I am sorry it has been so long since our last update. Our Internet has not been hooked up in our house yet so we couldn't give you updates. I say we because Carla and Katie wound up going with me and Zach. On Friday afternoon we made the decision that we would all go. US Air would not let them change their tickets so we decided to go down for the week then come back home and fly back down at the end of the month. Please continue to pray for Carla's dad. He is home but still not doing well.
We had an amazing week with the folks from First Baptist Seymour. We got to Casa on Saturday and hit the ground running. We spent a lot of time getting ready for the village we would visit on Sunday for a block party. Jack Ciak another missionary at Casa has been working with Pastor Daniel to put together this week of ministry. Jack did a ton of hard work on the front end so we could get into this village to not only do a block arty but also to do a medical clinic. This Pastor was amazing. He was so thoughtful to our entire group. They fed us lunch and dinner which was very good. The dinner was a good old fashion "pot luck" and I had some Guatemalan food I had never tried before and it was amazing. We held our block party at the school and we had well over 200 kids there jumping in the Spiderman jumper, playing games, and taking in the puppet show that the kids from Casa put on. Then at the church First Baptist put on an awesome concert. As we looked around the party and church we saw that folks were having a great time in Christ.
Monday through Wednesday we were able to go back and do a medical clinic. I say we but I stayed behind so that me and 8 amazing people could work on getting our house finished. The three days at the clinic were incredible. We do not have all of the numbers in for salvation's but we know we had 24 the first day and many more on the second and third. We were able to offer free medical and dental care to around 500 people in 3 days. We also provided a back yard bible club for all of the kids for those 3 days. I know that on the first day 20 of those salivations were school age kids. While they were doing the clinic our other team was working hard on our house and and putting in new speakers for our worship center. In 4 days they were able to get all of our kitchen done, most of the tile complete and helped us unpack and move a ton of stuff into our house. They also were able to get a lot of outside work done to help seal our house from water leaks. This team also brought brand new speakers for the worship center, then bought a new projection screen, and power amp so that the kids from Casa could enhance their worship. They also left with me a brand new sound system for block parties and musical instruments for the Casa praise band to use in worship. This church was amazing servants and have made an impact that will go for years to come.
The rest of the week was just as exciting. I made a new friend at a church just down the road in San Lucas and we went there on Thursday night to sing. The church was so awesome. Susy the pastors wife could speak perfect English so I had the opportunity to preach during the concert. The congregation was so welcoming, even I got amens!!! This is a church that Mt. Harmony Baptist will be going to and doing a block party on July 11th so please pray for them and the church as we prepare to do outreach in San lucas. We also went to a christian school on Thursday and the choir got to experience some Guatemalan dance for the first time. The kids at the school loved the music from the choir and begged us not to leave. It was a great time and also another new relationship to build on with this school.
As you can see it was a very busy week. Please pray for us as we continue to make the move. On Saturday we got a blessing that was not expected. We were sitting on the plane waiting to take off then the captain came on and told us the flight was being cancelled because the plane would not pressurize. So we all got off the plane and went back into the airport. US Air said they were looking for folks that could be flexible. So I told them we could wait until Monday. They in return put us up in an incredible hotel for 2 days in the city and gave us 4 free round trip tickets. God is amazing!! Then I went back and talked to them about our team and they flew home on Sunday and every team member was given a free ticket. So please pray that they will come back to Guatemala with their ticket.HAHAHA
Again thank you so much for your prayers. It was an incredible week of ministry. Please continue to pray for Carla's dad and just the entire situation. It has been very hard on us as a family. Those 2 days in the city just hanging out together were God ordained because our family has been feeling pretty beat up by satan and we needed the rest. Please take a look at the needs below and pray about how you can be involved.
Prayer needs
1. Carla's Dad
2. Relationships with good friends and new friends at Casa and in the villages.
3. Our house to be finished
4. Our adoption
5. Pastor Daniels village, that salivations would continue.
Financial needs
1. 16 families to join us at $30.00 per month. Email mike@clubhouseguatemala.com
2. Hot Water Heater and Mattresses for the Boys $800.00
3. Skymiles for tickets for Carla to go back and forth. Right now tickets cost $800 per person.
Praises
1. Many Salvation's at Pastor Daniels village.
2. Plane tickets for our family
3. Carla's Dad is home.
