Chiapas

Chiapas: Report

When I first heard of PBM going into Chiapas, Mexico to assist with the first Timothy Leadership Training in the rural areas, I was very excited.  You see, the TLT component is one that not many people are aware of, yet plays a vital role in the ministry with PBM. 

Most people are aware of the house building and the medical clinics that happen when teams from the States come down to Guatemala.  This element has been happening for nearly 18 years.  This covers the Evangelism side of the ministry.  However, the discipleship side of the ministry has really taken shape the last few years.

TLT seeks out men and women, called by God to serve villages, and provides training, support, theology, and encouragement.  Basically, it is placing diesel fuel on a small fire…..except it is all based in God’s spirit and glory!

We have seen wonderful results from blessing pastors and then releasing back into the corners of the world (or at least Guatemala and Mexico).  Going into this Chiapas week, we heard that there was some potential for persecutions towards Christians, especially Americans.  This information came from another missionary.  The information that we found from the Internet showed that there could be some truth to this story.  Yet, we still felt compelled to go to assist with this first TLT.  There were 20 pastors that were wanting, needing, and were crying out for help. 

So we went.  We bathed it in prayer and trusted in the Lord to lead us.   The drive to the border was truly amazing.  The joys of trying to figure out the border crossing and getting to Las Margaritas proved to be much longer than we anticipated.  There were many obstacles placed in our way, but we took that as confirmation that we were to go.

The week was filled with hospitality, spirituality, and amazement.  Our desire is to work with this group of pastors.  Train up the ones that will graduate to become master trainers and then step back and watch God work in the lives of the pastors living in the sticks of Chiapas! 

Something is stirring.  God is moving and it is showing.  Let the pictures soak in and speak to you.

As this is being written, we are preparing for the first team to come to the base and build houses and host clinics.  For me, it is encouraging to the fullness of what God is doing and moving among the people of Guatemala.

Today: a challenge and a teaser

As I am in the midst of typing up the Chiapas Report and prepping for the Mechanic team to come here tonight, I find myself reflecting.

This past year has been filled with some pretty amazing experiences.  There truly have been highs and lows and we have been in awe and wonder at various times.

There have been times that will truly stick to my soul.  Today I have a feeling will be one of those days.  Normally, the times that "stick" have been highlights, times of joy.  Today is not going to be a joyful day....yet anyway.

This morning the plan is for myself, Hermano Jesus, and Yohana to head to Cajagualten to visit with 7 kids.  Dad passed away a few years ago, mom just passed away, the oldest sister (18) just had her gall bladder and appendix removed.  They are hurting and alone.  We are going to investigate the support system, health condition, and determine next steps.  This village is one that we (PBM) built in from 2006 until 2008.  This was also during the early years of forming the core discipleship programs, so today, it is still on the weak side.  We are not sure what we will find.

Words, English or Spanish, will not bring the comfort that is needed today.  Only Hope!  Even if we go to sit Shiva with them, we go.  It will be about a 50 minute drive.

I remember the years as a youth pastor in the States.  I would always carry with me the motto: "I can't take a student to a place Spiritually that I am not willing to go myself".  In other words:  I can't bring Hope in Jesus Christ, if I do not have hope in Jesus Christ.  Thank you Lord for the Hope that you have deposited in me and for the Hope that carries me......may it be shared today and transcend any and all cultures.  Why?  Because our ultimate joy will come, on that Glorious Day...even if that day is not today...it leads to Hope in the day to come!



~Justin


PS-  Here is a teaser from Chiapas....what happens when the Spirit is moving among 20 pastors who are longing for more of the Spirit.....they were tired and felt alone when they came.  They left filled and solidified!

remember this is not a culture where guys normally hug!

CHANGE of PLAN

Today, Hermano Jesus's daughter got married.  We were all ready to go, dressed, nails painted, hair done, and ten minutes to go.  Daniel, the guard, quickly came in the building and asked for Justin.  Justin rounded the corner and Daniel spilled out, "There is a fire really close and we need to move the vehicles."  Moving the vehicles means moving a van that hasn't moved in 7 months (of which a mechanic team is coming in 5 days to fix).  Ugh, good thing I grew up on the farm!

Four vehicles were pulled around (one with a flat tire) and we walked back to the chicken co-op and the fire was blazing and crackling.  I ran up and changed out of my dress, yeah you read that right . . . I was wearing a dress.  Then returned to the front lines and started fighting the blaze with 3 nannies and the guard.  Even though it has rained a few times already within the past two weeks, the pine needles on the ground, mixed with the leaves, added some impressive fuel to the fire.  We believe someone was making carbon (wood coal type substance to be used to start campfires later) and the fire got out of control.  As we write this tonight, the smoke is still going as more fires are popping up.  The flames were licking the fence.  Needless to say we did not take pictures of the biggest flames.

The six of us only had two garden hoses and a few buckets to do the fighting.  After about 30 minutes Estuardo came along with a neighbor and two other guards.  The "fire" department was called, which only consisted of two guys in fireman garb and a pick up truck.  One hoped the fence, the other just walked around and was debating about calling the water tanker (which was about 45 minutes away).  After even more neighbors came, and a few phone calls for people to pray, the large portions near the base were contained.

We are praying for it to rain tonight, and hoping for a quiet night as this firefighting team is tired.  The girls were down in the orphanage helping, as the nannies were fighting the fire as well.  When the help arrived, and the nannies returned downstairs, the girls shifted to the "lunch wagon" with lemonade and cookies for those that came to help.

Thank you for those of you who prayed.  We pray for rain tonight, for the smell of smoke to leave the base (oh is it BAD!), and for the fire to be complete contained.


The wedding went well, we just did not get to go.........Oh what a day...
~Vicki

Provision

Justin and his amigos are in Mexico.  A bit later than planned but there none the less.  Thanks for your prayers as they crossed the boarder.  Now, pray for the teachers and fellow pastors that are participating in the Timothy Leadership training.  May the Holy Spirit reign down on this gathering and dwell among these men and women.  May a movement that Glorifies God begin in each of their lives~!

Thanks also for praying for Wendy.  Wendy and her mom have traveled to Guatemala City more times than I can count trying to make headway in obtaining her passport.  Each time they have been told the same thing, we need WEndy's dad to sign the paperwork.  Numerous attempts have been made to located him with no success.

UNTIL TODAY!  God has answered our prayer!  Wendy's dad has passed away and his 'death certificate' has been located!  Our prayers have been answered and this is the best scenario possible for the situation at hand.  On Wednesday, Wendy and her mom will return to Guatemala City again but this time they will have an extra piece of paper.

Please continue to pray for Wendy as we continue on the path of obtaining the passport and then the much more difficult visa.  All with a deadline of the end of July looming over our head!

We know a God that is timeless, un-demensional, and unconditional.  God has a plan for the pastors in Mexico, for today, for tomorrow and for eternity.  God has a plan for Wendy, for today, for tomorrow and for eternity.  God has a plan for you, for today, for tomorrow, and for eternity.  Are you willing to take time and Thanks HIM for HIS provision?  Are you willing to continue to circle Wendy and Timothy Leadership in Prayer?  Are you willing to pray with persistence?

IF SO, God will continue to blow our minds with HIS provision!

Wisdom comes...

As the rain falls down tonight, creating a symphony all around us I am reminded of what this day was and is: a unique gift from God.

How did you spend your day today? 

I wanted to take a minute to say thank you to the many people that sent e-mails and provided prayers and insight with my call for wisdom in my decision to go to Chiapas, Mexico for the next Timothy Leadership Training.

In response to the plans for tomorrow….

Hermano Jesus, Pablo, Darvin, Guillermo, Miguel, Dan, and myself will leave PBM around 3pm and head to Huehuetenango.  There we will spend the night and then leave early Monday morning for the border.

Once we get across the border (PRAY for smooth paperwork for the Guatemalans…Dan and I should have no problems)….then we will meet Pastor Miguel from Chiapas who will travel with us to Las Margaritas. 

TLT will start around 4pm on Monday and last until Thursday noon.  After the conference we will head back to Huehuetenango for the night and then return to the base around noon.

*We ask for prayers for safety with the travel

*A hedge of protection for the 25 pastors that will be gathering (6 different denominations!)

*For God to give the right words to those teaching

*For the Lord to cover us (the team traveling) with cloud by day and in the night glow of a burning flame!!!...let the traditionalists that have brought problems for Christians in the past, be blinded and blocked from encountering what we feel God leading us to do....

Join us in prayer for what God will continue to do in the Chiapas area…..

Some GREAT missionaries (The Kempers) used to say “Chiapas para Cristo” which means: Chiapas for Christ……

We go with the same heart, but with the motto…”Chiapas con Cristo”…..Chiapas with Christ.

Update on Wendi and a hunger for Wisdom....

UPDATE on Wendi’s last meeting:

We just got word that things did not go well again with the Passport office for Wendi.  Since Wendi’s father’s name is on the birth certificate and since she is only 15, the office is saying that they have to have both parents’ signatures.  We are now onto the next step, we are not 100% sure what that is.  We do know that her first surgery is scheduled in August…..but she needs a passport and then a visa….pray with us for all things to clear and to clear QUICKLY!

~Vicki

Wisdom. 

It is a true mystery.  It is often something that we do not see within ourselves.  It can escape us if we are not looking for it and it can show up when we least expect.  It is not knowledge, and it is not information.   Wisdom is something deeper.

I have longed for wisdom.  Not the wisdom that comes from books and schooling only.  I long for the wisdom that is richer than that: The wisdom from the Lord.  It is this covering that can come and go.  If you tell someone you are wise, they think you are arrogant.    If you show someone you are wise, they sometimes will marvel.

Wisdom.  Let it not escape us.  I went looking for wisdom many years ago.  When I was 21 years old, I was determined to seek after wisdom.  I knew that I could not grab onto it alone.  I knew God spoke in and through others, and so I went chasing it. 

I carried with me a red book whose pages were blank.  When I read or heard a quote that spoke to the depth of my soul, I wrote it down.  Sometimes it was scripture, other times it came from within.  I wanted to grow from the wisdom….and then pass it on to my son and daughters.  May they fall in love with the wisdom of the Lord the way that I have.  I still have that book today.  I still add to it today at different times as well.  I go back through it from time to time to scroll through the pages and let it marinate my soul once again. 

It is with this same passion that I request your help in my quest for continued wisdom.  I have a decision to make and I need to make it by Sunday at 3pm (4pm Central Time).  Sunday through Thursday in Las Margaritas, Chiapas is the next Timothy Leadership Training seminar for 25 pastors.  There would be 8 of us going up to teach, lead devotions, and assist these pastors and to train them in the Biblical Truth.  This part of Chiapas is one of the most persecuted parts of Mexico and Central America.  The traditionalists are those who have a mix of Catholicism and Mayan beliefs.  They have been hurting Christians, kidnapping them, and even killing them.  Yet, in and through this, the Christians are crying out for help and hope from the Lord….they want more.  The Church is still living there! 

I am faced with the decision: to go or not.

To go: to be an encourager and help with the seminar.  I would lead two devos and help host and assist.

To Not go:  Would my presence as a “gringo” make the group more of target (which is a serious concern that we all are talking it through).

This decision has been given to me to make.  I long to make the wise choice.  Maybe not the choice best in the sight of mankind, but the choice in the sight of the Lord is what I want to do.

Pray with me BUT more importantly, pray for the pastors in the Chiapas area that WANT more of Christ and want to share Him with those in the area.  There is Hope in the name of the Lord.

~Justin

Prayers Needed

Today there is a very important meeting happening in a small little office with a mom and her daughter and government agent. Wendy is needing a passport and Visa to be able to travel to Ohio for some very needed surgery that she is not able to receive here in Guatemala.  Wendy was born with some intestinal mal-normalicies, and a hospital and team of doctors is willing to donate their time and resources to help Wendy, 15 years old.

Here is where you come in!  Wendy's birth certificate lists her dad, but he left the home soon after Wendy was born.  Now when the passport papers need to be signed the government wants Wendy's dad to sign them too.  So, we need prayers that in todays meeting there can be alternative paperwork filled out, or that the person listed on Wendy's birth Certificate can be located.

This is literally life and death for Wendy!  We need a million dollar prayer answered TODAY!  Will you please join in storming the gates of Heaven in Wendy's name!

With anticipation,

Vicki