This team’s Monday was a really good day.  The medical/dental team saw somewhere in the neighbor of three hundred and fifty folks.  I saw a picture of one of Dr. Derek’s patients and the transformation was amazing!  Dr. Mark told me they sent another person to the hospital for x-rays.  That patient will need surgery.

The building team had their best day yet.  As it stands now, thirteen houses are up and twelve of those are completely finished.  One needs all of the metal, one needs all of the metal and one needs on the roof metal.  There was a shortage of screws which prevented two of these from being done and ready for the concrete.

The building team has driven an average of four hours round trip each day.  They have battled some sizable rocks and lots of them.  However, there has not been one complaint – what a blessing!

All is well with the team members.  Thank you for praying.  Thank you for checking on this team.

No real “news” to report as yesterday was a day of worship, rest and relaxation for the team.  We had the morning devotion time in the upper room and then took part in the worship service at the GRACE Community Church in the afternoon.  Pastor Bob Harvey spoke in both of those services.

The members of the advisory board for the proposed medical clinic met last night to continue to cast the vision for a place where the poorest of the poor in Guatemala can receive quality health care.  Pray for this effort.

Today will begin with the usual morning devotion time and then off to do medical and building houses.

Pray for this team!  Thank you!

This entry is late but the internet was down earlier this morning.  So, I apologize for it being a bit tardy.

Yesterday was a good day for the team.  The medical/dental folks went to El Rodeo (I think that is correct) where they saw something like five hundred and seventy patients.  Really good day for the medical folks.

The building team continues to work hard in some very rocky conditions.  At present, there are eight houses built with seven of those having received the concrete and the fronts.  Those seven need to have the doors and windows put in place and they will be finished.  The eighth house is ready for the concrete.  Two others have been started with one just needing the roof metal before it is ready for the concrete.  Ideally, we would have ten houses finished at this point but this has not been ideal in terms of the building conditions.  However, the attitude of the building team has been spectacular.

The “committee” met and gave three shirts to some guys yesterday morning.

Sunday will be a “normal” day here with devotion, Antigua, Las Antorchas, church service and an evening of fellowship.

Thank you for praying.  Thank you for checking on this team.  All is well.

The team’s first day of ministry began with a time of musical worship led by Carla Mast followed by a message from the Word by Pastor Bob Harvey.  Always a good way to start the day.

The medical team stayed in El Tejar.  Not sure of the numbers but I do know that Dr. Derek said they stayed fairly busy on the dental side.  I do know that Dr. Mark sent a patient to the local hospital who was then transferred to a hospital in Guatemala City.

The building team had a good, albeit tough, day.  A two hours drive to get to the building sites was followed by digging in the most rocks I have ever experienced in my many years of building houses here.  The digging of the holes was a major chore.  Therefore, only three houses were built to the point of being ready for the concrete.  Another one was about eighty percent complete and a fifth one was about thirty percent complete.  However, the attitudes remained great all day long even on the long ride back to GRACE Mountain.

So, today (Saturday) the building team heads out earlier and will soon be followed by the medical team.   It is going to be a good day!

Thank you for checking on this team.  Thank you for praying!

Our first GRACE Ministries mission team of 2017 is now all present and accounted for here on GRACE Mountain.  We thank God for getting all forty one folks here safely today via Delta (36) and United (5).  Folks flew from Grand Rapids, Michigan; Chicago, Illinois; St. Louis, Missouri; Atlanta, Georgia; and Pensacola, Florida.

After the team arrived everyone (well almost everyone) went down the mountain to the local mall for money exchange and supper.  Afterwards, the medical folks began sorting medicines.  Busy bees!

Our team pastor this week is Pastor Bob Harvey from the West Auburn Baptist Church in Auburn, Alabama.  He will be bringing our devotions each morning and will do an excellent job.  Carla Mast will lead our musical worship.

So, after Jeff Westendorp and Curt Vruggink provide us with a wonderful breakfast in the morning the medical team will stay close in El Tejar while the building team will drive West for over two hours.

Thank you for checking on us.  Pray for us!  Daily updates coming if the internet remains up.