It's hard saying goodbye

A week passed and what did I gain from it? I want to save he/she who needs saving from pain. I want to help. I want to fix the brokenness. I want to change it for the better. I want so many things for them, if only I had the power I would change it to how I see fit. Many emotions fill my heart and brain during this short week. My brain runs rampant with ideas, passion, joy, fear, sorrow, peace, and love. I want what God wants, right? I'm quick to believe what I think God should think. I believe I feel what God should be feeling; but when I read his word and be silent, I can feel the peace consume my heart. When I sit still and look with my eyes; when I truly look around in awe, I'm reminded HE is in control and has these gorgeous villages just the way He wants them. I forget that God was there long before our arrival. He's been orchestrating all this from the beginning and will continue to do so until our Savior comes back again. As I think about it more and more, I'm sure glad He's in control. I've broken promises before. I've lied before. I've had jealousy and hate in my heart before. I've cheated my way through something before. I've never always given over 100%. I have a hard time always loving my neighbor as myself. I'm not always gentle, not always patient, not always faithful, not always strong, not always kind, not always good, not always peaceful, not always joyful, and I sometimes lack self-control. I am the perfect human, not the perfect God who reigns from Heaven. He is so faithful, so just, so loving and always prefect. He is in Guatemala just as much as He is back home. He's in control of His beautiful creation. If I want to help fix the brokenness, and change things for the better, I need to follow His lead. I need to lay down my selfishness and allow God to do what He wants and what He does best. He is there. He is everywhere! The times I feel He isn't there are times I'm not seeking Him and following His lead. What did I gain from this week? Trust. When I don't understand something, when life gets hard and His commands seem tough to follow; that's when I'm not trusting in Him. I need to always trust Him. Not just the circumstances in Guatemala, but in every facet of my life. I'm not alone in this journey. Let us listen to Him together. Let us hear the promises He has promised us. Let us feel His presence, joy and peace together. He is forever faithful and forever righteous. He is Love. Do you trust Him? Do you trust His work in Guatemala and around the world? Do you trust His work in Pease and around our country? The more you seek Him the more you trust Him. The more you trust in the Lord, the more you see who He really is. Faith, Hope, and Love.  ~Nick

With God's power working in us, God can do much, much more than anything we can ask our imagine. To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus for all time, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21

Jesus, thank you for coming to earth and making Yourself known in a way that humans could understand. Thank you for this opportunity now to spend time with communities of people that are different from us. Help us to be sensitive to different ways that other people view the world and to the ways that You are already at work here. Amen. 

Hello, thanks for checking in again. Friday was our last full day in Guatemala. We started our morning off with devotions together then got on the bus and headed to La Palmera. We arrived to a beautifully decorated school yard. They love celebrating with firecrackers!! Representatives of the community, school, and local churches gave thanks and praise to one another and to our Lord. Even the Mayor of El Palmar showed up! Gustavo, from Emmanuel, shared a great sermon, the text based from Galatians 5:1-15 & Luke 22:24-27. The worship, which was led by a fun pentacostal worship band, was interesting and loud, but heart felt! After the sermon, they invited us to sing so we plugged in the iPhone and sang along to Amazing Grace. At the conclusion of the doxology and benidiction, we were gifted with a painting of the La Palmera community. It was a great gift! After sharing more thanks and praise we gathered in front of the new kitchen for the inauguration. It was very emotional and we'll explain during Guatemala Sunday (Church Service on March 1). It was very hard saying goodbye to everyone. After lots of hugs, handshakes, high fives, and saying adios, we had to take off. 

After lunch and goodbyes to David and his children, our translator Mario, Sadoc and his wife, Becky, we hit the road for a 3 hour drive to Antigua. We took a walk through the the streets of Antigua and ended our night with devotionals. (Please keep Sadoc's wife and daughter in your prayers. Their daughter, Rebecca is fighting some intense allergies and Becky is worn down by sickness.)

Saturday morning, we opened with devotionals and breakfast before hitting the markets for some gift shopping. Before we took off, Patty, her husband Haroldo, their three daughters, and Maya pulled into the hotel just in time to say their goodbyes. Patty is feeling better but not completely 100%. It was great seeing them before we left!!! We arrived at the airport and said our goodbyes to Luis (World Renew bridger) and Adolfo (World Renew staff). Away we went and to the bitter cold we come. 

Thank You again for praying, reading about and believing in our mission. Our mission is to build and sustain relationships, share our faith together, encourage and teach one another, praise our Lord together, and help aid to their, already Awesome, communities in any way we can. Thank You, Lord for allowing us to grow together. We are very blessed. 

"Even though I fall I get back up with the joy that over flows my cup. Heaven fills me with more than enough. Break down the levees and the bluffs; let the flood wash me and feel the arms that hold me." ~Josh Garrels from the song, "Father Along"

Feeling blue (but not sad) in La Palmera

Hello and thank you for checking in all week. Your prayers are definitely felt down here! It's truly been a great experience and we feel very blessed. We've spent the past few days in La Palmera. Thursday, we handed out school supplies, played with the children and painted the brand new kitchen that our church funded. It's not completely finished but it looks great!! 

Our primary goal today with the kitchen was to get it painted. We took turns painting and planning soccer and "duck duck goose" ("grey duck", if you're from Minnesota). The sun was at its best today! As a matter of fact; as we left the hotel this morning, we were exactly 100° warmer!! (Sorry, had to throw that in there) The "high" has been low 90's all week(: We finished painting the kitchen earlier than planned. During our break, we were surprised with a snack. Everything was from the community and it was good! I can't pronouce half the stuff but everybody enjoyed trying new things. 

(The picture that looks like almonds is actually Cocoa) 

(We painted with different shades of blue)

After we finished the second coat of paint, we had lunch and took off early. Sadoc treated us with a visit to some ancient Mayan ruins. It was Awesome!! The group did this tour 2 years ago but this time we had a longer, more detailed tour. It was really really interesting!! I thought of the movie, "Apocalypto"

(which Sadoc told me is about 30%true). He was very educated on the Mayans and about Guatemalan history. Most of the group are big fans of history so it was good dialogue. 

Today (Friday) we're going back to La Palmera for a church service and the inauguration of the school kitchen. 

Stay tuned for more on La Palmera later today. 

A day in Monte Margarita

Thanks for checking in! Ever wonder what we do when we're not in the villages? Here's a little background on our time when we're at the hotel: We typically start joining each other for coffee around 6:30am before meeting for breakfast at 7:00am. In years past, we'd do our devotionals in the late evening after supper. This year we decided to split it up, the first portion of our devotional is in the morning as we wait for our breakfast. We finish our devotional in the late evening after supper. In the morning, after breakfast we pack the bus. The bus usually gets here at 7:50 and we head out by 8:00am. It takes about 50 minutes to get to and from the villages. It's not that they're far away, it's just the roads are really bumpy and it's all uphill to the villages. We get back from the villages around 5:30ishPM and cool off in the pool for a bit or shower right away. We have free time until 7:00pm, when we meet for supper. Right after we eat, we'll gather outside around a table to finish our devotionals and discuss ideas and challenges we faced throughout the day. We usually finish up our devotions around 9:30pm and then spend free time until bed time; which is around 10:00pm, sometimes 10:30pm. Every part of our day is fun and exciting. It's exciting to share devotional time together. It's exciting to have fun teaching and playing with the children and it's also exciting to relax, unwind and recharge for the next day. 

Today, we spent all day in Monte Margarita where we handed out school supplies, met with local pastors, ate lunch, and ran our Biblical activities. Monte Margarita is the village where the team paved the road with cement a few years ago. 

We arrived this morning to another group of excited of children. We welcomed each other by taking turns on the loud speaker, as we do at each village, giving blessings, thanking God & each other and praying. I've got to tell you, each village we've been to, a representative from each community recognizes our brother, Warren. Yesterday in Monte Margarita, we had a moment of silence for him. Remember that question I asked the other day: How can you strengthen relationships around you? Our brother, Warren was a great example of that. Take a moment today to think about him, or anyone who did this well, and think about what he/she did around our community and our church. How and why did they do it so well? I thank God for the impact he made on me as a man, and the life he brought to so many people and places. Thank you, Lord for a great role model. I pray we all have a powerful, Godly role model(s) to look up to. 

In the villages, Sadoc explains to the children in each village about the pins. He tells them that they are not a good luck charm, but they are to remind us that Jesus died for us. This cross is empty because it did not end there...Jesus rose again and is alive!  The cross reminds us that we belong to him! 

Sadoc, while showing a picture of Warren handing out the mints, explains why there's a mint in each bag handed out to the students filled with pencils and a pencil sharpener. We also share a mint on our bus ride back from the villages, not because we worship Warren, but because we're thankful to God for such a brother in Christ. 

We then met with local pastors for two hours discussing 

(Above are pics of the meeting, lunch, and us with the pastors)

After the meeting we enjoyed lunch together then prepared for another afternoon of soccer, Bible school, songs and home visits for prayer. Nick and Phil played soccer with the children. Bonnie, Terri and Don made home visits, Shelby read Bible stories in Spanish, Jeff and Mary ran the arts and crafts, coloring and making crosses out of popsicle sticks, and Jan & Julee taught songs. 

I'd like to share with you a student I got to know today. 

His name is Julio. While we were playing soccer, he just hung out by me by the goal. After a bit he started talking to me, and of course, I couldn't understand what he was telling me. I called over Luis and had a great conversation with Julio. He is very talented. I forget how we got on the subject but we started talking about worship music. He told me he plays piano and drums, and is also learning to play guitar and bass guitar. He plays these instruments at church. His dad, who works in Milwaukee, is trying to send him a saxophone. Later on, he asked me if I had any scripture memorized. I rattled off one of my favorite scriptures, James 1:19.  Before I could tell him other scriptures from memory, he quickly told me his favorite verse, Ephesians 5:1 before I could grab my Bible from my bag he already rattled it off. I was very happy to see this 11 year old took his faith seriously. He didn't stop there; he then said his other favorite scripture was Psalm 23. As I was flipping to it, he started saying it from memorization. He versed the whole Psalm from memory. I was really impressed and proud of him. What a bright kid! 

Right before we left they made us some of the coffee we purchased from them that day. It was really good! We bought 75 pounds and it came from Esperanza Miralta. Earlier in the week we bought 20 pounds in San Juan. 

I want to leave you with this verse we read yesterday morning. 

The heavens declare the glory of God; the heavens declare the glory of God;

    the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
    night after night they reveal knowledge.
3 They have no speech, they use no words;
    no sound is heard from them.
4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
    their words to the ends of the world.

God Bless

The power of prayer - El Tineco & La Palmera

Jesus, Thank You for coming to earth and making Yourself known in a way that humans could understand. Thank You for this opportunity now to spend time with communities of people that are different from us. Help us to be sensitive to the different ways that other people view the world and to the ways that You are already at work here. Amen

Today we visited El Tineco, and again, swarmed by children. It's really fun to experience. They're so excited and they always celebrate our time together with firecrackers. El Tineco is the community we helped fund for a new classroom. We also helped move rock and sand during the building of the foundation. The classroom looked great! We shared welcomes, prayers and thank yous. The 4th graders sang the Guatemalan National Anthem and the 1st graders performed a traditional Guatemalan dance for us. 

We toured the village and David's farm. Nick & Shelby stayed back to hang out & play soccer with the children. 

While they were gone, we taught them some English and we learned some Spanish. 

It was tough! My tongue doesn't move the way it should!! 

We then ate lunch in the new classroom and headed to La Palmera 

(A story from Nick) Today was great because some question marks in my head were answered and I couldn't be happier. If you remember my short testimony from last year in El Tineco, a young boy, named Esdras, made a big impact on me. There were several reasons he made an impact on me during last year's trip: First, his excitment of our team's visit; second, we were drawn to each other and hung out both days we worked on the classroom; third, he had a great sense of humor, smiled a lot and was playful. He was also a jokester like me; forth, I was impressed with his brain and his effort in learning English. When we arrived and throughout the presentation I didn't see him. It was hard because I couldn't wait to see him and I had a lot of questions to ask him. I asked the teacher were he was and she said he graduated from 6th grade and is now enrolled at a 7-9th grade school down the road. He walks 30 minutes to his new school. I was happy to know he continued his education because that was something I had thought about all year, was funding his education. Typically, once a student finishes 6th grade, they either start working or continue education only if they can afford it. Not only afford the school supplies but the meals and transportation. That is why so many children in small villages don't go further in their education. Again, I was happy to hear this and happy I met his sister, Orquidea (Or-key-tee-a, which means orchid) so she could give him the photos I took of him from the previous year. I was just sad because I thought I would not see him, since this was our only visit of the week. But, during a soccer game, as I was tending the goal, I heard a voice call my name. It was Esdras!! I was overjoyed to say the least! We caught up, played soccer, I met some of his siblings and we talked. I'm very proud of him and so happy we got to spend time together. He was eager to learn more English and learned "Nick lives in Minnesota". I told him some day he can be a translator and work for World Renew. 

(Esdras in black, his sister Orquidea and their cousin)

We've been seeing a lot of farming technics and different crops the past few days so we asked Jeff to let us know his thoughts. He is very interested, if you can imagine, and is enjoying learning how they farm in this part of the world. His thoughts are below. 

(Notes from Jeff) Monday, we were invited by Carlos to his farm where he owns about an acre. Even though it's a small plot of land, he grows 16 different varieties of plants. His house sits on top of his land so all his gray water runs through two tire filters then down to all the various plants below. He raises some plants to eat and medicine for his family and others as well. Some plants he sells are coffee beans, coco, and loofa (ask a female). Have bees of my own, I was impressed when he pointed out 3 bee hives that hung from his house. 

In El Tineco, we visited David's farm. He owns 1 1/4 acres where he uses his own fertilizer where it's produced in two different ways. One was the traditional dry leaf material pile, which takes 40 days. The other, was with worms (read "In Motion" 2/27/14 ). He is currently in conversation with a company to plant and grow passion fruit. They are working on a contract where the company would supply them the seedlings and David and other farmers would grow it and sell it back to the company. 

Please pray this makes a big impact with the farmers and community. 

We arrived in La Palmera and started painting the school right away. 

Soon after the kids arrived and we started games, songs, bible story time and soccer. 

Please continue to keep Party in your prayers. She went to another doctor and found out she had a parasite. Hopefully she'll be feeling better soon. Pray for the children and their education and for the farmers that they have healthy crops. 

Check in tomorrow as we travel to Monte Margarita and also meet with pastors. 

God Bless

Prayer at Esperanza-Miralta

(Fun fact of the day; this is where coco comes from)

Father, we commit this day and everything in it to You. Thank you for the relationships that will be built during this trip, with teammates, missionaries, partners and community members. Tear down anything that would hinder them, and help us instead to build each other up. May we experience together the beauty of being one. Amen

What are some ways to strengthen relationships around you? 

If you haven't heard of Carlos, or seen a picture of him, he is a promotor of  agriculture for Vine & Branches in Esperanza-Miralta. He is a strong leader in the community and very involved in the school. He is a great role model not just for the young boys of Esperanza-Miralta, but for all men. He is a great example of a Godly man. He strengthens the community by practicing, promoting and teaching organic farming technics. He's a strong father for his family; that was evident today as we toured his house and land. He's an encourager and inspirer for the children. He's got an engine inside him that strives to always be there and do the right thing. He's full of heart and emotion. He could barely speak this morning bc he was so overwhelmed with gratitude. He is so thankful for our church and our visits. My words here can't explain his compassion and thankfulness that God has orchestrated between our communities. Carlos thanks you from the bottom of his heart for our prayers, financial support and our visits. 

(Carlos pictured in the white shirt)

Esperanza-Miralta is the village where we helped finance their new school kitchen. It looks beautiful and strong!! 

For most children, they don't get a meal before school; so, it's important they get a meal during the school day. This building provides that meal. It really looked great! Thank You for making this possible! Let us lift this up to God. 

(Gifts we received from the village)

Terri and Bonnie had the humbling priviledge of praying in the homes of the village people. One experience was particularly powerful. Bonnie will share from her journal.

 Adolfo, Luis, and Carlos along with a security guard led us along steep terrain through this beautiful country (that is jungle to us) to the home of an elderly couple being cared for by their daughter. The man cannot see, can barely hear and is not able to walk. The woman can not see or hear well and is unable to move. They have not left their home for a long time and visitors are few. When we arrived we were so welcomed. We spoke with the daughter awhile. She needed to know they are not forgotten. That our great God sees and cares. That she is loved. We then went to the bed sides of the couple. I found myself kneeling on the dirt floor beside a fragile woman so thin and crumpled on her bed. On the bed across from her is her husband who has worked hard many years with the promise of a social security to help care for them that they will never see. God broke our hearts for what breaks His. We prayed. The presence of God filled that tiny room. Words fail to describe the beauty of prayers spoken in different languages to one God through our risen Savior Jesus Christ. 

From Julee: We saw Vidal today!  Many of you will remember him. He is as quiet and wonderful as ever!  He is one of the promoters (leaders) of the community and is a strong leader by example and is respected by his peers and our group alike   We were also to once again able to meet his family. He was so proud for us to see them!! 

(From Terri) Vidal has much expertise in areas of health care and agriculture. He has been the health  promoter for Vine and Branches, and now works in the area of adult literacy.

(Vidal in blue, & his family)

Have you thought about the question that was asked earlier? What are some ways to strengthen relationships around you? 

If you don't know, pray and ask God to make the gifts and talents He gave you more clear. This can be kindness, teaching, giving, being genuine and/or encouraging. (Romans 12:7-8) He filled us all with different talents and gifted us in many ways to use them - He gave them to us to strengthen the relationships around us and make our community stronger. Carlos is a good example of this bc he continually trusts in our Lord. Do you trust Him? May we be mutually encouraged by each other's faith. 

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in it's various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen - 1 Peter 4

Happy Birthday to Trudy Ash!!!