Yesterday, Today and into the Future

About 16 years ago I began an adventure and I had no idea where it would lead. A friend, Al Graham, asked me if I would consider going with him and driving a bus to Guatemala. I was not sure you could even get to Guatemala from Chicago. I talked to several people and they all encouraged me to go. I remember my mom saying "You should do it. It would be the trip of a lifetime."  Little did she know, it was not the trip of a lifetime but the trip that launched my current life. What started as a 20 day adventure turned into a passion for a lifetime, to see the Kingdom of God impact a country I have grown to love. Many of you have been following along on this adventure with me since the beginning and a few have even come to join me for a week or even months. What a ride it is.

For the last 4 years, I have been working with Iglesia Galilea in San Lucas Sacatepequez. When I first met the pastor and leaders here 8 years ago, I saw their enthusiasm and their dreams for their country. Over the years I have come to see the depth of their faith and their understanding of the heart God has for Guatemala. They know that God desires to bring healing and freedom to lost people and they pursue Him to see that happen. I have not heard them use finances an excuse ever. If they believe God wants to do something, they press on until He tells them to stop. Their faith that God will come through to accomplish His purposes continually challenges me to believe and act beyond my comfort zone.

For the last few years we have been working on the completion of the school in Zapote and assisting the Church in Zapote in reaching out to the community with construction projects. We also have been working on building the school in Membrillal and helping Pastor Esdras plant a Church there. This year we will see the Church building there begin to be used for services. The roof is currently going on. The Church in Zapote is looking for options because they are currently at capacity every Sunday and often have people standing outside that cannot get in. They need more space.

Along with these projects, there is already discussion  about what is next. I do not have many details about the future projects but I now that Tono and Merari are in the planning stages for what will come next. One of the things that I do know is we will be working on a new Church building for San Lucas. Much like Morris, there is a large number of unChurched people here. We are frequently full beyond capacity so we need more space. Because there is seldom room at the second service, visitors can easily feel that they are not welcome. We are looking to build a much larger sanctuary so we can continue to reach out to San Lucas with the love of Jesus. The property is ready and waiting. One day the decision will be made and construction will begin.

I love working here with these people. I love having my faith challenged as I see them continue to step out beyond what is comfortable into the realm of walking by faith. I love the impact that the Churches and schools are having on the communities that we are working in. I am grateful for all that God has allowed me to be part of. I also love how He continually proves Himself as a loving and faithful Father. God has provided time and again, often through brothers and sisters in other nations that have seen the vision and sent funds to share in our projects.  Thank you.

As I write, I find myself still in need of $4,000 to finish this year. I am $9,000 short of my original goal for the year. That included $5,000 for a car or other transportation here. I still have airfares to pay for and other expenses to meet in order to be here for the last 3 months of the year. I will also have expenses for the month of September while I am in Illinois. I am committed to being here and the work that we are doing. I am also sure that it is God that has brought me here. I am asking that you pray about continued support. I know that God is my provider but I also know that He uses people as His hands and feet. If you believe in the work that we are doing and would like to support, you can send support to

Life Church Morris
PO Box 679
C/O San Lucas Mission
Morris, IL 60450

or you can follow the link for donations on this page.

I do not want anybody to feel pressure to support beyond prayer. I only ask that if God calls you to give, you are obedient to Him. He will provide sufficiently. If you do feel called to give, let me know. I do not get a list from the Church but would like to personally thank you for your support and encouragement.

Everybody has a role to play

Over the last couple of years, I have read many negative articles concerning short term missions. They see these short term trips as ways to satisfy egos and to Americanize the developing world. They have concluded that short term missions is just a continuation of American imperialism. People want to go, give kids candy and become buddies, while doing things and giving gifts to those poor people in.................. There can be an attitude of superiority if we are not careful. It can be easy to want to export our uniquely American way of life to those we see as less fortunate or less able.

I have been pondering how to address this things because there is an element of truth behind much of what they are saying. Often people have many wrong ideas as they begin short term missions. They believe that they are going to go to another country and change the lives of the people there in the course of their 10 day trip. This is poor thinking. It was my way of thinking at one time, until I was challenged by a wise pastor/missionary named Mark Simpson. He pointed out that they Bible calls us to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last. We cannot do that in a matter of days. It takes a constant, sustained effort. Discipling people is time intensive and takes months or even years. This is the call for missions

Short term missions often has the feel of a kid seeing his dad at Christmas time. He has not seen him for many months but at Christmas he comes loaded with gifts. Mom and stepdad have been there providing clothing, shelter and everyday essentials but dad comes along and has a new iPhone 7 and a MacBook Pro that mom and stepdad cannot afford. The kids love him but do not see the sacrifices that their parents have been making for them everyday. They only look for the value of the gifts and not for true relationship with the giver. At the same time, the one giving mistakes expensive gifts for showing love.

In order to bear lasting fruit, short term missions need to be partnered with local ministries that will remain after they leave and that will work with the community to find the needed solutions for that particular community. They will not work independently of local community leaders but in partnership with them. At the same time they will be looking for ways to share the Gospel in the community and to make disciples. This work involves regular contact and not just a few days a year. Local Churches and ministries provide that long after you have returned home. Find a good partner ministry and begin to build a relationship.

The young widow preparing to receive her new house.

You may come to the conclusion of many others from reading the above that there is no need for you to go if you are not there to get to know the people in the community or to provide things to the people there. This would be the wrong conclusion. You are vital to successful ministry. Teams come and they bring energy and resources to the local ministries. You bring freshness and strength to people that are tired from many months or even years of sustained work. You bring a fresh set of eyes to the local workers who may be having a hard time seeing the progress that is happening. You bring resources and enthusiasm. It is because you came that they local ministry is able to continue fulfilling the call that God has given them. If you are not paired with a local ministry, I would like to encourage you as an individual or as a Church body to look for one to partner with. They need you and you need them.

The new home owner and her parents in front of the new house.

I would like to tell you about the last three weeks here and the way that our teams have helped, encouraged and strengthened us. First we had a team from Hinton, Alberta come. This was their fifth trip to us in the last 4 years. This time they only had 2 returning from previous years but their enthusiasm and the legacy that they have was evident on the other members of their team. All together there were just 5 of them but we set high goals because they have proven their desire to work and would want nothing less. On their first day, they went out to Zapote to build a house. The house was built for a 22 year old widow whose husband was killed because the family could not pay a $3,500 ransom when he was kidnapped a month ago. We had a goal of finishing in one day because we also had a lot of work to do in Membrillal. It was an incredibly hot day when we went out, well over 100 and we worked. They tore the house down and had the frame up for the new house by lunch time. By 3 p.m. we were beginning to clean up and go home. They house was complete and prayed over.

The next 4 days involved lots of difficult work. We formed the top of the columns and the top beam for the Church in Membrillal. Because of the gutter system and they roof design, it was a difficult job to form but we got it done over 2 days. On Thursday we mixed and poured it. It was difficult because we had to lift all of the concrete up to the people on scaffold that were pouring. The scaffold deck was 7' up in the air. The team never complained. They just kept working. On their last day they replaced all of the old netting around the soccer court with chain link. They had to tie the top off 14' up in the air. They not only  worked but they were joking around and having fun while doing it, Talk about bringing strength and freshness to tired local workers, they also bring us new joy every time they come.

Grading the ground so it will drain

Next we had a team from Georgia led by a pastor that has not come in 4 years. This was his first trip to us with the Church he is now serving. As a result, most of his 14 member team was new and had little idea what they were getting into. Most of them were still young also, high school and college age. We had planned for them to work a couple of days in Zapote at the school. There was an area of the playground that had drainage issues we needed to address by pouring concrete sloped to a drain and adding drainage beyond the property. This involved lots of digging, moving a rock that weighed 1500 lbs or so and then lots more digging. It was not as hot as with the previous team but the temp still hovered around 100 every day. Every time we dug it seemed like we found a new problem. What was to be a two day job turned into a 5 day job. I never heard one complaint about the long rides or the hot, dirty work. They just kept going. At he end of the week the drain pipes were all reworked. The ground was leveled and there was a new drainage system that separated rain run off from the sewer drains. 40 bags of concrete were poured on top of it all to finish the job.

The concrete and drainage are in.

These two teams not only accomplished a lot of work, they allowed those of us that hosted and worked with them a chance to get a fresh wind. We could see through their eyes and not just feel like this was just one more task in a long process. The job before us was important and we were able to focus on it. We gained a fresh enthusiasm for what we are doing at the moment.

Short term teams are vital to success. The attitude and the perspective of being there to serve the local ministry is vital. When you come to support the ongoing work and not to serve your own purposes, you help foster an environment of hope and success to those that you come to work with. Don't come for a short feel good trip but come to help change a community, a nation and to work with those committed to see that happen. You are vital. Because of your work, we have open doors to stay and continue working in our communities. Thank you.

One of the team members from our Georgia team being baptized last Sunday afternoon

Manos de Compasion

We have not had a team for a few days now. Our next one will be coming from Hinton, Alberta tomorrow night. I have used the time to do a few things and to relax a little. This week I went out to see Lauren and Jean for a few days. It is a three hour trip to get to Santiago and I am always tired by the time I get there. Mountain roads, rough lakes and crowded means of transportation always make for unrelaxed travel travel but I got there safe and sound. As always, once I got there I enjoyed myself.

It always amazes me the job that Dave and Deborah, Lauren and Jean, Micah and the rest of the workers at Manos de Compasion do with so much going on at any one time. With so many kids there is never just one or two things happening.There are kids doing chores, other trying to finish school work and others already playing. The little kids are always on the go, moving from one thing to another quicker than you can focus. In spite of it all, the family always seems to be on top of everything and aware of who is doing what and where they are doing it. They are a very special group keeping this house functioning as a family.

On top of keeping one house running smoothly, they also the Esther House where Annie was and the New Beginnings House with Ron and Rhonda getting more full almost daily it seems. They are in the process of finishing the home Lauren and Jean will be overseeing and looking to build another. This is a special ministry and is a blessing to those children that call it home. They have a vision for rescuing kids and giving them a chance for a better life. Through it all, they faithfully proclaim the Gospel to the kids and to the surrounding community.

I know that I normally write about me and what is going on in my life, my thoughts and the work we are doing with Iglesia Galilea but I wanted to highlight this amazing ministry this week and ask you to consider them and their needs in your prayers and your giving. God is doing great things there and I want to ask you to consider how you can bless and encourage them in fulfilling the call God has placed on their lives.  Here is a link that you can follow to see more about them and their work and see the pictures of the kids.  Manos de Compasion

Thanks and I pray that you have a blessed week.

Sometimes Words Are Not Enough

      Last night my sister Alicia came to see me before I leave for Guatemala. She brought some old family videos from the early 90’s. Since these videos were made, many of the people in them have passed away.  We saw three of my grandparents, one great aunt, two aunts, an uncle, 6 family friends and two other relatives that have all passed away in the last 25 years. ItT was bittersweet to watch. I love and miss them often. Seeing them and hearing their voices reminds me of the fact that they are gone. It also reminds me of how many great times I had with them in the time we had together.

                

     The harder part for me was the realization of where we stand at this point in time. While the events of Alicia’s graduation part seem to be a lifetime ago, watching the videos made it seem like it was just a few weeks ago. I realized that we are all one generation older now. I am the age my parents were and they are actually older than my grandparents were in the video. Several of my nieces and younger cousins have families of their own, some with nearly grown children. Time is the enemy to life on earth. It is speeding us toward our last breath. This realization can be a hard one to swallow.

              

     Every time I prepare to go back to Guatemala this thought weighs on me. We are all getting older and I do not know when the last time I see someone will be. My dad has wound up in intensive care on one of my times there a few years ago. My sisters have had health problems. I have had several of my friend’s parents pass away while I was gone. These thoughts can cause me to panic if I dwell on them. All of the people that have passed away have caused pain but the next ones will be much more painful I have a feeling.

               

     You may ask how I can leave in light of these things. Am I being selfish or just foolish? Did God really say to go or do I just like Guatemala enough to abandon my family. The truth is I love Guatemala but I love my family  and friends more. I love the people God has brought into my life in both places more than I love the places themselves. I can be content in Illinois, Guatemala or anywhere as long as I have some of the people with me that God has placed in my life to share the journey with. While I have no desire to go it alone, God has not asked me to do that as of this moment. He has asked me to hold all things lightly and not let anything get in the way of obeying His purposes.

             

      As I prepare to go again I face the idea of when will be the last goodbye. I have come to realize something though. The last goodbye will only happen for those that do not know Jesus. For those that are in a relationship with Him, the Bible tells us that we have already passed from death to life. When we surrender ourselves to Him, we have confronted death and won. Our bodies will cease to function but our lives will just transition. We will be off on a new eternal adventure with God. Unfortunately, those that do not surrender themselves to Jesus will not get to join us in this journey. The Bible also tells us that it is appointed unto man but once to die and after that, the judgment. Not everyone will have a place in God’s presence for eternity. For them, we will say goodbye, never to see them again. This is the saddest thing that I can grasp. Jesus has offered hope and life to all as a gift. We cannot earn it but we have to receive it. He will allow us to turn our backs on Him. It is not his will that any should die apart from Him but it is a reality that many do.

             

      This is the reason I go. In Guatemala there are many that need to hear the Gospel. We work with them to share it in our work and in our words. (The words are usually other people’s in Guatemala but I am working on it) We try to live in a way that brings Jesus glory and helps people understand that they are valuable to God and to us also. Living out the Gospel in front of them is our main purpose.

     For me, there is also a second element. I have family members that are not living in relationship to Jesus. I love them and want to spend eternity with them. I have found that family often does not hear our words so I have to live in a way that demonstrates the power of Jesus in my life. I need to live what my words could not adequately convey. I need to be a message. My prayer is that my family and friends, the kids at CYC and others that know me will see the love of Jesus in action through my life and respond to Him.  I am not leaving because I want to be apart from my family. I am leaving because I want them all to spend eternity with me. I am not willing to hold onto the next 25 years if it costs me eternity with any of those that I love.

     

     Are you in the place God is calling you to be or are you staying in a comfortable place because you are surrounded by people that you care about.? Are you afraid to leave for fear that they will not hear the message of Jesus if it is not from you?  Pray for them and then do whatever God is calling you to. Don’t worry about it just obey. God is faithful and will draw your family to Him. If you are obedient to God, He will do for you what you are unable to do for yourself or them. This does not mean that everyone you care about will surrender to Him but it does mean that He will draw them in ways that you cannot fathom. He is faithful.

     We will be jumping into a full schedule as soon as I get back.  A team from Hood River Oregon will be coming just a few days after my return. They will stay for 9 days and then we will have a short break. A week after they leave we will begin a near continuous stream of teams until the middle of August. We are anticipating much work will be accomplished in the next 4 months. We should be near completion of the Church and school in Membrillal, build numerous houses and stoves in Zapote. Have an outreach in San Lucas and a medical clinic in Membrillal also. We pray that many lives will be impacted for Jesus in these endeavors.

    If you would like information on how you can be involved in any of our projects, feel free to message me on facebook or send an email to thegeokr@yahoo.com.  Our major needs are sponsorship for about 35 kids in Membrillal. We have ½ sponsorships for $35 or full sponsorships for $70 per month.  You can find links to our sponsorship websites in the tabs at the top of this page. We also need funds for construction on the school and Church in Membrillal. We have numerous teams this year but will have openings for groups in the future if you would like to contribute with you work as well. I look forward to hearing from you.

     As I leave, I still have needs for the year. I need to raise about $3,000 more this year to meet my funding goal of $12,000. I also am still looking to raise the funds to buy a decent truck or car. (preferably truck) I have had money given toward this purchase but so far it has been used for airfares and living expenses because that has come up short. I know that Lauren and Jean, and Annie also still have needs for the year as they are both planning on returning later this year after they spend a little time in Illinois.

If you would like to make a donation you can make a check to

Life Church Morris

P.O. Box 679

Morris, IL 60450

In the memo of your check write:

Mission San Lucas if it is for me

Mission Santiago for Lauren and Jean

Mission Esther House for Annie

Do not write any names on   the check. 

You can also support me by clicking on the donation link on this page and using a credit card online. Thank you for all of your prayers, kind words, team mission trips and financial support. Each of these things is vital to the success of the work we are doing. We do not work alone but we value your partnership for fulfilling the call of God to Guatemala.

Whose mission are you subject to?

The volcano at the left is Fuego at dusk on a very active day. We drive right around it to get to Zapote.

I am in Illinois and reflecting on some things from the last few years of ministry. There is one thought that stands out and I wanted to share it with you. We are all called to a mission. The church and each person has a call from God to make Jesus known and to make disciples. Each of us has a unique role in that call and for each of us, our role falls under someone else's supervision. Our calls are layered and one person's call is built on another's. None of us has a stand alone call.

Because we are not called to an individual call but to a unique role within the corporate call, we are also called to submit our place to the larger vision and to the people that have responsibility for shepherding that larger vision. There are people that have a larger responsibility and an understanding of the bigger vision than we, as individuals have.

When I am in Guatemala, I work with a team. That team is led by Pastor Merari and more directly in the field by his brother Tono. These two men have received a clear vision from God for how they are to proceed to work and reach the people of the communities that they work in. I have been given a love foe Guatemala, the team that I work with and for the communities that we work in. I know that I have several roles and they vary based on the need of the moment. Some of the tasks that fall to me I love. Some are just work and I wish someone else would do them but they are mine. The work needs to be done for the overall goals to be achieved and I am the one that needs to do them. I remind myself to ask God to keep His plan and the bigger picture in front of me at the times that I am doing these things.

Two girls at a school assembly in Membrillal

I am not writing this so you will feel sorry for me. I am writing them because I need to confess that when I am feeling these things, it is my attitude that is wrong, not the task. I agree that God has called me to serve the people of Guatemala and that He has called me to do in under the vision of Pastor Merari and Tono. They are the ones that have been given the larger picture that my calling fits within. I cannot fulfill the role God has called me to without being submitted to the mission of another. My place falls within their                                                                                                            mission.

Fairhaven team in Membrillal

I hear many people that come on short term missions and they have a plan. They have decided  what they will do without ever having talked with the people that they are coming to serve. I see it in Churches also. People decide when they come to a Church that their role will be X without ever having talked to leaders and hearing the vision and direction of that particular congregation. They want to serve their vision and call but they never ask how that fits into the bigger picture. It is common in this time when we personalize everything to miss the bigger picture. It is easy to reduce the whole thing to the role that we feel called to fill and miss out on the bigger picture.

Girl playing at the clinic in Zapote

Today, I am asking God to expand my heart and to break it over the selfish motives that I so often feel. I am asking Him to help me go back and trust the people that He has entrusted with the bigger vision. When we build houses, paint a building, build a stove or shovel gravel, I want to see it as serving the vision God has given for discipling communities. I want to honor God by honoring those that have been put in positions of authority over me. I want to see God's visions fulfilled by doing what He has called me to do inside the mission that is bigger that He has called others to as well. I do not want to be solely subject to my own mission because I want the greater vision to be accomplished. I am ready to go back to work but not just to serve my own plans.

I am exited to see where Zapote and Membrillal will be in 5 years, 10 years and way out into the future. I am excited to know that I have a role in it but mostly I am exited to know that my role is only a small part in the grand scheme of God. I pray that you too know you are called to go and to serve. Even more, I pray that you know you are called to find where your call fits into the bigger picture and you are able to gladly subject yourself to the ones give responsibility to lead in the bigger picture.

Pharmacy at the clinic in Zapote

Boxes of medicine for the clinic.

Registration/triage

Waiting to see the doctor

Finding the Motivation

I have been planning to write this update for over a week but my days got longer than I anticipated. Late nights do not make for good writing. Sorry for the delay but I hope that you are blessed by it.

A couple of weeks ago I took a few members of our team from Ohio to Zapote. Most of the team had been there numerous times and opted to stay and work in Membrillal but  a few had never been and wanted to go see the Church and school.A few others came to take care of a few things that they needed to do. I was helping Steve Smith work on a pump that he had recently replaced. After they completed the things that they came for, the group went on with Carlos Fernandez to see the work that he is doing in Tabacal. Steve and I finished our work and I struck up a conversation with  a new worker at the school in Zapote.

She was telling me about her experience in coming to Zapote. When she was first made aware of the need, she said no, She was not the one to fill that need. She was woken up the next morning with a question resonating inside her. "Why not?" As she struggled to answer that question she knew that she was supposed to say yes, she would be the one.

Many of you have had similar experiences. You have been asked by God or, more likely by people to do a task that was completely beyond you. It was not just out of your comfort zone but completely unrealistic, a pipe-dream at best. You had to say no because it was the only reasonable thing a person could do. How would you raise the funds? What about your job? Who would take over your responsibilities in the Church? Your family is depending on you being there for................ For every reason I could give you to say yes, there are 50 reasons why it will never work.

I want to suggest something to you. When God allows you to become aware of a situation, it is your invitation to join Him in His work there. That is not to say that everything you hear is God's call but there are things that strike you at a deeper place. They are not just a thing that you have information about but they pull at your heart strings. The thought about them linger long after the conversation or presentation ends. This is God's invitation, His call to action. What will you do about it? If you reason it out, you will never do anything. If you just pray about, you will find that the urge will diminish over time. I want to ask you to consider another option.

When you feel the first pull on your heart, begin to pray but also begin to explore. Make plans like you are going soon. Get yourself in a position to go. Talk to people about what you are hoping to do. Learn about the culture and the difficulties of living in it. Talk to people that have been or are there. Write ministries working in that place. Keep taking steps toward going. Ask God to help you move forward. Keep going until you have a definite "why not". Let God close a door if this is not for you but until then keep pursuing. There is a reason that this particular thing connected with you. Keep going until you know what that is.

I did not come to Guatemala for more than a few weeks on the first time that I was asked. It was actually the third time before I committed to more than a short period. At the same time, I kept returning and exploring. My friends got tired of hearing about this place. While I did not relocate the first time an opportunity came up, I kept moving in that direction. You ask, why is it important that I go. God wants to bless you with the opportunity of partnering with Him. You probably are not called to Guatemala or Central America. Maybe you are not even called to leave the U.S. but I know that you are called to make an impact for the kingdom of God by living in obedience to Him.

The day after my conversation in Zapote, I was at the school in Membrillal. The students were doing a presentation for the team and it started out with Esdras and Brenda leading in worship. I looked up and saw a Third grade girl lost in worship. Many were singing but I could see she was captivated by Jesus at that moment. I do not know what her relationship with Him is like but at that time, she was experiencing fellowship with the Holy Spirit. God was real to her in that moment. I got to see it and be blessed by the work that God was doing in her life. My reward is that God is moving and I get to rejoice in being part of what He is doing. He is making Himself known in a rural mountain community in Guatemala and I get to see it happen because I simply said yes.

I love to spend time with the kids. I love that they hug and high  5 me on a regular basis but even more, I love that they are getting to know Jesus. They are being led into relationship with Him. God has brought pastors, teachers, administrators and school staffs to them to make Him known. He is building His kingdom in Membrillal and Zapote through the lives of the young people. He is doing it through people that have made themselves available to Him. I get to be a small part of that and witness His activity in their lives. That is worth more to me than any job I could have, any paycheck I could receive. That is something worth giving my life to.

These last two weeks we have been pouring columns and beams at the Church in Membrillal. We build 3 houses and 2 stoves in Zapote. One team painted most of the outside of the school in Zapote. We played games and had fun with the kids. All of that was just the icing in the cake. The most important thing that happened for me was that I got to see a 10 year old girl encounter God in worship and that makes it all worth while.
Soon I hope to post a page of pictures from ththe last 2 weeks..

Let me ask you: "Why Not?"

I am still in need of support for this year. I have about $5,000 left to go on my living expense goal of $12,000 for the year and I still need to raise $5,000 to purchase a vehicle. I have received about $7,000 so far this year. If you would like to help with these expenses, you can support me by sending a check to

Life Church Morris
P.O. Box 679
C\O Mission San Lucas
Morris, IL 60450

Thank you for your ongoing prayers and support.

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