FBC Ozona, TX Team July 2018

We recently hosted a volunteer team from First Baptist Church in Ozona, TX.  The pastor there, Mark Fricke, is a missionary kid and a former IMB missionary in Guatemala.  He and his family served here for over 20 years. We had a wonderful week with them and we were so honored that they would choose to come down and work with us.  Here is a look at our time together.

They arrived on a Saturday night.  Cruz was beyond tickled to get to go into Guatemala City with David to pick them up.  They stayed overnight at our mission house and then arrived just in time for lunch at our house on Sunday afternoon.

After lunch they made a visit with Bro. Elias in Chiquimula.  He is in very bad health and not doing well at all.  They were able to spend some time visiting with his family and praying with them.  Later that evening we attended worship at Bro. Fito's church.  Here we are before we left the hotel for church.

Our team with Bro. Fito and his wife.  Mark worked with Bro. Fito for many years.  They have a great relationship.  We were so glad they were able to visit.  When Mark left the field we felt led to begin making regular visits there to be a part of the congregation.  We could never fill Mark's void but we try to be a missionary presence for them.

 the team singing at church on Sunday night

 Mark preaching on Sunday night

A lot of Mark's work was in the neighboring Department of Zacapa.  He did a lot of pastor and leadership training there.  We spent Monday in that area making some visits.  One of those was at a school in Las Anonas.

Mark sharing a Bible story with the school kids.

The team sang songs and shared with the kids about their home State of Texas.

They gifted the teachers some much needed supplies.

They brought this game down to play with the kids.  It was a big hit with everyone!

(when I said everyone enjoyed it that included the "big kids" too)

One of the team members, Mr. David, taught Cruz a new coin trick so he decided to show it to the kids.  He did a great job.

Mark sharing again with the kids.

Next we visited the church there and prayed with some of the leaders. 

We also visited with pastor Henry in Rio Hondo.  He is another pastor that Mark worked with a lot.

On Tuesday we headed out to our work area to show them around.  Our first visit of the day was near El Limon.  We visited a family there that is a part of our Thursday Bible study in Muyurco.  They walk an hour each way with two small children to come.  We were able to encourage and pray for them. 

our boys with their son

We visited our Bible study location in Muyruco.  We did not get to do a service there with this team but we visited to encourage them. 

Muyurco

We made some home visits in Porto Suelo.

Porto Suelo

hiking in Porto Suelo

Porto Suelo

Our last visit of the day was in La Libertad.  For those familiar with our work you will be glad to know that Nicolas went to church again for the first time recently.  Oh how we rejoiced to hear that news!  He said that all of the visits we kept making to him encouraged him greatly.  Keep praying for him and his family.

a much needed afternoon ice cream break after a hot day of work

We began Wednesday morning by making a visit in San Juan Ermita to pray with Fabricio, a paralyzed young man.  We then made our way to Chanco and arrived just in time to do some activities with the school kids while on their morning break.

Mrs. Irene singing with the kids

Mark teaching a Bible story to the kids in Chanco.

Chanco

more game time

we stopped for a picnic lunch at a creek along the mountain road

David does a great job making lunch for everyone on our teams.

We made an afternoon visit in Lagunetas.

more ice cream before heading to our Wednesday afternoon Bible study in Nearar

Mrs. Irene singing at Bible study in Nearar

Mark translating for David who was sharing his testimony

Mr. Lupe singing a closing hymn at Bible study in Nearar

On Thursday morning we had Mrs. Jane and some of her family in our home for a visit.  She is a school director in Jocotan.  It is the same school that Cruz attended several years ago.  We had planned to visit the school but class was out that day.  Instead she came to us.  It was good to hear them share their hearts with the team and how they were called to the ministry.  Not only is she a school director but her husband is a pastor here in Chiquimula.  They are a blessing to many.  We enjoyed being able to encourage and pray for them. 

Next we spent some time walking around the central park and market in downtown Chiquimula before making the drive back into Guatemala City that afternoon.

Mark and Ben in the central park of Chiquimula

Friday was a treat because we got to spend the day in Antigua.   We started out at the Filadelfia Coffee Farm.

me, Tammy, and Debby ready to enjoy Antigua

coffee break for the two Davids and Tammy

They really enjoyed getting to roll down the grassy hills at Filadelfia.

We made a stop by the wood factory and then made our way to the local market.  It has been years since we were at this market.  It was good to visit it again.

The team had a late lunch at Cafe Condesa and made a few more stops before we left town.  The alternator went out on our vehicle while there.  We were able to get it back to Guatemala City and took it straight to the mechanic shop to be repaired. 

That night we had our last meal together at San Martin in Guatemala City.

They flew out early on Saturday morning.  It has been a week now and we are still missing them.  We had a wonderful time together.  Getting to have Mark back here and seeing him in his element encouraged our hearts.  We have a lot of love and respect for the missionaries who have served before us.  Getting to work alongside of him and Debby was an experience we will always treasure. We look forward to the day we can do it again.