We just said goodbye to our last team of 2013! It has been an amazing year. This group was from Grand Rapids, Michigan and although their time with us was short - only a week - they accomplished a great deal.
We invited the Nazarene Mission pastors to come for a rich, 2 day seminar on how to share the Gospel in love. These pastors are the ones who are working in the remotest areas with the least amount of assistance from the main church. In fact, they are not considered organized churches, but rather missions. The first day Pastor Joe asked the to share how they came to know the Lord and when/how they received their calling to plant a church. I listened and was so honoured to hear their humble stories. One man shared how God "opened his eyes" and he was able to read. What a miracle! On the second day, they brought their wives along and the ladies on the team ministered to the women. I know the team came to bless these pastors and their wives, and they did! But, I also know that the team was enriched by the time spent together with these beautiful Guatemalan men and women of God.
The group also did 2 days of children's ministry. The message of the Gospel was so clear, not only in what was said, but also in what was done. Sometimes in our "north american" mindset, we forget that we are to love in action and in deed. It isn't enough to just say you care, you have to show it in what you do. so, they sang, played, did crafts and gave away clothing, shoes, tooth brushes, tooth paste and soap. All very practical and much needed items for these people.
Tomorrow, we will receive Stephen and Tammie Burger, our pastoral care couple from Commission To Every Nation, and Trevor and Jana Eby, the head of CTEN Canada. We are so excited to share with them what the Lord is doing here. Then on Friday, 2 couples from the US and an EMI (Engineering Ministries International) representative will arrive to celebrate the grand opening of the water project in Sepalau. As I am typing, Rocky is in Sepalau installing the submersible pump so that all will be ready for Saturday's celebration!
We invited the Nazarene Mission pastors to come for a rich, 2 day seminar on how to share the Gospel in love. These pastors are the ones who are working in the remotest areas with the least amount of assistance from the main church. In fact, they are not considered organized churches, but rather missions. The first day Pastor Joe asked the to share how they came to know the Lord and when/how they received their calling to plant a church. I listened and was so honoured to hear their humble stories. One man shared how God "opened his eyes" and he was able to read. What a miracle! On the second day, they brought their wives along and the ladies on the team ministered to the women. I know the team came to bless these pastors and their wives, and they did! But, I also know that the team was enriched by the time spent together with these beautiful Guatemalan men and women of God. 
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