This is what it feels like....

As the team sat in the small room listening to Hermano Jesus speak with each family member and ask if they would like Jesus as their Lord and Savior, it was Dulce Maria, the 10 year old, that brought the group to tears.  She she gazed her soft brown eyes into this seasoned pastor, before she was able to get a word out, the tears started to flow and then her head dropped into her hands and she began to sob.  This 10 year old then looked up and said, “si” (yes)….yes I want Jesus…..followed quickly by….yes I NEED Jesus……

As I sat there with this team of youth from Michigan I realized that this was a moment that would be etched in my memory for a long time.  Not so much for the great friendships that developed with the team, but more for the specialness of the moment.  This was the book of Acts in modern day life.  We sat in this house with Daniel and Gloria and their kids.  This family in the village of Tonajuyu had shown their hearts all week, and it was time us to return the favor.  Our hearts were with Jesus and not for Jesus…..trust me, there is a difference.

            As my family prepares to move back to the states in eleven days, we are starting to pack and to process.  As much of a confirmation as it was for our family to come to Guatemala, so is it a confirmation to move back to the states.  Yet, questions remain in my heart and mind: 

*Lord what deposits have you placed in my life and that of my family while we lived in Guatemala for a year?

*What are our next steps?

*Why call us here to serve and live…..what are you preparing for us?

*How is this experience going to impact not only my family but our surroundings?

·      and many more……

I realize that some of these questions will not be answered immediately.  I fall back on a quote that came to me when we began the journey of moving to Guatemala:

Understanding can wait, but obedience cannot…….This is a part of a quote from Rick Warren. 

I also remember a quote shared by a friend names Josh.  When Josh went with his wife to India, he stated…I am not called to India….I am called to Christ.  Same goes with myself.  I am not called to Guatemala…..although Guatemala has been and will be a part of my calling, along with youth, missions, mentoring, discipleship, etc. 

I am called to Christ.

We are truly soaking up all of the experiences here in Guatemala and realize that they are indeed preparations for many more experiences in the USA.  When Vicki travels to remote villages for medical clinics and sees people dealing with health issues that can be easily solved, except that these people lack the resources to achieve health….

When I travel to remote villages with the Hermano Jesus and Pablo to train and encourage the pastors from the Timothy Leadership I find myself amazed at how God not only is bringing me to places where the Coconut and Banana Trees Grow, but to a place where I am real.  I have little (little Spanish, little in common, little help?) but I have plenty (plenty of heart, plenty of passion, and plenty of desire).

Thank you to all of you who have prayed with us this past year and shared in our journey.  We know full well that our journey is far from done.  We are soaking up this week and the next and preparing for this massive transition back.  We (Vicki and I) have planned a few days re-entry time with the kids.  We feel it will be ever so important to walk with them as they process this journey as well.  Why? Because we ARE the Schrock Tribe!

 

Rachel sharing on house dedication

part of the OCCS group praying with a family to accept Christ

this view never gets old

a "flipside" photo

praying for the family of this house

Team Lifestream doing what matters most: praying

Day of Dedication

a picture of discipleship...can you see it?

Emilee and her gift of woven pine needles

Dan and his niece Meghan

beautiful

surrounding a house in prayer for 47 minutes!

Is that Caleb Baartman?  I have to do a double take ALL week!!!!

great day with a great daughter!

From where I am sitting..

As I sit outside on my deck, I feel the crisp breeze and the slight sound of the evening insects beginning to sing.  The rumble of a storm off in the distance reminds me that indeed this is the rainy season still. 

The first team is out in La Benedicion tonight for the second night of medical clinics.  I am home with the younger three kids, as the night would prove to be too difficult for them.  The day has been a good one of catching up on reports, projects, fixing pony tails, and whatever comes our way.

This past week has been a good one for Team OCCS.  The students have been amazing.  It also has been so fun to see everyone (as we have a few from Indiana and Michigan as well) interacting so well.

All four families at Tonajuyu declared “I want Christ in my heart!”, the first medical clinic saw many come forward to cry out for the Spirit, and tonight we see a return to a village that PBM has been to before.  Back in 2001 there was a medical clinic there, in 2008 and 2009 there was a house build session, with teams staying in the village as they built, and tonight we see us returning to partner with the pastors that have been a part of the Timothy Leadership Training.  It is really amazing to stop and think about all that God has and is doing this week.

Tomorrow night we see the group continue working on various projects at the base and head into Antigua for some shopping and seeing the sights.  Then tomorrow night is the final devotion time. This time is usually an impacting time for the team.  It is an opportunity for each person to take a serious look at his or her own lives.  Please pray for this time and for this team.

As I type, I look out and see a group of people gathered for a funeral at the cemetery near the base.  As I ponder the full cycle of life and wonder what the story was/is with the family involved, I cannot be help to notice the hill behind this gathering.  It is our hill that has only 3 trees on top.  I am reminded of the Story of the Three Trees. 

Christ is all around us.  Hope is alive because He lives.  But as for me, I will always have hope.  We (the Schrock family) find ourselves down to 19 more days of living in Guatemala.  We know for a fact that it will be a unique transition.  Yes, it is home.  Yes it is an area we are familiar with.  Yes, to many things.  Yet, in this yes remain a few unknowns.  A few new adventures.  A new job.  A new role.  A new place.  I often have said, once we were clear of our calling back to Iowa, moving to Guatemala was a step of faith…but moving back to Iowa in this newfound position will be a leap of faith.

We trust God for His fulfillment of our Calling in Him….for a job, for ministry, for everything. 

Yet, But as for me, I will always have Hope.  Much like those three trees standing tall for many hills to see, we will continue on in the journey of following Him.

Psalm 71

~Justin

Iximche

Naomi and Emilee and Justin with the Mechanic Team at Iximche

Guatemalan Pastors at PBM Isdrio, Emigdio, Darvin, Estuardo, Jesus, Rene, Miguel, Pablo

Happy Painter

A painting by one of the team members from NW Iowa....Schiebout original

Family accepting Christ for the first time!

family at a funeral and our Three Trees on the hill behind them

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.