Music Lessons with the Church on the Rock

We have mentioned in an email about the music lessons that the Lord has opened up a door to start in the church on the Rock in Salfate village, and we wanted to post pictures.  We will complete one month of lessons this week, and Bryan, Ruben, and Brandon (some GREAT guys from the church we attend in the city, Casa del Alfarero) are teaching about 10 students how to play the guitar and/or the piano.  We are so impressed with how fast these students are learning.  We hope to continue this ministry next year and grow and move into other village churches as well and teach those interested in serving the Lord in worship through playing an instrument.

Couple's Seminar

We have been blessed to be able to work with pastors from all over Guatemala. The seminars are mainly for pastors who are located in rural areas and in the villages. These pastors do not have the opportunities to go to school to study the Bible or get their Bible degrees from the Biblical Institutions here because they do not have the money to pay for these things. So we felt led by God to start giving classes and seminars to help educate and equip these pastors with the material and resources to grow and understand more about the Bible and what it is to be called as a pastor. Praise the Lord, the ministry has now worked with these amazing pastors and leaders for two years now. We feel we have a good relationship with these guys and have come to know them personally. The Lord placed it on Brandi's heart to work with their wives and other female leaders with the same mission to equip and train them as they have the opportunities to work in the church and in God's leading in their communities. The ministry also has worked with some of their youth by giving some seminars to them as well. Well, now we felt lead to work with the pastoral couples and the leaders as husband and wife. They never get a chance to be alone or go on dates or special events alone, and they are working and living from day to day so those special times to get away aren't a part of their culture or understanding. Even during the seminar at the lunch break, we gave them a very special meal and a table by themselves to spend time one on one, and I had to tell several of them to stop organizing their next outreach or talking about their ministries with their other buddies and spend time with their wife! They looked at me like...are you crazy for interrupting me! I'm talking and organizing things for the Lord! I thought some of them were going to get ugly with me when I escorted them back to their table with their wife. Haha We invited two leaders from our church in Chiquimula, Carlos and Zuly, to come and teach the couples. We had been to a couples retreat with our church together and the material we received was amazing so we asked them to do the same with the couples in this seminar. It went excellent and everyone had a great time. We were laughing and then some times they we crying. We had the opportunity to pray for each of them and see God work in their relationship as husband and wife and a family. We also had a photographer come in and take pictures of each couple. She then made a very pretty picture with graphic designs on the edges so that the couples could take it home. These couples are so humble and sweet. Some of them were embarrassed to look at their picture with their spouse. And of course...I had some fun with that by making a big deal about how beautiful they looked and how wonderful their house was going to look now with their picture on the wall. So we give glory and praise to God for being present in this couple seminar and for teaching the couples and restoring their relationship and marriage. Keep them in your prayers please! Thank you for your prayers for these seminars and God's ministry in Guatemala! God bless!!

 

Youth Seminar far away

Well, we are back from a village far away which is located near the Belize border. It took a crazy 8 1/2 hours to get there on Friday....rough stuff with three kids, three adults, and bags in a 4runner!! But praise the Lord we made it with no problems and slept good the first night. Brandi, Nancy, and I had different lessons to teach throughout the two days there. We had two lessons in the morning and two in the afternoon and one at night. One of us would stay at the hotel with the kids while the other two would go to the church and teach. The weather was better this time of the year than when we went last time in the middle of the year. It got pretty cool at night and in the mornings but hot in the afternoons. But we made it home safely, and after I figured out how to tie a better knot, Levi stopped falling off the top of the car while going down the road. You know how kids think everything is fun or funny! Relax!!! Just joking!

There were between 25 to 30 youth and some adults during the seminar. We had a great time with them, playing games and doing dramas to keep things fun and interesting. They also took notes and answered us while we taught...more than we do as adults sometimes. The Lord's presence was there heavily during the worship and while ministering at the end of the services! I give thanks to our God for His spirit and that He takes control and speaks to the people during events like this. I know that without His words we are not able to accomplish anything. But because He cares so much for each of those kids and wants to know each one of them more intimately, He comes and ministers and loves on us when we open the door for him. God spoke directly to several of the youth in each situation that they were going through. Thank you praying and interceding for us and the youth in Peten! Now join me in giving thanks to God for pouring out His Spirit and answering our prayers! We are grateful to God for giving us the opportunity to share His light in that village and each of you for being a part of the seminar! God is good and so very faithful!!

In the Mountains

Well, we went to a town called La Union that is about 2 hours from our house to participate in a outreach campaign with other pastors and churches. Josh Byrd and I went and spent two nights with the pastors and other missionaries, Jason and Angie Christman. We had a great time hanging out with our missionary friends who just recently left our town to live in this area. We were able to sleep in their house that was about 30 min. down the mountain from the school where the night services were held. This was better than my last experience with Blake Bowlin last year when we left for another outreach and stay in the outside area for three nights and four days, no shower and no house. So this time was amazing! We were able to spend time together with Jason and Angie during the day which was encouraging and uplifting to us all. This place was cooler than our town because it was higher up in the mountains and was very beautiful! The night services were about 3 or 3 1/2 hours long. They had a worship band come in and lead worship and a guest speaker to do the evangelism. The first night there were 8 who received Jesus and 4 the second night. We had to leave and missed the third night so I don't know how many received Jesus that last night. Josh and I were able to participate at the end of each service when we ministered and prayed with the people there who did not know Jesus. This is the major way that the pastors in the mountains reach out to the communities to evangelize and win souls. The people are attracted there by the music and crowd of people from the churches in the area, and then they use that opportunity to speak to the whole area with really loud speakers and invite the people to ask Jesus into their hearts. Usually they go out during the day with groups of two to walk house to house and share and pray with the people and invite them to the service that night. But this group did not do that this time. But, praise the Lord, many came to know Jesus in that area through the outreach services at night. Continue to pray for this area, La Union, and the people who received Jesus to be strengthened and grow in their relationship with Jesus.
To see pictures of this trip, click the following link: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.211170388984837.33616.211151252320084&type=1&l=1f5fc280a5 There are other pictures in this album as well. 

Road Trip!!

We just got back from a visit with another one of our Casa del Alfarero church in a city called Coban. It is about four hours from Chiquimula, and it is higher in the mountains making the climate cooler and the vegetation greener. We went with our pastor to celebrate the church's four year anniversary. I played the drums and Brandi sang in the worship band. We had a great time worshiping and singing with the people in the church. We played Saturday night and Sunday morning. Last time we went, we stayed in the pastor's house their in Coban. It was a very pretty house and big so we had our own room and two beds for the kids and Brandi and me. But this time we have Uriah also so we were thinking it was going to be a little rough and crowded with the whole family, but we wanted to go anyway. Well the church in Coban paid for us to stay in a hotel this time. It was one of the most gorgeous hotels I have seen in Guatemala! It had it's antique look about it but was very comfortable, and the room had three beds. Levi and Mary Kathleen got to have their own bed and Uriah slept in a pack-n-play, and Brandi and I got our own bed. The hotel had hot water also, so we took hot showers. It got so cool that night that we were actually cold with no A/C! Awesome! So we ended up having a great time and slept very comfortably. So why say all this...I thought it was a great opportunity to praise God and thank Him for His goodness and gifts that we so do not deserve! He never ceases to amaze me and surprise us with these kind of things. And we have done nothing to deserve these things...it is just the goodness and mercies of the Lord that He pours out on us all the time! So thank you God for such an enjoyable and relaxing time in Coban where we were also privileged with the opportunity to lead worship with Your people there! God is GREAT!!! 

The Unworthy servant

I was reading my Bible today in Luke 17 when I received a revelation from God that humbled me and reminded me of certain things in my life that I need to keep in focus. Jesus came to serve and DIE for us!! So no one can say that He is not fair or that He demands too much! He gave ALL!! For you and me! So with that being said I saw another side of who God is in this chapter. Jesus was more speaking to those with self and spiritual pride issues within themselves. But we must allow Jesus to examine our heart to discover if these things are inside of us as well. And as you read the verses try to imagine that the men and the servant is you in your today job or serving in the church or your ministry. This opened my eyes and made me want to cry! But it's simple! 
In verses 11-18, Jesus heals 10 men with leprosy while they were on their way to the priests to present themselves and begin the ritual of those who have been cleansed. Only one returns singing and shouting praises to God and falls at Jesus' feet to say thank you. Jesus was amazed that only one had come back after all had been healed. Jesus was astonished at how the other 9 had acted after He did something wonderful in their lives...as if nothing had happened and they went on with their lives. Kind of makes me thing..."Finally got what we needed, now let's go." or "It's about time...been praying about that for a while, now let's go on." How sad!! How many times do we do this very same thing? And amaze our God at how we act. The very gift of Salvation should put us at the level of that one man who came back shouting and singing praises to God!! Everyday!! Not just at that moment or week that we receive salvation! And then the countless acts of kindness and mercy throughout our lives should keep that fire going in our spirit to shout and sing praises everyday!! And how often do I find MYSELF complaining or thinking that's not fair? Or this is too hard. It stinks!!! Stinks bad!! Then we read in verses 7-10 in that same chapter and find the same idea taught there. If we are serving God as His servants, then why do we at times think this is not fair or man I deserve something better than this after all I have done! Here Jesus teaches that we are serving the King and Master! We have done nothing to deserve this privilege but His gift allows us to be able to serve Him. Jesus says in verse 10, "So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty'." And what do we normally say or think?? Huh?? I know many times that is not my response. Sometimes I act and talk like I deserve better after all I've done or given. How foolish and destructive that is to me. The very fact that I am allowed to serve Him...many times by serving others...is a privilege and a great honor for me. I want to cry at how often I have treated my Master and God after I have completed the tasks He has allowed me to do. But if we take on this spirit and this attitude...which is all of what Jesus was on Earth...we then put ourselves in the position where God can teach us more about Himself and who He is. And then become more like Him! Another Wow! So I am re-focusing today on how I can serve better and serve with this attitude and heart! I want to shout and sing about the goodness of God in Guatemala! And at the end of the day thank God for the privilege of serving Him and serving others. Because I also know that my Master loves me and desires to be with me intimately! How wonderful and amazing that is! I am an unworthy servant!! Only doing my duty!!  There you go....

Visitors from the church on the rock

This past week was my birthday, the 12th, and Brandi's birthday, the 17th, and this week is Mary Kathleen's birthday, the 21st. Our friends from the church on the rock came to our house Sunday the 12th to celebrate with us our birthdays and spend some time together. But something unexpected happened that morning at church with Brandi. She had to leave church and go to the hospital to get some oxygen and an anti-inflammatory shot because her throat was swelling up and she was loosing the ability to speak and move her arms and legs. I know...you're probably thinking what a break for the husband but this was more serious so we can't go there. I did mention that though while in the ER and got a smile from Brandi. I know....but we'll keep going with the story. Despite all that was happening the church insisted on coming to our house and celebrating with us because they had already rented a bus, prepared the food, and bought a cake. And these people do not have money and work to make it day to day. So we couldn't say no even though we were overwhelmed and thought it best not to. But look what a good time we had with them! They fed us some delicious food and an amazing cake! They were not anything overwhelming but very relaxing and encouraging to us all! We had the best time laughing and listening to words of encouragement from all of them. The kids were playing with the other kids from the church...I don't remember seeing Uriah the whole time because the ladies from the church were passing him around and adoring him the whole time! And Uriah loves it!! We only had to get the oxygen tank out once for Brandi and after two more tranquilizers, she was good. HAHA Just joking!! Brandi sat and enjoyed the company and was encouraged! I KNOW that what we thought was too much and overwhelming God had already lined it up to be ready to encourage us and strengthen us before we even knew we were going to need it!! God is so good!! So we are very thankful for our friends and church family from Salfate and really don't know how it would have ended up if they had not come and loved on us! There you go...

Daniel