Happy Birthday Adam

Well, our trip is winding down. Everyone always says this kind of stuff flies by and Guatemala has been true to form. Things have been pretty busy over the last couple of days. We hit the last of the houses we could yesterday before the group spend the evening with Luis, eating dinner and worshiping with the church that meets at his house. I, unfortunately, had a paper I had to tend to and I couldn’t be with them. It was a great time though and, thanks to Adam, Daniel, and a guitar, everyone was thoroughly entertained. Oh, and I got my paper in too, with 5 minutes to spare.

Today we went around the city. We visited the Jade Factory, a wood working shop, and the market in Antigua and had some good ole fashioned McDonald’s Hamburgers for lunch.

The first thing I wanna do when I get home? Eat Mexican. Short of some spicy Doritos we haven’t really had any authentic Latin cuisine… unless you count the black bean pizza from Dominoes, but I don’t.
We’ll be leaving here tomorrow around 9 o’clock in the A.M. and landing in Birmingham around 8 P.M. Thank you all for your thoughts and especially your prayers. Grace and peace.

- Doug

p.s. Just to brighten up your day. Since today commemorates Adam's 22th year of not dying, I wanted to do something special for him. In preparation for our day at the market, Adam thought it would be a good idea to learn the phrase "Today is my birthday. Give me the deal!" Our translator scribbled some Spanish on the back of a business card Adam had and helped him learn all the intricacies and inflections. We all watch him practice it over and over, getting it just right. It was great. Cause what he didn't realize is that when he wasn't listening, I told the translator to write "Today is my birthday. Give me a hug!"

We were all encouraging him, "say it like you mean it, like you really want it." Sure enough, as he was haggling for a new poncho, the time had come to break out that new Spanish phrase from its resting place in that freshly made wrinkle on Adam brain. The shop owner looked confused, but, either fearing the loss of a sale or just in the name of good fun, honored Adam's request. Considering the shop owner was a dude, I'm sure it the highlight of Adam's birthday abroad.

Que ganga!

Just Checking In

Things are going well. We had a longer day yesterday and didn't get home till late. After working in the community we had dinner at Pollo Campero and went back to meet with the church for worship. The sang, the pastor preached, and they gave us all lovely handmade gifts. It was a very encouraging time. Then we came home and everyone went to bed... well everyone except me as I was up late working on a paper I have due this evening. So yeah, pray for that.


Grace and peace,

- Doug

Martes

We had another good day today. The schools were close today for some evaluations, so our team was out in the community all day. We were able witness some professions of faith as well and Christians who were interested in getting involved in a bible study.



Please pray for our team. A lot of us have people close to us who have been heavy on our hearts. Just continues to pray for God's hand on the lives and well-being of those closest to us.





In going door to door, we've encountered many types of people. In all the groups, we've encountered people who did not want to make a profession because of the seriousness of the issue. While we tried to convey the urgency of salvation and the danger in 'waiting', we could all appreciate the seriousness with which they treat their walk of faith. Pray for all these that God would continue to burden their hearts and that we would take seriously our own relationship with God.





Adam got some sweet band pics/head shots





Grace and peace,

- Doug

perfect love casts out fear

Another day is coming to a close. We had a good one. There is a certain refreshing aspect to being constantly surrounded by the gospel. I’ve noticed one thing. There is a difference in the fear, anxiety, and self consciousness that comes from trying to earn God’s favor in ‘soul-winning’, contrasted with the joy and freedom found in being obedient to the call to share the Gospel regardless of the outcome.



Today our teams went out and were able to contact a large number of households today. There have been many opportunities to share the Gospel and a great response. Is it a very impoverished area with many physical and temporal needs as well. We ask that you lift these up to the Lord in as you pray.



More specifically, Adam, Daniel and I went into the schools for the first part of the day. We taught them a few songs and told some bible stories, both of which afforded us opportunities to share the gospel of Christ and our need for his salvation. After a long break for lunch (as most members of the community were taking a siesta), we began to go door to door, house to house, sharing the story of Christ and handing out copies of the Gospel of Luke (what the rest of the team was doing all day). We had some professions of faith as well as a number of people that were interesting in getting plugged into a community bible study. The church we’re with will be working with these individuals to help them grow in their faith and learn how to minister to those around them.


(The local church, missionaries, and our team)

Thank you as you remember us in your prayers. I’ve finally uploaded some pictures so I hope you enjoy the beautiful landscape and people that we’ve been experiencing.

Grace and peace,

- Doug





















There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not a been perfected in love. - 1 John 4:18

Day 3

So today is our actually first day in the village sharing the gospel. We are going to Villa Nueva, specifically a squatter village called Nazareth. Adam, Daniel, and I will be working at the Escuela de Valle de Nazareth (School of the Valley of Nazareth) with about 360 kids. I hear a statistic done by the army here that out of thte over 21, 000 kids in this small area, the schools are only able to hand about 6,000 of those. However, those figures are somewhat out dated and the game is actually larger now.

Yesterday, after the morning at service at Ciudad De Refugo - Iglesia Cristiana Comuntiaries where Daniel shared his testimony and Brother John preached, we went and had a little Pollo Campero for lunch before going to the village. We had the chance the pray over the area we will be working and got to get to know some of the church members working with. Pray that God continues to work through the ministries here and that there church will continues to strive for unity and purity for the glory of God. As we were walking, our translator Julio pointed off in the distance to large factories that were the sweat shops were many of the men, women, and children of the community we are at will spent their days (and many, their lives). Please pray for hope for these people. Pray that as they learn of the eternal life found in Christ, the Lord, through his church, will provide more of an abundance of life here of earth for all his children.

May The Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you. May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.

- Doug

Boo Aeropuerto!

So we made it. It was one exciting trip, let me tell you. We boarded the plane in ATL a little late. No biggie. But after being on the plane for approx 4 or 5 hours, we finally left the airport. Between weather, scheduling, and maintenance issues (our brakes were apparently messed up), we ended up having a little bit of an extended stay in ole GA. But all things considered, we took a trip in under 12 hours that a couple hundred years ago would have taken a year. I Still think we did pretty well.

We know a little bit of the plan. I want to just remind everyone at home that, though we are not working in the safest place in the world (which I believe is actually somewhere in Vermont), we are indeed very safe. The city our hotel is in is legit and our "field" is good as well. So don't worry too much on our account. Let each day worry for itself (Matt. 6).

The plan right now is to go to church tomorrow morning, prayer walk, and attend the evening service and Monday we will be starting work. Adam, Dan, and I will be spending most of the week in the elementary school (since I have a vast catalog of 3 children's songs in Spanish and all). All this while the rest of the crew is working in the village.

Well, my battery is about to die, so I must bid you adieu.

We covet your prayers,

- Doug

Pic

Aeropuerta

Daniel doesn't think that's a real spanish word, but I do. Either way, we're boarding a plane to Hotlanta right now.

p.s. Daniel looked it up. It's Aeropuerto. I was close.

Time Once Again

I'm almost packed up, I'm downloading some visual stimulation (i.e. 30 Rock) for our transit, and in about 13 hours we'll en route to our destination - Antigua, Guatemala (which means 'the old Guatemala', as Antigua is a former site for the capital). I won't bore you with any more mundane details about my day, cause if you're here, that's probably not why. I'm guessing you want some information - real information. Maybe a friend or family member is kickin' it in G-town with us Enon-ites. Well if that's the case, then I'll do my best to provide some link between you and them over the next seven days. Lord willing.

So...for the information. As I understand it, we have 10 people with us, 9 of which went last time. There's Bro. John, Kathy, Randy, Greg, Jeff, Linda, Melissa, Daniel, myself, and Adam G. bring up the rear. We'll be in Antigua, a known tourist hotspot (due largely to ts well-preserved Baroque architecture and ruins... but they also make a mean fried chicken). Our group will be working mainly in a local squatter village and in a poor part of town. Please pray that God would glorify himself in His work of salvation and that our effort to seek out and share with our future brothers and sisters in Christ that good news of a true risen savior would be used by God to strength the church there and elsewhere.

I hope to write again soon. Until then, grace and peace to you from God and Christ.

- Doug