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.

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Pastor Seminar with Chris Weldon

Well after Chris spent two days beating on the police officers here in Chiquimula and training them on many other things (haha), he came to our house and lead the pastors through a study on the Psalms. God used him in a great way! I know Chris had to be exhausted...I was! The pastors loved the seminar! I loved the seminar! It opened our eyes to see the Psalms at a different level and come to understand them more! I was a little worried about the education level for some of us, but the pastors were so attentive and alert and asked a lot of questions! And there were times where they had to explain and answer a lot of questions...praise the Lord they seemed to be right on with the teachings and material being taught. We had 22 pastors able to come and participate in the day and a half seminar. Many had to sleep in tents and outside on sleeping bags, but they really enjoyed the fellowship and the Food!! Brandi and Nancy always do a great job cooking and providing us and the pastors with some of the best tasting food!! For many of the pastors, it is the only meal out of the whole month where they will be able to eat meat...and a lot of it! Praise the Lord!! Thank y'all for your support and prayers for these seminars!! It really means so much to the pastors and more to us that y'all remember, pray and provide for these seminars! Chris had several folks from his church help pay the costs of this seminar, and he was able to buy a book on "How to Preach in the Spirit" for each pastor that was here. He left the English copy for me and let me tell you that it is a awesome book!!! So thank you to Chris and his church for their love and pouring into the lives of the pastors as well as our lives! God is so good!





Police Training!!

Boom Baby!! Back in action!!! Dan Dan the Po Po Man! Haha! I know...really weird...but funny! I had the greatest time working with Josh Byrd and his ministry training the police officers here in Chiquimula! And with one of my old partners I use to work with at Florence Police Department, Lee Smith. We worked on the same shift together for almost 4 years. And Chris Weldon also came, who is a Florence Police Officer; but during my time at the PD, Chris was my pastor at the church where I was serving as youth pastor. Good stuff huh? We trained the police here for two days. There were about 75 officers that passed through the training. They were so excited and grateful! I was excited for them! What a blessing. Some of the supervisors shared with us that they hadn't received any new training for more than 15 years now, and others had only practiced firing with their firearms 2 times during those 15 years! But they received firearms training and were able to go to the firing range and shoot! It felt great to be back doing a little bit of that work again! I didn't know if I would remember the training with the cuffs and ground fighting, but it all came back to me after a few minutes. I have seen some of the officers since the training, and they were still friendly and talked to me...so I guess I'm still good here. Thanks Josh for letting me be a part of your ministering to the police and to Lee and Chris for letting me participate with them in the training! Good stuff!









Kids' Graduation at the Church on the Rock

Last year we met a guy named TJ who ministers in Central America by giving out Spanish material to different missions and people to distribute to the communities. He gave us enough material to give to all our pastors for each member in their churches! WOW! I really didn't know how they would receive the material or if they would even know how to use it...but they Loved It!!! And we received another load from TJ again this year with some different material and more of the same for our new pastors.
Well...our pastor/friend from the church on the rock has two leaders in the church who taught the little kids the Sunday School material. The kids studied the whole book so they did a graduation ceremony for the kids. They had clowns, songs, pinatas and diplomas for the kids! All the kids walked in carrying a little candle to symbolize being the light of the world by learning and using God's Word! It was great! They even had a diploma and gift for our kids...just to include and love them b/c they didn't study with the church. We were so impressed and thankful for the love and time the church is pouring into the kids in this village! And we are thankful to TJ for providing the material for the churches. We have several of the pastors telling us that the members are very excited and are loving the material! So praise God and glory to Him for His awesome work and moving in Guatemala!! God is Good!! There you go...