Recap of Chichicastenango, Guatemala Trip: May 16, 2011-May 21, 2011

God is good and is at work in Guatemala. What a privilege it was to be a part of the ministry happening in Chichicastenango. Our Good Goers/James Fund team partnered with Pray America to touch many lives. In one week, the team built 4 widow houses, worked 2 feeding stations, installed 10 high efficiency stoves, and had an absolute blast doing it.In the words of one of our team members, Chris Wisener (SM store #35):

“Imagine people from all walks in life serving and caring for other people from the abundance of their hearts. Catholic with Protestant, Lutheran with Baptist, male with female, rich with poor; all with a common purpose of spreading the Good News of the resurrected Christ. There is no strife or disagreement, but fellowship and love for one another. Hungry Children were given food, the homeless are now with a home, the tired and worn out received resting, faith in a God of love and grace was increased, fears were released, hearts were healed, Jesus was served, laughter could be heard all around, the Good News preached, and God was glorified. Perhaps one would call such an image Heaven.In Guatemala that is precisely what happened. God’s love was shown, and the gospel was preached. Family Christian Stores is in the Life-Changing-God-Glorifying business, and on this mission trip all lives involved will never be the same for we saw God at work before us, after us, beyond us, above us, and below us. This is what I saw happen in Guatemala, and I thank God for being apart of it. All glory to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

Widow Houses –unbelievable that in one day a house can be built that literally changes the lives of a widow and her kids and/or grandchildren. A place they can finally call their own. And then the “icing on the cake”…having the privilege of dedicating the house to them and praying over them and their new house. Here are some images of the team doing just that.

High Efficiency Stoves – we were the first group to install stoves w/ Pray America. We’re told their old stoves take approximately 5 logs to cook a meal and leave smoke and soot throughout the structure where they cook. These high efficiency stoves take less than one log to cook a meal and vent the smoke outside. Just a huge impact and it really showed on their faces as we showed them how they worked and prayed for them.

Adventure – Lastly, the team had the opportunity to enjoy God’s creation as we zip lined through the mountains overlooking Lake Atitlan.

Thanks for your prayers and the opportunity to represent the James Fund and Good Goers on this life changing trip! One last vision to leave you with. The team on consecutive days had a chance to see a rainbow encircling the sun. A sight none of us had witnessed before, nor something any of the locals we talked w/ said they had ever seen. Absolutely beautiful!