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.

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Driving Lessons

Well I am giving Chayo driving lessons here in the city. He comes here by bus at the end of the week to learn how to drive. I asked him one day what was one of his dreams and he said to be a taxi or bus driver in the city. So I told him I would give him driving lessons. It is soo fun and hilarious! He is a very smart and intelligent man but has NEVER rode in cars much less driven one in his life. So it is like starting from the beginning with your 15 year old or even younger b/c he has never been around cars like we were growing up. He learned how to use the clutch and gas and brake very fast! Got it. But he can't seem to keep the car going on one direction. It's like the bowling ball bouncing back and forth b/t the lines. But we are driving off the roads and not in traffic! And today he drove Brandi's car which is an automatic...easier to focus on staying straight and not all the gears and clutch. He did very good today. I actually got out and let him drive up and down a straight way by himself today and he loved it....until he ran over that little girl that ran out infront of him. HA Just joking! He went on and on about how awesome this was and how he prays that God blesses me for sharing and teaching him....so wonderful. I am going to video tape the next one so I can remember it and get his face also. It's funny when he starts going faster or doesn't know what to do. But we are having a great time! And God is blessing us both! Wouldn't trade it for nothing. There you go...God bless!!

Daniel

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Independence day

Today is Guatemala's independence day. Levi and I went to the village to celebrate it with the village and Brandi and Mary Kathleen stayed here to celebrate it with her school in the city. It was really fun and LOUD. They have these homemade BOMBS they call fireworks here and all they do is shake the ground when they go off and rupture your eardrum when they go off in the sky. But they love them and last night they went off all night long! And probably again tonight but its fun and they are all excited. They kids in the village danced and crowned the miss independence and freedom girls in the school. They were dressed up very pretty and gave a little speech too. For some of the girls it was the first time I had ever heard them talk. We had a good time. Levi just sat on the dirt hill throwing rocks and playing in the dirt. It has changed here and the rain is slowing down and the heat is picking up! BITES! But the evening usually cools back down into the upper 80's or lower 90's so it isn't that bad. Well we don't have much longer here this year. Only two more months until we go back home to visit. WOW! The year has gone by fast and slow. But we are still praying and straining to hear what God has in store for us next year. Really don't know what is going to happen and cant even imagine right now what we will be doing. But pray with us that it will become clear and our hearts and minds will be ready to do his will! We sure have made some true friendships here and REALLY miss the family back home!! But God is faithful and gives us more than we can ask for or imagine. So we are looking forward for what he has for us in the days to come. Well there you go. God bless!

Daniel

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Body Guards

We are very blessed here in Chiquimula, Guatemala to have a place called Pradera! Pradera is basically a mall with about 10 shoes stores, a dollar general, and a HUGE DIG STORE (which is amazing by the way coming from a family of Yard Sell-aholics). Anyway, this year, Pradera has brought in....whoohoohoo...a movie theater! And even better, on Wednesday, it is two for one! The whole family can go to the movies for less than $7!! :) (You just get excited about the little things sometimes!) Well, yesterday, we invited a family to the movies. We went to see "El Ultimo Maestro del Aire" (The Last Air Master). Last year, this family lost their father/husband in a car accident. Now, Ms. Nati, the mother, is raising two boys, 11 years and 6 years, all by herself. Lester is the oldest boys name, and he is in my Advanced english class. He LOVES soccer and absolutely HATES english. :) Ms. Nati told me that Lester said to her the other day "I like Ms. Brandi outside of class a lot better than inside." ;) Anyway, we all went to the movies and had a great time.
After the movies, we went to eat at the all famous McDonalds, and we must have been in the presence of royalty or something, because we counted 10 BODY GUARDS, all with guns and plenty of extra rounds, guarding this one family sitting right next to our table. I was nervous to put a french fry up to my mouth! Daniel pointed out three body guards behind us, and then he starts making his "Police Training" scenarios..."First I'll steal that guy's gun and shoot the other two before they know what happened." Afterwards realizing that he had missed 7 more body guards spread throughout the restaurant that would have been ready to unload on him. Yeah, he was on top of things. :) I guess being away from the PD for almost two years has gotten the best of him. Needless to say, we waited until the guards went to get their food to get up and leave. :)
Anyway, we had a great time with Ms. Nati and her two boys, but will you please pray for them. Ms. Nati worries a lot about Lester because he has changed so much since his dad passed away...who wouldn't, right? Please help us pray for this family.

Blessing!
Brandi

Monday, September 6, 2010

The Blind Girl's Grandmother

Weird description but I have a cool story that God did this past Friday. We met a 6 year old blind girl at one of the eye doctors medical team this past March. Her name is Andrea. She was born blind ad the doctors said there was nothing medical to do for her. So we prayed and she received her site!! Naw....I wish. But she is sooo smart and soo darling. You would have to talk to her and see her to fully understand how precious she is. But here in Chiquimula there is nothing for her like schools or help. And her family is very very poor. But she was soo precious and it didn't phase her at all when the doctors said she would never see. She only started talking about her family and the other people's needs and how she wanted to help them soo much! A 6 year old! Well I wanted to do what I could to help her so Jose and I went to visit her this past Friday. She was not there but was in the capital with her mom at her aunt's house b/c Andrea had a horrible cough and could not get rid of it in the bad living conditions and weather here in this area so she had been in the capital for a month. So we got her mom's number and hopefully will be able to talk to her. I think it is better for her to be there b/c maybe they can find her a school there in the capital and we can help get her in there and start learning more and improve her life. BUT her grand mother was there and had been praying the day before and that morning for some help with something. It was little but shows how much God listens even to our little prayers. She just found out that her mom was doing very bad and about to die and she had no money or way to go and see her before she passed away. Well there we were and going back in the same direction where her mom lived. So we took her to drop her of at her mom's house. She was soo happy and wouldn't stop talking the whole way there. I guess grandmothers all over the world are the same! HAHA But God showed himself faithful to her by this what seemed a simple little dropping somebody off on our way home. We were very thankful and blessed to be a part of that and see GOD minister to her and her family.
And the update on the woman in the village who might have breast cancer is that we still don't know the results from the exams taken. But she is doing good and hanging in there. Keep praying for her. When we have the results I will post them. But praise God for his faithfulness and goodness! Praise God for his strength and encouragement that we have everyday to continue. And keep your focus on his will and pray for revelation of that will and then take it one step at a time to get that will done! God bless!!!

Daniel

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

We're back!

Been gone for a while. We have been very busy with Brandi's finals at her school and the men's ministry and a birthday vacation. Our parents gave us money for our birthdays and we went to a place here in Guatemala that has a huge water park and a ride park too. The best thing about the whole birthday present was relaxing and spending time together as a family! The eight hour trip was horrible!! but the rest of the time there was great. Well I don't know if I have already said something about taking the men to Charlie's Pizza but we went and it was wonderful! The men loved it and are still talking about the food!! Our preacher from our church here in the city spoke to the men about the last supper and we also served communion as well. It was wonderful!!! And then this morning in the village we met at 6 am for a prayer meeting with the men. We had 13 men come and pray for their families, community, and lives. We served them breakfast afterwards, eggs and beans and bread. Brandi came along and help the other lady in the kitchen and served them. It was truly amazing and a work of God. Things are changing despite the devil and his workings. Pray hard for the men to continue to grow and mature in their relationship with God and teach their families the same! And pray for Brandi and me. We have started to have harder times with missing the family and friends here lately! It has been a while since we have seen our family and both our grandparents are having problems as well right now. There has been the hard and difficult days where the need for extra strength and focus is great!! But God is faithful AMEN! And we are still having opportunities opened to us to continue with the ministry and work God has given us. SO that means we still have to persevere and keep on going with the Lord's strength and guidance. Hard but a blessing!
But while at this rides park with the roller coasters and water rides...kind of like Opry Land but half the size, Levi rode this little roller coaster and he LOVED it!! He rode it like 5 times. I video recorded one of the rides and you can see his face when it gets his stomach. Hilarious!! He loves rides and things like that! He is like his moma and Mary Kathleen is like her daddy...they just about kill her! And the hotel we stayed at was really like a resort. It had 5 or 6 restaurants within the walls and two large swimming pools. There was putt-putt golf and bowling and a nice gym and ping pong. There was a spa where you can get a full body massage and a pedicure and manicure for only 25 dollars. The massage is for 45 minutes!! Brandi didn't ask about it until the last day and the next opening was the next day in the afternoon so she couldn't get one! But wow at this hotel! Good stuff. NO TV so we had to get out and do things...just was wonderful. Ok. Thank you for your prayers and talk at you soon. There you go...

Daniel