Merry Christmas!

Well, we have been in Canada now for just over a month and we have thoroughly enjoyed our time so far.  It has been a huge blessing to share this adventure with our son-in-law, Hector.  We know it has been a very interesting experience for him!
This week marks the beginning of our Christmas celebrations.  Today we are off to Harper to go tubing with my side of the family and then later will go to my sister's for appies and games.  Tomorrow we are having the Duerksen family Christmas at my parent's place and will have all of our family in one location for the first time in years!
Then on the 24th we are off to Kelowna to have Christmas with our kids at our daughter and son-in-law's house (Alex and Alan).  Our family has grown from 4 to 7 over the past year and a half, and we are looking forward to hanging out with our kids!
On the 26th we will head out to Chilliwack for the Chupa/Teschke family Christmas!
So, lots of celebrating to enjoy this week and I am sure lots of good food, too!
Yesterday at church, our pastor spoke about "what are you bringing to the table?"  It was a message that really spoke to me.  I have an amazing opportunity during what can be a crazy, stressful, busy time.  I have the opportunity to bring peace, joy, and love to the table.  I can choose not to worry about the little things that really don't matter and simply enjoy time with family celebrating our Saviour's birth.
This is what Christmas is all about - relationships!  God sent His Son to be in relationship with us; to restore our relationship with Him; to give us fellowship with one another.
So, along with the turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce, bring love to the table and have a very Merry Christmas!

The Great White North

 Well they don't call it the "Great White North" for nothing!  This is truly a beautiful land.  We are in Grand Prairie for one more night and then are heading to Edmonton tomorrow.

We have been blessed with mild weather and amazing roads...Praise the Lord...so our driving times have been relaxing (at least for me - the passenger!).

We had the opportunity to share at Brent and Robbie King's church last night and will share again this evening in their home.  It is always such a delight to talk and share with other like-minded people.

Tomorrow morning we will leave early for Edmonton and have a couple of nights with Hope and Josh.  We are excited to see where they have set up house and spend a bit of time with them on their turf.

After that we will stop for a night in Calgary and re-connect with Glen and Carol Switzer - the couple that set us up on a blind date!

Then it's back to Kamloops, where we'll stay put for a little while.  

The Adventure Continues!

We have had a busy, but very fulfilling three weeks in Canada so far.  We have had the time to see family and friends and get caught up. We have also been blessed with many speaking opportunities (Bible Truth Church, Kamloops Christian School chapel, KCS Staff devotional, Pritchard Community Church, Pritchard/Scotch Creek Guatemala Team dessert night, one of the Alliance Church Senior Care Group's Christmas pot luck, and Highroad Academy Primary, Intermediate and High School chapels).  It is such a joy to share what we are learning as we journey along with the Lord as well as share the vision for the future that He has given us.  

This morning we left Chilliwack for our "Northern Loop" adventure.  We are visiting Williams Lake, Prince George, Grand Prairie, Edmonton and Calgary.  I am so thankful for the vehicle that we have and that Rocky loves to drive, regardless of the conditions.  That frees me up to just be a passenger and enjoy the amazing scenery along the way.  

As you begin to get geared up for the Christmas Season, I pray you will be able to sit back, relax and soak in the presence of the Lord.  I also pray that you will have time with those you love and hold dear and will be able to share the joy that is within you with others who may find this season a challenging time.  

The Lord willing, we will be back in Kamloops on Saturday, December 13th and will be in Kamloops until Christmas Eve.  We look forward to more "connecting" and "sharing!" 

If you want to connect with us, you can do any one (or all) of the following:

text us at:  250-574-7611; call or text us at 250-320-8443; email us at rockiechupa@yahoo.ca or karrenchupa@hotmail.ca; or message us on facebook.   

Blessings,

Karren & Rocky

It's going to be a white Christmas!

Well, we’ve been in Canada for a week already.  I am amazed at how quickly time has flown by.  Rocky’s brother, Myles, picked us up at the airport and we spent a few days with family in Chilliwack.  Then we were off to Kelowna to see our daughter and son-in-law, Alex and Alan.  They bought a house last spring and it was neat to see all the work they’ve done since moving in.  After a couple of days there, we made our way to my parent’s place in Kamloops, where we are now. 

After a long and somewhat stressful process, Hector did receive a visa to visit Canada and he and Arryn (Lizzy) arrived in Vancouver on the 22^nd.  They are currently in Kelowna, but will be arriving in Kamloops tomorrow.  We are so excited for Hector to meet family and friends and to share this beautiful province with him.  This Christmas we will have all 7 of our kids together!  We know this will probably not happen again for a long time. 

Last night we had the opportunity to share at Bible Truth church and it was a wonderful time of celebrating missions and what the Lord is doing around the world.  It is such a blessing to be able to share with others what we have been learning and doing, and to talk about the vision that the Lord has given us for the future.    

I thought some of you may like to know what our schedule looks likes while we are in Canada. 

November 15^th – arrived in Vancouver

November 16^th – 18^th – Chilliwack

November 18^th – 20^th – Kelowna

November 20^th – December 2^nd – Kamloops

·         November 23^rd – Bible Truth

·         November  26^th – Kamloops Christian School High School Chapel

·         November 27^th – Kamloops Christian School Staff Devotional

·         November 29^th – Pritchard Dessert Night

·         November 30^th – Pritchard Community Church

·         December 1^st – Kamloops Alliance Church Senior’s Cell Group

December 2^nd – December 6^th – Chilliwack

·         December 2^nd – Highroad Academy Primary Chapel

·         December 2^nd – Highroad Guatemala Team Pot Luck

·         December 3^rd – Highroad Academy Intermediate Chapel

·         December 5^th -  Highroad Academy High School Chapel

December 6^th – December 13^th – the Northern Loop

·         Williams Lake (6^th)

·         Prince George (7^th)

·         Grand Prairie (8^th, 9^th)

·         Edmonton (10^th, 11^th)

·         Calgary (12^th, 13^th)

December 13^th – 24^th – Kamloops

·         December 16^th – 18^th Sun Peaks

·         December 22^nd – 23^rd Christmas with Duerksen family

December 24^th – 26^th – Kelowna

·         Christmas at Alex’s with all 7 kids!

December 26^th – 29^th (31^st?)– Chilliwack

·         December 27^th – Christmas with Chupa/Teschke family

·         Arryn and Hector fly back to Guatemala on the 31^st 

January 1^st – 19^th  – Kamloops

·         January 18^th – Scotch Creek Church

January 19^th – 22^nd – Chilliwack

·         January 22^nd – fly back to Guatemala

We are really hoping to connect with as many of you as possible.  If you see that we are in your area and we would like to go for coffee, please call us at 250-320-8443 or 250-377-6996 or message us on facebook. 

Blessings!    

Home for Christmas!

We arrived in the capital this afternoon and are flying out for Canada in the morning.  It feels like it has been a long time since we've been home, but it has only been 5 1/2 months.  As Rocky and I were driving today, we were talking and realized our last trip in May was a real whirlwind.  We were in Canada for only 2 weeks and during that time, we moved all our possessions to storage, had a garaged sale, re-roofed the house and our youngest daughter, Hope, got married.  We were hardly able to connect with family, let alone spend time with anyone else.  The one Sunday we were home and went to church, we were an hour late - they had changed the evening service time and we arrived just in time for the alter call!  Oops!
This trip is going to be different.  We are "home" for 9 weeks!  We do have a speaking schedule and some travelling/visiting that we are going to do, but we have 9 weeks to do it in.
We are super excited that our son-in-law, Hector, was able to get a visa and he and Arryn will be joining the rest of the gang for Christmas. We are really looking forward to hanging out with family and reconnecting with friends.
As we won't have a cell phone while in Canada, if you want to get together, please call us at my parent's place 250-377-6996, send me an email, or message me on facebook.

Today I remembered...

This morning we attended church, as usual.  After a wonderful time of praise and worship we shared in communion and as I was looking at those serving, I remembered a word that was spoken over me about 2 1/2 years ago.
In a church in Coban, the worship leader came to me after a service and said as we were worshipping  she saw a picture of me ministering to women in white guipils (the traditional tops worn here by women).  I received the word, but had long forgotten...until this morning.
As I looked to the front, the 6 women helping with serving communion were all wearing white guipils and the word from 2 1/2 years ago came flooding back.  There was a moment of confirmation from the Lord - I am where I am supposed to be!
How cool is that!  

You know you are in Guatemala when...

 Many times throughout the week, Rocky and I shake our heads and say, “Man, you know you’re in Guatemala when…” because some things occur here that would never happen in Canada. 

For example, a motorcycle is a family vehicle here and it is not uncommon to see dad, mom, 2 kids and a baby all on a small 125cc motor bike.  And…all without helmets! 

Another example is at our church; the wall is full of large nails hanging at about 4 feet.  These are for the babies!  Mom’s carry their babies (actually up to 2 years old) in a fabric sling on their back supported by a strap on their foreheads.  I have tried it and it is difficult, uncomfortable and heavy.  Once the baby has fallen asleep, they take this sling and hook the strap over the nail and literally hang the baby up.  That is where the baby sleeps during church! 

Then, the other day the truck we are using to deliver supplies to Yalicoc (where the team from Pritchard is doing a water project) got stuck in the mud and called for help.  A Guatemalan style tow truck came running (literally) to the rescue!  50 guys with 10 ropes pulled a 5 ton truck out of the mud and up a steep slope!  Crazy!     

But this last week we saw a first.  We went to a birthday party of an older man in our church.  Basically the entire church attended and the one room was not big enough to hold everyone.  So, they simply removed the back wall and extended the area into the outdoors!  Man, you know you’re in Guatemala when they remove a wall from the house to accommodate people for a party! 

These are just a few of the humorous things we see as we share life with the lovely people of Chisec.  We also, however, see some sad things that cause us to shake our heads and realize how difficult life is for the many people living in poverty.

 Just this week a one year old baby from our church died en route to the hospital in Coban 1 ½ hours away (in public transportation).   The family waited too long before seeking medical help and their little one died.  We got a call from our pastor letting us know that the couple had used all of their resources to pay for the transportation to Coban and now had nothing left to buy a coffin for their baby.  As is custom here, the body stays in the home for 24 hours and the community come to visit throughout those 24 hours and then they make the trek, on foot, to the church for a service and then the cemetery for the burial.  Because there was no coffin, this little one was laid out on the kitchen table. 

I don’t know about you but I wrestle with all kinds of different emotions when a little one dies. 

I know the people living in rural Guatemala do not have easy access to medical care.  The clinic we have in Chisec really is not able to address anything more serious than routine vaccinations and the common cold.  It is not their fault, but rather the fault of a broken system.  So, when you are really sick, they tell you that you have to go to Coban.   Just that in itself is often deterrent enough for a family to do nothing.  They know they cannot get help in Chisec and they don’t have the means to make the journey to Coban and support themselves while there.   And so they wait.  By the time they realize it is serious, it is often too late. 

So, how do we help?   How can we make a difference?   That is a question we ask ourselves every day.  We know that simply throwing money at a situation does more harm than good.  Years ago we read, When Helping Hurts, and more recently, My Business My Mission.  These two books have helped us to have a healthy perspective of our work as missionaries.

In situations of crisis, like the death of a child, it is right to step in and help in whatever manner you can.  But, these are one-time interventions in an emergency.   The poor don’t need a handout; they need a hand up.  And whatever we do must be encased in the Gospel.  Just like me, the poor need to know who they are in Christ – sons and daughters of the King!  Princes and princesses with access to their heavenly Father.    They need to have their hope, confidence and dignity restored.   

These are the things the Lord is stirring in our hearts as we journey along with Him.  What a privilege it is to live among and serve these dear people.    

Getting Geared Up...

We are getting geared up for the 2015 school year.  Our education program is growing and we are excited!  For 2015 we will have 32-35 sponsored students in the Christian school and about 150 in the public schools!  Amazing!

We are so thankful for the generous donations/gifts of teams throughout the year who have brought with them pencils, pens, rulers, etc, and for those who have raised money through their summer VBS program or Sunday school program to support education in rural Guatemala. Thank you so much!
The last team that was here from Michigan brought with them over 200 back packs along with a huge amount of supplies and they helped us pack 150 backpacks.  They are just waiting for a few finishing touches and then, in January they will be distributed.  

We are also excited and encouraged by the number of people wanting to sponsor children to attend the Christian school.  We have seen first hand the impact this has, not only on the child, but on the entire family.  What an amazing expression of love between a North American sponsor and a poor family in Guatemala.  It is such an honour for us to be the  ones helping to facilitate this.  There is no way these kids would have the opportunity to attend a Christian school (perhaps no school at all) without the help of their sponsor.  As this school year draws to a close, we are so proud to see many of our kids names on the honour roll; they recognize the gift they are being given and they are working hard.

Thank you, again, for being a part of the lives of children in Chisec.
Blessings!
 

Staying Focused

Sometimes we find ourselves distracted by the many challenges that seem to steal our focus and attention here in Guatemala.  Currently we are waiting for parts to fix the Pathfinder.  It is out of commission for the moment (C .V. Joint).  The amplifier for showing the Jesus movie had to be sent back to the U.S. for repairs after just receiving a replacement battery.  The walls inside our room were filled with little army ants determined to claim new territory.  No bank in Chisec would open up an account for us.  The power is off for the 4^th time this week.  And the list goes on!  

It can be distracting and sometimes takes a little wind out of our sails but thanks be to the Lord.   He always has a way of bringing us to His Word for encouragement, focus and motivation. 

“Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord.”   Ps 31:24  NKJV “We pray that you will have the strength to stick it out for the long haul-not the grim strength of gritting your teeth, but the glory- strength God gives.”  Ps 1:11  MSG.

We are here to share the good news of Jesus Christ through word and deed. This remains our focus. The temporary setbacks only help to build character and faith. They challenge us to keep moving forward for the purposes of the Kingdom. The Lord helps us to turn these moments of frustration into stepping stones of faith. He gives us His Word and sends encouragement through the body to strengthen us.

On the team that was just here from Michigan there were two mechanics to help with the car. The team was also able to take the amp back to the States for repairs. The army ants were introduced to vast quantities of Raid and we were able to open up an account at a different bank in Coban, a town we visit regularly to buy supplies.  And…the power came back on after only 15 hours!  There always will be bumps in the journey but if we stay focused and in expectation of God’s goodness, we will see the reward. We are looking with anticipation to the future and we see some new things on the horizon. Our newsletter should be sent out soon to give the update. Stay tuned!!

Alberto's Passing

Last night at 8pm, Alberto died and went to be with the Lord. 

I know the right thing to say is that he is better off now, because his pain has ended and he is with the Lord.  And I know that is true, but it doesn’t take away the pain that his family is feeling because he is now gone.  I cannot even imagine how I would feel to lose a child – I don’t think words can describe this kind of loss.  The other day on face book I saw a posting that read, “You call a man or woman who loses their spouse a widow and you call a child who loses their parents and orphan, but there is no word to describe one who loses a child.”  So true. 

When we got the call around 10pm, I didn’t know what to say.  It was a moment of loss – we were praying for a healing and yet he died.  What words could I possibly say to comfort them?   Now how do we love and support his family? 

Lots of questions, and honestly, not a lot of answers.  Talk about feeling inadequate.  This family came to us for help and we did what we could, but Alberto still died.  It is in those moments where I have nothing, that the Lord gently reminds me of what is true and where I can place my trust.  

·               God is who He says He is: He is our loving Father, our Provider, our Healer and our Saviour.

·              God can do what He says He can do: He can and does perform miracles today, some of which are        miraculous physical healings and some are a healing of another kind. 

I may not understand everything that happens or that doesn’t happen, but I can trust in Him.  God gave Alberto peace in his final weeks and even moments of enjoyment.  He gave us the opportunity to play a small roll in his life when he needed help.  He stirred my heart to take some family photos for them 2 weeks ago and have them developed.  He knew what was around the corner and He made preparations.  Our God is an amazing God.    

I feel privileged to have shared this day with Alberto’s family.  We didn’t do or say much, but we were there, and we shared in their loss. 

An Update on Alberto

Thank you to those of you who took up the challenge to pray with us for Alberto.  
We have been back to see him 3 times since I blogged last, and each time, he seems more at peace.  This last time I asked him if he was feeling any pain, and he shook his head and said no.  Praise the Lord!
We found a radio/cassette player in the market and brought it along with a mattress to Alberto this past week.  Although you can't tell from the photo, he was very happy.  He has been spending the majority of his time in the hammock because it is the softest place for him to rest.  You can see his bed behind him - just wooden planks with a piece of material covering it.
Now he is able to rest comfortably and has a radio so he can listen to the Christian.
Every time we visit, we lay hands on him and pray and I know the Holy Spirit is at work.  The circumstances have not changed - Alberto is still desperately ill - but there is peace and joy - yes, joy - in the house.  Thank you Lord.  
 

Can You Pray With Us?

A couple of weeks ago, I blogged about a young man named Antonio who was desperately sick.  Well, I want to give you an update.  First, his name is Alberto, not Antonio – sorry!  I don’t know how I got the names confused, but I did. 

In my last blog I shared how Alberto was nothing more than skin and bones with a large lump in his stomach area.  He needed to go to the hospital in Coban and that we were going to help his family get there and follow up on his condition.  Well, he went.  He saw a doctor, had some x-rays done and spent the night.  The next morning they discharged him with a prescription for an antibiotic and some pain meds.  Alberto’s mom came here to the mission site to show me the x-rays and the prescription.  Although I am not a doctor, nor a nurse, I looked at the x-rays and saw black spots all over his chest cavity and in his stomach.  I took the mom, Camila, to Chisec and bought the medicine Alberto needed and took her home.  Camila tried to explain to me, through her daughter, what the doctor said and what was wrong with Alberto, but it was really tough to understand and she didn’t really understand.  So, I suggested that after he finished with the medicine we go to the Centro de Salud (health clinic) in Chisec together to see what the next step should be. 

So, they came yesterday and we went to town together.  As soon as the nurses saw how serious the situation was, they ushered us into an office and began to gather information.  The doctor wasn’t in, but they said if we returned at 8am the following day, we could go straight in and talk with the doctor.  As I drove them home, Camila shared with me that her husband is working on a farm and he makes only Q50 a day (about $6).  She said that was just barely enough to pay for their rent and food.  There was no extra for healthcare.  That is the reality for the majority of the people in this area.     

This morning, I picked them up at 7:30am and off we went.  When we got to the clinic, we were able to see the pediatrician right away.  She went over the x-rays and the notes that were taken at the hospital in Coban and then proceeded to tell me what was wrong.  Alberto has cancer.  The huge lump we could see in his stomach region was a secondary cancer and it had already begun spreading throughout the body.  The x-rays didn’t show the primary source of the cancer, but the doctor said there was more cancer than just what we could see, physically.  She said the blood work showed he was also diabetic, but the most pressing problem was the cancer.  She did not believe there was much hope for Alberto, short of a miracle.  She went on to explain that if the family did want to pursue care, they would have to first return to Coban – a 1 ½ hour trip.  But the hospital in Coban is not equipped to deal with cancer patients, so they would send him to the capital, a 5 hour trip.  They wouldn’t have to pay for the medical consult in Coban or the capital, but would have to pay for any transportation, all tests that would be done and for any medication that would be given.  The doctor said that most likely they would only be looking at palliative care in Alberto’s stage of cancer.   

As I listened to all of this, I felt helpless and heartbroken.  This family had waited too long to seek help and now the situation was desperate.  Feeling overwhelmed, I drove them home and went home myself.  I talked to Rocky and we spent the afternoon processing and praying about what we should do. 

I am struggling to process all of this.  I believe that God sent them to our gate and honestly, I just want to make it all better; I want Alberto to be well. But, there are times when we can’t do anything in the physical realm and then, the most valuable thing we can do is pray.  Alberto needs a miracle.  It is as simple as that.  I know my God is big enough to heal Alberto and I am willing to step out, in faith, and pray, trusting that the Lord will move in whatever manner He deems best.  Are you willing to step out with me?  If you are, pray for Alberto.  Pray that God would touch and heal his body of all sickness and disease.  Pray that Alberto would know that he is in the hand of the Almighty and he need not fear.  Pray for peace for the family and strength to continue on.  Pray!  

An Interesting Day!I

Although it has been pretty quiet around here without any teams and without Manny and Cindy, Friday was an interesting day!  We were in town in the morning and saw three truckloads of police at the gas station.  This is super unusual, as Chisec just got police this past year and I think we have 1 truck and maybe 2 or 3 officers.  We asked the gas attendant what was happening and he told us that there had been a gun fight and 5 police were injured and 3 people killed, so now police were coming form all over Alta Verapaz to settle the situation.
As we learned more throughout the day, the activity centred around an area about half way between the mission site and Coban.  About 6 months ago people just started building little shacks at the side of the road; they were squatters, which is not unusual around here.  At last count there must have been well over 50 shacks within a 2 km stretch of road.  The posted signs read that they were "in negotiations" for the land.  Well, I guess the "negotiations" came to a halt on Friday.
By the time the situation was at its peak, there were about 200 police there(buses full of cops arrived on the scene). People were being evicted from their little homes and the police were maintaining a presence so no one would try to return.  Then to make things a little more interesting, in a community just a couple of kilometres away from this area, the police arrested one of the CODECA leaders and the people were rioting in response.
CODECA is the illegal organization that helps people steal electricity by connecting them illegally. I guess because of the road blocks and police presence due to evicting the squatters, the police happened to find one of the CODECA leaders and they arrested him, publicly.  The people of the community went crazy.  They were shooting off guns and throwing rocks on the cars in the road.  Needless to say, the road was closed until things settled down.  
The police were still there 24 hours later only allowing a small number of vehicles to pass through the area at any given time.  It meant what normally takes 1 hour 15 minutes to drive took 2 1/2 hours.
As I reflected on the unrest, I was thankful that the police did come and they were able to restore order in a reasonable amount of time and that they stayed to monitor the situation to ensure the safety of those travelling between Coban and Chisec.  I was also thankful that a CODECA leader was arrested.  I know the price of electricity here is unreasonable, but stealing is never the right alternative.  There has to be another way to solve the ongoing problem with electricity.
I was also sad, although, as I thought about all of those families who were evicted from their homes, humble as they were.  Where were they sleeping that night and what were they going to do now? Sad for the families who lost loved ones in the battle.  Most likely those lost will have been the men of the home - the providers.
The longer we live and work in northern Guatemala, the more we realize the problems and challenges facing this area are not simple; they are complex and often no one comes out the winner lest of all the Indigenous we work with and live alongside of.
It makes it challenging to figure out what to think or what to do.  Our North American thinking simply doesn't fit. This is a different culture and we have to respect that.  I am thankful on a daily basis, although, that my God is able to bridge cultural divides and provide us with a common ground where we can come together, in Him, seeking guidance and wisdom.  His ways are not the ways of man...they are so much better!

  

Antonio

On Monday we went to the capital to work on our Guatemalan residency.  As we were driving out of the gate, two women were waiting for us.  Rocky recognized the older woman as the same one who had been at the gate Saturday morning.  He had tried to communicate with her then, but she spoke no Spanish (only Kekchi) so he asked if she could come back on Monday when the workers would be here so they could translate.  

So, we got out of the car.  The older woman’s daughter was there to translate between Spanish and Kekchi.  As we started to hear her story, a boy of about 12 or 13 came out from around the corner.  It was clear that he was severely malnourished – a walking skeleton.  Apparently he had not been able to eat for about 5 months.  Every time he ate, he vomited, so he just stopped eating.  They went to the Centro de Salud (Health Clinic) in Chisec and were told he needed an operation to remove a growth in his chest/stomach area.  But, because the fair to travel to Coban (the nearest hospital) was Q15 a person one way (just under $2) they were not able to go.  It is hard to wrap your head around this level of poverty – for lack of $4 her child was going to die.     

As I type this I can still see Antonio’s face; his sunken, desperate eyes.  I can see the worry and fear on his mom’s face.  And they were at our gate looking to us for help.  Oh man!  We gathered around Antonio, laid hands on him and called out to the Living God to intercede in his life.  We gave the mom a financial gift and encouraged her to get her son to the hospital as soon as possible.     

It was overwhelming, humbling and an incredible privilege all wrapped up into one big emotional bundle.  It is only by His grace, calling, infilling and strength that we are here, serving the Lord in Gautemala.  And it is only in His perfect timing that we were driving out of the mission site at exactly the same time that these precious people arrived.  God is good…no,… God is absolutely amazing! 

Medical Clinic for Yalmachac

We currently have an all ladies team here from Jacksonville, Florida. On the team are various medical people and so, today and tomorrow we are doing a medical clinic in the village of Yamachac, about 45 minutes from the mission site.

A week ago, the leaders of the community gave out numbers/tickets so that those who were truly sick would have priority.  What happens here is that everyone wants to see the doctor, whether they have a need or not.  It is not uncommon for them to have never been to see a doctor and when word gets out that there is a North American doctor in town seeing patience, the crowds arrive!  

This group also brought with them enough fluoride treatment for the entire community.  Every child had their teeth checked, received a toothbrush and a fluoride treatment.  And, after seeing the doctor they also received whatever medicine they needed, free of charge.    

While the appointments were taking place, those not involved in the medical clinic were outside doing crafts and activities with the kids. They brought with them t-shirts for the kids to paint, play dough, colouring sheets, bubbles, balls,...you name it, they had it!

What an amazing blessing for this community!  

The Precious Word of God!

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  John 1:1

As a North American who was brought up in a Christian home, I was always surrounded by Bibles.  I remember my dad’s office had a book shelf behind the desk and he had numerous different Bibles along with concordances and other study tools. In my parent’s bedroom, there was always a Bible on the night stand and I think there was one that “lived” on the kitchen table, too.   I remember as a child having not one, but multiple Bibles of my own.  I didn’t count it a privilege to have a Bible; it was just the norm.   

This week I was reminded multiple times how precious the Word of God is and what a privilege it is to have a Bible and be able to read it.  We had a group here from Xenia, Ohio and one of the things we did was pass out Bibles. 

After doing children’s ministry and passing out shoes, clothing, school supplies, candies (you know, all the good stuff), we announced that each student would be receiving their own personal Bible.  To my surprise and delight, the kids cheered.  Yes, cheered!  They were thankful for the other things we gave them, but they cheered when they heard they were going to get a Bible.

As the team handed them out, I watched the face of one young guy, probably 12 years old and definitely one of the “cool kids” in the class.  He had a silly grin on his face as he received his Bible and he held it very gently.  He rubbed the cover and turned it over a couple of times to really have a good look at it.  Then he sat down, opened it up, and began to read.  There was chaos all around him, but he was drawn into the Word and nothing was going to pull him away.  God spoke to me in that moment and I don’t think I will ever forget the picture of this boy’s face. 

My prayer for this young man is that God will minister to him in a very real and powerful way through His Word.  That he will grow to become a man after God’s heart.  That God’s Word will be alive and active in his life and accomplish much!  

 I have another prayer, although, and this one is for me…Lord, may I know what a privilege it is to hold Your Word in my hand, to read Your Love letter to me.  May I have an unquenchable thirst for your Word.  May I value Your Word as the treasure It is and allow Its truths to speak to my spirit and change me into who You want me to be.      

The Value of a Short-term Missions Experience

When I worked at Kamloops Christian School, we used to send two short term mission teams to Guatemala every year.  And, every year people questioned the value of these teams.   They would say the money we spent on the trip would be put to better use if we just sent it all to missionaries already working in the area. 

The truth is, it is expensive to participate in a short term missions trip.  The cost is usually between $1500 and $2000 per person for a 10 day trip.  A portion of that is set aside for the project ($300 - $500), but the majority is used to cover flights, in-country travel, accommodations and food. 

If all you do is run the numbers, then it is easy to see how you come to the conclusion that it is better to just send money.  Missions and ministry, although, is about more than just numbers.  It is about relationships and that cannot happen if we don’t engage, personally. 

This week, as we sat in a circle for our evening debrief with the team from Trenton, I listened as a young man gave words to how this missions experience was affecting him.  He shared how he could see now how materially focussed he was back home and how hesitant he was to share the Gospel with others.  He said what he was learning and living out here in Guatemala was teaching him how he could live back home.  It was changing him; changing his focus and his heart. 

David Platt, in his book Radical, issues a 5 point challenge to believers, a part of which is to “spend your time in another context (missions).”  It could be a car ride away or a plane ride away – the distance isn’t important.  What is important is to go somewhere where you can share the gospel and care for the needy in Christ’s name.  “If we are going to accomplish the global purpose of God, it will not be primarily through giving our money, as important as that is.  It will happen primarily through giving ourselves.”   

We see, time and time again, how people are impacted by the missions experience and how, if they are willing, 1 week away from their home culture and context  can affect the other 51 weeks of the year.   The value of a short term missions experience is not just what can be accomplished, like building a classroom or a church, or giving shoes away to an impoverished community.  The value is in the relationships that are built with the local people and the inner work of the Holy Spirit in both those being ministered to and those who came to minister.  As the Master Card commercial used to say…Priceless!  

A Beautiful Exchange

This week we hosted a group from Xenia, Ohio.   They were a small group and chose to bless a family, rather than focus on a large project somewhere.  German, the brick layer that works with M2G, has been working on building a home for his family for the past year and a half.  As he had money, he would purchase a few materials and little by little his house was being built.  The entire family contributed to the project.  His wife and daughters were getting up every morning at 4:30 am to make tortillas to sell.  Every day they made about 450 tortillas – all before the kids left for school in the morning. 

When Cindy was talking with the group from Xenia, and they expressed the desire to work with a family, German’s family immediately came to mind.  All they were missing to complete their humble block home was the concrete floor and the bathroom.  The team leader agreed that this would be a perfect project for them and plans were made. 

The amazing thing that transpired, although, was not simply a gift from the Americans for the family; it was an exchange.  The family received the financial help and physical encouragement of the group, and the group walked away richer for the experience.  How beautiful is that! 

This economy of exchange is so like our heavenly Father.   When we are willing to say yes and invest our time and resources we don’t walk away empty and broke; no, we walk away fulfilled and blessed.  The team from Xenia experienced this truth as they extended their hand of blessing to another. 

If you are feeling drained and tired, like you are simply going through the motions, I challenge you to reach out and bless someone else without expecting a return.  I promise you, you cannot out give God.  As you give, He will pour into you, refresh you, and energize you.    

Too Quick a Visit!

Well our time in Canada has come to a close...all too quickly!  It has been a crazy busy time but also a very fruitful time.   
We were able to do some much needed work around our home in Kamloops.  We emptied out our storage in the basement suite so that the tenants could have access to the third bathroom.  We sorted out all of our "stuff" and have a garage sale to get rid of all of the non-essentials.  The things we wanted to keep/save were all packed up and stored in our shed.  Then, for four days, Rocky re-roofed our house.  Marshal was able to help for three days and the newly added son-in-law, Josh, helped for a day, too.  This all happened before the wedding. 
Then, of course we were immersed in "wedding planning" for Friday and the big day was Saturday.  We are so thankful that the wedding went well and we have added our third son-in-law to the family.  Our girls have all chosen well and we are so blessed to watch our family grow.
On Sunday, we packed up and left for Kelowna to visit Alex and Alan in their new home. 
Tuesday we arrived in Chilliwack and now, Thursday, we have finally made it back to Vancouver. 
And...tomorrow we fly out.
We knew before we left that a 2 week visit would be crazy, but we are so thankful for all that we were able to accomplish. 




  

Another Wedding!

In two weeks, Rocky, Arryn and I will be traveling to BC for our third daughter's wedding.  That will make the third wedding in 18 months for us! 
Although we are excited to see family and friends, the trip will be quick - only two weeks - and jam packed with activity! 
We arrive in Vancouver late Friday, May 23rd and will drive to Kamloops the following day.  We will be spending the rest of Saturday and probably part of Sunday cleaning out the last of our personal belongings out of our basement suite and moving what we want to keep into storage.  Then on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, we will be working on replacing the shingles on our roof.  It has needed doing now for some time, but we seem to always come home in winter - not the best time to roof!  Then the wedding is on Saturday.  Hopefully somewhere in the middle of all of that we will get some time to visit with people. 
Plans for the second week include visiting our daughter and her husband in Kelowna and seeing their new home, as well as visiting family and friends between Chilliwack and Vancouver. 
We know the time will go by super fast and wish we had longer to hang around, but June, July and August are our busy team months here in Guatemala, and so we need to get back.
Hopefully we will be able to connect with you when we are home.
Blessings!  

A Trip to Las Vegas!

No, not Las Vegas, Nevada,… Las Vegas, Chakipur, a small village about an hour drive from the mission site.

A week earlier, some visiting friends from Arizona, Bill and Eileen Estle, and I shared the movie, Hope, in the village Las Ruinas.  I asked the pastor of the church if there were any other villages close by that he thought would be open to viewing the movie. He told me about this village about 5 minutes away, Las Vegas, and I said I would like to go.

So, the following Saturday I recharged the battery of the projection unit , loaded up my gear and headed out to pick up Pastor Roberto in Las Ruinas. This village is a 30 minute drive - about 10 minutes on pavement and 20 minutes on a rough gravel road.  Las Vegas was, supposedly, only 5 minutes further down the road. 

When I was at this village the previous week, the pastor had asked me for some medication for his wife, a Quekchi Bible, a new roof for his house and 100 plastic chairs for his growing church.  This is pretty typical.  Wherever I go there are needs!  I was able to meet the first two needs of which he and his wife were very grateful. The latter two I had to put on the long list that grows every time I go to a village to show a film. I would so like to help everyone with everything, but sometimes I help in part and leave the rest to the Lord.   

I picked up Pastor Roberto and his son and we continued down the gravel road, past his community, Las Ruinas, towards Las Vegas, deep in the beautiful Guatemalan landscape.  “Should be there soon,” I thought but I always get this strange feeling when someone here says “no esta lejos, hermano, solo 5 minutos en caro.”  The gravel road came to an end and we started working our way down a narrow dirt road. I could tell by the lack of vehicle tracks that this was definitely “the road less travelled.”  This is the dry season in Guatemala and it was obvious that the trail we were on would only passable during this time. There were all kinds of dried up mud holes, ruts, and scarey wooden creek crossings. We came to a small active creek and the pastor got out and guided me across the planks and wood that had been used to build a makeshift bridge.  I sure was glad they have an abundance of hardwoods in this area!

Some men from the village had walked to the “bridge” just in case we had any problems. I was a little afraid to ask how much farther because I already knew his response would be “just another 5 minutes.”  We arrived in Las Vegas 30 minutes later, but on Guatemala time this IS only 5 minutes. Few of the people here have watches or are able to estimate time accurately according to a clock system.

We pulled up in front of a small wooden church. It is always very humbling to see the “places of worship” in these small villages.  On one side there were a few rough-cut benches on the dirt floor and the other side was filled with gravel in hopes that one day they would be able to put a concrete floor in their church. I suggested we set up outside and they agreed.  I hung up my large sheet on the side of the building and they brought some kid sized chairs from the small thatched-roof school house down the road. It wasn’t quite dark yet so I took the opportunity to “communicate” with the men of the village.  Las Vegas has no electricity and during this time of year their well dries up. They have no work near the village but family has a small plot of land where they grow corn to sustain themselves. The two things they needed most in their village were a well for water and a larger building  to have church.  I presented the pastor with a new Quekchi Bible and the expression on his face was priceless. He was so grateful for this simple gift, he could hardly contain himself (I f you would like to provide bibles for pastors, please let me know. Less than 12 dollars a piece!)

The sun set and people were trickling in from the village on foot. The pastor gave the go ahead and I started the movie. I watched as these indigenous Mayan people engaged with the story of the bible in their own language. I marvelled and gave thanks at the wonders of technology as they listened to the love letter given to them by the Lord. Oh the riches of His grace and mercy. 

After the movie the pastor prayed with the people and we packed up.  What a joy it is to see the Lord at work in the hearts of these wonderful people.

We loaded into the Pathfinder and headed for home. “Ya, only 5 minutes to home,” I said to myself, as I put it in 4 wheel drive and turned on the headlights.

Something to Celebrate!

Today is Easter Sunday.   Rocky and I had the privilege of worshipping along side our brothers and sisters in Christ this morning here in Chisec. 
I love going to church, but especially on Easter Sunday because there is always such a sense of celebration amongst the people of God.  It is like going to a party.  (I attached a little video here of part of our morning  worship celebration so you could feel the excitement along with us). 
As we sang, clapped, and danced (sort of!), a spirit of thankfulness filled the place.  We have something to celebrate; Christ is risen!  Hallelujah! 
That God would send His Son to earth to once and for all take care of our iniquities is simply incredible.  His love for us is so outrageous and over the top that humanly it is a challenge to try and comprehend its depth.  But, I know it is true and I celebrate!
God is alive and well and His Holy Spirit is working in us and through us.  We see evidence all around us.  Praise be to God!    

Starting a Library

There are some things, that prior to moving to Guatemala, I used to take for granted.  Having access to a library is one of them.  In Guatemala, libraries are few and far between and only big centers actually have a library - at least one with books.  Here in Chisec, there is a building that is designated for a library, but there are very few books, all of which are in boxes, and no one works there.  The doors are closed and no one has access.  Not a very useful library if you ask me. 

I have thought a lot, recently, about what a privilege it is to be able to read and have access to books.  As an English teacher and avid reader it is hard to imagine a life void of books/reading.  I have learned so much through books over the years that it is just a part of my life. 
About a month ago, I started talking to my son-in-law about this and he asked if I'd like to organize a library at the Christian school in Chisec where he and our daughter work.  I jumped at the opportunity! 
Last week I started my work in earnest.  We had two big boxes of books here at the mission site, so I began by labelling/organizing them.  Then I went to the school and looked at all of the books they had, and I dug in, sorting and organizing - something I love to do!
It will be a small library at first, but I believe the school will use it and it will be a benefit to the staff and students. 
  

Swimming Lessons...Life Lessons

Here in Guatemala, drownings all too often.  In the vast majority of cases, the issue is someone is in the water and no one is able to swim.  Bill and Eileen Estle, from Arizona, have been here for the past 3 weeks, and Eileen was a swim instructor.  She wanted to offer lessons to kids and Cindy and I jumped on the idea.  Now that the pool at M2G is up and running we had the perfect environment to teach a group of kids.  We decided to focus on the sponsor kids who attend Galilea.  Because of the depth of the pool, we limited it to students in grades 5 and up.  We also divided the classes between boys and girls, so that the girls wouldn't be embarrassed and could take the greatest advantage of the classes. 

On day 1, many of the kids had a real fear of the water.  But, by the time it was their final lesson, they were all swimming (some better than others, but they were all in water over their heads keeping themselves up).

After each lesson, Cindy took the opportunity to speak to the kids and draw parallels between learning to swim and our walk with the Lord.  A theme seemed to emerge in these talks - Do not be afraid, trust in the Lord, He is with you.  

One little girl, Mirna Lizbet, really stood out.  On her first day, it was a challenge to even get her into the water.  She was so nervous - and stiff! - it was tough to teach her anything.  But, by day 3 she was jumping into the deep water and swimming.  Even though she was afraid, she didn't let her fear get the best of her.  She persevered and pushed through it and accomplished amazing things. 

That was a wonderful life lesson for us all here at M2G.  As we watched little Mirna push herself so she could learn, we were encouraged to do the same.
Life is not always easy, and when it gets tough, we are to look to the Lord for our strength and press on.  We cannot let difficulties and struggles keep us from what we are called to do. 
Who knew swim lessons were so deep!  

Valle Verde

It has been a long while since I blogged last...sorry.  I feel like I have been on hyper speed for the past few weeks.  Mixed in with lots of activities, has been our ongoing challenge connecting to the internet and as a result, the blog has fallen to the bottom of my "to do"  list. 

This past weekend, we said good bye to the team from Chilliwack.  What a blessing it was to share time with them working in Valle Verde.  The team was extra special because we had family on it - Rocky's brother Kevin, his wife, Kathy and their son Matthew.  This was their first time in  Guatemala and is was so much fun to be here and be a part of their experience. 

The project in Valle Verde was to build a classroom, but by the time the team arrived, the men of the community had the majority of the work done.  At first I think some of them were a little disappointed that they were not going to be digging out for the foundation, but...after an hour of working in the intense heat and humidity, they were very thankful the classroom was as far along as it was! 

 The team not only worked in Valle Verde, but they also did children's ministry, attended church and did a small prayer walk.  As always, the children were so happy to be with the group, playing games, singing songs and doing crafts.  The stories (told by Leeanne - team leader) were awesome!  It was tough for those translating to have as much expression as Leeanne had!  The kids loved them! 

 On Sunday, we had the privilege of attending church in the small community and I was given the opportunity to preach a little.  This was really the first time I have preached in Spanish.  I think it was less intimidating because the people couldn't understand my Spanish - only my translator needed to understand enough to translate it into Quekchi!  After I was finished, Hector (Arryn's husband) preached as well.  It was a great service.  It always amazes me that the Word of the Lord is applicable in all languages and in all cultures.  That is what a living, active Word can do! 

After church, the pastor and his family feed us lunch and we left feeling full - both spiritually and physically.
On Wednesday, we had a chance to visit the home of the pastor.  The team had a gift for him and his family and we spent some time encouraging him and praying for him.  He asked if we'd be willing to go to the home of a family that had not yet accepted the Lord and pray with them.  We jumped at the chance.  As we got closer to the house, we realized the mom was not home, but her adult daughter and son were.  The little boy (maybe 1 1/2 years old) was badly burned.  He had pulled a pot of boiling water onto himself about 5 days earlier.  As we prayed and shared the Gospel message with her (the mom), the presence of the Lord was so palatable and sweet!  It truly was a "God" moment.  It is at times like that that I know I am where God wants me to be. 
It was sad for us to say goodbye to the group, but we know that lives were touched and God was about His business both in our lives, in the lives of those in Valle Verde and in the lives of those on the team.  Our God is so good!