G-9 latest team arrival...

This last week was very busy touring the latest team from Pathways Community - Clearwater through the highs and lows of the area. This team came for the purpose of scouting activities to enhance the ministry outreach opportunities of Iglesia del Camino.

This team included folks from not only Clearwater but other areas of Florida and the Carolinas. The special interest included a Fish Farming Specialist, Physical Therapy and Nursing specialists, financial investors, business counselors, and a medical chaplain. This team was shown everything that IDC has touched in the past two years, or at least as much as could be shown in two days.

And something new for us was the inclusion of families. There were several of the consultants that brought family. For them the trip extended by a couple of days. During this time, we were able to build two houses for families in Parramos which is 10 kilometers north of Antigua.

This was a week packed with a great deal of information and potential local benefit outreach. Time will show the evidence of what God has planned. I look forward to blogging the details as God lets all of us in on His details.

We went for a ride...

Last weekend was great. The family with Matt's new fiance and three friends from church joined in for an 80 kilometer roadtrip in and around Antigua and areas just north of Chimaltenango. Suffice it to say it was fun. We saw some new things, acted like tourist, risked our lives, saw some of the beautiful countryside of Guatemala and had a fantastic day.

The other folks with us are in transit to some degree. Missionaries studying Spanish in Antigua. Jim & Barb have two girls and will be settling into the work they have in Mexico soon. Heather plans to start with a medical ministry in Guatemala City this next month. Matt is leaving for the states this next week. Alejandra, Matt's fiance, lives in the Guatemala City.

This was a great day of family and fellowship. Thanks to God for creating this one time event with these people.

There is an innocence...

Antigua and the surrounding area is a region of extremes; from 5 star Hotels to abject poverty. This country has beauty in many ways amidst the most depressing of situations. While we can see incredible views of the mountains, the most captivating images are the people we get to work with.

In human terms, children are the future. The investment in these young minds will impact generations to come. Of the most captivating images that we see, it is the eyes of the children. In most cases, the situation that they are in is a situation that I never experienced in my childhood. All of my experiences of a loving home, secure surroundings, a christian education both at school and in the realization of a christian family in the home, running water, clean floors, etc, are foreign concepts in differing degrees to many of the young people in this country.

But this is the constant. No matter the level of poverty, the children have an innocence that is seen in the eyes.

A visit from Jose Daniel...

During this past calendar year of 2006, the church here in Antigua had been looking for the arrival of a second Pastor. His name is Jose Daniel. Through a series of delays it has become evident that his coming to join the staff of IDC was not meant to be... at least not right now.

He and his wife Joanna are from Cuba. Over the last several years they have working for their residency in GUA. This is now in their hand. As well they have been able to obtain a VISA for their daughter. Many doors are opening up for them.

They have been making regular visits to Guatemala and other Central American countries for several years doing evangelistic concerts. During previous visits they connected with Eddie and Cary while on their musical tours. And this year 2007 was no exception to their visits. While they were here they were able to come by on a Sunday and minister to the IDC congregation. As well spend some time with the staff.

All in all it was a great Sunday. He has a terrific ministry. While we don't know if he will be with us in a full time capacity, we do know that God is using him.