Grace Missions Blog

Good day!  Let me give you the highlights – no wait, let me give you the “lowlight” for starters.  Carla Mast had the “gall” to lead the group in singing the chorus to a team’s theme song.  The team wasn’t Bama and it wasn’t even AU – it was worse, much worse!  I will probably have nightmares tonight!

Our medical team was expecting a huge crowd today but ended up seeing 255 patients.  I really haven’t gotten the details but know they had a good day. 

The construction team completely finished one house, poured cement in three others, have another ready for cement, and have three more basically needing about thirty minutes of work to be at the point of being ready for cement. 

The building conditions are pretty tough i.e. fairly steep.  Dave & Donna, we are looking “down” (literally) on the houses your team built!  However, it’s all good!

Two ladies went to the seminary today and did some painting.  I don’t know the details but know they have a lot of work to do – won’t get it done. 

My wife leaves for home in the morning.  It has been great having her here.  Pray that she will have uneventful flights and that we will have a productive Tuesday.

Yes, this is the first GRACE trip of 2010.  This is one of those “we got folks” from everywhere trips that are so neat to see how “strangers” become “family” after basically spending six days together. 

We plan on doing medical clincs for five days while building twenty houses and doing some painting/art work at the seminary too.  It is going to be busy and that is how we (I) like it. 

The team arrived today and all of the medicines cleared customs without a hitch.  I so appreciate our Yankee friends who diligently packed the suitcases in proper order.  Great job guys!

Tomorrow we will do church, a little shopping (not I), and then do village ministry tomorrow afternoon late.  That will be followed by a pill sorting party in preparation for the clinics. 

I am thankful this team is here but we do miss Caroline Ford.  We are in capable hands with Jan Kapenga but we still miss Caroline and are praying for her complete healing. 

Pray for us.  Check back Sunday night for an update.

This entry is coming way late in the day as it is already 11:30PM.  So many folks have been on the internet that I could not connect as I am the last one on line.  I must get in touch with Al! 

We had a good Thursday.  The team went back to Santa Cruz Balanya where they hosted another day of VBS, built five more houses, cemented six more, and completely finished all eighteen in that village.  Basically in two and one half days this team has completed 18 houses! 

Late this afternoon we hosted the boys from Vencedores.  As always, it was a good time for them and us.  They have new dorm parents, Lee & Candy, and Candy came with the boys.  She was joined by Carolyn Ciak & Olga. 

Tonight, Max Lara and his family shared some songs with us.  What a great family! 

Tomorrow we will dedicate the houses in Santa Cruz Balanya, finish the one in Panimaquin, build one in San Lucas, and cook for the wedding reception.  Tom Compagner & I will attend the civil wedding ceremony for Samuel & Reina at 5:00PM. 

Thanks for reading this update and keep praying.

Blessed day!  The team went back to Santa Cruz Balanya to continue to build houses, do VBS, and host a block party. 

Mark Mast once again led the VBS and I am told it went well again.  We hosted a block party led by Garrett Wright & Rita Vice that was attended by 400 (probably a conservative figure) children.  They had a great time and I really appreciate Mike Parker and Clubhouse Guatemala allowing us to use their equipment.  PJ & Pablo did a great job of filling in for Mike!  The children had a blast especially with the cotton candy which having the machine was a small miracle in itself.  Lets just say it involved my forgetfulness and a pair of girl’s sandals from a used clothing store.   Or, lets just say that God showed up and made it all work for His glory and our good!

The building team built 8 more houses today while the cement team did 9 more.  That puts us at 13 built in the village with 12 having the cement.  I think 7 or 8 are completely finished.  Great team with great work ethic! 

Thank you for reading this entry.  Keep praying!

My “plan” was to allow someone else to write an entry last night but we had internet connection issues and that didn’t happen.  Sorry this is late but when you can’t get online there isn’t anything you can do about it. 

Our Tuesday was busy and productive.  The team traveled to a village (name to come later) where they completely (all four sides, cement, doors, windows) finished three houses, got a fourth ready for the cement, and a fifth one almost to that point.  Not much, huh?  That was done in three hours and fifteen minutes.  Plus, they hosted a VBS during that time frame too.  God blessed them with beautiful weather and they responded well.

They then drove to Panimaquin where they distributed food & clothes to 100 families plus began the process of building another house.  The house build was “tough” b/c they didn’t have the proper supplies but they adjusted and made do. 

So, it was a good day and we thank God for all He did for us.  Today will see them go back to the same village to build more houses, host a VBS, and host a block party with jumpers, cotton candy, balloons, games, et cetera. 

Tim & Peggy Knighten went fishing this past weekend.  We had their catch last night as a part of our supper.  The fish was a mahi mahi (is that spelled correctly?) and it was good.  My only concern is that I saw packages in the trash with stickers that said “use or freeze by 11/20/09” which leads one to ask if they really “caught” those fish?    

Keep praying for this team.  Lord willing, we will post tonight. 

P.S. – Did I understand correctly that Miss Bessie said T. Garrett is on this trip?

They came, all 29 of them, from New York, Canada, Michigan, & Alabama and all met in Chimaltenango, Guatemala to join 15 others who had already come from AL & MI.  The Lord graciously gave them a great day of traveling and all arrived safely.  He is to be praised for His mercies! 

Perhaps the best thing about today is the fact the we have this “interstate” coming up to the mission house from El Tejar!  Thanks to Bro. Paul for coordinating the effort to widen & smooth that road – it is awesome!  You folks from Danville Baptist just would not believe it! 

Pray for this team as they begin doing ministry on Tuesday morning and their plate is full – 20 houses, village ministry, block party, hosting the boys from Vencedores (Casa Aleluya), two weddings, one wedding reception, and whatever else God puts in their path. 

Hopefully, a Day Two post will come in the evening so check back late tonight.  Thanks!

P.S. – I want to give a “shout out” to Pastor Jack Bailey and folks from Danville Baptist Church for their graciousness in hosting Tico & Armando this past Sunday night.  Excellent!

It is now Friday morning as I bring the updates on GRACE ’09 V to a close.  Thanks for taking the time to keep up with this team.

On Wednesday, most of the team members and four of the Fab Five went to the lake.  They had a good day.  I don’t know all of the details but I do know they rented a double decker boat and eventually ended up diving/jumping into the lake from the upper deck.  Matt DeYoung was the ring leader and I think that goes back to the “boat trip” to Kentucky from earlier this year. 

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Stan & I were joined by Samuel & Pastor Max, Mike & Katie Parker, and some other TN folks in building a house for an elderly gentleman.  That went well and I appreciate Mike Parker allowing GRACE Ministries to help in this situation. 

The afternoon was spent washing the blue truck and doing some other things in preparation for our departure the next day.  We then headed to Paulino’s for supper.  We were joined by Tico Vargas & John King. 

We had an evening devotional plus a share time although this team wasn’t much on sharing.  We dedicated Larry Josue.  He is the son of Herbert & Antionetta. 

Yesterday, we left at 3:15AM headed for the airport.  Elle rode with me in the Montero as she was sick.  We had to make a couple of stops for her which delayed us some but she made it.  The luggage truck had a flat tire and Solomon was having difficulty getting the lug nuts off.  We were blessed that the truck on the road in front of the airport so we took our vehicles over and off loaded the luggage into them.  Everyone got checked in and the Alabama folks, the Michigan folks, and Myrna all arrived home safely and on time. 

Of course, it was a real joy to see Samuel Acan enter the USA.  It took him awhile to get through customs and they drilled him pretty good but he made it!  He doesn’t understand why we have no mountains or volcanoes in Alabama! 

This was a very good team.  Great attitudes!  Great work ethic!  The Lord blessed us with awesome weather although we know Guatemala needs the rain.  My prayer is that these team members will consider joining us on a future trip and bringing a friend or two along. 

I close by saying a huge “thank you” to those who helped lead this trip – couldn’t have done it without them!  Obviously, our greatest thanks goes to God as He blessed us immeasurably!  My prayer is that He received the glory for all that was done this past week!  He, and He alone, is worthy! 

Next up – First Baptist Church of Wilmington, NC as they arrive this Sunday, 8/2 and leave the following Sunday, 8/9.  Pray for them!