Thank you for your faithful prayers this past week! Our team could not have accomplished all that they did without your support and most importantly your prayers. That will be a theme that your son or daughter, wife or husband will come back with…how powerful prayer is. A quote that Dan Smith often says is, “Prayer does not equip us for the greater work, it IS the greater work!” This ministry has been built on prayer, sustained by prayer and grown with prayer. That is one of his purposes, to share that passion about prayer with the teams who come to serve.
Living in West Michigan, in the United States, we become so complacent and for the most part we feel very “safe” so we don’t commit every action to prayer. Our comings and goings should still be covered in prayer but we forget and go about our days. This past week our team has never left the base or a village without first committing their actions to God in prayer. Praying that they will be used by Him to point the glory back to their Lord and Savior. Shouldn’t that be our prayer here as well?
So, your job is not yet done. Your prayers are still needed. Right now our team has just taken off from Guatemala City. They will be landing in Atlanta at 6:34 pm EST. They have a 3 hour layover there which is nice because they will be going thru customs there. They are on Delta Flight #906. They leave Atlanta at 10:01 pm on flight #510. They arrive in GR at 11:58 pm. I am a bit of dork and love tracking their flight so just in case there are others like me, 😉 here is the link to their flight. https://www.delta.com/content/www/en_US/#/flightstatus/1/0906/2019-06-17/GUA/ATL
Pray for smooth travels as they fly home. Pray that they are led to share their stories with those they meet. Pray that they are able to come home and put into actions the lessons they have learned this week.
In the next few weeks take time to ask questions and listen to their stories. If you donated money to a team member, call them up or take them out for dessert and listen to their stories. You made it possible for them to be the Hands and Feet of our Savior this week. YOU are part of this team.
If you are able to come to the Grand Rapids Airport to welcome the team home, the team would love to see you there.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your faithful prayers. I would encourage all of you to sign up for Paradise Bound Ministries newsletter. You can do that thru this link, just scroll to the bottom of the page. http://paradisebound.org/what-we-do/
To God be the Glory, Now and Forever, to God be the Glory Amen!
“How great is the love that the father has lavished on us that we should be called Children of God and that is what we are.” 1 John 3:1
The tears of joy were flowing once again. This time not by people in a remote village, but rather by members of our team. I don’t deserve the Love that God has shown me. I don’t deserve the incredible gift of salvation that He has given me. None of us deserves to have a future in Heaven with our Maker and Lord and Savior. But because of God’s great Love for us, he has given us this free gift if we just humble ourselves and turn our hearts over to Him and follow Him. This realization is the most powerful thing in all eternity. To realize that you were once dead and now alive, that you were lost and are now found, that you were without hope and now full of Hope for all eternity.
Last night we had our final time together here in Guatemala. The same message of hope and love that we came to bring to these people at the end of the road was placed in front of each of us. Last night we were reminded that nothing in this world matters if we have not met Jesus at the foot of the cross.
Often times we think that it is the people far away who need to be rescued and forget that we are just as much in need of being saved, ourselves. For many of us, we have grown up in the church and have become complacent in our walk and take it for granted the great gift we have been given and magnitude of the price that was paid for our freedom. For others we are still trying to do it on our own. Trying to find hope in things that are powerless to give us what we are truly searching for. Our identity is often tied up into things that do not last and one day will fade away.
When you accept Christ as your savior and give
him the keys to your life your identity in this world disappears. Your new identity as a child of God changes
you and you no longer have to fear or worry about what the future holds. This identity is all you will ever need.
Last night we gathered around a wooden cross on the floor of the base we were reminded of the desperate need that we have to daily give Christ the keys of our lives. At the feet of Jesus, we were reminded, is where everything changes. It is so hard to give the control of our lives to God. So hard to let go and give everything.
Last night, as we nailed our own names to the cross, we experienced a moment that we will never forget. Some on the team have given their lives over to God this week for the first time while others recommitted their lives to following Him. This week many of us thought it was the mission to bring God to people who were lost but have been surprised that it was our hearts that God brought us over 2000 miles to Guatemala to change.
Friends, we have been in the Grip of our Lord
this week. We have experienced God’s
presence, power and love like we have never felt before and we have been
changed. As we go home today the enemy
with do all in his power to tell us to go back to the way we were. He will try to distract us from that calling
that remains in our lives to bring the message of Jesus to the end of the road.
In just a couple hours we will load the vans one final time from the base and begin our journey home. We are sad to leave but also eager to get home to our family and friends. For some of us it will be difficult to put into words what we have experienced. It may take some time for the stories to come out but they will.
Pray that this journey here to Guatemala was
only the half way point on our real mission to return right were we started as
new creations in Christ ready to open our hands to His will. Ready to say the words: “Because You Say
So”. Ready to daily come to the Cross
and cast our cares and our futures at Jesus feet.
We have been so blessed to be able to be
Jesus’ hands and feet this week. We are
so blessed to have people like you praying for us. We are so blessed to be a part of a community
where we don’t have to do this alone.
We are so excited to share with you in person what God has done. Our prayer is that you too have felt the
presence of God this week and have felt the nudge of the Holy Spirit to give
the keys of your life completely to Him.
There is one last personal devotions that we
will have before going home. Today on
the plane we will have our final devotions.
I thought this devotion would be something that some of you would
appreciate. Please pray for us in these
final moments in Guatemala that God would convict us to return home with a
passion to be His hands and feet to those who are in need.
Thank you for taking this journey with
us. Thank you for covering us with your
prayers. Thank you for sharing in this experience. May God bless you and keep you and make his
face shine upon you and give you His peace.
In His Grip and His Love,
Kevin
MONDAY -ON THE PLANE HOME
-LAST PERSONAL
DEVOTIONS:
Here you are
thousands of feet in the air on your way home.
This is the last time we get to be together like this. I hope these devotions have been helpful this
past week. Thanks for making this trip
so special. You have been and are a
blessing to this team and to the people of Guatemala.
JOURNAL: Write down the main things that have impacted
you over the past week. Last night the
challenge was extended to give God the title to your home. Remember this journal is just for you. Don’t try to fake yourself out. Write down where you see your relationship
with Jesus stands right now. If you gave
him the title yesterday, write down what it was like. Do you feel the freedom that He offers?
THOUGHT TO PONDER: The plane ride home is all that stands between
you and the life you left behind in west Michigan. Through this week you have probably been
challenged in many ways -some of which you may not have expected. Now is where the rubber meets the road. Christ calls us to a life of change. He wants us to become selfless and focused on
the things of heaven.
When you step off the
plane, Satan will begin attacking you.
“Go back to the way you were.
You don’t want to be a Jesus Freak.
Just forget about all that stuff that happened. It was fun but it isn’t the real world that I
live in. Come on stop thinking about all
the needs of others, take care of yourself.”
Satan will speak loud
and clear at first, if you don’t deal with it, you will soon not even notice
him and things will be the same as before.
If you want to keep
growing and continue to be cleansed and used by God, the real work has just
begun. Keep the daily times with
God. Find an accountability partner who
can help keep you moving towards God. If
you feel that there is something that you should change, it is probably the
Holy Spirit talking to you, don’t ignore it.
If the week has gone
anything like I thought it might, we have been with God and we have
changed. I hope and pray that you will
share with others about your time in Guatemala and challenge those around you
to grow with you as you continue your journey with God. If at any time you need to talk, my door is
always open. Thanks for giving God this
past week and being His “Hands and Feet” in Guatemala!
Today we spent the day at the plantation that Paradise Bound is purchasing. We had a great time learning about the many opportunities that PBM is involved in and moving toward. We were able to enjoy some down time with each other on a ropes course, playing corn hole, relaxing and even fishing. After a wonderful lunch in their beautiful facility we were able to see the landing strip and airplane. Sitting in the hanger, we were able to hear of the many ways PBM is reaching the lost.
Tonight we will have our final devotions. Please pray for us as we are challenged to make our heart Christ’s Home. It is hard to believe that we are just a half a day from leaving the base and heading for home. We will post again after our devotions and again while we are traveling. Thanks for your prayers and support.
Last night we traveled to a different part of the Guatemala
to set up a med clinic. This particular
village was about two and half hours away and it brought us through cities,
rolling hills, mountains and valleys.
The day started off with good health and high spirits. It was such a
blessing that all of the team members were able to make it to the village today
with minimal car sickness.
This was the first time that Paradise Bound has taken a
group to this specific village. Along the way, we had to stop a couple of times
and ask for directions. It was evident that when we got to the village that
they were needs with the people there, but we all got the sense that the
village was more modernized that the last village we went to. Unlike the other
village that we attended when we got there, there were no villagers waiting for
us. We were able to set up our supplies and play some games before people
started to arrive. It seemed to start off rather slow with people warming up to
us, but we were able to connect with the kids very quickly through baseball,
soccer, basketball, sidewalk chalk, fingernail painting, balloon animals,
coloring and many more activities. It was really cool to see some of the older
members of the village join in on some of the activities as well.
While some of the team was playing with the people outside,
there was a small group handing out medical supplies. The people were so
grateful to be receiving simple medications, simple things that we take for
granted every day. The way that the nurses here interact with the villagers was
very eye opening. They would start off with each family and ask what specific
needs they had. They would then proceed to fill out information on what kinds
of medication they should be getting and then our team members would fill bags with
each specific medication. Once they received the medication and supplies, the
nurses would then explain how to take all of the medication so they went home
informed on what to take, how much to take, and what each medication would help
treat.
After we formed relations with the people we were able to
share with them the Jesus Film. We sat among them as the film was playing and
we all noticed that the people were watching with such intensity, both the
young and the old. Once the movie ended,
there was a time for us to share our worship with them. We were able to sing
them a couple of songs during which some of them were recoding us. Through a
translator we were also able to share some testimonies with them. We had a
number of people come forward, some for the first time, and share how God has
impacted their life. It was incredible to see how the people here clung to
every word that was spoken! Again, some of them recorded what was being said. Our
prayer is that they were able to hear God’s word through our team members and
we pray that they are able to take what was said to heart and share it with
others in the village.
After our worship time and testimonies, Pastor Hermano Jesús gave
a very passionate sermon of how Christ loves them and wants to be a part of
their life. He then gave an invitation for them to come forward and publically
accept Jesus into their hearts. It was very humbling to see roughly 50 to 60
men women and children come forward and dedicate their lives to Christ. We were
then able to pray over them individually and had out bibles. There was many
hugs, handshakes, and thank you’s! The president of the village got up front
when we were all done and thanked us for being there. It was a dream for them
to have us Americans come to their village and serve them. They are anxious for
us to come back and continue to help them.
We were very blessed to be a blessing to them. Our eyes have
been opened to some amazing works of God and we are so excited to share more
stories with you when we return home.
The only way one can discover what someone else’s story is
if someone shares it with them. The
only way one can know the experiences of life and the secrets hidden behind the
faces of another person is if they invite you to hear and see their life
through their story. We all carry a story. Without exception we all have a story that
makes us who we are. A story that may
feel exciting and full of adventures or that maybe feels plain and
reserved. Our stories make us who we
are. Our stories of choices we have made
and choices that have been made for us collectively define our identity and
ultimately who we are. Our stories
whether short or long are what also connect us with each other.
When two people share a story, though from different
perspectives, it can form a connection on which a relationship is formed. This week this team has shared a big story
and many connections were made that will last into the next weeks and
months. This week in the vans over the
many miles that were traveled, over the many bumps and rocks that were felt,
through the moments of laughter and the times of tears, under the sun and
through the rain, at the base and in the villages, from building to dedicating
homes, during meals and free time, relationships have taken root within this
team that have the potential to last a life time. All because we were willing to share part of
our story together.
Last night at our final village, we again shared an amazing story together. This was the first time that this village of 30 families living at the end of the road, has ever received a visit from a single person from the states, let alone an army of 40. Our story began once again as we broke the ice with crayons and tennis balls. Over the several hours that followed tossing balls, drawing pictures, painting nails, kicking soccer balls, blowing up balloon animals, sharing candy, giving small gifts, playing games, sharing conversations, taking pictures, handing out hats and skirts, offering medical attention, and helping people see clearly with new glasses, our stories intertwined with the people living in this remote village. What started as a group of strangers afraid to even share a conversation ended just after several hours with a group of friends not wanting the night to end.
Last night was a beautiful night, there was no other way to
describe it, it was simply beautiful.
We fell in love with this village that is nowhere on a map. To even get to this village we had to ask
strangers along the way as even Google would not have been able to get us there.
In 2 Corinthians 4: 7-12 we read these words of Paul:
7 But
we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is
from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side,
but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted,
but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always
carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also
be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being
given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in
our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life
is at work in you.
Last night as we again shared some songs as a group after
watching the story of Jesus on the screen hung on the school wall, we also
opened our hearts with our own personal stories. This amazing team, one after another with a
willingness and eagerness that I have not ever seen in all my years coming
here, shared their stories of how Jesus rescued them from a life of being lost
to an eternity of being found. I believe
these stories opened the door for the Gospel of Jesus to find it’s way into the
hearts of these precious Guatemalans and change their story of despair to a
story of hope.
We are all broken by the stain of sin in this world. We are all corrupted by the sinful choices
that we have made. We are all like Peter and have denied Jesus at many times in
our lives. We are all sinners in need of
a savior. What a great thing that our
God is a God of Grace and mercy. What
an incredible thing that he reached down with His son Jesus Christ to walk
among us building connections and then paying the ultimate price so we could have the Ultimate
relationship with the Father our Maker, through Him.
We are truly broken Jars of clay. Each of us are full of cracks that we often
feel make us less and not even worthy.
But through those cracks, God delivers his message of hope. It is because we are tattered and torn that
the World sees that it is only Jesus in us that we can go though life with Hope
and assurance that Jesus has prepared a place for us and he has a place for
anyone who will humble themselves and invite Christ into our hearts. None of us, if we really look close, are
special on our own. But each of us our
precious and special to the father who call us His own. It is a wonderful thing that God chooses to
use us, the ordinary, to do the extraordinary.
To take us, a bunch of sinners to be his hands and feet to the world.
Last night as the team members shared of pain and hurt and then victory and triumph, the gates were opened wide for dozens of lost people to confess and receive Christ into their hearts. God’s word again found its way into eager hands wanting to have the same hope that all who believe in Christ share. Last night our stories became forever connected with these new friends without an address, living on the side of a mountain in Guatemala. Last night we were able to share and witness, the greatest story ever told become their story.
I am sad in some ways to see this trip come to a close. Last night on paper the purpose of our story here in Guatemala has come to an end, but the story that will unfold today has the potential to be the one that will change our stories back home. Today, as we take in all that has happened this past week, God will be doing His work in our hearts to not make this story just a week long tale of our experience in Guatemala but a story of a lifelong mission to be his hands and feet to our world around us no matter where we are.
Today after spending some time at a new property where the air strip that Paradise is now using and will soon own, we will come back to the base and have our final worship and devotions. This will be the point that God will reveal possibly the most important part of the plot in his story for us here in Guatemala. Pray for the team tonight as we are called to make our hearts Christ’s home. As we are called to offer ourselves fully to Him as living sacrifices to those at the end of the road back home. As we are called to share the story of eternal transformation to our family, friends, neighbors and coworkers back home.
What an honor it has been to be here as extensions of all of
you who have carried us in prayer this week.
We can’t wait to be able to share our stories with you face to face.
Thanks for your prayers. Team is home safe. Many lives were changed for eternity and many hearts were touched. Pics and posts tomorrow. Have a great night.
Just got word that the team has left the village and are on their way back! 🙂 They should be back at the base at 11-ish Guatemala time (1 am our time). It sounds like it was another amazing night with many changed lives! This is the first time Paradise Bound has been to this village, so it was a beginning of an on-going relationship. Our team did a great job showing the love of Jesus!
Please pray them home! It is a long 2 hours on very bumpy roads. Kevin will make a short post that they arrived safely back.
The team should be just arriving at the village around now (6:00 pm EST) eager and ready to embrace what God has led them to. This morning was much like yesterday. The team was able to sleep in a bit and then start getting ready for the med clinic. This means packing the meds in totes, sorting meds into individual bags, measuring out beans and rice in other bags and making coloring packets of crayons & coloring pages. They spent time in their small groups going thru their devotional (if you scroll all the way down to the first day of the trip you will see I attached the devotional that Kevin wrote for the team), then large group time of singing and Dan’s message. They also had a bit more time to check their blogs and read what you have written them! You continue to pour out blessings on the team with your prayers and notes of encouragement!
They left for a 2 1/2 hour drive once again on very bumpy roads. I guarantee every one of the team members have said, they will never complain about Michigan roads again! 😉 Please pray that the vehicles are able to make the trip their and back with no issues. These roads take a toll on vans, even 4-Wheel drive vans!
Tonight as they set up the med clinic and play with the kids, pray that hearts are already being prepared to hear the words of Jesus. Pray for wisdom, discernment and bravery for the team to answer the nudge from Jesus to share their testimony.
The team will probably get back to the base between 10:30 – 11 Guatemala time (12:30 -1 am) our time. Kevin said he would post a quick note when they return.
If you have not taken time to read some of the personal blogs, I would encourage you to do that tonight. I find out a much fuller picture as I read everyone’s blog. You get a sense of what they each are experiencing! Take a moment to respond and share with them that you are praying for them on this last night in the village.
This week God has showed us his goodness and faithfulness. Yesterday it was at a village. Instead of building yesterday we did a medical clinic. Most of the families we came in contact with have physical illnesses that they have always had to live with, but yesterday were given hope. Our car ride was two and a half hours of bumpiness and sore stomachs. But we praise God for healing our sickness from the morning. Many of us woken up with flu like symptoms. We are so thankful we had medicine to take care of us. Yesterday we realized that medicine is something we take for granted in the United States.
When we arrived at the village, we played soccer with the
boys, and painted thousands of fingernails (even some guys painted their nails).
We spent time coloring and building relationships with the beautiful people in
the village. It amazes us how simple things such as balls, jump ropes, hats,
and even balloon animals can bring so much joy. We showed a movie similar to
the Passion of the Christ. This helped overcome the distractions to show them
who our Savior is. We then sang to them and gave our testimonies with our
friend Nemo translating.
The highest point of the night was when a local pastor,
Pablo, gave the message of salvation and offered a call to accept Jesus into
their hearts as their own Savior. Now we have so many more brothers and sisters
in Christ that we can celebrate in Heaven with one day! There is hope we will
see these beautiful people again. They left filled with the Holy Spirit and with
Bibles to strengthen their relationship with our Savior. We were really impacted because the children
went to the front and were literally shouting a prayer to the mountain tops.
You can seriously feel the presence of the Holy Spirit within those kids, those
people, and in that place. God is so good!!
“All Authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit , and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Mattew 28: 18-20
Again smiles and laughter began to form in the mountain
air. Again armed with tennis balls,
fingernail polish and crayons the team began to earn the right to be heard in
this village at the end of the road.
Again the sight of strangers meeting and making connections for an
eternal purpose was taking place. Again the touch of human hands and the
exchange of words began to break the barriers that separated.
But behind all of this, I couldn’t help but feel the tension of the battle that exists and the war that rages on over the souls in this world. As we traveled to the village last night, we were delayed by one of the vans being stranded on the side of the road due to a blown transmission. This was a stark reminder that we are not entering the battle field unnoticed. As has happened so many times in the past, the enemy tries to keep God’s messengers from even reaching those who are in his grip. How many times hasn’t the power of discouragement, fear and frustration found its way into keeping us from taking that last step to actually engage in the battle. Sure this was a huge set back and for many, would be the obstacle that would put an end to the journey, but where God guides He provides. Quickly the back-up van was on it’s way to pick up the team members and supplies that had been delayed. God showed again that we must constantly put our trust in him and not be discouraged.
The village that we went to last night, was a village that Paradise Bound went to a number of years ago. Quickly the, concrete floor outside the school became a flurry of activity. The medical clinic quickly began to see and care for the families who were experiencing a wide variety of needs due to the lack of medical care and poor drinking water. These medical clinics are often the only medical attention these people ever receive. Many times, after taking even just a couple ibuprofen, the chronic pains that have been a daily struggle are diminished for the first time in many years. The parasite pills quickly restore each person to become parasite free and allow their bodies to be able to heal and build up a resistance.
At the end of each medical clinic we begin the spiritual phase of our nights. The story of Jesus is first shown to the people on a wrinkled screen hanging on the wall. This sets the stage for us to be able to worship with several songs and share testimonies with them How God has made a home in our lives. Then the Guatemalan pastor begins to share of the great need that each of us has for a relationship with Jesus. At the end of the night the invitation was given to accept Christ as their personal savior and once again we were witnesses to the tipping point of eternity unfolding before our eyes. The team gathered around those who had come forward to receive Christ into their lives, placed hands on them surrounded them in prayer as they received a new identity as a child of the King. Last night was an amazing night. This team again faced the enemy head on and through your prayers, through open hands to be used by God and the power of the Love of Jesus Christ, many experienced the eternal transformation of a relationship with Jesus.
The great commission that is found in Matthew 28 reminds us that as Christians we are all called to make Christ known to the lost in this world, no matter where they are. This calling to make disciples is not just one that we have here in Guatemala but where ever we find ourselves. Jesus places this burden on us as his messengers, his hands and feet. Many times we feel ill equipped and lacking the ability to do this. Yesterday in our devotions a phrase stood out: “It’s not our ability that God wants but our availability”. God wants us to be open and willing to answer the call to cast our nets on the other side of the boat even if it doesn’t make any sense. Truly wherever and whatever God calls us to, He will provide what we need to accomplish His will. Where God Guides, He provides.
Yesterday, the team was hit with some stomach challenges and a couple of them needed to stay back. They are doing better today and hope to go to the med clinic. Today we need your prayers to keep us healthy and have the strength to engage in one more battle in the mountains of Guatemala. Pray that the vehicles have no more issues as there are no more back ups. Pray for the hearts and souls in the village we will be traveling to. Pray that the Holy Spirit continues to work in the hearts of the team. Pray for those who God calls to share their testimony tonight, to be bold and willing to stand and proclaim Jesus in their life.
I count it such an honor and a blessing to be a part of this
amazing team that God has called to the needy people of Guatemala. Your prayers have and continue to carry
us. Thank you again for your prayers
and for being a part of our journey.
Team Heritage 