VBS Started - Day 3

Imagine a trip through Guatamala City looking for a “dollar store” to purchase 300 gifts for the kids in El Zapitillo, and God provided a store that just opened for the first time on Sunday to meet all our needs. Gifts were purchased for Vilma and her six children. We can’t wait to bless this family. Tomorrow we begin building their new home.

We started the VBS today in the new community center that was built a year ago by a previous team. We were thrilled to see the children coming through the doors with such anticipation of what is to come. I don’t know who was blessed by this day more, the children or the team. We had 27 children come and are expecting double tomorrow! The focus is to bring God closer to these children and to help expand their English vocabulary through various songs and games. The excitement that filled the center today was truly a gift from God, a great encouragement to what is to come throughout the week. When the children were picked up by their families they continued to sing in the street, My God is so Strong, My God is so Mighty! Of course with the actions included!!!

"mommy, i love you"

gifts for the children of El Zapotillo

Learning "My God is so Big!" in English

Dave got right into the t-shirt painting - sort of....

Jorge leading a lesson on the belt of truth.

The sediment removed from the river after the Hurricane and Volcano - check out the river banks.

Having fun with a parachute!

Guatemala Ministry Team Nov 2010 - Day 1 and 2

Nov 19

Volunteers arrive in Guatemala (Day 1)

5 Canadian volunteers arrived in Guatemala yesterday. The journey for many of them included 36 hours with only short naps between the bouts of turbulence in the plane and involved a 12 hour bus ride, long boarder waits and so on.... but the important part is that all 5 of use did connect at the Detroit airport (most meeting each other for the first time)and we continued on from there. Needless to say our first evening in Guatemala was pretty low key, but that's not so say we haven't already been greatly impacted by Rudy, Sully and everyone here. We had opportunity to be introduced to all the ladies supported at the San Christobal family home and to hear some of the stories of there journeys and the impacts and opportunities that CH's ministry in Guatemala is having. We also saw some of the economic develop that is happening as a couple of men worked into the evening on leather products that is a key component of generating income/ employment, developing skills and building hope and enjoy some local fair that is being sold from a food stand here at the home, again, part of the skill development, income and hope generating that happens on a daily basis. Rudy and Sully (Guatemala Directors) took us through a brief history of the ministry in Guatemala as well as some histroy of the community center in Lake Amatitlan, where we will be doing some childrens english ministry all week, it is also the community where we will be involved in building a home for a very desperate family. Today we continue to unpack the 500 pounds of supplies we brought with us and we organize the activities of the week ahead. Stay tuned!

Day 2

Nov 20

Day two started at 7:00am with a delicious pancake breakfast and freshly squeezed orange juice made by Raul. We then delivered care packages to the girls that live here at the San Christobal home. The group took a half hour drive into the town of Antigua where we enjoyed the afternoon shopping at the markets, purchasing items for silent auctions back home.

This afternoon we began organizing all the supplies, separating them into crafts, games, prizes, presents, etc. Backpacks were made for Vilma’s six children who we begin building a home for on Monday. We are overwhelmed by the amount of donations given by people back home…ten suitcases full! Looking forward to starting VBS tomorrow afternoon.

El Zappatillo Update

Just a quick update -

Last weekend Rudy and Sully and their CH team took a group of doctors into the village to provide much needed care to the people there.






And....

Some update picutres from the Training Center in Lake Amatitlan, complete with new equipment (ie Chairs and Tables) Thank-you Everyone who sacrafices and gives so these things can happen

Bus Drivers and Walls !

WHY?

Let’s say you live in Toronto – How safe would you feel? Or what would it say about your community if 170 bus drivers this year alone were killed by gun men because they would not pay extortion money to gangs that took up 80 to over 100 percent of their already meager income.

Read the news article linked here from the Associated Press.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gJTXlZj7ONXrxKaNhC57Jr8lp7OgD9CNIVMG0

it’s an eye opener!

Why mention this?

It’s simple….. one life at a time, one story at a time we are touching lives by instilling value and worth through Education, Employment, Business opportunities, and of course the over all message of Love and Purpose through the Gospel! That’s why we support a Center in Lake Amatitlan, to give opportunity and allow people to reach their potential. If not, belonging and worth will not doubt be found in gangs and violence.

Please continue to pray for our brothers and sisters serving in Guatemala.

Below you will find a picture of some work happening (this week) on the walls around the home we support in Guatemala City (San Christobal), reinforcing walls and enhancing security. Something we spend little of our time thinking about.

A video summary!

The Entire Week Summarized in 2 minutes and 45 seconds.... Enjoy!

Reflections from Robert

After returning home from one of the most rewarding experiences of my life I
want to thank everyone who made it possible for me to have just a small part
in what took place over the past week in Guatemala. It truly will be a
memorable part of my life for ever. I want personally thank ED Nancy and Amy
Sider,Rudy and Sully Rojas and their team in Guatemala and Amber and of
course Dave for making it all happen for me. What I experienced has not only
been life changing for me but it was and answer to prayer. I will continue
to pray that hearts and souls of children will continue to be change as well
as families and communities. AS God continues to share his Love a broad as
he works through people around the world for his name sake. To God be the
Glory for the things He has done.

Serving Him Together

Robert Spencer

Homeward bound

it was with great sadness that we left Guatemala yesterday! the week was amazing with for so many reasons.... we witnessed great things happening to empower people, hundreds were encouraged and inspired with hope, some very deep needs were met, some great relationships built and we all left with an anticipation of what tomorrow holds.

I'd like to thank everyone who partnered up with us to help this trip to happen, if you gave supplies, gave funding, sacrificed your time, encouraged us or prayed (and so much more...) Thank-you so much, I'm sure I will never be able to clearly describe what your sacrifice has resulted in.

Our travels home went, well????? they were interesting. Fog in Huston made immigration very long to get through, we finally did about 20 minutes before our flight. in that time we had to get our bags, recheck them, go back through security and make it to a different terminal (of course the last gate was the one we had to get too) Needless to say after, running, walking, hitching a ride on a golf cart and being creative to get through the medical issues line at security, we didn't make it in time. I arrived at the gate first to be told we could not get on the flight, only to have Robert arrive 3 minutes later on a golf cart and be able to get us on, of course by that time, I was running to the customer service desk, so I had to run back.... BUT... after all that we were on the plane ready to go... And...the Luggage made it. Landed in Detroit at 11, and by 330am had dropped Robert off in London and I was in Woodstock...


Not sure how much blogging will be happening in the next little while, but keep your eyes open for some ministry opportunities with our Brother and Sisters in Guatemala in 2010!



A video of the travels to New Rio Frio

4 Days Later!

4 days later and we are back in san cristobal. Our journeys this past 4 days took us to two villages. El Zappotillo and new rio frio (cold river).

We put on 4 days of bible club for the kids of the village. I did not count each one but there was certainly more than 100. In these the kids worked on crafts. Learned songs. Played games and had a lot of fun. Many of the kids hearing that they are Gods creation and about his love for them for the very first time.

We traveled to a new village called rio frio one day. This village is even more remote than El Zap and Very difficult to get to. Only 4 by 4's and even at that we weren’t sure we were going to make it. Once there we hosted a service that included robert singing. A Spanish movie about a criminal life transformed. And lots of songs and worship. The interesting part is that the people of El Zap sent missionaries with us to continue to build relationships and to reach out to them. On community member has offered a small plot of land to construct a pole barn that they would like to use as a church. Much has yet to be done to build the relationships and trust so this may be a reality some day. The hope is that we might be able to help the people of rio frio see the skills and talents and resources they have. And that they can put them to use for the betterment of there lives. Their families and there community. Perhaps some day more things will develop like sponsorship etc... But that will only be possible through relationship and trust.

Our journey back to el zap was just as terrifying as going there but in the pitch black of the deep jungle night. But we made it without incident.

Back in el zap the next day it was another bible club and a Christmas celebration service at night. Again robert blessed everyone in song and testimony. We had the Christmas story. A video of el zapotillo memories as well as fire works and food. The people of the el zap church worked all day and prepared a sandwich and hot chocolate for well over 250 people. Amazing considering how little they have!

On friday morning it was pack up and say goodbye.

The part of the trip that no one told we until it was too late was that I was to drive from Guatemala city to a town near el zap. 300 kms that takes about 7 hours. And you are sharing the road with some of the wildest truck drivers the world knows. While I was nervous at first. I just trust that God would take care of us and he did. All went well there and back.


A future project / need - to build bathrooms for the school!


Robert at the Christmas celebration in El Zap! not the two translators, from English to Spanish to Kechi!

Sports shirts from Ottawa to the soccer team in the El Zapotillo school... they loved them.

A meeting with all the sponsorship families of the community! what a blessing to hear from the families what it mean to them to have partners in canada and the usa.

packing up to head back from Rio Frio


Robert Singing at the service in Rio Frio


Victoriano - at his corn mill, a micro finance project that is paid off and is employing him and his family members and providing a great service to the community.


our accomodations for the 4 days, open air, even come complete with a Bat coming in to visit us!

leading the kids in song!

Monday - Wow!

Today was a day of prep for the days ahead. Two trucks packed with supplies went ahead to El Zapotillo and 4 of us follow tomorrow. The supplies were all the things needed for vacation bible school type meetings, large church services in both El Zap and Rio Frio villages, all the food etc... that is needed.

We also visited Antigua today, picked up supplies and products that are associated with Nationwares ( Click Here) I will let Nationwares tell its own story, but suffice to say it is mind blowing the impact that a good fair economy / trade and employment has on people. Empowering like you would not believe. Tonight a group of us just sat around and discussed all the things that were going on, how it all works and the potential to reach so many more lives. It was truly a awesome moment.

We also treated all the girls that live in the home here to Pizza tonight (we called it a Christmas celebration) it was great fun!

Over the next 4 days we will not have access to internet, so not much updating will be happening.

Thank-you EVERYONE for your support and prayers!

Dave






Robert in Antigua, with the Agua volcano in the background. hundreds of years ago when Antigua was the capital of Guatemala, the volcano crater was filled with water (due to years of rain) when the volcano erupted, the resulting mudslide wiped out the entire city. it was rebuilt and repopulated, but not without many scars,



In Antigua - again


one of the trucks packed and ready to go to El Zapotillo, only about 300 kms away, but the journey will take 6-7 hours. this is not cruise down the 401 hiway in Ontario.



Sully and Sponsorship Coordinator Gaby, going through and organizing all the things we brought down to Guatemala from those that sponsor children here in this country - THANK-YOU! it is a great encouragement to not only the children sponsored but also those in the country that make it happen, like our coordinators!

Grand Opening!

it was indescribable having the words spoken over the official register in dictating that the "Center in now officially Open" - I wept...

This was a powerful day! I guess the most powerful part was knowing that many things have happened over years and years that brought us to this moment... it is unthinkable how God can orchestrate just the right people, doing the right things to bring about amazing progress in his kingdom... Ed shared at the opening that God could have easily just breathed this place into existence but in stead he choose to use us! Amazing! I was also reminded today as to why this place is so important... Lake Amatitlan is not a place that many of us would choose as a home... unemployment is unbelievably high, crime, in all forms is outrageous and the things that young people are doing because Hope Love and Peace is not being spoken into their lives is tragic! In this place today, I saw children hearing how they, no matter what their exceptional need, are a prescious creation and that God has a plan, desire and passion for them, ALL!

We also were blessed by Robert bringing his message of hope in song! Powerful stuff, and there is a awe in the air as to what God is doing.

After the celebrations we were treated to some great food, and went off to the Lake Amatitlan Gondola, a steep ride up the face of one of the mountains beside Lake Amatitlan. the lake is under attack by polution and they are trying very hard to fight it off, but despite its struggles, it was an amazing site.

then some Pollo Campero Chicken on the way home and now it is unloading, reloading and chilling for the days ahead, we go to El Zappotillo on Tuesday morning so will not be blogging for that time, No electricity will do that some times...

Blessing to you all

Dave and everyone here in Guatemala

some pictures to enjoy


Robert Blessing everyone in song


Yohana



Everyone!
Telling Robert the Story
Ribbon Cutting




The Center!



Ed signing the offical documents

Ed - Some inspiring comments and challenges

Robert "this day alone was worth the trip"

Thank EVERYONE for blessing others with all the things you sent along!