normal lunch at Las Antorchas.

We then headed back to the mission house, changed clothes and headed down the hill for the church service at our other daughter church – GRACE Community Church.  They meet in the feeding center.  Jordan and the Jets led our musical worship in English and Pastor Keith preached the Word.  As usual, he did a very nice job.  We then observed the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper which was the first time for this young body of believers to do so.  Good service.

Our folks were then blessed to be able to feed the others in attendance.  They enjoyed a meal of tamales which is a favorite dish here.

Our evening was spent in a time of fellowship and getting the clothes ready for tonight’s distribution.  Jennifer Glasgow has led that effort and has done great.

Plans call for today to be a long one.  Pray for us.  Thank you for checking on us.  Blessings!

FWIW – I am told that Coach Collier is a terrible shopper!  Just saying!

Today, 6/13, was a very blessed day.  We left the mission house at 7:00AM in anticipation of another wet day and because we needed to leave the work site by 1:00PM in order to get ready for a block party.  The Lord showed us favor as we had a beautiful weather day and were able to work until 1:00PM.  We now have fourteen houses up with three of them only needing a roof before being ready to receive the concrete.  Nine have the concrete already as six were concreted today.

The greatest obstacle we have faced has been mud – lots of mud.  We could not put concrete in some houses simply because they were too muddy.  The tops are on now so they will be able to dry out by Monday.

Mike Parker and one of his staff members came to the school in El Tejar to host a block party for us.  It was a really great time with literally hundreds of children enjoying games, a bounce house, cotton candy, sno cones and lots of candy.

We had our devotion tonight with Jeff Holifield bringing us a word from the Word.  He did a nice job.

Everyone is doing great.  Attitudes are excellent!  Thanks for praying!  Blessings!

A team of thirty nine folks (37 from Alabama and 2 from Mississippi) arrived in Guatemala on Thursday, 6/11.  They came in three different waves – 11:00AM; 12:00PM and 9:00PM.  Everyone arrived safely and for that we are most grateful.

So, today, 6/12, was really our first day of being together as a team.  Dr. Mike & Miss Dottie Clark came to our morning worship time and Dr. Mike brought us a good word from the Word.  It is always so great to have them join us and his messages are always spot on!

All but five of the team then headed West to build houses.  The first morning always means leaving later than normal so we did not actually get to the work site until around 11:00AM.  We were greeted by rain shortly thereafter and it stayed with us the rest of the day.  In spite of that, we were able to get six houses built with three of those receiving the concrete.  Three more were built up to the point of only needing the top to be finished.  We came back to the mission house very wet and muddy but with excellent attitudes.  God is good!

The five ladies who stayed at the mission house actually spent the day at the feeding center.  They thoroughly enjoyed the children.

Tomorrow will be more of the same for us.  Thanks for praying for us and for checking on us.  Blessings!