May 2020 Newsletter

Hello friends,

Like the rest of the world, we have been spending all of our time at home. Restrictions here are still being enforced. Our State of Calamity was recently extended until June 5.  We are not sure when we will be able to start getting back out and returning to some kind of normalcy. The newly elected President of Guatemala is a medical doctor and he took early, swift precautions to combat the spread of the virus. He is doing a good job of trying to keep the people here safe and healthy. We currently have a travel ban that prevents us from leaving our department (county).  The departments that have the highest number of cases (including ours) all fall under this ban.  It has cut us off from most all of our ministry areas. We are in regular communication with our contacts through phone calls but we long for the day that we can be face to face again.

Hard Times

Apart from prayer, the greatest need at this time for the people in our country is food.  Without being able to work many are going hungry.  People here do not just live paycheck to paycheck.  They live day to day.  Many, if they do not work, do not eat.  It is a sad situation.  White flags are popping up everywhere as an indication that people need food.

You can help-

As Southern Baptists, we are blessed to have a wonderful organization that is in place to help in times like this.  Baptist Global Response/Send Relief has been working tirelessly to help assist the current needs around the world. Internationally, Send Relief has dozens of projects related to COVID-19 in more than 40 nations around the globe. Through Send Relief, International Mission Board (IMB) missionaries have been providing medical and sanitary resources as well as food to under-resourced areas. With the help of our local BGR representatives we have been approved to start a feeding project for those we are partnering with.  Just this past week we were able to supply food to one community.  We will do more in the weeks to come.  We are working with the local pastors and churches.  We (through BGR/Send Relief) provide the funding for the food.  The pastor and church members are sorting it and doing the delivery in their communities.  It is a great opportunity for them to not only be a blessing to their communities but also provide a witness as well.  Pray for them as they not only give out food but share the Gospel in each home. Would you like to help communities recover from this crisis?  Your gifts not only help those in Guatemala but people all over the world.  Visit: gobgr.org/covid19 to read stories of relief efforts.  While there please consider making a donation.

A Family Update

While at home, the boys and I have kept busy with homeschool.  We have plans to finish the school year next Friday.  We are looking forward to the break and hoping that we will be able to get out of the house soon to enjoy it.

Ben recently turned 8 with a dinosaur themed celebration.

We celebrated our 24th wedding anniversary earlier this week.

Easter Sunday 2020 We had a wonderful time celebrating Easter this year.  Being at home gave us more opportunity to focus on the Easter story and spend extra time teaching it to our boys.  That led to this next picture...

Many of you have prayed for our boys over the years and we rejoice that Cruz has made the decision to follow Christ.  It was a happy day in our home! Continue to pray for him as he grows spiritually.

What's Next

We are eager to get back out with the people and continue ministry with them.  We do not currently know when that might take place. -All volunteer teams have been cancelled through June 30.  We hope to hear news soon regarding future scheduled teams. -Pray that we would have patience during this time of being at home and that we would use our time wisely to grow in the Lord. -Pray for the people of Guatemala who are suffering hardships during this time. -Pray for us as we seek the Lord in how to best minister to them when all of this is over.

Since 1845, almost 25,000 Southern Baptist missionaries have shared the gospel, made disciples, planted churches and planted their lives in 185 countries around the world. Today is the official launching of an interactive timeline of IMB history at  imb.org/175. Learn about significant moments in Southern Baptist history and celebrate God’s faithfulness through 175 years of remarkable missions history.  You can join the celebration!  Commit to 175 Days of Prayer for missions starting May 11. Register online and download the app today! www.imb.org/175-days-of-prayer/ Until next time, stay safe and stay healthy!