Movie Night at the YWAM Base
doing what they do best! They are amazing.
de Jesus
do to help them out.
It's a crazy but wonderful life.
Showing posts with label ministry update. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ministry update. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Fun Stuff we get to do!
There's so much randomness to our life that I thought just some photos about other stuff would be fun to share. Here it is!
Movie Night at the YWAM Base
Youth Drama Team for outreaches
Mark sharing the gospel at a medical clinic
Our friends and co-workers Eder and Carolina
doing what they do best! They are amazing.
Mark sharing at a movie night in Santa Maria
de Jesus
Mark and I visiting a rehab to see what we can
do to help them out.
It's a crazy but wonderful life.
Movie Night at the YWAM Base
doing what they do best! They are amazing.
de Jesus
do to help them out.
It's a crazy but wonderful life.
How we encouraged a bunch of heroes!
As Americans we are raised to think of our firefighters and paramedics as heroes worthy of our respect and the distinction of hero. They are thanked and honored in towns and cities across America. People recognize them for what they do and who they are and the way they put themselves in danger to ensure our safety and way of life. We are grateful! They are heroes.
Did you ever think what it might be like for fire fighters and paramedics in different parts of the world? In developing nations where the needs are so great that, even though they might want to, the government and the people aren't able to provide sometimes the basic needs of these heroes let alone take the time to honor them. The volunteer fire fighters and paramedics in our area regularly stand on the highways going in and out of town to collect spare change and money from people to use for things like gas for their emergency vehicles and equipment they need to do their jobs. They are volunteers yet they spend HOURS on their time collecting to make sure they can do what they need to do during hurricanes, earthquakes, fires, accidents, mudslides, and medical emergencies. They don't get thanked. They don't generally get honored.
We have watched the bomberos (fire fighters and paramedics) in Antigua care for our friends who live on the streets over and over again. They have bound wounds, cared for cuts, run them to the emergency room, given them water and food, made sure they had a blanket if they needed it, and even come to take care of them when they die. They are just really great people!
Last week we had a group from Toronto who helped us throw a party for them. It's something Mark and I have been wanting to do for a really long time and it finally worked! They raised $250 and brought down decorations for a luau including leis and we had a party. We made chili dogs, coleslaw, and 2 gigantic cakes and we also had watermelon, chips, pop, and coffee. Because we were able to do those things for so little we were also able to buy $100 in gift certificates for a local restaurant to have door prizes! We showed a movie, cheered them when they entered the station, gave them their flowers, and served them so they could just relax and have fun. There were a total of about 40 bomberos there that night!
One of the bomberos told me that this was the first time they had anyone say thank you to them and do soemthing to show their appreciation. We don't want it to be the last!
Did you ever think what it might be like for fire fighters and paramedics in different parts of the world? In developing nations where the needs are so great that, even though they might want to, the government and the people aren't able to provide sometimes the basic needs of these heroes let alone take the time to honor them. The volunteer fire fighters and paramedics in our area regularly stand on the highways going in and out of town to collect spare change and money from people to use for things like gas for their emergency vehicles and equipment they need to do their jobs. They are volunteers yet they spend HOURS on their time collecting to make sure they can do what they need to do during hurricanes, earthquakes, fires, accidents, mudslides, and medical emergencies. They don't get thanked. They don't generally get honored.
We have watched the bomberos (fire fighters and paramedics) in Antigua care for our friends who live on the streets over and over again. They have bound wounds, cared for cuts, run them to the emergency room, given them water and food, made sure they had a blanket if they needed it, and even come to take care of them when they die. They are just really great people!
Last week we had a group from Toronto who helped us throw a party for them. It's something Mark and I have been wanting to do for a really long time and it finally worked! They raised $250 and brought down decorations for a luau including leis and we had a party. We made chili dogs, coleslaw, and 2 gigantic cakes and we also had watermelon, chips, pop, and coffee. Because we were able to do those things for so little we were also able to buy $100 in gift certificates for a local restaurant to have door prizes! We showed a movie, cheered them when they entered the station, gave them their flowers, and served them so they could just relax and have fun. There were a total of about 40 bomberos there that night!
One of the bomberos told me that this was the first time they had anyone say thank you to them and do soemthing to show their appreciation. We don't want it to be the last!
Friday, March 9, 2012
How Mark and Alicia spent their Wednesday.
So this past Wednesday Mark and Alicia spent the day up in an indigenous village not far from Antigua working in a free health clinic. That evening we showed 2 movies to the people of Santa Maria de Jesus as well.
What kind of person goes to church in a dump?
Ummmm...that would be us!
Last year we started something called Street Church with our homeless people on Sunday nights. It's one of those things where you can't really plan what will happen but it's always good! We usually have testimonies and sharing of the word as well as prayer. We've just started bringing food as well because it's been so cold that it's good for them to have something hot and nutritious before bed. Mark also decided that it would be fun to bring somekind of game to play with them afterward so we bring an old Viking game (because we're proud Minnesotans!) that we learned from his brother called kuub. It's been so great! The guys love playing the game and eating the food--it feels like something just natural for them, something that men just do. It's a time to just hang out and relax and fellowship with them. We love it!
Last Sunday night I met "Juli". When I looked at this person dressed in a woman's sweater and slacks all feminine and pretty I new that he wasn't a woman. I started talking to him and he asked if we had any food left. We didn't so I offered to take him across the street to get some pupusas (stuffed taco-like things) and salad. He came with Lorena and I. (Lorena and her husband, Fernando, work with us at street church) We ordered the food and then stood outside to talk. That was when "Juli" admitted that his name was Julio and that he was gay. I just asked him about his family and he broke down. He hasn't been living on the streets long. He came out to his mother that he's gay and she went crazy. She kicked him out and threatened to kill him. He has since found out that his brother is looking for him to kill him as well. He was just broken. He asked Lorena and I to pray for him and we did. He sobbed.
Please pray for Julio.
Here's some photos of our time at street church!
Last year we started something called Street Church with our homeless people on Sunday nights. It's one of those things where you can't really plan what will happen but it's always good! We usually have testimonies and sharing of the word as well as prayer. We've just started bringing food as well because it's been so cold that it's good for them to have something hot and nutritious before bed. Mark also decided that it would be fun to bring somekind of game to play with them afterward so we bring an old Viking game (because we're proud Minnesotans!) that we learned from his brother called kuub. It's been so great! The guys love playing the game and eating the food--it feels like something just natural for them, something that men just do. It's a time to just hang out and relax and fellowship with them. We love it!
Last Sunday night I met "Juli". When I looked at this person dressed in a woman's sweater and slacks all feminine and pretty I new that he wasn't a woman. I started talking to him and he asked if we had any food left. We didn't so I offered to take him across the street to get some pupusas (stuffed taco-like things) and salad. He came with Lorena and I. (Lorena and her husband, Fernando, work with us at street church) We ordered the food and then stood outside to talk. That was when "Juli" admitted that his name was Julio and that he was gay. I just asked him about his family and he broke down. He hasn't been living on the streets long. He came out to his mother that he's gay and she went crazy. She kicked him out and threatened to kill him. He has since found out that his brother is looking for him to kill him as well. He was just broken. He asked Lorena and I to pray for him and we did. He sobbed.
Please pray for Julio.
Here's some photos of our time at street church!
Things that are crazy.
There are a lot of things that are just plain crazy. Things that you can't explain but it all intersects to make something happen that you never expected to work. This Sunday one of those things happened.
When we first started working in the streets we ran into a guy named Gregorio. He was a violent, angry, bitter person. He had spent time in prison and had even stole some money from Mark at one time. It was one of those situations where whenever we saw him he was causing problems or was completely in the middle of something not good.
Over the past 2 years we noticed a few little changes, nothing too major just little things that made us notice that something was happening. He wasn't as bragging about his past as I remembered him once being, he was sleeping the the shelter and not causing problems there, he seemed less angry. I have to admit though, I didn't know if he was just putting on somekind of show or if something was really happening in him.
Last Sunday I saw Mark talking to someone in church off to the side and I was surprised when I saw that it was Gregorio! Shocked! What was he doing there? I also looked over the congregation and realized that our friend Jose Eduardo was there with all the students from Teen Challenge in Guatemala City! They only come to our church maybe twice a year. This was unusual.
When I talked with Mark about what was going on, he said that Gregorio was telling him he was sick of his life and wanted a radical change. It was a crazy God thing that Jose Eduardo was there that same morning! After church we introduced them and Jose Eduardo asked Gregorio how he was doing and Gregorio said, "Bad." Jose asked him why and he said that it was time for a change. Jose looked at him and said, "If you're really ready for a change why don't you come with us right now to Teen Challenge?" Gregorio mentioned that he felt bad because he needed to pay back the money he had stolen from Mark first. Mark told him to forget about it for now, we can deal with that later.
End of story? Gregorio went to Teen Challenge that day with Jose!!! Crazy.
When we first started working in the streets we ran into a guy named Gregorio. He was a violent, angry, bitter person. He had spent time in prison and had even stole some money from Mark at one time. It was one of those situations where whenever we saw him he was causing problems or was completely in the middle of something not good.
Over the past 2 years we noticed a few little changes, nothing too major just little things that made us notice that something was happening. He wasn't as bragging about his past as I remembered him once being, he was sleeping the the shelter and not causing problems there, he seemed less angry. I have to admit though, I didn't know if he was just putting on somekind of show or if something was really happening in him.
Last Sunday I saw Mark talking to someone in church off to the side and I was surprised when I saw that it was Gregorio! Shocked! What was he doing there? I also looked over the congregation and realized that our friend Jose Eduardo was there with all the students from Teen Challenge in Guatemala City! They only come to our church maybe twice a year. This was unusual.
When I talked with Mark about what was going on, he said that Gregorio was telling him he was sick of his life and wanted a radical change. It was a crazy God thing that Jose Eduardo was there that same morning! After church we introduced them and Jose Eduardo asked Gregorio how he was doing and Gregorio said, "Bad." Jose asked him why and he said that it was time for a change. Jose looked at him and said, "If you're really ready for a change why don't you come with us right now to Teen Challenge?" Gregorio mentioned that he felt bad because he needed to pay back the money he had stolen from Mark first. Mark told him to forget about it for now, we can deal with that later.
End of story? Gregorio went to Teen Challenge that day with Jose!!! Crazy.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Photos!!!
Carlos
Friday, October 7, 2011
It's been How Long?
I couldn't believe when I looked on here that it had been since June the last time I wrote something! Time flies when you're having fun!
So what has our family been up to? Well here's a little run down:
Alicia: She spent the summer at Chico YWAM doing their summer program. It was a great experience for her and she has decided to go back in the fall to do her DTS before she heads off to college to pursue a degree in nursing. She is currently enjoying Guatemala and finishing her senior year. She is also working hard on translating a Spanish book on values used in the school system here from Spanish to English to be used in African schools.
Bailey: She is working hard on her sophomore year of high school and enjoying music and art. She wants to go to Chico YWAM next summer to do the same program Alicia did this past summer. She just turned 15 and is already talking about the time when Mark will teach her driving!!
Christopher: He is now in 8th grade and attending youth group and having fun with his friends. He is still really gifted at all things technical and I am constantly amazed at what he knows how to do. It blows my mind! He has been teaching at our church's kids classes on Sunday mornings helping to translate.
Soup Run
We have been working with the homeless doing soup run for almost 2 years now. This year it has really grown and we have also been blessed with a few teams who have gone out with us. Previously we paid for the soup and food that we brought to people and recently we have been blessed with a LOT of dried soup mixes with veggies and beans. It's been such a blessing since we are regularly feeding about 50 people! We are looking forward to working with more churches in another city nearby to start doing some soup runs there as well.
Evangelism/Street Ministry
We've been busy getting the bus ready to use and have even used it a few times to show movies and do outreaches. The most recent one was in September with our Discipleship Training School students in Chimaltenango. We were there all day doing children's ministry and evangelism near the central square. We were able to partner with a church there and pray with many people. We are hoping to take the bus out more once rainy season ends!
Mark still does street ministry every Saturday night and has had great talks and times of prayer with people in Central Park in Antigua. He is continuing to go out and bring others with him to share the gospel.
Discipleship Training School
On July 24th of this year we began our DTS with 12 students from Canada the US and Curacao. It has been a busy time!!! Mark is working with the 3 guys and I am working with 3 of the girls. We've been doing one-on-ones and small groups as well as coordinating activities for the weekends. It's been a lot of fun! They leave for 5 weeks in Haiti and then return to Guatemala towards the middle of November to do their last 3 weeks in different locations here. Mark may be joining them for the last 3 weeks of outreach but he will remain at home to work on outreach here and a team that will be arriving in November.
Prayer Requests
--Please pray for the 6 people that are in their rehab programs that God will work in them.
--Pray for our family to be able to have some time off for a little relaxation in the next few months. It's been
2 years since our trip to the US and even though we can't return there we would like to take some time off
here in Guatemala.
--Please continue to pray for our street people that God would continue to move in their lives.
--Pray for continued financial support for us to do the work we have here in Guatemala.
--Dayle
So what has our family been up to? Well here's a little run down:
Alicia: She spent the summer at Chico YWAM doing their summer program. It was a great experience for her and she has decided to go back in the fall to do her DTS before she heads off to college to pursue a degree in nursing. She is currently enjoying Guatemala and finishing her senior year. She is also working hard on translating a Spanish book on values used in the school system here from Spanish to English to be used in African schools.
Bailey: She is working hard on her sophomore year of high school and enjoying music and art. She wants to go to Chico YWAM next summer to do the same program Alicia did this past summer. She just turned 15 and is already talking about the time when Mark will teach her driving!!
Christopher: He is now in 8th grade and attending youth group and having fun with his friends. He is still really gifted at all things technical and I am constantly amazed at what he knows how to do. It blows my mind! He has been teaching at our church's kids classes on Sunday mornings helping to translate.
Soup Run
We have been working with the homeless doing soup run for almost 2 years now. This year it has really grown and we have also been blessed with a few teams who have gone out with us. Previously we paid for the soup and food that we brought to people and recently we have been blessed with a LOT of dried soup mixes with veggies and beans. It's been such a blessing since we are regularly feeding about 50 people! We are looking forward to working with more churches in another city nearby to start doing some soup runs there as well.
Evangelism/Street Ministry
We've been busy getting the bus ready to use and have even used it a few times to show movies and do outreaches. The most recent one was in September with our Discipleship Training School students in Chimaltenango. We were there all day doing children's ministry and evangelism near the central square. We were able to partner with a church there and pray with many people. We are hoping to take the bus out more once rainy season ends!
Mark still does street ministry every Saturday night and has had great talks and times of prayer with people in Central Park in Antigua. He is continuing to go out and bring others with him to share the gospel.
Discipleship Training School
On July 24th of this year we began our DTS with 12 students from Canada the US and Curacao. It has been a busy time!!! Mark is working with the 3 guys and I am working with 3 of the girls. We've been doing one-on-ones and small groups as well as coordinating activities for the weekends. It's been a lot of fun! They leave for 5 weeks in Haiti and then return to Guatemala towards the middle of November to do their last 3 weeks in different locations here. Mark may be joining them for the last 3 weeks of outreach but he will remain at home to work on outreach here and a team that will be arriving in November.
Prayer Requests
--Please pray for the 6 people that are in their rehab programs that God will work in them.
--Pray for our family to be able to have some time off for a little relaxation in the next few months. It's been
2 years since our trip to the US and even though we can't return there we would like to take some time off
here in Guatemala.
--Please continue to pray for our street people that God would continue to move in their lives.
--Pray for continued financial support for us to do the work we have here in Guatemala.
--Dayle
Saturday, June 25, 2011
So...here's what happened this week!
Usually when our kids go to camp I have a week to myself and Mark gets a little bit of a break as well. Not this year!!!! It was one of our busier weeks, doing good things, but, busy.
We had a team from South Korea here this week doing street ministry, children's ministry, and soup run with us. It was interesting because they didn't speak any Spanish and only a few on the team spoke a little bit of English--so translation was a tad tricky--but, they did wonderful! They were able to communicate through drama, song, and dance. They were able to pray with people in their language and bless our base with watching them play with the children. It's so great to see how God can use different kinds of communication to convey His love!
This week was a busy street ministry week. Tuesday night we took the Korean team out for soup run and fed over 50 people soup and tortillas. Mark took a different team from Kansas here working with another ministry out for street evangelism that same night. Wednesday night we did "Feed the Hungry" at our church for the 3rd and last Wednesday night (for this time anyway) and brought people in from the homeless shelter and streets for dinner at our church. We fed almost 95 people that night and everyone left with a New Testament as well! Thursday night we took the Kansas team out for Soup Run and fed about 50 people again.
All of that plus meetings with our YWAM team, a pastor from another city near us, and planning for and organizing Parent's Day at camp for Friday. This was a busy week!
One thing I know, as I work with the street people and addicts, I'm so grateful for God's power in the lives of those who are in rehab overcoming their addictions. It's a long road and they are struggling--please pray for them! Jaimie is in Teen Challenge. Ana and Miguel are in a rehab affiliated with a church in San Lucas. Charlie is in Hogar de la Roca. There are those who are working toward going to rehab: William and Victoria. Please pray that God helps them to walk in the direction of their freedom.
It's been raining a lot in Antigua and it's been raining hard. This is a difficult time for those who live on the streets. We are so grateful that we have been able to visit them more than usual. We are also glad when we can give them a fresh change of clothes that are dry and clean. We are hoping to stock up on men's clothing and warmer clothes for them. Also, it would be a blessing to them to be able to buy plastic tarps for some of them to use. Please pray that we are able to do that.
Also, we are praying for several of them who are sick right now--the weather is tough on their bodies. Dora, Carlos, Chmarco, and Ana have been battling sickness.
Pray for us as we continue to minister to the needs of the extremely poor and addicted people here in Antigua.
We had a team from South Korea here this week doing street ministry, children's ministry, and soup run with us. It was interesting because they didn't speak any Spanish and only a few on the team spoke a little bit of English--so translation was a tad tricky--but, they did wonderful! They were able to communicate through drama, song, and dance. They were able to pray with people in their language and bless our base with watching them play with the children. It's so great to see how God can use different kinds of communication to convey His love!
This week was a busy street ministry week. Tuesday night we took the Korean team out for soup run and fed over 50 people soup and tortillas. Mark took a different team from Kansas here working with another ministry out for street evangelism that same night. Wednesday night we did "Feed the Hungry" at our church for the 3rd and last Wednesday night (for this time anyway) and brought people in from the homeless shelter and streets for dinner at our church. We fed almost 95 people that night and everyone left with a New Testament as well! Thursday night we took the Kansas team out for Soup Run and fed about 50 people again.
All of that plus meetings with our YWAM team, a pastor from another city near us, and planning for and organizing Parent's Day at camp for Friday. This was a busy week!
One thing I know, as I work with the street people and addicts, I'm so grateful for God's power in the lives of those who are in rehab overcoming their addictions. It's a long road and they are struggling--please pray for them! Jaimie is in Teen Challenge. Ana and Miguel are in a rehab affiliated with a church in San Lucas. Charlie is in Hogar de la Roca. There are those who are working toward going to rehab: William and Victoria. Please pray that God helps them to walk in the direction of their freedom.
It's been raining a lot in Antigua and it's been raining hard. This is a difficult time for those who live on the streets. We are so grateful that we have been able to visit them more than usual. We are also glad when we can give them a fresh change of clothes that are dry and clean. We are hoping to stock up on men's clothing and warmer clothes for them. Also, it would be a blessing to them to be able to buy plastic tarps for some of them to use. Please pray that we are able to do that.
Also, we are praying for several of them who are sick right now--the weather is tough on their bodies. Dora, Carlos, Chmarco, and Ana have been battling sickness.
Pray for us as we continue to minister to the needs of the extremely poor and addicted people here in Antigua.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Update!!!!
Sometimes things are just INSANE!!! You know how it is, you start the week thinking you have your schedule under control, and then the week begins and you realize it's just a crazy time. Ministry has never been better--we are just so excited about all the opportunities heading our way. The bus will be busy with outreaches, our homeless ministry is going well with good relationships being built, street church is a blessing to us and the street people, we are working with other missionaries and their teams to do street ministry and soup run. Whew!
With all of that, we add in the Discipleship Training School (DTS) that is starting in about a month! Mark and I will be working more closely with that than we have in past years because we are a little short staffed. We have 13 students coming which is a huge blessing!!! Mark will be working with the guys in the group doing one-on-one time with each of them every week, small group, and helping to coordinate the activities for the whole group. I will be working with about 4 girls doing one-on-ones, small group, and helping Mark coordinate the activities. We will also be doing some of the meals on Sundays for the group.
With all of that going on we have a few requests! Here are some things that you all could be praying for:
1. We absolutely NEED to up our monthly financial support. There are some major ministry things coming up and we pay for all our ministry with the homeless out of our monthly support. As our ministry grows, our financial need grows.
2. Our car, which is essential to our ministry, is in need of some major tlc! The brakes need fixing and now the starter is going. Please pray that we can get the work done and that our car lasts!!! We love our car!
3. Our kids are really stepping up and helping with a lot of what we do. Pray for them! They are figuring out what God has for their futures and making some big decisions. Pray for us as their parents to guide them.
4. Continue to pray for those in rehab: Jaimie, Charlie, Ana, and Miguel.
5. Pray for William who wants to return to rehab.
6. We have several others who want to change their life: Victoria, Carlos, Dora, Ana. Please pray for them and for opportunities to open up for them.
With all of that, we add in the Discipleship Training School (DTS) that is starting in about a month! Mark and I will be working more closely with that than we have in past years because we are a little short staffed. We have 13 students coming which is a huge blessing!!! Mark will be working with the guys in the group doing one-on-one time with each of them every week, small group, and helping to coordinate the activities for the whole group. I will be working with about 4 girls doing one-on-ones, small group, and helping Mark coordinate the activities. We will also be doing some of the meals on Sundays for the group.
With all of that going on we have a few requests! Here are some things that you all could be praying for:
1. We absolutely NEED to up our monthly financial support. There are some major ministry things coming up and we pay for all our ministry with the homeless out of our monthly support. As our ministry grows, our financial need grows.
2. Our car, which is essential to our ministry, is in need of some major tlc! The brakes need fixing and now the starter is going. Please pray that we can get the work done and that our car lasts!!! We love our car!
3. Our kids are really stepping up and helping with a lot of what we do. Pray for them! They are figuring out what God has for their futures and making some big decisions. Pray for us as their parents to guide them.
4. Continue to pray for those in rehab: Jaimie, Charlie, Ana, and Miguel.
5. Pray for William who wants to return to rehab.
6. We have several others who want to change their life: Victoria, Carlos, Dora, Ana. Please pray for them and for opportunities to open up for them.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
George!
There is a man named George (Jorge) who has been coming to street church and we have been speaking to for a few months now. He speaks perfect English and tells everyone he's from Hollywood, CA. He has lead a rough life.
Mark has talked with George very strongly about his need for Jesus and George kept saying "Someday, I'm just not ready now." But, he kept coming to street church and talking with us. He's has a lot of anger inside and is constantly getting into fights.
Last Sunday night when Mark asked if people would like prayer, George came forward and said, "I'm ready now, Mark." Mark looked at him and said, "I've been waiting for you for a long time!" George received Jesus as his personal Lord and Savior.
Please continue to pray for George! He has a long way to go with his addictions and his anger. We are hoping to start working with him towards rehab.
--Dayle
Mark has talked with George very strongly about his need for Jesus and George kept saying "Someday, I'm just not ready now." But, he kept coming to street church and talking with us. He's has a lot of anger inside and is constantly getting into fights.
Last Sunday night when Mark asked if people would like prayer, George came forward and said, "I'm ready now, Mark." Mark looked at him and said, "I've been waiting for you for a long time!" George received Jesus as his personal Lord and Savior.
Please continue to pray for George! He has a long way to go with his addictions and his anger. We are hoping to start working with him towards rehab.
--Dayle
What's Up with Street Ministry?
This is something I get a lot of questions about!
It's been so busy!!! During the month of April and into May the local homeless shelter shuts down and many of the people who sleep there on a regular basis are on the street. Needless to say, we've been crazy busy with soup run and gone through over 50 cups of soup every night that we do it. It's been great because we are building relationships with these people. It's important for them to see us on a regular basis so that they are able to build trust with us.
We currently have 4 of our street people in rehab! Jaimie and William are in Teen Challenge. Mark just visited them this week and took William to a doctor's appointment. William is doing well and still in the beginning stages of his rehab program. Jaimie is in the middle of it and is struggling a bit. Please pray for him. This is a difficult time when things are being dealt with deep inside of them and it's easy for Satan to come in and make them feel "picked on". Miguel and Ana are in a different program and are nearing the end of their time there in the next few months. We met with them this week and they are looking to join us with the street ministry we do here. There are a few things to consider with this so pray for wisdom for us!
In the past we've talked a lot about Charlie who was at Hogar de la Roca. He has chosen to leave rehab after 7 months in the program. We have run into him in the streets and he is drinking again. We are concerned about what will happen to his health for returning to alcohol after his rehab. Please pray for Charlie. He did tell us that he wants to return to rehab, but, didn't show up for some of the things we set up for him to do in order to return.
It's been a wonderful thing to minister to these people. We are so blessed to be able to do what we do! We have also started meeting every Sunday evening with them to do a "street church". We do worship and preaching and prayer with them. They have responded so well to it and we are seeing some definite results in their hearts! Keep praying that this continues to turn into discipleship of their lives and many more are set free from the bonds of alcohol and drug abuse.
--Dayle
It's been so busy!!! During the month of April and into May the local homeless shelter shuts down and many of the people who sleep there on a regular basis are on the street. Needless to say, we've been crazy busy with soup run and gone through over 50 cups of soup every night that we do it. It's been great because we are building relationships with these people. It's important for them to see us on a regular basis so that they are able to build trust with us.
We currently have 4 of our street people in rehab! Jaimie and William are in Teen Challenge. Mark just visited them this week and took William to a doctor's appointment. William is doing well and still in the beginning stages of his rehab program. Jaimie is in the middle of it and is struggling a bit. Please pray for him. This is a difficult time when things are being dealt with deep inside of them and it's easy for Satan to come in and make them feel "picked on". Miguel and Ana are in a different program and are nearing the end of their time there in the next few months. We met with them this week and they are looking to join us with the street ministry we do here. There are a few things to consider with this so pray for wisdom for us!
In the past we've talked a lot about Charlie who was at Hogar de la Roca. He has chosen to leave rehab after 7 months in the program. We have run into him in the streets and he is drinking again. We are concerned about what will happen to his health for returning to alcohol after his rehab. Please pray for Charlie. He did tell us that he wants to return to rehab, but, didn't show up for some of the things we set up for him to do in order to return.
It's been a wonderful thing to minister to these people. We are so blessed to be able to do what we do! We have also started meeting every Sunday evening with them to do a "street church". We do worship and preaching and prayer with them. They have responded so well to it and we are seeing some definite results in their hearts! Keep praying that this continues to turn into discipleship of their lives and many more are set free from the bonds of alcohol and drug abuse.
--Dayle
Holy Week!
It's been so long since I've been able to update! It's been crazy busy--but that's all good, right?
We had a great Holy Week--the week between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday. It was busy with preparing for outreach on Holy Thursday. We had our church's youth group helping with the outreach and had a tremendous time with dramas and preaching right up until it started to rain. Hard. This was interesting since it wasn't rainy season and usually doesn't rain that time of year.
But these teens wouldn't stop. They went out anyway and just started talking with people and praying with people and handing out tracts. They were inspirational. So many people got to hear the gospel that night and we were out until 6:30 am. I can't wait until next year!!!
Good Friday evening is completely crowded in Antigua and Mark went out with a small team of people to do some street ministry. It was so fruitful that he was out until after midnight again! Saturday night he was out again until really late. It was a wonderfully fruitful time of ministry and the gospel was preached to crowds of people who had spent a lot of time that day thinking about what Jesus had done for them so many years ago. What a blessing!
Another answer to prayer--we are always needing tracts. It's been something that has been a real trick with getting them ordered and then shipped to someone who is coming down all at the same time that we need them. God is so good! Another missionary couple that we are friends with down here were talking with their chiropracters in California while they were home over Christmas and these doctors have a passion for evangelism. They also LOVE the Living Waters tracts that Mark uses! They wrote to him and asked him to make up a wish list of tracts that he uses. They ordered over 52 pounds of tracts, videos, and literature for us to use!!!!!!! They also paid for an extra suitcase for someone coming down to bring them to us. All in time for Holy Week! We are so grateful! Mark had all the tracts he could use and still has some to use. They also want to be kept up-to-date when he needs more. What a HUGE blessing!
Thank you all for your prayers during Holy Week. So many wonderful things happened!
--Dayle
We had a great Holy Week--the week between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday. It was busy with preparing for outreach on Holy Thursday. We had our church's youth group helping with the outreach and had a tremendous time with dramas and preaching right up until it started to rain. Hard. This was interesting since it wasn't rainy season and usually doesn't rain that time of year.
But these teens wouldn't stop. They went out anyway and just started talking with people and praying with people and handing out tracts. They were inspirational. So many people got to hear the gospel that night and we were out until 6:30 am. I can't wait until next year!!!
Good Friday evening is completely crowded in Antigua and Mark went out with a small team of people to do some street ministry. It was so fruitful that he was out until after midnight again! Saturday night he was out again until really late. It was a wonderfully fruitful time of ministry and the gospel was preached to crowds of people who had spent a lot of time that day thinking about what Jesus had done for them so many years ago. What a blessing!
Another answer to prayer--we are always needing tracts. It's been something that has been a real trick with getting them ordered and then shipped to someone who is coming down all at the same time that we need them. God is so good! Another missionary couple that we are friends with down here were talking with their chiropracters in California while they were home over Christmas and these doctors have a passion for evangelism. They also LOVE the Living Waters tracts that Mark uses! They wrote to him and asked him to make up a wish list of tracts that he uses. They ordered over 52 pounds of tracts, videos, and literature for us to use!!!!!!! They also paid for an extra suitcase for someone coming down to bring them to us. All in time for Holy Week! We are so grateful! Mark had all the tracts he could use and still has some to use. They also want to be kept up-to-date when he needs more. What a HUGE blessing!
Thank you all for your prayers during Holy Week. So many wonderful things happened!
--Dayle
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Answered Prayer
I was just looking at our sidebar on this blog and realized that one of the prayer requests we put on there (over a year ago) was for new opportunities in the schools. We have been praying and believing for opportunities to go into the schools here to share the love of Jesus to the students.
In the last 2 months this has been starting to happen! Mark and the girls have been working with a group of missionary teens here to start a drama team to work on dramas and a program for public schools. This is a group of about 9 or 10 teens.
Since they've started this team they have ministered in at least 3 school programs! One was in a part of the City where the school called and asked for help because things in the school are bad and they need a change!
God is so good! If we prepare for rain, it will pour!
In the last 2 months this has been starting to happen! Mark and the girls have been working with a group of missionary teens here to start a drama team to work on dramas and a program for public schools. This is a group of about 9 or 10 teens.
Since they've started this team they have ministered in at least 3 school programs! One was in a part of the City where the school called and asked for help because things in the school are bad and they need a change!
God is so good! If we prepare for rain, it will pour!
Monday, January 31, 2011
Sad and happy.
Saturday morning when Mark and I went to the street to check on our people, we found Mauel de Jesus, one of the men we had been checking on and concerned about, dead. Mark went and got the first responders while I sat with his girlfriend, Sonja, and comforted her. It was sad. We waited for them to come and investigate and then went to the morgue with one of the guys to find out what can be done about burial.
That night, Mark, Carlos (a good friend of ours), Alicia, Bailey, and I went to where they stay and had a memorial service for him. I made food and Mark and Carlos shared from the Bible Ps. 23. We prayed with 8 people to receive Christ! Then Carlos played music and led them in worship and praise while we prayed with others and did the medical things we've been doing for them.
They asked Mark and Carlos to come back and do Bible Study with them, so they are starting to plan once a week or so to go back and do praise and worship with them as well as Bible study.
Please pray as we begin this new phase of street church (something we've been wanting to do for a while!) that God would lead us. Also, pray for Sonja as she mourns Manuel's death.
That night, Mark, Carlos (a good friend of ours), Alicia, Bailey, and I went to where they stay and had a memorial service for him. I made food and Mark and Carlos shared from the Bible Ps. 23. We prayed with 8 people to receive Christ! Then Carlos played music and led them in worship and praise while we prayed with others and did the medical things we've been doing for them.
They asked Mark and Carlos to come back and do Bible Study with them, so they are starting to plan once a week or so to go back and do praise and worship with them as well as Bible study.
Please pray as we begin this new phase of street church (something we've been wanting to do for a while!) that God would lead us. Also, pray for Sonja as she mourns Manuel's death.
Teen Challenge
Last Monday, we brought another man to a great Christian rehab in Guatemala City. Jaimie went into Teen Challenge and we are so thankful that he is taking the opportunity to grab hold of God's freedom for his life! Keep him in prayers!
Charlie, the man we brought to another Christian rehab in November, is doing amazing! We are so proud of him and his determination to stick with it even when it gets tough. He is growing in his relationship with the Lord and understanding freedom from alcohol and drugs.
Keep both Jaimie and Charlie in your prayers.
Charlie, the man we brought to another Christian rehab in November, is doing amazing! We are so proud of him and his determination to stick with it even when it gets tough. He is growing in his relationship with the Lord and understanding freedom from alcohol and drugs.
Keep both Jaimie and Charlie in your prayers.
Where do I begin?
I'm in awe of all the things that have been happening lately. It seems that all we have to do is talk about a dream or an idea and before we know it, it's reality. We haven't even had to pray before it's already answered! It's like God can't wait!!!
The first thing is our bus. Back in November Mark and I were talking about how great it would be if someday we could buy a minibus and renovate it into something to use for our homeless ministry and street evangelism. We talked about being able to cook on it, having a place for medical work (something that has come up a lot recently in our homeless ministry), and Mark even joked that it wouldn't be complete without a screen to show Christian movies like the Jesus film! We also wanted plenty of room to bring sound equipment and a place to store Christian literature to give away.
Just 2 weeks ago, we brought it home! We are in shock still!!!!
We started thinking about what to do to make it more streamlined for what we needed (neither of us are very mechanically inclined) and that we should start praying for someone to help us out with that when our friend Rusty Johnson showed up! Rusty just spent time last year gutting an RV and renovating it for he and his wife to use for traveling and ministry. He was looking for a project and we were looking for someone with skills to help us with it all! God is so awesome!!!
Next, we were talking about how we needed to get some medical supplies when someone from our church asked us if we ever needed medical supplies. I said we did and they gave us 3 boxes of left over supplies from a missions team! And wouldn't you know, it had just about everything we had listed as potential needs for the bus!
Then we were talking about how we needed to have someone look at our engine and do some body work on it. We have a potential trip coming up and Mark wanted to make sure all was in good condition. Mark was talking with a guy at church yesterday about it all to see if he knew someone who could help. Here's the funny part: HE'S WORKED ON THIS BUS BEFORE! He knows everything about it! He remembers all they've done to it in the last year and is able to get it all going well.
How great is God? He answers before we even ask!
The first thing is our bus. Back in November Mark and I were talking about how great it would be if someday we could buy a minibus and renovate it into something to use for our homeless ministry and street evangelism. We talked about being able to cook on it, having a place for medical work (something that has come up a lot recently in our homeless ministry), and Mark even joked that it wouldn't be complete without a screen to show Christian movies like the Jesus film! We also wanted plenty of room to bring sound equipment and a place to store Christian literature to give away.
Just 2 weeks ago, we brought it home! We are in shock still!!!!
We started thinking about what to do to make it more streamlined for what we needed (neither of us are very mechanically inclined) and that we should start praying for someone to help us out with that when our friend Rusty Johnson showed up! Rusty just spent time last year gutting an RV and renovating it for he and his wife to use for traveling and ministry. He was looking for a project and we were looking for someone with skills to help us with it all! God is so awesome!!!
Next, we were talking about how we needed to get some medical supplies when someone from our church asked us if we ever needed medical supplies. I said we did and they gave us 3 boxes of left over supplies from a missions team! And wouldn't you know, it had just about everything we had listed as potential needs for the bus!
Then we were talking about how we needed to have someone look at our engine and do some body work on it. We have a potential trip coming up and Mark wanted to make sure all was in good condition. Mark was talking with a guy at church yesterday about it all to see if he knew someone who could help. Here's the funny part: HE'S WORKED ON THIS BUS BEFORE! He knows everything about it! He remembers all they've done to it in the last year and is able to get it all going well.
How great is God? He answers before we even ask!
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
"God has sent you to me"
These are the words we heard from Victoria while Alicia was helping to clean her wound on her leg.
We first met Victoria about 6 months ago. I don't think I've ever met a more bitter and angry person. She told us that she didn't believe in God since her husband, mother, and sister all died within a few months of each other. She has been living on the streets, drinking rubbing alcohol for a while. She's so hardened.
We kept running into Victoria and even sang "Happy Birthday" to her on her birthday a few weeks ago while we were delivering soup. She smiled! It was good to see.
Victoria fell and hurt her leg badly about 2 weeks ago. She went to the hospital and got some stitches put in, but, she has been fighting a horrible infection for that long. Her leg was in bad shape. We've been going 2 times a day to the area where she lives (basically a dirt pile) to clean it, bandage it, and give her antibiotics. While we've been doing that, we've been seeing her soften. She greets us with a smile. She tells us thank you.
One evening while Alicia was cleaning it and putting on a new bandage, she said to Alicia, "I know now that God is real because He has sent you to me to take care of me." It made us all choke up to hear her say that. It was such a big step!
Mark and I went today to talk with her son--who is a doctor--to find out if he can make sure that there isn't more that needs to be done with her leg. She wants to get off the street and deal with her alcoholism. We told him that there is a program for her, but, she needs to be willing to do it for one year. He's going to talk with her today. Pray that she takes advantage of it!
We first met Victoria about 6 months ago. I don't think I've ever met a more bitter and angry person. She told us that she didn't believe in God since her husband, mother, and sister all died within a few months of each other. She has been living on the streets, drinking rubbing alcohol for a while. She's so hardened.
We kept running into Victoria and even sang "Happy Birthday" to her on her birthday a few weeks ago while we were delivering soup. She smiled! It was good to see.
Victoria fell and hurt her leg badly about 2 weeks ago. She went to the hospital and got some stitches put in, but, she has been fighting a horrible infection for that long. Her leg was in bad shape. We've been going 2 times a day to the area where she lives (basically a dirt pile) to clean it, bandage it, and give her antibiotics. While we've been doing that, we've been seeing her soften. She greets us with a smile. She tells us thank you.
One evening while Alicia was cleaning it and putting on a new bandage, she said to Alicia, "I know now that God is real because He has sent you to me to take care of me." It made us all choke up to hear her say that. It was such a big step!
Mark and I went today to talk with her son--who is a doctor--to find out if he can make sure that there isn't more that needs to be done with her leg. She wants to get off the street and deal with her alcoholism. We told him that there is a program for her, but, she needs to be willing to do it for one year. He's going to talk with her today. Pray that she takes advantage of it!
The Way Things Often Work
One thing you can count on is that you can't really count on anything happening the way you would expect it to! In the last few weeks we have seen this truth lived out in our lives in a way we would never have expected.
Many of you remember that in November of 2009 we started a ministry to the homeless in Antigua and called it "Soup Run". It was kind of born out of frustration a little--I'm just being honest. We had been noticing a LOT of people in the streets just passed out drunk. It was frustrating to try to help them and have absolutely nothing work. We tried even buying them food from a tienda (store) and had seen at least one of them return the food for the money. So, we decided that if we made something and brought it to them they wouldn't be able to return it. We could also start to build relationships with these people and try to minister to their needs.
How could we know that this would become something so big in our lives? It never started out that way.
We have been doing soup run now for over a year and we feed roughly 50 people a week with it. It's also become a medical situation because of many injuries and sicknesses that the homeless suffer. We've been dispensing antibiotics (if they have a doctor's prescription), tylenol for pain, bandaging wounds, cleaning sores, and trying to fight off infection in many instances.
All of this has helped us to build relationships with these people. This morning, while we were cleaning some wounds and replacing bandages, they told us that they pray for us and our family every morning. They also spend time every morning reading the New Testament we were able to bring them and discussing it before they head off for their day. Many of them work--surprising, but, true. They don't make enough to afford a house or apartment, so they live on the street.
We've talked about Charlie in the past. He is doing well, living in rehab and getting his life straightened out. There is another man, Kuka, who wants to go to rehab and we will be taking him to Teen Challenge on Monday. These are lives who are coming off the streets and learning to walk in faith and allowing God to heal them. It's exciting to see.
Tomorrow, we are picking up the ministry bus that will help us to be more effective and serve more people. It's a mini bus that has been renovated into a functioning clinic with room for a small kitchen area to make food and a movie screen to show Christian videos. We were blessed by friends with the money to purchase the bus, insure it, and money to keep it running for one year! God is so good!
We have the opportunity to use this bus in other areas around our valley to minister to more homeless and needy people. There is so much need! We will be needing support to keep it stocked with the equipment we need to meet those needs--medical supplies, food, clothing, material needs, evangelistic materials (bibles, tracts, videos...).
Will you pray about partnering with us?
Many of you remember that in November of 2009 we started a ministry to the homeless in Antigua and called it "Soup Run". It was kind of born out of frustration a little--I'm just being honest. We had been noticing a LOT of people in the streets just passed out drunk. It was frustrating to try to help them and have absolutely nothing work. We tried even buying them food from a tienda (store) and had seen at least one of them return the food for the money. So, we decided that if we made something and brought it to them they wouldn't be able to return it. We could also start to build relationships with these people and try to minister to their needs.
How could we know that this would become something so big in our lives? It never started out that way.
We have been doing soup run now for over a year and we feed roughly 50 people a week with it. It's also become a medical situation because of many injuries and sicknesses that the homeless suffer. We've been dispensing antibiotics (if they have a doctor's prescription), tylenol for pain, bandaging wounds, cleaning sores, and trying to fight off infection in many instances.
All of this has helped us to build relationships with these people. This morning, while we were cleaning some wounds and replacing bandages, they told us that they pray for us and our family every morning. They also spend time every morning reading the New Testament we were able to bring them and discussing it before they head off for their day. Many of them work--surprising, but, true. They don't make enough to afford a house or apartment, so they live on the street.
We've talked about Charlie in the past. He is doing well, living in rehab and getting his life straightened out. There is another man, Kuka, who wants to go to rehab and we will be taking him to Teen Challenge on Monday. These are lives who are coming off the streets and learning to walk in faith and allowing God to heal them. It's exciting to see.
Tomorrow, we are picking up the ministry bus that will help us to be more effective and serve more people. It's a mini bus that has been renovated into a functioning clinic with room for a small kitchen area to make food and a movie screen to show Christian videos. We were blessed by friends with the money to purchase the bus, insure it, and money to keep it running for one year! God is so good!
We have the opportunity to use this bus in other areas around our valley to minister to more homeless and needy people. There is so much need! We will be needing support to keep it stocked with the equipment we need to meet those needs--medical supplies, food, clothing, material needs, evangelistic materials (bibles, tracts, videos...).
Will you pray about partnering with us?
Saturday, December 11, 2010
My Week in Haiti
God is moving in the devastated country of Haiti! I just returned from a week-long trip there to assist our YWAM Discipleship Training School (DTS) as they were finishing their 2 month outreach in that country. I didn’t visit the areas that were most affected by the earthquake nearly a year ago. Instead, while I was there our team focused our attention on the souls of the people who have been kept in darkness by the lack of truth, Catholicism and voodoo. We were located just to the east of Port au Prince.
On my first night there we did an open-air service to the light of one florescent bulb. Our DTS students did a couple of dramas and then we projected an abbreviated version of the Jesus film, about an hour long, onto a white sheet while the Haitians stood and watched the life of the Savior unfold in their own Creole language. We worked with a local pastor named Jacques, who translated for our team. Before I arrived our group helped him to start a new church that met outdoors next to an above-ground tomb. I preached there on a Sunday Morning and at a different church in the evening. The message in my heart was about identity and telling the Haitian believers that they can do great things for God. At Jacques’ new church they strung up some tarps to block the sun and put some boards across some cement blocks for seats.
We were hosted by a ministry called Reach Haiti. The leaders, Mike & Andrea Brewer have an orphanage where we spent time playing with the kids who climbed on me like I was jungle gym! One little girl named Lovely made me a bracelet of yarn and beads. Another little girl had just been rescued a year ago from nearly starving to death. We also did some kids ministry outside of the orphanage, a kids program with music and a Bible story acted out by our students and some Haitian kids.
On one evening we decided to do a program in what looked like a garbage dump! We started with some dramas and then I preached about how God’s Light overpowers the darkness. A group of people prayed afterwards to receive the gift of eternal life. Then we showed the Jesus film again. We had no problem attracting a crowd wherever we set up to do our program. It was good to see our students preaching and sharing the gospel in different situations. They did a great job.
One morning Mike asked our base leader Bruce and I if we wanted to teach at a Bible school that morning. So maybe an hour later I was scrambling through my notes looking for a message to share. I ended up teaching on the need for evangelism. I shared about how, like Jonah, if we run from the call of God to preach the gospel we will be swallowed by a “fish”. If we don’t become fishers of men, then the culture we were supposed to reach will swallow us up and digest us until we become part of that culture- dead and religious.
The DTS team returned to Guatemala a day or so before I did. When I was at the airport waiting for my flight back to Guatemala I got to share the gospel with a man. Then I gave him gospel tract, not intending to ask him then and there to make a decision for Christ. But a few minutes later he brought up the fact that he was ready to give his life to Jesus! So we prayed together. I may never see him again in this life, but I’m thankful for the privilege of pointing him to the Lord. And I’m also grateful for the short time I had in Haiti.
When I got home I hit the ground running as our YWAM base just received a team from Montana that is doing their 2 month outreach here in Guatemala. And the story goes on…
On my first night there we did an open-air service to the light of one florescent bulb. Our DTS students did a couple of dramas and then we projected an abbreviated version of the Jesus film, about an hour long, onto a white sheet while the Haitians stood and watched the life of the Savior unfold in their own Creole language. We worked with a local pastor named Jacques, who translated for our team. Before I arrived our group helped him to start a new church that met outdoors next to an above-ground tomb. I preached there on a Sunday Morning and at a different church in the evening. The message in my heart was about identity and telling the Haitian believers that they can do great things for God. At Jacques’ new church they strung up some tarps to block the sun and put some boards across some cement blocks for seats.
We were hosted by a ministry called Reach Haiti. The leaders, Mike & Andrea Brewer have an orphanage where we spent time playing with the kids who climbed on me like I was jungle gym! One little girl named Lovely made me a bracelet of yarn and beads. Another little girl had just been rescued a year ago from nearly starving to death. We also did some kids ministry outside of the orphanage, a kids program with music and a Bible story acted out by our students and some Haitian kids.
On one evening we decided to do a program in what looked like a garbage dump! We started with some dramas and then I preached about how God’s Light overpowers the darkness. A group of people prayed afterwards to receive the gift of eternal life. Then we showed the Jesus film again. We had no problem attracting a crowd wherever we set up to do our program. It was good to see our students preaching and sharing the gospel in different situations. They did a great job.
One morning Mike asked our base leader Bruce and I if we wanted to teach at a Bible school that morning. So maybe an hour later I was scrambling through my notes looking for a message to share. I ended up teaching on the need for evangelism. I shared about how, like Jonah, if we run from the call of God to preach the gospel we will be swallowed by a “fish”. If we don’t become fishers of men, then the culture we were supposed to reach will swallow us up and digest us until we become part of that culture- dead and religious.
The DTS team returned to Guatemala a day or so before I did. When I was at the airport waiting for my flight back to Guatemala I got to share the gospel with a man. Then I gave him gospel tract, not intending to ask him then and there to make a decision for Christ. But a few minutes later he brought up the fact that he was ready to give his life to Jesus! So we prayed together. I may never see him again in this life, but I’m thankful for the privilege of pointing him to the Lord. And I’m also grateful for the short time I had in Haiti.
When I got home I hit the ground running as our YWAM base just received a team from Montana that is doing their 2 month outreach here in Guatemala. And the story goes on…
Friday, November 26, 2010
Hitting the Streets--an update
We have been privileged for the past year (one year this week) to do a ministry called "Soup Run". Basically, I (Dayle) make a huge pot of some kind of soup (usually chicken and rice) and we put it into the back of our car with some cups, hot tortillas, and water and drive around Antigua. When we find someone sleeping on the street, in the dump, or under some kind of shelter we stop and offer them soup and food. We pray with them, offer them a jacket if we happen to have some that night (it does get pretty cold when you're over 5,000 ft. up), and sometimes just listen to their story. They all have one.
Many times we are asked why we don't have pictures of our soup run people. It's understandable that people would want to see what we are doing and how this all works. But, we don't take pictures of this ministry. Why?
We live in a tourist area. Many thousands of foreigners (some here on short-term missions trips) come down here and photograph literally everything. We are used to seeing it. We also are used to seeing them take pictures of what they are doing here (which is good) so they can show it to people back home and keep as memories. All good things!
We don't want our street friends to feel like a "project". They are already ashamed of their situation. They are already as low as a human being can be--sleeping and eating in a dump is lower than low for sure. We don't want to make them feel as though they are being used for some greater gain on our part. I wouldn't want to be photographed in that situation, I don't think you would either. Even though they aren't always aware of what is going on around them (sniffing glue and drinking rubbing alcohol will do that to you) they are sensitive. I have had women apologize to me for the way they smell. They know it's not normal to not bathe regularly. We never want them to feel as though they are on display.
Mark and I are working on a way to maybe start some kind of a sponsorship program and then, with their permission, we will take their photo so you know who you are sponsoring and who you are praying for. We are wanting to be sensitive to their situation. I know you all understand!
We are excited about some great news! Charlie is a man we met early on in soup run. He was adopted to the US when he was a baby and grew up there but returned several years ago to Guatemala. He wound up on the streets of Antigua. The first time I remember meeting Charlie, Mark and Christopher were trying to move him from the street to the homeless shelter and he was so drunk that he couldn't do it without a lot of help!
2 weeks ago we ran into him in the market where Mark and I were buying jackets for the street people. He looked at us and said that he was ready to change his life. He knew he couldn't do it on his own and needed help. He was addicted to alcohol (at that time he was drinking 3-4 bottles of rubbing alcohol about 6 times a day) and needed help.
Mark and I took him into the City the next day where he willingly entered "Hogar de la Roca" Youth Challenge. When we left him, we weren't sure what was going to happen, but, we prayed that God would be with him. The next morning Mark received a phone call from the center saying to pray for Charlie because he was really having a hard time coming off of the alcohol. They had never seen worse. He was hallucinating and had 2 seizures. This was on a Friday. By Monday they were thinking he needed to go to the hospital because they weren't sure if it was just the alcohol or also a mental issue because he was so bad. They were going to give him one more night. We prayed. We had a lot of people pray.
The next morning, Mark called and was told that he had a relatively peaceful night and that he was doing considerably better. The following Sunday, we attended the service at the center and saw Charlie. We couldn't believe it! We almost didn't recognize him, he looked so good. So peaceful and at rest within himself.
He's doing so well, but, he has a long road ahead. Please pray for Charlie. He has a whole year ahead of him. We are excited to see what God has for him!
Here's Charlie's story: http://guatemalaresponse.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2010-11-01T00%3A00%3A00-06%3A00&updated-max=2010-12-01T00%3A00%3A00-06%3A00&max-results=5
Many times we are asked why we don't have pictures of our soup run people. It's understandable that people would want to see what we are doing and how this all works. But, we don't take pictures of this ministry. Why?
We live in a tourist area. Many thousands of foreigners (some here on short-term missions trips) come down here and photograph literally everything. We are used to seeing it. We also are used to seeing them take pictures of what they are doing here (which is good) so they can show it to people back home and keep as memories. All good things!
We don't want our street friends to feel like a "project". They are already ashamed of their situation. They are already as low as a human being can be--sleeping and eating in a dump is lower than low for sure. We don't want to make them feel as though they are being used for some greater gain on our part. I wouldn't want to be photographed in that situation, I don't think you would either. Even though they aren't always aware of what is going on around them (sniffing glue and drinking rubbing alcohol will do that to you) they are sensitive. I have had women apologize to me for the way they smell. They know it's not normal to not bathe regularly. We never want them to feel as though they are on display.
Mark and I are working on a way to maybe start some kind of a sponsorship program and then, with their permission, we will take their photo so you know who you are sponsoring and who you are praying for. We are wanting to be sensitive to their situation. I know you all understand!
We are excited about some great news! Charlie is a man we met early on in soup run. He was adopted to the US when he was a baby and grew up there but returned several years ago to Guatemala. He wound up on the streets of Antigua. The first time I remember meeting Charlie, Mark and Christopher were trying to move him from the street to the homeless shelter and he was so drunk that he couldn't do it without a lot of help!
2 weeks ago we ran into him in the market where Mark and I were buying jackets for the street people. He looked at us and said that he was ready to change his life. He knew he couldn't do it on his own and needed help. He was addicted to alcohol (at that time he was drinking 3-4 bottles of rubbing alcohol about 6 times a day) and needed help.
Mark and I took him into the City the next day where he willingly entered "Hogar de la Roca" Youth Challenge. When we left him, we weren't sure what was going to happen, but, we prayed that God would be with him. The next morning Mark received a phone call from the center saying to pray for Charlie because he was really having a hard time coming off of the alcohol. They had never seen worse. He was hallucinating and had 2 seizures. This was on a Friday. By Monday they were thinking he needed to go to the hospital because they weren't sure if it was just the alcohol or also a mental issue because he was so bad. They were going to give him one more night. We prayed. We had a lot of people pray.
The next morning, Mark called and was told that he had a relatively peaceful night and that he was doing considerably better. The following Sunday, we attended the service at the center and saw Charlie. We couldn't believe it! We almost didn't recognize him, he looked so good. So peaceful and at rest within himself.
He's doing so well, but, he has a long road ahead. Please pray for Charlie. He has a whole year ahead of him. We are excited to see what God has for him!
Here's Charlie's story: http://guatemalaresponse.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2010-11-01T00%3A00%3A00-06%3A00&updated-max=2010-12-01T00%3A00%3A00-06%3A00&max-results=5
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
