Guatemala Update 2

i was able to hold true to my promise by getting in a blog in by thursday!  even if it was by 11;30 guatemala time.  by the way...if some of the words come across funny, guatemala makes their keyboards different from ours.  i still can't find the capitalizing button...hahaha.  our time in the mountains was fantastic.  truly was a blessing from God to see the students do their thing. who ever thought there would be or could be a justin bieber dance party in the middle of nowhere...leave it to us to pull off though. so fun.  we spent each morning planting lemon, orange, and avacodoe trees for families with great spiritual potential and that have growing relatiohsips with hugo and susannah, our missionary partners.  this was an ongoing illustration also of planting seeds of the gospel and seeing the ongoing fruit that it prayerfully would produce. we would pray for each family during and after the planting of the trees. it was very special.  we would then use the afternoons to play with kids through games, crafts, skits, and pinatas.  i can't wait to show you the pictures and videos.  major props to our students for boldly sharing their testimonies, bible stories, and the gospel many times in front of many kids.  highlight of my time personally was being with 3 potential church planters as pastor chip drew out the triad of discipleship and church multiplication literally on the dirt floor of one of their houses. so cool

we left this morning and got into the city where we met up with pastor daniel bran of fellowship guatemala.  what a great man!  we spent the afternoon going to houses of needy and hurting people, praying with families and sharing the love of jesus.  erika and bonnie got to lead 3 people to the lord during this time!  one of the men who prayed to receive christ was a very hard and difficult man, and has been prayed for for months by the church.  who new 2 white girls from arkansas would be the knock out punch of truth and love!!!!  we then attanded an outreach service tonight at pastor daniels church.  they asked us 30 minutes before if we would like to have some of our kids play in a band for them, and if our students would share their testimonies with the church. by the way, there was 200 people there.  so cool when our students without blinking an eye volunteered fearlessly to do both.  the band was made up of luke on drums, brianna on piano, alex on violin, erika and matt singing, with matt playing bass.  it went great!  reid also shared his testimony using strength as his theme and illustration...quoting then 'i can do all things through christ who gives me strength'.  he killed it...so proud.

well...i am absolutely sueno...translated...sleepy.  i will be able to post again tomorrow night.  pray as tomorrow we put on a kids program, pray with more families, and talk more church planting strategy in guatemala

we love you all...we are safe and sound. nobody sick, everybody pretty well rested.  God is certainly good
mateo, marta, and faithful/passionate/humble student team