Fernando's and Lorena's Wedding...

This weekend we saw the beginning of new life together in marriage. What a day - Fernando is one of the family serving in the church as our Facilities Engineer. Both he and his new wife attend Bible Seminary where they met. What a privilege to be a part.

Family Visit...

This week that family came to town. While not everyone of the possible 21 members were present - we were ecstatic that each of the (Watkins) siblings' families were represented. In order of birth that would be Kolosey, Watkins, Bandy, Watkins, Watkins... Yea it's sometimes difficult to get it straight in my own mind as well.

As you can imagine, the week was more of show and vaca in Guatemala. So what did we do? as much as we possibly could have. Cultural tours, coffee farms, the backside of Aqua, the beach with volcanic sand, pre-visits to ministry opportunities, museums, ruins, the market and that is pretty much the short list.

This was Nancy in her element with the market tour...

This was one of the fancy museums...

That would be coffee...

Elaine found a friend...

Gringos on parade in Ixmche, Tecpan...

That would be a big bus coming very close to us...

Fresh grilled corn from the roadside BBQ...

Gary and crew are learning to make tortillas...

This is the Jade Factory showroom...

This is obvious... what is not obvious is my sister's knee firmly planted in doggy feces...

Gary and Jordan diggin' the view...

Yea, that's my family. Yea God!

Team Visit - Eagle Baptist

This past week were blessed with the help from Eagle Baptist Church from Florida. This group got their hands dirty with malnutrition-ed children, more church renovations, and digging ditches for the new housing project for Agatha Relief victims. They found the mass graves from tragic epidemics a hundred years ago.

Oh the things we see here in Guate... This is a rural taxi...

This team played a significant role in a Agatha Relief clothing and food distribution. We were blessed to partner with Hope Haven International, Eagles's Clothing donations, and a new mission plant just the other side of a mountain or two... from Antigua, you can't get there from here.

Job well done team. Yea God!

This Café Rocks...

This month the cafe had been doing quite well. Of course the World Cup has certainly helped. We have been full and rockin'! Yea God!

San Pedro Las Huertas...

This afternoon I sat in a meeting in San Pedro Las Huertas. An aldea of Antigua. This had to be one of the most beautiful days I have seen recently for the valley. I guess the location and the purpose of the meeting are what I found the enigma.

Still reeling from Tropical Storm Agatha, the details of life - post disaster - are still with us. There are people whose lives will ever be changed from this storm. There were 14 homes destroyed in this aldea just kilometers from more death and destruction in the neighboring community of San Miguel Escobar. While the Mayor of Antigua has replaced the land to the home owners that lost everything - to a different location - the children living with their parents, the home owners are now out on the street (if there was one - figuratively speaking) because the new land space is smaller than what the parents owned before the storm. Their grown children have no place/space to live with their parents as they used to.

This meeting was with these families, some 21 or so (approximately 100 people), in the very river bed that their homes were once located in.

From this vantage point you can see Antigua in the background.

Rain and Sand Don't Mix...

This last week I visited a friend's church in Zone 21 of the Guatemala City. You can walk out the front door of their church and see the Volcano Pacaya in all of its fury. They received a significant amount of the volcanic ash that fell after the eruption. Before they could clean it off, Tropical Storm Agatha soaked the ash with rain. Bad things ensued.

The roof collapsed during services. Thankfully, no one was hurt. But this is a church that needs a roof. They have packed into a provisional roof half the size of what they need. A replacment roof is estimated at Q30k - Q35k - this is about $4500 dollars US. As of today , they do not have the means to replace it. If you would like to help, please contact me I will show you how. mike@iglesiadelcaminogt.com

Why Bother...

It makes you wonder why would someone spend money on a car that is not much bigger than a motorcycle. It's either that or they washed and dried the car on the wrong cycle. This car often parks out in front of our house. Thank you God for something to laugh at almost every day - and you bring it to me.