First 3 Days

Despite starting out in misty rain very early Monday morning, God blessed us with safe and on-time travel, and no problems with customs in Guatemala.  We were very nearly arrested as a trail of some mysterious white, powdery substance appeared behind one of our suitcases.  Fortunately it was fairly easy to prove it was harmless as it smelled curiously of vanilla.  Thanks for the coffee creamer, Miriam.  It was enjoyed by all throughout the airport.  God does call us to leave a sweet fragrance wherever we go and we certainly did!

 

As most of you know, we spent our first three days in a remote, jungle village near the Pacific Coast of Guatemala.  Beautiful does not begin to describe the scenery, the people or our experience there.  Our task was to build three houses within an area the size of a city block.  This might sound convenient, but it was extremely steep, rocky and slippery terrain.  With rather heavy rains over the course of our building days, more than a few of us took a slider!  But our efforts were successful and today there stand three tiny salmon-colored houses as a monument to the love our Lord has for all people.  And as a testimony to the love and financial support of the people from Rockford Reformed Church.

 

It is difficult to describe the emotions we felt during the dedications of the houses.  It is best left for a personal conversation.  When Dan chooses who to build houses for, he has no idea who might be a Christian or not.  It is after we give the house to them that we enter their home and the conversation turns spiritual.  The team that built the house enters with the family, Dan and Hermano Jesus (our preacher) while the other two teams remain outside singing and praying.  During our dedications, two of the families rededicated their lives to Jesus Christ.  The third family was divided.  The father is a strong and committed Christian, his son and young wife are not.  As Hermano Jesus explained the choice they needed to make, the rain began to pound on the roof of the tiny house.  The other two teams stayed in the rain, singing and praying.  The young man inside the house gave his reasons for not accepting the gospel.  Each time he did, it began to rain harder.  By his third objection, the rain was pounding on the roof so hard we could barely hear each other shouting.  During his objections to and questions about the gospel our team was amazingly faithful and continued to pray and pray! We know that in time this family will make a commitment to the Lord. The Holy Spirit was so alive in the that house during this time. What an experience.

 

Today we bag beans and rice along with medicines and vitamins in preparation for our first medical clinic in a small mountain village.  Please pray our team bonds with the people and helps to open hearts and minds to God’s Word.  We love and miss you all!!!