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It is now 30 days before we leave for Guatemala
(2-18 to 2-27)
William Carey said " Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God"
Pray that God will do a work in our lives so that we may be used to do a work in other's lives.
In 2008 Our church made one of multiple trips to Guatemala. I (Barrett) joined that team. Little did I know how much it would impact my life. I decided right then that I would be back. Something just felt right about being there. It was not the newness, or excitement of it. There was something deeper, more core to it.
In 2009 I signed up to go again. But something happened. We as a church had to think about where and why we go to these places. What birthed out of that was a mission model. Our last location was a square peg that would not find it's way into a round hole. We changed location within Guatemala to partner with a church that would minister the word to the people 365. This allows us to help with something that is already there and there will be someone there to disciple new followers after we are gone. One note-worthy event that happened on this trip was building a house for Barbara. I did not get to work on any houses, I was stuck on a roof trying to get a water tank to stop leaking. I only was able to go to the village of Cerro de Oro in the afternoon to help Dr. Keith work on Barbara's legs. Cleaning them and applying ointment to fight the infection in her legs he honestly was worried about her age and whether or not she would live for another 6 months. We all prayed for her. Prayed for God to do a work in her life.
On return home I was asked if I would go back and help lead the team in February of 2010. My answer was predictable.
Our church sent us back to build 2 more homes. On one of the last days we were in the village we checked in on Barbara. Dr. Mary was on the team. Barbara's family recognized us and all came rushing out to meet us. Barbara walked out and gave us hugs. Not only was she alive........Her legs were 90% healed!! Dr. Mary cared for the one last soar on her leg, we prayed for her and said our good byes. Brother Thomas lead us around the village and we prayed with other families. One of them Isabel Sosof.
In July 2010 I was now leading HPCC again to Santiago Atitlan and Cerro de Oro to build 2 more houses, deliver beds to Chuk Muk, and conduct a VBS at the school. That July Isabel was baptized and Katherine of Orphan Outreach was allowed to pick a family that we would build a house for. She picked Isabel Sosof. Katherine did not know we had prayed for her the winter before.During the day as teams worked on 2 houses we held a mini VBS at the Church plant in Cerro de Oro. Those of us that had gone in the summer of '09 and the following winter of '10 hoped we would get a chance to go visit Barbara. Her house was just up the road from the church. But that was our surprise. She came to visit us,.........and brought her grand daughters with her. She then surprised us again. Her legs were 100% healed. The swelling was gone and she walked and sat down and got up with a smile on her face. As if this was not enough to shout praises to God for being allowed to stand in site of his glory. She surprised us again. She was baptized with Isabel 2 weeks before we arrived that same July. I teared up in joy with this great news. I have another sister.
This is why I go.
I now sit 30 days out from returning to Guatemala.
I ask for your prayers
for Barbara,
Pastor Diego,
Brother Thomas,
Isabel,
Moises-
(a non-believer we built for in winter 2010),
for Diego and his son Emilio-
(Emilio will be Checked by Dr. Heather and RN Heather to see if he has anemia),
for the families that we will build houses for this February,
for our Orphan Outreach lead, Gloria,
for our families at home while we are gone,
for our team, that God will prepare us to be His hand and feet
For me, That I may lead with the humility of a servant.
"Prayer is the mighty engine that is to move the missionary work." -- A.B. Simpson
This is not where the story begins, This is where the story continues.
We are not bringing Jesus to these people.
Jesus has been here since he created the world and everything in it.
He has invited us to participate in what he is doing here.
"God's work is not man working for God; it is God's own work, though often wrought through man's hands."
Hudson Taylor
The question should not be,
"What new and exciting experience will they write about."
The question should be,
"Why have You not answered God's request yet"
Hudson Taylor
With love in Christ.
Barrett
