Friday, October 17, 2014
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WE ARE OFF FOR OUR 3RD TRIP TO GUATEMALA!
PLEASE PRAY THAT WE HAVE OPEN HEARTS AND MINDS AS WE TEACH OUR FAITH LESSONS AND VISIT ONE ON ONE WITH OUR GUATEMALAN FRIENDS.
THURSDAY NIGHT WE PACKED EVERYTHING IN 13 BAGS AND 8 BOXES. JUST HAVE A LITTLE LEFT TO PUT IN CARRY-ON BAGS.
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE THAT HELPED GATHER ALL OF THE DONATIONS.
WE BOARD OUR VAN AND HEAD FOR CHICAGO OHARE BY 7AM SATURDAY.
THANK YOU TO TRINITY MUSKEGON FOR ALLOWING US TO BARROW THEIR VAN AND TRAILER. WE OWE THEM A DEBT OF GRADITUDE.
WE WILL POST DAILY TO KEEP YOU INFORMED OF OUR PROGRESS.
YOU CAN ALSO CHECK OUT GROUNDWORK GUATEMALA ON FACEBOOK. GINNY AND KEVIN POST PICTURES THEY TAKE OF US THERE.
THANKS YOU AGAIN FOR ALL YOU LOVE AND SUPPORT!
RANDY AND THE REST OF THE TEAM
PLEASE PRAY THAT WE HAVE OPEN HEARTS AND MINDS AS WE TEACH OUR FAITH LESSONS AND VISIT ONE ON ONE WITH OUR GUATEMALAN FRIENDS.
THURSDAY NIGHT WE PACKED EVERYTHING IN 13 BAGS AND 8 BOXES. JUST HAVE A LITTLE LEFT TO PUT IN CARRY-ON BAGS.
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE THAT HELPED GATHER ALL OF THE DONATIONS.
WE BOARD OUR VAN AND HEAD FOR CHICAGO OHARE BY 7AM SATURDAY.
THANK YOU TO TRINITY MUSKEGON FOR ALLOWING US TO BARROW THEIR VAN AND TRAILER. WE OWE THEM A DEBT OF GRADITUDE.
WE WILL POST DAILY TO KEEP YOU INFORMED OF OUR PROGRESS.
YOU CAN ALSO CHECK OUT GROUNDWORK GUATEMALA ON FACEBOOK. GINNY AND KEVIN POST PICTURES THEY TAKE OF US THERE.
THANKS YOU AGAIN FOR ALL YOU LOVE AND SUPPORT!
RANDY AND THE REST OF THE TEAM
Monday, January 14, 2013
The Journey Begins - Again!
GROUNDWORK GUATEMALA MISSION TEAM MEETING.
A big thank you to all who have signed up and have shown interest in serving the people of Guatemala. I can promise you it will be a life changing experience.
IT IS TIME TO GET OUR JOURNEY STARTED!
I know that October 2014 seems like a long way off but it will be here before we know it.
We would like to have our first organizational meeting on February 10th after church around 12:00 pm. Please set this time aside and join us.
We will, show a short power point, hand out some preliminary paperwork, answer any questions that you may have regarding the trip, and costs as best as we can. We will also begin to organize our team.
If anyone has not signed up because you are unsure please come to the meeting and we can answer your questions and hopefully help you to make an informed decision.
A big thank you to all who have signed up and have shown interest in serving the people of Guatemala. I can promise you it will be a life changing experience.
IT IS TIME TO GET OUR JOURNEY STARTED!
I know that October 2014 seems like a long way off but it will be here before we know it.
We would like to have our first organizational meeting on February 10th after church around 12:00 pm. Please set this time aside and join us.
We will, show a short power point, hand out some preliminary paperwork, answer any questions that you may have regarding the trip, and costs as best as we can. We will also begin to organize our team.
If anyone has not signed up because you are unsure please come to the meeting and we can answer your questions and hopefully help you to make an informed decision.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Until Next Time
Well here we are, 2 weeks after returning home from Guatemala and I still find it hard to concentrate on life here without constantly thinking about all we left behind. The love of Jesus that we shared with others and the love that was shown to us. All the dedicated Guatemalan missionaries and Kevin and Ginny that are so on fire for God and share God's love with their people. Not to mention the children who are so starved for adult and fatherly attention and love.
With that said, we have the great pleasure of reliving our trip to Guatemala this Sunday Feb.19 at church during the adult bible class. We will be presenting our pictures and telling all about our trip. Please make a special effort to come and see what God is doing in Guatemala.
I often think about why I have been so drawn to these people and have a burning desire in my heart to continue to go back. So many times you see or hear about the depressing way that people around the world must live and do not give it a second thought, or maybe give a few dollars to what you consider is a worthy cause in hope that it will clear your conscience and excuse you from really getting involved. I know I am guilty. After all we have so many responsibilities here. I sat down the other day and tried to put into words what I felt, not an easy thing for me to do.
here is what I came up with.
WHAT IS IT THAT CONTINUES TO PULL ME BACK TO GUATEMALA?
IS IT THE CONSTANT 75 DEG. SUNNY WEATHER?
IS IT THE SCENERY WITH BEAUTIFUL VOLCANOES ALL AROUND YOU?
IS IT THE TOURIST TOWNS WITH ALL THE TIENDAS OF GUATEMALAN MERCHANDISE?
IS IT THE FRESH DELICIOUS FRUIT?
IS IT NOT BEING ABLE TO EAT MEAT AND BE VERY CAUTIOUS ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE THAT YOU EAT?
IS IT THE INABILITY TO SPEAK OR UNDERSTAND THE SPANISH LANGUAGE?
IS IT THE HORRIBLE TRAFFIC MAKING 6 LANES OUT OF A 3 LANE ROAD?
IS IT THE AIR POLUTION FROM DIESEL BUSES THAT BELCH BLACK SMOKE SO THICK THAT YOU CAN WIPE THE RESIDUE OFF THE CEILING OF YOUR CAR?
IS IT ALL THE NOISY CARS, MOTORCYCLES, TRUCKS AND BUSES?
IS IT THE LITTERED GROUND EVERYWHERE YOU GO?
IS IT THE POLLUTED STREAMS, RIVERS, AND LAKES?
IS IT THE POLLUTED WATER THAT YOU CAN ONLY BATH IN BUT NOT DRINK FOR FEAR OF GASTRO-INTESTINAL PROBLEMS?
IS IT THE 4 STEP DISHWASHING PROCESS? WASH, RINSE, SANITIZE AND LET DRY.
IS IT THE CRUMBLING SEWER SYSTEM THAT IS SO POOR YOU CAN NOT FLUSH TOILET PAPER?
IS IT THE THREAT OF EARTHQUAKES AND VOLCANOES ERUPTING?
IS IT THE MAINGE AND FLEA RIDEN DOGS AND OTHER ANIMALS THAT ROAM THE STREETS TO FIND A SCRAP OF FOOD ANY WHERE THEY CAN?
IS IT THE GUATEMALAN DUMP THAT IS FILLING IN A BEAUTIFUL RAVINE BETWEEN TWO MOUNTAINS?
IS IT THE M-16 TOTING SECURITY GUARDS EVERYWHERE THAT YOU CAN NOT TRUST?
IS IT THE POLICE OR GOVERNMENT THAT YOU ALSO CAN NOT TRUST?
OR IS IT THE HIGH RATE OF CRIME, EXTORTION, AND MURDER?
NO, I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT NONE OF THESE REASONS ARE ENOUGH TO MAKE ME FALL IN LOVE WITH THIS 3RD WORLD COUNTRY, CALLED GUATEMALA.
I THINK THE REASON THAT I CONTINUE TO BE DRAWN BACK IS THAT GOD HAS BUT A FIRE IN MY HEART FOR THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THIS COUNTRY AND STRUGGLE EVERYDAY.
MANY SURVIVE FROM DAY TO DAY SQUATING ON LAND THAT DOES NOT BELONG TO THEM; WITH NO ELECTRICITY, NO FRESH RUNNING WATER, AND NO SANITARY CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND.
YET THEY ARE THE HAPPIEST PEOPLE THAT YOU COULD EVER MEET.
IF THEY KNOW THE LORD THEY ARE ON FIRE FOR HIM AND COMPLETELY TRUST GOD FOR EVERYTHING THEY NEED AND SHOW IT IN THE WAY THEY WORSHIP, THE WAY THEY PRAY AND THE WAY THEY LOVE EVERYONE UNCONDITIONALLY. THEY ARE HAPPY TO SEE YOU AND INVITE YOU INTO THEIR HUMBLE HOMES. THEY WILL GIVE TO YOU OUT OF WHAT THEY HAVE, WHICH IS NEVER VERY MUCH.
YES GOD KEEPS CALLING ME TO GO TO GUATEMALA. I KNOW THAT I CAN NOT RELIEF THEIR SUFFERING. I HOPE THAT I CAN DO JUST A LITTLE SOMETHING TO BRING GOD’S LOVE AND HIS WORD TO THEM. HE IS SHOWING ME SO MUCH MORE THAN I WILL EVER BE ABLE TO DO FOR THEM.
WE PRAY FOR THEM AND TALK TO THEM OF GOD'S LOVE. WE SEE GOD’S HAND AT WORK HERE. AND YES, THEY ARE ALWAYS GLAD TO SEE YOU AND THANKFUL THAT WE CAME AND HOPE THAT WE WILL COME AND VISIT AGAIN.
GOD WILLING I WILL.
Thanks for following our blog. There is a lot of words written here that come straight from the heart.
Stay tune !!! Some of us have a desire to go again and are talking about 2014! God willing we all will be able to go and continue this journey.
With that said, we have the great pleasure of reliving our trip to Guatemala this Sunday Feb.19 at church during the adult bible class. We will be presenting our pictures and telling all about our trip. Please make a special effort to come and see what God is doing in Guatemala.
I often think about why I have been so drawn to these people and have a burning desire in my heart to continue to go back. So many times you see or hear about the depressing way that people around the world must live and do not give it a second thought, or maybe give a few dollars to what you consider is a worthy cause in hope that it will clear your conscience and excuse you from really getting involved. I know I am guilty. After all we have so many responsibilities here. I sat down the other day and tried to put into words what I felt, not an easy thing for me to do.
here is what I came up with.
WHAT IS IT THAT CONTINUES TO PULL ME BACK TO GUATEMALA?
IS IT THE CONSTANT 75 DEG. SUNNY WEATHER?
IS IT THE SCENERY WITH BEAUTIFUL VOLCANOES ALL AROUND YOU?
IS IT THE TOURIST TOWNS WITH ALL THE TIENDAS OF GUATEMALAN MERCHANDISE?
IS IT THE FRESH DELICIOUS FRUIT?
IS IT NOT BEING ABLE TO EAT MEAT AND BE VERY CAUTIOUS ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE THAT YOU EAT?
IS IT THE INABILITY TO SPEAK OR UNDERSTAND THE SPANISH LANGUAGE?
IS IT THE HORRIBLE TRAFFIC MAKING 6 LANES OUT OF A 3 LANE ROAD?
IS IT THE AIR POLUTION FROM DIESEL BUSES THAT BELCH BLACK SMOKE SO THICK THAT YOU CAN WIPE THE RESIDUE OFF THE CEILING OF YOUR CAR?
IS IT ALL THE NOISY CARS, MOTORCYCLES, TRUCKS AND BUSES?
IS IT THE LITTERED GROUND EVERYWHERE YOU GO?
IS IT THE POLLUTED STREAMS, RIVERS, AND LAKES?
IS IT THE POLLUTED WATER THAT YOU CAN ONLY BATH IN BUT NOT DRINK FOR FEAR OF GASTRO-INTESTINAL PROBLEMS?
IS IT THE 4 STEP DISHWASHING PROCESS? WASH, RINSE, SANITIZE AND LET DRY.
IS IT THE CRUMBLING SEWER SYSTEM THAT IS SO POOR YOU CAN NOT FLUSH TOILET PAPER?
IS IT THE THREAT OF EARTHQUAKES AND VOLCANOES ERUPTING?
IS IT THE MAINGE AND FLEA RIDEN DOGS AND OTHER ANIMALS THAT ROAM THE STREETS TO FIND A SCRAP OF FOOD ANY WHERE THEY CAN?
IS IT THE GUATEMALAN DUMP THAT IS FILLING IN A BEAUTIFUL RAVINE BETWEEN TWO MOUNTAINS?
IS IT THE M-16 TOTING SECURITY GUARDS EVERYWHERE THAT YOU CAN NOT TRUST?
IS IT THE POLICE OR GOVERNMENT THAT YOU ALSO CAN NOT TRUST?
OR IS IT THE HIGH RATE OF CRIME, EXTORTION, AND MURDER?
NO, I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT NONE OF THESE REASONS ARE ENOUGH TO MAKE ME FALL IN LOVE WITH THIS 3RD WORLD COUNTRY, CALLED GUATEMALA.
I THINK THE REASON THAT I CONTINUE TO BE DRAWN BACK IS THAT GOD HAS BUT A FIRE IN MY HEART FOR THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THIS COUNTRY AND STRUGGLE EVERYDAY.
MANY SURVIVE FROM DAY TO DAY SQUATING ON LAND THAT DOES NOT BELONG TO THEM; WITH NO ELECTRICITY, NO FRESH RUNNING WATER, AND NO SANITARY CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND.
YET THEY ARE THE HAPPIEST PEOPLE THAT YOU COULD EVER MEET.
IF THEY KNOW THE LORD THEY ARE ON FIRE FOR HIM AND COMPLETELY TRUST GOD FOR EVERYTHING THEY NEED AND SHOW IT IN THE WAY THEY WORSHIP, THE WAY THEY PRAY AND THE WAY THEY LOVE EVERYONE UNCONDITIONALLY. THEY ARE HAPPY TO SEE YOU AND INVITE YOU INTO THEIR HUMBLE HOMES. THEY WILL GIVE TO YOU OUT OF WHAT THEY HAVE, WHICH IS NEVER VERY MUCH.
YES GOD KEEPS CALLING ME TO GO TO GUATEMALA. I KNOW THAT I CAN NOT RELIEF THEIR SUFFERING. I HOPE THAT I CAN DO JUST A LITTLE SOMETHING TO BRING GOD’S LOVE AND HIS WORD TO THEM. HE IS SHOWING ME SO MUCH MORE THAN I WILL EVER BE ABLE TO DO FOR THEM.
WE PRAY FOR THEM AND TALK TO THEM OF GOD'S LOVE. WE SEE GOD’S HAND AT WORK HERE. AND YES, THEY ARE ALWAYS GLAD TO SEE YOU AND THANKFUL THAT WE CAME AND HOPE THAT WE WILL COME AND VISIT AGAIN.
GOD WILLING I WILL.
Thanks for following our blog. There is a lot of words written here that come straight from the heart.
Stay tune !!! Some of us have a desire to go again and are talking about 2014! God willing we all will be able to go and continue this journey.
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Good Bye Guatemala
Many of the team members shared at our last evening devotions tonight what they will be taking from their Guatemalan Experience. For me it is much more than an experience. It is living the way God has intended. Waking to bible study, prayers, visits with people sharing our love for the Lord, sharing the love of God with the children with bible story, puppet shows, crafts, and coloring pages, dinner prayers and Godly discusion around the table, evening devotions and reflection of the day in our journals, evening prayers and to bed so we can get up and do it all over again the next day. Every bit of work done was done to the Lord! We are disconnected from TV, radio, cell phones, computers (except when blogging), work (at least most of us), and other distractions that pull us away from God and our task in life of making more and better disciples.
Now we head for home where loved ones wait. We miss you all and thank you for all your prayers and support. We will see you soon.
Larry said to say hi to all (he never blogged). Many are in bed preparing for an early rise the rest of us will follow soon. Good night! God Bless!
Now we head for home where loved ones wait. We miss you all and thank you for all your prayers and support. We will see you soon.
Larry said to say hi to all (he never blogged). Many are in bed preparing for an early rise the rest of us will follow soon. Good night! God Bless!
Friday, January 27, 2012
Last day with the Guatemalans
We had our last VBS with the kids today at the Mission House. We had maybe around 30+ kids here. A breath of fresh air after the 300+ kids we had on Thursday. But it was also our final day with the Guatemalans. It's always an emotional day for the team… or for those of us who show our emotions, right Pastor? The team enjoyed having lunch again with the Guatemalans, and shortly after we started our VBS. When the VBS was over we only had a few hours left with our Guatemalans. So everyone is getting their picture taken with everyone and gifts are being exchanged with those who sponsored Guatemalans. Then the hard part comes when we have to say goodbye. Getting hugs from most of them before they headed out. Its amazing how close we get to each other here only being with them for such a short time. It is so hard to say goodbye because we do not want to leave. The week here has gone by so fast. It's been so nice being away from the busy, hectic life back home. Things are much simpler in Guatemala and that is a breath of fresh air… not that the air is clean here, because it‘s not.
We do long to be home with our families and being able to eat meat again! We will not miss having to go fishing anymore, or sleeping with snorer.
-Ashley
P.S. Rick- mom says she Loves You and will see you and Daisy soon!
And Jess- We Miss You and Love You!
Thursday, January 26, 2012
More Greetings From Guatemala
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| Joyce & Oscar (one of the Guatemalan missionaries) |
On a more spiritual note…God has been working here among the team and the Guatemalans’. Growing in faith while sharing ours, growing in hope as we believe and see all that is possible, and growing in love for God, His work, and all people. Ten very different people came to this city and country to witness to the Guatemalan’s. Ten will return changed by the grace of God in way too difficult to explain. We have seen Jesus, we have seen hope among destitute people, joy among those who have next to nothing and are content, love willing to give from what little they have all because they hold tight to the Lord and his love and forgiveness. It is this mission team that has been changed. It is through this place and God’s ability to work in the hearts of those he has chosen to serve. We have been given a great privilege, one we hope will last for a lifetime. God’s work will continue here when we leave. My prayer is that it will also continue in each person touched by the love of God and the Guatemalans.
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