Hi, this is Vicki, I’m not in the group photo because I have been in Guatemala since the Healing Nations medical mission in January. What an amazing experience this has been! I love Guatemala.
After the mission in January I went to school in Antigua to learn Spanish. After my time in Antigua I had the privilege of living 10 days with the pastor of Membrillal and his family. I have now joined the team from Capital Church for a 10 day mission serving the people of San Lucas and Membrillal.
This is bittersweet because it means my time in Guatemala is drawing to a close. It also means that I get to share my experiences with my friends from home. In my time here I have seen God at work in so many ways. I’ve made friends and had experiences that will stay with me for a lifetime. I’ve shared the joys of birth and the grief of death. I’ve watched as God used doctors, dentists, and nurses to improve people’s lives. I’ve been privileged to be in prayer groups that saw many of their prayers answered, some would call these miracles. My faith in God continues to grow as I see him work in the lives of so many people.
With the team from Capital we will be helping to build the new church as well as putting on a festival in both San Lucas and Membrillal. The purpose of this festival is to give the people a great experience that doesn’t include alcohol. Alcohol has such a strong hold on the lives of many of these people. Many Guatemalans live in poverty and despair and alcohol is an easy way to numb the pain. However many others find peace in their faith in God. The people that love God are the people I have been privileged to shared life with and learn from in Antigua, Membrillal, and San Lucas.
I was here when the volcano erupted and watched the people rally together as the government failed to help. Pastor Merari was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. He is in treatment and expecting to do well. I watch the kids in Membrillal learn, and grow, and praise God.
I get to be in Guatemala until the end of July. I’m excited to share this time with my friends from home and see what other things God has in store for all of us.
I loved seeing all of the photos and the progress of the church!!! I pray that God will use you in miraculous ways during your time in Guatemala!
Thanks for the photos and update! So good to see and hear about the work that is going on.
Good lookin’ team, working hard. We love you and miss you Thomas. Keep up the good work and see you all soon. God bless!!!
Vicki, Thank you for telling us the story of what you’ve been up to! I had figured out you were down there for an extended stay from all your Facebook pictures, but I am glad to know what you’ve been up to! What a precious precious experience you’ve had! I know you will cherish it always! <3
And what an amazing feat you all are undertaking, to build a new church! We will pray that the construction will go smoothly….not like Mr. Gibbon's experience in his YWAM DTS (Youth With a Mission Discipleship Training School) time in Juarez, Mexico. As the story goes, as they built with the cinder blocks, they were putting them down, forming the walls of the church & by the time they got around to the starting point, they had gone up one whole level!! Yeah, don't do that!! :) I can tell from your pictures you are doing a fine fine job!
We will continue to pray for all the tasks you lay your hands to, for your interactions with all those around you, for the festivals you are doing, for Pastor Merari, for those Guatemalans still recovering from the volcano, & for what God is doing in each of your hearts. May He (& you) continue the good work He (& you) have begun!! :) Much love & many hugs to each of you, The Gibbon Clan