Guatemala Mission Trip

Tonight we had a closing dinner in which we shared our last night in Guate with the people that made it a blessing. We ate with Shorty, Pastor Avelino and his wife, the translators, and Rosita and her family. It was a beutiful way to close the trip (we are going with Shorty to the “street kids” ministry tomorrow.

Personally the dinner made me reflect on my experiences her in Guate. God brought me to this beautiful country 7 years ago. I did not really know why I was going. the reasons I may have had know seem whimpy in comparison to what God had in store for me.

Guate has shaped me more than I ever thought possible. I can not even begin to write the life lessons that have been shown to me through Guate and the people in Guate. I have learned generiosity, patience, humility. I have learned passion, courage, initiative. most of all I have learned about love. more specifically Gods love. Gods ministry (these are unseperable).

The people here are some of the best blessing and teachers I have ever had. the children and there hugs. The selfless service of church members. The obedience and courage of all Gods servants here in Guate.

six or seven years ago (however long ago that was) I could have never guessed what God had in store for me. even two years ago I could have never guessed how God would use the people here. For me, one person specifically has made a huge difference in my life. more than she probably knows. In the past 8 months Karen has become more than a friendly translator and a long distance friend. God has used Karen to teach me great lessons, even when she doesn’t know she is doing it. Karen has provided me with words of wisdom, advice, and encouragement. I just wanted to share with everyone what one life, one witness can do for a person. You may not even know what you are doing or who you are doing it for when you live for as Christ desires you to. If there is anything that can be taken away from this trip it is that. You can make a difference in how you live every day. I would write all of the things about Karen’s life that inspires me, but she would probably feel embarrassed. Although I am not the most articulate person I would just like to attempt to express my gratitude for Karen (for letting God use her( and my thankfulness to God. Joel mentioned tonight about the kind of friends that you stay in touch with, the kind of friends you remember: Friends who have the love of Christ. This is true. Karen you are a great sister in Christ.

http://picasaweb.google.com/112076490514553543897/FridayGuatemalaPictures?authkey=Gv1sRgCPbXzJPg4_KsIw#

Greetings from Guatemala!!!!!!!!!    What a week!!!!!  After Vacation Bible school on Wednesday we went next door to a hospital that helps feed and take care of Mel -nourished kids. we were able to hand out about fifty teddy bears. The past mornings we woke up to the children crying but Thursday morning they seemed to have lots of joy in their voices. Gary, from Guatemala , was able to look out his window and see a couple kids playing with their bears. It was quite the experience. Thursday a few visited La Limonada. We were able to see a school that was purchased and has been running for three months. Afterwards we were blessed with the opportunity to be part of a church service in Zone four in La Limonada. All thirty-five  people fit in one 15 ft by 20 ft living room. This is one of the three churches that in ex-gang member shorty has started. God’s work is being done by a man with a past that is full of anger and hate, yet God changed his heart. After that everyone met up at Pollo Campero and ate dinner there. Then we were able to go to the park and visit the street people. We split up into groups and heard many of their stories on why they are living on the streets and sniffing glue. Ron was moved by a man in a wheel chair due to being shot three weeks ago and is now paralyzed. This man seems to have hope and wants to come to Christ at the end when we all had to leave a little boy about twelve years old handed a lot of the girl’s nice roses. Britany and Sharon were also given bracelets and were told that it was a gift from his heart and we should remember it forever. Earlier that day we finished our Vacation Bible School in Zone thirteen where Jim be-friended a man named Antonio.  Jim hopefully convinced Antonio to help out with ministry and read to the boys and girls who come to the ministry for lunch. We plan to get reading material for Antonio as he showed interest in learning English. This will also help in to teach the kids English. Friday we wrapped up our Vacation Bible School and before we went to visit houses, we were brought to Avelino’s living room. We laid hands on Avelino’s wife who has been suffering from cancer. She is a major part of this ministry. She used to do all the cooking and now her daughters have taken over.  Tomorrow is another day and another blog. We can’t wait to see what God has planned for us.

·         Jim and Britany

Pictures from Gautemala

http://picasaweb.google.com/112076490514553543897/GuatemalaThursdayPcitures?authkey=Gv1sRgCO2Jpcy90MSkaQ#

Another wonderful day at Ciudad de Refugio (The City of Refuge Church) in the Sante fe community in Zone 13. Today being the second day and last day, the group really bonded with the kids of the community, it was awesome to see. About 16 kids followed the group out to the bus, about a ¾ mile walk. The kids sent us off with hugs and adios! A couple of our girls received a ring, a picture, a card and that is what I know of. Thinking back of that moment and what we did there, you can see that we were a blessing and we were blessed.

Today took the tried and true format of the mini VBS we are doing with puppets (thanks to the brilliant first group in 2004 for setting this up) games, singing, craft and bible story that all tie into the same theme. We did the story of Daniel today, Ashley Dykema was an awesome Lion!

We treated them to pizza, that is a big treat for them. Karen (one of our long time translators) got the kids chanting pizza pizza pizza, it was fun to watch. There was so much more energy in the kids and the team today, it was cool to see.

Tonight we went out to the park to work with Shorty (one of Joel’s ministry partners), who works with Gang members and street kids. We’ll update you more on the details tomorrow.

Keep praying for the team that it keeps going as well as it has.

Gary Kuyper

Here is a link to some pictures from Tuesday and Wednesday

http://picasaweb.google.com/112076490514553543897/GautemalaMissionTripTuesdayAndWednesday#

Today was another complete but exciting and meaningful day with the inspirational kids in Guatemala. We began with another trip to a day care in zone 13. It was actually set up in one of the homes of a Guatemalan. We fed them lunch after the vacation bible study and then continued by visiting the homes of others, some of which were parents of the children. Upon returning to Semilla we made a new plan, disregarding our previous schedule by deciding to visit the hospital just behind Semilla. We discovered the reason all the kids were there was because of malnutrition, and in one case, a one year old girl arrived weighing only 8 pounds. A great thank you goes to all who made the bears and know we strongly connected to the appreciative children there who received them in shared hospital cribs. We ate dinner and had devotions. During this time we reflected on how amazing it was that it was so easy for Guatemalans to open up their homes and facilities even to people like us. The hospitality is overwhelmingly gracious to everyone. We as Americans often find it difficult to open our homes to neighbors and others in our communities while Guatemalans with tiny tin roofs over their heads welcome us and are happy to share their stories by the grace of God. One thing that touched me is a father we visited said our faces reflected Christ. I had never been told that before and especially not with the genuine sincerity he had for us. His compassionate heart reflected Jesus than I thought it ever could. Thank you to all who are reading this and keep the Guatemalans and our team in your prayers as we keep you in ours. Praise to God whom truly blesses.

What a great first day of ministry here in Guatemala. Today we went to a church called Iglesia Ciudad de Refugio (The City of Refuge Church). God was good and with a lot of smiles and hugs God’s love was shared to around 100 kids from age 3 to 11. Apparently God has not given me the ability to speak in tongues yet especially Spanish. Yet I think the spirit did speak through all of us. While we were at the Iglesia Ciudad de Refugio we had the students split up into 4 groups where we were able to share with them the story of Jonah in different ways. Some made crafts, Others played games, Some had story time, and Others did a puppet show. We also heard the story of Pastor Avelino and his family who run the ministry that we went to. What a powerful story of God’s grace and mercy in that family and just the commitment to what God is calling them to do. You see for the past 30 years the pastor has been feeding the children 4 times a week and through Gods provision he has been able to take on the growth that has happened from 30 kids to over 150 at times. On a side note the pastor and his wife actually met while he was spending 17 years in prison and actually met and had the wedding ceremony while he was still serving his time there. Today they continue to serve God faithfully and as they live with and love on the people that they serve. I was so thankful in getting to spend time at ciudad de refugio. God is already breaking me for the city and the people here in Guatemala. God is faithful and what a gift that we have been given from him to be able to come here and see His hand at work in a different culture. Praise be to God! To end I just wanted to again thank you for praying and please keep praying that both the kids we spend time with and our own hearts will be touched by God in a huge and life changing way. Love you all!

Some pictures of the day can be viewed at

http://picasaweb.google.com/112076490514553543897/Gautemala2010MondayPictures?authkey=Gv1sRgCLSYkInd7PbMMA#5482853258816629122

Tyler cook

The Grace of Place

Today we started our worship time with devotions from Deanna and Brittany on being servants. Their message had some great word pictures on joining God in service. Then we went off to Joel’s church, which this is the groups fourth visit to in six years. We saw many friends from the past trips. They always prepare some songs in English just for us. It is a nice time to worship with other believers, even if it is hard to translate with it being in Spanish.

Then, we had lunch and went to the look out over the city. This is an awesome view of the city and it is also a place the group typically goes to begin our time in prayer for the city, our work, the people we encounter and the things we are going to join God in. Joel also gave us a talk on the city, he also used the opportunity to get into scripture to set the stage for our time here. Joel told us how Guatemala was one of the most unsafe cities in the world, that almost half of the population of the country of Guatemala lives in this largest city. He gave us a lesson on why people move to the city. People come here for opportunities, health, education and potential betterment for the next generation. He mentioned Jeremiah 29 asking if we knew what it said, many of use recited in our heads Jeremiah 29;11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ¹² Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. ¹³ You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. ¹⁴ I will be found by you,” declares the LORD. This is an awesome verse and a very popular verse that is especially appropriate for a mission trip in this large city. But this was not the verse Joel was referencing. He was referencing verse 7, “Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” ⁸ Yes, this is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says”. He used this point to challenge us to minister to the city, being involved in it like he is. The Israelites were not happy to be in a city they were captive in and not planning to be in, they were commanded to make the most of it. All of us volunteered to come here with the big task of joining in God’s work with the kids of this city. We are reminded that others have come here too, to make the most of it.

I used to think we were especially blessed living in west Michigan, we are blessed, but I also realize that God has placed everyone in the places they are in. Some of these places are big cities to live in for a long time, like the Israelites in Babylon. Each person has their purpose to discover and exploit in the way God intended them to. Yesterday we heard a testimony from Sandra the mother of two kids that two of our team members support on a daily basis for school and some basic needs. That small family from the dump area has been helped in many ways that we will never know, it was a powerful testimony. Pray that the rest of the week we help ourselves and others discover our grace of place and use it to be God honoring. We prayed with our eyes open at the look out area looking out focusing on particular points of the city just for this specific reason. This type of message and focus was a good way to start the trip.

The day ended with an orientation meeting of the Guatemalans and our team, dinner and a video. Off to work with the kids this morning

Pictures can be seen at

http://picasaweb.google.com/112076490514553543897/Guatemala2010SundayPictures?authkey=Gv1sRgCJCsz-TzkNe7jwE#

Gary Kuyper

The 19 additional East Leonard Team members have made it safely to Guatemala!

The trip was very successful with everything being uneventful and every flight was on time.

We are at Semillia Seminary and most of the group is in bed and sleeping!

This is a short note so any of you that check, will know we have been blessed with a good day of traveling!

Gary Kuyper