Co -Team leaders, Tina & Steve Stanley shared that NOTHING could have prepared them for what they experienced at the Government Children’s Hospital . It was any emotional time for all, praying for the babies and small children who were being treated for mal-nutrition, encephalitis, polio and other childhood diseases that are not as commonly seen in the U.S. due to the vaccinations.

What a fun experience sharing in three schools who receive severely impoverished children and youth who live in the Guatemalan City Dump and other extreme conditions. A walk through the National Cemetery to get to the edge of the city dump gave them a new perspective of the desperate living conditions known to many children who live there. Later on, the team made 6 gallons of soup and over 300 sandwiches to hand out as we took to the streets on Monday night to feed the homeless. All in all, hundreds of lives were impacted by word and deed with the overwhelming compassion of Christ shared by this awesome team. The Lord also used these ministry outreaches to equally impact the hearts and lives of each team member as we worked together in fulfilling the Great Commission. Thank You to senior pastors, Pastors Jeff & Terri Ulmer for entrusting this team to us. They represented your church with excellence and impacted this nation in a mighty way…to God be the Glory!

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After experiencing a church service first thing Sunday morning at “Frater” in San Cristobal, they loaded up the vehicles and headed straight for the Pacific Coast to begin their first assignment which was to help paint a small village church. Pastor Ruben, his wife and the church members were so excited to finally see colorful paint instead of the dull, gray cement walls. Local school children from four government schools also enjoyed their creative skits and puppets despite the steamy, hot temps.

While back in the city, the team ministered at a variety of places which included a chapel service for middle and high school students who attend Christian Academy of Guatemala. They also went to two schools for impoverished children who live in the Guatemalan City dump, and another government school for girls. Perhaps one of the most impacting times of ministry was when they shared with the women of “El Oasis”. It took some time for them to process the magnitude of approximately 300 women prostituting on a daily basis in this designated area of downtown Guatemala City known as “La Linea”.

We must say that this team was very unique, and made our job super easy since nine out of 12 team members understood and spoke Spanish! The people of Guatemala, students at CAG, along with our family were truly blessed by this energetic team. Out of the 12 mission’s teams sent out by Wheaton College, we are certain that we got one of the BEST! Thank you so much to all the team members who came down with a heart to serve while demonstrating incredible unity, and for choosing Guatemala!

Aside from the construction supplies, we also took down 400 lbs. of clothes so that the pastor and his wife could bless more than 70 families who were flooded out of their homes again this past rainy season. A while back, I visited one of the families from the church at their home and was surprised to see their bed suspended by ropes about a meter off the floor. I asked the man why he had his bed hanging from the rafters, so he told me that when the heavy rains come, his entire house can flood in less than 10 minutes.

Because of your faithful partnership with us this year, we were able to empower and encourage people like Pastor Reuben, his wife Miriam and many others in the village of El Toro.

Twenty women were in attendance for this year’s “Convivio”. Our small group leaders and good friends, Marco & Evelin Portocarrero, came to share a touching personal testimony about “Faith”.

As is the Guatemalan tradition, the women enjoyed steaming hot tamales, fresh bread and dessert. Because of your generous giving, we were also able to bless each woman with a gift of bath gel & lotion. For some, this is the only Christmas present that they will receive. It was a wonderful time celebrating the birth of Jesus, (the real reason for the season) with the ladies at El Oasis! By faith, we believe that God will use this special time to transform their lives as we continue to minister to them!

Feliz Navidad y Prospero Año Nuevo!

We also spent time washing and combing lice out of the hair of many small children who live in an area known as the Guatemalan City Dump. Some patiently waited for haircuts, while all the little girls loved having their hair fixed with pretty bows and headbands! That morning, the team came face to face with many sad, barefoot children who live in unbelievable poverty. After just a few hours of ministry, we hugged and said our good-byes to the children. Only this time, they left with huge smiles on their faces. With a quick bite to eat and a change of clothes, we were off and running to set up to minister to the prostitutes at El Oasis. I had the privilege of translating an incredible testimony shared by one of the team members. All 17 prostitutes enjoyed pedicures and manicures after our special devotional time. What an amazing day of ministry!

Early Saturday morning, they transformed all three floors at our National Ministry Base into a fun “Spa” in order to pamper and spoil a group of MK’s (missionary kids). After an encouraging devotional and a filling lunch of mini burgers, the group of teenage girls enjoyed the special spa treatment from head to toe! Some girls were born here and others just moved here, but they all had one thing in common…their parents are full time missionaries who serve in Guatemala. We are so grateful to the Lord, the Ladies of Praise team, Pastor Tom, and our church family who helped make this an unforgettable week of ministry!

Susi & I standing outside her front door.

From July 11th until today, we had the amazing privilege of hosting a youth team from a new church, called Second Place located in the small town of Monee, IL, just south of Chicago.  The group of teenagers were accompanied by our special friends and team leaders, Doug & Stacy Carbol.   From the moment they landed at 6: 15 a.m. last Monday, they had a week packed full of diverse ministry opportunities from decorating a bedroom for Susi’s kids, handing out clothing at a costal village church, loving on the children who live in the City garbage dump, praying for the small patients at a government hospital, and playing with lots of young girls who live in an orphanage.    The team also painted and decorated part of the local Fire Station in San Cristobal and presented the room to the Firemen later that evening through an evangelistic message by Doug Carbol who has served as a Chicago Fireman for more than 30 years.  God has opened the door to one of our fellow GTN missionaries, Patrick Courtney who has been sharing the Gospel with these men on a weekly basis.  While we painted, the older teenage girls and Stacy accompanied Jackie at El Oasis, ministering to the prostitutes who work on the “line” in Zone 1 of Guatemala City.   The enthusiastic teens shared their creative skits several times throughout the week and Caleb & Jenna did an outstanding job translating each time.  We also had a great time hiking up one of the most famous volcanoes known in Guatemala, “Pacaya”.  The adventure started off on horseback and we ended up literally hiking in the clouds.  That should give you a good idea of how high up in altitude we were!  A special THANK YOU goes out to Pastor Drew and everyone at Second Place who helped support and send down this awesome team.  They represented your church and the Lord in the most excellent way! 

We are so excited to tell you that two women accepted the Lord at the ministry of El Oasis on Tuesday!  Andea has been coming off and on for a couple of years now, and found herself making a deal with the Lord just last week.  Her daughter was missing and she called out to the Lord  and told HIM that if he allowed her daughter to be safe and to make contact, that she would give her life to HIM and change her lifestyle of prostitution.  Just minutes after making that “deal”, the phone rang and it was her daughter!  It was a simple miscommunication and her daughter was really never in danger after-all. 

Most of you know her as “Karina”, but her real name is Ruth.  With tears flowing down her face, she too repented and prayed a prayer to accept Jesus into her heart along with Andrea.  Karina was one of the very first women who came to El Oasis when we opened the doors nearly 10 years ago.  About 5 years ago, Karina came to us because she was having serious problems with her then teenage son.  Out of pure desperation, she began to meet us at church with him, and he eventually walked down the isle at our church Frater and gave his heart to the Lord.  She was happy for the immediate change in him, but wasn’t willing to give up her lifetime career of prostitution.  Now her adult son Julio is married and he and his wife faithfully attend church.  In a recent conversation, he told his mom that their household would never have God’s blessings upon it as long as she lives with them and continues in prostitution.  After nearly 10 years of sowing seed into Karina’s life, she finally surrendered to the Lord!  THANK YOU for faithfully supporting the ministry of El Oasis.  Please keep Andrea & Ruth in your payers as they begin their new life in Christ.  It’s  awesome to FINALLY reap a harvest!