May 2017

May began with a great week down at Clinica Ezell.  The surgery team tended to the hurt and ailing with a gentle touch, a demonstration of God's grace, and a deliverance of His word to all the patients and their families.

One of our little patients this month at clinica.  She came in with a smile and a hernia and left with a smile and God's word

 A change to our daily lives here in Guatemala has taken place this month.  Some of you may have met Jack Townsend, his wife Susie, and their 6 children.   Jack was the director of MilCasas at Iglesia del Camino.   His family has been here three years and were not able to obtain sufficient funding to stay here in Guatemala.  Our hearts are heavy for their return to the states,  the entire family will leave a void that will be hard to fill.  They are set to return to the states on Thursday the 25th of this month.  The IDC leadership have asked Rita and I if we would be willing to take on the responsibilities that Jack fulfilled by performing the house visits and interviews with the Guatemalans in poor areas that are in need of a sturdy home.  We did not hesitate,  we agreed to the position and have become an advocate for the Guatemalan families and their needs for a dependable home, fuel-efficient stove, and pure water.

This month we have started home visits and average 10 a week.  We collect information about each family who wants a house and evaluate their level of need. We get  to share with each family that the house they receive is a gift from God, that He loves them. The house is free to them, someone else has paid the price just as Jesus has paid the price for our sins. Praise God!!!!!!  We believe this opportunity is a blessing from God to further our ministry here in Guatemala and share the gospel with the families

The outside wall of a families house.  This family will be receiving a new house in July

The mother of three and the grandmother in front of their rented home.  The grandmother is part of the weekly women's bible study that Rita hosts on Friday at El Club in San Lucas.  This family will be getting a home built in June

Aora lives with her husband and two children.  Her husband drinks and spends all the money he makes on liquor.  She must work to support the family.  They live in a cane house and will be getting a new home in July.

 Below are some additional pictures of houses we have seen and visited in the past two weeks.

The door is a bedsheet.

The walls are lined with cardboard to keep the cold out

The cookstoves that are being used at many of the families homes

Campos de Suenos has, and always will be, an integral part of our work here in Guatemala.   With a special donation received this month, we were able to purchase eggs for the feeding of the children for 3 weeks.  Due to the financial situation at Campos recently the children have been served beans, rice, and tortillas each meal for the past few months.  With the donation,  eggs were purchased and much appreciated by the staff as well as the children.  Thank you so much for your continued support of this ministry.

 

One of the precious little ones in our room at Campos

 

Rita in prayer with the Mayan women of San Lucas during the weekly Friday bible study.  Please pray for the women of San Lucas so that their hearts will be moved and their lives impacted as we get deeper into the Word of God

Our daughter Leea came to visit us for almost a week. It was tremendous to get to spend time with family. We know it is a sacrifice of time and money to come and we are grateful to God that He gave us this blessing.