August and September 2016

  August started off with our week down in Montellano at Clinica Ezell.   It was extremely hot this week but very rewarding.  The week was mostly dedicated to Plastics surgery.  We had many children in the ward for lip surgery so it was always active and exciting.

Here are two children whose life has been changed forever by the surgeries.

At the end of August and beginning of September we had a good friend come down and spend a week with us to help us in our daily activities,  Jennifer,  she also happens to be our oldest daughter's mother-in-law from Hot Springs.  She helped us pass out 3 water filters to families in Pastores.  The first family had a special needs son who depended on pure water daily for his health.

     Jennifer ended her first few days with us in Santa Maria at the feeding center before heading on down to Clinica with us for the September surgery week.

Two of the girls at the feeding center came on stage to pray for Jennifer and her journeys while down in Guatemala

Jennifer gave this girl, Evelyn Hallelujah, a arm bracelet at the feeding center.  Just a note,  she has worn it as a hair tie every day since Jennifer has left Guatemala.

The day after we returned from the September Surgery week at Clinica Ezell,  our team from our home church of Fellowship Bible in Searcy arrived for the week.   You cannot believe how excited and anxious we were for our church to come down.   It was a tremendous week.  The team started off with a tour of our town here in Antigua.  They then proceeded through the week to share the gospel to many families.   This was through distributing food baskets and water filters,  working with an orphanage,  helping at a wheel chair ministry, building two houses for a grandmother and grandson who had no place to live and the second home was for Sandra who was trying to provide for her 3 children, daughter-in-law, and grandchild.  In addition throughout the week, those with medical skills provided clinics at each place we went.

We just wanted to add how blessed we were by the team coming.  The giving of their time, bringing letters of encouragement and bringing of food, but most of all for their commitment to walking along side us in this journey.  We wanted to let the church know that in the three years we have been working at the children's feeding center,  no team has ever come down and prayed individually with each of the workers,  the leaders as well as the girls that help every day.  This was a very special blessing to the ministry at the feeding center and to Rita and I as well.  We thank you so much for taking the time to minister and pray for the team at the feeding center.

Prayer and house blessing at one of the houses built on Wednesday.

Water filter demonstration presented by the team

Prayer with the family

One of the families that received a new water filter shown beside them

Another family receiving the water filter demonstration.  The young girl in the white shirt had just had brain surgery for a tumor.

Prayer with the family

The week ended with the team working at the feeding center in Santa Maria de Jesus.  Once the meals were served,  the children at the feeding center prayed with each of the team members.

A possible candidate for our November Surgery Clinic.

Finally,  a praise and a prayer request.

We received word a few weeks ago that I was going to be able to continue my limited part-time computer work for the foreseeable future.  This was definitely an answer to prayer.  We were going to be limited in where we could help and serve with out these funds coming in.  God provides and we are grateful.

A prayer request - we have been asked by a group to help develop a community about an hour away in the village of Patzicia.  This is a very poor community and they would like our help in developing a community based work program as well as a bible school for the town.  This will be a large under-taking but we are looking to God for guidance with our steps.   We will detail the plans in further blogs as we develop them but for now we are working on some test projects to see if they are feasible for income-producing labor for the local Guatemalans in Patzicia.  One other concern,  we are getting somewhat familiar with the Spanish language but this village speaks almost solely Kaqchikel, one of the indigenous languages here in Guatemala.  So in addition to teaching life skills,  we will be teaching Spanish by going through the bible stories.   Prayers are in order for sure.

One last thing,  we will be returning to the states for about a month in December.  We should get to Searcy on the 10th and are so looking forward to worshiping with our church the following Sunday and getting to see our family and friends again.

See you soon,
Blessings,   Cary and Rita.