Browder Team September 2018

Last week we enjoyed getting to host a couple from Alabama who came down to see our work.  We have known the Browders for many years now.  We first met them back during our Kekchi days.  They are long time friends of Jim and Carol McGriff who we initially worked under.  For many years they came down on teams and worked with them in both Guatemala and Belize.  After we arrived we helped coordinate a few of their trips.  They have not been down in several years and recently wrote asking about the possibility of returning.  We were thrilled at the opportunity to host them again.

It was their first time coming to this part of Guatemala.  I think they enjoyed getting to see a different side of the country.  We did our best to expose them to all aspects of our lives and ministry.  Here is a look at how we spent our time together.

Mr. Jim and Mrs. Carol after arriving at our hotel last Monday afternoon. 

We spent the next three days showing them around.  We made a lot of home visits to encourage and pray for people.

We have a new family that just this month began coming to our Nearar Bible study.  We were able to spend some time visiting them and praying for them. We were also able to give them a few Bibles. We are thankful for the way that God is working in the hearts of the people in that area.

the boys with the Browders as we made home visits

on the trail in Nearar

Mrs. Carol with one of our Bible study families

having a time of prayer for this lady and her family

playing while we visited

This lady is a part of our Nearar group.   We met her on the trail and had a good visit.   She is less than two weeks from giving birth.  Pray for a safe delivery.

praying for her before we left

One of the highlights of my week was in Porto Suelo.  We had received word a few days earlier that the family there that fled back in early July had returned back home.  We were eager to visit them and see how they were doing.  We did not make the hike down to their house but a few of them hiked up to meet with us.  My heart rejoiced to see them and to know that they were back.  We plan to follow up with them again soon.

praying for a family on a smoke filled porch in Porto Suelo

This mother's children needed to see a doctor so we helped them get down the mountain to the clinic in Jocotan.  We plan to follow up with them this week.

Visiting, encouraging, and praying for Bro. Elias at his church in Chiquimula.  He is in bad health and he could use your prayers as he continues treatments. 

visiting Mrs. Jane at her school in Jocotan

In addition to these visits the team also made visits in Lagunetas, La Libertad, San Juan Ermita, and Zacapa. We also attended three services during the week.  The first one was on Tuesday night at Shalom Baptist where Bro. Fito is the pastor.

the Browders giving greetings at the Tuesday night service

talking with a few of the ladies after church

Giving greetings at the Wednesday afternoon service in Nearar

giving greetings at the Thursday afternoon service in Muyurco

singing at the service in Muyurco

David teaching in Muyurco

kids class in Muyurco

 a supper meal in Chiquimula

a team photo at the hotel before driving back to Guatemala City on Friday morning

stopping for ice cream at Sarita's in Jutiapa

Friday afternoon coffee and fellowship at our mission house in Guatemala City

On Saturday morning we took them to Antigua.  They enjoyed getting to shop at the local market.

Having lunch at Cafe Condesa in Antigua on Saturday.

They flew home on Sunday and we made the drive back to Chiquimula that afternoon.  We were sad to see them go.  We had a wonderful time together.   We are thankful they chose to come down and spend some time here.  They were a blessing to our people and a blessing to our family as well.  We look forward to working with them again in the future.

One last stop for ice cream at Sarita's in El Rancho on the drive back home.  No road trip can be complete without it.  It was the perfect ending to a great week!