Here is the very latest from Pastor Mark “O’Henry” Mast:
Update from Guatemala Grace Ministries Team II trip in November! (You may want to pour yourself a cup of coffee!)
Tuesday: We got up bright and early and enjoyed a delicious breakfast by Dean Kapenga and crew! We experienced a meaningful devotion time before taking an hour and a half drive out to the village of Chuacajay Uno. Pastor Teddie Turrentine gave a great challenge and set the pace for the team serving with Grace Ministries this week. The team worked like troopers in the hot sun (just ask “redneck” Jennie!). We were able to build 8+ houses, working out a few construction “problems” along the way. Late in the afternoon we drove back to the mission house to have a great meal (Thank you Jan, Theresa and Terisita!) and shower. After supper, many of the team sorted the mountains of clothes, blankets, shoes, toys, stuffed animals, hygiene items, and school supplies that many of you reading this supplied. We are OVERWHELMED by your generous giving and help to provide for the needs of this trip. A number of the teens were “fired” from sorting items because of obnoxious behaviour (no further comment…) They spent the rest of the evening at the palace of Pastor Teddie talking about anything and everything… before finally heading to bed. Pray that God will continue to undertake for our team and give us strength. Pray that the Lord will also help us to show His love to all of those around us, even when things do not go as planned! “Blessed are the flexible for they shall not be bent out of shape!”
Wednesday: Today we got up bright and early to enjoy breakfast prepared by Pat Giles and company. We were blessed with a great message by Dean Kapenga. Then we drove out to Chuacajay Uno to build more houses. We also conducted a VBS with the children. What-A-Blessing! We returned to the mission house a little early early to take a tour of the grounds and the newly built feeding center. Lazaro Suruy invited a number of families to share with us their appreciation for this ministry and we sang together some wonderful songs of praise! May these songs be the first of MANY that are lifted in praise to JESUS from the lips of precious children being feed physically and spiritually at the center. The acoustics are amazing! After enjoying a fabulous supper, the teens played picture telephone. If you have never played this, it is absolutely hilarious! All I can say is, “What happens at the mission house, stays at the mission house.”
Thursday: After enjoying a hearty breakfast prepared by bubba Tim Knighten and his Canadian assistants, we watched the “My Hope America” message by Rev. Billy Graham, entitled, “The Cross”. If you haven’t seen this yet, you NEED to watch it… perhaps the last sermon that Billy Graham will preach… he turned 95 years of age on November 7. It is a powerful message that is bringing many to saving faith in Jesus Christ. Here is the link to view this message online: http://myhopewithbillygraham.org/programs/the-cross/ After taking our daily hour and a half drive to the village, we conducted a second day of VBS and knocked off a few more houses. We came back to the mission house at 4:00pm to host 53 girls from Casa Alleluia Para Nino’s orphanage. They were, to say the least, VERY enthusiastic about the pizza dinner that we provided them… many of the girls were even MORE enthused about all the single “gringo” teen boys “available”… Nuff said! Lots of hair was braided and nails were painted too! I sincerely wish all the “chalk art” on the mission house parking lot could remain a permanent fixture of the décor around here! So precious!! Before eating, the Canadian men sang “Fill Up My Cup”… WOW!! Powerful!! The entire team sang “Prince of Peace”… what a blessing!! Many other songs were sung in Spanish. Oh my, can those girls ever SING! Please pray for all the children at Casa Alleluia orphanage (450 of them!); that they will know how much they are loved by their Heavenly Father, even though their earthly fathers and mothers aren’t there for them. After the Casa girls departed, the Grace team enjoyed a pizza party too. Later, the Canadian teens spent an enlightening time of fellowship and learning about the ins and outs of marriage from Magen Eddy! Please pray that tomorrow (Friday) we will be able to complete construction of the remaining houses and also have a fruitful last day of VBS. Pray that the people of Chuacajay Uno will know WHY we are doing WHAT we are doing. Pray that many will come to saving faith in JESUS!! Also, please pray for our “village ministry” on Friday evening. And do pray that we will all draw even closer together as a team and that we will make JESUS the focus of all that we do! Thanks for EVERYTHING! To God Be The GLORY!