Pastor's Blog

The team enjoyed a good first day.  The medical folks saw around two hundred folks while the building team finished six houses up to the point of being ready for concrete while starting a seventh house.

All is well.  Thanks for praying.

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

The Friendship family will be on a regular schedule tomorrow morning and evening.  I pray the members will be faithful.

The Finance Committee will meet at 5:15PM tomorrow in their regular meeting room.  Members, please take note and be in attendance.

Pray for the Brinkman family as they deal with the loss of two family members.

My dad remains hospitalized.  Still battling a blood clot and pneumonia in one lung.  It is possible he could be discharged tomorrow.

Received disturbing news yesterday from my older brother, Eddie.  A long time friend in Hartselle, Alabama passed from this life. He has been to Guatemala with us three or four times.  Pray for his wife, children and grandchildren.

I pray that you will have a great Saturday with Jesus.

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”  (Psalm 119:11)

Happy birthday to our granddaughter, Sydney, as she is now six years old.  She has been diligently counting down the days until her birthday.  She is a happy camper this morning.   She has big plans for her day at school.  I hope her day is all she wants it to be and more!  Happy birthday Sydney!

All is basically quiet on the home front as far as the members of the Friendship family are concerned.  We are grateful.

Regular schedule on the Friendship campus this Sunday, 2/10.

One Guatemala Relief And Compassion Effort team left Guatemala yesterday morning and another arrived around 11:00PM last night.  We thank God for safety in travel.

I pray that you will have a great Friday with Jesus.

The team, minus three, left the mountain at 4:15AM heading to the airport in Guatemala City.  Their flight is not until 9:00AM but the traffic in the city a bit later in the morning can be very congested.  So, we tend to err on the side of caution and get folks to the airport with plenty of time to spare.

Don Redder reported last night that the medical folks saw nine hundred ninety eight folks during this trip.  Dr. Mark Stid rounded that number to twelve hundred!  Thanks to Laurie King for coordinating all of the medical clinics as she does a very nice job.  Lives were impacted for the good by this group of caring individuals.

The building team had a great day of dedicating the twenty houses built during the week.  Thanks to each person who provided the funds to make those houses a reality.

Terri Scholz has cleaned like a million teeth this week.  She has been a real trooper.  That has been her life each day of the trip.

The team had a nice share time last night and another trip is now in the books.  It was a really, really great group of folks.  Great attitudes.  Great work ethic.  Greater God!

As this team departs, another one will be boarding planes later today in Grand Rapids, Phoenix, Huntsville and Mobile.  They will all meet in Atlanta and then board a plane heading to Guatemala City.  Pray for both teams traveling today.

By the way, they are moving dirt on the mountain in preparation for building the school building.

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”  (Psalm 119:11)

Happy birthday to our grandson, Asher!  He was born in South Korea three years ago today and we are thrilled to have him as a part of our family.  I hope he has a grand day!  Yes, I am in Guatemala but Lisa is there to give hugs and warm wishes!  Happy birthday Asher!

Miss Kittie spent some time in the hospital and is now recovering at home.  Pray for Miss Kittie.

My dad was admitted to the hospital at some point late yesterday afternoon or early evening.  He continues to battle pneumonia and also has a blood clot in one of his lungs.  Prayers appreciated.

Regular schedule this Sunday morning and evening.

I pray that you will have a great Thursday with Jesus.

The team’s Tuesday was normal.  The medical folks headed to the coast where it was hot.  They had a good day.

The building team finished up the houses with the exception of one or two pieces of hardware on a door/window or two.

So, all is well.  Thank you for praying and checking on this team.

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”  (Psalm 119:11)

Steven Johns did well through his surgery and should be discharged today.  Keep praying.

Our good friends in Montgomery, Decker & Martha Terry, have been having some tough days due to Martha’s physical condition. However, she has made some improvement and for that we are most grateful.  Please pray for Martha and Decker.  Folks, this is an awesome godly couple.  Great supporters of ministry and great prayer warriors.

Regular schedule this morning and evening.  Bro. Jerry will be teaching in my absence.

I pray that you will have a great Wednesday with Jesus.

The team left the mission house around 8:00AM with the medical folks heading toward Antigua while the builders went West again.  Have to be honest in saying that I am not hearing numbers from the medical folks (which is my fault) so I do not have an accurate report.

The builders have twelve houses done with eleven having received concrete.  Today will be a full day.

Almost everyone enjoyed an afternoon in Antigua yesterday and then all came together for a meal at Las Antorchas last night.  Good food and good fellowship.

Today, my wife, Lisa, has two very important speaking engagements on behalf of this ministry.  Thanks to Tony Gettig, Soy & Deidra for their help getting a presentation together.  Pray for Lisa today.

Keep praying for this team.

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”  (Psalm 119:11)

Steven Johns will be having surgery today.  Pray that all goes well.  I am grateful for Steven and his involvement in the Friendship family.

Regular schedule tomorrow morning and evening on our campus.

I pray that you will have a great Tuesday with Jesus.

The team had a different Sunday from years gone by.  Morning devotion was followed by attending the service at the GRACE Community Church.  Then lunch before heading out to El Rodeo.  This village was hit hard by the volcano eruption back in June of last year.  They still do not have water.  Four hundred and fifty families live there.

So, the Gospel was presented for about forty minutes and then each family will given a bag of food.  The babies and older women were given blankets, caps and such.  Then each person was fed a meal consisting of some type soup and tortillas.  Approximately seven hundred folks were fed.

The team then came back for a time of food and fellowship.

Thank you for praying for this team.  Please continue to do so.