What We Do

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We are a non-profit organization that works with pastors, churches, schools, and the local hospital in Chiquimula, Guatemala. We host training seminars for pastors, leaders, and youth from rural areas and we help supply the congregations with Biblical materials to minister to their communities. We visit several public schools to share a Biblical story and play with the kids. We also pray in the local hospital and give out toys, toiletries, and Biblical materials. Ways to Be a Part of this Ministry: Come - We need pastors and leaders to come and teach these pastors and leaders here in Guatemala. Or you could bring a group to work in the churches or schools with construction or evangelism. Financially Support - If you would like to support this ministry, please visit our website at www.eyeswideopenministries.com to donate online or send your donation to: P.O.Box 245 Florence, Alabama 35631 Make your checks payable to Eyes Wide Open Ministries. All donations are tax-deductible. Pray - Please pray we will follow God's leading in all we do.

Friday, July 30, 2010

Incident With Men's Ministry

Hello. I was preaching at the village with the men this past Monday. There is a man named Esteban that comes to the meetings and he knows a lot about the Bible and goes to the church. A very knowledgable man on the Bible and the truth. But he is a little slow. This past February one of the men in the village shot him under his jaw upperwards toward the top of his head, but the bullet travled through his jaw and then went out behind his ear instead of going into his head. And he lived and only has scars from getting shot. We took him to another town to live with his sister then, but since then someone else has shot and killed that man so he came back to live with his grandmother. But he had missed the men's Bible study the week before, and I thought that was weird b/c he always makes it to the meetings. He came this time and told me before we got started that he was not doing good. He has to take medicine for seizures and had ran out of his medicine. He told me that was the reason he didnt come to the meeting the week before b/c he is having seizures three or four times a day. And right after he told me this he had two seizures within 30 minutes at the Bible study. He got embarrassed and tried to leave but he couldnt walk. So Chayo and I took him in my car to his house. I have since then been trying to find his medicine, but I have to have a presciption to get it for him. I felt so hopeless and bad for him. He came all the way down the mountain knowing that he was going to have more seizures and could have hurt himself had he been walking or something just to ask if I could help him get some medicine. So pray that we will be able to get something done fast!! There are also two other people in the village that has the same problem and suffering the same way. So please pray for us to be diligent in getting them help and successful. God bless.

Daniel

Sunday, July 25, 2010

A new old idea

Well today in church I was hit with a thought and reason from God about my life and my idea of what I need to do or the "work" that God has for us. I go to a church where there is ALWAYS something to do or something going on, maybe at the church or other events or house groups. There is always something going on and they STRONGLY encourage you to get involved with everything if you can. Sometimes it feels as if their encouragement leads to the feeling that if you are not involved with everything then you are not doing enough or seeking the Lord. Not everyone leaves you with this feeling but some do. And b/c of this I has developed an attitude of something kind of like...why do I need y'all to be in God's will or why do I have to go to your training to have a ministry here. I felt like...just leave me alone with the ministry that God has sent me to do b/c I am busy enough with it and don't have time for your everyday events and obligations. I know...strong feelings! But it was also...WRONG! My attitude. Today the Lord reminded me in church that it is not my life that was formed but a creation that was formed by God for him. I am here for him. The Bible always instructs us to seek first God and his ways...his desires...his direction. One verse that I am coming to love more and more is when Jesus instructed us before he was about to ascend to heaven in Matthew the last chapter the last section. He said, "Go and get your educations and be sure to go all the way to your universities and secure your job with benefits and get your houses and find your favorite church to attend and be a committed Sunday and Wednesday church goer and the rest of the time is your decision to occupy." WONDERFUL verse...huh?? HAHA Not What It Says! Today I was reminded that we are given the OPPORTUNITY to be connected to Christ and be involved with his ministry and kingdom of making disciples and teaching them to obey God's Word while living in this world (Matt. 28:19,20). The Christians, the followers of Christ, in the early church in Acts would meet together regularly and pray and encourage and praise God. They provided for each other and basked in the presence of God! The presence of God!!! B/c they were seeking him with all their heart and desire and giving to him so he could give to them in return. I am going to pray for that instruction to be my heart's desire. I don't have to have my houses and trucks and "things" first or for the most part and then what time and part of me that is left give to the ministry in my church or the ministry in Guatemala or whatever God puts in my path to conquer and gain for the glory of God!! I am way to caught up in myself. I was aggravated with my church making me feel bad that I wouldn't get up at 5 am to pray or go to an event at night or start a prayer ministry in the morning at the village! God has given us a whole 24 hours to relax and re-energize so we don't go insane. I have taken advantage of that 24 hours today and I feel sooo good!! I have been more calm today with my kids and been able to play with them without thinking I have to leave in 5 minute to go take care of something else. I have enjoyed being with my wife and relaxing! But I WANT to start living now with a Christ like heart and put first and seek first his kingdom and be involved with his work and be shown the very things of God!! Jesus says we are his friends if we obey him and he hides nothing from his friends. I am excited and pray for the strength and courage to go crazy for the Lord while I am here in Guatemala. God is good!! Well...there you go.


Daniel

Friday, July 23, 2010

Got Nothing

Hello. I really don't have much to say. I just heard a story from Brandi where she made a little girl in her school here in the city cry! I thought that was funny b/c the students think she is mean and always mad. But really she is almost the only teacher there that disciplines her students or makes them GO TO CLASS!! (SO DIFFERENT THAN THE SCHOOL IN THE MINSTRY ! Those kids up there are so good!) Anyway it is pretty rough but she is doing good...making them cry and behave. I love it....better the little kids than ME!! HAHA But just about finished setting all the tile in the clinic today. There is only a little bit more left after a two day job turned into a week and a half job! But it is going to look good and be easier to keep clean after some patients have accidents on the floor. Oh yeah...I have been trying to fix my truck for little over a month with the fan clutch to cool the radiator. I got the part today and hope I can put it on and see if it works tomorrow. First part I get didn't go to a Ford Ranger....but the mechanic said it went to a Ford so it has to work. Weirdo! Well...it didn't work. Would not even fit on the motor. So the mechanic told us to cut the blades down on the fan so it would fit. Couldn't do that b/c it was not for my truck and would not fit. They just couldn't understand that. So I was able to send it back to him with the help of my neighbor and let him find the right fan to send back. I explained I do not want anything but the fan that goes to my truck. Well if they didn't just
"fix" the fan themselves. The metal center piece on the fan had cracked and broke it places. They welded another piece of metal around the broke piece and cut holes for the bolts. I just don't understand but Lord willing it will work. I am going to try it tomorrow so pray for us. Well we have been having fun here lately with the kids and each other. It has been raining off and on causing it to cool down here so that is wonderful. I am sorry I only talk about frustrations...they seem to teach me more and make me laugh more than the other things. But I will write more about the good things here when ever they get here...HAHA Just joking!! We are doing great and enjoying the ministry that God has blessed us with and hope to continue to have the privilege to serve God where ever He wants us. God is GOOD! There you go.

Daniel

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

The PAIN!!/Teaching Trip

The men in the village had to work on a concrete floor with us the past couple of days. Mme Jo is going to lay tile on the floor but it was a finished concrete floor and the stucco(?) would not stick to the smooth floor so YES! we had to pick the floor to take off the smooth layer of concrete. The men used hatchets and hammers to get it off. I help the second day and thought I was going to die!! You sit there and hammer and hammer and after three or four hits a tiny little piece of concrete comes off. And it is a 340 sq ft building. Towards the end of the day I couldn't use my hands. If I was gripping something I could get my fingers off later b/c I couldn't straighten them out. If I was trying to grip something with strength I couldn't b/c I had none! And that was only one day. And my compassionate, tender wife had very encouraging words for me...I am tired of hearing you complain about your hands and how you hurt. You need to stop complaining! Ohhhhh how I love you in those moments! The men worked the entire day before doing this!! And they never complained!! They were very thankful to get the job and work! It reminded me of when me and my brothers would always get asked to do the nasty jobs when we were younger. B/c we were the only stupid ones who would do it! But here...it doesn't matter...you have them lined up to do the job! DIFFERENT! We one time cleaned UNDER the weighing scales at the Sale Barn. For you who don't know...that is where all the urine and poop go! from the cows and animals go while they are standing there being weighed! Or having to mow an entire yard with a straight down slope with only weed eaters...but thanks to Luke's generous idea to mow the straight down slope with a RIDING MOWER we finished that fast!!! After we pulled him off the upside down mower with the tires still spinning and the motor running!! HAHA Or when me and Luke crawled under a house with hardly no space to crawl and pulled all the insulation out a little hole at one end or the house. Or picking up constructions sites after the destruction of building houses. But see....half of these do not even compare to that work the other day!! And the men left smiling and willing to return for more! We even had to tell them that that was it and they could go home! Good stuff. Do all things without complaining and whining! in other words....So there you go!

Daniel


Hey! It's Brandi. I wanted to tell you about last Friday (July 16th, 2010). I teach at a school in the city and I teach one day a week in the ministry in the village. On Friday, I took my advanced students from the city school to the school in the village. Only one of the students from the school had EVER seen the village before! So, they were all super excited to go see a different part of their city. When we got there, there was a car that could take us up the mountain to the village school, but I gave the students the option of walking the mountain to see what these students in the village have to do every day to get to school. So, all but two of the students took off walking, and yes, I did too. When we reached the school, we all were just a sweatin', but they were so excited to be there. The students in the ministry received the city students so well and they gave them a beautiful welcome and they put on a drama for them and gave them cards, in English. It was so awesome. The city students brought 20 bags of food to give to 20 different families in the village, and they also brought clothes to give to all of the children. Afterwards, they all had the opportunity to teach an English class and they all did SO awesome! They gave the students in the village candy for doing "well" in class and stickers too, and we all just had a great time. Now my city students have to write a comparison paper, in English, describing their experience.

Next semester, my high school class in the city are going to do the same thing, and many of the teachers and students in the city school want to continue doing this. It was such a great experience, and I wanted to share it with you. :)

Blessing!

Brandi

Thursday, July 15, 2010

The Simple Things

Hello. I had an interesting day two days ago in the village with Chayo. I went thinking we were going to build up some steps out of concrete for a ramp to get from the bottom classrooms to the top at the feeding center. But when I got there Chayo was planting banana trees b/c there was no sand to make the mix for the steps. So I jumped in and started helping Chayo planting banana trees. We were planting them in rows on the side of a mini cliff or a steep hill so the rain wouldn't take more of the soil off that steep hill. So that was difficult trying to swing a pick and use a shovel on the side of the hill. I fell several times and after every fall I would hear a very calm voice from Chayo saying, "Be careful Daniel." He would never look up or laugh, just say be careful. There is more grace and mercy here than back at home with my family b/c we always laughed when things liked that happened but I reckon as often as it happens here nothing would get done if we always stopped to laugh. But we had to cut a huge limb off a tree that was above the banana trees that we were planting so the banana trees could grow up tall and not be hindered by the other tree limb. Well Chayo throws a string around the limb and hands it to me and then goes and climbs the tree with his machete to cut the huge limb down. I think it took him as long as it would have took with a chain saw to cut the limb with his machete. It didn't fall on me if that is what you are anticipating to read! But after we got it down. Chayo and another teacher went on and on and on about how much money that limb would sell for in the village to be used for construction or support for something. They didn't stop talking about that limb for over an hour. A LIMB. The same thing I was thinking that is an annoyance for us and that we cut and throw in a pile and burn or put on the side of the road. They treasure this limb and use it Chayo said for a the Least TEN years. It's like they were touching and moving a monument. But it reminded me of how blessed we are here in Chiquimula that God always provides for his people whether through tree limbs or rain for the food or encouragement from your bother. I am always reminded of how much I complain and EXPECT from God when I work with the ministry and the people there. It is a blessing and a privilege to be here and I am encouraged all the time by being here. Even though at times all I can think about is going back home. I think there will always be those moments that come and cause me to feel that way. But when I keep my focus and open my eyes...then I can see and learn more and more about God and myself! Now I understand Paul when he says what a wretched man I am. But we ended up planting about 13 banana trees before lunch that day. Anyhow...Another funny site is watching the people that have never seen a escalator come to the newest thing here....the mall...and watch them attempt to go up and down it. I had to help a lady last night go down. I have actually seen them put one foot on it and start the splits as that one leg moves up with the moving step and the other foot stays on the floor! LOL Hilarious! Or they will get enough courage and just jump on the moving step but instead or maintaining their balance, they will start leaning backwards and the person behind will catch them or the person assisting them will pull them back straight. I have never seen one fall praise the Lord b/c they actually have guards posted there for...I imagine...assisting these people in ascending and descending without injuries. Good stuff. I know...A.D.D. But there you go!

Daniel

Sunday, July 4, 2010

Happy Independence Day!!

Well, I'm home with a sick little girl. She started getting a fever last night when we were in a youth event at the church, and she has pretty much had one ever since. We don't really know what is wrong. She just doesn't feel good and has a fever, so Lord willing, she will be better by tonight. Please pray for her.

Happy 4th of July everyone! You know, the Independence day here is on Sept. 15th, and they make their own fireworks here...actually, I would call them bombs, but whatever. They say that the ones with colors are shot during Christmas, but we have been in the States for Christmas, so we don't know. Fireworks are a big deal here. Every birthday is celebrated with fireworks...at 5 in the morning...EVERY BIRTHDAY. And we live in a pretty big neighborhood where each house has at least a family of six living in it. Usually a band follows at 5:15 am, and at 6 am, everyone goes back to sleep. And if you think I'm exaggerating, just come and live with us for a week, and you will experience the 5 am birthday blast. (Just ask my parents.) But, it is funny how your ears get used to things. There are also some black birds that sit outside our windows, and when the sun comes up, they got to "singing". (Actually outrageous squawking). But we didn't even know they still were there anymore until my parents came to visit us a few weeks ago and asked how we could sleep with the birds and fireworks in the morning. Don't even notice them anymore. :)

Anyway, I guess I just wanted to share the firework story...and wish everyone a Happy 4th!

Much Love,

Brandi

Friday, July 2, 2010

Still Making it!

Well another frustrating moment when my truck started heating up while we were driving. I thought that maybe it just needed more water or maybe the thermostat was sticking or something LITTLE!!! But NO!!!! So one afternoon I was looking at the motor trying to figure out what tools I would need to take out the thermostat. And as I was scanning over everything I noticed that the freakin FAN in front of the motor was MISSING!!!!! I noticed it was sitting on the bottom of the fan cover in front of the radiator. It had been lying against the belts and was starting to burn throught the blades on the fan. I didn't know what to think! I did thank God that we were not left stranded when it happened and made it home. I called the mechanic and he said it was the bearings inside the fan clutch that were bad and that was why it came off. Well a new one cost....mucho and I haven't been able to find a used one yet but I will probably be going to the capital in the next couple of days to walk the "parts streets" to find a used fan clutch. I do believe that Lord willing when we get it fixed I will drive it straight to the street corner and put a for sale sign on it and sell it! Enough! But I am thankful that it made it this far and hopefully we will make it with just Brandi's car...I know WE will but it will make it more complicated to get things to and from the village and with me and Brandi going two different ways for work will be a little harder too. But Praise the Lord we do have a car...pray for our car. And we will make it and keep going and doing what we can do. Pray that my truck will sell and the right person will get it. BUT I cant tell you how bad I am missing my family now. I don't know why it seems so hard right now but I am looking forward to hanging out with my crazy brothers and my sister. Keith, Luke , and Jo are soo funny and most of the time it's funny to listen to them get Keith all upset or see Josiah pout like dad does. OH It was so funny while Luke and Jo were here. Jo and Meg were left one night at the mall through an incredible miss understanding but Jo....soo funny...was soo overwhelmed with the idea that they were left that he was soo dramatic and sensitive!! You could not help but laugh at his face and the way he was yelling and going on about how bad that was. And then when Luke would laugh....OH....he would start rubbing his chest just like Bones does and get the exact same expressions that Bones has when his feelings are hurt. If you know Josiah...you HAVE TO ask him about that experience and watch his face! Hilarious! But God is good and very funny!! Love Him! Well...there you go.


Daniel