Christmas Eve in theIDC...

Christmas Eve in always a great time of year and time for great events... especially in theIDC.  Of course what makes these events even more interesting are the youth handle the music, the children present the gospel message and we have close to 200 in attendance all with continual power outages - well continual in that we had power then not... several times.  

Good thing that it was a candle light service.

It´s only 30-45 minutes...

This week amongst the prechristmas preparations, I was priviliged with the opportunity to travel again to the community of San Pedro Cerra.  A small community of around 200 hundred homes on the extended mountain range towards the SE of Volcano Agua.  The above photo is looking west towards Agua - Santa Maria de Jesus - and Antigua beyond the visible ridge.

What is a 3 hour drive around the base of the volacano or a 2.5 - 3 hour hike over the mountain was supposed to be a 30-45 minute ride with motorcycles.  This gave the inspiration to take some Bibles on a scouting trip in preparation for an upcoming team visit from South Tulsa Baptist Church and their desire to bring more help to the village church when they arrive this coming February.

The truth was in there somewhere.  The trail was not a quick ride.  Actually, it was one of the most advanced rides I have ever been on.  So, after several spills for the irregular terrain, 6 miles of trenches (some taller and/or narrower than my KLR650), a couple of fractured toes, dehydration and some roadside vomiting, we made it.

Since when nothing is ventured - nothing is gained, we anticipate that God is going to so something very special in our relationship with Pastor Gilberto Gonzalez and the Iglesia Pentecostes Evangelio Extendido.

FYI - We made it back via the highway - we called for a ride and Obed and Luis came to the rescue with the church´s KIA worktruck.  Yea God!

Beautiful View...

This is just fun.  As I often have the opportunity to get out and about while Nancy is running, I get to see the beauty of God´s handy work.  Yea God!

Police at Christmas...

As always an absolute blessing is our work with the various police in the Panchoy Valley.  A perk of this is that when there is a party, we often get invited.  On this date, we had a two-for night.  

It began with the Civil Police of Pastores children´s event.  A time of presence, tamales and saying Feliz Navidad by beating the candy out of several piñadas...

We then continued to San Juan Alatenango with dinner for National Police units of the southern region of our valley.

This was a great day.

Changes in SMdJ...

As part of our the expansions for the the Feeding Program in Santa Maria de Jesus, we are making modest improvements for the church.  This includes an expansion of a second level for their education area.  This is how it is done.  Build a platform then poor more concrete.

I personally love the dog and chicken just a normal part of the renovation...

Staff Christmas Party...

Over 40 persons staff and families...
Dinner provided by our friends at La Posada Antaños...
A White Elephant Gift Exchange...
Time with dear friends that we get to serve God with...

Yea God!

Singing in SMdJ...

Children's VBS...

This was a first for theIDC.  The equivalent event of the North American Vacation Bible School.  5 days of children coming to the church and learning about Jesus Christ.  You've got to love that.

Once again, I find myself overwhelmed with the calibur of theIDC team.  Maria Dolores, our children's ministry director, and her team volunteers excelled at this new venture that tripled in attendance by the end of the week.

The final event was a beautiful day between the Volcanos.   Yea God!

Team Visit - Ridge Association...

Again we find ourselves in the midsts of dear friends.  They call themselves team members of the Ridge Association, a southern baptist group from Florida.  These photos are only a few of their success points.  Their presence is always an impact.  

In addition to building homes, and working with children, the team spent a great deal of time in our work in Santa Maria de Jesus.  They completed phase 1 of the kitchen remodel in the church - presented the gospel - and help to feed the about 125 children.

Yea God!

Another good year...

This week we celebrated the completion of the another good year with our English program.  This year we saw incredible growth with 180 students on the rolls and over 115 of them still holding strong through the end of the year.  With the help of Jessica´s camera here are a few of the students.

It has been a challenge.  We have had a team of committed teachers and they and the students finished strong.  Yea God!

The new roof comes...

This particular effort is a gift to us.  As we are retooling our workshop, the need became evident for us to cover our parking area for the vehicles.  With the talent that we have on our team, the new roof is under way.  How blessed we are...

Chaplaincy Training...

This last week was nothing short of amazing.  I had the privilidge to see God's hand at work.  I attended the first ever Chaplain's Training for the National Police of GUA.  Attendees from all  over the country came - men and women to be trained as Chaplains.

Chaplaincy has been a part of theIDC's ministries since my arrival 5 years ago.  This is an event we have been looking for for some time.  With the help of training provided by Dan Nolta and his team with the International Conference of Police and Chaplains (ICPC) we now have 65 new chaplains that will be serving across the nation under the banner of Valor and Service of the National Police of GUA - providing counsel and guidance. Each badged and certified.

This is the team for Sacatepéquez.  Yea God!

The Graduation...

This is very cool.  Giovanni and Antonio have finished three years of Bible Seminary.  The graduation from Seminario Biblico Guatemalteco marks what has been a three year plus journey for these members of theIDC staff.

They are two of the seven that we had in school this year.  I am very proud for the two of them.

San Pedro de Cerra...

San Pedro de Cerra; a small community just the other side of Santa Maria de Jesus relative to Antigua.  Just the other side meaning a 3 hour walk or a 2.5 hour drive from Antigua around the base of Volcano Agua When we first heard of this place, there were stories of a remote village where the word of God had never been.  That sparked the interest to go and find out.  This is what we found...

San Pedro de Cerra is up on the ridge seen in the top of this photo.  We are on the back side of the Volcano Agua.

This is an active church in the community.

So often we can think that our enthusiam is more than God's.  We learned that God is working in this community.  There is an active church.  A collective group of people that fervently worship God.  Meet Marcelino Gonzalez, Esteban Ramirez Garcia, Pastor Gilberto Gonzalez and Jose Canel Montoya - also in this photo are Pastor Gabriel with his daughter and Mario Miño.

These are men from the community that we unable to be meet with at the time of our visit, but walked to Santa Maria de Jesus to meet the men that were willing to come to their remote village.  Of course I have no idea what will happen with this new friendship, as much as I once again am able to see the evidence that we do in fact serve a great God that is in more places than I could ever hope to be.

Yea God!

The Truck...

We have an addition to the family.  Yea God!

Kids and the Police...

Yet another example of the surreality of my life...

As blessed as I am to work with the National Police of Guatemala, I am just as blessed to know and work with other pastors here in the Panchoy Valley.  Of these pastors, Apóstal Robin García and I share a love of God and purpose.  As a part of his church, Misiónes Cristiana Rey de las Nacion, there is a school.

Twice this year, we have been able to combine the monthly (or so) police motivational breakfast with activities in the school.  Being able to demonstrate that not every officer in the National Police of Guatemala (PNC) is bad.  No in fact, for whatever difficulties the system of the PNC is working through, I can attest there are hard working men and woman seeking to serve their country with honor and integrity.

What a priviledge it is to serve.  Yea God!

Opportunities abound...

In a passing conversation with the Valor and Service team member...  this is the group I work with for the National Police of Guatemala, I learned of a crazy idea to help officers and family members that are faced with physical limitations because of job hazards and such.

So I thought to myself, "Self, you should contact your buddies over at Bethel Ministries and Hope Haven International.  They have all kinds of stuff that might just meet the need."  After listening to myself, that is exactly what happened and my friends, Chris Mooney - Bethel Ministries and Mark Richards - Hope Haven International both had their organizations do what they could to meet the need.  So we went to the respective warehouses, we collected and then gave them all away.

The pictures just say it.  I didn't do anything but follow the urge to send an email and help came.   If you want to help, the PNC still needs several wheelchairs.  So the real question is this - What will you do next time the opportunity presents itself to go beyond yourself?

Meet ChiWilly - my translator.