Thursday, July 31, 2014

Guatemala Day 3

Hola!  Como estas? 

We are doing great!  I continue to be amazed at the work that God is doing here.  It is certainly the work of he is able to do exceedingly and abundantly more than we can ask or imagine! (Ephesians 3:20)

This morning after worship, we went to observe our Ignite interns at another public school where they teach English.  Just like the school I told you about yesterday, PFM has been invited to this school by the school district superintendent to come into the schools to teach English.  The government recently cut the funding for English classes in public schools and the school district found out that we (PFM) were teaching English on school nearby.  The superintendent approached Potter's Field and said "We have 150 schools in this district.  Will you teach in them all?" - Talk about God opening doors! - Of course, we don't have nearly the staffing to teach English in 150 schools, but we can do 4, so that's what we're doing!
 This is a public washing place across the street from the school we visited.
Many women gather here to wash their laundry.
 The children were so excited to have visitors.  The boy in the left hand corner, saw my boys outside the classroom door and waved excitedly for them to come over.  Caden and Noah came over and the boys introduced themselves to each other in Spanish!
 This is one of the serving Ignite interns (completed training, deployed here in Guatemala) teaching English using a Bible verse.
 School we visited
Looking down the street from the school

 You can't tell but there are 17 of us in this van (and not this is not even a 15 passenger)!  Ha ha ha, road rules are bit different here!  Cobblestone roads make for a rollercoaster like ride and cars come from every direction on whichever side of the narrow street they can fit.  Fortunately, the cobblestone keeps you from going very fast.  Oh yeah, and pedestrians most definitely DO NOT have the right of way!

After lunch we spent the afternoon learning more about the day to day aspects of ministry here in Guatemala from various PFM missionaries and interns.  I had the privilege of talking for quite a while with one of the women who is a full-time missionary here.  She and her family (husband and three kids) have been on the mission field for 11 years in a few different Central American countries.  We talked about the challenges of homeschooling on the field and balancing ministry and family.  I learned much from here and was so encouraged!  Meanwhile, my boys were outside playing with her two daughter and two other young boys (missionary kids).  

Yesterday, at the Kids Club, Josh got to know a young man who is a Bible College student (there is a Bible College that meets at the PFM center).  He also works with PFM and has a real heart for the middle school aged boys.  He expressed a desire to learn to play guitar because he believes it could be an effective ministry tool in reaching these boys.  Today, Josh began guitar lessons with him.  Josh intends to work with him each day for the remaining three days of our trip.

This evening Josh and I lead worship for chapel and then were blessed to be taught by Pastor Pete (formerly of The Cry - Christian music group).
Walking the few blocks from our hotel to the center.

We continue to be so blessed by the privilege of being a part of this ministry.  God is in this place and he is moving in the people of this community.  It is so exciting!

Tomorrow will be a bit of a "rest" day.  I'm going with a few of the ladies to the village market after worship and the boys are going to hang around the center.  Then we'll see what the afternoon holds....

Love to you all!

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