Relationships

This past week a team from Bellpre, Ohio was here with us.  We worked in a small community about a half hour from the mission site called Chaquiquiche (cha-key-key-chay). 

For 4 days we worked side by side with the community to build a church sanctuary.  No, we didn’t finish, but was never our goal.  We were there to build relationships:  relationships between the pastor and the community; between the members of the church and the unsaved in the village; between the community and the Lord; between the people of Chaquiquiche and the Bellpre team. 

On our last day, we were invited to have lunch at the pastor’s house.  He, his wife and their 10 children were there to share with us what it meant to them that we came and helped.  The pastor’s wife told us through her tears that her husband had been feeling very alone in the work in Chaquiquiche, and then when we came, and he knew the Lord had remembered him.  What a humbling thing to hear.  That God would choose to use us to bring His blessing to a faithful servant.  Amazing!

When we drove out of the community for the last time, there were many tears and many hugs – both from the team and from the beautiful people of Chaquiquiche.  We did more than lay block, pour concrete and do children’s ministry; we built friendships; relationships with eternal value. 

And that, really, is what the Kingdom is all about…relationships.  Thank you, Lord, for allowing us to participate in your Kingdom building.  We are honoured and humbled.

Child Sponsorship

This last team we had here at Mission2Guatemala was such a blessing.  Not only did they begin the water project in Sepalau, but they also sponsored 3 children to attend the Christian School in Chisec this January.  We are so excited to be a part of connecting a family in North America with a family here in Guatemala and begin a relationship that changes lives.    

2 Corinthians 9 says that if we sow sparingly, we will reap sparingly, but if we sow generously, we will reap generously.  It goes on to say that we reap generously, not for our own accumulation and benefit, but, so that no one would go without. 
When a North American gives, financially, to provide a Christian education for a child, they are sowing into the Kingdom.  What was out of reach for a poor family in Guatemala is now a reality and their future becomes full of possibilities.     

Sponsorship not only impacts the lives of those receiving the support, however; it also deeply impacts those who give.   The sponsor sees how they can take what the Lord has given them and make a difference in the lives of others.  It broadens their perspective and they open themselves up to what the Lord may want to do with their finances.  This is life changing! 

Thank you, Trenton Team!   



 

 

Water Project Underway!

A couple of weeks ago, 3 engineers from EMI came out to help us determine the best plan for bringing water to Sepalau.  This last week, a team from Trenton, Ohio, started the project.  The first phase is the construction of a water reservoir.

The community of Sepalau has 200 families; and with an average of 6 people per family, that makes about 1200 people in the village.  Currently they are walking 1.5km to a lagoon to draw water, wash clothes, or bathe.  The men of the community, most of whom work in agriculture, have to help their women carry the water and clothes back and forth between their homes and the lagoon.  It is difficult work and very time consuming. 

When the group of community leaders came to us at Mission2Guatemala back in January to present the request for help, they shared with us how in the past they had a water system put in, but it wasn't done right and as a result, only worked for a short time.  We were determined to do it right this time. 

That is why we called on the Engineering Ministries International for their help.  We have also made sure that every step along the way we are working together with the community - not telling them what we are going to do, but asking them what would work best for them and what their ideas are.  Because of this, the community is very supportive of this work and it has, in fact, drawn them closer together, as they work towards the goal of accessible water for their people.    

The Trenton team has a long standing relationship with the community of Sepalau.  Before coming to Guatemala, they hosted a 5km walkathon in their home town to raise money for the project. 

And, not only did they work on the reservoir, but they also did children's ministry and home visitation in the community.  At the end of their children's ministry time, they gave out 400 shopping bags full of gifts for the children and young people.

Always our ultimate goal is to share the Gospel.  Working along with the pastors and parishioners of both the Nazarene Church and the Church of God, we are showing the love of Christ in a very practical way.  We are bringing them water in the physical realm, but we are also bringing the Living Water so their spiritual thirst can be satisfied.  It doesn't get much better than that!   

So, the water project in Sepalau is underway!  There is a lot of work still to do, but the foundations have been laid.  Please pray for the people of Sepalau and for us as we continue to work together. 
Blessings,
Karren & Rocky





 

Back In The Saddle Again!

Well, the wedding was awesome!  It rained the night before and as I was driving to TRU (the wedding was an outdoor garden wedding at the TRU Gardens), but at 2pm, the sky cleared and the sun came out.  The weather was perfect - not too hot, not too cool. 

It was great to have all of the family (well almost all - missing Hector) together.  It had been a long time.  As I suspected, although, the time to leave came too quickly as we packed up our house and our bags and said goodbye.  If we didn't get a chance to connect with you this time around, know you are on the top of our list for the next visit!  The Lord willing, we will be back in January -only 7 months away! 

We arrived in Guatemala late Saturday, June 1st and drove out to the mission site on Sunday.  Yesterday and today, our focus has been to prepare for the team that is arriving sometime tonight.  We are really excited to work with the 9 teams that are coming over the summer.  It feels good to be back in the saddle again!

Blessings,
Karren & Rocky