Grace Missions Blog

This recap is a couple of days late but I did want to briefly share the end results of what this team did during their time in Guatemala.  First, we thank God for getting us home safely.  The bubbas & bubbaettes had no problems but our Yankee friends met some challenges along the way.  However, all is well that ends well and we all arrived home safe and sound! 

This team conducted three medical clinics which allowed them to see in excess of 700 folks.  They distributed “tons” of medicine and did one surgery.  One of the ladies from Santo Domingo Xenacoj will be taken to the hospital either tomorrow or Wednesday to find out what is going on with her heart.  Thanks to Eugene and Louise for doing the follow up on this situation.  John & Laurie King did an excellent job of getting the medical clinic sites ready. 

This team also had one member help with a dental clinic on Thursday.  They saw a number of patients and had a good day of ministry at the Palabra Viva Church. 

This team built and dedicated fifteen houses to the glory of God!  There were some sites that were challenging to get to but they did well.  Fifteen families have had their lives improved a bit as they have moved from corn stalk huts to tin houses.  Thanks to the churches and individuals who helped make these houses a reality! 

This team painted the inside of a house and office at the seminary in Chimaltenango.  They faced some challenges but got the job done without any problems. 

This team mixed and poured the equivalent of fifteen houses of cement in two days at the Rios de Agua Viva Church.   Our recent teams have really helped improve the buildings and grounds of that church and the church membership is happy! 

This team enjoyed some great fellowship and time in God’s Word.  As usual, Carla Mast did a wonderful job of leading our musical worship. 

Our next trip with openings is scheduled for November 18 – 25, 2008.  We will do another medical trip in February of next year.  Contact me if you have an interest in being a part of either of these trips. 

Thank you for your prayer support.  We had a blessed trip!  God is awesome!

We had a very good and productive last day of scheduled ministry on this trip yesterday.  It was a long day with our teams arriving back at the mission house between 5:30PM and 7:00PM.  Folks seemed tired but rejoicing in a good day of ministering as unto the Lord!

Our medical team went to the village where we have been building all week and had a good day as they saw around 300 folks.  One of the doctors even performed surgery as he removed an object that had been lodged in a man’s arm for ten years!  Carolyn Ciak from Casa Aleluya joined those folks and was a huge blessing with her medical skills and translation abilities. 

Another team finished the three houses which involved mixing and pouring cement and putting the final side on after the cement had been poured.  This same team also dedicated the 15 houses that were built giving each family a basket of gifts and explaining why we do what we do – His name is Jesus!  Pastor Max helped them with the dedications.  The medical folks joined them for the final three dedications. 

Gail Broekema was a dental assitant for many years and she was a team of one yesterday as she helped Dr. Manuel host at dental clinic at Palabra Viva Church.  They had a great day of ministry and Dr. Manuel along with his daughter joined us for supper last night. 

A team of six went back to the seminary where the finished painting the house and office.  They did a nice job of completing this task and the lady living in the house was very excited to see her “new” living quarters. 

The cement crew went back to Rios de Agua Viva Church and finished the cement work in front of the church building.  In two days, they mixed and poured the equivalent of 15 houses.  Those folks worked hard and Pastor Walter Aju was very happy to see the end result.  He and one of their deacons, Jose, were a huge help in the process.  That church property has really been improved over the last year and many thanks to all who have been involved in that process. 

Of course our final team stayed at the mission house and prepared supper.  Jan Koeman has led this portion of the ministry all week and has done a wonderful job.  Thanks to each of the ladies who have helped in any way to keep our hunger pains at a minimum! 

In about three hours we will meet for our final Bible study share time on this trip.  Eight of us flying Continental will leave the mission house between 9:30 – 10:00AM as our flight leaves at 1:25PM.  The remaining thirty-five team members will leave around noon as their flight leaves at 3:25PM.  Pray for us as we say our good-byes and then travel home.  The Grand Bay folks are scheduled to arrive home tonight while the Michigan folks will spend the night in Chicago before driving home tomorrow. 

It has been a blessed week and I will recap it all tomorrow at some point!  Thanks for your prayers and support! 

Wow, yesterday was an interesting day.  It proved to be very productive although it was very long too!  Flexibility was a key word and our team members did well! 

The building team got three more houses up and they now need cement in order to be complete.  That will finish the house building with 15 being built this week.  We have to get the remainder of the sand and stones to that village and that will be a bit of a challenge but it can be done. 

We had a team paint at the seminary and it was a slow go.  They had to move furniture, take things off the walls, and wait on the paint to arrive.  However, they believe enough progress was made to finish it today. 

The team pouring cement at the church had to wait until almost noon to get started too.  However, they were able to get about half of that job done and hope to finish today. 

The team did village ministry last night ministering to over 100 families in same village where the houses are being built.  I wasn’t there but they said it went well. 

So, today is going to be a busy and long final day as we complete the houses, finish the painting at the seminary, finish the cement at the church, and host a medical clinic.  Pray for us!  Everyone is well!  God is good! 

The Lord continues to bless and yesterday was another productive day.  Our building team poured cement in one house, built two more, and finished the ones that had received cement on Monday.  They cut their day short in order to visit Casa Aleluya where they were given the tour by Jack Ciak and they also played with the children. 

Our medical team had a very busy day in Santo Domingo Xenacoj.  They held a medical clinic at the Mision Bautista Restauracion Church.  I don’t know exact numbers but do know that the four doctors saw well over 300 folks.  Our medical folks left tired but extremely pleased with the day’s activities.  Many thanks to John & Laurie King for coordinating these clinics as they have done a great job!

We took one lady to the doctor in town as she had extremely high blood pressure.  Long story short, we are working to get her to a hospital in Guatemala City as she apparently has a problem with her heart.  She is only 46 years old.  Her husband came to the clinic after he got off from work and talked about her situation.  Sadly, she has had this condition for about two years but they have no money to get her the medical attention needed. 

Today, we take a break from the medical and resume building, paint at the seminary, and pour cement at Rios de Agua Viva Church.  It promises to be another good day.  Pray for us.  (By the way, everyone continues to do well and we still don’t have the VoIP phone)

P.S. – Congratulations to the Vriesland Reformed Church as they extended a call to Pastor Tim Rotman this past Sunday and he accepted that call yesterday!  I must warn Pastor Tim about Sarah Smallegan! 

I tried to update last night but the internet service was virtually non-existent from my location.  I think it has something to do with the number of folks online here and at the seminary.  I have found that there are fewer folks online at 5:00AM so the post is happening! 

We had a productive day yesterday.  Our medical team and a few others went to Panimaquin where they saw/treated/gave medications to over 100 folks.  Bernard Cohen and I had about a ninety minutes discussion about the future of the project.  Please pray for the project as Bernard has taken a job in the States that will initially limit his opportunities to come to Guatemala.  Word has it that Brian Koeman perhaps worked the hardest of all the folks in Panimaquin? 

Tom Compagner led a team back to the village to continue the house construction.  They were able to pour cement in five more houses, finish the four that had gotten cement on Saturday, and build two more. 

Today, the medical team will go to another village and the building team will go back to the same location to continue building.  I also plan on sending the building team to Casa Aleluya this afternoon to visit and play with the children. 

I hope you have a great Tuesday with Jesus.  Pray for us! 

P.S. – Everyone is doing great!  We still do not have the VOIP phone.    

Not a whole lot to report this morning as our Sunday was a “normal” Sunday for us here.  We had our morning Bible study, went to the service at Rios de Agua Viva (thanks to Tico Vargas for translating), did the noon meal and shopping in Antigua, had an outside worship service at the seminary, and came back for supper at the mission house. 

David & Terri Scholz did arrive and a special thanks to Eugene Dighero for going to bring them from the airport.  So, our team is now complete. 

The Mobile, Alabama phone number is not in service at this time.  It is something that is beyond our control as the company here is blocking our port.  What does that mean?  I haven’t a clue but I don’t think it has to do with shipping!  I am told this is illegal but it is happening nonetheless.  Please know that we are working on getting it corrected.  In the meanwhile, everyone here is doing great! 

Today, we will send our medical team to Panimaquin and another team back to work on the houses.  I will update again either tonight or early in the morning, Lord willing.  Pray for us!

P.S. – I am also posting today on the other blog site with news relating to the Friendship family so please check that out too.

Today was a good day as it began with our usual Bible study time which lasted longer than normal as we did not have our introductory meeting yesterday afternoon.  Carla Mast is leading our musical worship this week and she does such a good job.  We began a study in the book of Philippians and plan on staying there all week.  The preaching/teaching was rather poor but the folks listened well. 

We traveled about forty-five minutes away from the mission house to a town that I don’t even know the name of at this point (John King has told be but I don’t remember it).  It was about 11:00AM before the teams actually got started but they were able to finish four houses and get four more basically up to the point of receiving cement.  Good day!

When Caroline Ford was unable to come on this trip that meant we needed someone to cook for this team.  Jan Koeman has stepped up to the plate (actually the stove) and did a wonderful job of cooking supper.  She had an assist from several other ladies and the meal was delicious. 

Tomorrow morning we will begin late (8:30AM), attend the services at Rios de Agua Viva, eat the noon meal at Las Antorchas, shop in Antigua (I’ll pass), and have an evening service at the seminary.

I am going to try and upload some pictures tomorrow (it probably won’t happen).  Props go to Chris Taylor for getting this blog up tonight.  He is the man! 

We had a good final day and we thank God for His blessings.  However, I personally feel that the leader of this team didn’t do a very good job of making the last day one to remember and I have already spoken to him about that very matter!  The team members maintained excellent attitudes and had a excellent spirit all week long and that is something to remember!  I can say “thank you” to thirty-nine folks for being absolutely wonderful! 

One team poured the cement in the fifteenth house while two other teams dedicated all fifteen houses to the glory of God.  The dedication involved a time of sharing about Jesus, a prayer, the presentation of a gift bag, and many photos.  This is an important part of the process and I appreciate Shari Compagner and Mark Mast for leading these dedications.

A fourth team went to Rios de Agua Viva Church and finished the painting which included the inside of the auditorium, the hallway in the bathroom area, the exterior front which included painting a new sign, and finishing the front of the parsonage.  Those folks did an awesome job and the building looks brand new.  Pastor Walter Aju was bursting with pride over the upgrade to the facilities.

A fifth team went to the seminary in the afternoon to finish painting the exterior of the gymnasium.  This is where the story gets a bit interesting as this team consisted of Matt DeYoung, Don Ricci, and Ron Stenning.  Gene Davis and I dropped them off around 2:30PM, went and purchased some more paint and brought it back to them, and I told them that we would be back as they had no transportation, no phone or phone numbers, and no real idea as to the way back to the mission house.  They finished the paint job around 3:30 – 3:45PM.  Fortunately, I did remember to have someone pick them up.  Unfortunately, it was 6:00PM before I remembered meaning it was 6:30PM before the van got there to bring them back!  Those three were so gracious in their attitudes – “blessed are the flexible for they shall not be bent out of shape!”   Thanks Don, Ron, & Matt for being so flexible and forgiving! 

Tom Compagner and Mark Mast took about twenty of the team members to visit Amor del Nino (Love the Child) which is the children’s home run by Steve & Shyrel Osborn.  They then stopped by Casa Aleluya which is the children’s home run by Mike & Dottie Clark.  They seemed to enjoy these visits as they left at 1:30PM and didn’t get back until 7:30PM or so. 

The evening was spent enjoying another delicious meal and having great fellowship with many guests and the fellow team members.  I left the mission house around 10:30PM or so and the games were in full force so I would imagine Friday’s flights will see some folks catching up on some sleep! 

Lord willing, there will be a final entry either Friday night or at some point on Saturday.  I have a funeral to preach on Saturday morning so my initial time home will be spent ministering to the Betty McDonald family.  I so appreciate Belvin and his understanding as he has waited until Saturday in order for me to be home for the service.  Pray for the McDonald family.  Pray for us as we board Continental (Alabama, Canada, Louisiana, & Texas) for a 1:25PM flight and the Michiganders plus Brad Bensinger (Troy) board Delta for a 1:58PM flight.  Again, your prayers are so very important to us and we deeply appreciate them! 

Our Wednesday was a full and productive day.  After our worship/Bible study time, we sent a team to continue painting at the seminary, a team to paint the interior of the auditorium at Rios de Agua Viva Church, two teams to mix/pour cement, a team to build the 15th house, and a team to complete house number fourteen. 

The house building team was led by Matt DeYoung and consisted of our other six high school students and one college student.  They built a nice house!  All fifteen houses have now been built with fourteen of those being completely finished.  The fifteenth one will receive cement today. 

We left at 3:30PM to drive to Comalapa to distribute food and clothing to one hundred families.  This is the same town where Bro. Jerry’s team ministered during June.  A group of ladies sang while our folks readied for the distribution.  The Pastor then brought a message encouraging the folks to receive Jesus as their personal Savior.  Our team then distributed the provisions to the families and Mark Mast gave each family a Gospel tract as they left the building.  A good evening of ministry! 

Wayne DeYoung suggested that we put gravel on the drive from the gate to the paved portion.  The drive has gotten really rough and is very slippery during the rainy season.    So, the past two days have seen us unload twenty cubic meters of gravel and place it in the holes.  The Lord has blessed as we have been getting rain for the past couple of days/nights which is helping the gravel pack into the ground.  Our original plan was to pave all the way down the hill but this is much, much more economically friendly.  Thanks Wayne! 

Danny LeBlanc replaced the carburetor on our mower yesterday.  I mention this only because it is about the only productive thing Danny has done on this trip and it took him all day to accomplish this feat!  Thanks Danny!

We are down to our last day which means a day of house dedications plus finishing up some painting at RAV and GBS. 

This team has been great.  I apologize for the fact that our VOIP phone has been down.  Dean Parker and the folks at Callis Communications in Mobile have been great in their efforts to correct the problem.  It now appears that the problem has to do with the internet provider here and Jim Dornbush and Juan Marcos Ruiz have been working diligently to restore phone service too.  We have survived without a phone!

Jan Kapenga’s hand is better but she did suffer a pretty severe burn as she has one huge blister and a number of smaller blisters.  She has simply kept on going as she has done well in helping prepare the meals.  Thanks to those who have prayed for her. 

As always, thank you for reading these entries and thank you for praying for us.