Brian, I really do wish I was there with all of you! Experiencing Guatemala thru your first time eyes would be so much fun! 🙂 You are in for an amazing trip and adventure. Keep your hands out stretched and embrace all the new experiences. Praying for safe travels, good health and most importantly…changed lives!
Thanks so much Kristy! I wish you were able to be here with us too, there is just something missing without you! So far I am having an amazing time! So many things that God is doing and opening my eyes to! All these new experiences are incredible! Can’t wait to see how it continues!!
Praying that God reveals himself to you and through you each day. You have been blessed to be a blessing in the lives of your team and in the lives of those you meet. So excited for all He has in store for you!
What an wonderful morning! Praying that you slept well. I Hope you have a great day building and that you see God in some amazing ways! Praying for good weather and safety on the jobsite. Have fun!
Oh man, such a beautiful morning! and no rain today only sunshine!!!! I am for sure seeing God in amazing ways, it is so humbling to see how the people here live with so little and yet they are so appreciative! I am seeing Gods creativity through the mountains and all the cool plants that are here! So many that are used as house plants back home 🙂
Sleeping has been fun… A full night of chorused snoring… my earbuds were in all night 🙂
Today you are building a home for a family. When you arrive you are staring at a concrete square, by lunchtime the four walls will be up! I pray that as you build you are building more than a house but a place where you can share the good news of Jesus. Praying for you today. Praying that the weather holds out and you are able to get what you need done. Big hugs!
We had great weather all day today!! Crazy to see how a slab of concrete can turn into a home in a few short hours. We were able to interact with the homeowners for just a little bit today. The wife had been dealing with some health issues and was very appreciative that we were there to help them out! The husband stayed with us all day and helped us work, he kept a close eye on us the entire time 🙂 Excited to continue to make a relationship with them and their adorable kids!! Their 2 year old was very interested in us and kept getting closer to us as the day went on! Super excited to start playing with him tomorrow!!
Brian, I am so happy to hear how well it went! You are in the right place at the right time! It is amazing watching everything unfold. When you go back tomorrow you will feel as if you are going home. The joy and excitement on everyones faces as the eagerly await for you to come back. PLUS it is STUCCO day!!! So much fun putting the Succulent Salmon Stucco all over the houses. All the kids in the village will be eager to help. Have a wonderful night of worship with the team and hopefully a good night of sleep…good thing you brought your ear buds! 😉
Well, it’s noon. How’s the house building going? Staying away from sharp edges? Enjoy the community as you build…you are Jesus to them. Praying for you…
Thanks Aunt Lin!! Building went very well! we got all 4 walls up with drywall inside and cement board outside. And we were able to get the front porch put together! We were all able to stay away from sharp edges only a few finger pokes from the screws 🙂
The community is very remote! We had to walk a little ways to get to the houses and carry all our tools. It was very obvious that this was the first time they had seen tall white people, they seemed shy at first, but by the end of the day they were warming up to us! Can’t wait to see how the relations grow!
Brian hope you are having a great time. Enjoy the friendships and the teamwork but most of all Live for Jesus. You have been a great friend ever since that mission trip down South. I had a great time leading you and now you are returning the favor and leading the next generation!! Praying for the whole team!!!
Thanks Mike!!
It was such a blessing to have you as a leader! You truly taught me a lot and it has been so much fun to lead and teach these amazing kids!
Thank you for the continued encouragement and the prayers, it really means a lot!!
Brian your huge smile in the pictures says it all! 🙂 I am so glad you are there having this experience. It truly is LIFE CHANGING! Praying for you tonight with group worship and small group time. Praying that the Holy Spirit is moving thru the team
The weather here has been wonderful!! So far it has only rained at night and it has been nice during the day! I really wish I could take some plants home… there are some cool ones here 🙂
Brian, God gave you great weather today. Sounds like you had a wonderful day building both a home and relationships. I can imagine a few of you tall men seemed scary to the kids, but that won’t last long once they get to know you. Wait until one of them figures out they can get a ride on your shoulders…you will be a big hit! Glad you are enjoying all he plants…Just remember plants won’t survive in your suitcase. Praying you sleep well tonight. Love you lots!
We did have a great day! And today did not disappoint either!! Some of us taller guys do intimidate the kids a little bit, but as soon as we start interacting with them, they warm right up to us and then don’t want to let us go! They are so cute and their laughter is contagious! We stopped by the orphanage last night and hung out with the kids, one of the little girls asked to go on my shoulders and was so proud of how tall she was! Then she didn’t want to get down….
Love you lots!
Thanks Pastor Bob! It is an absolutely beautiful country here! It amazing to see God’s creation in a new way. The hearts of the people here too are astounding! The fact that they have so little, are so happy and content with life is very humbling!
So glad you are GIVING your time and SERVING Him and LEADING our girls and this team in word and deed yet again.
Psalm 29:3-4…The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord thunders over the mighty waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is majestic.
May you continue listening to His voice this week!
Thank you so much for the encouragement! Your girls are absolutely amazing and I am so grateful to lead them! I have learned so much from them and blessed by them in many ways!
God’s voice has been very present while being here! It is amazing to here his voice through those around us and through our worship and discussion times!
Hey Brian thanks so much for keeping us all updated. WOW What an experience for all of you! I’m praying specifically for you today that God will keep you healthy and strong. And I pray since you are one of the leaders of this group that you can be the “the go to guy” for some of the younger guys in the group”. That since you have build relationships with the students they can go to you if they feel a little lost. I also pray that God will give you discernment if someone is feeling a little low or a little culturally overwhelmed as the week goes on! So be the strong encourager!
Thank you Pastor Bob! I really appreciate the prayers! These trips really do make the relationships that I have with the students so much stronger! It is amazing to hear and see their hearts! Prayers for wisdom, words, and the ability to be a blessing to and for the students are greatly appreciated, especially as we get latter into the week and we start to share more with each other.
I will do my best with God’s help to be his hands and feet! Thanks so much for the encouragement!!
Love to see the smile on your face! Things must be going pretty good. Enjoy the wonderful pink “gunk” that you plaster on the outside of the buildings. I know that all your creativity will make the inside wonderful – along with the verses that you might use also. Can’t wait to see pics of that. May God bless you as you dedicate the homes. Know that God is working through you as you pray and in the hearts of the family. May He open their hearts to receive His Word and saving grace. Will continue to pray for a good night sleep also. 🙂
It is so hard not to smile while I am here!!! The kids are super cute and they grab my heart as soon as come around! The pink ‘gunk’ was a lot of fun! It is amazing how 40 people can pack around one house and have the goop on all of the walls within a matter of minutes!! It was a lot of fun coming up with decorations and verses for the inside of the house! We are praying that the words and pictures that we put on the wall are leaving an impact! I am really excited for the dedication tomorrow! Even though I have no idea what to expect, I am sure God is going to be doing amazing things!!
Thank you so much for the prayers and words of encouragement! It is amazing to know that I have the support and love from home!!
Hey Brian. God has blessed you with another great day. Dad and I love to see all of the pictures. You look like you are working hard and having a lot of fun. From the pictures it looks like all of you are working on one house. It seems like the people of Guatemala are like the people we have met in Kentucky…they know how to be content and happy. The pictures of the kids are precious…no you can’t take any home. I’m glad to hear you are seeing God in amazing ways. Praying for you and love you lots!
We have been working really hard! It is amazing to see how a slab of concrete can be a complete house in two days! Along with the work, we are having SO much fun!! Yes, today we all worked on one house at a time getting the stucco put on the outsides. It would seem like it would be complete chaos to put 40 people around a small building to get work done, but it went very smoothly and everyone worked very well together! we had all 5 houses stuccoed in like 2 hours!
Yes, the people here remind me very much of the people in Kentucky!! How much we can learn from them…
The kids here are adorable!! They have stolen my heart for sure!!
Thanks for the encouraging! Love you too!
Hi Brian, sounds like you’re having a great time! Has singing songs for devotions ever sounded better? What an awesome way to end a day! The words just come to life. I’m praying for the families who will receive homes tomorrow and the decision they will make for all of eternity. Say hi to Nemo for me if you get a chance. Ron
Oh man Ron, the devotions and singing have been AMAZING!! So cool to see everyone come together in heartfelt worship! It is awesome to see the hearts of those on the trip open up and become more aware of their own faith. It was really cool to see all the members of the families accept Christ yesterday! So cool to witness others coming to Christ!
Tomorrow we have an exciting day planned. We have finished building the 5 houses for the families here and we will be dedicating them tomorrow. We will be supplying them with some items that we have brought from home and will be praying over them as they make this house their home. Myself along with my team have had the opportunity to build a house for a family of 5. We will be praying over them and sharing the gospel with them. Pray that the words that we say will have an impact and that their hearts will be open to Christ and what he has done for them. We especially ask for prayers for the mother Eusebia, she has been dealing with some health issues that seem to be getting worse. We are hoping that she is able to join us tomorrow for the dedication. Eusibia is married to Luiz and they have 3 kids, Eliza (7), Joel (2), and Nina (1).
Thank you for the update, Brian. We will be praying for you and your team. The Holy Spirit will give you words to say and He will open the hearts of this family to receive God’s word. We will also be praying for the family that they may enjoy their new home and that the mom may have relief from her health issues. God is good and He loves to hear His children praying. John 14:13 “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”
Hey friend, It sounds like you are having an amazing time in Guatemala and I’m so glad! From the pictures and stories I can tell God is working in some amazing ways. I can’t wait to hear all about it! Praying for continued strength, safety, and grace as you head into the clinic days. Be sure to stay away from any blood, or anything I would normally be doing at the clinic 😉 As you all finish out the last half of the trip, I pray that God will continue to work in and through you, that He will give you the right words to say and that His love would be evident through your actions!
Makalah, an assurance for you…the med clinics are not that type! No blood involved! 😉 It is more of a 1st triage. Treating simple things and finding out if they need more follow up later. Everyone gets an anti-parasite pill, usually antibiotics, ointments, tylenol and yeast infection meds. Paradise Bound will continue to follow up with the village in the months ahead. 🙂
Hey! It is an amazing trip so far! Thank you so much for the encouragement and the ‘extra’ that you are! God is working in incredible ways!! It was so cool to watch the families here dedicate themselves to the Lord yesterday and to witness the start of their journey with Christ!! Haha I am glad that Kristy says we are not doing anything blood related! I think I will be safe handing out medications and playing with the kids 🙂 Thank you for the continued prayers and encouragements!
Hola, Brian! Glad to see you are having a wonderful time. I understand today was Dedication Day. From my own experience I know that can be a very intense and emotional experience. But it can be a very wonderful time as well, being part of the moment when one or more family members accept Christ as their Lord and Savior. Their is no greater joy. My Hope is that it was as memorable and life changing to you as it was for me. Today may be their first day as a part of the greater family of God, and it may not be easy to stay the course. So continue to pray for them in the years to come and until we see them in heaven.
Your next couple days of serving the people at the clinics and playing with the children will also be a wonderful experience. Enjoy this additional time being the hands and feet of Christ.
I’ll be praying for you, and your team, as you model Christ to the people you come in contact with.
Hey Uncle Jeff! I am having an amazing time here! God has been opening my eyes to so many things this week! Yeah, yesterday was a very emotional experience! It was really cool to see Christ enter into the lives of those that we have been serving! Agreed, there is no greater joy than seeing someone come to Christ! Leading up to that specific moments for each of the families was honestly nerve racking, not knowing what their final decision would be and trusting that the Holy Spirit would work. Once they accepted Jesus, the joy that spread through the group was infectious! And to know that all of Heaven was rejoicing that the lost have been found!! They are people that I will not soon forget, they have become a part of me and I will continue to pray for them ans they start this amazing journey!
I am very excited to start working in the medical clinics. I am looking forward to just being with the people here and showing Christ to them!
Thank you so much for the encouragement and the prayers! They are greatly appreciated!
Good morning, Brian. Wow! What an amazing trip you are having so far. I am humbled by all of the comments that have been posted to you. You have a wonderful support team! God is good. I pray that your days at the clinic go well. I agree with Makalah…stay away from the stuff that she would do. Play with the kids. You are great at that! Praying for patience, strength and safety as you finish the week. Love you!
mom, don’t worry! The med clinics are not that kind of med clinics….no blood involved! 😉 It is more of a triage. Mostly small things are dealt with (anti-parasite pills, antibiotics, tylenol, yeast infection meds etc) When they find something more major, they follow up with the family. This is not just a one-and-done med clinic it is a way to build a relationship with this village. Paradise Bound has many Guatemalans who then continue to go back and help in other ways.
Hokey smokes, me too!! It is so great to know that I have so much love and support from home!! God is very good!! I do not think I would be having the same experience if I didn’t have the prayers from home! I am very excited about playing with the kids today! From what I hear, this may be one of the first experiences that these villages have with white people. I am sure it will take some time for them to warm up to us, but I have no doubt they will do so quickly!
Thanks for the continued prayers and support! Love you!!
Brian, Praising God with you this morning as I read about all that happened yesterday both at the village and back at the base!! God is so good! I love seeing your smile in all of the pictures. Now you see why Kevin and I love this place and this ministry so very much! Praying for you and the team as you make the switch to a new village and ministry. Praying for safe travels on the so-called “roads”. Praying for relationships to be build quickly. Praying for the team to listen to the still quiet voice of the Holy Spirit when asked for those to share their testimony. If you feel the nudge, obey. It is powerful when God can use our imperfect words to make an impact on others.:-) Love you and praying continuously for you!
Isaiah 12:2
“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.”
Praising God for everything that happened yesterday!!! To him be the Glory!!! I surly see why you and Kevin have a heart for this place! My heart is captured by these people and this entire experience! Oh man, these roads are something else!!! I will never complain about Michigan roads ever again!! I am excited to see how God works today and looking forward to the new relationships that will be formed!
Thank you for the encouraging words, prayers, and verse! Praying that the Holy Spirit will show up in big ways again today!!
Hey Brian,
Reading about yesterday has me in awe! God is amazing!
Continue to be a blessing to all around you .. your smile and joy are contagious!
Praying for you today as you start on the medical clinic and new village. Praying for safety, health, strength, and more opportunities to build relationships and share God’s News.
Hey Kristy!
What a spiritual awakening yesterday! It was very humbling to see Christ at work through those around us! God is so so good!! Thank you for the encouraging words, it is very hard to not be joyful when God is doing such amazing work here!!!
Thank you for the prayers as we head out on something new! Excited to see what God has in store for today!
Good morning Brian. I’m glad to hear that you made it back safely. God has answered many prayers. It was fun seeing the pics of you playing with the kids. It looks like they gave you a good workout!. Enjoy the coffee plantation and all of the plants. Praying for you. Love you lots!
oh my word… My arms, back, legs, basically everything hurts from running around with the kids and picking them up and twirling them around! Totally worth it though! The smiles on their faces said it all!! The plantation today was a lot of fun! It was quite relaxing and cool to see a different side of Guatemala, plus the plants were super cool!
Thanks again for the prayers! looking forward to seeing you soon!
Brian:
Thank you so much for sharing your week with Hannah in small group, I know she has been blessed by it. I pray you have been blessed beyond all measure in your work, building relationships and seeing people accept Christ. I pray for continued strength, stamina and health for the rest of the week
Michelle,
It was so fun to have Hannah in my small group! We had such a great time sharing life, laughing, and just hanging out! She has been such a blessing in my life as well! It is crazy to think that I have been with Hannah for the last 6 years and now I have to say bye to her… so sad,,, Yet super excited for her future!!!
Thank you so much for the prayers! They are greatly appreciated!
I had so much fun on my day off!! The plantation was like a resort! It was cool to see what was there and we had a very relaxing time! We will be on the road starting at 8 Guatemala time so it will be a long day of travel, but I can’t wait to see you and tell you all about this awesome adventure!
Just a final note before you return tomorrow. Thought of you often this week as I planted flowers and got garden ready for planting. Hope you had an awesome day at the plantation. Your medical trips looked amazing, not just having fun with the kids, but also explaining/showing the village who God and Christ is. May you never forget the experience of witnessing how God moving and changes lives. Looking forward to hearing all your stories when you return! (I’m home on Tuesday…) Will be praying for safe travel tomorrow and safe returns. Gma is here today and is enjoying seeing all of your pictures and hearing us explain feebily the work you are doing. Gma says that packaging. meds wasn’t so hard (NO BLOOD!!!) Looked like you had a great time playing with the kids – nice arm workout! Love you lots and look forward to talking to you on July 4th if not before.
I had so much fun on my day off!! The plantation was like a resort! It was cool to see what was there and we had a very relaxing time! We will be on the road starting at 8 Guatemala time so it will be a long day of travel, but I can’t wait to see you and tell you all about this awesome adventure!
Team Heritage 
Brian, I really do wish I was there with all of you! Experiencing Guatemala thru your first time eyes would be so much fun! 🙂 You are in for an amazing trip and adventure. Keep your hands out stretched and embrace all the new experiences. Praying for safe travels, good health and most importantly…changed lives!
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Thanks so much Kristy! I wish you were able to be here with us too, there is just something missing without you! So far I am having an amazing time! So many things that God is doing and opening my eyes to! All these new experiences are incredible! Can’t wait to see how it continues!!
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Brian,
Praying that God reveals himself to you and through you each day. You have been blessed to be a blessing in the lives of your team and in the lives of those you meet. So excited for all He has in store for you!
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Thanks so much Josh! God is at work in big ways and it is only day 2!! So excited for the rest of the week!
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Hope you have a good day building and have fun… but don’t forget to work also 😁
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Hey thanks so much! My day building today was great! we were able to get a lot of work done and have a lot of fun at the same time!!
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What an wonderful morning! Praying that you slept well. I Hope you have a great day building and that you see God in some amazing ways! Praying for good weather and safety on the jobsite. Have fun!
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Oh man, such a beautiful morning! and no rain today only sunshine!!!! I am for sure seeing God in amazing ways, it is so humbling to see how the people here live with so little and yet they are so appreciative! I am seeing Gods creativity through the mountains and all the cool plants that are here! So many that are used as house plants back home 🙂
Sleeping has been fun… A full night of chorused snoring… my earbuds were in all night 🙂
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Today you are building a home for a family. When you arrive you are staring at a concrete square, by lunchtime the four walls will be up! I pray that as you build you are building more than a house but a place where you can share the good news of Jesus. Praying for you today. Praying that the weather holds out and you are able to get what you need done. Big hugs!
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We had great weather all day today!! Crazy to see how a slab of concrete can turn into a home in a few short hours. We were able to interact with the homeowners for just a little bit today. The wife had been dealing with some health issues and was very appreciative that we were there to help them out! The husband stayed with us all day and helped us work, he kept a close eye on us the entire time 🙂 Excited to continue to make a relationship with them and their adorable kids!! Their 2 year old was very interested in us and kept getting closer to us as the day went on! Super excited to start playing with him tomorrow!!
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Brian, I am so happy to hear how well it went! You are in the right place at the right time! It is amazing watching everything unfold. When you go back tomorrow you will feel as if you are going home. The joy and excitement on everyones faces as the eagerly await for you to come back. PLUS it is STUCCO day!!! So much fun putting the Succulent Salmon Stucco all over the houses. All the kids in the village will be eager to help. Have a wonderful night of worship with the team and hopefully a good night of sleep…good thing you brought your ear buds! 😉
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Well, it’s noon. How’s the house building going? Staying away from sharp edges? Enjoy the community as you build…you are Jesus to them. Praying for you…
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Thanks Aunt Lin!! Building went very well! we got all 4 walls up with drywall inside and cement board outside. And we were able to get the front porch put together! We were all able to stay away from sharp edges only a few finger pokes from the screws 🙂
The community is very remote! We had to walk a little ways to get to the houses and carry all our tools. It was very obvious that this was the first time they had seen tall white people, they seemed shy at first, but by the end of the day they were warming up to us! Can’t wait to see how the relations grow!
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Brian hope you are having a great time. Enjoy the friendships and the teamwork but most of all Live for Jesus. You have been a great friend ever since that mission trip down South. I had a great time leading you and now you are returning the favor and leading the next generation!! Praying for the whole team!!!
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Thanks Mike!!
It was such a blessing to have you as a leader! You truly taught me a lot and it has been so much fun to lead and teach these amazing kids!
Thank you for the continued encouragement and the prayers, it really means a lot!!
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Brian your huge smile in the pictures says it all! 🙂 I am so glad you are there having this experience. It truly is LIFE CHANGING! Praying for you tonight with group worship and small group time. Praying that the Holy Spirit is moving thru the team
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Glad to see you had a good day 😁 the weather looked awesome!!! .. stay safe get some sleep…. and no you can’t take any plants home 😁
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The weather here has been wonderful!! So far it has only rained at night and it has been nice during the day! I really wish I could take some plants home… there are some cool ones here 🙂
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Brian, God gave you great weather today. Sounds like you had a wonderful day building both a home and relationships. I can imagine a few of you tall men seemed scary to the kids, but that won’t last long once they get to know you. Wait until one of them figures out they can get a ride on your shoulders…you will be a big hit! Glad you are enjoying all he plants…Just remember plants won’t survive in your suitcase. Praying you sleep well tonight. Love you lots!
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We did have a great day! And today did not disappoint either!! Some of us taller guys do intimidate the kids a little bit, but as soon as we start interacting with them, they warm right up to us and then don’t want to let us go! They are so cute and their laughter is contagious! We stopped by the orphanage last night and hung out with the kids, one of the little girls asked to go on my shoulders and was so proud of how tall she was! Then she didn’t want to get down….
Love you lots!
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May your eye for beauty be clear.
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Thanks Pastor Bob! It is an absolutely beautiful country here! It amazing to see God’s creation in a new way. The hearts of the people here too are astounding! The fact that they have so little, are so happy and content with life is very humbling!
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Hi Brian,
So glad you are GIVING your time and SERVING Him and LEADING our girls and this team in word and deed yet again.
Psalm 29:3-4…The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord thunders over the mighty waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is majestic.
May you continue listening to His voice this week!
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Hi Michele,
Thank you so much for the encouragement! Your girls are absolutely amazing and I am so grateful to lead them! I have learned so much from them and blessed by them in many ways!
God’s voice has been very present while being here! It is amazing to here his voice through those around us and through our worship and discussion times!
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Hey Brian thanks so much for keeping us all updated. WOW What an experience for all of you! I’m praying specifically for you today that God will keep you healthy and strong. And I pray since you are one of the leaders of this group that you can be the “the go to guy” for some of the younger guys in the group”. That since you have build relationships with the students they can go to you if they feel a little lost. I also pray that God will give you discernment if someone is feeling a little low or a little culturally overwhelmed as the week goes on! So be the strong encourager!
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Thank you Pastor Bob! I really appreciate the prayers! These trips really do make the relationships that I have with the students so much stronger! It is amazing to hear and see their hearts! Prayers for wisdom, words, and the ability to be a blessing to and for the students are greatly appreciated, especially as we get latter into the week and we start to share more with each other.
I will do my best with God’s help to be his hands and feet! Thanks so much for the encouragement!!
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Love to see the smile on your face! Things must be going pretty good. Enjoy the wonderful pink “gunk” that you plaster on the outside of the buildings. I know that all your creativity will make the inside wonderful – along with the verses that you might use also. Can’t wait to see pics of that. May God bless you as you dedicate the homes. Know that God is working through you as you pray and in the hearts of the family. May He open their hearts to receive His Word and saving grace. Will continue to pray for a good night sleep also. 🙂
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It is so hard not to smile while I am here!!! The kids are super cute and they grab my heart as soon as come around! The pink ‘gunk’ was a lot of fun! It is amazing how 40 people can pack around one house and have the goop on all of the walls within a matter of minutes!! It was a lot of fun coming up with decorations and verses for the inside of the house! We are praying that the words and pictures that we put on the wall are leaving an impact! I am really excited for the dedication tomorrow! Even though I have no idea what to expect, I am sure God is going to be doing amazing things!!
Thank you so much for the prayers and words of encouragement! It is amazing to know that I have the support and love from home!!
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Hey Brian. God has blessed you with another great day. Dad and I love to see all of the pictures. You look like you are working hard and having a lot of fun. From the pictures it looks like all of you are working on one house. It seems like the people of Guatemala are like the people we have met in Kentucky…they know how to be content and happy. The pictures of the kids are precious…no you can’t take any home. I’m glad to hear you are seeing God in amazing ways. Praying for you and love you lots!
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We have been working really hard! It is amazing to see how a slab of concrete can be a complete house in two days! Along with the work, we are having SO much fun!! Yes, today we all worked on one house at a time getting the stucco put on the outsides. It would seem like it would be complete chaos to put 40 people around a small building to get work done, but it went very smoothly and everyone worked very well together! we had all 5 houses stuccoed in like 2 hours!
Yes, the people here remind me very much of the people in Kentucky!! How much we can learn from them…
The kids here are adorable!! They have stolen my heart for sure!!
Thanks for the encouraging! Love you too!
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Hi Brian, sounds like you’re having a great time! Has singing songs for devotions ever sounded better? What an awesome way to end a day! The words just come to life. I’m praying for the families who will receive homes tomorrow and the decision they will make for all of eternity. Say hi to Nemo for me if you get a chance. Ron
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Oh man Ron, the devotions and singing have been AMAZING!! So cool to see everyone come together in heartfelt worship! It is awesome to see the hearts of those on the trip open up and become more aware of their own faith. It was really cool to see all the members of the families accept Christ yesterday! So cool to witness others coming to Christ!
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Tomorrow we have an exciting day planned. We have finished building the 5 houses for the families here and we will be dedicating them tomorrow. We will be supplying them with some items that we have brought from home and will be praying over them as they make this house their home. Myself along with my team have had the opportunity to build a house for a family of 5. We will be praying over them and sharing the gospel with them. Pray that the words that we say will have an impact and that their hearts will be open to Christ and what he has done for them. We especially ask for prayers for the mother Eusebia, she has been dealing with some health issues that seem to be getting worse. We are hoping that she is able to join us tomorrow for the dedication. Eusibia is married to Luiz and they have 3 kids, Eliza (7), Joel (2), and Nina (1).
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Thank you for the update, Brian. We will be praying for you and your team. The Holy Spirit will give you words to say and He will open the hearts of this family to receive God’s word. We will also be praying for the family that they may enjoy their new home and that the mom may have relief from her health issues. God is good and He loves to hear His children praying. John 14:13 “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”
Love you!
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Hey friend, It sounds like you are having an amazing time in Guatemala and I’m so glad! From the pictures and stories I can tell God is working in some amazing ways. I can’t wait to hear all about it! Praying for continued strength, safety, and grace as you head into the clinic days. Be sure to stay away from any blood, or anything I would normally be doing at the clinic 😉 As you all finish out the last half of the trip, I pray that God will continue to work in and through you, that He will give you the right words to say and that His love would be evident through your actions!
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Makalah, an assurance for you…the med clinics are not that type! No blood involved! 😉 It is more of a 1st triage. Treating simple things and finding out if they need more follow up later. Everyone gets an anti-parasite pill, usually antibiotics, ointments, tylenol and yeast infection meds. Paradise Bound will continue to follow up with the village in the months ahead. 🙂
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Hey! It is an amazing trip so far! Thank you so much for the encouragement and the ‘extra’ that you are! God is working in incredible ways!! It was so cool to watch the families here dedicate themselves to the Lord yesterday and to witness the start of their journey with Christ!! Haha I am glad that Kristy says we are not doing anything blood related! I think I will be safe handing out medications and playing with the kids 🙂 Thank you for the continued prayers and encouragements!
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Hola, Brian! Glad to see you are having a wonderful time. I understand today was Dedication Day. From my own experience I know that can be a very intense and emotional experience. But it can be a very wonderful time as well, being part of the moment when one or more family members accept Christ as their Lord and Savior. Their is no greater joy. My Hope is that it was as memorable and life changing to you as it was for me. Today may be their first day as a part of the greater family of God, and it may not be easy to stay the course. So continue to pray for them in the years to come and until we see them in heaven.
Your next couple days of serving the people at the clinics and playing with the children will also be a wonderful experience. Enjoy this additional time being the hands and feet of Christ.
I’ll be praying for you, and your team, as you model Christ to the people you come in contact with.
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Hey Uncle Jeff! I am having an amazing time here! God has been opening my eyes to so many things this week! Yeah, yesterday was a very emotional experience! It was really cool to see Christ enter into the lives of those that we have been serving! Agreed, there is no greater joy than seeing someone come to Christ! Leading up to that specific moments for each of the families was honestly nerve racking, not knowing what their final decision would be and trusting that the Holy Spirit would work. Once they accepted Jesus, the joy that spread through the group was infectious! And to know that all of Heaven was rejoicing that the lost have been found!! They are people that I will not soon forget, they have become a part of me and I will continue to pray for them ans they start this amazing journey!
I am very excited to start working in the medical clinics. I am looking forward to just being with the people here and showing Christ to them!
Thank you so much for the encouragement and the prayers! They are greatly appreciated!
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Good morning, Brian. Wow! What an amazing trip you are having so far. I am humbled by all of the comments that have been posted to you. You have a wonderful support team! God is good. I pray that your days at the clinic go well. I agree with Makalah…stay away from the stuff that she would do. Play with the kids. You are great at that! Praying for patience, strength and safety as you finish the week. Love you!
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mom, don’t worry! The med clinics are not that kind of med clinics….no blood involved! 😉 It is more of a triage. Mostly small things are dealt with (anti-parasite pills, antibiotics, tylenol, yeast infection meds etc) When they find something more major, they follow up with the family. This is not just a one-and-done med clinic it is a way to build a relationship with this village. Paradise Bound has many Guatemalans who then continue to go back and help in other ways.
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Hokey smokes, me too!! It is so great to know that I have so much love and support from home!! God is very good!! I do not think I would be having the same experience if I didn’t have the prayers from home! I am very excited about playing with the kids today! From what I hear, this may be one of the first experiences that these villages have with white people. I am sure it will take some time for them to warm up to us, but I have no doubt they will do so quickly!
Thanks for the continued prayers and support! Love you!!
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Brian, Praising God with you this morning as I read about all that happened yesterday both at the village and back at the base!! God is so good! I love seeing your smile in all of the pictures. Now you see why Kevin and I love this place and this ministry so very much! Praying for you and the team as you make the switch to a new village and ministry. Praying for safe travels on the so-called “roads”. Praying for relationships to be build quickly. Praying for the team to listen to the still quiet voice of the Holy Spirit when asked for those to share their testimony. If you feel the nudge, obey. It is powerful when God can use our imperfect words to make an impact on others.:-) Love you and praying continuously for you!
Isaiah 12:2
“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.”
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Praising God for everything that happened yesterday!!! To him be the Glory!!! I surly see why you and Kevin have a heart for this place! My heart is captured by these people and this entire experience! Oh man, these roads are something else!!! I will never complain about Michigan roads ever again!! I am excited to see how God works today and looking forward to the new relationships that will be formed!
Thank you for the encouraging words, prayers, and verse! Praying that the Holy Spirit will show up in big ways again today!!
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Hey Brian,
Reading about yesterday has me in awe! God is amazing!
Continue to be a blessing to all around you .. your smile and joy are contagious!
Praying for you today as you start on the medical clinic and new village. Praying for safety, health, strength, and more opportunities to build relationships and share God’s News.
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Hey Kristy!
What a spiritual awakening yesterday! It was very humbling to see Christ at work through those around us! God is so so good!! Thank you for the encouraging words, it is very hard to not be joyful when God is doing such amazing work here!!!
Thank you for the prayers as we head out on something new! Excited to see what God has in store for today!
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Hi Brian. I enjoyed your pictures and your notes. I will continue to pray for you. Enjoy the children and have a safe trip home. Love you!
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Brian. I had fun showing grandma the pictures. Praying for safety, sleep, strength, health and patience! Love you!
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Good morning Brian. I’m glad to hear that you made it back safely. God has answered many prayers. It was fun seeing the pics of you playing with the kids. It looks like they gave you a good workout!. Enjoy the coffee plantation and all of the plants. Praying for you. Love you lots!
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oh my word… My arms, back, legs, basically everything hurts from running around with the kids and picking them up and twirling them around! Totally worth it though! The smiles on their faces said it all!! The plantation today was a lot of fun! It was quite relaxing and cool to see a different side of Guatemala, plus the plants were super cool!
Thanks again for the prayers! looking forward to seeing you soon!
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Brian:
Thank you so much for sharing your week with Hannah in small group, I know she has been blessed by it. I pray you have been blessed beyond all measure in your work, building relationships and seeing people accept Christ. I pray for continued strength, stamina and health for the rest of the week
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Michelle,
It was so fun to have Hannah in my small group! We had such a great time sharing life, laughing, and just hanging out! She has been such a blessing in my life as well! It is crazy to think that I have been with Hannah for the last 6 years and now I have to say bye to her… so sad,,, Yet super excited for her future!!!
Thank you so much for the prayers! They are greatly appreciated!
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Hey I hope you are having fun on your “day off “… have a good day and hope you have a good trip home.. can’t wait to hear about it all .
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I had so much fun on my day off!! The plantation was like a resort! It was cool to see what was there and we had a very relaxing time! We will be on the road starting at 8 Guatemala time so it will be a long day of travel, but I can’t wait to see you and tell you all about this awesome adventure!
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Just a final note before you return tomorrow. Thought of you often this week as I planted flowers and got garden ready for planting. Hope you had an awesome day at the plantation. Your medical trips looked amazing, not just having fun with the kids, but also explaining/showing the village who God and Christ is. May you never forget the experience of witnessing how God moving and changes lives. Looking forward to hearing all your stories when you return! (I’m home on Tuesday…) Will be praying for safe travel tomorrow and safe returns. Gma is here today and is enjoying seeing all of your pictures and hearing us explain feebily the work you are doing. Gma says that packaging. meds wasn’t so hard (NO BLOOD!!!) Looked like you had a great time playing with the kids – nice arm workout! Love you lots and look forward to talking to you on July 4th if not before.
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I had so much fun on my day off!! The plantation was like a resort! It was cool to see what was there and we had a very relaxing time! We will be on the road starting at 8 Guatemala time so it will be a long day of travel, but I can’t wait to see you and tell you all about this awesome adventure!
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