We were able to spend an afternoon with the volunteers and children at the Casa Guatemala orphanage. We decided the best approach to ministry here was haircutting and styling. This way we would be providing a service, while getting to hang out with the children and talk to the volunteers. They were happy to hear that I did hair, and quickly set up so that I could begin working. We were able to work with one group of children during their free time- mostly k-3rd graders. A few quickly volunteered to have their hair cut, mostly boys! Kyle played soccer with the children and began to form relationships, and we were both able to befriend many of the young adult volunteers, from all over the world! We had some great conversations and were able to share a lot about our lives and our ministry. More importantly, we were able to hear the life stories of a few of the volunteers. There is one girl from Germany that we ask you to specifically pray for. She shared with us...”It is difficult to find peace in this place.” She is new to the Casa, away from home, a little unsettled and obviously searching. We began to share with her about the peace and joy that we have in Christ. She definitely agreed, and was raised as a Christian, but said that during her teenage years she rebelled. Unfortunately our conversation was cut short by the children’s schedule so we arranged to spend more time with her on Wednesday night when we come back to the Casa. Please be praying for our next opportunity to talk to her! We are really looking forward to finishing our conversation and offering her a little light in what appears to be a very dark and lonely place.
The children loved having their hair cut and braided and many girls wanted to use the rubber bands and beads to work on each other’s hair. We had to be very careful because anything that was set down would be picked up by a kid and we might not ever see it again! They were so curious and excited to have us around. Due to the children’s schedule we weren’t able to see all of the kids that we hoped so we arranged for us to come back on Wednesday to teach the older girls (about 17) how to cut hair. When I shared this idea with the director she seemed very glad that it would possibly equip them for a job in the future. It is obviously a huge concern because many children graduate in October from the Casa (ages 16-18) and have no where to go or no way of making money. Pray for the preparation for this ministry on Wednesday afternoon! We have heard that the girls are very hard to get through to and have fairly strong attitudes. Hopefully this will be something to break the ice and show that we really care about them- enough to serve them and teach them a trade and equip them with hair cutting kits of their own! Praise the Lord for what we were able to bring to the Casa... we can’t wait to return on Wednesday.
Right now we are at the Buchanan’s dormitory, house sitting and baby sitting their children while they took some time to go into Guatemala city. How awesome it is to serve other missionaries! We are enjoying every second in Guatemala and are falling more and more in love with this place and the people every day!
*Feel free to post comments on this website! For some reason www.kyleandlorin.com isn't allowing comments to be posted :( We miss hearing from you!
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Many Different Ministries...
The last two days have been awesome! We have been blessed with some really cool opportunities to serve. On Thursday Kyle and I packed bags and left the boat for the day. We decided to go and sit in a park in Fronteras with all of our “stuff”- a few puppets, balloons and beads. Before we knew it we were surrounded with children of all ages who were so excited to make a bracelet or get a balloon animal. They would watch Kyle intently as he made “perros” (dogs)- of course this is the only thing we know how to make out of balloons! The children were so grateful and quick to agree when we told them that Jesus loved them. They promised to remember, and in order to do so, made bracelets and necklaces with cross charms on them. A few even said that they were “Cristianos.” We were especially moved by a young girl who came up to us pushing a stroller. The girl was 8 and she had obviously been put in charge of caring for her 1 year old sister- their mother was at work, we learned. She acted like it was no big deal to care for a baby all day outside in the middle of the city! There was also a mother who brought her two daughters and just watched Kyle and I for about 45 minutes. Later she told us that she was a Christian and she thanked us for our service with a free lunch. (Many women in Guatemala cook food in the morning and then carry their tortillas and toppings around in a plastic bucket to sell during the day.) She was excited to serve us her onion tortillas with red sauce and salad, and she wouldn’t take any money from us... what a sweet blessing! Not only were we able to minister to the children in the park, but we were able to talk to many adults who were curious about our presence. It was so neat to walk through the town (after we had run completely out of supplies) and to spot children with their balloons, bubbles and jewelry knowing that we were able to share God’s love with them. Please pray for all of our new friends and their families... that our small ministry will make a large impact!
Later we walked to the Backpacker’s hotel where many travelers from all over the world come to rest their weary feet. We ate lunch at their restaurant that is run by the Casa Guatemala. The proceeds benefit the orphanage and the wait staff and cooks are all adolescents and volunteers from the Casa. This effort gives them work experience with the tourism industry. We took a “taxi boat” to the Casa and met many of the children and volunteers. We walked around in the rain and toured the entire facility. The Casa is completely self sufficient, with a farm and many livestock. We were guided through the dismal classrooms and living quarters and bombarded by curious children. On one occasion we came across a volunteer from the States who was sitting in the middle of a pile of rambunctious boys who were obviously starving for the attention. All of the volunteers obviously have incredible hearts for the children but it is obvious that they are overworked and rarely get a break! We hope to be able to encourage them during our time spent at the orphanage and will be praying about how to do so. The Casa schools about 250 kids each day and houses and feeds approximately 90 each night. We watched as children played inside and outside even in the rain and mud! They all wanted to know our names and if we were volunteers that would be with them for a few months. We had to say, “No, just for today” and they would look a little disappointed. We were rushed out of the Casa before our tour ended because we were about to miss the boat back down the river. However, we were glad that we were able to get a better feel for the orphanage in order to assess what parts of our ministry would be most effective here. Pray for wisdom in our planning. We will be returning soon.
After the Casa we got coffee at the backpackers hotel and ended up talking to six different people all about our age who had ended up there for many different reasons. Many were seeking adventure or volunteering at the Casa. Some were traveling as a break from school or backpacking around the country. It was so great to have the opportunity to get to know these people and to share our story with them. Pray for the backpackers as many seemed interested, curious and challenged by our testimony.
Today we were able to work with the Buchanan’s and the mission team from Maine at a medical clinic. Bryan picked us up on shore and we drove to a nearby village where children and adults were awaiting our arrival. Kids came out of their classrooms of the school building and cheered as we pulled up. School was going to be cancelled for the day due to the clinic! (The children were very excited :) We set up, Bryan assigned jobs, we prayed and then got started serving the village. My job was crowd control. I would line people up with their families and give them each a number. Then as the doctor saw them they would move through the progression of tables and receive the vitamins and medicine that the doctor had prescribed them. At the tables Kyle, the Goodrums and the team from Maine were handing out vitamins, giving doses of worm medicine, applying topical ointment and filling prescriptions for other meds. It was so much fun to meet the people and to entertain them while they were waiting. They were all so friendly and appreciative and excited to receive treatment. In this particular village there had been an outbreak of chicken pox, so many children lined up with sores from head to toe. A few of the children were scared because they thought that they were going to have to get a shot. Riechelle and I quickly calmed their fears. It was so much fun to practice Spanish today, especially with the children in line.
After the clinic we put on an informal puppet show and sang songs in English and in Spanish- I have Joy Down in My Heart, Jesus Loves Me, and He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands. Adults and children were mesmerized by the puppets and had a great time dancing and singing with us. We were able to tell them that we had come because Jesus loves them tremendously. To thank us for everything the village children sang three songs in their native tongue. It was such a blessing to be able to serve and love on these people, leaving them with better health and better spirit. Enjoy the pictures of the clinic on Photo page 2 on www.kyleandlorin.com!
Later we walked to the Backpacker’s hotel where many travelers from all over the world come to rest their weary feet. We ate lunch at their restaurant that is run by the Casa Guatemala. The proceeds benefit the orphanage and the wait staff and cooks are all adolescents and volunteers from the Casa. This effort gives them work experience with the tourism industry. We took a “taxi boat” to the Casa and met many of the children and volunteers. We walked around in the rain and toured the entire facility. The Casa is completely self sufficient, with a farm and many livestock. We were guided through the dismal classrooms and living quarters and bombarded by curious children. On one occasion we came across a volunteer from the States who was sitting in the middle of a pile of rambunctious boys who were obviously starving for the attention. All of the volunteers obviously have incredible hearts for the children but it is obvious that they are overworked and rarely get a break! We hope to be able to encourage them during our time spent at the orphanage and will be praying about how to do so. The Casa schools about 250 kids each day and houses and feeds approximately 90 each night. We watched as children played inside and outside even in the rain and mud! They all wanted to know our names and if we were volunteers that would be with them for a few months. We had to say, “No, just for today” and they would look a little disappointed. We were rushed out of the Casa before our tour ended because we were about to miss the boat back down the river. However, we were glad that we were able to get a better feel for the orphanage in order to assess what parts of our ministry would be most effective here. Pray for wisdom in our planning. We will be returning soon.
After the Casa we got coffee at the backpackers hotel and ended up talking to six different people all about our age who had ended up there for many different reasons. Many were seeking adventure or volunteering at the Casa. Some were traveling as a break from school or backpacking around the country. It was so great to have the opportunity to get to know these people and to share our story with them. Pray for the backpackers as many seemed interested, curious and challenged by our testimony.
Today we were able to work with the Buchanan’s and the mission team from Maine at a medical clinic. Bryan picked us up on shore and we drove to a nearby village where children and adults were awaiting our arrival. Kids came out of their classrooms of the school building and cheered as we pulled up. School was going to be cancelled for the day due to the clinic! (The children were very excited :) We set up, Bryan assigned jobs, we prayed and then got started serving the village. My job was crowd control. I would line people up with their families and give them each a number. Then as the doctor saw them they would move through the progression of tables and receive the vitamins and medicine that the doctor had prescribed them. At the tables Kyle, the Goodrums and the team from Maine were handing out vitamins, giving doses of worm medicine, applying topical ointment and filling prescriptions for other meds. It was so much fun to meet the people and to entertain them while they were waiting. They were all so friendly and appreciative and excited to receive treatment. In this particular village there had been an outbreak of chicken pox, so many children lined up with sores from head to toe. A few of the children were scared because they thought that they were going to have to get a shot. Riechelle and I quickly calmed their fears. It was so much fun to practice Spanish today, especially with the children in line.
After the clinic we put on an informal puppet show and sang songs in English and in Spanish- I have Joy Down in My Heart, Jesus Loves Me, and He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands. Adults and children were mesmerized by the puppets and had a great time dancing and singing with us. We were able to tell them that we had come because Jesus loves them tremendously. To thank us for everything the village children sang three songs in their native tongue. It was such a blessing to be able to serve and love on these people, leaving them with better health and better spirit. Enjoy the pictures of the clinic on Photo page 2 on www.kyleandlorin.com!
Rio Dulce and Fronteras
The trip down the river was amazing. We sat on deck and enjoyed pointing out small villages and thatched roof homes along the way. We passed many natives- young and old- paddling down the river and fishing in their canoes. We could hear all types of wildlife in the jungle- including screaming monkeys and wild birds. We made it down the river in a day and a half and found a spot to anchor outside of a town called Fronteras. We made contact with Bryan and Riechelle, the Jungle Medic Missionaries and arranged to meet up with them . On Sunday we went to their home/dormitory (above) and had a great time of fellowship. Brian and Riechelle are an amazing couple. (as you would know if you have visited their website- www.junglemedicmissions.org). Their ministry focuses around the medical needs of the Guatemalan people. The hospital that normally serves the Guatemalans is difficult to get to, often unhelpful and overcrowded. (We heard a story about women in labor being doubled up in beds due to lack of room.) The Guatemalan people, are basically helpless without this Missionary effort. The Buchanans have opened a clinic where they offer treatment and medicines free of charge. There are about 40 villages that they regularly serve. They see everything from rashes to sore throats, baby deliveries to potentially fatal machete wounds. The stories they shared with us are amazing! While we were at there home we watched as Guatemalans would show up for walk-up treatment. Kyle made balloon animals for the waiting patients. The Buchanan’s are on call 24-7, and are willing to drop anything in order to help people in need. We were introduced to their new facility that is only a year and a half old, and still in progress. Having practiced in their home for four years- often on the kitchen table says Riechelle- they have been blessed with the funds to build a dormitory complete with an apartment for them to live and a small clinic. We were able to spend great time with Bryan and Riechelle and their three adopted Guatemalan children, who were abandoned when their mother died about a year ago. We had so much fun getting to know their children. We were able to encourage them in their ministry and to unload some precious cargo that we had carried just for them. If you remember back in Key West, Pastor Bill the street preacher gave us six large boxes of IV fluid to take with us. Brian was incredibly appreciative and told us that we had no idea how much it would help him out! Also, the motor that the Cubans gave us off their refugee boat has been transferred into the hands of one of Brian’s Guatemalan friends. Pedro, is a Christian and was in need of a motor for his canoe. Apparently he has had a very tough time fishing for his family without a motor, and this has caused him great difficulty. We were able to bless him with this gift... from a Cuban refugee boat! How awesome is that... two cases of necessary cargo transported by Faith, that we didn’t even start out with!
Brian and Riechelle house missionary teams in the dormitory while they visit Guatemala and do everything from construction work to medical and dental clinics. Right now they are hosting a team from Maine who is here doing construction on nearby churches in the area. We were able to meet these guys and have dinner with them and encourage them in their work. They helped us unload the IV’s from the boat. Since then Debbie and I have helped to cook a meal for the team and serve these other missionaries! It is truly a privilege to serve those who serve! We have been inspired by the Buchanans and their ministry and are looking forward to working with them over the next two weeks. They have invited us to stay and work with them later next week. We plan on helping out with a medical clinic and taking balloons, beads, games etc to minister to the natives at the end of the clinic. We will also help Brian and Riechelle get ready for the next missionary team that is coming and have made our selves readily available to any needs that they might have. (There is even talk of a possible haircut and highlight in store for Riechelle :) It’s been awesome to serve others in this way and we are looking forward to many more opportunities in the next two weeks.
One last addition... This morning we planned on meeting Bryan and the team from Maine at a place called Denny’s Beach for a medical clinic. We motored to shore but couldn’t find anyone. Unfortunately the lake ended up being too rough for the team to make it across the water so they are having to reschedule. We were a little disappointed, but then ended up being able to share a smile, friendly conversation and a tract with a worker at the Denny’s Beach Restaurant. He was very appreciative and took to reading the tract right away. Who knows... if there we had been in the middle of a clinic we might not have had the chance to talk to him! All for His glory :) Keep us and our plans for the next few days in your prayers. We will be seeking out opportunities to minister in the native schools and villages!
Brian and Riechelle house missionary teams in the dormitory while they visit Guatemala and do everything from construction work to medical and dental clinics. Right now they are hosting a team from Maine who is here doing construction on nearby churches in the area. We were able to meet these guys and have dinner with them and encourage them in their work. They helped us unload the IV’s from the boat. Since then Debbie and I have helped to cook a meal for the team and serve these other missionaries! It is truly a privilege to serve those who serve! We have been inspired by the Buchanans and their ministry and are looking forward to working with them over the next two weeks. They have invited us to stay and work with them later next week. We plan on helping out with a medical clinic and taking balloons, beads, games etc to minister to the natives at the end of the clinic. We will also help Brian and Riechelle get ready for the next missionary team that is coming and have made our selves readily available to any needs that they might have. (There is even talk of a possible haircut and highlight in store for Riechelle :) It’s been awesome to serve others in this way and we are looking forward to many more opportunities in the next two weeks.
One last addition... This morning we planned on meeting Bryan and the team from Maine at a place called Denny’s Beach for a medical clinic. We motored to shore but couldn’t find anyone. Unfortunately the lake ended up being too rough for the team to make it across the water so they are having to reschedule. We were a little disappointed, but then ended up being able to share a smile, friendly conversation and a tract with a worker at the Denny’s Beach Restaurant. He was very appreciative and took to reading the tract right away. Who knows... if there we had been in the middle of a clinic we might not have had the chance to talk to him! All for His glory :) Keep us and our plans for the next few days in your prayers. We will be seeking out opportunities to minister in the native schools and villages!
Two More Days in Livingston
We spent Thursday and Friday in Livingston as David prepared the boat for the journey down the Rio Dulce. We enjoyed two full days of meeting people who enlightened us about the town and it’s culture. We were able to spend more time with Olga, the girl that prayed to receive Christ at the hotel, and to give her resources to take home to her family. We took Spanish Gospel’s of John and tracts on our journey and handed them out to each person that we were able to hold a conversation with. Most people were very appreciative and took to reading right away. It amazed us to encounter people who hadn’t even heard of Jesus, which heightened our urgency and the necessity of our visit. We used every opportunity possible to at least hand out a tract, but made sure not to force anything on anyone. As we were doing some shopping we were pleased to meet a lady named Anna Maria who owns her own craft shop. She identified herself as a Christian and told us about her church and how she sings in the choir. We told her about the people that we were able to witness to and she promised us to find them and take them to her Evangelical Church in Livingston. This connection is so important! We were able to leave a little surer that our new friends would find a community of faith in which they can grow.
On Thursday we were also able to experience a different side of Livingston, the Garifuna community. As we were eating Lunch a seemingly bitter Garifuna named Polo yelled at us “You gringos? Alright.... das cool.” We started laughing and he asked us where we were from. We told him North Carolina- United States. He came and sat with us at our table and first haggled with the waitress as he didn’t want to put his shirt on. We convinced him to give in, but could sense that he harbored an intense bitterness toward the Latin community (as they owned the restaurant where we were eating). We talked with him and learned that years earlier an American took him to the US to go to college in Chicago. Upon his return to Guatemala, he began to have a concern for the education of the Garifuna children. He said that the Garifunas have been run out of town and largely forgotten about. We showed an interest in his culture and asked him to teach us more, all the while remaining skeptical of his glassy eyes and somewhat slurred speech. (He obviously lives a very tired life). Our friend took us on a tour of the Garifuna’s housing area and trashed beaches. We walked through small impoverished homes and met many sad faces along the way. Polo shared with us his desire for educating children, wanting to know if we had any books to donate to his library. He said that he always asks tourists if they have books- any kind- because he is desperate for educational tools. His small organization schools 160 children and provides people with one meal a day- all that they can provide on meager donations. (Check out the picture of the building on the photos page). He was very interested in us donating money to his organization, but we felt better about assessing the need and taking his address. (We plan on sending him books and supplies, rather than handing over a check.) When we asked what he most needed he let out a big sigh and said... books, like biology and science, internet, new technology. He seemed overwhelmed with the desire for so many new things. Sadly, our conversation came to an abrupt ending when we began to share our hearts with him and our reason for being here. He quickly got up and rolled his eyes at the mention of the name Jesus... walked away and yelled back at us “I’ve heard it all my life.... but people are starving. Don’t send me anything.”
How incredibly heartbreaking... this man has suffered so much in his life, and is blind to the truth of the gospel because he hasn’t seen it in action. We are called to feed the poor and provide help for people all over the world. There are so many physical needs that need to be met, so that people can see their need for the spiritual. Pray for Polo and his organization. We hope to gather books and materials upon our return to the US and send them to him. He probably thinks that he will never hear from us again. Let us know if you have anything (as lightweight as possible for mailing purposes) that we could send him... English and Spanish.
We returned to the boat and loaded up more food and water before beginning our journey down the Rio Dulce river. We are on our way to see Brian and Riechelle Buchanan, the Jungle Medic Missionaries. We feel confident that we were able to leave an impact in Livingston... but please pray for the people that we came in contact with- especially Polo. The Lord has much more in store and we are so excited about continuing our journey.
On Thursday we were also able to experience a different side of Livingston, the Garifuna community. As we were eating Lunch a seemingly bitter Garifuna named Polo yelled at us “You gringos? Alright.... das cool.” We started laughing and he asked us where we were from. We told him North Carolina- United States. He came and sat with us at our table and first haggled with the waitress as he didn’t want to put his shirt on. We convinced him to give in, but could sense that he harbored an intense bitterness toward the Latin community (as they owned the restaurant where we were eating). We talked with him and learned that years earlier an American took him to the US to go to college in Chicago. Upon his return to Guatemala, he began to have a concern for the education of the Garifuna children. He said that the Garifunas have been run out of town and largely forgotten about. We showed an interest in his culture and asked him to teach us more, all the while remaining skeptical of his glassy eyes and somewhat slurred speech. (He obviously lives a very tired life). Our friend took us on a tour of the Garifuna’s housing area and trashed beaches. We walked through small impoverished homes and met many sad faces along the way. Polo shared with us his desire for educating children, wanting to know if we had any books to donate to his library. He said that he always asks tourists if they have books- any kind- because he is desperate for educational tools. His small organization schools 160 children and provides people with one meal a day- all that they can provide on meager donations. (Check out the picture of the building on the photos page). He was very interested in us donating money to his organization, but we felt better about assessing the need and taking his address. (We plan on sending him books and supplies, rather than handing over a check.) When we asked what he most needed he let out a big sigh and said... books, like biology and science, internet, new technology. He seemed overwhelmed with the desire for so many new things. Sadly, our conversation came to an abrupt ending when we began to share our hearts with him and our reason for being here. He quickly got up and rolled his eyes at the mention of the name Jesus... walked away and yelled back at us “I’ve heard it all my life.... but people are starving. Don’t send me anything.”
How incredibly heartbreaking... this man has suffered so much in his life, and is blind to the truth of the gospel because he hasn’t seen it in action. We are called to feed the poor and provide help for people all over the world. There are so many physical needs that need to be met, so that people can see their need for the spiritual. Pray for Polo and his organization. We hope to gather books and materials upon our return to the US and send them to him. He probably thinks that he will never hear from us again. Let us know if you have anything (as lightweight as possible for mailing purposes) that we could send him... English and Spanish.
We returned to the boat and loaded up more food and water before beginning our journey down the Rio Dulce river. We are on our way to see Brian and Riechelle Buchanan, the Jungle Medic Missionaries. We feel confident that we were able to leave an impact in Livingston... but please pray for the people that we came in contact with- especially Polo. The Lord has much more in store and we are so excited about continuing our journey.
We made it!
First of all, let us say thank you for not giving up on us. We have been without communication for a lot longer than expected and it pains us to not have access to the internet to post updates. Your prayers, in the meantime were felt like never before. Again, thank you for sticking with us!
The past nineteen days have stretched us more than we could have ever imagined. From Key West to Livingston we expected a five or six day sail... and since Key West we have been on the water for 2 1/2 weeks. We sailed from the Keys to the Dry Tortugas, then down along the coast of Cuba, across the Yucatan Channel, down the Mexican Coast into Belize waters and then to Guatemala. I wish we could tell you that it was an enjoyable easy ride- what sailing is supposed to be like- right? Well, imagine good moderate sailing weather and you are imagining what we experienced only one day out of nineteen. Along the way there were many days without wind- an almost inexplicable weather phenomenon, as the trade winds have served Mariners for centuries this time of year. David was absolutely stumped by the conditions, and it was obvious that the enemy was trying everything possible to stop us. There were many days when we sat in glassy water without a single wave in sight and experienced little to no wind. There were also times when our boat was actually drifting backward due to the current- back toward Key West- and we could do absolutely nothing except wait for the wind. The progress we did make was often quickly defeated by an unexpected current or deadening of the wind. We had to take three hour shifts during the night, as you can not stop sailing, so were often disoriented and sleep deprived! We were doing everything we could to keep our spirits up, although it seemed like we would never arrive. The heat was miserable, it was rarely enjoyable to be out in the sun at all. We had to work very hard to conserve water and were only able to take two real showers, with fresh water, the whole time. Thankfully we were blessed with one rain shower and eventually resorted to taking one salt water bath (not really a shower at all) after not having bathed in five days! Through it all we have learned valuable lessons about sacrifice, patience, endurance and above all what it means to completely surrender all to the Lord....
A week into the trip Kyle and I sat on the deck of the boat more frustrated than we have ever been in our lives. We starred at a glassy sea, having made it 25 miles (out of approximately 600 total) not understanding why things were going the way they were. Our spirits had taken a serious blow a few minutes earlier when the forecast predicted no change in the weather or pick up of wind for four more days. We were floating in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico, without any control over our situation. We were absolutely helpless in regards to the weather, and could do nothing in ourselves. It was then that Kyle and I realized the situation we had been blessed with.... yes, blessed! This is the first time in our lives that we were completely helpless and could do NOTHING in our own power. We were completely dependent upon the Lord to bring us through. So many times we say we trust God and truthfully do, but is it ever without us having some control in a situation? We are so quick to rely on ourselves and to hold on to some control because we feel the need to ensure certainty. However, in our circumstance we had no choice but to throw up our hands and say, “Okay God, we are all yours... we can do nothing. It’s in your hands completely and we are helpless without you.” We have since realized that it is with this desperation that we should pray every day! We were able to trust him with our situation... not only lack of wind but with contacting loved ones. Without wind it was uncertain as to when we would be able to contact our families, and the last thing we wanted was for them to worry. We were risking possibly not being able to talk to them for more than a week after their expectation. We didn’t want to put them in that situation because we love them so much. But we decided to trust that the Lord would provide some sort of communication along the way. We didn’t know how or where or when, but did know that casting our cares on Him would ensure the best outcome. So after tears and desperate prayers we decided to press on... and what do you know, we were both sustained with a peace that definitely surpassed all understanding :) The next morning the wind picked up... despite the forecast. And two days later we radioed a cruise ship in hopes that they would have mercy on us and let us use their internet capabilities. David relayed an email over the radio to the ship’s captain to send our parents!!! So within days our prayers were answered...our families received word that we were alright, and the wind became much more favorable.
We went through a few more dry spells as far as the wind... mostly in the mornings... but just continued to trust that the Lord’s timing is perfect. We soon realized why...
On the afternoon of Sunday, September 10th we were relaxing in our cabin when we heard David yell... “We’ve got Cubans!!!” We ran on deck and saw three refugees waving a flag and screaming out for our help. Their boat was incredibly dirty and tattered from many days at sea and the precious people inside were obviously desperate for a chance at life. We cautiously helped them on board and soon realized that we could trust them completely. We welcomed them with open arms and gave them water and food, a shower and new clothes. Their names were Michael, Vania and Yamile, and they quickly became our new “amigos.” They shared their story with us in Spanish and broken English. Kyle and I were able to communicate with them very effectively. (Praise the Lord for using our few years of Spanish education!) They had spent most all of their money to buy their boat from someone off the street in Cuba- equipped with a faulty motor and compass. They left everything but a book bag full of clothes... Vania (24) even left his wife and children to risk freedom. Michael (29) and Yamile (21) were married... and willing to risk their lives for a new start. They had been at sea for 10 days, and had not eaten for 7 so their stomachs had shrunk. As a result they couldn’t eat anything besides a few crackers without throwing up. Yamile was suffering from a combination of seasickness, malnourishment and dehydration so we gave her some stomach settling medicine and helped to nurse her back to normal. They were incredibly receptive to our explanation of God and how he has a plan for their lives! They said that this was the first time they believed in God because He rescued them, but that now He would be the most important thing in their lives. We shared the gospel with them and gave them bibles. I wrote a letter from us complete with important verses and a prayer of salvation inside the front cover. They promised to keep the bibles forever. We enjoyed their company late into the night and ended up laughing, singing, and dancing with them... what precious video we have to share when we return! Everyone eventually crashed for about 2 hours in the early morning. It took us ten hours to motor to the coast of Mexico where we planned on dropping them off. Just before daybreak the morning of the 11th, we pulled in close to a luxurious hotel in Cancun where they could easily row to shore and taste freedom on the beach. We cried and hugged and prayed with them before they left “Faith” and ensured them that if they prayed to God He would hear them, direct their path and take care of them. Please be in prayer for our new friends and know that you, our supporters, had a part in helping to save three precious lives from the deep! What a privilege it was to be used in their lived in such a way... to have enabled them to find life and freedom physically AND spiritually! Amen and Amen and Amen!!!!
The rest of the trip since the Cuban rescue was still tough, but our souls were satisfied for a lifetime! We were able to endure the rest of the journey with a little more patience and understanding that the Lord’s timing was, is and will always be perfect.
The last two nights before arriving in Livingston, it was so obvious that enemy was doing everything he could to keep us from Guatemala. First of all, the national weather forcast that we listen to and rely on twice daily completely skipped the broadcast for our area of the sea. So we were sailing blindly, on faith and unsure of any weather patterns we might encounter. As a result we got caught in two unpredictable and unruly storms... both at night, heavy with rain and strong wind and waves. We can’t express to you how scary these situations can be. To be caught in the middle of the seas, in the dark, the boat rocking so violently that you have to hold on, waves crashing against the sides, wind howling so hard that you can barely hear directions being yelled by the Captain. We truly were able to experience how the disciples felt before Jesus calmed the storm. We prayed like never before and saw results quickly when begging for mercy, although it was still very hard to be put in such a stressful and uncertain situation. We were confident that the Lord would carry us through and protect us with his angels, and He did! It definitely wasn’t easy to endure the storms, and we hope to never go through another one... but we have learned so much, and learned what it means to truly trust and pray.
We arrived in Livingston exhausted after the second storm kept us awake all night long- unable to anchor- having to navigate based on longitude and latitude because we couldn’t see anything. We cleared customs and enjoyed a tired first day in the beautiful town. David even fell asleep at the restaurant where we ate lunch. Yesterday we were able to get our dollars exchanged for Quetzales, the Guatemalan currency (7.45 Q= $1) so coffee for instance is 6Q, about $0.80. We bought calling cards that we can use at certain pay phones around the city, and were able to call our families. We stayed in a local Guatemalan hotel last night for about $20 and were blessed with internet capability here. Even experiencing a touristy town in Guatemala has opened our eyes to how blessed we are in America. Life is so simple here as the people have very little, our hotel room was a quaint tiny room complete with a bed with a sheet and pillows, a fan, a lamp and a small bathroom. The cold water shower (a spigot in the ceiling) actually felt wonderful after experiencing intense heat all day. We went to dinner last night and sat out on the street watching the town come to life. During different parts of our meal, the third chair at our table became occupied with townspeople that we enjoyed getting to know... a precious barefoot two year old ventured across the street away from her mother and just came, sat and starred at us for awhile while we talked to her. Later a 12 year old boy from New York that was visiting his Grandmother spotted us Americans and came to share our English! Lastly an petite, elderly lady selling fresh bread she had made hobbled over to us, set her basket on the table and enjoyed our company. We bought bread from her (for the the second time since we had arrived) for 5Q ($0. 70). We have already fallen in love with the people of this town and enjoyed the unexpected company at our meal!
This morning we ordered cafe con leche from the small cafe in our hotel. Kyle worked on the computer while I had an opportunity to get to know one of the hotel workers. This beautiful girl, late in her teens works day in and day out to keep the hotel running. She performs all duties... manning the cafe, doing laundry by hand, cleaning the bathrooms, taking care of the desk and works every day. Olga, during our conversation, noticed my ring. (I left my diamond at home for safekeeping. However, I have replaced it with an icthus ring from Dede, my awesome mother in law). I told Olga that the icthus is a symbol for Jesus Christ and asked her if she knew of him. She said no. I was then able to share with her the Gospel and why it is so important to me. She was incredibly engaged and receptive and the Holy Spirit helped me communicate clearly in Spanish the whole time! I asked her if she understood everything and showed her a prayer of salvation that I had written out in Spanish. She said that she wanted to pray and so she repeated the prayer after me and received the Lord in her heart. It seemed as if she had no problem understanding everything that I had to say and when we finished the prayer she had tears in her eyes. I am amazed that everything was so clearly communicated. Please pray that she reaches a fuller understanding of this new life and really takes to heart everything that I shared with her! It’s amazing what happens when you make yourself available, even in my weakness considering the language barrier, the message was clearly communicated! We have to go back to the boat to get her a bible in Spanish. She is looking forward to having one. I gave her my ring as a reminder of her decision and she graciously accepted it with a big smile on her face and told me that there is nothing like it to buy anywhere in Guatemala. She wears it proudly on her pinky.
So here we are... overwhelmed by God’s goodness, about to venture out into the city to see what else God has in store. Keep us in your prayers and thank you SO much for your support.
The past nineteen days have stretched us more than we could have ever imagined. From Key West to Livingston we expected a five or six day sail... and since Key West we have been on the water for 2 1/2 weeks. We sailed from the Keys to the Dry Tortugas, then down along the coast of Cuba, across the Yucatan Channel, down the Mexican Coast into Belize waters and then to Guatemala. I wish we could tell you that it was an enjoyable easy ride- what sailing is supposed to be like- right? Well, imagine good moderate sailing weather and you are imagining what we experienced only one day out of nineteen. Along the way there were many days without wind- an almost inexplicable weather phenomenon, as the trade winds have served Mariners for centuries this time of year. David was absolutely stumped by the conditions, and it was obvious that the enemy was trying everything possible to stop us. There were many days when we sat in glassy water without a single wave in sight and experienced little to no wind. There were also times when our boat was actually drifting backward due to the current- back toward Key West- and we could do absolutely nothing except wait for the wind. The progress we did make was often quickly defeated by an unexpected current or deadening of the wind. We had to take three hour shifts during the night, as you can not stop sailing, so were often disoriented and sleep deprived! We were doing everything we could to keep our spirits up, although it seemed like we would never arrive. The heat was miserable, it was rarely enjoyable to be out in the sun at all. We had to work very hard to conserve water and were only able to take two real showers, with fresh water, the whole time. Thankfully we were blessed with one rain shower and eventually resorted to taking one salt water bath (not really a shower at all) after not having bathed in five days! Through it all we have learned valuable lessons about sacrifice, patience, endurance and above all what it means to completely surrender all to the Lord....
A week into the trip Kyle and I sat on the deck of the boat more frustrated than we have ever been in our lives. We starred at a glassy sea, having made it 25 miles (out of approximately 600 total) not understanding why things were going the way they were. Our spirits had taken a serious blow a few minutes earlier when the forecast predicted no change in the weather or pick up of wind for four more days. We were floating in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico, without any control over our situation. We were absolutely helpless in regards to the weather, and could do nothing in ourselves. It was then that Kyle and I realized the situation we had been blessed with.... yes, blessed! This is the first time in our lives that we were completely helpless and could do NOTHING in our own power. We were completely dependent upon the Lord to bring us through. So many times we say we trust God and truthfully do, but is it ever without us having some control in a situation? We are so quick to rely on ourselves and to hold on to some control because we feel the need to ensure certainty. However, in our circumstance we had no choice but to throw up our hands and say, “Okay God, we are all yours... we can do nothing. It’s in your hands completely and we are helpless without you.” We have since realized that it is with this desperation that we should pray every day! We were able to trust him with our situation... not only lack of wind but with contacting loved ones. Without wind it was uncertain as to when we would be able to contact our families, and the last thing we wanted was for them to worry. We were risking possibly not being able to talk to them for more than a week after their expectation. We didn’t want to put them in that situation because we love them so much. But we decided to trust that the Lord would provide some sort of communication along the way. We didn’t know how or where or when, but did know that casting our cares on Him would ensure the best outcome. So after tears and desperate prayers we decided to press on... and what do you know, we were both sustained with a peace that definitely surpassed all understanding :) The next morning the wind picked up... despite the forecast. And two days later we radioed a cruise ship in hopes that they would have mercy on us and let us use their internet capabilities. David relayed an email over the radio to the ship’s captain to send our parents!!! So within days our prayers were answered...our families received word that we were alright, and the wind became much more favorable.
We went through a few more dry spells as far as the wind... mostly in the mornings... but just continued to trust that the Lord’s timing is perfect. We soon realized why...
On the afternoon of Sunday, September 10th we were relaxing in our cabin when we heard David yell... “We’ve got Cubans!!!” We ran on deck and saw three refugees waving a flag and screaming out for our help. Their boat was incredibly dirty and tattered from many days at sea and the precious people inside were obviously desperate for a chance at life. We cautiously helped them on board and soon realized that we could trust them completely. We welcomed them with open arms and gave them water and food, a shower and new clothes. Their names were Michael, Vania and Yamile, and they quickly became our new “amigos.” They shared their story with us in Spanish and broken English. Kyle and I were able to communicate with them very effectively. (Praise the Lord for using our few years of Spanish education!) They had spent most all of their money to buy their boat from someone off the street in Cuba- equipped with a faulty motor and compass. They left everything but a book bag full of clothes... Vania (24) even left his wife and children to risk freedom. Michael (29) and Yamile (21) were married... and willing to risk their lives for a new start. They had been at sea for 10 days, and had not eaten for 7 so their stomachs had shrunk. As a result they couldn’t eat anything besides a few crackers without throwing up. Yamile was suffering from a combination of seasickness, malnourishment and dehydration so we gave her some stomach settling medicine and helped to nurse her back to normal. They were incredibly receptive to our explanation of God and how he has a plan for their lives! They said that this was the first time they believed in God because He rescued them, but that now He would be the most important thing in their lives. We shared the gospel with them and gave them bibles. I wrote a letter from us complete with important verses and a prayer of salvation inside the front cover. They promised to keep the bibles forever. We enjoyed their company late into the night and ended up laughing, singing, and dancing with them... what precious video we have to share when we return! Everyone eventually crashed for about 2 hours in the early morning. It took us ten hours to motor to the coast of Mexico where we planned on dropping them off. Just before daybreak the morning of the 11th, we pulled in close to a luxurious hotel in Cancun where they could easily row to shore and taste freedom on the beach. We cried and hugged and prayed with them before they left “Faith” and ensured them that if they prayed to God He would hear them, direct their path and take care of them. Please be in prayer for our new friends and know that you, our supporters, had a part in helping to save three precious lives from the deep! What a privilege it was to be used in their lived in such a way... to have enabled them to find life and freedom physically AND spiritually! Amen and Amen and Amen!!!!
The rest of the trip since the Cuban rescue was still tough, but our souls were satisfied for a lifetime! We were able to endure the rest of the journey with a little more patience and understanding that the Lord’s timing was, is and will always be perfect.
The last two nights before arriving in Livingston, it was so obvious that enemy was doing everything he could to keep us from Guatemala. First of all, the national weather forcast that we listen to and rely on twice daily completely skipped the broadcast for our area of the sea. So we were sailing blindly, on faith and unsure of any weather patterns we might encounter. As a result we got caught in two unpredictable and unruly storms... both at night, heavy with rain and strong wind and waves. We can’t express to you how scary these situations can be. To be caught in the middle of the seas, in the dark, the boat rocking so violently that you have to hold on, waves crashing against the sides, wind howling so hard that you can barely hear directions being yelled by the Captain. We truly were able to experience how the disciples felt before Jesus calmed the storm. We prayed like never before and saw results quickly when begging for mercy, although it was still very hard to be put in such a stressful and uncertain situation. We were confident that the Lord would carry us through and protect us with his angels, and He did! It definitely wasn’t easy to endure the storms, and we hope to never go through another one... but we have learned so much, and learned what it means to truly trust and pray.
We arrived in Livingston exhausted after the second storm kept us awake all night long- unable to anchor- having to navigate based on longitude and latitude because we couldn’t see anything. We cleared customs and enjoyed a tired first day in the beautiful town. David even fell asleep at the restaurant where we ate lunch. Yesterday we were able to get our dollars exchanged for Quetzales, the Guatemalan currency (7.45 Q= $1) so coffee for instance is 6Q, about $0.80. We bought calling cards that we can use at certain pay phones around the city, and were able to call our families. We stayed in a local Guatemalan hotel last night for about $20 and were blessed with internet capability here. Even experiencing a touristy town in Guatemala has opened our eyes to how blessed we are in America. Life is so simple here as the people have very little, our hotel room was a quaint tiny room complete with a bed with a sheet and pillows, a fan, a lamp and a small bathroom. The cold water shower (a spigot in the ceiling) actually felt wonderful after experiencing intense heat all day. We went to dinner last night and sat out on the street watching the town come to life. During different parts of our meal, the third chair at our table became occupied with townspeople that we enjoyed getting to know... a precious barefoot two year old ventured across the street away from her mother and just came, sat and starred at us for awhile while we talked to her. Later a 12 year old boy from New York that was visiting his Grandmother spotted us Americans and came to share our English! Lastly an petite, elderly lady selling fresh bread she had made hobbled over to us, set her basket on the table and enjoyed our company. We bought bread from her (for the the second time since we had arrived) for 5Q ($0. 70). We have already fallen in love with the people of this town and enjoyed the unexpected company at our meal!
This morning we ordered cafe con leche from the small cafe in our hotel. Kyle worked on the computer while I had an opportunity to get to know one of the hotel workers. This beautiful girl, late in her teens works day in and day out to keep the hotel running. She performs all duties... manning the cafe, doing laundry by hand, cleaning the bathrooms, taking care of the desk and works every day. Olga, during our conversation, noticed my ring. (I left my diamond at home for safekeeping. However, I have replaced it with an icthus ring from Dede, my awesome mother in law). I told Olga that the icthus is a symbol for Jesus Christ and asked her if she knew of him. She said no. I was then able to share with her the Gospel and why it is so important to me. She was incredibly engaged and receptive and the Holy Spirit helped me communicate clearly in Spanish the whole time! I asked her if she understood everything and showed her a prayer of salvation that I had written out in Spanish. She said that she wanted to pray and so she repeated the prayer after me and received the Lord in her heart. It seemed as if she had no problem understanding everything that I had to say and when we finished the prayer she had tears in her eyes. I am amazed that everything was so clearly communicated. Please pray that she reaches a fuller understanding of this new life and really takes to heart everything that I shared with her! It’s amazing what happens when you make yourself available, even in my weakness considering the language barrier, the message was clearly communicated! We have to go back to the boat to get her a bible in Spanish. She is looking forward to having one. I gave her my ring as a reminder of her decision and she graciously accepted it with a big smile on her face and told me that there is nothing like it to buy anywhere in Guatemala. She wears it proudly on her pinky.
So here we are... overwhelmed by God’s goodness, about to venture out into the city to see what else God has in store. Keep us in your prayers and thank you SO much for your support.
We Survived the Storm
The shutters were up, we were fully stocked with non-perishable food, water and ready for a possible power outage. Our eyes had been glued to the weather channel for a few days now as we were awaiting the impending hurricane. Well... hurricane Ernesto turned into tropical storm Ernesto, then tropical storm Ernesto turned into a windy day with a little rain. Seriously, it was nothing....Thank you God! He truly answered our prayers! We prayed confidently knowing that the Lord has the power to calm the wind and the waves, and He sure answered.
So now, we are on our way to the boat to load up and head out! We will be in Dry Tortugas for a day and then sailing out in the open sea for a few more. Please be praying for us, that the weather would favor our journey and that the Lord would keep us safe.
For all of you frequent blog checkers.... looks like we will be leaving you high and dry for a few days. To satisfy your craving you can check out these three sites:
www.casa-guatemala.org (The orphanage we will work at)
www.junglemedicmissions.org (A husband wife team we will be working with and taking supplies to)
www.wmotw.org (A missionary that we will be supplying and working with)
Love you all! Keep praying :)
So now, we are on our way to the boat to load up and head out! We will be in Dry Tortugas for a day and then sailing out in the open sea for a few more. Please be praying for us, that the weather would favor our journey and that the Lord would keep us safe.
For all of you frequent blog checkers.... looks like we will be leaving you high and dry for a few days. To satisfy your craving you can check out these three sites:
www.casa-guatemala.org (The orphanage we will work at)
www.junglemedicmissions.org (A husband wife team we will be working with and taking supplies to)
www.wmotw.org (A missionary that we will be supplying and working with)
Love you all! Keep praying :)
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Mallory Square Ministry
As we walked down to Mallory Square to take part in the Sunset Festival ministry, we noticed hurricane shutters being put up and businesses closing. The streets were fairly unpopulated- a strange occurrence here in Key West. The weather was beautiful with no signs of a hurricane or tropical storm, even though the weather channel shows Ernesto steadily approaching. We walked out on to the pier wondering if Pastor Bill would even be there because the hurricane had influenced tourists to leave and the locals to stay inside. Sure enough, we easily spotted the faithful pastor and his crew for the night. They were seated on his platform reading scripture together in preparation for whatever God planned to do! We joined their circle and finished 2nd and 3rd John with the group. The Pastor shared with us that he had not ever seen the pier so empty- in twenty years! (There were probably 30 people, including vendors, when there are usually hundreds.) However, this would not stop him from sharing his presentation, for their were still eyes to see and ears to hear what he had to share. We helped him set up his easel and prayed together, then he began to preach. By the time he started there were already 5 other people (besides Kyle, Debbie and I) listening intently to his presentation. He has a very clever way of drawing attention to his easel- filling in boxes to reveal key words in his presentation. He compared “two ships” and how the charts for direction in our lives can be equated with the Bible, taking us safely and assuredly to the harbor: Heaven. One of my favorite part of his presentation included the discussion and explanation of Jesus. Before he filled in the boxes to reveal the word, he said to the crowd, “I am about to write a word up here that is probably one of the most controversial words you have ever heard.” He writes. “Jesus- how do I know that this is so controversial? Well, try this out. Go and ask 20 people on the streets who the Lord Jesus Christ is and see what happens, then you come back and tell me how controversial that name is!” He went on the describe how many of us probably didn’t have a right perception of who Jesus really was. He described the difference between Jesus and Mohammed, Buddha and others. The Pastor continued, “None of these people lived a perfect life. Jesus did. None of the others predicted who would kill him, how and when he would die. Jesus did. And not only that, he claimed that he would rise from the dead in three days- and guess what folks, He did! The Bible, a reliable historical document, reports that Jesus appeared on at least ten different occasions to groups of people- at one time over 500 people! If you have two people testifying to someone’s appearance or existence in court today you have a pretty good case. With 500 witnesses, who can deny His resurrection!” He went on the describe how you can ensure eternal life by trusting in our Savior and repenting for your sins. At the end of his presentation he invited people to come up and take a tract explaining the message again and in full. Three different people came up and took the gift. We know that lives were touched and the message fell upon ears that were listening intently! Praise the Lord! Please pray for the five or six people that were listening to the presentation last night, that they would in full, come to know that Lord and the words that they heard last night would resonate in their minds and hearts.
We again were so blessed with this presentation and the clear, creative way that Pastor Bill communicates. It is obvious that he is there not to condemn, not to scream, yell at or push anything on anyone. He is simply there to lovingly share with those willing to listen. Lets keep him in our prayers- knowing that Keys Evangelistic Ministry is out at Mallory Square every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights at sunset (7pm). Let this encourage us to boldly share and reach out to our community! We have a simple message and simple directions: to share. In Pastor Bill’s newsletter he discusses the mission of the Mallory Square Ministry: “To ensure that everyone- visitors, frequent vacationers, and local Key’s residents have all has the opportunity to hear and receive the message of Jesus Christ.” What sticks out to me is “to ensure!!!!” What are we doing to ensure that those around us have had the opportunity to hear the message? We should be sharing at every opportunity! How incredible would it be to have the same goal for Winston-Salem, North Carolina. “To ensure that everyone- visitors, vacationers, and local Winston-Salem residents have ALL has the opportunity to hear and receive the message of Jesus Christ.” We would truly feel like we were doing all that we could do if we were sharing with every opportunity, on street corners, in Hanes Mall, out in open places. How comforting would it be to give a presentation downtown Winston-Salem and be sure that each one of the listeners had heard the uncomplicated message of Jesus Christ? What if this happened four nights a week! I can’t even imagine.
I believe that God had a purpose for us encountering Pastor Bill and his ministry- not only so that we could be encouraged, but so that we could maybe post this entry to encourage you back home!
We have a simple direction...are you challenged?... let’s do something about it!!!
Keep us in your prayers we are minutes away from going through the tropical storm Ernesto, and Captain David is with the boat.
We again were so blessed with this presentation and the clear, creative way that Pastor Bill communicates. It is obvious that he is there not to condemn, not to scream, yell at or push anything on anyone. He is simply there to lovingly share with those willing to listen. Lets keep him in our prayers- knowing that Keys Evangelistic Ministry is out at Mallory Square every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights at sunset (7pm). Let this encourage us to boldly share and reach out to our community! We have a simple message and simple directions: to share. In Pastor Bill’s newsletter he discusses the mission of the Mallory Square Ministry: “To ensure that everyone- visitors, frequent vacationers, and local Key’s residents have all has the opportunity to hear and receive the message of Jesus Christ.” What sticks out to me is “to ensure!!!!” What are we doing to ensure that those around us have had the opportunity to hear the message? We should be sharing at every opportunity! How incredible would it be to have the same goal for Winston-Salem, North Carolina. “To ensure that everyone- visitors, vacationers, and local Winston-Salem residents have ALL has the opportunity to hear and receive the message of Jesus Christ.” We would truly feel like we were doing all that we could do if we were sharing with every opportunity, on street corners, in Hanes Mall, out in open places. How comforting would it be to give a presentation downtown Winston-Salem and be sure that each one of the listeners had heard the uncomplicated message of Jesus Christ? What if this happened four nights a week! I can’t even imagine.
I believe that God had a purpose for us encountering Pastor Bill and his ministry- not only so that we could be encouraged, but so that we could maybe post this entry to encourage you back home!
We have a simple direction...are you challenged?... let’s do something about it!!!
Keep us in your prayers we are minutes away from going through the tropical storm Ernesto, and Captain David is with the boat.
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