Evening Presentation

Today is the last 6 hours of training EPPIC Guatemala in the 45 minute program.  Both teams are coming together to present this program for the very first time ever in Guatemala.  Exciting!  Pray for tonights presentation.  Friends and neighbors have been invited, Pastor Nery will be preaching after the team presents.  Many will see and hear the Gospel message tonight.  I look forward to all that God is going to do.
Romans 10:14-17

Training in San Marcos

This past Sunday, Jessica and I traveled from Minneapolis to Ft. Lauderdale to Guatemala City to San Marcos.  Eighteen hours of straight travel.  Once in Guatemala City we loaded into a van with EPPIC Guatemala City team members, Jamie Lopez and his son Alex.  The four hour drive to San Marcos was beautiful and the fellowship sweet.  It was a gorgeous sunny day for a drive up into the mountains where the town of San Marcos lay nestled among the Serros Mountain Range.

In San Marcos we met up with the EPPIC Guatemala San Marcos mime ministry crew and enjoyed a meal together.  Both Jessi and I were ready for a good nights sleep before starting in on training both mime crews.

Over the past three days we`ve covered most of the new program material.  In the next 5 hours of training today we should be able to put it all together and begin polishing each skecth in  the program.  Both teams are very willing to work, making it easier to train them in their roles and work through each sketch.

There is a special bond that exists between these two crews.  They are united in their deisre to serve the Lord and have developed friendships with each other that extend beyond ministry.  I am encouraged by their commitment to each other and to the ministry to which they have committed themselves.

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them."  Ephesians 2:10    

Leaving….on a jet plane...

Heading to the airport at 10:45 tonight.  Flight is "on time" with a departure scheduled for 1:15 am.  Good ole red-eye flight.  Salvation Poem Cards arrived yesterday and are now distributed between 5 checked bags.  Let's see, 5 bags at a maximum weight of 40 pounds = 200 pounds checked baggage…and it costs...along with the two carry-ons.  When we return home, it's 2 carry-ons and one checked bag. Nice. One of our local team members is driving us to the airport and taking care of things here until Christina gets home from Canada.  I'm so glad I'm not a dairy farmer!

Pray for safe travel, good health, strength and sweet fellowship with our Guatemalan brothers and sisters.

"But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation.  My God will hear me."    Micah 7:7

Salvation Poem Cards

Awaiting 4,000 Salvation Poem Cards to be delivered today.  They weigh in at 42 pounds!  These cards are all in Spanish and are used after presenting the Gospel-in-Mime and giving an evangelistic message.  EPPIC teams in Guatemala have both requested them after experiencing a positive response to the use of them in 2014.  The card provides an individual with scriptures that supports their decision to follow Jesus, serves as a reminder for the individual about the significance of that decision and directs them to a web site where the individual can obtain discipleship materials in their own language…in this case - Spanish.  Go to www.thesalvationpoem.com for more information.  There's also a song that goes along with it!

Prepping for Guatemala

Excitement!  To see our friends and ministry partners in San Marcos and Guatemala City.  Leaving at 1:15 am Sunday morning.  Lots to do in the next two days before departure…..purchase more Reebok shoes, white makeup from Norcostco, white gloves from the army surplus store downtown….

The trick is getting everything to Guatemala City within the allowable baggage weight restrictions.  Between Jessi and I we're checking 4 bags.  Two are taken up with the backdrop and poles for EPPIC Guatemala - Guatemala City, leaving the other two for our personal stuff, a throne for one of the teams and other assorted supplies.  Pack, pack, pack…tight and light.

Then there's the expected distractions.  When you set out to do something in Jesus' name, expect the enemy of our souls to do something(s) to thwart your effort.  I've come to expect it!  Usually things that suddenly come up which require time, attention and dollars.  So far, for this trip, its been a vehicle problem, a sudden infection in Snickers left eye (she's our horse) requiring a vet to have a look, the dryer breaking down etc.  Prayer, patience, faith and steadfastness seem to overcome these distractions.  Whatever the distractions are, I've learned to restrain from getting caught up in them and keep the ball moving forward.  And so it goes :)

"Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary."
Galatians 6:9

Guatemala - Day 4

36 students prayed to receive Jesus for the first time.  17 indicated they desire to recommit their lives to following Jesus.  12 students provided email addresses for discipleship followup.  9 students want to speak with someone from EPPC Guatemala or the local church.  These facts were gleaned from 91 blue response cards students filled out after seeing an EPPIC Gospel in Mime presentation.  All this information was a result of todays outreach at a local school where EPPIC's mime crew ministered to 140 students, teachers and administrators.

The team gathered at Siomara's home in the morning where they went through a quick rehearsal of the five sketches they know.  This was followed by a short devotional on Galatians 2:20 and then the air filled with that all too familiar smell of baby powder, as crew members put their makeup on in preparation for the trip to the school.  A local youth pastor, his wife and small child arrived to help transport the team.  He will be presenting the Gospel message verbally after the presentation.  Sio's little red car with issues is loaded with sound equipment, the white wood box they made to use as God's throne (one from EPPIC will be supplied next trip), the coat bag and a pink backpack containing all the necessary cords for the sound system.  It barely fits as we all pile into the two vehicles and head out.

At the school mayhem reigns until all 140 students and staff are settled into an outdoor performance area in anticipation of seeing something special.  I pray it doesn't rain.  These students vary in age from 10 - 17 years.  The usual student to student joking, jostling and pranking is taking place.  As the team is introduced and the students are settled down, something comes over the audience and God begins to work.  I've witnessed it thousands of times…all eyes glued on the EPPIC crew as they go about presenting the Gospel message without saying a word.  I'm in a familiar spot these days, running sound for the crew and watching them and the audience.  I'm coaching, encouraging, helping facilitate….but most of all, just there to observe.  All things considered, EPPIC Guatemala City, does a great job and the Lord uses them to impact individuals in this particular audience….again.

For the the teams efforts, the school, uncharacteristically, provided Sio with a small honorarium.  Sio graciously gives it to the young youth pastor who helped transport the team and speak after the presentation.  I know Sio's economic situation and I'm impressed with her generosity as she trusts in the Lord to provide.  We certainly share that in common as we both seek to serve Jesus and trust Him with providing all that is needed.  I think all of us fell asleep tonight encouraged that the Lord used us to share the Gospel with 140 individuals, 53 of whom demonstrated through prayer and a card, that they desire to follow Jesus Christ.

"The sum of Your Word is truth, and every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting".  Ps. 119:160

Guatemala City - Day 3

Flexibility.  This is an important word…probably in any context.  It's certainly a key word here in Guatemala as life and living and plans here can change due to many contributing factors beyond your control.  Most importantly of which has been the wet weather.  It has rained every day here, sometimes very hard, causing little rivers of water to flow throughout the streets.  It interrupts things, causes delays and can soak you through and through in a matter of seconds.  Try taking down sound equipment set up outside in a down pour….no fun at all.

I had the morning to myself.  Was suppose to meet with two team members for some training where I'm staying, but that changed.  I had the afternoon to myself.  Had some plans for the evening, but that changed.  Had the evening to myself.  Well, I'm really suppose to be in Honduras anyway working with EPPIC Honduras, but that changed.  Flexibility :)

I officially start working with EPPIC Guatemala City on Friday.  Since my plans changed in regards to traveling to Honduras, I jumped right in with the team here as they prepare for a presentation at a school tomorrow.  Plans are to rehearse in the morning, have lunch, prep for presentation and then travel to the school in the afternoon and present a program.  Those are the plans.  Things could change.  Remember…be FLEXIBLE!  :)