LifePark Church February 2016 Mission Team

This past week we hosted our second team of the year.  This group was from one of our partner churches- LifePark Church in Mount Pleasant, SC.  They will send three teams down this year to work with us.  This first group did an amazing job of sharing the gospel and loving on the people here in Guatemala.  We are thankful for all they did to help our work advance.  Here is a look at our time together-

They arrived on Valentine's Day night.  We got them checked into their hotel and then invited them into our home for supper, fellowship, and devotion.  

 our team on our first night together
David, Cruz, me, Glenda, Kellye, and Rob
(back row) Ken, Hillary, Ben, Trina, Dr. Rick, Cameron, Miguel, and Pablo

On Monday we did a one day leadership training conference at a Baptist church in Chiquimula. It was for any pastors and leaders in the area.  We had a great turnout and are making plans to do it again in the future.  It was good to invest in those who in turn will be investing in others.  Overall the day was a great success.

the team outside the Baptist church in Chiquimula on Monday morning

Dr. Higgins and Pablo praying before the conference began

Dr. Higgins teaching at the leadership conference in Chiquimula

Dr. Higgins praying over and encouraging each of the attendees at the end of the day

On Tuesday and Wednesday we were in the village of Lagunetas.  We were given the morning recess time each day to share with the kids.  There are 128 kids registered for 1st - 6th grade there.  That is a lot of kids!  We divided into two groups.  One group worked with the older kids and the other group worked with the younger kids.  We began both days with Bible stories and songs and then played games with the kids outside.  During the two days the team was able to teach eight Bible stories to the kids.  What a blessing that was!

the ladies on our team- Glenda, Trina, Cameron, Hillary, and Kellye

some of the kids at the school in Lagunetas

Kellye teaching a Bible story in Lagunetas

playing games with the kids in Lagunetas

playing games with the kids in Lagunetas

The team took group photos of each class.  We will print one for each teacher and return to deliver them in the next week or so.  It will give us a reason to return and follow-up. 

school children in Lagunetas

The afternoons were spent making house visits in the village.  The team was able to share Bible stories and testimonies with many people there.  Here they are praying in one of the homes.

making a home visit in Lagunetas

The team took family photos of anyone that was interested.  We will deliver those photos and use it as an opportunity to be in the homes again.

The team with our Bible study family in Lagunetas.

Pray that we would see a lot of fruit from the outreach the team did there and that it would greatly impact our Bible study time in that village.

We began Thursday with a visit to the village of Churischan.  We have a family of believers there that we have been trying to disciple.  We have yet to begin an ongoing Bible study in that village but are not giving up hope.  Join us in praying for that.

David and Cruz hiking in Churischan on Thursday morning

We were able to encourage this family and pray for several requests they mentioned.  Would you join us in praying for Rigoberto and Maria Luz to be a bright witness for Christ in their village?

We spent the middle of the day visiting Jocotan and then traveled up the mountain to the village of Muyurco for our weekly afternoon Bible study.

the team hiking to our Thursday afternoon Bible study in Muyurco

starting off our study time with praise and worship

David leading a song during Bible study in Muyurco

The team split up into two groups.  One group stayed with the adults and the other group took the children out back for a separate Bible study time.  Here is Dr. Higgins teaching the adults.

Rob, Miguel, and Kellye leading the kids

Cruz playing a game with the kids in Muyurco

Miguel teaching the kids to sing "Father Abraham"

our team on Friday morning

We took one last team photo on Friday morning in Chiquimula before traveling into Guatemala City to return home.  They flew out Saturday morning and we returned home to Chiquimula that afternoon.  We had a great week together and feel like they made a big impact on our work here.  We are very thankful for the way these teams invest in our lives and in the lives of those we are working with.  They are a such a blessing from the Lord!

FBC Mt Pleasant, SC January 2016 Team

We recently hosted our first volunteer team for the year.  They were from one of our partner churches- First Baptist Church Mount Pleasant, SC.  They will be sending down three teams to work with us this year.  It is always a blessing to host these teams.  They come very trained, well prepared, and eager to do whatever task is put before them.  Here is a look at what the January team did during their week here with us. 

 Our first evening together

The teams have a morning and evening devotion time.  Each team member takes a turn leading it.  One team member is also in charge of leading worship.   This time together each day is always my favorite part of the week.

I got a sweet care package sent down to me that included a lot of fun Valentine's things as well as some homeschool resources to use with the boys.  I also got a copy of the January Southern Living magazine.  If I had to write a list of my favorite things Southern Living would definitely be on it.

The team spent the first two days making door to door visits in the village of Chanco.  While in the homes they were able to pray with several sick people, share their testimonies, and share Bible stories.

starting the morning in the village of Chanco

 Ben and Heather hiking in Chanco

The team also took family photos.  We are having those printed out and will return in the next week or so to give them out.  That will give us another opportunity to be in the village and make visits.

We got permission to share with the school children on both days that we were there.  The team shared Bible stories with them and also played games with them.  Below is a video of the team doing a trust game with the kids.

 recess time in the village of Chanco

 a team photo with some of the school kids in Chanco

Cruz doing some school work in the village.  I love the flexibility that homeschool gives us.

Here is a video of the boys in the village making a rock launcher out of a see-saw.  These two boys stay busy!

We spent the third day in the village of Corral de Piedras.  Here is the team making a home visit there.  

 the team playing games with the school kids in Corral de Piedras

 a team photo with the school kids in Corral de Piedras

The last ministry day began with an encouragement visit to the village of La Libertad.   Here is the team with a small group of believers there.

making a home visit in the village of La Libertad

 the team enjoying a roadside picnic lunch stop

The last visit was in Muyurco.  We always take the teams to our Thursday afternoon Bible study there.  Someone from the team always leads the Bible study and if someone is willing we let them lead in worship also.  The locals love for the teams to come because it encourages them so much.

 a team photo with our Bible study group in Muyurco

Team weeks are my boys favorite.  They LOVE having them around.  I am not sure who entertains who the most, but it is usually a lot of fun for everyone.  Here they are clowning around before devotion one evening.

 a video in our home one night

Another favorite part of their week is having Miguel with us.  They love Miguel!  He is our ministry partner and helps us with transportation and translating when the teams are here.  He also travels out with David to make visits and lead Bible study when his schedule allows.  He is a great asset to our ministry and a blessing to our family.  Everyone loves Miguel!

Our last day together was spent traveling into Guatemala City, shopping at the local market, and packing up to return home.

supper at TGI Friday's in Guatemala City

Our last team meeting/ devotion lasted until 11:00 p.m.  It was a great time of sharing and encouraging each other.  They flew out very early the next morning to return home to South Carolina.  They always leave a piece of their hearts here and take a piece of ours with them.  Our partner churches are becoming more and more like family to us.  We love them and the way they love on us.

Our next group arrives in 11 days.  We are getting rested up and ready!

Dothan, AL Mission Team- Final Days

We spent Tuesday in the town of Antigua sightseeing and shopping. This photo was taken at Dona Luisa's where we ate lunch. We also visited their bread shop and bought bread and cookies. The ladies buying from the street vendors
They were very entertaining

Shirley, Regina, & Jeanette at the Central Park in Antigua

That night for dinner we went to eat at the Hacienda Real in Guatemala City. It is a delicious steak house that we enjoy visiting.
Ms. Shirley about to enjoy her flan. She gets it every year. It has become a joke between us and her about her desserts.

We enjoyed our last meal together on Wednesday morning. We had breakfast at Nais. It was a great way to wrap up our week before heading to the airport. We were sad to see them go. We usually are when our teams leave.

David & Ms. Shirley. She calls him "Sonny Boy". They love each other but you would never know it by the way they act, ha. They give each other such a hard time.

We have worked several times with Ms. Shirley & Mrs. Jeanette and they have become like family to us. They bless us soo much each year. We are looking forward to seeing them again when we visit them in the States while home. We'll be looking forward to those hotdogs, girls!!! ha

Our team from Southside Baptist Church, Dothan, AL- Shirley, Stephen, & Jeanette

Dothan, AL Mission Team Day 5- Zip Line

Monday morning began with breakfast at La Posada in Coban. We had the Parker's join us. We then went to the Dieseldorff coffee farm and let the team purchase coffee to take back home. Between the three of them, they bought 80 bags.
Before we left town we visited the Chicoj coffee farm and let the team do the zipline.

David, Regina, Shirley, Stephen, & Jeanette

Stephen

Mrs. Jeanette

Ms. Shirley

We had lunch at McDonald's before heading back into Guatemala City. That night for dinner we went to eat at Friend's.

It was a great day, full of fun, fellowship, & laughter!