Grace Missions Blog

Perhaps you are wondering why there was no entry yesterday?  Our internet service was down until about 9:00PM and I then wrote an entry.  I pressed save and simultaneously the service went down and that whole article disappeared into cyber space.  So, I apologize for the missing blog of yesterday. 

Yesterday was a good day with our group going to three different ministry sites.  The first group went to Panimaquin where they painted the kitchen and living room in the Cohen’s house.  They also dug the footings for a house that is going to be built.  Brian Koeman and Wayne DeYoung are doing some major excavation work there too. 

Another group built three more houses in Rincon Grande which brings our total completed to ten.  We have plans to build five more on Thursday. 

The third group painted the interiors of an apartment and a house at the CAM seminary in Chimaltenango. 

Today we began with our devotion led by Mark Mast.  He shared from Psalm 34:1 – 8.  We then got our assignments and went to our respective ministry sites.  A group has gone back to Panimaquin, one has gone back to the seminary, and the third is at Casa Aleluya. 

Pray for us and check later tonight for another entry detailing today’s activities. 

Today has been a very blessed day of worship, fellowship, shopping, sightseeing, and relaxation.  As usual, our day began with a morning devotional time.  We were blessed in today’s Bible study as Wayne, Beth, Eric, Jayme, Kristen, Matt, & Ross DeYoung shared a message in song.  What a great and talented family! 

Missionary Mark Mast brought the message this morning using Ephesians 2:8-10 as his text.  He shared of his own salvation experience on February 10, 1980.  I met Mark last year on this same trip and have been so impressed by him and his family.  What a blessing this brother is to me and to our entire church family. 

The majority of the group then went to the Rivers of Living Water Church in Chimaltenango with four others going to Su Presencia where Daniel Villatoro is the pastor.  I can speak for those who attended RLWC and say that we enjoyed the worship service and the message delivered by Pastor Walter.  Special thanks to Eugene Dighero for serving as our translator.  The church family served us doughnuts and soft drinks after the service.  We will be helping this church construct a home for Pastor Walter and his family. 

We did our usual as we went to Antigua and had lunch at the Las Antorchas steak house.  It was a joy to see the owner, Philippe Rambert, and his daughter, Andrea. The food and fellowship were great!

The group then went shopping and I came back to the house.  We received some sad news last night when we learned that Derrick Wilkerson’s aunt passed away.  I have spent this afternoon working on getting Derrick a flight home tomorrow so he can be with his family.  Please remember to pray for Derrick and his family during this time. 

Our thoughts have been with our home churches today and we prayed for each of them this morning.  Please keep praying for us and log on tomorrow to read another update. 

Blessings,

Pastor Teddie

Praise the Lord!  He is good and we now have internet access in the L.G. Camp, Jr. Mission House in Guatemala!  It is a long story but suffice it to say that a thank you is in order to Missionary Mark Mast and a special thank you to Juan Marcos Ruiz from the CAM Seminary here in Chimaltenango.  Juan Marcos and his brother installed the necessary equipment today to make this a reality.  So, we now really have no legitimate reason to not keep you folks updated. 

 We arrived safely in three waves yesterday – the Mobile & Grand Rapids folks at 12:30PM, the Flint folks around 1:15PM, and theMast trio at 10:00PM.  The first two groups enjoyed supper at one of the local Pollo Campero restaurants, exchanged some money, and spent time in fellowship with most folks calling it a day early after a long day of travel. 

Today began with Bible study at 7:00AM.  Kristen DeYoung did her usual wonderful job of leading us in worship through song with an assist from Dale Bosarge as he played the guitar.  I brought a devotional thought from Mark 5:24 – 34 as we looked at our needs and the nearness of Jesus.

 We then got ready and went to Rincon Grande to build houses.  We divided into four work teams getting six houses completely i.e. concrete poured, et cetera, finished and a seventh one done with the exception of the concrete. 

 Tonight we enjoyed a meal which was prepared by Lorraine Brouwer, Jan Koeman, and Jan Kapenga.  Folks are now on their computers, sleeping, playing cards, getting breakfast/supper food ready, and just hanging out.   

Tomorrow will be Bible study at 7:30AM, church at 9:00AM, dinner in Antigua, some shopping, and a worship service tomorrow night.  Thanks for your prayers and please keep praying as we serve the Lord in Guatemala during these days.