Home Again, Home Again

a quicky-

Sorry everyone about our lack of posting at the end of the trip. There was a big storm and the mission house was powerless for 2 days, so no internet.

Ministry in the schools

From Pastor Ken and Lorette

We just returned from a very long day, but a very good day in Panimache. The last two afternoons we have torrential down pours. We got the bus stuck taking a detour. All sorts of fun stuff.

Today, it was a three hour long bus ride up through the mountains. I think we sang every single song that your kids know, including Christmas, musicals, Veggie Tales, and Christian. It was fun and a blessing for Jodi.

After a three mile hike down the mountain we had a service with the children. We gave them lots of gifts, candy and school supplies. We did face painting for them. We also did dramas and skits. We took them balls to play with and taught them to play dodge ball.

Overall everyone is feeling better. We have purchased all the Imodiom that is available in San Lucas. Today we needed to go to another town to get some. It has not been very serious but I believe all of us have experienced it.

We are very proud of our team. They have ministered with all of their heart. They have had fun with everyone they have met. They have blessed many, many people. Julio and Jodis children will be very sad when they leave. They have formed great friendships.

Now Claudia says...they are driving me crazy. But you all know that I am half way there already.

Nikki and all, the youth is planning on doing worship on Sunday. Thank you for the opportunity. Look forward to sharing with all of you.

Love Ken and Lorette

Hey everyone back in the United States of America! I wanted to update, but its going to be a short one, because I am very wiped out from today, and we have a big big day in front of us tomorrow. So today, we all woke up around the same time as usual (6am) and had breakfast, and devotions. Then we went to 3 schools to witness. 2 of them were younger kids (ages 4-11) and thats where we all fell in love. The little boys loved the Boys on the team, and the little chicas, loved the girls on our team. We shared skits (Which skit? the itch skit! being my favorite lol) stories (noah, and david and goliath) and also gospel bracelets and lolli pops. THe kids just didnt want to leave us alone, and we didnt want to leave at all. If it were legal, Im sure some of us would've taken 1 or 2 or 4 or 11 home with us.. But thats not possibe =( yesterday night we took a decently long bus ride to an orphanage. We were all so blessed by these kids. Some feel asleep in laps, and it was just a great precious moment for a picture.

Tomorrow is Panamache (SP?) but its a 3 hour bus ride, then we have to hike down the mt because its a village in the mountians... I know that we all need rest, and a lot of us are still getting hurt and sick. We STILL need prayer.
Korinne-dislocated her finger (No french brading tomorrw =( )
Alli-Stomach hurts
Holly and katie-Blisters on feet from playing basketball
Mrs Shive- All in all for her sickness, and to feel better
Everyone else- Stomach problems, hurting body parts, headaches, and just attacks all over the place.

Please and thank you in advance for your prayers. Jesus is moving here in Guatemala, but we still have 2 and a half days left!

<3>
ps. Happy fathers day here in good ol guatemala! and happy birthday to pastor Ken and Roger!

pss. Lots of sports are being played!one day after a soccer game, 7 men gave their hearts to jesus (some of us were playing basketball so we didnt see this special event) So that was a great experience!!! Mucho Fun!
Miss you all!

more pics coming soon this computers internet connection is verrrrry slow, so its takes forever!! AHh!!

DAYs 4 and 5--> Shopping, Evangelism, Church and Sports

¡Hola amigos y familia!
For the last few days we have had very little internet access due to a large group of tiny and loud guatemalan women wearing high heels who stayed in tyhe mission house for a weekend retreat. The time was , as Pastor Ken says a "fruit tester" because they had full reign to the entire palace and we stayed locked in our dungeon (ie. bedrooms).
Anyway, for the update...
Yesterday (Saturday the 14th) we were awoken by loud spanish music at 6am (aka the high heeled herd). Julia, Noah, and Katie shared their devotions, breakfast was devoured and we were off to shop (in the Antigua market) until we dropped or ran out of dinero! We all got many beautiful things and got to eat at the most gorgeous Mickey D's ever. (by the way, did you know that in the bathrooms here-everywhere but the mission house,PRAISE GOD-we have to dispose of our toilet paper in the trash can? GROSS!!!) Then we went to the park in San Lucas to join all the local pastors in prayer for the city. We gave out/shared most of our stock of Gospel Bracelets. The little kids LOVE them! While there we had some interesting encounters, but God and the boys kept us safe. later we had worship team and drama practice. then bed.
TODAY...
is Sunday, so we had church. Betcha didn't see that one coming, ey? So the service was 4.5 hours long...and mostly in español. The worship and prayer was INTENSE! The spirit was so present it was thick! WE are so thankful to have been a part of that! Next came the sermon...let's just say some people (Lorette, Amanda, Holly, Isaiah) had to keep getting nudged and keep their eyes pryed opened with forks...okay, no forks. We then did a drama, Tiara and Claudia gave testimonies (aka Life Stories), and the Worship Team played with Isaac-Pastor Julio and Jodie's eldest son-on drums!
Later we went to play futbol and baloncesto con los muchachos de la ciudad. (soccer and basketball with the teens of the city). after a long hard game, 7 young men accepted Jesus on the soccer field. Keith did a fantastic job explaining the gospel bracelet!

In conclusion(since this is like a book), we are all safe and sound, most of the sickness is gone, lots of us have massive blisters on our feet from playing on concrete, we are all loving Jesus, and we have found out that there are 107 ways to cook chicken!!

mucho amor.

Happy Father's Day!

We all wanted to wish all of our wonderful dads an amazing and HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!!

Sorry we can't be there to celebrate this special day with you, but you are in our hearts!

Sending mucho amor from Guatemala!

ps. You can send us $$$, we went shopping in Antigua today and seem to have run out. Thanks, you're the best!

Hosting Ministry: Julio & Jodi Team Ministries

This website, http://juliojodi.org provides more information about the mission, school and the church that our team is working & staying with.
Lots of photos of the mission housing and other aspects of the ministry.

Day 3- painting & construction

Painting at a local families home.
the beautiful family. (and the Melon color we painted the house overtop an old green color)
Nancy shared with us her incredible life story, and how Jesus has richly blessed her life, they were extreemly thankful for our help.
saying our goodbyes...
To all of our family and friends, thanks for your prayers! We are certainly feeling them! We had a very smooth but rigorous day today. Our group spilt into two teams working on various construction projects. Here is some pictures from the group that painted a home from a family that attends CEG. We had a blast painting the whole house the color Melon- Suzanne would havehad so much fun! (more painting pictures to come!) We are finding that everything we do here whether, playing soccer with kids, preaching, singing, community service, or simply using our broken spanish to pray and communicate with the Guatemalians should ALL be done with enthusiasm because it all glorifies God! He is recieving the glory though it all! Again thanks for your prayers, do not stop now! Love you all!!!!! We can not wait to share all of our stories! (notice that we did not say that we miss home yet... haha)

Various fotos de Guatemala

Brother to Brother-Lamar & Jeremiah, and Roger & Isaiah.







The beautiful mission we are staying at, and getting lost in...

ninos en la escuela
Bailar! Dancing in the service yesterday with middle and high schoolers.


hanging out at the mission last night, here with Isaac, the oldest son of Jodi and Julio.

Waiting for our baggage at the Guat airport!

Alli and Roger

Isaiah giving out his autograph for the Guat children <3

Mmm! Din Din!

From 3 girls and two boys...

Hey everyone! Since we have some free time between now and dinner (very scarce) we thought we would update a tad bit. Hello from AmandA, AriellE, CrowN, JeremiaH, and NoaH. One group painted the inside of a house, of a family that was saved. (Crown and I were in that group) There were a million and one SPIDERS, but Alli controlled herself pretty well. We gota messy, but had fun.And then the other group (Arielle, Jeremiah, and NoaH) they did extreme manual labor. Lots of brick carrying!

We just painted Jeremiahs and NoaHs toe nails BRIGHT PINK!

Well we are off to see the Wizard, and eat some Honey covered Locusts.

Leaving you all with one picture from yesterday...























<3Love,
¡¡¡CHIN FAT!!!

ps.Ummmmmmmmmmm.....
Sometimes gum sticks to my bottom and stereos play with lighting.
Have a wonderful day.

Hey everyone. We just wanted to ask you for special prayer for today. Last night in our devotions, we talked about Nehemiah and that when everything was going good, that is when the opposition came about.Yesterday was an awesome Day, and God really used us, and we recognize that Satan is angry. Several team members experienced bad dreams last night, and there is certaintly spiritual warfare going on here. So please keep us in your prayers, today. thanks.