So today we dedicated the houses that TEAM FREEMONT built. Basically finished the houses, roofs on, painted, and then presented house warming gifts to the family and presented the Gospel. All four families, were actually one big family. A grandpa and grandma with three daughters and their families. They all either accepted Christ or rededicated their lives to Christ! a Praise God Moment!
The Team had another great meal at the villages...tostados today...another Praise God moment
It has been wonderful to see the Holy Spirit truly at work among His people. Another praise God moment, I farted today. Sorry that sounds crass...BUT you do not understand! For the last week or so, I dare not fart for, um shall we say unsafe reasons! Yet, some of the kids are getting sore tummies now too. AJ and the twins are needing an extra prayer tonight. All in all though, The LORD has keep us all safe and healthy.
Another praise God moment: It rained hard at the base....no, HARD at the base. At the exact same time almost directly west, we were dedicating the houses outside and felt maybe one or two drops. The storm skipped us at the houses. Well, I must sign off for now. The family is all sleeping and so must I as we will have a late night tomorrow as we travel to a village 2 hours away to host a medical clinic, and show the Jesus film and present the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Beunos Noches (Good Night)
Justin
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Caleb's Day for Adventure
Well, yesterday (day one of the building day) AJ came with for half a day (sorry no camera came along) and today, Caleb wanted to go. He did great. He was hot and tired too, but he did jump right in a help where he could. The few high school girls on the team absolutely LOVE him.
He was busy getting things for me, as I was in charge of attaching the porches to the houses with 3 other guys. He also ran with the local boys and girls carrying the stucco on the cement boards to the people that were stuccoing the houses. The funniest thing I thought was when I looked over and saw him doing what both Dan and I have done in years past, but not yet this summer....resting in the wheel barrel! I guess the apple does not fall far from the tree.
Well, after 2 days of building in the HOT sun, this red lobster is tired. Vicki was at the base again today and seems to be interacting well with Noemi and Heidi. She is also getting a lot of "little things" done that either have not gotten done, or needed to be finished up. She has such a good eye and creative mind. Well, we hope that this entry finds you all well and enjoying the summer. We are starting to get a feel for how things will roll around here for the summer, but have NOT gotten used to the 175 thousand miles an hour behind the scenes that the Smith seem to go! HA We do not know how Dan and Heidi do it all."
He was busy getting things for me, as I was in charge of attaching the porches to the houses with 3 other guys. He also ran with the local boys and girls carrying the stucco on the cement boards to the people that were stuccoing the houses. The funniest thing I thought was when I looked over and saw him doing what both Dan and I have done in years past, but not yet this summer....resting in the wheel barrel! I guess the apple does not fall far from the tree.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
~Learning Curve ~
Well, yesterday was crazy hot and stressed and busy. We were at the end of our whits end. I ran into the CITY (Guatemala City...a city of 10 million people!) with Dan to pick up the first team....Vicki was here at the base with the kids, all of them. It really was fine, it was just a bad day. Then.....today came along. It was still hot, but a productive day. Vicki stayed at the base and got a lot of little odd jobs done and even busted open the MRC GREEN cookbook to teach them how to make cornbread! I, with AJ, went with the teams to start building four houses. Now, keep in mind, one of my jobs this summer is to be a foreman on a house with the teams. YET, every time I come down here, the plans or blue prints change just a little bit more. So, even though I had a really good idea, Dan did a great job of coming over and teaching me short cuts and reasons for why we changed some of the stuff. AJ was a big helper, but the heat zapped her and she went back to the base with Malachi and Heidi around 11:30am. Today, beans, rice, and homemade tortillas! Even if you do not like beans or rice in the states, if you are ever down here, the first day you MUST try it. It is way better, plus it really shines perspective on all things when you realize that this is 90% of what the locals eat, all the time. Humbling. Yet, satisfying. God truly does provide all the time.
Tiring day, but Team Freemont is doing well being rookies. An older group, out of 24 only 5 teens and the rest 40 or 45 and older. With one "Granny Nancy". Devos tonight were great. God's Word truly opens our eyes to HIS heart. I will leave you with a question tonight as I must get some sleep to up and ready at 6am.....a question that Dan trough out: Are you working FOR Christ, or are you working WITH Christ? It is an eternal difference. How many people go to church and do good things and try to serve, but fail to realize that the CHURCH needs to love and live and breath in full reliance upon Christ, for all things. ALL things! Are your hands open? Have you given everything to HIM, or are we still trying to be in control of certain parts of our lives, our plans, our dreams, our desires?
Justin
Tiring day, but Team Freemont is doing well being rookies. An older group, out of 24 only 5 teens and the rest 40 or 45 and older. With one "Granny Nancy". Devos tonight were great. God's Word truly opens our eyes to HIS heart. I will leave you with a question tonight as I must get some sleep to up and ready at 6am.....a question that Dan trough out: Are you working FOR Christ, or are you working WITH Christ? It is an eternal difference. How many people go to church and do good things and try to serve, but fail to realize that the CHURCH needs to love and live and breath in full reliance upon Christ, for all things. ALL things! Are your hands open? Have you given everything to HIM, or are we still trying to be in control of certain parts of our lives, our plans, our dreams, our desires?
Justin
Sunday, June 6, 2010
A Sunday Night of laughter...
Well, it is Justin now. I know, I know....you are thinking, "TWO BLOGS IN ONE DAY?". Nothing big here, but you still might want to sit down. Come on, you deserve it. I know you do. We have been busy the last few days making preparations for the first team. Actually for the first three teams, as we will have little rest or time between them all. Today was a good day. Our two families joined in a tradition that the Smiths have, family day, the day before the teams start to come. Our family has really gotten along well with the Smith Family. It has been fun. Right now as I type, most of the kiddos are down in the main floor in the dark playing "glow stick tag". Much laughter is filling the base!
We appreciate your prayers. One answer to prayer, or partial answer is that a road grader has been hired to work on the road. Already about a third of the road is "smooth" (for rural Guatemala standards anyway). Keep praying.
Both Vicki and I have been saying we totally felt called to come down here for the summer to help out Paradise Bound Ministries, but are not fully sure of the why. The doors for us a as a family have been opened tremendously. We are still praying as to what and why we are supposed to be down here for 10 weeks. One thing hit me today. For those of you who have been down here, you know what I am talking about. THE VISION. It is a ministry that is truly Christ's Hands in action. Lives are being touched. Many individuals and churches have joined together (even though some or many have not met each other) to form the CHURCH in action. Being with the Smiths for about a week and half, already we are hearing from Dan and Heidi the dream and vision that PBM is headed into. We have heard some of their "wish list". Now, those of you who know Dan, also know that he will not share his needs. So, I will share some of the "wish list" to see if God is speaking to YOU, with your gifts, talents, or resources to join in a movement in Guatemala that is truly bringing peoples and families to know our LORD and Savior. With the list I will say good night, as tomorrow will be an early one for Dan and I are making a run to the airport to pick up the first team, Team Freemont. This team is a rookie team made up of all or mainly adults. Dios Le Bendiga mi amigos (God bless you my friends)
Justin
***Walk in Cooler (he has the doors and the refrigerator, just needs some time (3 days), and resources ($1,000), and labor (a few people who know something about refrigeration)
***a converter for a stove to make one from natural gas to propane (usually about $40 in the states, but impossible to get down here...I can get the model number soon)
***some iron work on the gate to say welcome to paradise, or something of the such. Basically someone who is good with welding and metal work
***a garage - physically and financially, with the orphanage being built this fall, they are needing to make a work area for the vehicles and storage (organized) for the tools, and maintenance equipment
***Apartment #3 (which would actually be for Dan and Heidi's family). Their current apartment would be turned into much needed office space, as their current apartment is that too, plus living quarters for 4 kiddos too (roughly about $10,000 to frame it up and get it sheet rocked and to the point of painting
***a newer computer...nothing fancy, just something that would work every time you turn it on :)
I am sure more will come for the list, as we did hear long range plans with the Hydro Generation and water filtration system and the such...
We appreciate your prayers. One answer to prayer, or partial answer is that a road grader has been hired to work on the road. Already about a third of the road is "smooth" (for rural Guatemala standards anyway). Keep praying.
Both Vicki and I have been saying we totally felt called to come down here for the summer to help out Paradise Bound Ministries, but are not fully sure of the why. The doors for us a as a family have been opened tremendously. We are still praying as to what and why we are supposed to be down here for 10 weeks. One thing hit me today. For those of you who have been down here, you know what I am talking about. THE VISION. It is a ministry that is truly Christ's Hands in action. Lives are being touched. Many individuals and churches have joined together (even though some or many have not met each other) to form the CHURCH in action. Being with the Smiths for about a week and half, already we are hearing from Dan and Heidi the dream and vision that PBM is headed into. We have heard some of their "wish list". Now, those of you who know Dan, also know that he will not share his needs. So, I will share some of the "wish list" to see if God is speaking to YOU, with your gifts, talents, or resources to join in a movement in Guatemala that is truly bringing peoples and families to know our LORD and Savior. With the list I will say good night, as tomorrow will be an early one for Dan and I are making a run to the airport to pick up the first team, Team Freemont. This team is a rookie team made up of all or mainly adults. Dios Le Bendiga mi amigos (God bless you my friends)
Justin
***Walk in Cooler (he has the doors and the refrigerator, just needs some time (3 days), and resources ($1,000), and labor (a few people who know something about refrigeration)
***a converter for a stove to make one from natural gas to propane (usually about $40 in the states, but impossible to get down here...I can get the model number soon)
***some iron work on the gate to say welcome to paradise, or something of the such. Basically someone who is good with welding and metal work
***a garage - physically and financially, with the orphanage being built this fall, they are needing to make a work area for the vehicles and storage (organized) for the tools, and maintenance equipment
***Apartment #3 (which would actually be for Dan and Heidi's family). Their current apartment would be turned into much needed office space, as their current apartment is that too, plus living quarters for 4 kiddos too (roughly about $10,000 to frame it up and get it sheet rocked and to the point of painting
***a newer computer...nothing fancy, just something that would work every time you turn it on :)
I am sure more will come for the list, as we did hear long range plans with the Hydro Generation and water filtration system and the such...
Where are we going?
Well, in a previous post I had stated that I was only going to take a few kids out at a time. As a parent I should know better than make such a bold statement. Today was a day with just the Schrock's and the Smith's. After debating on what to do with our time we decided to drive into the capital, Guatemala City, and go out for dinner. With 9 kids, one 15 year old and 4 adults where are we to go? Well we decided on a location that has good pizza, games, and seating for all. This location is in the states and a place I have told my kids many times, no we are not going there. Where did we go you are wondering? Chuck -E - Cheese. you are thinking are you kidding me I know you are! Yep we took the whole tribe to Chuck E Cheese. It went relatively well, despite the excruciating heat in the restaurant. Then Heidi and I had to run to a store like Sam's club and grab a few bulk items while the rest went to Mc Donald's for ice cream. Now I know you are thinking, I thought they went to Guatemala, a 3rd world country. We did, but sometimes some normalcy is nice to have. So, our Sunday was full of family time and excitement before the team arrives tomorrow at 11:30.
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