Volcán de Pacaya

Last one

I’m home! It’s still hard to believe that the two weeks are over. It hardly seems like I’ve been gone. But I have been blessed so much during my stay. God has continued to reveal Himself to me in so many amazing ways – through experiences, relationships, and His word. I am so grateful to everyone one who supported me while I was away, especially your prayer and supplication. I know God was able the use some of my efforts for His glory (which I admit only to testify of His goodness and grace), but I know I received so much more through the experience than I was able to put into it. God is so good.

Just to finish up the story. Thursday we started work on the next four houses and completely seven, all told. Friday we were able to go and dedicate each of them to the Lord and share the gospel and its gifts with believers and non-believers alike. As much as you can, remember to pray that God would continue to bless the efforts of the Church (i.e. the Bride) in Guatemala and that more and more people would come to know Christ and, in turn, God’s glory would shine brighter and brighter.

I love you all. Until next time.

- Doug

Building up the kingdom...

So today is going to be the last day of work. We started four houses yesterday and finished two. If all goes smoothly then we should have any problem meeting out goal of seven by then end of the day. Tomorrow we will dedicate the houses in the morning then in the afternoon we’ll be going to the volcano.

See you later

Bible School

Yesterday was our last day working with the kids. It was fun, but we were definitely running on fumes by the end of the day. We have been going to two schools/churches in the morning and the afternoon and sharing the story of Joseph with the kids.

I have been working with the music crew. We’ve been teaching about five songs (including the Spanish version of ‘baby shark’ we had to come up with when we realized we needed some more material). I was fun but tiring. After we reenacted the story of Joseph we finally had to say goodbye. It is easy to dismiss some of the stuff that we did as just being goofy and playing around, but I pray that God uses all of that for good and the kids heard some truth in all of it.

But right now we are about to head to our job sight for the rest of the week. The plan is to build seven houses for families in need. Pray that our spirits stay high even though our energy may dwindle.

Here are some random photos.

Much love…

Part Two

Well, time sure flies. I’ve done a lot of tourist-type stuff lately. We’ve spent a lot of time in Antigua. Saturday was the day I spent in the Guatemala city airport. I saw the Enon crew off at about 5:00a and met up with the BCM people around 2:00p. It wasn’t too bad. I spent most of the time working on a paper from school and talking to a couple I met. They we’re ‘Full Gospel’ Christians and they told me a little about their particular beliefs. While I didn’t agree with the extent, it is nice to remember the power that God has in our life. Too often I discount how much He can and will do, if we have faith. He does heal and He does provide. But thank God that we are also able to bear the thorn in the side and suffer for the cause of Christ’s name.

Sunday we went to a church local to Chimaltenango. It was much different than the church I was at last week. The area is much more urban than Henova. This is one of the churches we are working with this week. Yesterday we began working with the children. Somehow I ended up working with the music, so I get to make myself look like a fool en Español. But it is a lot of fun. We ran out of songs to sing, so we translated an off the cuff version of baby shark in Spanish…it was a hit. But it’s been so much fun working with these kids.

Keep them and us in your prayers.

God bless

Winding Down

Well, we are back at the Arkansas House winding down from the week. The week that has really been the fastest week imaginable. Tonight we had a time of sharing and it was amazing to hear from everyone how God has moved in their individual lives this week.

I have really been blessed to get to spend the week with such amazing people. I was fired up from the get go cause Daniel and Rachel were going. Dan rocks my face and to is so cool to have get to see him mature in the Lord like he has. Not to sounds haughty, cause I watching him, most of that time was spent maturing in the same ways. But I know God is working in and through him, giving him a ministry at Crossroads. Still it's is a blessing to get to see so much of him since he's been out at UNA. And Rachel... well she just rocks my world 24/7 and there's no two ways about it. To see a girl still fresh in college so sold out for God, it's too rare these days but so beautiful.

But they're not the only ones. Brother John is great. I don't know what he'd got pumping through his engine, but if I can keep half his pace when I'm 65, I'll count myself truly blessed. And Melissa Archer, now she's awesome. Now I love my momma and I'll fight anyone that says she's less than the greatest mother of all time. But if we're casting votes for silvers and bronzes, I'd say she had a good chance of being up there. It's also been great getting to know everyone else. Now I've not know Greg for a long time, but from what I've gathered these last few days, I am a fan. His boys are lucky to have a dad like him. But as for the Creels, Randy, and Kathy, it seems like I've known them for ages, but Ive really enjoyed actually getting to know them. I feel like I'm cheating them listing them all together, but they're definitely a big part of the church family at Enon and are really true representatives of what the Great Commission is all about.

And if there is anyone from our church that gets to read this. Thank you so much for the opportunity to come and for all you're prayers. God has used them to make a world of difference in our lives and in the lives of so many here in Guatemala. You'd better be here next year.

I probably will not have too much to add to Saturday or Sunday. I'm praying that I'll have an internet connection, but it is definitely not at the top of the list as far as prayers go.

I love you all. Grace and peace,

- Doug

I learned a new word... chorio

Today was an interesting day. Unfortunately, I spent most of the day ill. But there was a lot of good stuff, regardless. We got to do two assemblies at the school, both of which went well. We gave out about 300 copies of the Gospel of Luke. Today was the last day we will spend in San Miguel, so we had to say goodbye to a lot of our new friends (including Daniel's disciple Walter). But hopefully we were able to make an impact be fore we left. Remember to keep that community in your prayers, that seeds will be watered and God will grow.

Grace and peace,

- Doug

This is for Mr. Danny

I don't have my camera with me so no pictures. Sorry. But I do bring good news. God has been working wonders and letting us be apart of it. I, personally have been blessed with great fellowship with out team members, translators, and the national from the church we're working with.

Tomorrow will be a big day. Were going into the local school, speaking to the young kids and the youth, about 500 total. Brother John will be preaching, Daniel will be sharing, and I will be playing the guitar. Be praying for us that God will open doors and, if He wills, we won't embarrass ourselves too much.

Grace and peace

Monday!

Today was the first day on the field. We finally arrive in San Miguel around nine this morning. After getting settled we prayer walked through the street until lunch. We had a change to meet a few of the locals and Rachel got a little domestic training to take back home.

After letting our food settle (i.e. letting the old people nap) we got to being going door to door. We had a great experience – getting to meet local believers, getting to pray with members of the community, as well as seeing a few professions of faith. Here is Brother John and Julio witnessing to our new friend Junior.

Junior made a profession of faith. Pray that he, as well as all the others, have truly been burdened by the Holy Spirit and will go on to show the fruit of that work of God as a testimony to His goodness.

Looks Like We Made It

So we are here in Guatemala City. After an exciting time in the airport and Bro. John almost losing his luggage, we are finally situated in Central America.

.

Right now we are at kickin’ it at the Arkansas House before we go out into the field. We’re working with Keith and Gleena Bartley here, a couple originally from TN that now work for the IMB.

We’re going to be worshiping with a local congregation tomorrow then we’ll be repacking then relocating to Coatepequa. That is where we’ll be staying through Thursday as we go into the area of San Miguel to share the gospel and seek out ministry opportunities. San Miguel is an extremely rural area that, from my understanding, has had little to no true gospel presented to them. Pray that in everything, we do not present anything less than the absolute truth as we share. I know that it could be really easy to, out of a desire to remain peaceable, want to water down our message. I hope and pray that we are able to speak the truth in love in everything we do. Thank you for all your prayers. I will do my best to keep you updated but I don’t think we’ll have as much internet access after Monday, but I’ll be keeping notes.

And on another note, a praise goes out in Daniel's life as God continues to show him new and interesting thing about himself through study.

one mo'e day

Well, it's official. I have less than 24 hours till I am outie. Yesterday I bought the first backpack I've owned since, like, middle school and it's a lot cooler than anything I had in middle school (I think it was the year they made mesh mandatory...is that even still enforced?). So that means I'm ready, in the physical sense that I have all the junk a fat American needs to survive a couple of weeks away from home, greasy food, sweet tea, and the like. But, am I ready spiritually? I don't know.

It has been a crazy week. I have been so busy trying to get ahead on all that I'm missing that Guatemala has not been at the forefront of my mind. I've spent most of this week working on essays and applying for graduate schools. I should be done with those in about enough time to swing by the post office on my way to the airport. I still have a 5 page paper to finish and a conference to lead worship for tonight but after that, I'm worry free.

Keep us in your prayers. I know a lot of us have had a lot going on. But at the same time, God, through friends, good preaching, and scripture, has made His gospel so real to me as of late. There is something that comes with really letting Christ permeate in your conversations and monopolize your thoughts to where the picture of the love He has shown just continues to grow bigger and bigger and become clearer and clearer. I'm not where I need to be, but it is that picture that spurs me on towards a life that, through sanctification, might be appropriately call 'Christ like'.

I love you all. Keep up the prayer,

- doug

p.s. if you're updating your prayer list and have some extra space, I am trying to get into grad school. I'm applying at Union University (for a Master in Christian Studies) and at Liberty University (for a Masters of the Arts in Religion). I'm praying that God will put me wherever He would have me be.

"by this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" - John 13:35

Entry Uno

So it's already February 4th! In less that four weeks I'll be on a plane bound for Central America. God has really opened a lot of doors for this trip and definitely taught me What Jesus meant in Matthew 6 about anxiety. It's easy to worry about scheduling and finances, but as the end of the day, if you are in His will, in His grace He has promised His provision.

For those who may not know, one of the amazing ways in which God has opened a door is the fact that I'm actually going to be doing "two trips in one". The original plan was to go with my church through an organization called Go Guatemala. We will be taking a team of 10 people and going into somewhat rural areas of Guatemala sharing the gospel and doing church strengthening work. But as providence would have it, the group I went to Thailand with last year, the UAB BCM, were going to be in Guatemala the very next week. So is has worked out to where I will be meeting up with them on March 8th and spending the next week doing VBS, construction, worship, and whatever else the Lord has in mind. Talk about blessed.

I'm just thankful that the Lord has allowed this opportunity. Thank you for you kind thoughts, prayers, and interest in what the Lord is doing in Central America. I will do my best, circumstances allowing, you keep everyone up-to-date with blogs, pictures, and (hopefully) video.

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,

- Doug

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Matthew 6:25-34