THANK YOU FOR BEING A BLESSING

Written by Teddie on December 2nd, 2014

Dear friends of Grace Ministries – November 2014 Teams  – (November 10-17 and November 17-25)

It was a great pleasure and joy to minister with each of you in Guatemala.  I thank the Lord for the privilege to serve with you and see the Lord accomplish so much for His glory through our combined efforts.

It was a blessing that TOGETHER we could:

November 10-17 Team… 38 participants

-build 10 homes in Pajales Dos

-build 8 homes in San Miguel (El Tejar)

-conduct 2 days of Bible School in Pajales Dos

-conduct a Bible School in San Miguel (El Tejar) at Iglesia Amor y Gracia (Love & Grace Church)

-sort through mountains of clothes/toys/etc. to give away

-purchase 100 chairs for the Dream Center/Grace Community Church

-do a service and feed 200 people at the Dream Center

-have 42 teen boys from Casa Aleluya over for pizza, singing and sharing

-minister at the El Tejar dump (conduct Bible School; provide a meal; give out: food, clothing, hygiene supplies, school supplies and gifts) – 40 families

-perform home dedications in San Miguel and Pajales Dos

-do village ministry in Pajales Dos – 100 families

-preach in San Miguel at Ministerio Tirando la Red (Throwing the Net Ministry)

-provide a piano and guitar for Iglesia De Dios Evangelico Completo (Full Gospel Church of God) in Pajales Dos

-conduct a Youth Conference in Pajales Dos (Don’t forget the earthquake!)

-preach and sing in Pajales Dos at Iglesia De Dios Evangelico Completo (Full Gospel Church of God)

November 17-25 Team… 19 participants

-build 11 homes in Alameda (Chimaltenango)

-build 5 homes in El Tejar

-conduct 2 days of Bible School in Alameda (Chimaltenango) at Casa de Paz (House of Peace)

-conduct 2 days of Bible School in El Tejar at Iglesia Evangelica Pentecostas (Evangelical Pentecostal Church)

-conduct a Bible School at the Dream Center

-conduct a Bible School in El Tejar at Lazaro & Glendy’s house

-conduct a Bible School in Chimaltenango at Iglesia Cordero de Dios (Lamb of God Church)

-sort through mountains of clothes/toys/etc. to give away

-have 48 teen girls from Casa Aleluya over for pizza, singing and sharing

-perform home dedications in El Tejar and Alameda (Chimaltenango)

-do village ministry in Alameda (Chimaltenango) at Casa de Paz – 100 families

-do a church service in San Miguel (El Tejar) at Iglesia Amor y Gracia (Love & Grace Church)

-minister at the El Tejar dump (conduct Bible School; provide a meal; give out food) – 25 families

-preach and sing at a church service at Casa De Paz

-provide a piano for the Grace Community Church at the Dream Center

-do a church service and feed 200 people at Grace Community Church at the Dream Center

-experience the majesty of God’s creation while climbing and exploring Pacaya volcano

-play soccer and love on the precious kids at Casa Para Ninos Aleluya

I was personally very blessed by the devotional times we shared together in the Upper Room at the mission house.  Thank you servants of God (Lazaro, Patrick, Ben, Dean and Bob) for sharing the Word with us the first week.  Thank you (Ken, Lazaro, Mark N, and John) for sharing the Word with us the second week.

Thank you worship team (Rachel, Annika and Ben) for sharing your musical talents with us throughout the first week. Thank you (Rachel and Susanne) for sharing your musical talents with us throughout the second week.

Thank you kitchen staff (Jan, Jan, Theresa and Teresita) for all the delicious meals the first week.  Thank you (Janice and company) for all the delicious meals the second week.  We were so blessed by your labor of love in the kitchen.

Thank you everyone for serving with kitchen duties at breakfast and then doing clean-up throughout the day/night when it was your turn to do so.

Thank you building experts (Samuel, Nick D, Dean, Tim, Pat, Brian, Gary, Nick G, Ken, Mark N and crews) for your efficiency in building homes, organizing tools, charging batteries, supplying the boxes, loading and unloading the truck and keeping things accounted for.

Thank you drivers (Dean, Tim, Gary, Brian, Pat, Nick D, Nick G and Mark N) for the many miles you navigated dangerous, bumpy roads to bring us to/from ministry points.

Thank you mechanics Mark N and Nick D for repairing the trucks, the van and also John King’s suburban.

Thank you everyone for bringing suitcases to Guatemala filled with countless items to give away!

Thank you to everyone for all the money that was raised to build houses, purchase food, provide pizza, provide transportation for orphanage kids, provide transportation for Grace Community Church and Dream Center events, purchase two pianos, purchase a guitar, purchase 100 chairs, and support various Grace Ministries projects in Guatemala.  P-l-e-a-s-e help me by expressing sincere thanks to everyone who contributed money for ministry costs and provided items to give away.  Please thank everyone who was praying for us as well.

Thank you translators Lazaro Suruy, David Vargas and Lester Suruy… what could we have done without you?!  Your role is so vital in helping share the Gospel to those we minister to.

Thank you staff of Grace Ministries (John & Laurie King; Lazaro & Glendy Suruy – Marcia & Lester aka Josh; Samuel & Reina Acan – Melissa; Max & Theresa Lara, Teresita and all other Lara family members; Nick Davis; and Paul Leytham)  How we thank and praise the Lord for each of you!  Your team spirit and coordination of so many things for mission teams is an immense blessing.

Thank you Friendship Baptist Church, Grand Bay, Alabama for fulfilling the Great Commission in Guatemala by sacrificially providing the Grace Ministries facility, vehicles and Dream Center to serve the people of Guatemala.

I would like to thank each of you personally for being a great encouragement and blessing to me.  Thanks for being so cooperative, helpful, understanding, gracious, positive and hard-working, especially when I was “pushing” you and we were all feeling tired… and the temptation was strong to focus on personal desires and needs.  Thanks for recognizing the need to serve together as a united TEAM for HIS GLORY!

Thank you everyone for the rich time(s) of sharing testimonies too.  So powerful…

Finally,

Thank You LORD for undertaking for us so miraculously each day of our Grace Ministries outreach in Guatemala.

I am presently going through my typical “Guatemala withdrawal” and longing already for the time when I can return again.  I am guessing that you are too…

If you have facebook, you may enjoy taking a quick look at some of the pictures that were taken during our trip.  https://www.facebook.com/masts

May the Lord bless you and keep you.  I look forward to serving with you again!

All for JESUS,

Mark Mast

Pastor Teddy,

 

 

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