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What an awesome God I serve...
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8/11/2010
By: Ashley Brown, Participant
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Hanover Community Church- Hanover, PA
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For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future. ~Jeremiah 29:11. Never in my life did I think I would be called to serve God in another country, let alone Guatemala where my best friend had just traveled to the summer before. God definitely had a different plan for my life. When Matt Miller, my youth pastor, came to the group and said we would be taking a missions trip to Guatemala with Adventures In Missions I had no intention of actually going on the trip. I was convinced that God wanted me to serve somewhere in the states before leaving for college in the fall. After much prayer and wise counsel from a few of my leaders, I decided I would go to Guatemala. The time between that decision and actually leaving for the trip was very stressful, trying to plan for college and Guatemala all in one summer. Nevertheless God had a perfect plan and He worked everything out. Guatemala has forever changed my perspective on life. We as Americans are so blessed to live in homes and eat basically whatever we would like, whenever we would like it. While in Guatemala we visited a home where a mudslide had devastated the entire area. One of our translators, Nancy, explained to us that a ten year old girl had been killed in the mudslide and had not yet been found. While we were helping clean up one day we found a doll that belonged to the girl who had died. I will never forget that moment when everyone on the team realized that this family who had a lost their home, had also lost a family member, a daughter forever. What really impacted me about the mudslide was how joyful the Guatemalan people were in the midst of such devastation. They didnt complain about how much work they had to do or how they had lost basically everything that they called home. Instead they repeatedly thanked us for donating a little bit of time to help them rebuild their lives. Most importantly they thanked God for giving them a group of people to help speed up the recovery process. God truly taught me that He is in control and if we daily give over ourselves to Him, He will fill us up and give us just what we need to find peace and joy in Him. I thank God for daily walking with me and giving me the courage to go on a missions trip that was definitely out of my comfort zone. What an awesome God I serve. For He is patient and compassionate, and He will never let me go.
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Unveiling the Cross
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7/31/2010
By: Christy Barnard, co-leader
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Today we had a great day of ministry. During team devoīs we split into girls and guys and were each challenged in a unique way. In the morning we asked the Lord whether we should be at the house where the mudslide happened again or at the church painting.
Those that hadnīt seen the effects of the mudslide had the opportunity to go and at least see the house as we made a quick stop- many were emotional after.
During the afternoon we had another VBS- Pinehurst lead today and did a great job.
This evening during debrief we were asked to identify things that are covering up the Cross in our lives: worries, fears, music, insecurities, patience, forgiveness... what a great night of ministry.
Tomorrow is our last day of VBS and the afternoon is our last VBS.
Thank you for your continued prayers.
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Raviged...
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7/28/2010
By: Christy Barnard, co-leader
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We split in two groups this morning. One group headed to a house that was raviged by the mudslide in San Pedro while the rest of the team went to the church in San Pablo: Vida Real to paint the inside of the church a typical latin america color: mint green.
The other team was told they'd be cleaning the house effected by the mudslide however, what they didn't know was the extent of the job and that it really wasn't cleaning more like landscaping as they're having to move boulders and get dirty to prep the land for farming.
All were really touched deeply by seeing the effects the mudslide has had on the people and the village. Tomorrow the painting team will be able to stop and see so they too can see a little bit of the effects.
Tomorrow evening the Hanover Church will be leading the whole service at Vida Real and it looks like "Jake" will be preaching tomorrow one of the youth. We're so proud of him stepping out in faith and being used by God.
Thank you for your prayers we all are well and are excited to continue our mission here in Guatemala! 4 more full days of ministry left.
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Full day of ministry and more to come
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7/26/2010
By: Christy Barnard, co leader
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Well the teams made it yesterday fine. Each of their flights were about 1.5 hours late. We had a long and windy road to San Pedro where we are staying in a beautiful hotel.
Everyone was exhausted after their travels, we had a short debrief and let them get to bed for an early start of ministry.
Started out 7am with quiet time and then breakfast at 8am and then team devotion. We headed to San Pablo to the church of Vida Real a Nazarene church we are working with all week.
Today we did a prayer walk and the students stepped out in faith to pray with the locals, build relationships,and invite kids to VBS in the afternoon.
In the afternoon we had VBS then headed back to the hotel. We got soaked as it rained and the tarps we had on the trucks were not working for everyone.
We appreciate your prayers and will need them tomorrow as tomorrow is one of our busiest days. We will have our normal morning routine and then School Ministry, VBS in the afternoon and then an evening service that the teams are in charge. It looks like Michael of the Pinehurst is going to preach. Definitely be praying for him and the others that are going to be stepping out of the comfort zone.
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Leaders are here... checking out how Godīs working
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7/24/2010
By: Christy Barnard, Co-leader
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Lindsay and I are here safe and sound. We got in late the 22nd well really early in the morning on the 23rd.
Be ready for some windy and bumpy roads on our way to San Pedro from the airport. Itīs a beautiful drive as we get to see mountains, volcanoīs and Lake Atitlan.
Itīs been chili the last few nights so hopefully you guys remember some longs sleeve shirts. Also, the weather has been amazing- not too hott! Praise the Lord.
The Pastorīs family has treated us like royalty and weīre excited to see how God moves this week! Itīs going to be awesome!
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