https://playstoryeat.com/updates daily 0.75 2025-01-24 https://playstoryeat.com/updates/gcddhe4cb6k2b67-xz4lj-3zbpz monthly 0.5 2026-01-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/ff11edee-6071-497f-8198-bccb453976f0/IMG_2845+%281%29.jpg Updates - 2025 Giving/Thank You Statements - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://playstoryeat.com/updates/gcddhe4cb6k2b67-xz4lj-7p35c monthly 0.5 2025-12-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/65ed9e9c-4509-487d-9749-da34d357cf11/IMG_5689.jpg Updates - Reed Adoption News! and 2025 Play.Story.Eat. Recap - Make it stand out From left to right is Kristin, Landon, our new granddaughter, Brayden, and Josh https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/b4054f5d-ea2b-4ae1-8a9e-a5643c0acfce/IMG_8970.jpg Updates - Reed Adoption News! and 2025 Play.Story.Eat. Recap - Make it stand out I got to join into a group pic the kids at the James Project Children’s home in Monjas, Guatemala on a day we did cowboy activities with the kids. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1f5ab811-f530-493b-931f-1b7c10e1bdac/IMG_0013+%281%29+%281%29.jpg Updates - Reed Adoption News! and 2025 Play.Story.Eat. Recap - Make it stand out On the first day of our soccer tournament in Rio Blanco, Nicaragua, this is one of the first games played after an evangelistic introduction to the day invited hundreds of players and coaches into praying to receive Christ and stepping forward to let our team know of their decision! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/464fe5f9-8571-42e4-b569-c79aceafc83d/IMG_1803+%281%29.jpg Updates - Reed Adoption News! and 2025 Play.Story.Eat. Recap - Make it stand out Here, our team poses for a picture with a teacher and her class in a small rural school near Amberes, Guatemala. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/24fba6cb-121d-4390-b76f-6ffff3c11beb/IMG_1981+%281%29.jpg Updates - Reed Adoption News! and 2025 Play.Story.Eat. Recap - Make it stand out Here, pastor Eddie Gonzalez, of Samaria Church In Rinconcito, Guatemala, speaks with his uncle, Cesar Gonzalez about the desire for their church to receive evangelism training from Cesar in 2026, and then to have a mission team come to culminate their year of evangelism with a a church from the United States. Those on the left in the picture are the team from Lifequest Church in Belton, Missouri. Stay tuned for more info! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/3744f8e0-ce2a-451b-9f88-db13f571e221/IMG_2111+%281%29.jpg Updates - Reed Adoption News! and 2025 Play.Story.Eat. Recap - Make it stand out Joel Wentworth, pastor of Burwell Baptist Church in Burwell, Nebraska, opens up the meeting of a Rural Church Leadership meeting in October. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/28e11a14-b69d-4a39-aa32-db2fec0a566b/IMG_9298.jpg Updates - Reed Adoption News! and 2025 Play.Story.Eat. Recap - Make it stand out Here, Cesar speaks to an agriculture class studying the best practices in coffee production. This particular day Cesar spoke on Romans 12:1 and having your mind transformed by God. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/69c12cfc-9fb2-4e4d-81b8-c22ce0908acc/IMG_8365.jpg Updates - Reed Adoption News! and 2025 Play.Story.Eat. Recap - Make it stand out This is the menu board at the “MAPS” coffee shop in Lenexa, Kansas! No relation to us at all! But a great place to drink coffee and look at maps from all over the world! https://playstoryeat.com/updates/gcddhe4cb6k2b67-xz4lj-gywmh-hgjmf-5sy9n-f236p-snef3-bzzw8 monthly 0.5 2025-10-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/56efece0-fbdf-4a93-a1a8-7d4c0409f82b/IMG_1771+%281%29+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala School Evangelism Update - Make it stand out Cesar Gonzalez and I share a mountain view near a village called Buena Vista (Good View) with our LifeQuest mission team. From left to right are Cesar, me, Tim Goulet, Mari Edmonds, Jimmy Mitchell, and Jolene Mitchell. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/3d5d3e10-e6c2-4618-9f78-23b87d70b6b7/IMG_1742+%281%29+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala School Evangelism Update - Make it stand out Our first day in the school in Buena Vista, Jimmy took on a whole class on the teeter totter! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/5ffe47aa-0d9a-46a2-af3f-bdc2d7c1fde8/IMG_1790+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala School Evangelism Update - Make it stand out Songs were always a hit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/5548a623-2627-4a42-8552-79ca88da7d52/IMG_1747+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala School Evangelism Update - Make it stand out The team was adept at shaping balloons for the kids. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/51b3301e-355d-4809-b125-1c3ae69fc907/IMG_1942+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala School Evangelism Update - Make it stand out Often, before shaping the balloons, Tim would have a competition to see who could actually blow up a balloon! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/b0f7674d-6854-4893-acb5-b95385bfe336/IMG_1925+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala School Evangelism Update - Make it stand out This game had a boy and a girl put their “face” on while blindfolded. Their partner had to coach them along the way! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/6394de1f-841a-4f89-821e-788e117a5869/IMG_1938+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala School Evangelism Update - Make it stand out This girl carefully pulls out a wooden piece in the game “Jenga” in this school near Santa Cruz Narranjo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1f5d95b8-79c3-4ba9-8af9-a9190538c140/IMG_1949+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala School Evangelism Update - Make it stand out Tim makes a balloon dog for a little boy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/63f350fe-faf6-4cdd-a88b-dd40a4047da6/IMG_1950+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala School Evangelism Update - Make it stand out In the larger schools like this one in Santa Cruz Narranjo, making balloons at the end of the day was quite a production. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/4c82129d-1f00-42e5-be27-632aaaab2664/IMG_2007+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala School Evangelism Update - Make it stand out These four boys keep an eye on the three chairs in the last couple of rounds of a game of musical chairs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/60e36bfb-aa7b-4dfc-a32a-ff8e3fb5160f/IMG_2029+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala School Evangelism Update - Make it stand out Cesar talks to the kids about one of Jimmy’s stories while he was in the Navy before coming to know Jesus. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/95f483cc-00e0-47f2-89c4-3c1ddcdcc04f/IMG_9921.jpg Updates - Guatemala School Evangelism Update - Make it stand out Cesar introduces Jimmy and Jolene before sharing their testimonies to this class in a school near Amberes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/d01e46fd-442e-4ee3-88e7-57f5a3d737f7/20250927_062425+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala School Evangelism Update - Make it stand out Jimmy and Jolene’s faith story was a very rocky one. Just three years ago they were at the point of divorce. Because of a friend’s recommendation, they went to LifeQuest Church and not only found help to save their marriage, Jimmy found Jesus and friends to help him grow in his newfound faith. They now lead a small group in their home and are happily serving others in ministries through LifeQuest. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/60269825-f1c8-4de6-a4a9-286f8fe201a1/IMG_1884+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala School Evangelism Update - Make it stand out Here, Mari is patting out a tortilla. Mari’s story includes the pain of abuse and trauma that fueled a drug and alcohol addiction. Six years ago, she and her husband Matt came to LifeQuest for a Christmas program and within a month found Jesus. She has been sober since and grateful that she and Matt are both seeking to follow Jesus together and finding places to serve in the church. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/2ba0e72f-0668-4f20-9916-b990ad2b3a15/IMG_1987+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala School Evangelism Update - Make it stand out Eddie Gonzalez, pastor of Samaria Church near Rinconcito, Guatemala, introduces Tim before he sings a song in both English and Spanish with their Sunday worship team. Tim is the youth and worship pastor at LifeQuest, and on this trip he had several opportunities to speak and lead in music. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/286c6ea6-a517-4e5b-be7e-1018087d88c7/20250926_085220+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala School Evangelism Update - Make it stand out Here I’m talking about how a gift is not automatically ours just by believing all the correct things about the gift. It only becomes ours when we receive it and open it and enjoy it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/7bacdd49-3822-4dbd-8c7f-71a091b8c953/20250926_095050+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala School Evangelism Update - Make it stand out Here I’m leading the children in a prayer of salvation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/4796552f-0445-4eb0-af24-724df452bcc8/20250926_090604%281%29.JPG Updates - Guatemala School Evangelism Update - Make it stand out Cesar liked having me reenact my fall and share my verse of scripture that I memorized from Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, that “two are better than one…because if one falls, the other can pick him up.” Here the kids are helping pick me up off the floor after “falling.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/bdf1c874-c08e-49d0-9b8f-1163bd794896/IMG_1723+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala School Evangelism Update - Make it stand out After my example, Cesar called for volunteers to fall and then have others pick them up! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/64156cdf-7eea-442a-9f88-e8a8c62b1a5e/IMG_2022+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala School Evangelism Update - Make it stand out I winced thinking about how these boys were “helping” pick up one of their friends by the legs and arms! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/82e483ec-5bc7-49ac-9e0f-8de2f4306763/IMG_1756+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala School Evangelism Update - Make it stand out At the school in Buena Vista, the team gets their first taste of “Chuchitos” (meaning “little dogs”) a Guatemalan version of a tamale that was made especially for us. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/90399b67-5beb-4642-80b5-8d598ac32926/IMG_1953+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala School Evangelism Update - Make it stand out At Cesar and Elba’s place in Amberes, Elba fed us like kings. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/a64da528-5d01-47eb-b26c-35340ee56150/IMG_2077+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala School Evangelism Update - Make it stand out Linda, one of the school teachers at La Linea, a school near Amberes, was adept at grilling one of the most delicious meals we had all week. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/6a69bd54-098a-487e-90d2-b5ffdb4bd9bd/IMG_1882+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala School Evangelism Update - Make it stand out Jolene makes her first tortilla! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/96031634-8dab-40cd-9fc8-d7ead02edc69/IMG_2063+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala School Evangelism Update - Make it stand out Tim got the prize for the best gringo-made tortilla! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/abf662f6-1a5a-4b3b-ba22-63510b8fa5c0/IMG_1893+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala School Evangelism Update - Make it stand out Here, the entire school ate together with the parents. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/ffd17d78-0bbf-4c27-9141-b883d2e1b946/IMG_2080+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala School Evangelism Update - Make it stand out Jimmy and Jolene scoop out the beans and the noodle salad for our last school of the week. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/e451c04d-1e87-4297-8322-81f6a7421d8d/IMG_1878+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala School Evangelism Update - Make it stand out At the end of each day, the kids were quick to share a hug with the team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1e8cf2b2-bb46-433d-aaaf-d741ce6369d2/IMG_1803+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala School Evangelism Update - Make it stand out Kendi (bottom left), the teacher of this classroom, and the acting director of this small school, was one of our favorites. Her love and dedication for the children went above and beyond her job. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/bf441b31-55ab-40f7-b3c8-aa2d3dab681d/IMG_9891.jpg Updates - Guatemala School Evangelism Update - Make it stand out Tim and Mari pose for a group picture with one of their classes in Buena Vista. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/6f5d0cc4-a830-441e-ada1-679dc5833f9c/IMG_1777+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala School Evangelism Update - Make it stand out Marisela (center), the principal of the school in Buena Vista, wanted us to see the view from this spot near the cabin that she and her husband built. A couple of days later we met her husband and daughter there to see the sunrise. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/06fd937f-c346-4686-b738-89a42ac8b233/IMG_1959+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala School Evangelism Update - Make it stand out Awaiting the sunrise on the porch of Marisela’s cabin. In the middle is her husband Danilo and Briana, their daughter. They offered us the use of the cabin anytime we wanted for meetings or retreats. Danilo said that they want their cabin to be used as a place for people to find God. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/454b0c46-598b-4000-a85e-f275edddd86f/394c2e83-a5ad-47bc-ac82-6c6f66934242.JPG Updates - Guatemala School Evangelism Update - Make it stand out The clouds did give way for Danilo to snap this brief glimpse of the sunrise. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/abc7bfd6-a808-49b7-a7b1-0b7e3406a525/IMG_1996+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala School Evangelism Update - Make it stand out While in Guatemala, we enjoyed the opportunity to see the Chiefs get a win! https://playstoryeat.com/updates/gcddhe4cb6k2b67-xz4lj-gywmh-hgjmf-5sy9n-f236p-snef3 monthly 0.5 2025-10-06 https://playstoryeat.com/updates/gcddhe4cb6k2b67-xz4lj-gywmh-hgjmf-5sy9n-f236p-bagrb monthly 0.5 2025-04-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/49ec0271-f70f-4bc7-bda3-227c9da60739/IMG_9880.jpg Updates - Nicaragua Soccer Evangelism Trip and May “MAPS” - Make it stand out Here is our Nicaragua soccer evangelism team from Lenexa Baptist right before heading to the soccer stadium in Rio Blanco on Saturday, April 25th. From left to right, you have me, Brian Griffin, Cassity Griffin, Tim Dykman, Heather Mitchell, Jake Solem, Eli Shay, Tony Shay, and Hallie Griffin. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/f1107a43-7481-47e8-81c3-4d080e0e94aa/IMG_9766+%281%29+%281%29.jpg Updates - Nicaragua Soccer Evangelism Trip and May “MAPS” - Make it stand out Before loading the bus in Managua for our 6 hour drive to Rio Blanco, we took this picture of our Project Hope team. An advance team had gone before us the day before to prepare for the rest of the group to follow. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/b6db2815-7c45-4f6b-aeab-55f8c0602d1d/IMG_9779+%281%29+%281%29.jpg Updates - Nicaragua Soccer Evangelism Trip and May “MAPS” - Make it stand out The only real travel mishap of the trip came when our bus arrived at the stadium to get through a narrow gate, and the front left wheel slid into a concrete ditch! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/0ec68145-d7a8-44a5-94eb-b53217fc2c6d/IMG_9776+%282%29.jpg Updates - Nicaragua Soccer Evangelism Trip and May “MAPS” - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/8d3e3f05-697d-4aca-a378-e929fac3d5f7/IMG_9783+%282%29.jpg Updates - Nicaragua Soccer Evangelism Trip and May “MAPS” - Make it stand out Thanks to the ingenuity of our driver and a couple of mechanics, they were able to jack the wheel up out of the hole and put a board under it to drive it out! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/28705390-7f65-40bf-8296-7c3e89b03fe2/IMG_9807+%281%29.jpg Updates - Nicaragua Soccer Evangelism Trip and May “MAPS” - Make it stand out On the evening before the tournament, Eduardo Mejia (pictured on the right) directed our team and the church volunteers to walk through the stands and over the field to pray for every person who would come to the tournament and that many would come to know Christ. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/d0fd9f2e-db93-4d21-a155-6db0f3a27f8c/IMG_9826+%281%29.jpg Updates - Nicaragua Soccer Evangelism Trip and May “MAPS” - Make it stand out From the stands you could see our team walking the field to pray. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/61bbe913-216f-4cd1-bda7-7cc9c9ede8a1/IMG_9850+%281%29.jpg Updates - Nicaragua Soccer Evangelism Trip and May “MAPS” - Make it stand out The evening before the tournament, the mayor (the woman in the scarf) and her leaders arranged to feed the entire team, and while we waited on the food, they gave us a brief history of Rio Blanco. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/d3e5dcd6-c715-4c8f-98df-92c790ac4f0d/IMG_9877+%281%29.jpg Updates - Nicaragua Soccer Evangelism Trip and May “MAPS” - Make it stand out Before going to bed the night before the tournament, the drama team did a run-through to be ready for the next day. From left to right are Jake, Eli, Cassity, Brian, Eynor, Meli, and Eduardo. Hiding in the back were Heather and Hallie. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/2a063390-1c0b-449d-b1be-39347cad7111/IMG_0198+%281%29.jpg Updates - Nicaragua Soccer Evangelism Trip and May “MAPS” - Make it stand out The morning before the tournament began, Eduardo gave instructions to the volunteers from other churches. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/67659752-983c-4685-ae08-13f44a0ad383/IMG_9895+%281%29.jpg Updates - Nicaragua Soccer Evangelism Trip and May “MAPS” - Make it stand out The trophies sit at midfield as the players and spectators arrive. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/319c8a23-39e9-4a2d-b2d0-e26ad3f8a0a6/IMG_0208+%281%29.jpg Updates - Nicaragua Soccer Evangelism Trip and May “MAPS” - Make it stand out Eduardo (left) and Rene (right) take a a quick photo with the city sports director of Rio Blanco. Rene worked with Eduardo on the tournament logistics and visited Rio Blanco several times with Eduardo in preparation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/a349a6d9-f5d2-4455-8887-11542331ef58/IMG_0216+%281%29.jpg Updates - Nicaragua Soccer Evangelism Trip and May “MAPS” - Make it stand out The referees pose for a picture for the local news before the games begin. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/4da68c4d-8c63-44e2-b852-3d944829e6fe/IMG_9936+%281%29.jpg Updates - Nicaragua Soccer Evangelism Trip and May “MAPS” - Make it stand out Before the games, the mayor’s team is recognized at midfield. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/95de008f-4735-40a3-ae73-03f66e3c1d80/IMG_9946+%281%29.jpg Updates - Nicaragua Soccer Evangelism Trip and May “MAPS” - Make it stand out The mayor says a few words of greeting. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/72441fe2-fd38-445d-bfb6-2c4f98959ee2/IMG_9959+%281%29.jpg Updates - Nicaragua Soccer Evangelism Trip and May “MAPS” - Make it stand out Genaro announces that a team of North Americans and Nicaraguans will do a drama. The mayor’s team stands in the background. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/6dc76b9a-4a23-46c7-84e0-c0cd60332351/IMG_0566+%281%29.jpg Updates - Nicaragua Soccer Evangelism Trip and May “MAPS” - Make it stand out The demons have a tug of war over Meli. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/dba0b9fc-de91-4364-85cc-5a143d87b8d9/IMG_0567+%281%29.jpg Updates - Nicaragua Soccer Evangelism Trip and May “MAPS” - Make it stand out But when Jesus shows up, he casts off the demons… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/70d8821a-4380-44f2-9bbd-902a291edca1/IMG_0568+%281%29.png Updates - Nicaragua Soccer Evangelism Trip and May “MAPS” - Make it stand out …and takes away her chains of sin… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/ebde783b-6e61-4f14-9118-09f74203a76a/IMG_0570+%281%29.jpg Updates - Nicaragua Soccer Evangelism Trip and May “MAPS” - Make it stand out …restoring her and setting her free. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/a60b25c0-dc6d-4229-8aa8-593bffbf1eb2/IMG_0571+%281%29.jpg Updates - Nicaragua Soccer Evangelism Trip and May “MAPS” - Make it stand out And at the name of Jesus all will bow down to Him. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/9c4d2699-2b38-4248-93dd-efae2f29b63a/IMG_0254+%281%29.jpg Updates - Nicaragua Soccer Evangelism Trip and May “MAPS” - Make it stand out Following the drama, Eduardo shares a gospel message using the ball of many colors. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/6ccf44a0-fbae-455a-8426-2d499d0a9e14/IMG_0562+%281%29.png Updates - Nicaragua Soccer Evangelism Trip and May “MAPS” - Make it stand out At the end of Eduardo’s message, he leads the crowd in a sinner’s prayer and invites them to raise their hands if they prayed the prayer and meant it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/e25da554-a2bc-4333-976a-ea51f4e60145/IMG_0564+%281%29.png Updates - Nicaragua Soccer Evangelism Trip and May “MAPS” - Make it stand out Here are several boys continuing to hold their hands up. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/690c2a7a-2d76-47de-ba50-91926da8ba2f/IMG_0292+%281%29.jpg Updates - Nicaragua Soccer Evangelism Trip and May “MAPS” - Make it stand out Our team of counselors from the churches helped people fill out decision cards. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/0a2499af-25fa-4a13-958c-97ca0f5b5834/IMG_0290+%281%29.jpg Updates - Nicaragua Soccer Evangelism Trip and May “MAPS” - Make it stand out Here, Melvin, one of our interpreters, helps several girls write down their information. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/a07afccd-1501-4641-bce2-51645bf00678/IMG_0286+%281%29.jpg Updates - Nicaragua Soccer Evangelism Trip and May “MAPS” - Make it stand out Another volunteer helps a couple of players record their decisions. These two players wound up being on the team that won the men’s division. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/72fe6799-866f-4b8b-83d1-723894d9af8d/IMG_0298+%281%29.jpg Updates - Nicaragua Soccer Evangelism Trip and May “MAPS” - Make it stand out Here Hallie took the picture of one of the girls with her card. Each person making a decision was encouraged to get their picture taken with their card. This will be used for the churches to follow up. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/dc9e1bcc-cac8-42f1-81cc-f01f1fffa2b8/IMG_0002+%281%29.jpg Updates - Nicaragua Soccer Evangelism Trip and May “MAPS” - Make it stand out Eli takes a picture of another who made a commitment to Christ while Heather looks on. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/2bf2fd3a-6636-4fac-9590-3b435a38ce4d/IMG_9976+%281%29.jpg Updates - Nicaragua Soccer Evangelism Trip and May “MAPS” - Make it stand out Brian and Cassity Griffin talk with a young man as Diana interprets for them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/a62cd3e4-700b-4903-b17e-4e0fbe859d7d/IMG_0327+%282%29.jpg Updates - Nicaragua Soccer Evangelism Trip and May “MAPS” - Make it stand out Tim uses the message of our team shirt to share the gospel message with several older boys. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/16e7481c-c2f0-442c-89f4-8fa0e4b0008e/IMG_0320+%281%29.jpg Updates - Nicaragua Soccer Evangelism Trip and May “MAPS” - Make it stand out Eli looks on as one of the church volunteers shares with a player. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/10c4c497-492d-4f02-9f1f-a5b2af8a864d/IMG_0300+%281%29.jpg Updates - Nicaragua Soccer Evangelism Trip and May “MAPS” - Make it stand out These ladies pray for several young men. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/8a4fc4ce-6276-46fd-99ff-d6253e84fa1c/IMG_0458+%281%29.jpg Updates - Nicaragua Soccer Evangelism Trip and May “MAPS” - Make it stand out Jake shares his written testimony with a young man as Jenni translates for him. In the forground are Hallie and Heather. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/dcf7f782-faf6-4e36-ab8f-d556b6ba464b/IMG_0315+%281%29.jpg Updates - Nicaragua Soccer Evangelism Trip and May “MAPS” - Make it stand out Diana and Cassity get their pictures taken with these girls who prayed to receive Christ. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/5e61123f-c83a-4d15-a6df-be8cbf8eb128/IMG_0440+%281%29.jpg Updates - Nicaragua Soccer Evangelism Trip and May “MAPS” - Make it stand out Brian shared the gospel with this girl who later wanted to get a picture with us right before her final game to win the tournament. I think she liked the idea of having Eli in the picture with her! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/5231c93b-79a7-4410-8a52-826c453d2071/IMG_0454+%281%29.jpg Updates - Nicaragua Soccer Evangelism Trip and May “MAPS” - Make it stand out A view from near the sound board. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/743098e8-ad67-4433-a1e6-0bd8091a1fa4/IMG_0100+%281%29.jpg Updates - Nicaragua Soccer Evangelism Trip and May “MAPS” - Make it stand out Eduardo and the sound guys keep the communication flowing as Eduardo keeps track of the brackets. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/e8e18865-3d65-46ad-b38a-9436e20a21de/IMG_0026+%281%29.jpg Updates - Nicaragua Soccer Evangelism Trip and May “MAPS” - Make it stand out As these boys play, in the background is the Musun mountain that is the main landmark for the region. Several rivers start in those hills and they flow to water the surrounding areas. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/a9a28016-1ff7-444b-a6a6-f329c55f8b79/IMG_0027+%281%29.jpg Updates - Nicaragua Soccer Evangelism Trip and May “MAPS” - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/73f0d531-fb8e-4446-be34-2df178fbf3c9/IMG_0330+%281%29.jpg Updates - Nicaragua Soccer Evangelism Trip and May “MAPS” - Make it stand out The big field was divided into eight smaller fields and each team played 5 players at a time. Each game lasted about 10 minutes, so games went by quickly to narrow down the teams to the finals. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/bb60163e-88e9-48fa-a208-1c943f66429d/IMG_0431+%281%29.jpg Updates - Nicaragua Soccer Evangelism Trip and May “MAPS” - Make it stand out Here a girl is being taken off one of the fields to be checked out after a hard fall. Thankfully there were not too many injuries over the two days. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/745e1688-866f-4cd8-a170-9df37d0d2bd9/IMG_0013+%281%29.jpg Updates - Nicaragua Soccer Evangelism Trip and May “MAPS” - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/5942b703-2b78-4f3b-b4d4-3ab815d3fda6/IMG_0381+%281%29.jpg Updates - Nicaragua Soccer Evangelism Trip and May “MAPS” - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/947f2931-64a3-4069-837d-e51ce2f325ff/IMG_0455+%281%29.jpg Updates - Nicaragua Soccer Evangelism Trip and May “MAPS” - Make it stand out A view from the stands as the men played their final game for the championship. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/937b68dd-d1c0-43db-b7b3-1f81b4dd0433/IMG_0554+%281%29.jpg Updates - Nicaragua Soccer Evangelism Trip and May “MAPS” - Make it stand out On the last night of the trip, a game of charades became a big hit. Here Hallie holds up a cell phone with an item written on it for the others to act out and for her to guess. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/e1a734eb-1347-4274-97a9-f3dfca75d92c/IMG_0390+%281%29.jpg Updates - Nicaragua Soccer Evangelism Trip and May “MAPS” - Make it stand out Here a boys team prays before their game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/ee5b94a5-e2be-4be4-993b-b5ef2a81e4ca/IMG_0106+%281%29.jpg Updates - Nicaragua Soccer Evangelism Trip and May “MAPS” - Make it stand out Before the final for the younger boys division, Rene and the referees share with the boys a sportsmanship thought and then a prayer for both teams. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/3092de5d-9e77-4b8a-8b25-47398dfae0bb/IMG_0488+%281%29.jpg Updates - Nicaragua Soccer Evangelism Trip and May “MAPS” - Make it stand out Before the men’s final, Rene leads in a prayer as both teams stand together. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/14d17197-ef1e-452b-9dfe-40bb00ccc840/IMG_0189+%281%29.jpg Updates - Nicaragua Soccer Evangelism Trip and May “MAPS” - Make it stand out Each night our team had a devotion and a time for sharing. Here, Melvin (center in black shirt) shares how earlier in the day he and Eli had two younger boys overhear them present the gospel to two young men who were not ready to pray to receive Christ. As Eli and Melvin were about to walk away, the two boys tapped them on the shoulder and said that they wanted to pray the prayer that the other guys didn’t want to pray! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/4775ddc3-89be-47c6-8b94-4918ec0d9da0/IMG_0165+%281%29.jpg Updates - Nicaragua Soccer Evangelism Trip and May “MAPS” - Make it stand out The trophy presentation for the boys winning team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/a2a83819-e6f0-43ce-ab77-caa7d2755945/IMG_0160+%281%29.jpg Updates - Nicaragua Soccer Evangelism Trip and May “MAPS” - Make it stand out Because of the wind, all the banners kept falling over. Here, Tony keeps one of the flags from blowing over. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/105cd5bb-b42d-4934-8a1c-cd9bb28038d5/IMG_0161+%281%29.jpg Updates - Nicaragua Soccer Evangelism Trip and May “MAPS” - Make it stand out In almost every area, there are people helping that no one sees. While the trophy presentation is going on, Tim, Heather, Diana, and Cassity keep the banners in place. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/a7281d55-f803-43b0-897c-184a947c47db/IMG_0150+%281%29.jpg Updates - Nicaragua Soccer Evangelism Trip and May “MAPS” - Make it stand out The players on the first and second place teams all got medals. Here, Tim, Tony, Eli, and Jake greeted the winners as they got their medals. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/e48b08a8-76bf-49ac-a645-8d8d99b52e46/IMG_0530+%281%29.jpg Updates - Nicaragua Soccer Evangelism Trip and May “MAPS” - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/363c2e59-33a8-4ad9-9181-31150b61162b/IMG_0514+%281%29.jpg Updates - Nicaragua Soccer Evangelism Trip and May “MAPS” - Make it stand out The women’s MVP received her trophy from the mayor as several ladies from city hall and our three ladies looked on. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/7e5e98ba-8fc5-4743-bc2c-8b3a14d83731/IMG_0544+%281%29.jpg Updates - Nicaragua Soccer Evangelism Trip and May “MAPS” - Make it stand out Here’s the men’s winning team with the officials from city hall in front of the trophy for first place! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/6b244ebd-bfb3-4a32-9061-e2632f66d997/cf64cf24-b4c3-4d04-a13c-f1f0287f3565.jpg Updates - Nicaragua Soccer Evangelism Trip and May “MAPS” - Make it stand out Our Lenexa Baptist team want to say thanks to you for your faithful prayers! https://playstoryeat.com/updates/gcddhe4cb6k2b67-xz4lj-gywmh-hgjmf-5sy9n-f236p monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://playstoryeat.com/updates/gcddhe4cb6k2b67-xz4lj-gywmh-hgjmf-5sy9n monthly 0.5 2025-02-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/d70bfc14-546a-4525-b5fd-f30d991e9c53/IMG_8365+%281%29.jpg Updates - March MAPS plus Guatemala News Coming Soon - Make it stand out The menu board at MAPS Coffee in Lenexa, Kansas https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/22ab9a5b-0fd9-44ad-ade7-91a62c44c66d/IMG_6742+%281%29.jpg Updates - March MAPS plus Guatemala News Coming Soon - Make it stand out My friend Eduardo Mejia is sharing a map of Nicaragua and pointing to various places that they have done soccer tournaments. April 22-27 several of us from Lenexa Baptist are joining Eduardo and his team to put on an evangelistic soccer tournament in Rio Blanco, Nicaragua. If you or anyone else might be interested, let me know ASAP! https://playstoryeat.com/updates/gcddhe4cb6k2b67-xz4lj-gywmh-hgjmf-4zsc5 monthly 0.5 2025-02-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/3c126645-beb4-4beb-b20e-8aef3b4e6119/IMG_5395+%281%29.jpg Updates - MAPS Update and Steve Heading Back to Guatemala...Again! - Make it stand out This pic is from last year with Ray Gurney, Cesar Gonzalez, and (in the blue shirt) Eddie Gonzalez, Cesar’s nephew, who is a pastor in La Casita, Guatemala. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/c04526ed-8584-4b09-a283-b9ff3488fec1/IMG_9166+%281%29.jpg Updates - MAPS Update and Steve Heading Back to Guatemala...Again! - Make it stand out Nola got to share her birthday last week at GuacaMaya’s Mexican Restaurant in Omaha, Nebraska, with a couple of our grandsons, Brayden and Landon! ¡Feliz Cumpleaños Nola! https://playstoryeat.com/updates/gcddhe4cb6k2b67-xz4lj-gywmh-6h9wh monthly 0.5 2025-01-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/474cd622-3435-4974-9279-041e0f437b4f/IMG_3416+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala News and MAPS Update - Make it stand out This is our scout team that came to the James Project in Monjas, Guatemala on a vision trip. There were four churches represented in our group, three from the Kansas City area, and one from Vancouver, Canada! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/8d9fb51c-ffcd-4fca-82ec-5b1bad71be29/20250116_130940+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala News and MAPS Update - Make it stand out Jim Fruth and Dave Owen were my partners on this trip from Lenexa Baptist. Jim is the Executive Pastor at LBC. Dave is a former Lieutenant Governor for the state of Kansas and a former professional roper! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/4ad89289-7114-4cce-8eb3-bb238abfa820/IMG_3338+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala News and MAPS Update - Make it stand out This is Bryon and Tiffany Applegate. Originally from the Springfield, Missouri, area, they picked up the torch around 2013 from the founders, Joanne Hartley and Carroll Bishop, and are the directors of the ministry. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1a9a5c42-51e1-4979-b5ee-e7fa88afe2d8/IMG_8514+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala News and MAPS Update - Make it stand out Tiffany is sharing the view of the surrounding mountains near Monjas. Jim Fruth is looking on from the right. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/5a329fa4-9f54-4928-ba02-74b613932d99/IMG_8535+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala News and MAPS Update - Make it stand out The first evening at the ministry, the children welcomed us by family units. While there are approximately 115 children cared for at the ministry, the children are given a home and a family unit to stay with. Each family unit consists of about 8-12 children and father and mother figures they call aunts and uncles, who stay with them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/d6dfc2eb-2a37-43e3-94b5-49783c28ea25/IMG_8547+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala News and MAPS Update - Make it stand out Here’s one of the houses getting ready to sing their theme song to our group. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/4b90427c-08ae-4117-abab-b03b6c9e04f5/20250114_191908+%281%29+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala News and MAPS Update - Make it stand out The children were quick to give hugs to all of us. Here Jim and Dave share a moment with two little girls. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/b1b09d6d-4b35-4a77-91f0-9023a3d2d733/IMG_8604+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala News and MAPS Update - Make it stand out The following day, Bryon took us around the property to see the houses and the agricultural projects they use to raise as much food as possible to feed the children. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/f40d10fa-cad5-4e14-a244-004e8dc05038/IMG_8612+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala News and MAPS Update - Make it stand out Bryon shares how this is a typical home where the children stay. Here we are standing in the kitchen area where the children eat together. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/6b7bb34f-b1b5-4c6f-ab9d-869307cf42c8/IMG_8662+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala News and MAPS Update - Make it stand out During the tour, I met up with two good friends who work for Project James—Glendy and Manfredo. I’ve known Manfredo for more than 20 years as we have done cowboy ministry at his father’s ranch from time to time. Glendy was one of the leaders in the local Lions Club who helped us in our soccer project a little over a year ago. Incidentally, Glendy grew up in the home and after graduating college moved back to work with Project James. She and Manfedo are counselors and their primary role is helping the children with their court appearances. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/a5cf8d12-2fcf-4d25-8fbe-5c711acb83d9/IMG_8649+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala News and MAPS Update - Make it stand out Jeff and Chelsea Hatfield, of the Foundry Church in Lenexa, Kansas, share a moment with a little baby in the arms of one of the workers. Some of the teen children come to the center having been impregnated by family members or by random strangers if they have been pimped by the adults in their life. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/23b01f9d-3193-4104-99ed-91c5dd4eeaa5/IMG_8523+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala News and MAPS Update - Make it stand out Here we are praying over the ground of an adjacent property where new structures will house battered women and their children together. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/f9b59309-afd7-4e44-b0f3-d3c55a6de558/IMG_8684+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala News and MAPS Update - Make it stand out Here, Chelsea prays over a mom with an incredible story of survival and God’s grace. Part of their programs involve helping women outside of the ministry compound who have been widowed or abandoned by their husbands. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/b0bfeb57-6b07-4dbf-b572-14c8421c94c3/IMG_8857+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala News and MAPS Update - Make it stand out On that Saturday morning of the event, we met up with some of our friends at the Cattlemen’s Association rodeo arena in Monjas. When we invited them to come with us to pull off an event with the kids that day, they eagerly jumped into action with us. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/e07214c9-797c-492d-b4dd-914c99ea34dd/IMG_8869+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala News and MAPS Update - Make it stand out When we got to the center, our rancher friends were ready to round up the kids and show them how to rope! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/05a71b0c-5eeb-4266-bacf-034eb840855d/IMG_8861+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala News and MAPS Update - Make it stand out It was a great privilege for Cesar and me to meet Carroll Bishop, one of the founders, who still lives in Monjas and came to our event. Originally from Montana, she was more than happy to put on a cowboy hat to take a picture with Cesar! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/f4f7f9ec-43be-463b-af5b-19cdcc3e1b8d/IMG_8875+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala News and MAPS Update - Make it stand out Here the president of the Cattleman’s Association brings a greeting to the children. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/caf2c630-0df1-493b-86bc-9c1c8b75cd97/IMG_8913+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala News and MAPS Update - Make it stand out In short order, Cesar took one of the cowboy ropes and made it a jump rope. Turning the ropes are a couple of our Lions Club friends. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/d98cf883-7a8d-4c55-b4a7-ce14820facf5/IMG_8925+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala News and MAPS Update - Make it stand out The kids loved the sack races. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/db09711f-46f0-40ea-ba42-98cabcc08be5/IMG_8938+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala News and MAPS Update - Make it stand out Musical chairs is always a hit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/490e4aca-3c67-4c8a-a601-a92610f324f5/IMG_8920+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala News and MAPS Update - Make it stand out Here Gloria gives a prize to the jump rope champion. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/2b4caa8e-615b-4272-b3c1-ff2c188097e9/IMG_8931+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala News and MAPS Update - Make it stand out The president of the Cattlemen’s Association and one of the Lions Club members gives a prize to the girl who won the musical chairs competition. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/2b3deca0-800f-4ec8-9158-a5205212eda7/IMG_8957+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala News and MAPS Update - Make it stand out After the competitions, Gloria divided the children up to ask each other what they were thankful for and what they were concerned about. Then she led them to pray for each other. Here she is saying a final prayer of blessing over the children. Gloria is a dedicated teacher and follower of Jesus, and last year I spent several days with them when Cesar and I were following up on our big soccer event in 2023 that saw many soccer enthusiasts and children come to Christ. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1e253b69-7efc-4a0a-805a-79991d55b084/IMG_8970+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala News and MAPS Update - Make it stand out Before we left, we got a group picture. Unfortunately, the person who took the picture cut off some folks on the right side of this picture! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/abbbee9d-6655-4fab-91eb-80204b11e737/IMG_8771+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala News and MAPS Update - Make it stand out At the Senior Center in Santa Cruz Narranjo, I got to “win” the dancing competition with this dear lady! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/9b679708-20f1-4460-8b8e-fa69a154695c/IMG_8791+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala News and MAPS Update - Make it stand out Here Cesar gives her a scarf that she proudly wears. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/68e87110-56ca-4760-902e-01627a44b5dd/IMG_8799+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala News and MAPS Update - Make it stand out In attendance with us at the Senior Center was the leadership team from the mayor’s office of Santa Cruz Narranjo. Joining us on the far left is Cesar’s son, Cesar Jr., who was visiting Cesar and Elba from Los Angeles for part of that week. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/f9ad217e-d93d-417d-afd2-4a9f7b4c093a/IMG_8977+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala News and MAPS Update - Make it stand out On another day, we set up an event for cowboys in Santa Rosa de Lima. Here, Cesar is directing some boys in hammering in the stakes for some horseshoe throwing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/9d7f0d80-7bc1-4d0b-b4ea-a30ce5d8a45f/IMG_8982+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala News and MAPS Update - Make it stand out Melanie, one of Cesar’s granddaughters, tries her hand at swinging a rope. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/04a93a83-f915-49a0-b7f2-0a930014f4f9/IMG_8994+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala News and MAPS Update - Make it stand out Here is Cesar with Valentin, one of our good friends who is a pastor near Nueva Santa Rosa, Guatemala. His family has cattle and have grown coffee for decades. Anytime we are in the area, Valentin is quick to help. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/3a3d55af-363b-45ad-b826-25e0fd32a8ee/IMG_9065+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala News and MAPS Update - Make it stand out One day was spent with several soccer teams we have worked with in the past. Here is a team in Amberes, near Cesar’s home. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/fcfff234-f97e-48dc-8602-0972ab271b60/IMG_8832+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala News and MAPS Update - Make it stand out One of the older boys’ soccer teams came over to Cesar’s for an evening of food, fun, and a devotion. Cesar got the boys playing Connect 4 before we ate. Two years ago, he got me to promise to buy hamburgers for several of the boys on this soccer team if they would pray that the Kansas City Chiefs would win the Super Bowl! They know little about American football, but they are quite aware that the Chiefs have not lost a Super Bowl since they started praying! So as you can imagine, they are already planning a third annual hamburger party! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/6e6e7ddd-c063-4a65-b40c-36bf07e4e322/IMG_9109+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala News and MAPS Update - Make it stand out A couple days after getting home from Guatemala, I got to attend the AFC Championship game with my sons, Josh, Ryan, and Zac! I’m hoping they will help me with my hamburger fund! https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2025/1/24/guatemala-trip-and-maps-update monthly 0.5 2025-01-24 https://playstoryeat.com/updates/gcddhe4cb6k2b67-xz4lj-gywmh-hgjmf monthly 0.5 2025-01-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/4b2b161b-ef05-461b-9b84-bec1445a4926/image000000.jpg Updates - More Maps and Steve HeadiNG to Guatemala - Make it stand out Three of our grandkids, Bridget, Addie, and Connor, help their daddy, our son Ryan, shovel their driveway. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/0179e0ea-7ffb-4132-b495-d4de45dc2434/IMG_6575+%281%29.jpg Updates - More Maps and Steve HeadiNG to Guatemala - Make it stand out Izaiah shows good snowball throwing form while his brother Zeke tries to decide if being out in the cold is worth it! https://playstoryeat.com/updates/gcddhe4cb6k2b67-xz4lj-gywmh monthly 0.5 2024-12-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/d20f239c-3e84-4d58-b53c-4faf6a18cd8f/IMG_8313+%281%29.jpg Updates - Get S.M.A.R.T. in 2025 - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://playstoryeat.com/updates/gcddhe4cb6k2b67-xz4lj monthly 0.5 2024-12-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/89ca6516-0765-4560-baf2-8f7a5eaa3c4e/Jason+on+a+mountain+arms+open.jpg Updates - Open Hearts for 2025 - Make it stand out This amazing shot was taken five years ago of my open-hearted friend, Jason Neland, in the Smoky Mountains overlooking Clingmans Dome near the border between Tennessee and North Carolina. Wow! https://playstoryeat.com/updates/gcddhe4cb6k2b67 monthly 0.5 2024-12-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/dad9da65-89a5-4f71-a139-d544c62989c7/IMG_8296+%281%29.jpg Updates - Plan For a Great Start to 2025 - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2021/3/14/guatemala-bound-finally-7n2wt-k3frg-2jpn9-grpkm-atk4d-ars4s-lhe8n-ljxmb-fr6zx-c7kre-bjah6-69yye-3g6n6-5hymr-7smf7-73tej-93esj-7j49s-7t8ly-2ynt3-98ccw-ga5na-jkmxk-w9l8l-dpbr2-rea4c-438xp monthly 0.5 2024-12-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/6e95423a-d332-40f6-a384-f63a78f75831/IMG_8264+%281%29.jpg Updates - A Thanksgiving Confession - Make it stand out On our annual Thanksgiving reunion, this is a sunrise snapshot of Tenkiller lake near Muskogee, Oklahoma, near where Nola’s family has gathered for many years. On that morning walk, I was thinking about how I could best share this update with you. https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2021/3/14/guatemala-bound-finally-7n2wt-k3frg-2jpn9-grpkm-atk4d-ars4s-lhe8n-ljxmb-fr6zx-c7kre-bjah6-69yye-3g6n6-5hymr-7smf7-73tej-93esj-7j49s-7t8ly-2ynt3-98ccw-ga5na-jkmxk-w9l8l-dpbr2-rea4c-bh2cz monthly 0.5 2024-11-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/012a4642-e8b6-40b9-8857-dc7a0f7f1ed6/20241026_092616_Original.jpg Updates - Lenexa Baptist Nicaragua Missions Trip Report - Make it stand out Before heading to the airport on our last day in Nicaragua, we took this group photo of our Lenexa Baptist team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/bb1a19c9-d8a2-47af-9341-bc028b58ae1f/IMG_7643+%281%29+%281%29.jpg Updates - Lenexa Baptist Nicaragua Missions Trip Report - Make it stand out In Nicaragua, baseball is about equal to soccer as the most popular sport for kids. At Taellor’s House, last year a team erected a batting net for pitching and batting practice. The Taellor’s House team were runner’s up in a national league championship last year! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/560eb92e-35dd-45c4-b7f9-df70cfe96446/IMG_7646+%281%29.jpg Updates - Lenexa Baptist Nicaragua Missions Trip Report - Make it stand out On our first day of talks to the boys at Taellor’s House, these 10 boys prayed to receive Christ. On the far left is Selvinth Maldonado, a Lenexa Baptist member and chaplain for the Kansas City Royals’ Spanish speaking baseball players. Next to him is Brian, the boys baseball coach and teacher who is a dedicated follower of Jesus. On the far right is Jason Neland, who is chaplain for the Kansas City Monarchs baseball team. (And if you are keeping score at home, Jason was also on our August Guatemala trip with his family!) The boys loved hearing their stories of some of their favorite baseball players and of their testimonies of coming to Christ. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/eeab0298-ede7-41a7-80ec-79b8e46a9f80/IMG_7712+%281%29.jpg Updates - Lenexa Baptist Nicaragua Missions Trip Report - Make it stand out Kevin Bost makes a point before the training starts. Kevin was the leader of our coaches and planned our schedule each day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/3c45892a-45ba-40d8-a9ac-264fe3d8b1e6/IMG_7717+%281%29.jpg Updates - Lenexa Baptist Nicaragua Missions Trip Report - Make it stand out Selvinth Maldonado shares with the boys that what he is telling them is the same thing he told Salvador Perez last week! When it comes to our value before God, we are all the same, no matter how famous we might be. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/c82af370-ee1a-4a70-b8b9-790bc2b955eb/IMG_7768+%281%29.jpg Updates - Lenexa Baptist Nicaragua Missions Trip Report - Make it stand out Rene (green shirt), a Nicaraguan team member who pitched professionally in Nicaragua before a shoulder injury ended his career, shares his testimony of how he came to know Christ. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/84ff7283-06e0-497f-88c7-a4aaace8bc7b/IMG_7835+%281%29.jpg Updates - Lenexa Baptist Nicaragua Missions Trip Report - Make it stand out On the last day, Jason Neland shared a picture of a baseball player he had the privilege of baptizing this past July. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/203fa533-9487-4758-9fff-7a54e462c859/IMG_7839+%281%29.jpg Updates - Lenexa Baptist Nicaragua Missions Trip Report - Make it stand out And then Jason brought his friend up on a Zoom call to talk with the boys! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/88472d31-6ed2-48e0-91a6-98fddee1e90c/PXL_20241024_164118377+%281%29.jpg Updates - Lenexa Baptist Nicaragua Missions Trip Report - Make it stand out Kevin instructs the boys before dividing up the teams for a scrimmage. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/f81509d5-1724-4c92-907f-3c679afc5a15/IMG_7851+%281%29.jpg Updates - Lenexa Baptist Nicaragua Missions Trip Report - Make it stand out The last day it was fun to see the boys and all the coaches play a friendly game together. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/f2c57b62-8d7f-48b4-b112-55bf47226f2d/IMG_7637+%281%29+%281%29.jpg Updates - Lenexa Baptist Nicaragua Missions Trip Report - Make it stand out At the start of each day, we’d have a large group experience and then a small group time. During the large group time on our first morning, my good friend, Eduardo Mejia (right), shared a devotion. Mikel, one of the translators, translated whatever Eduardo said in English or in Spanish. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/8b353d90-30e4-46e6-bc8c-3bcb00434647/IMG_7766+%281%29.jpg Updates - Lenexa Baptist Nicaragua Missions Trip Report - Make it stand out On our third day in country, Mikel had us perform various parts to the biblical story of David getting selected to be the next king of Israel. For some reason he picked on me to be David! In the background left is Justin Pedigo. Behind Mikel is John Bednarczyk, then, Jeff Buckner, and on the far right is Karl Ploeger. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/28a64109-03a4-444b-81ab-508b6ce485fa/IMG_0225.jpg Updates - Lenexa Baptist Nicaragua Missions Trip Report - Make it stand out This week in our small groups, we had Project Hope staff mixed in with the Gringos to follow up on the theme brought out in our large group time. Several of the stories and comments bonded our group as we shared with one another. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/e1cff8f9-a691-45c6-bec3-56ad1273997e/IMG_0406.jfif Updates - Lenexa Baptist Nicaragua Missions Trip Report - Make it stand out The wall building team was very industrious this week, getting a new wall built on the mission compound in Sandino. On the left is Mike Meisinger, then Tim Dykman, aka Nehemiah! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/cbd34d11-1121-43cf-8238-d62d7784acc9/IMG_0264.jpg Updates - Lenexa Baptist Nicaragua Missions Trip Report - Make it stand out For a couple of days, another team helped install a greatly needed septic overflow for the plumbing system at Taellor’s House. The Lenexa team, starting with the tall guy on the left, are Eric Offill and the three Davids: David Wroten, another David from Springfield, Missouri, and David Patterson, also of Springfield. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/b7c519fc-5973-4eb6-8bf0-a971677bf3da/20241024_140745+%281%29.jpg Updates - Lenexa Baptist Nicaragua Missions Trip Report - Make it stand out Eric smooths down the gravel as the last step in completing the septic overflow project. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/994f9a96-44dd-42a8-bc2d-878920504227/IMG_9680.jpg Updates - Lenexa Baptist Nicaragua Missions Trip Report - Make it stand out Emily Hunt moves a ladder over for me to hop up on to paint the top of a playground slide at Taellor’s House. Looking on is Julie Crocker. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/f5dbfad1-dde5-4d5e-b440-010f0bff0ddf/20241024_152635+%281%29.jpg Updates - Lenexa Baptist Nicaragua Missions Trip Report - Make it stand out The team that finished the sound panel project from bottom left clockwise: David Wroten, Howard Dickinson, Emily Hunt, Justin Hunt, Justin Pedigo, Julie Crocker, Jeff Buckner, and Emily Ploeger. (Somebody is hiding behind Jeff!) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/5e683fe7-91c0-4fc7-ae50-a0a8b265e9aa/20241021_132754+%281%29.jpg Updates - Lenexa Baptist Nicaragua Missions Trip Report - Make it stand out On one of the VBS days, Rhonda Reinhardt shares with the children as I translate for her. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/98257cd1-4460-4f0f-93ff-67da4a246d21/IMG_7656+%281%29.jpg Updates - Lenexa Baptist Nicaragua Missions Trip Report - Make it stand out In the background, Emily Hunt tries to follow the motions to a favorite song of the children. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/e4dc517e-3fae-4d0b-a3b0-fd5e557b8945/IMG_0328.jpg Updates - Lenexa Baptist Nicaragua Missions Trip Report - Make it stand out Doing the world famous chicken song! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/a75f44aa-3e8c-4cd0-80ea-a2acf9b9fd5c/IMG_7680+%281%29.jpg Updates - Lenexa Baptist Nicaragua Missions Trip Report - Make it stand out Craft time! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/13f7d2e8-6f25-416e-8d4f-d8baa0663483/IMG_7730+%281%29.jpg Updates - Lenexa Baptist Nicaragua Missions Trip Report - Make it stand out Jason helps pass out paper plates for an art project. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/c9eab2e8-85c9-4470-8f3a-248396a83a59/IMG_7740+%281%29.jpg Updates - Lenexa Baptist Nicaragua Missions Trip Report - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/661f3481-7be7-4232-b486-1d683191e7aa/IMG_7744+%281%29.jpg Updates - Lenexa Baptist Nicaragua Missions Trip Report - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/a444ac9b-9259-4826-8a71-202cf9de4b07/IMG_7749+%281%29.jpg Updates - Lenexa Baptist Nicaragua Missions Trip Report - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/73ff1760-cc8a-4d07-8ab6-38a49208a4ad/IMG_7687+%281%29.jpg Updates - Lenexa Baptist Nicaragua Missions Trip Report - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/cbb16717-9903-4e64-952c-df7c119b0184/IMG_7790+%281%29.jpg Updates - Lenexa Baptist Nicaragua Missions Trip Report - Make it stand out Patti Horton helps a boy glue some beans to his paper. On a side note, on this trip, Patti and I realized that she and her husband were a part of a church we started over 30 years ago! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/be000fca-4dc3-46ba-b6bd-5f21a6e083fb/IMG_7797+%281%29.jpg Updates - Lenexa Baptist Nicaragua Missions Trip Report - Make it stand out Rhonda poses with a little boy proud of his artwork. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/4f928864-adb3-44cf-bbca-5f79f14d9dc2/IMG_7799+%281%29.jpg Updates - Lenexa Baptist Nicaragua Missions Trip Report - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/419919d6-22e9-4842-bb50-124fd412630e/IMG_7781+%281%29.jpg Updates - Lenexa Baptist Nicaragua Missions Trip Report - Make it stand out Fun days with children in Latin America almost always involve a piñata! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/34258913-f1fa-4fcb-ba66-be4c9f7ad078/IMG_7936+%281%29.jpg Updates - Lenexa Baptist Nicaragua Missions Trip Report - Make it stand out On Thursday night we had a big celebration together with the teachers and parents and families. Here, Kelly Hughes gives the teachers a gift from our team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/42d83ffb-d22a-48e5-9762-42dc420742d1/IMG_7956+%281%29.jpg Updates - Lenexa Baptist Nicaragua Missions Trip Report - Make it stand out Karl Ploeger and his daughter Emily give a bag of food to one of the families. Taking their picture is Tammy Stearns, one of the missionaries dedicated to the Project Hope operations. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/fb75cf14-a822-4be0-b990-20f86fdc108e/IMG_7990+%281%29.jpg Updates - Lenexa Baptist Nicaragua Missions Trip Report - Make it stand out The last day with Taellor’s House we had a fun morning of competitions with the children. Here, each team passes a football in a relay race. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1bcffbaa-957f-4ec7-a7ed-5376c5262f39/IMG_7999+%281%29.jpg Updates - Lenexa Baptist Nicaragua Missions Trip Report - Make it stand out After the football, the same relay was done with wet sponges! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/17d1b585-e6ea-4d6d-9d9c-51622cd423ee/IMG_8022+%281%29.jpg Updates - Lenexa Baptist Nicaragua Missions Trip Report - Make it stand out Here, the team squeezing out the most water from their sponges wins! Wendy Bost helps a girl funnel the water. Emily looks on. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/e647e319-82e9-4666-9ed6-fedff73f06ec/IMG_8065+%281%29.jpg Updates - Lenexa Baptist Nicaragua Missions Trip Report - Make it stand out After one last water balloon fight, most of the kids were soaked and happy! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/39899042-6dde-4151-8a02-9c303f37e387/IMG_8071+%281%29.jpg Updates - Lenexa Baptist Nicaragua Missions Trip Report - Make it stand out The last day, the team got to spend a couple of hours at the beach. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/901b10ec-991c-4656-bd3b-af95ebe7b332/IMG_8078+%281%29.jpg Updates - Lenexa Baptist Nicaragua Missions Trip Report - Make it stand out Jason, Selvinth, and David explore some tide pools. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/3745de9f-8ce2-4c4e-bc91-6640d0e30580/IMG_7619+%281%29+%281%29.jpg Updates - Lenexa Baptist Nicaragua Missions Trip Report - Make it stand out At the Oasis Church in Sandino, I just happened to be wearing a “Legendarios” (Legendaries) men’s ministry shirt I got a couple years back. And it just “happened” to be their Sunday for recruitment for an upcoming Legendarios men’s retreat coming up in November! It’s like I got the memo or something! What fun! https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2021/3/14/guatemala-bound-finally-7n2wt-k3frg-2jpn9-grpkm-atk4d-ars4s-lhe8n-ljxmb-fr6zx-c7kre-bjah6-69yye-3g6n6-5hymr-7smf7-73tej-93esj-7j49s-7t8ly-2ynt3-98ccw-ga5na-jkmxk-w9l8l-dpbr2-rea4c monthly 0.5 2024-10-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/acc560be-7d59-485b-9c6b-f15f8cb42d8e/IMG_7576+%281%29.jpg Updates - Rural Christian Workers Conference Update - Make it stand out Ransom Wentworth and his wife, Brittany, lead worship for the Rural Christian Workers Conference in Burwell, Nebraska. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/2eb4f7bb-8747-4095-8902-f25ad9a681e6/IMG_7591+%281%29.jpg Updates - Rural Christian Workers Conference Update - Make it stand out Bill gets his honorary mug from Joel Wentworth for leading a breakout session on prayer. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/d08cfe01-4e1f-4456-a4c1-58343028f750/IMG_7583+%281%29.jpg Updates - Rural Christian Workers Conference Update - Make it stand out Pastor Andy Addis of Crosspoint Church in Hutchinson, Kansas, was the keynote speaker for the conference. Bill and I really enjoyed getting acquainted with Andy and his wife, Kathy. Andy has an amazing story of how their rural church has multiplied to either start or revitalize over a dozen churches in rural towns all over Kansas. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/3058fdc5-0f5c-4c8d-a6e6-63e559cdd0f3/IMG_7587+%281%29.jpg Updates - Rural Christian Workers Conference Update - Make it stand out In one of the sessions on prayer, Bill role plays with Jonathan in having a conversation that could lead to an opportunity to pray. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/b324a7a8-b698-494d-81d5-7375cf8ff228/IMG_7601+%281%29.jpg Updates - Rural Christian Workers Conference Update - Make it stand out Before my missions report on Sunday, I coaxed the congregation at Burwell to do a quick greeting for Cesar and Elba Gonzalez in Guatemala. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/32411277-860d-40d9-b3c0-ce462a4ccead/IMG_7598+%281%29.jpg Updates - Rural Christian Workers Conference Update - Make it stand out After the conference, Joel took us on a hike at the Calamus lake north of Burwell where the water level was low from a lack of rain. From left to right are Brandy and John Tiller (new friends from near Springfield, MO), Bill, Ethan (friend of Lindy), Lindy Wentworth, Linda Wentworth, and Joel Wentworth. https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2021/3/14/guatemala-bound-finally-7n2wt-k3frg-2jpn9-grpkm-atk4d-ars4s-lhe8n-ljxmb-fr6zx-c7kre-bjah6-69yye-3g6n6-5hymr-7smf7-73tej-93esj-7j49s-7t8ly-2ynt3-98ccw-ga5na-jkmxk-w9l8l-dpbr2-3gmtn monthly 0.5 2024-08-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/cf565fc6-d307-4fa1-9a76-39367386fb9b/2024+Guatemala+group+pic.jpg Updates - Guatemala Team Sees 614 Professions of Faith! - Make it stand out Here is our Lenexa Baptist Guatemala team. From left to right on the front row are Courtney Neland, Jason Neland, Maggie Neland, Nola Reed, Steve Reed, and Ken Miller. On the back row from left to right are Anthony Cox, Jake Solem, Makayla Johnson, Benjamin Johnson, Luke Neland, Ellie Conaway, Claire Henderson, Josh Neland, Evie Neland, Kisla Rodriguez, Gracie Neland, Angela Miller, and Anna Powell. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/a4bbe2c5-6614-499f-9c14-497de981b769/2024+Guatemala+Team+Lima+am+IMG_6519.jpg Updates - Guatemala Team Sees 614 Professions of Faith! - Make it stand out Our first school was in Santa Rosa de Lima. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1c674576-519d-4969-a653-ad14ab58d704/2024+Guatemala+classroom+selphie+IMG_6524.jfif Updates - Guatemala Team Sees 614 Professions of Faith! - Make it stand out I took a selfie with our classroom in Santa Rosa de Lima. Best I recall, most of these students prayed to receive Christ! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/4978570c-4dad-4349-aba8-557c24550167/2024+Kisla+and+Nola.jpg Updates - Guatemala Team Sees 614 Professions of Faith! - Make it stand out Here, Kisla Rodriguez, one of our team translators (left), helps Nola tell her story in a classroom. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/8d405ff2-4d42-4c9c-b5df-16f4f99651e1/2024+Guatemala+Team+with+kids+IMG_6496.jpg Updates - Guatemala Team Sees 614 Professions of Faith! - Make it stand out Our team of younger folks were like rock stars the whole week taking pictures with hundreds of kids. In this pic are Anna, Josh, Claire, Makayla, Ellie, and Benjamin. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/7e3888d1-cf54-41b6-9206-c4a14880047f/2024+band+bow+.jpg Updates - Guatemala Team Sees 614 Professions of Faith! - Make it stand out In Santa Rosa de Lima, the students perform a marching band number for us. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/b0aea520-9700-4673-b283-b29f4183bd4d/2024+Guatemala+Team+Lima+PM+big+group+IMG_6578.jpg Updates - Guatemala Team Sees 614 Professions of Faith! - Make it stand out This is at a high school in Santa Rosa de Lima. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/628d070b-e97f-4845-a863-a505338cd7dd/2024+Jason+talking+football+IMG_6575.jpg Updates - Guatemala Team Sees 614 Professions of Faith! - Make it stand out Jason Neland promotes a game of football. Benjamin, Ellie, and Gracie look on. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/843cb138-d632-49a0-985e-79c084aba8d8/2024+Jason+QB+2nd+shot+IMG_6567.jpg Updates - Guatemala Team Sees 614 Professions of Faith! - Make it stand out Jason teaches a group of high school students how to execute an American football play. Amazingly they got the idea and wound up enjoying their first chance to play an actual game! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/4f80ed39-c07d-4bf9-8e6d-c236501cabdc/2024+Gracie+and+Anna+with+girls+.jpg Updates - Guatemala Team Sees 614 Professions of Faith! - Make it stand out Anna and Gracie share a moment with several high school students and a teacher in Santa Rosa de Lima. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/a7fe3e74-32ef-4214-8b35-1c411c964e3e/2024+Clair+balloon+IMG_6593.jpg Updates - Guatemala Team Sees 614 Professions of Faith! - Make it stand out Claire Henderson brought hundreds of balloons and made various animals for the children in this elementary school in Amberes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/237bc5c8-4b22-4a3e-b27a-11552bf1c766/2024+balloon+girl+IMG_6597.jpg Updates - Guatemala Team Sees 614 Professions of Faith! - Make it stand out This little girl loves her butterfly balloon Claire made. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/302691c8-1eca-434f-8ae8-89214d6ab608/2024+Courtney.jpg Updates - Guatemala Team Sees 614 Professions of Faith! - Make it stand out Courtney Neland does a craft with a few children at an elementary school in Amberes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/bd6c0372-f3fb-43af-b3ac-9558150614fe/2024+Gracie+with+girls+and+Makayla.jpg Updates - Guatemala Team Sees 614 Professions of Faith! - Make it stand out Gracie Neland braids a girl's hair while Makayla gets a big hug from another little girl. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/6dee83b7-a0e7-441b-b20e-100bcbd3023d/2024+Water+skit+IMG_6583.jpg Updates - Guatemala Team Sees 614 Professions of Faith! - Make it stand out Claire, Ellie, and Jake "die" in the water skit while Josh is waiting in the wings to come searching for water as well. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/a3c29e2b-6b98-40c1-9126-5a5e91ab2ec9/2024+Guatemala+teacher+story+IMG_6863.jpg Updates - Guatemala Team Sees 614 Professions of Faith! - Make it stand out This teacher at an elementary school in Amberes told me a story of how 20 years ago, when she was 10 years old, she had come to a bonfire we had at Cesar Gonzalez' house for about 60 kids. She remembered us roasting hot dogs and marshmallows and telling stories that she said changed her life. She told us that what we shared that night had made a difference in her marriage! Today, she is married and has two children and believes from personal experience that what we were doing today would have a similar result on these children! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/4a643333-f8ed-40ed-8391-db29cfac745d/2024+Steve+with+ball.jpg Updates - Guatemala Team Sees 614 Professions of Faith! - Make it stand out During a sports day at a school in Amberes, I interacted with a group of kids over the message of the colored soccer ball. Evidently a class of about 25 students had missed getting a visit in their classroom the day before because their teacher had taken her sick child to the doctor. On the spot, we talked with the class, and there on the sidelines, all 25 of those children prayed to receive Christ! On further review I found out that their teacher was a good friend of ours who we have worked with for years. She was ecstatic that we had made the connection. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/10078ecc-85e6-4aa4-8b11-0f9fc7bf4c41/2024+Ken+and+Angela.jpg Updates - Guatemala Team Sees 614 Professions of Faith! - Make it stand out Ken Miller and his daughter, Angela, share a moment with these children in Amberes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/350ab99c-14e6-442f-8800-a11594df7099/2024+Anthony+vs+Luis+.jpg Updates - Guatemala Team Sees 614 Professions of Faith! - Make it stand out Anthony and Luis, one of our Nicaraguan pastor friends who had come to help Cesar during the week, got in a friendly arm wrestling match while several boys from Amberes watched. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/15778a89-de12-4db5-9d4f-e12776e11771/2024+Gracie+with+soccer+team+IMG_6932.jpg Updates - Guatemala Team Sees 614 Professions of Faith! - Make it stand out In Amberes, these girls connected with Gracie and wanted her to play on their team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/cd434270-1fbd-4148-afeb-f2b743823d17/2024+Jason+and+Maggie+testimony.jpg Updates - Guatemala Team Sees 614 Professions of Faith! - Make it stand out Jason shares with a kindergarten class after his daughter, Maggie, had shared her testimony. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/402242a2-3c98-4dc8-bea4-3cedb13b1ead/2024+Jason+group+in+classroom.jpg Updates - Guatemala Team Sees 614 Professions of Faith! - Make it stand out Jason and his group got a picture with their grade school classroom in El Carrizal. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/538e8d07-b85e-4bf7-bffe-15bd1d9021a6/2024+Anthony+broom+IMG_7327.jpg Updates - Guatemala Team Sees 614 Professions of Faith! - Make it stand out Anthony does a balancing trick at an elementary school in El Carrizal. Anthony's story is an amazing one about how for 45 years he was a drug addict, and for a few years he was homeless. Now, more than 2 years sober, he is living a new life in Jesus! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/97261038-8ec5-4bf4-bb26-bc121ba2f52f/2024+Brooms+with+Evie.jpg Updates - Guatemala Team Sees 614 Professions of Faith! - Make it stand out Evie and these girls try their hand at balancing the brooms. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/cd97cc6e-302a-4493-a1ff-9acbf065e5b1/2024+Josh+limbo+IMG_7345.jpg Updates - Guatemala Team Sees 614 Professions of Faith! - Make it stand out Josh, dressed as a lion, does the limbo while Courtney and Claire give an assist. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/8074f3b1-0987-4a7b-8eca-af0afb66bc75/2024+kids+limbo+IMG_7346.jpg Updates - Guatemala Team Sees 614 Professions of Faith! - Make it stand out Once the kids started, they all wanted to do the limbo, too! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/ff724c71-6645-484e-9d3e-dff26d8a3505/2024+jump+rope.jpg Updates - Guatemala Team Sees 614 Professions of Faith! - Make it stand out Makayla and Ken turn the rope for several boys jumping rope. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1802ee48-8280-427a-882f-c972318809a5/2024+kids+top+on+Ellie+hand+IMG_7362.jpg Updates - Guatemala Team Sees 614 Professions of Faith! - Make it stand out Claire and Ellie are amazed at this little boy's skill at spinning a top on Ellie's hand. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/f6cc6f58-504a-493f-a2f8-97fe989a827b/2024+Classroom+with+Ken+group.jpg Updates - Guatemala Team Sees 614 Professions of Faith! - Make it stand out Ken Miller and his team take a pic with their class at a high school in El Carrizal. Pictured left to right are Evie, Angela, Benjamin, and Makayla. The girl with the sash had just won the title of Miss Independence Day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/a258a995-c9a2-4c54-9194-8f0b71232321/2024+Penalty+kicks+IMG_6842.jfif Updates - Guatemala Team Sees 614 Professions of Faith! - Make it stand out In Amberes, the final games for the elementary school were decided by penalty kicks! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/23066920-85b7-40cb-b3f7-db950fc44679/2024+Jake+in+goal+2+IMG_6786.jfif Updates - Guatemala Team Sees 614 Professions of Faith! - Make it stand out Jake played goalie for one of the boys teams and had to defend some penalty kicks himself! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/5d0d48fa-09f6-4a31-b27e-ddf52c263af0/2024+Benjamin+and+Luke+with+trophy.jpg Updates - Guatemala Team Sees 614 Professions of Faith! - Make it stand out Benjamin Johnson and Luke Neland help with the trophy presentation as the high school principal looks on. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/338bcee4-0450-48ff-8433-f46a61e78962/2024+Luke+in+goal+IMG_6912.jpg Updates - Guatemala Team Sees 614 Professions of Faith! - Make it stand out Luke wound up playing goalie for one of the high school teams in Amberes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/be3a0153-7ff3-40b5-affa-18e25727ab92/2024+Guatemala+Makayla+and+trophy+presentation.jpg Updates - Guatemala Team Sees 614 Professions of Faith! - Make it stand out Makayla Johnson gives a trophy to one of the winning girls teams. Makayla played college volleyball for Evangel University in Springfield, Missouri, where she met her now husband, Benjamin. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/2b6a5617-d4e4-41d1-b0b7-b81a4c60374e/2024+Evie+dribble+IMG_6746.jpg Updates - Guatemala Team Sees 614 Professions of Faith! - Make it stand out In Amberes, the teachers wanted to challenge the gringos in a basketball game. Here Evie dribbles down the lane while her mom, Courtney, blocks, and dad, Jason, refs the game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/64e58228-fff3-4c3c-b4dc-7ea3d4a188c7/2024+Anna+balling+IMG_6754.jpg Updates - Guatemala Team Sees 614 Professions of Faith! - Make it stand out Anna is looking to pass while the teachers double down on defense. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/687fe534-2254-42ce-b5dd-2e3749ee7e56/2024+Josh+passing+IMG_6764.jpg Updates - Guatemala Team Sees 614 Professions of Faith! - Make it stand out Josh prepares to launch the ball to a teammate while Evie looks on. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/d3a6335e-af56-4f8f-8d41-5e7f480f6e1a/2024+Guatemala+Hamid+Jason+Steve+IMG_7040.jpg Updates - Guatemala Team Sees 614 Professions of Faith! - Make it stand out Jason and I pose for a pic with Hamid, one of our pastor friends from Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. We have known Hamid for over 20 years! But years ago, when Jason first met him, both were young men, and Hamid was a semi professional soccer player. This particular day, he had driven several hours to come speak to some of our soccer players. Below is an old pic of Jason and a few of his buddies with Hamid. See if you can pick them out! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/85b42805-10c0-477f-a6f5-4285a87b6fd1/2024+young+Hamid+pic.jpg Updates - Guatemala Team Sees 614 Professions of Faith! - Make it stand out A pic from 20 some years ago! Do you see Jason and Hamid? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/471d3bcd-799f-4a62-b5bf-ed54f4939828/2024+Cesar+introduces+Hamid+IMG_6972.jpg Updates - Guatemala Team Sees 614 Professions of Faith! - Make it stand out Here Cesar introduces Hamid before he speaks to a group of soccer players. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/21bbd257-f59a-462e-af31-c7bb2813d0b8/2024+Guatemala+soccer+girls+team+photo+IMG_7043.jpg Updates - Guatemala Team Sees 614 Professions of Faith! - Make it stand out Several of our girls played with some girls from a soccer club run by Maria, one of our good friends. Top row includes Claire and Gracie. Bottom row has Ellie, Kisla, and Anna. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/88678fa6-a0ae-4b95-81ab-dbed438ad236/2024+Guatemala+girls+soccer+team+IMG_6997.jpg Updates - Guatemala Team Sees 614 Professions of Faith! - Make it stand out Gracie, Claire, and Anna got their money's worth and played a second game with another team! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/6434908d-9fca-43fb-b447-1642462bc7c5/2024+Gracie+and+Claire+soccer+IMG_7098.jpg Updates - Guatemala Team Sees 614 Professions of Faith! - Make it stand out Claire and Gracie try to team up to steal the ball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1124e093-d23f-4b32-acca-86f786fb9410/2024+Kisla+soccer+IMG_7064.jpg Updates - Guatemala Team Sees 614 Professions of Faith! - Make it stand out Kisla gathers the ball while Anna closes in on her. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/2d1739a9-d1c0-472b-b6c7-1baa9b668153/2024+Ben+soccer+IMG_6987.jpg Updates - Guatemala Team Sees 614 Professions of Faith! - Make it stand out Benjamin, a former college soccer player for Evangel Universtiy in Springfield, Missouri, shows his stuff on a penalty kick. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/2822c179-f542-4367-9a2e-0cf84b44d0bf/2024+sandwitch+making.jpg Updates - Guatemala Team Sees 614 Professions of Faith! - Make it stand out Ken, Angela, and Luke make sandwiches for the soccer players to eat when they finish their game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/ad0f3239-c914-4cb4-8ed8-365b9295110b/2024+firemen+demonstration+IMG_7168.jpg Updates - Guatemala Team Sees 614 Professions of Faith! - Make it stand out On one of the last days, the local fire department, which had accompanied us on two of the days of sports games, came to Cesar's house for a demonstration. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/ce49e3d5-ac77-41b2-b7d3-fd6ec0a114e7/2024+Guatemala+Kisla+fireman+pic+IMG_7182.jpg Updates - Guatemala Team Sees 614 Professions of Faith! - Make it stand out Here, Kisla volunteered to see if she could get the gear on in less than three minutes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/864a1849-5af3-450c-8827-11c8b84a9650/2024+Guatemala+fireman+on+ladder+with+flag+IMG_7216.jpg Updates - Guatemala Team Sees 614 Professions of Faith! - Make it stand out To finish off their presentation, the fire department does the "ladder of the wind" and unveils an American flag to honor our team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/56c92a0d-bf2c-4062-97c8-3aeba6aac00e/2024+Brand+skit+Jason+dead+IMG_7295.jpg Updates - Guatemala Team Sees 614 Professions of Faith! - Make it stand out After the firemen did their demonstration, Cesar wanted us to do the "brand" skit. Cesar narrated the story of how multiple people die without Jesus. Here, Jason gets to be one of the first, dying as a famous man. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/bee42eed-d248-4470-8e32-968f498f17aa/2024+Brand+skit+and+firemen+IMG_7296.jpg Updates - Guatemala Team Sees 614 Professions of Faith! - Make it stand out Cesar got the firemen to get Jason and carry him away. His brand of being famous didn't help him get to heaven. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/9c3ee106-a0f5-4ce6-ac53-44ce07647904/2024+brand+skit+Ken+dies+IMG_7285.jfif Updates - Guatemala Team Sees 614 Professions of Faith! - Make it stand out Ken died as a rich man. His brand was his money. It didn't help him gain heaven either. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/4d045d4c-3ef1-479b-a269-9e2f2ab04f17/2024+Anthony+brand+skit+dead+IMG_7292.jfif Updates - Guatemala Team Sees 614 Professions of Faith! - Make it stand out Anthony died as a drunk, whose brand was whiskey. After the skit, Anthony told his true story of being a drug addict, alcoholic, and homeless man. After sharing his testimony, and how he had come to Christ and been mentored by Jason for the past couple of years, every one of the firemen prayed to receive Christ as well! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/5d3e7415-cd62-41a3-8a12-5785b648b156/2024+Guatemala+team+hiking+IMG_7117.jpg Updates - Guatemala Team Sees 614 Professions of Faith! - Make it stand out On one of our last mornings in Guatemala, I took most of the team on a sunrise hike in Amberes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/7b383558-4e81-4b80-98c6-789eacf0add1/2024+Guatemala+hike+sunrise+IMG_7119.jpg Updates - Guatemala Team Sees 614 Professions of Faith! - Make it stand out This route is where I like to run when I'm in Amberes. This morning I took the crew to where I like to catch a few beautiful views. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/e371d649-636d-4502-968e-56b911b2dc0f/2024+Guatemala+team+at+river+IMG_7162.jfif Updates - Guatemala Team Sees 614 Professions of Faith! - Make it stand out With the recent rains, this stream was a little more full than normal. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/f176b85e-c40b-400a-a42d-2b73001ea752/2024+river+hike+IMG_7156.jpg Updates - Guatemala Team Sees 614 Professions of Faith! - Make it stand out The team took a few minutes to explore the river. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/8676365e-16c5-49ce-ae02-fb5a9f1fbb8a/2024+Anna+and+Angela+IMG_7166.jpg Updates - Guatemala Team Sees 614 Professions of Faith! - Make it stand out Angela and Anna posed along the trail. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/8254e525-6b11-43b9-949a-76bba1ae4f23/2024+Guatemala+hike+mountain+view+IMG_7167.jfif Updates - Guatemala Team Sees 614 Professions of Faith! - Make it stand out The mountains of Guatemala can get into your heart and mind. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/dd410470-64d6-410a-a95c-334ccc11b973/2024+Makayla+birthday+IMG_7319.jfif Updates - Guatemala Team Sees 614 Professions of Faith! - Make it stand out On our next to last day in Guatemala, Makayla had a birthday, and we all celebrated with her! Here, Elba and Cesar Gonzalez look on as Kisla pulls off the candles and Nola cuts the first cake! It looks like Maggie will get one of the first pieces! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/5ce2add1-7bb6-43f4-a1ce-b0f233af927b/2024+pic+with+mayor+IMG_7314.jpg Updates - Guatemala Team Sees 614 Professions of Faith! - Make it stand out On Sunday evening, we had a great visit with Juan Jose Davila, the mayor of Santa Rosa de Lima, pictured here in the white ball cap. As a result of our time together, he wants to continue working with us and was excited about what we did in the schools in his city. https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2021/3/14/guatemala-bound-finally-7n2wt-k3frg-2jpn9-grpkm-atk4d-ars4s-lhe8n-ljxmb-fr6zx-c7kre-bjah6-69yye-3g6n6-5hymr-7smf7-73tej-93esj-7j49s-7t8ly-2ynt3-98ccw-ga5na-jkmxk-w9l8l-dpbr2 monthly 0.5 2024-08-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/7a22ef7b-aa87-4cec-aedd-7288fb5fef9b/testimony+collage+%282%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala, Here We Come! - Make it stand out These are printed testimonies in English and Spanish of our Lenexa Baptist team traveling to Guatemala August 6 -13, 2024. This bilingual tool is used to share our faith with individuals we meet on our mission trips. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/62759a18-9f6a-4182-8969-38dfd0d1dcff/40th+anniversary.jpg Updates - Guatemala, Here We Come! - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2021/3/14/guatemala-bound-finally-7n2wt-k3frg-2jpn9-grpkm-atk4d-ars4s-lhe8n-ljxmb-fr6zx-c7kre-bjah6-69yye-3g6n6-5hymr-7smf7-73tej-93esj-7j49s-7t8ly-2ynt3-98ccw-ga5na-jkmxk-w9l8l monthly 0.5 2024-06-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/f369d86c-989d-47e1-8edf-85ce0fd6c80b/IMG_6105+%281%29.jpg Updates - From South Dakota to The Sandhills! - Make it stand out At Calvary Chapel in Colome, South Dakota, I presented a plaque to pastor Keith Moody, thanking them for their years of partnership, especially in the cowboy-related ministry in Guatemala and Honduras. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/897aec12-19f1-4ac3-af07-cd6515fac6db/IMG_6107+%281%29.jpg Updates - From South Dakota to The Sandhills! - Make it stand out The first Sunday morning, at Calvary Chapel, Bill shared a message on the “Fear of the Lord.” Here he is setting up a story about how, on a family vacation in the mountains of Colorado, one of their sons slid off a melting glacier into a dark crevasse. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/a097394e-d878-46d0-8f77-61acb1e16771/IMG_6115+%281%29.jpg Updates - From South Dakota to The Sandhills! - Make it stand out Bill and I really enjoyed hanging out with Randy Shippy and his family. For years, Randy has raised and produced some of the most ranked bulls on the professional rodeo circuit. Now, his two sons are riding that circuit as professional bull riders. From left to right are me, Bill, Riley, Randy, and Riggin. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/6bb9e576-6880-4450-8618-027247f93312/IMG_6141+%281%29.jpg Updates - From South Dakota to The Sandhills! - Make it stand out Each day of Vacation Bible School, the kids lined up outside to enter the church building for the beginning of their Biblical adventure. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/6b8c94a4-6661-464e-adad-d3ac7e153128/IMG_6143+%281%29.jpg Updates - From South Dakota to The Sandhills! - Make it stand out Each day the children recited the pledges of allegiance to the flag of the United States, to the Christian flag, and to the Bible. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/4db448b9-8849-492b-8df6-00b881b1dfea/IMG_6118+%281%29.jpg Updates - From South Dakota to The Sandhills! - Make it stand out The first day, the kids learned some new songs that emphasized various aspects of the jungle adventure theme. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1db85d8f-c7d2-445c-82b9-b40f28ab7ba6/IMG_6119+%281%29.jpg Updates - From South Dakota to The Sandhills! - Make it stand out With the added motions, it didn’t take long for the kids to sing and move to the music. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/7b3cf936-b980-4248-aa18-3b29ad119dbb/IMG_6124+%281%29.jpg Updates - From South Dakota to The Sandhills! - Make it stand out During one of our mission learning times, Bill led an exercise on how we can love people who are different than us. In this example, Bill divided the kids into the “shorts” group and the “long pants” group. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/9cef7303-3470-4b37-a2e8-8ce455b3ca18/IMG_6139+%281%29.jpg Updates - From South Dakota to The Sandhills! - Make it stand out Each day the children enjoyed some play time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/a866a156-c5ad-422e-94f4-7f3ede2e36ee/IMG_6156+%281%29.jpg Updates - From South Dakota to The Sandhills! - Make it stand out One of the unique things the children do during VBS at Calvary Chapel is decorate clay figurines to the nativity scene. Each year of VBS, they get a new piece, and if they attend every year for 6 years, they will have collected all the pieces to a complete set. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/0917fd80-2666-4f90-8492-8092f65a5950/IMG_6224+%281%29.jpg Updates - From South Dakota to The Sandhills! - Make it stand out Here’s the whole VBS crew on the last day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/32525c49-c036-4f3a-a05c-72b0c4a580c6/IMG_6225+%281%29.jpg Updates - From South Dakota to The Sandhills! - Make it stand out At the end of the week, the children shared with their parents the songs and some of the stories they learned during the week. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/491063ea-f7c7-450c-8bfb-0c769e74eaf8/IMG_6237+%281%29.jpg Updates - From South Dakota to The Sandhills! - Make it stand out Here Dena Weidner, one of the jungle adventure guides for the week, leads the children in sharing with their parents what they learned. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/239b8146-929d-4186-ad66-e2dc151d38ab/IMG_6174+%281%29.jpg Updates - From South Dakota to The Sandhills! - Make it stand out Also during the week, we got to enjoy the June South Dakota weather. Here we took a stroll with Keith Moody to see one of the new colts recently born to one of Keith’s mares. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/229c39f5-b8b0-4120-ac1b-9d2bd68289b8/IMG_6164+%281%29.jpg Updates - From South Dakota to The Sandhills! - Make it stand out Bill celebrated his birthday while we were gone, and here, Keith and Judy Moody treated us to a delicious home cooked birthday steak dinner! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/5a7f5f9b-2ac9-4bf0-9432-ce625fd76cee/IMG_6207+%281%29.jpg Updates - From South Dakota to The Sandhills! - Make it stand out There is just something about a South Dakota sky! https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2021/3/14/guatemala-bound-finally-7n2wt-k3frg-2jpn9-grpkm-atk4d-ars4s-lhe8n-ljxmb-fr6zx-c7kre-bjah6-69yye-3g6n6-5hymr-7smf7-73tej-93esj-7j49s-7t8ly-2ynt3-98ccw-ga5na-jkmxk monthly 0.5 2024-05-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/16bad1cb-4ac8-4acb-b18d-bc3528746ca5/IMG_4966+%281%29.jpg Updates - Way Overdue Play. Story. Eat. Update! - Make it stand out On our last trip to Guatemala we met with several new mayors to talk about our ongoing evangelist soccer tournaments as well as various cowboy related projects. Pictured here from left to right are me, Ray Gurney, mayor Juan Jose Davila of Santa Rosa de Lima, Cesar Gonzales, and Caleb Miles. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/ee46fd29-e098-4e1a-be2c-179e50403c68/IMG_4888+%281%29.jpg Updates - Way Overdue Play. Story. Eat. Update! - Make it stand out This “before” pic of the kitchen is after gutting everything and rewiring when we realized mice had gnawed on some of the wiring behind our walls, exposing some bare wires. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/3d47b88a-6ed7-4d17-a27a-7ec5077d3e29/IMG_6086+%281%29.jpg Updates - Way Overdue Play. Story. Eat. Update! - Make it stand out Our “new kitchen” now in use! https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2021/3/14/guatemala-bound-finally-7n2wt-k3frg-2jpn9-grpkm-atk4d-ars4s-lhe8n-ljxmb-fr6zx-c7kre-bjah6-69yye-3g6n6-5hymr-7smf7-73tej-93esj-7j49s-7t8ly-2ynt3-98ccw-ga5na monthly 0.5 2023-12-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/567167fb-be33-4d3b-b6b1-b38124518e8d/IMG_4531.jpg Updates - End of 2023 Update - Make it stand out This pic was taken at the Las Conchas waterfalls on the last of our three days in the jungle. Before that we had spent more than a week crisscrossing the country. From left to right are Rider Tenorio, a new friend from Nicaragua, Cesar Gonzalez, me, Eduardo Mejia, and Nate Smith. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/4d400406-2a34-49ac-adf5-53d8d95fb1d3/Screenshot+2023-12-26+152342.jpg Updates - End of 2023 Update - Make it stand out By way of video, Cesar and I are introducing our friend, Enio Orantes, to tell why he wanted to start a group for cowboys in that very location some 20 years ago. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/fec067e0-4f5b-451d-88cd-1d752141d870/IMG_4287.jpg Updates - End of 2023 Update - Make it stand out This pic was taken in the mayor’s office in Jutiapa. From left to right are Nate, me, Mayor Luis Gabriel Rosales, Cesar, Eduardo, and Francisco, an assistant to the mayor. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/45cd5d24-21aa-4855-8636-ce9c463842b1/1f625743-1ca7-4f3b-a684-8c0f736ffaa9.jpg Updates - End of 2023 Update - Make it stand out In a meeting with three teachers in Monjas, Cesar talks with the committee that puts on major events for the schools in Monjas. Talks centered around having the next soccer tournament in Monjas coordinated with the schools in the region. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/7520ec23-e8b3-4d3c-966e-738a4849e8c8/IMG_4363.jpg Updates - End of 2023 Update - Make it stand out Here we are with one of the newest churches started in a home near Sejolobob. In our introductions, Cesar is asking some of the men of the church to answer the question, “What are you most grateful for today?” On the far right is Marcos Chol, the pastor. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/ee955825-14bd-4448-b36f-fbd03502916b/IMG_4241.jpg Updates - End of 2023 Update - Make it stand out Eduardo prays a prayer of blessing for the two who were baptized at Cesar and Elba’s house in Amberes, Guatemala. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/15942f45-2280-4308-8487-c6fe9ce26a5c/IMG_4446.jpg Updates - End of 2023 Update - Make it stand out Eduardo took this picture of me with the Calxol family right after they all prayed to receive Christ. From left to right is Sindy, Juan, Romelia, Laura, and Catalina. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/a09d725e-9d45-4b40-9757-99821cd1cc2e/DSC01514.jpg Updates - End of 2023 Update - Make it stand out This is Juan and Romelia’s son, Luis right after he got bit by the highly poisonous and greatly feared yellow beard snake some 15 years ago. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/9e7b7189-2168-4957-b30b-06d3bf7387e7/DSC01432.jpg Updates - End of 2023 Update - Make it stand out Here, a Kekchi pastor named Julio is praying for Luis. Dan Columbo and Jeff Benton were praying as were several others not pictured from a team from North Heartland Community Church of Kansas City, Missouri. Also standing in the background are younger versions of Romelia and Juan. Romelia is holding Sindy in her arms. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/7a3b244c-6df9-49c5-b2a2-9718147228bd/IMG_4371.jpg Updates - End of 2023 Update - Make it stand out Our first full day in the jungle we hiked from a dirt road up a path to Sejolobob. Because of the recent rains and the drizzle, the path was a little more slippery and sloppy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/cfbb6098-5cae-4d94-947b-6d00dc7c8512/IMG_4338.jpg Updates - End of 2023 Update - Make it stand out One of Marcos’ daughters took her shoes off to get better traction in the mud. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/67436c92-b716-4d64-811f-ac725756c43b/IMG_4349.jpg Updates - End of 2023 Update - Make it stand out Once we got to the meeting place of the new church in Sejolobob, the women took their position on one side and the men on the other. On the left is Marcos’ wife, Candelaria, who is a vital part of the ministry and who connects well with the other women. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/84abaff5-3f3e-46e0-adc3-530099e06945/IMG_4353.jpg Updates - End of 2023 Update - Make it stand out Here, Marcos introduces everyone to one another and talks about the plan for making some evangelistic visits in homes later that morning. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/2ed2df2b-1c7a-4425-a76e-e9221fb7bb6e/IMG_4396.jpg Updates - End of 2023 Update - Make it stand out Before going on our visits, the ladies fed us their spicy but tasty chili soup. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/5139702a-7166-4f88-b0ed-a5557813c66f/IMG_4385.jpg Updates - End of 2023 Update - Make it stand out On this visit, the woman of the home is sick and asking for prayer. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/ce91a722-156d-4172-956f-931d591a2731/20231209_090936+%281%29.jpg Updates - End of 2023 Update - Make it stand out On our last day we took a group pic with Marcos and his family. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/607ed1cf-b324-4547-bfad-1f47f09a7d6a/IMG_4424.jpg Updates - End of 2023 Update - Make it stand out One of the days driving into the jungle, we happened on a yearly Mayan “Dance of the Deer” celebration. It harkens back to when they would dance before hunting. Now, the dance is more of a fund raiser for keeping the tradition alive. Dancers with plastic guns “invite” people to make donations. Here Cesar is about to get encouraged to give! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/b553ec00-0fba-4234-8266-0d69955246dd/IMG_4461.jpg Updates - End of 2023 Update - Make it stand out When Cesar discovered that one of Marcos’ daughters had a birthday, he arranged to get a cake and have a celebration for her to invite her friends — several of which were not yet believers, so that they could hear the gospel in an inviting atmosphere. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/4735e9b9-f68d-47de-a2fb-6e11488fab94/IMG_4484.jpg Updates - End of 2023 Update - Make it stand out One night at our base camp in Por Venir, Nate tried his hand at playing the guitar with several of the men. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/d6e453ec-0152-47da-b988-6f2f89c0e179/IMG_4578.jpg Updates - End of 2023 Update - Make it stand out While in Jutiapa, we decided to video Eduardo sharing his soccer tournament presentation with two of the local officials who work in the promotion of sports in the region. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/76acf856-c6a5-4e5f-8ffd-d987813d58fa/IMG_4620.jpg Updates - End of 2023 Update - Make it stand out In Jutiapa, one of the sports promotors asked Eduardo to speak to the soccer team that the mayor’s son plays on. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/84f0576c-312b-490d-9350-e67d90a7bc91/IMG_4216.jpg Updates - End of 2023 Update - Make it stand out Before doing the baptism, Cesar wanted to explain what it meant to Cristian, who helps with the yard work around their property in Amberes. Because Cristian is a soccer player, Cesar used the ball of colors to explain the gospel. Cristian readily received the message and prayed to receive Christ. Then Cesar asked him if he would like to be baptized too, and he eagerly said, “Yes!” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/5b91cde3-5b87-469a-a0a4-df00842dd397/Screenshot+2023-12-28+153717.jpg Updates - End of 2023 Update - Make it stand out What a thrill it was for me to get to baptize Cristian. I pray that he grows stronger and stronger in his relationship with the Lord and that Cesar helps him get started living in his new faith in Jesus. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/10f09b77-0577-492d-b8f5-53041f3d4da1/Screenshot+2023-12-26+153827.jpg Updates - End of 2023 Update - Make it stand out Here I had the privilege of baptizing Noemi. Noemi is the wife of Cristian Gonzalez (grandson to Cesar and Elba but not related to the Cristian baptized here!). I have known her for several years, and it was so good to hear her testimony of how this past year she gave her life to Jesus. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/8adfe4a5-1784-44e2-8d5f-73c0fd6c6d59/IMG_4269.jpg Updates - End of 2023 Update - Make it stand out After the baptism, we captured this shot of all of us together. From left to right are Cristian, Elba, Elbita (Elba’s granddaughter named after her), Noemi, Cesar, Nate, me, Miguel (Elba’s brother), Eduardo, and Rider. https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2021/3/14/guatemala-bound-finally-7n2wt-k3frg-2jpn9-grpkm-atk4d-ars4s-lhe8n-ljxmb-fr6zx-c7kre-bjah6-69yye-3g6n6-5hymr-7smf7-73tej-93esj-7j49s-7t8ly-2ynt3-98ccw monthly 0.5 2023-12-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/22bd90bb-97aa-483f-8ed5-137c3637bffe/IMG_1453+%281%29.jpg Updates - Play Story Eat Update December 2023! - Make it stand out Bill Burrows and I had the privilege of spending a weekend with Lee Wonch and his two congregations in the Sandhills in October. Fortunately Lee is a big Kansas City Chiefs fan and didn’t mind taking a picture with me! Lee and his wife Dandee are doing a great job ministering and loving the folks in their part of Nebraska. The two congregations they pastor are 60 miles apart! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/9c75e1e8-a4f4-4f40-8a23-3b9cdaf2870b/IMG_2039+%281%29.jpg Updates - Play Story Eat Update December 2023! - Make it stand out On Cross Creek Baptist Mission’s 25th anniversary, I presented a plaque of appreciation to pastor Ray Gurney and their church for many years of partnership in mission projects in Guatemala. In Ray’s hand are two bottles of his favorite Guatemalan hot sauce that Cesar Gonzalez, our ministry partner in Guatemala, wanted me to give Ray to thank him for being such a great friend! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/9e027a6f-cfce-4c85-bbb9-1248d232ea8a/IMG_3961+%281%29.jpg Updates - Play Story Eat Update December 2023! - Make it stand out Nola gives a girl a hug as our Lenexa Baptist team gets off the bus in the Nueva Vida village near the city dump. The team did a variety of projects including home construction, VBS with children, women’s ministry, a ministry to recovering drug and alcohol addicts, and a ministry to children and families at a place they call “Taellor’s” house. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/d88bbbba-d013-43ab-90a8-1d14d7536ac9/Toc-1200x900.jpg Updates - Play Story Eat Update December 2023! - Make it stand out This is a pic from a news article of a protest on September 18, 2023, in Guatemala City. This would have been just before the nationwide shutdown. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/8889e54e-7497-4602-b066-598ca117ddca/IMG_3832+%281%29.jpg Updates - Play Story Eat Update December 2023! - Make it stand out The first day in Pueblo Nueva Vida, Eduardo Mejia translates for Rhonda Reinhardt, of Lenexa Baptist, as she tells Bible stories of ordinary people who God used in a great way. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/bb48405f-ea93-4514-b863-27f06074c940/IMG_3845+%281%29.jpg Updates - Play Story Eat Update December 2023! - Make it stand out During Rhonda’s Bible story, a little pony came running out of nowhere! Here I took the picture as the little horse is catching the cables and about to pull down the speaker! And yes, the speaker did fall down! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/87b08d4e-c3fa-43fc-9541-231deeb63e3d/IMG_3853+%281%29.jpg Updates - Play Story Eat Update December 2023! - Make it stand out The Lenexa team brought super hero outfits for all the kids to remember the Bible stories of how God takes ordinary people and makes them into super heroes! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/304b4ac7-750b-4306-bcfd-064fe38c59da/IMG_3800+%281%29.jpeg Updates - Play Story Eat Update December 2023! - Make it stand out Here, we are pouring concrete for one of the homes being built. The lady holding the shovel is the home owner. In this project everyone works together on all the homes until every house in a particular section is done. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/253017ce-8822-4617-9157-dc99d487a121/IMG_4045+%281%29.jpg Updates - Play Story Eat Update December 2023! - Make it stand out The local mayor (in the blue shirt with the microphone) came out the last day to help celebrate the completion of a section of 45 houses. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/353829b6-6291-4fa0-a5f9-720c35f15d0f/IMG_4066+%281%29.jpg Updates - Play Story Eat Update December 2023! - Make it stand out The entire group of workers and well wishers walk from house to house for the official ribbon cutting ceremonies. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/6a71b15a-82fe-4585-b40b-135d572d51a6/IMG_4017+%281%29.jpg Updates - Play Story Eat Update December 2023! - Make it stand out Nola and I got to celebrate the completion of a roof on the house of Martha, whose house had been completed a few weeks prior. We got to present her with a gift from a group of ladies at Lenexa Baptist who made decorative quilts for the new home owners. Martha is also a new believer and is part of a ladies Bible study in the village. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/ab011725-e7a3-4dd9-a934-a33baf3be9b4/Screenshot+2023-11-21+134927.jpg Updates - Play Story Eat Update December 2023! - Make it stand out Here I’m with Eduardo (far right) and Justin Pedigo (left of Eduardo) as we prepared to make a video with several people who were impacted by a recent soccer tournament in Somoto, Nicaragua. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/6e232b7e-f7b3-4b85-b388-7a3dca107229/IMG_3925+%281%29.jpg Updates - Play Story Eat Update December 2023! - Make it stand out Justin Pedigo is setting up the camera to film a soccer testimony from our friend, Eyner Garcia, of Somoto, Nicaragua. In the background is the town’s sign and under it says “Capital of Friendship.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/25ad0729-5eb9-40d8-a412-c64b0cece5d0/Screenshot+2023-12-01+122506.jpg Updates - Play Story Eat Update December 2023! - Make it stand out After the invitation to speak to the team, we all sat down as Eduardo shared his testimony. Because Eduardo knew several of them personally, they seemed very open to what he had to say. At the end, Eduardo invited them to pray a prayer of salvation if they would like. When he asked how many wanted to do that, about 10 of them raised their hands! We then used copies of my translated testimony that has a quick form to write down their response for a way Eduardo could get their info and stay in touch with them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/8d7aad88-9988-4750-a5f8-dcf3fe07f425/IMG_3955+%281%29.jpg Updates - Play Story Eat Update December 2023! - Make it stand out Here are several guys who played with Eduardo when he was playing professional soccer. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/8dcdb75b-c13d-4b48-80c9-d93ba7f4efb2/IMG_3945+%281%29.jpeg Updates - Play Story Eat Update December 2023! - Make it stand out The team prayed together before leaving to go home. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/cb957b3b-7877-4887-a785-44318693fddd/Resized_Resized_20231129_173121+%281%29.jpg Updates - Play Story Eat Update December 2023! - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2021/3/14/guatemala-bound-finally-7n2wt-k3frg-2jpn9-grpkm-atk4d-ars4s-lhe8n-ljxmb-fr6zx-c7kre-bjah6-69yye-3g6n6-5hymr-7smf7-73tej-93esj-7j49s-7t8ly-2ynt3 monthly 0.5 2023-07-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/965ee372-7428-4099-bc6f-b059490f242b/IMG_2781+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Soccer Project Part 3!!! - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/aa624a24-395e-4a2e-ac91-c0368a2c2b11/IMG_2425+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Soccer Project Part 3!!! - Make it stand out On our first day after I landed, Cesar and I had the privilege of visiting Paola, the soccer player from Pueblo Nuevo Viñas, who broke her leg in the tournament in April. As you may remember, in treating the break, the doctors discovered a tumor that they were able to successfully remove. Both Paola and her mother expressed their gratitude to God that this accident just might have saved her life! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/aa4e22f3-5a5a-424b-8a89-a4870921a06f/IMG_2433+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Soccer Project Part 3!!! - Make it stand out We had the opportunity to share an evening with the team from the Lions Club in Monjas. This group helped us with many of the logistics in putting on the tournament there in April. Here the first-comers to our meeting posed for a photo around the grill when we started prepping for a barbeque just outside the rodeo arena. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/47748464-b4b9-4813-a9cd-e5e4bb402218/IMG_2439+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Soccer Project Part 3!!! - Make it stand out After the grilling, it didn’t take long for this group to enjoy a meal together. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/bfc6b99a-a8aa-4d1c-9ea3-2936bdb92522/IMG_2441+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Soccer Project Part 3!!! - Make it stand out After eating, we thanked everyone for their help and shared about our ongoing needs to help follow up with the children and adults who want to be a part of new Futbolistas para la Vida soccer groups. Cesar and I both wore our cowboy hats, because many from this community know us for our cowboy ministry too. In fact, this gathering took place in the meeting hall of the rodeo arena owned by the cattlemen’s association that we have worked with in the past. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/b4d04d73-8340-4ed4-8834-f9ff631a8771/IMG_2446+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Soccer Project Part 3!!! - Make it stand out To introduce one of the features of our soccer groups (or any Play. Story. Eat. group for that matter!), we did our wagon wheel drill that we use in our Be-the-Church training, where we give a pair of people two minutes to share what they are grateful for, what they are concerned about, and then pray for each other. With the clock ticking, in about 10 minutes it’s possible for each person to connect in a meaningful way with 5 other people. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/58698bec-4416-4e5d-9100-17f5b73c9305/IMG_2444+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Soccer Project Part 3!!! - Make it stand out On the right in this photo is Gloria Lopez, the president of the Lions Club. She is also an elementary school teacher and a dedicated follower of Jesus. When we did this drill, it so impacted Gloria that she mentioned it to her school principal the next day. And the following pictures are of her leading about 200 children in the same drill at school! We only found out about it after she did it! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/5e10abef-ec8b-41cc-af05-802819393fc8/d6f1dfcb-78a3-41bb-a5da-99e669dfede2.jpg Updates - Guatemala Soccer Project Part 3!!! - Make it stand out Here Gloria is getting the kids organized into wagon wheels to do the activity. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/588b55a1-209b-4884-8e78-32d5a8b8609f/216f45f3-00c1-41cf-9bb7-88a159e64383.jpg Updates - Guatemala Soccer Project Part 3!!! - Make it stand out Many of the children told Gloria that they really liked the prayer part, and Gloria told us it went so well that they plan to do this exercise every Friday morning for the rest of the school year! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/4414eb3a-7fa0-404e-8ccb-fe537420eb64/IMG_2452+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Soccer Project Part 3!!! - Make it stand out Later on that same day, Gloria invited us to come to the school to meet some of her fellow teachers. Most are Catholics, and what amazed us was their unified opinion that this was one of the best things they had done all year! One teacher said that they thought that no matter what a person’s religious views might be, everyone was affirmed and listened to. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/f56ad436-7932-4a6e-9304-18812093a334/IMG_2455+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Soccer Project Part 3!!! - Make it stand out Cesar spoke to the teachers and thanked them for what they do every day. By the way, since then, the regional director of the elementary schools has invited Gloria to show other schools how to do what she did! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/3b737d29-da47-452c-8fa7-72cd643216a0/IMG_2531+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Soccer Project Part 3!!! - Make it stand out Because of Gloria’s contagious spirit, we changed our plans when she talked about her church and the fact that she believed her pastor would be supportive. In order to follow up on these contacts, I wound up spending a couple of days in the home of Gloria and her husband Rony while Cesar kept a family commitment back in Amberes. In this photo, Gloria led a Saturday night youth gathering in her church and had them do the drill as well! Once the pastor and I met, he invited me to speak the next day in their service. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1fe3092a-a466-4876-b9d0-de88a32cecad/IMG_2579+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Soccer Project Part 3!!! - Make it stand out This is Pastor Favio Ramirez, Gloria’s pastor. Not only is he an excellent communicator, he is a talented musician—playing multiple instruments and having an incredible voice. Here he is speaking at the youth event after playing drums for the band. When it comes to music for big events, Favio is willing and ready to help in our future soccer tournaments. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/e73c370b-0e7d-42e3-92e6-9d151cd893a7/IMG_2660+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Soccer Project Part 3!!! - Make it stand out The following day, right before I spoke, Favio introduced a family from their church that was leaving to pastor a new church in another town. It just so happens that Cesar has contacts there who are believers but have no pastor. We believe that God may be up to something! Stay tuned! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1abedab8-92dd-4851-ad47-5b0e68460223/IMG_2664+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Soccer Project Part 3!!! - Make it stand out One of the goals for this trip was to recruit pastors who have a heart for young people, and in particular soccer enthusiasts, to help us with the follow-up in Monjas. Here we are meeting with three pastoral leaders who have committed to helping with this project. The day after this meeting we had planned to do a training event, but a thunderstorm knocked out the electricity for 24 hours, and we had to postpone it! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/909f0199-cd51-4679-9a60-ec49ca992c53/IMG_2767+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Soccer Project Part 3!!! - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2021/3/14/guatemala-bound-finally-7n2wt-k3frg-2jpn9-grpkm-atk4d-ars4s-lhe8n-ljxmb-fr6zx-c7kre-bjah6-69yye-3g6n6-5hymr-7smf7-73tej-93esj-7j49s-7t8ly monthly 0.5 2023-06-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/4aec1a63-64a4-4bc1-82cc-d1f97fb5278b/Screenshot+2023-06-01+064711.jpg Updates - Guatemala Soccer Project Part 2!!! - Make it stand out Selvinth Maldonado and I welcome our friends in Guatemala to our first soccer video designed to give soccer enthusiasts their first steps in following Jesus and becoming a part of new Futbolistas para la Vida soccer groups. Behind the camera and creator of the backdrop is Sam Swift, one of the tech guys at Lenexa Baptist who also went to Guatemala with us last month. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/648854fb-cbe2-4c17-b273-d78bc25404c2/IMG_0795+%282%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Soccer Project Part 2!!! - Make it stand out Marcos Ramirez (on the right), the head of the youth issues department for the government of Guatemala, responded to the gospel message in Pueblo Nuevo Viñas. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/672f6b54-bffc-44e5-90a2-49fd72b91a21/IMG_1718+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Soccer Project Part 2!!! - Make it stand out Cesar and I met Marcos and his family outside of Guatemala City for breakfast and then followed them about 3 hours to San Andrés Sajcabajá. Marcos’ wife, Mariela (on the left) is an evangelical Christian and was very happy about Marcos’ decision. San Andrés is her hometown, and it’s where Marcos’ grandparents and other family members are from as well. Edwin, Marcos’ dad (on the right), joined us for the day trip. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/ae3a6b33-ae14-497b-a115-289a1e9de6af/IMG_1738+%281%29.jpeg Updates - Guatemala Soccer Project Part 2!!! - Make it stand out There were several beautiful places to stop and take pictures on the drive. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/d792eec4-c94a-46f6-8a62-0b010493a78a/IMG_1777+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Soccer Project Part 2!!! - Make it stand out San Andrés Sajcabajá is an indigenous name that is one of the most difficult towns to pronounce! (If you say it right, it sounds like San Andres Sash Ka Ba Há). Here you can see the spelling on the sign in front of their city hall. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/ae600b1d-0143-4512-a589-6e13b85cb420/IMG_1779+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Soccer Project Part 2!!! - Make it stand out Marcos took us to city hall and introduced us to José Gressi (blue shirt on the left), his cousin who is in charge of sports projects in the region, and the vice mayor (center) of San Andrés Sajcabajá. From this point on, José was our guide, because Marcos had to get back to Guatemala City. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/7921c005-27bf-49b7-b3a4-27e0653a6085/IMG_1787+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Soccer Project Part 2!!! - Make it stand out After our meeting at city hall, José took us out the front door of the city hall and to the town square. Here, Cesar and José are seated in front of the Catholic Church building where José tells the story of how back in the 1980s and early 1990s, this whole region was in the middle of Guatemala’s civil war. For a time, the government had seized the church and used it as a base of operations. Just this past year, hundreds of skeletons were found buried under the church where, presumably during the war, government troops had killed communist sympathizers and buried them under the church. Today, few from the town have any memory of that time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/ed260487-9cdc-41af-a9ea-a4e63673e6bf/IMG_1830+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Soccer Project Part 2!!! - Make it stand out On our visit around town, we stopped at the Mayan community center where they house the statues of saints that they use in religious parades at various times of the year. Traditionally, many indigenous communities have syncretized Catholic beliefs with Mayan beliefs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/583604f2-c1fc-4aed-b1a4-eb54ba0c5242/IMG_1792+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Soccer Project Part 2!!! - Make it stand out This is Mario Mendez, who José had mentioned was a prime example of a young man who is an outstanding soccer player, but who has struggled with alcohol. Mario is in his early 20’s and was born in Honduras, but when his mom died he came to Guatemala to live with his father who was from San Andrés Sajcabajá. Mario plays on a semi-professional team in the region and is widely known for his soccer prowess. During our time with him, countless people waved at him, calling him by name as we drove around. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/fd393b9b-0b17-422e-9f34-1dc32333ec3a/IMG_1791+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Soccer Project Part 2!!! - Make it stand out After we found out that it was his daughter’s birthday, we helped Mario pick up a piñata and a couple of gifts while we were driving around. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/d3f520f3-9330-4a9b-a4c8-9ff663f607b4/IMG_1789+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Soccer Project Part 2!!! - Make it stand out After seeing some of the fields, we stopped to get a bite to eat for lunch. Mario told us that he would gladly work with José and a team of people to bring the tournament to San Andrés. We agreed to meet again the following morning for breakfast and to talk more, since Mario needed to get back to help with his daughter’s birthday party. We also agreed to an invitation from José to join him at the hot springs later that evening for a boiled egg picnic! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/e27f68cb-39f9-4db5-b935-70a6637cf242/IMG_1868+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Soccer Project Part 2!!! - Make it stand out San Andrés is known for it’s hot springs that flow into a nearby river. Here José wanted to meet with us to eat boiled eggs, beans, and tortillas. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/782dfbb4-1246-4f92-8f29-2cfdc7652a49/IMG_1857+%281%29.jpeg Updates - Guatemala Soccer Project Part 2!!! - Make it stand out At one of the sources of the hot springs, José drops the sack of eggs into the water to boil. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/37a2cab3-5141-449e-9e87-8c9b5acf2b71/IMG_1865+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Soccer Project Part 2!!! - Make it stand out After fishing the sack of boiled eggs out with a stick, we ate together. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/6a20559e-1b91-4942-96e6-8d85b6eb8c2c/IMG_1879+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Soccer Project Part 2!!! - Make it stand out As I got up early to work out, the sun highlighted a cross on the mountain overlooking San Andrés. Many towns in Central America have crosses on mountains overlooking their towns. Most of these were placed there by dedicated Catholic priests and their parishioners. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/3fd41339-787b-42e0-9740-ca494f43bafd/IMG_1911+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Soccer Project Part 2!!! - Make it stand out While we ate, we talked about the project and about some of our methods for sharing the gospel. After learning about the message of the colored soccer ball, Mario repeated what he remembered of the meaning of each color. Incidentally, a little after I took this picture, Mario prayed a prayer of rededication to the Lord and wants to not only help in our soccer project but also to offer whatever gifts and abilities he has to serve God. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/dc88e54d-9188-4e29-a960-b80c2ec22d33/Screenshot+2023-05-31+154846.jpg Updates - Guatemala Soccer Project Part 2!!! - Make it stand out Mario shows some foot skills and passes the ball to José. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/68c5d128-e867-4c96-9694-17fb8a9c48ec/IMG_1921+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Soccer Project Part 2!!! - Make it stand out When we talked about needing to build some soccer goals for the project, Mario took us to a friend who has a welding shop and who is also a soccer enthusiast. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/47e91aa6-51c1-42f8-9f84-685fb40ba158/IMG_1958+%281%29.jpeg Updates - Guatemala Soccer Project Part 2!!! - Make it stand out One of the places Mario wanted us to see was this ancient Mayan ruins just outside of town. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/a4e3a36a-0dee-4334-97a2-2e307baf5fe2/IMG_1956+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Soccer Project Part 2!!! - Make it stand out Part of the ruins is this pit where an ancient soccer type of game was played. While they used makeshift balls and rocks, in some cases heads of sacrificed individuals were purported to be used as well! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1cc06f55-0e3f-458b-ad65-502fb6eaa904/IMG_1993+%281%29.jpeg Updates - Guatemala Soccer Project Part 2!!! - Make it stand out If we didn’t have a four-wheel drive vehicle, we would have had to turn around multiple times. It took us 5 hours to go 43 Kilometers! That would probably average us at about 5 miles an hour! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/65ec26e0-9a22-4c94-bc44-9cab9a7f398e/IMG_1998+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Soccer Project Part 2!!! - Make it stand out When traveling through this part of the country, there are no restaurants or hotels, so we stopped at houses like Cesar did back in the day and asked this woman who was sowing if she would fix us a meal! And she did! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/e25e1d49-ed95-4a18-864c-5d5f600a1d4b/IMG_1981+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Soccer Project Part 2!!! - Make it stand out The dirt road snaked its way through the mountains. Eventually we made it to the other side. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/26a21ae2-7430-4c77-91dc-40e112134dc6/IMG_2019+%281%29.jpeg Updates - Guatemala Soccer Project Part 2!!! - Make it stand out Cesar and I met up with Gregorio and his wife, Joanna, in front of their tire shop in Guastatoya, Guatemala. We picked right up where we left off many years ago! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/4fa40e05-04e6-4e7f-a216-ac8120226c67/IMG_2065+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Soccer Project Part 2!!! - Make it stand out Cesar and I met with Abner (center left) and his boss Alejandro (left) in Jalapa to visit the city’s sports facilities. Abner was with us in Monjas doing the soccer tournament there and had insisted we needed to come to Jalapa. Abner is a dedicated follower of Jesus and has been doing soccer evangelism on the streets with some guys in his church in Jalapa. When I walked up to meet them, Alejandro smiled and noticed my bright orange shirt. I earned that shirt last year by surviving a men’s retreat in the jungle. “When did you become a Legendario?” he asked, knowing where my shirt came from. I told him, and Alejandro went on to tell me that he went to the same retreat the year before and that it had changed his life! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/b187ba8c-166f-4af1-8158-c9852857774f/IMG_2041+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Soccer Project Part 2!!! - Make it stand out This is one of three large fields available to us. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/64ad6ffc-65b7-4145-8a8b-9e6914680a7f/IMG_2032+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Soccer Project Part 2!!! - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/cebe7412-7db0-4231-99c1-3cdda2afa872/IMG_2046+%281%29.jpeg Updates - Guatemala Soccer Project Part 2!!! - Make it stand out They had large multi-use courts as well. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/985a6e18-a744-4fa1-8c99-4dd21d16c92b/IMG_2061+%281%29.jpeg Updates - Guatemala Soccer Project Part 2!!! - Make it stand out An olympic sized pool https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/de6d8f98-228e-4db7-b206-6baa7146415f/IMG_2058+%281%29.jpeg Updates - Guatemala Soccer Project Part 2!!! - Make it stand out They even have this nice baseball field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/8d0a96c1-fe86-47d5-8e99-1a01371b56f9/IMG_2082+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Soccer Project Part 2!!! - Make it stand out The next day we met up with Fabiola (left), the tennis coordinator, and Cesar, being a huge tennis fanatic, set up a future tennis project! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/eabce1fa-4f88-4305-9310-5b4fe5d9e793/IMG_2078+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Soccer Project Part 2!!! - Make it stand out With Cesar and I are the leaders of the sports facility in Jalapa. All are excited about us doing a tournament there! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/53754ba9-8644-4393-b59e-ebe4ca73ff87/Soccer+video+team+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Soccer Project Part 2!!! - Make it stand out From left to right are me, Sam Swift, Selvinth Maldonado, and John Maldonado. After making a video together, we went out to an El Salvador restaurant here in the Kansas City area to celebrate! https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2021/3/14/guatemala-bound-finally-7n2wt-k3frg-2jpn9-grpkm-atk4d-ars4s-lhe8n-ljxmb-fr6zx-c7kre-bjah6-69yye-3g6n6-5hymr-7smf7-73tej-93esj-7j49s monthly 0.5 2023-05-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/648854fb-cbe2-4c17-b273-d78bc25404c2/IMG_0795+%282%29.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/e4830c20-9ff4-4684-8390-d7cab9df71ab/IMG_0386+%281%29.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out We captured a shot of the Lenexa Baptist team in the airport in Miami during the first few minutes of a nine hour layover! From left to right are Tony Shay, Titus Shay, Claudi Duffy, Sam Swift, Nola Reed, Steve Reed, Selvinth Maldonado, Randy Schmidt, and John Maldonado. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/5bd350fc-0b4c-4263-902f-2d8d8f2d441f/IMG_0389+%281%29.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out The Nicaraguan team took a 16 hour bus ride of about 500 miles to get to Guatemala. In spite of the lack of sleep, the first morning the guys got up ready to go to work! From left to right are Genaro, Sam (of the Lenexa team), Nelson, Eyner, Noel, Eduardo, Manuel, Ramon, Eliezer, and (in front) Raciel. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/702be2dc-d132-4ddb-89dd-0f9d50fd7bb8/IMG_0393+%281%29.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out Three of the four Nicaraguan women team members are pictured here on that first morning. From left to right are Scarlet, Aura, and Anna Maria. Not pictured yet is Mercedes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/15c37557-f750-46bb-bb3a-330fc3f0aaf6/IMG_0406+%281%29.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out Eduardo does some amazing tricks that always grab people’s attention. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/ef8da32a-f18b-4d09-a01d-7780b53ea727/IMG_0442+%281%29.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out Eyner led the young men in a prayer of salvation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/c836c90b-061f-4758-9f4d-24d9dbec5dc0/IMG_0447+%281%29.jpeg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out Randy is writing down names of those who responded. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/3fdb64b7-c2a8-4b14-97fc-661d440c67ff/IMG_0501.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out This is a pic of all who played soccer together in a friendly competition in Amberes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/9efb0a5d-c647-4669-acbe-08e594fd9410/IMG_0463.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out Before the game, everyone stretched together. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/3e26b384-8186-4d90-a7d4-fa76f963ea27/IMG_0492.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out Along with the stretching, Genaro got everyone doing some crazy get-acquainted drills! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/75ae9de5-c945-423b-9e03-35ed8c71cb44/IMG_0543+%281%29.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out The Amberes team played against the Nicaraguan and Gringo team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/40cdab06-40eb-42b7-91ce-2a1a3496c6ad/IMG_0586+%281%29.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out At the end of the game, the Amberes boys wanted a picture with “Haaland.” That’s what they called Titus. They thought he looked like Erling Haaland, a famous Norwegian soccer player! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/a3cd3681-bcb6-421f-a589-d87a8c9030ac/IMG_0610.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out Nola, Aura, Mercedes, Claudi, and Scarlet put the sandwiches together in anticipation of the snack time for the players. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/11b22d60-ee4e-4f80-a2f0-4a444ec72169/IMG_0658.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out It was a beautiful place to play. Because of the smaller number of participants, our team got a chance to get acquainted with every player during the play time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/2fd7c6f9-1cf2-4734-beae-b48cf1fe8b8f/IMG_0625.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out Here Sam makes a move on Raciel as Genaro, Tony, and Eduardo look on. Sam played some college soccer, and he showed his stuff! He is also on staff at Lenexa Baptist on the tech team. He will be working with me and several others to create videos to send to the soccer players who responded this week. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/f73873a9-aea8-40a3-a1f1-717d502cb872/IMG_0648.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out Children love playing soccer with Eduardo, a former professional soccer player in Nicaragua. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/6767aaf7-64d5-4bfb-8ac0-6adcabf5410e/IMG_0690.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out Eduardo holds his listeners spellbound as he prepares them for one of his illusions. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/5ea9a3d8-cf90-4e81-9e94-00c66bba7dc7/IMG_0668.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out “Is this rope real?” Eduardo asks. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/f3c12147-4ce7-44d0-8e6d-098827ebd171/IMG_0672.jpeg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out Eduardo has two volunteers tie him up for an escape trick. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/17fd935f-9f0c-4bfa-af9e-8b3fa0a76eba/IMG_0704.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out In the drama, Mercedes is not escaping from evil forces who have chained her up. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/ae7edc07-7fdc-4b15-9bff-fc015d6362ab/IMG_0721.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out As evil seems to be winning, Jesus (Noel) shows up. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/30a9b38c-d6ba-452f-ab03-2f31b8d87cad/IMG_0724.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out There is a tug of war. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/e65c1104-416e-47d4-a3bd-840a73210af7/IMG_0730.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out But Jesus gains the victory and sets Mercedes free. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/5b3c28ff-55df-44d2-b8ce-89d4c0636b35/IMG_0748.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out Eduardo, Randy, and Sam share a moment after the last event finished that first day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/2addb60f-9d0b-4e46-99f4-5cc60b919862/IMG_7029.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out A few days later, Randy presented Bibles to those two bus drivers, Antonio and Luis. Randy is a retired missionary from Argentina, so he speaks Spanish fluently. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/652a53fe-4bb6-4948-82d6-8237f2f2e1b2/IMG_0769+%281%29.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out Obdulio, on the left, is the one who had arranged for the tournament to be held in Pueblo Nuevo Viñas. His boss Marcos, on the right, came in from Guatemala City to see it first-hand. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/87221bfc-4981-4498-8ac6-a0c33f6443cf/IMG_0757.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out The announcer is ready to start the program in a school auditorium in Pueblo Nuevo Viñas. Our whole team is sitting on the platform with other dignitaries. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/06cb1f1e-dfab-4e5c-a8cb-da795da8ba27/IMG_0776.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out Marcos was one of about a half dozen individuals who gave greetings. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/139f1788-b5ef-4cd4-b3fc-0c601aa16067/IMG_0781.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out Cesar gave a greeting on behalf of our team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/c8df778f-2ff0-41d8-9fdb-ffcdc5711c6b/IMG_0784+%281%29.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out Once the music started for the drama, the whole mood shifted. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/744761cb-027b-464a-a95a-84f23ad97a54/IMG_0789.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out Eduardo followed the drama with a passionate call to come to Jesus. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/af0bdb09-7a32-47a9-a484-dee6102f59b8/IMG_0792+%281%29.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out The response was tremendous. We thought having 150 decision cards on hand would be plenty going into the morning. This was the day we realized we better have more cards! I was so proud of our team for their flexibility and can-do attitude.  By the end of the day, we had a hodgepodge of names on cards and scraps of paper indicating that 197 people had given us their contact info declaring that they had prayed to receive Christ. Among them was Marcos, the head of Conjuve, who you see here with his hand held up. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/3331d3af-dc8d-4a07-b1a2-4f8cae448459/IMG_0800.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out Nola and Claudi pray with a girl after the program ended. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/09834bf8-aa10-4be7-b26b-4a7d0e1bc34e/Resized_20230412_085226.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out John (left) and Titus (right) were a big hit for pictures during the day! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/90cdfc93-95e0-4b77-8f47-21a8af80374e/IMG_0850.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out The big field was subdivided into four smaller fields. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/bd577756-f0a1-45cf-8cb9-a4bb254c9934/IMG_0855.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/a5b959f4-d70d-4614-aeea-3a17a061ac76/IMG_0908.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out This girl’s team celebrates after winning their first game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/cd0143b7-268a-4c99-a62a-0811fbad5e11/IMG_0819.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out I roamed the sidelines taking pictures of the games and enjoyed getting a chance to meet players and coaches. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/0dae5cbc-7901-4929-ab20-803853a5ca4a/IMG_0937.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out Several of the games came down to penalty kicks to decide the winners. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/d6cc8217-67a8-441c-86ba-564f15448a50/IMG_0890+%281%29.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out Dr. Noel Merlo, our team member from Nicaragua, is a medical doctor and is assisting a nurse as they attend to a girl who fainted during one of the games. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/715e3974-92a9-428e-b71c-d7617257c0b2/IMG_0953.jpeg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out Before this picture was taken, a member of this girls team broke her leg in a really bad way. Anna Maria, a psychologist working with youth at risk in Nicaragua, takes a moment to pray for the girl who broke her leg and for her concerned teammates. Later we donated some money for medical expenses to the girl’s family. A week later, the mother sent a message to Cesar to thank us for our prayers and concern. In the surgery to place a rod in the leg, they found a tumor, and the surgeon was able to remove the tumor before fixing the leg. The mother was grateful to God that they had discovered this and said that, according to the doctors, the broken leg might have saved her daughter’s life! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/f8d105f2-065d-4f30-94e4-e635cebeea2a/IMG_0958.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out The last game of the day came down to penalty kicks! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/04cd10e1-3cf6-4775-b913-d9457391e734/IMG_0988+%281%29.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out Even though the girls were still concerned about their teammate, they were proud that they had finished the game and won their division in the tournament. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/8cb37d64-87c9-46d7-8743-08884e539a7c/IMG_1024+%281%29.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out When we got to the school, Marcia (right), a long-time friend and teacher in this school, introduced us to the principal. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/790440ac-9834-4b5d-af23-3260336cc9cf/IMG_1026.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out Selvinth and Randy share a moment with the principal shortly before beginning the program. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/87b689f1-b8da-4eca-9dad-6757ed2659d7/IMG_1037.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out Eduardo got all of us doing the most comical contortions imaginable! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/210ebaea-8149-4f9b-a49a-5867c116e96a/IMG_1038.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out Nola has been a children’s worker a little too long! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/5961a425-2397-43ef-8c05-5e908aea3f6a/IMG_1064.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out Eduardo performed an amazing assortment of illusions, including this one with a balloon. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/faa347b5-dcbd-421c-9f81-ecec544a8310/IMG_1065.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/c9c77c10-a9b4-49e9-8b26-f8a147c83642/IMG_1079.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out Eduardo grabs some color off the hair of a volunteer to place in his book. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/87aaa6bd-aed2-4379-95ea-f3fb4fe0f5b1/Screenshot+2023-05-03+204233.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out The drama made it’s impact yet again. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/68f55365-ace9-467a-896b-7a83ab8c14d5/Screenshot+2023-05-03+203413.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out Ramon shared the gospel message. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/30ab5dc8-42c0-4b91-bb52-081df8de98bb/IMG_1129.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out And the children responded. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/8c8d8348-c9ff-42ff-bf97-db02687537e9/IMG_0101.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out Eyner talks with a boy as he hands out a card to be filled out. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/5342e281-718e-4d3c-95da-fc5f4706208e/IMG_1189+%281%29.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out Setting up the sound tent https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/6f76b22d-2c48-4784-bfb2-bbe4cf57e74b/IMG_1194+%281%29.jpeg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out Sam, Raciel, and Genaro snap the roof in place. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/ffb8743b-0405-4f85-9167-5c92f3949bc6/IMG_1213+%281%29.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out Gloria, the president of the Lions Club, introduces those who were there to serve, including the fire department and Lions Club members. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/da581f70-c238-41c7-8a15-261389c07131/IMG_1196.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out Back home, Selvinth is the chaplain for the Spanish speaking players of the Kansas City Royals. Here, he is sharing a greeting before praying an invocation at the beginning of the event. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/69854e08-1b38-4b2a-b042-ac1ac4db226a/Screenshot+2023-05-03+104842.png Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out The drama set the tone again. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/74843148-c1d6-45f2-a931-efe8d7784f32/Screenshot+2023-05-03+105300.png Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out Eduardo gave another passionate call to Christ. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/e237f1f1-7114-41d3-9a1c-5703598b91f5/Screenshot+2023-05-03+105623.png Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out These kids prayed to receive Christ with such enthusiasm. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/3c89e89c-4410-41a1-9529-acfaefc66ce0/IMG_1329.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out Aura and Mercedes organize and copy the names and contact info into a notebook. This proved to be a huge job for the entire week. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/a55ea55e-b33d-4c77-ba5a-b75f90e48fb3/IMG_1315.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out Once the message was over, it was time to play! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/ec3c6c86-17db-41d0-873a-d6fee0856378/IMG_1223.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out This eager team took to stretching with Eduardo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1269f74c-cc4e-4f4d-b18a-eb1072a87905/IMG_1288.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out Let the games begin! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/145d12ef-37c0-45c0-9572-7dc6ef01d84e/IMG_1232.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/3366c3f2-cb12-4b3f-8e1b-d918a267fd74/IMG_1326+%281%29.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out This team of youngsters won their division, and Eduardo led them in a prayer of thanksgiving. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/44c4bbee-142e-41a6-9bc9-8eb8d38b7e68/IMG_1258.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out This little girl was voted the most valuable player for her age division, and Eduardo asked her, “How long have you been playing soccer?” “Since I was six,” she responded. “How old are you?” Eduardo asked. “Six,” she said! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/cef3d08a-2c94-48d3-ab65-f97dd1c38f22/IMG_1325+%281%29.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out Nola had the privilege of giving this girl her Most Valuable Player trophy, and they are holding the team trophy as well. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/456c8268-699b-4318-bf5b-433c151247fb/IMG_1377.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out After the last games were played, Tony, Sam and John helped carry off the goals. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/d91a8b67-49c4-4258-83cd-808f3ad2e312/IMG_1378.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out Ferdynand (a former professional soccer player and now one of the leading soccer coaches along with his father for the Academy of soccer in Monjas) is pleased with the first day of the tournament and shares with Selvinth how grateful he was for our team being there. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/7be70483-f6b4-4ee4-8fdd-3df519f9cdd2/IMG_1399.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out In front of the Monjas city sign just outside the soccer fields, we stopped to take this picture on the last day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/44405090-6ef5-4dc5-acc8-37b9b9c52501/IMG_1427.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out On day 2 of our Monjas tournament, Gloria introduced the entire team and the Lions Club team members. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/da496323-d6b9-479a-883d-7d385fda390a/Screenshot+2023-05-03+154200.png Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out After the drama and message, the response was amazing again. 150 people gave us their decision cards. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/bedcd5f4-7994-4675-ba8c-178a7e878e9c/IMG_1473.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out Our friends from the Lions Club were great! On the far left is Marcia, our long-time friend who has been a part of a Christian Rancher group for many years, and the teacher from the school that we went to the first day in Monjas. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/a5d603b4-da4c-41b2-80e3-f7e20438f711/IMG_1410.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out The Lions Club had their National Queen present, who is from nearby Jalapa. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/487f940d-bff9-42bc-b847-c3ca6e0b001f/IMG_1441.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out The drama crew was ready to scare anyone they came in contact with! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/77f0911e-e4d6-46c6-8956-77299c0dd6a9/IMG_1406.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out John got a yellow card from Genaro before the games even got started! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/5558924c-b57c-4c05-863a-efe35018fc2a/Screenshot+2023-05-01+164400.png Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out Since there were a smaller number of men’s teams, our guys got to field a team. Here John saves a goal and then flips the ball out for a fast break. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1d85b381-dd88-4b7f-976b-8c046838273f/Screenshot+2023-05-01+162731.png Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out Titus shows some creativity as he steps over the ball to pass it behind him to one of his teammates. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/5fe9c3f6-4810-405a-8e3d-e242d555c919/IMG_1452.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out Before the final game, Manuel shares with the boys a few of the rule differences for the 5 on 5 format. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/3d157b5d-6160-4457-8ec2-332b99927af9/IMG_1599.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out Our Nicaraguan team of officials did a great job all week with keeping the games fair and fun. But they did give me a red card for taking their picture! From left to right are Manuel, Genaro, Eliezer, and Raciel. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/72998c62-f04d-4a46-845f-d2287c862ef3/IMG_1380.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out These Lions Club members prepare for the trophy presentations. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/fa55dd4b-94c3-41f5-95a6-fb8e5ed4db13/IMG_1576.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out Ferdynand Sr. announces the winners of the last day’s games. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/f8e77f3a-ec75-4746-9c5b-69a08cfc74bb/IMG_1586.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out Randy and Cesar share in the trophy presentation to this team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/7bd1fb2b-10f3-4614-b932-0161f7a5db1f/IMG_1639.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out At the end of the last day, the Lions Club gave all our lady team members a sunflower in recognition for working alongside them. Mario, one of our Christian Rancher group friends, didn’t get the memo and photo bombed the ladies! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/a6c7b23a-87d6-4d54-aa40-85a6ec3dcc68/IMG_1657+%281%29.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out Here, Selvinth washes Eyner’s feet as Eyner holds back tears. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/18b278d2-6272-46d9-93b4-7447b6f62254/IMG_1660.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out Sam washes Raciel’s feet. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/b431cf62-4839-43cd-8189-534b0871699f/IMG_1668.jpg Updates - Amazing Harvest in Guatemala Soccer Project!!! - Make it stand out Nola and Claudi washed Elba’s feet. https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2021/3/14/guatemala-bound-finally-7n2wt-k3frg-2jpn9-grpkm-atk4d-ars4s-lhe8n-ljxmb-fr6zx-c7kre-bjah6-69yye-3g6n6-5hymr-7smf7-73tej-93esj monthly 0.5 2023-03-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/4ad3a5ff-670e-40d8-8ac6-821d86ccdc43/Screenshot+2023-03-18+151515.png Updates - “Be the Church” Training With Both Baptists and Cowboys - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/6633fcfa-f081-41b8-b197-d8e3ea18bc07/Screenshot+2023-03-18+144040.png Updates - “Be the Church” Training With Both Baptists and Cowboys - Make it stand out Tad Rogers, pastor of First Baptist Church of Mountain Home, Arkansas, introduced us at the Sunday morning service by sharing how we met and how Ms. Edith Mitchel, one of their long-time members, had been praying for our family since Mom and Dad went to be missionaries many years ago. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/4dc0d20b-a5e8-49e2-8c59-58aa1705d872/IMG_9287+%281%29.jpg Updates - “Be the Church” Training With Both Baptists and Cowboys - Make it stand out This is Ms. Edith Mitchel. She is 101 years old and one of the most vibrant prayer warriors I have ever met. Besides praying for my parents for many years, she was a great friend to my Aunt Willie. Ms. Edith is such an encouragement to all and is still going strong! She attended every one of our training sessions and delighted us all with her comments. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/96b6a317-e474-4a74-a9ad-b3388faec811/Screenshot+2023-03-18+151045.png Updates - “Be the Church” Training With Both Baptists and Cowboys - Make it stand out For the Sunday morning service, Bill and I did a tag team approach to the message and prepped folks for what we planned to do in the coming week. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/b6b2ffea-4f35-4446-85b7-295f60014056/IMG_1494+%281%29.jpg Updates - “Be the Church” Training With Both Baptists and Cowboys - Make it stand out The first night of the training, people were a little unsure of the seemingly chaotic placement of the chairs in the gym. We call it the “wagon wheel” process, and participants sit in a cluster of chairs that face each other. They practice short, minute drills of having conversations with a partner before rotating to get a new partner. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/f9827825-07b5-43ef-bf9e-ab0678627dcb/IMG_1498+%281%29.jpg Updates - “Be the Church” Training With Both Baptists and Cowboys - Make it stand out Inevitably, once people get started talking with one another, many begin to enjoy the interactions. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/97f3ec3d-9046-4ef2-b313-eb450839a74b/IMG_9922+%281%29.jpg Updates - “Be the Church” Training With Both Baptists and Cowboys - Make it stand out Between drills, we teach different concepts before we practice again. Here I’m talking about how we can treat people as objects and not as people. Bill thought I was taking a little too long to make my point! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/92289d79-0895-42a9-a576-fa9804d66d6e/IMG_9926+%281%29.jpg Updates - “Be the Church” Training With Both Baptists and Cowboys - Make it stand out After getting up from the floor, Bill seemed to take his abuse fairly well! He talked more on how we can see the value of all persons and avoid being at war in our hearts—even when we have different interests, opinions, concerns, and expectations. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/6f3d8552-5b33-41c9-b282-8041d8341737/IMG_0256+%281%29.jpg Updates - “Be the Church” Training With Both Baptists and Cowboys - Make it stand out As you can see, we got the guys doing the conversation drills. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/8b24f4df-b754-49be-ad0c-ea9599812995/IMG_0251+%281%29.jpg Updates - “Be the Church” Training With Both Baptists and Cowboys - Make it stand out Even some of the jokes they had to tell one another got a few laughs! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/99bd6bac-a24a-43d6-a36f-30e09657ed59/IMG_0264+%281%29.jpg Updates - “Be the Church” Training With Both Baptists and Cowboys - Make it stand out On Saturday, for a fun break from the action, Bob Courtney (far right) got the guys doing a golf cart race through an obstacle course. The driver was blindfolded, and the partner had to call out directions from the microphone. There were some near disasters in the process, but thankfully no insurance claims had to be filed! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1864b5f8-bc08-440e-a370-dad93a8b0d06/IMG_0287+%281%29.jpg Updates - “Be the Church” Training With Both Baptists and Cowboys - Make it stand out Folks gathered for the Sunday morning service. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/e8f4eb9b-459d-4178-98c4-eb139570fd2a/pic+of+Western+Way+band+%281%29.png Updates - “Be the Church” Training With Both Baptists and Cowboys - Make it stand out Pastor Les Green (center) leads the congregation in a few songs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/3c7c59e3-419e-4f2c-9133-57ba039db554/IMG_0290+%281%29.jpg Updates - “Be the Church” Training With Both Baptists and Cowboys - Make it stand out During the weekend, we teamed up with Bob and Alta Courtney. Here they are singing a special song for the Sunday service that they plan to record on their next album. During the retreat they also gave us lots of laughs from their music and comedy routine. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/39aa049e-d546-48d4-a55e-5f7a38bb374c/IMG_0301+%281%29.jpg Updates - “Be the Church” Training With Both Baptists and Cowboys - Make it stand out To commemorate our time with Western Way, we gave this plaque to the church to thank them for inviting us and to serve as a reminder to pray for us and our other friends in ministry all over the world. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/28dc254a-4da7-420c-afb4-cc2be4de2287/IMG_0173+%281%29.jpg Updates - “Be the Church” Training With Both Baptists and Cowboys - Make it stand out One day our friend Kevin Adkins took us hiking to a beautiful waterfall near Jasper, Arkansas, and the Buffalo River. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/45e0ddc5-8c4f-4976-91d0-41d6c2e2bfff/IMG_0197+%281%29.jpeg Updates - “Be the Church” Training With Both Baptists and Cowboys - Make it stand out According to some archaeologists, this big cavern near the river was once the home of some indigenous Indians about 2000 years ago! https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2021/3/14/guatemala-bound-finally-7n2wt-k3frg-2jpn9-grpkm-atk4d-ars4s-lhe8n-ljxmb-fr6zx-c7kre-bjah6-69yye-3g6n6-5hymr-7smf7-73tej monthly 0.5 2023-03-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/326c9003-849f-4c22-b59d-a9fbab45cd66/IMG_9767+%281%29.jpg Updates - update on Guatemala Part 2—The Soccer Project - Make it stand out Here is our group with some leaders at the mayor’s office on our first day together in Santa Cruz Naranjo. I’m kneeling with the mayor, Carlos Salvador Rodriguez. From left to right are the soccer director for the region and Cesar Gonzalez, then the next five are a team from Nicaragua that came to help us organize: Mercedes Guerrero, Eduardo Mejia, Arnulfo Bonilla, Ramon Mondragon, and Eyner Garcia. On the right are Josue Gonzalez (Cesar’s grandson) and Maria Pineda, a teacher and soccer coach who did much of the legwork in recruiting several teams for our games in Santa Cruz Naranjo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/14196555-4fce-4c15-914b-627b9daa20b0/IMG_9750+%281%29.jpg Updates - update on Guatemala Part 2—The Soccer Project - Make it stand out Eduardo Mejia, a former professional soccer player in Nicaragua and the primary leader of Furia Santa soccer tournaments in Nicaragua, presents the soccer project to the leadership of the Santa Cruz Naranjo City Hall. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/7a6cb998-7be0-423e-84f2-2b5b11c6e6b1/IMG_9784+%281%29.jpg Updates - update on Guatemala Part 2—The Soccer Project - Make it stand out Eduardo can captivate an audience quickly with some of his ball handling tricks. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/ee8c0cf7-1074-4c61-b8c3-16204770182e/IMG_9805+%281%29.jpg Updates - update on Guatemala Part 2—The Soccer Project - Make it stand out Mercedes struggles against evil forces in a drama the team performed before starting the soccer event in Santa Cruz Naranjo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/2b359eea-874a-47f7-a41f-f66a7524378d/IMG_9816+%281%29.jpg Updates - update on Guatemala Part 2—The Soccer Project - Make it stand out Jesus comes to rescue Mercedes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/4ee7569d-8a44-4236-b612-2771a8e210b1/IMG_9827+%281%29.jpg Updates - update on Guatemala Part 2—The Soccer Project - Make it stand out Eduardo takes off his mask and speaks about the spiritual realities of dark forces wanting to take us out. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/34e6ef9e-def8-47da-9bc4-b151d37377e5/IMG_9839+%281%29.jpg Updates - update on Guatemala Part 2—The Soccer Project - Make it stand out Through the colored soccer ball that Cesar is holding, Ramon shared how Jesus paid the price for all of us to have salvation. At this particular event, many made decisions for Christ. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/d579cabf-919c-4a06-868b-15e11391f421/IMG_9941+%281%29.jpg Updates - update on Guatemala Part 2—The Soccer Project - Make it stand out Before starting one of the games, Eduardo leads them in a prayer. Several of these players had already prayed to receive Christ before the game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/20cbb1fd-f7ad-4645-aa24-ba280791a3ee/IMG_9911+%281%29.jpg Updates - update on Guatemala Part 2—The Soccer Project - Make it stand out Before each game, Arnulfo spoke to the teams about good sportsmanship and how he wanted everyone to enjoy playing the game. In these tournaments, Arnulfo helps train referees to remember that they can set the tone to make fair play and fun a priority. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/94213bd9-5743-4ba0-8bf1-7b5462358c56/IMG_9875+%281%29.jpg Updates - update on Guatemala Part 2—The Soccer Project - Make it stand out It was a beautiful day in January for a soccer game. I was particularly grateful this day that I was avoiding the cold weather back home! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/701c3323-9859-41cd-aa8d-9c20a09d0047/IMG_9870+%281%29.jpg Updates - update on Guatemala Part 2—The Soccer Project - Make it stand out Before the game, the teams lined up for photos. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/32198d2d-a5b4-4798-bc42-9447b17795d2/IMG_9914+%281%29.jpg Updates - update on Guatemala Part 2—The Soccer Project - Make it stand out Maria Pineda preps her team from Amberes. Earlier in the day, she prayed to receive Christ. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/3a1ed50f-c399-451b-a2e3-47f87525c7f6/IMG_9878+%281%29.jpg Updates - update on Guatemala Part 2—The Soccer Project - Make it stand out On the sidelines during one of the games, Eduardo speaks with several girls from a team in Santa Cruz who also prayed to receive Christ. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/a76c83ff-4113-4b1d-a068-b2c450341f4c/IMG_9957+%281%29.jpg Updates - update on Guatemala Part 2—The Soccer Project - Make it stand out At every soccer event, we provided sandwiches to the players. Here Mercedes serves with Maria (center), one of our helpers. The day before, she had prayed to receive Christ and was excited to be with us each day in Santa Cruz. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/cd666fb0-0cd1-40bc-b935-c1c818eb3c6b/IMG_9988+%281%29.jpg Updates - update on Guatemala Part 2—The Soccer Project - Make it stand out The trophy was presented to the girls team that won in Santa Cruz. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/bb5a3117-69c7-45aa-8896-a582d8b5438d/IMG_9996+%281%29.jpg Updates - update on Guatemala Part 2—The Soccer Project - Make it stand out The winning boys team excitedly received their trophy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/319a100b-fc11-46c9-b6db-e2abb126e104/IMG_0015+%281%29.jpg Updates - update on Guatemala Part 2—The Soccer Project - Make it stand out Ferdynand Senior and Junior listen to Cesar as we meet up for a day of soccer with their academy. Looking on is Eduardo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/acc9660e-3e9b-4f69-b006-be83bc8c3c3b/IMG_0043+%281%29.jpg Updates - update on Guatemala Part 2—The Soccer Project - Make it stand out The last time I had been in Monjas was before the pandemic. So it was great reconnecting with Manfredo, a friend who is an associate pastor and counselor for a Christian children’s home located in Monjas. His father is a dairy farmer in the area, and we have partnered in starting a Christian Rancher group. The shirt he is wearing is of Oklahoma State University, my alma mater! When I asked him where he got it, he said it came from a store that sells secondhand American clothes! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/c0dc029f-6826-42ee-ac56-39a4b297ef0b/IMG_0034+%281%29.jpg Updates - update on Guatemala Part 2—The Soccer Project - Make it stand out Ferdynand Senior preps the teams before playing their games. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/7fc3047b-d41d-4497-8232-7fa16bf2bc93/IMG_0035+%281%29.jpg Updates - update on Guatemala Part 2—The Soccer Project - Make it stand out Eduardo shares his testimony to the children in Monjas before the games begin. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/898cdfd5-152d-421a-8e88-421fdfabd59b/IMG_0088+%281%29.jpg Updates - update on Guatemala Part 2—The Soccer Project - Make it stand out The last game of the morning required penalty shots to determine the winner. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/8e8b237f-b21d-44e6-80f8-466f75849668/IMG_0081+%281%29.jpg Updates - update on Guatemala Part 2—The Soccer Project - Make it stand out After the games, Ferdynand Senior, a former disc jockey for a national radio program, announces the winners for one of the team divisions. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/e09813a9-fa69-43f0-9654-add84b0a383e/Screenshot+2023-03-13+150430.png Updates - update on Guatemala Part 2—The Soccer Project - Make it stand out The drama was a hit in Monjas as well. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/ee00b580-f46f-48f5-b8fc-639824ceedde/IMG_0066+%281%29.jpg Updates - update on Guatemala Part 2—The Soccer Project - Make it stand out As the children listen to the message of the colored soccer ball, Cesar talks about the message with the president of the local Lions club who was there with a team of people to help run the refreshment and snack table for the event. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/4beaa550-b287-4790-9827-4f817defe3c1/IMG_0132+%281%29.jpg Updates - update on Guatemala Part 2—The Soccer Project - Make it stand out A couple days before I came home, the Chiefs were playing in the AFC Championship game against the Bengals. The three young men who went to the jungle with us (that you met in the last update) said that they would pray that the Chiefs would win, and if they won, I’d owe each of them a hamburger! So the last night I was in Guatemala, I paid up at this restaurant in Amberes that is called “El Jefe,” which means “the Chief!” And yes, now that the Chiefs have won the Super Bowl, they expect more hamburgers when I go back! https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2021/3/14/guatemala-bound-finally-7n2wt-k3frg-2jpn9-grpkm-atk4d-ars4s-lhe8n-ljxmb-fr6zx-c7kre-bjah6-69yye-3g6n6-5hymr-7smf7 monthly 0.5 2023-02-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/cba671b4-e14c-46ee-b204-4b1214706929/IMG_9446+%281%29.jpg Updates - update on Guatemala Part 1—The Jungle - Make it stand out After about 10 hours of driving, we arrived at our base camp in Por Venir, Guatemala. From left to right are Stiven (a 17 year old soccer player from Amberes), Cesar, Anibal (a pastor from a nearby village), Brandon (a 15 year old soccer player also from Amberes), Pablo (a 16 year old soccer player also from Amberes), and Josue (a 20 year old grandson of Cesar). Our team’s goal for the week was to fix a water system in Sepoc and play soccer in a couple of villages with the men and boys from the region. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/573598f5-a21c-4556-b38b-1be98549946d/IMG_9453+%281%29.jpg Updates - update on Guatemala Part 1—The Jungle - Make it stand out Also welcoming us to our base camp was this lizard. He kept me company every night the entire week! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/e426ac7e-b28a-40f5-9000-3c312bdffa1b/IMG_9478+%281%29.jpg Updates - update on Guatemala Part 1—The Jungle - Make it stand out The first night in the jungle, we spoke at the Embajadores de Cristo Church (Ambassadors of Christ) in Setal, Guatemala. Here, Cesar greets everyone. Looking on in the background is the church’s pastor. This church is located on a main road that has the availability of electricity. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/f07e2e28-ee63-4492-a042-074048c1e375/IMG_9482+%281%29.jpg Updates - update on Guatemala Part 1—The Jungle - Make it stand out Most of the Kekchi-language churches love to praise the Lord with heartfelt songs in their own language. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/30afc8bb-6335-48f5-99ba-7c7f9bf07171/IMG_9487+%281%29.jpg Updates - update on Guatemala Part 1—The Jungle - Make it stand out Cesar and our team inspected the water well in the village of Sepoc along with Jose, pastor of the church there. Several years ago, we helped them obtain a pump and tubes to bring water from a nearby spring down into the village for clean water. But during the pandemic, the pump broke and they had gone back to using the water from this well—water that is undoubtedly causing more stomach problems again. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/2627599e-a8e7-4e62-a5c7-d671a683d46a/IMG_9593+%281%29.jpg Updates - update on Guatemala Part 1—The Jungle - Make it stand out Clean water is an issue all over the region. These women are from a village near San Manzanila and hike about a mile back to their huts after fetching water from a spring. They had a good water system a few years ago, but recently their system broke down, and leaders from the community are in the process of making repairs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/6d4747cc-1ae6-4422-9cd1-3ae3fc2b343c/IMG_9494+%281%29.jpg Updates - update on Guatemala Part 1—The Jungle - Make it stand out Here we evaluated the condition of the tubes that come from the spring, which is a more reliable and clean source of water for the village of Sepoc. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/3d9bc6ca-ff34-4ceb-ad91-acbd12b5de4d/IMG_9531+%281%29.jpg Updates - update on Guatemala Part 1—The Jungle - Make it stand out In November, Cesar had taken the old pump to his shop in Amberes to repair. Now it was time to re-install it and see if it would work. Here, Pablo and Stiven are doing the heavy lifting. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/87e00db6-2ea1-4f10-996e-74e59ae3ebf7/IMG_9536+%281%29.jpg Updates - update on Guatemala Part 1—The Jungle - Make it stand out Before hooking up the pipes, Pablo and Cesar performed a test, and it worked! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/ea3a37a4-7dac-4e14-ad61-1f1808f22c5d/IMG_9538+%281%29.jpg Updates - update on Guatemala Part 1—The Jungle - Make it stand out The pump takes water that is down in the spring and pumps it up to large plastic containers on a hill. Then the water can drop down from there by gravity into the village. Here we tested the power of the pump, and it was getting the water up to where it needed to go. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/2392268e-2226-47e0-b139-e8e6fa1927fe/IMG_9511+%281%29.jpg Updates - update on Guatemala Part 1—The Jungle - Make it stand out Pablo smiled after seeing that the tanks were ready to receive water again. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/f023407a-fd17-4926-8cb9-2e5f779f7333/IMG_9517+%281%29.jpg Updates - update on Guatemala Part 1—The Jungle - Make it stand out After a job well done, our boys from Amberes got their first taste of Kakik, a spicy soup that is made by the Kekchi women for special occasions. As Brandon takes his first spoonful, Pastor Jose enjoys watching the reactions of the others. Fortunately for them, it was milder than usual! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/c8a50d8e-463a-456e-bac0-dfcd389ff3ba/IMG_9590+%281%29.jpg Updates - update on Guatemala Part 1—The Jungle - Make it stand out At the end of our second day in the jungle, players from San Manzanila played a game with a mix of players from their village. Originally, another village was supposed to show up with a team, but they weren’t able to come because of the harvest of cardomum (a plant that produces a fruit that is used primarily for perfumes). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/cfefc97d-f67e-42f9-be3e-7914e20a2896/IMG_9570+%281%29.jpg Updates - update on Guatemala Part 1—The Jungle - Make it stand out Cesar talked to this group of children about the gospel using the colors of the soccer ball. The children didn’t speak very much Spanish, so it was a little challenging for Cesar to convey the message. Later one of our Kekchi friends helped translate. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/13ea0640-7374-4d55-a257-6c98ce4a1936/IMG_9607+%281%29.jpg Updates - update on Guatemala Part 1—The Jungle - Make it stand out The two San Manzanilan teams ended up tied and used penalty shots to determine the winner. Here, Pablo is taking his turn. While this was not a big event, it allowed us to continue to have positive interactions with many in the village. And these good relations have made it easier for our friends there to openly share their faith about Jesus. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/55fc5437-caf2-4f9a-a14c-ff5eb3f36000/IMG_9618+%281%29.jpeg Updates - update on Guatemala Part 1—The Jungle - Make it stand out Every Thursday, vendors set up a makeshift market in designated locations in the palm oil plantation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/7d77faf0-b52b-481f-911a-478e10f18773/IMG_9663+%281%29.jpg Updates - update on Guatemala Part 1—The Jungle - Make it stand out Once we drove to the other side of the plantation, we were able to walk to the hut of a layman who wants to start a new church. Note that tree bridges are very prevalent in this region of the jungle. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1391bf4c-772e-44e5-be77-f796c9d613a2/IMG_9661+%281%29.jpg Updates - update on Guatemala Part 1—The Jungle - Make it stand out Also prevalent along the pathway is cacao. This is the plant and fruit that chocolate comes from. Here, Josue is showing off what he just picked. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/285fbe23-60df-42ee-a540-1e1eb54c5d91/IMG_9639+%281%29.jpg Updates - update on Guatemala Part 1—The Jungle - Make it stand out Fortunately, this bridge made access to Chaky Gracia much easier. Several from the church at Ochul Choch accompanied us to the home of one of their members. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/2b494e80-382d-42e0-9d90-60ab3a6fbe0a/IMG_9643+%281%29.jpg Updates - update on Guatemala Part 1—The Jungle - Make it stand out Here is the home in Chaky Gracia where the Ochul Choch church wants to help start a new church. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/73a29aed-37ba-4c3e-84a4-d1da54109db8/IMG_9645+%281%29.jpg Updates - update on Guatemala Part 1—The Jungle - Make it stand out The owner of the home (in the background with the blue shirt) constructs these kinds of homes for his livelihood. He recently built his home to be spacious enough for a group to meet. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/2928b040-e61d-4af9-aaf0-9cf954feafcf/IMG_9648+%281%29.jpg Updates - update on Guatemala Part 1—The Jungle - Make it stand out Lorenzo (standing) is the pastor of the Ochul Choch church and joined us that day as we prayed and encouraged the nucleus in Chaky Gracia to start meeting together. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/eaf019a5-c162-42eb-b397-e3799c5396e4/IMG_8257.jpg Updates - update on Guatemala Part 1—The Jungle - Make it stand out A couple of weeks ago in Burwell, Nebraska, Bill facilitated a group of pastors and their wives in a discussion about their prayer lives that led to renewed commitment to pray. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/02f7f087-bfdb-41fa-9353-fab05ea6838c/IMG_9696+%281%29.jpg Updates - update on Guatemala Part 1—The Jungle - Make it stand out On our last day in the jungle we stopped by Las Conchas, one of the most spectacular series of waterfalls in the region. These young men had never been to this part of their country and were blown away by the experience. Note that in the next update you will see them again. Cesar has been preparing them to be leaders to invite youth near their homes to come to our upcoming soccer events in Santa Cruz Narranjo. Stay tuned for that report next time! https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2021/3/14/guatemala-bound-finally-7n2wt-k3frg-2jpn9-grpkm-atk4d-ars4s-lhe8n-ljxmb-fr6zx-c7kre-bjah6-69yye-3g6n6-5hymr-mz64m-wprpt-p5kn8 monthly 0.5 2022-12-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/369a4f39-c094-43dd-944d-1ecf06df794e/6880a6ec-aeb6-492b-9ada-325d649acc0e.jpg Updates - End of Year Wrap-up and a Sneak Peak Into 2023 - Make it stand out In November, Luis Carlos, in the white shirt, shared a message using the colored soccer ball at a gathering of several boys and girls soccer teams in Santa Cruz Narranjo, Guatemala. About 50 prayed to receive Christ as a result! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/7609a177-afd3-455f-8e39-9a0c60b9e412/IMG_7923+%281%29.jpg Updates - End of Year Wrap-up and a Sneak Peak Into 2023 - Make it stand out Project Hope team of Nicaragua prepares the props to take a picture of the winning team in San Ramon, Nicaragua. Eduardo Mejia (black shirt holding a microphone) will be bringing 4 of his leaders to Guatemala January 23-29 to help train a Guatemalan team in soccer evangelism. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/cd45daf7-4426-43e2-ae0c-deaae89c8f5c/IMG_9274+%281%29.jpeg Updates - End of Year Wrap-up and a Sneak Peak Into 2023 - Make it stand out Dusty Stanford, pastor of Bar None Cowboy Church of Midway, Arkansas, speaks at a Tuesday night “Church in the Dirt” gathering. In March we will be partnering with them in a “Spring Roundup” to help prepare the church to have soul-connecting spiritual conversations with both believers and non-believers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/6cf3dbfc-4f07-43e9-96d3-358674948239/85c0cadf0d1c0bd3f9747182170a9f6e1ee28fdf-14+%281%29.jpg Updates - End of Year Wrap-up and a Sneak Peak Into 2023 - Make it stand out Here, Bill and Joyce Burrows are standing in front of Lake Calymus near Burwell, Nebraska, during our October trip. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/f534904b-4819-41ab-9591-08b879010313/IMG_8818+%281%29.jpeg Updates - End of Year Wrap-up and a Sneak Peak Into 2023 - Make it stand out Nola and I enjoyed seeing the sights on the big island. Here we are near the southernmost point of the United States. https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2021/3/14/guatemala-bound-finally-7n2wt-k3frg-2jpn9-grpkm-atk4d-ars4s-lhe8n-ljxmb-fr6zx-c7kre-bjah6-69yye-3g6n6-5hymr-mz64m-wprpt monthly 0.5 2022-11-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/79d4a1dd-7fc8-4f95-be4e-d09498cd392a/IMG_5652+%281%29.jpg Updates - Soccer Evangelism Opportunity - Make it stand out Ray Gurney, pastor of Cross Creek Baptist Mission, gives thanks last year in a jungle village in Guatemala. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/5f59d4db-71be-47c8-98e1-7911777c814f/IMG_8126+%281%29.jpg Updates - Soccer Evangelism Opportunity - Make it stand out A soccer team in San Ramon, Nicaragua, spontaneously drop to their knees to give thanks after playing in a tournament last September. Looking on in the distance is Eduardo Mejia, the leader of the project in Nicaragua. https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2021/3/14/guatemala-bound-finally-7n2wt-k3frg-2jpn9-grpkm-atk4d-ars4s-lhe8n-ljxmb-fr6zx-c7kre-bjah6-69yye-3g6n6-5hymr-mz64m monthly 0.5 2022-11-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/399fbeca-b5ad-4bb5-9b1a-8882997ac73b/IMG_0391+%281%29.jpg Updates - The Play. Story. Eat. Good Life Tour - Make it stand out Good morning everyone! If you’ve never experienced “The Good Life” in Nebraska, you’ve missed out! During our 9 days in the Sandhills, we spoke several times on the topic “What is the Good Life?” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/0e65d8de-82a8-4417-84e0-242da547fd12/85c0cadf0d1c0bd3f9747182170a9f6e1ee28fdf-14.jpg Updates - The Play. Story. Eat. Good Life Tour - Make it stand out Here I am with Bill, Joyce, John, and Suzy as the sun was setting at the end of our first day in Nebraska. With good friends, life is good! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/0a8090fd-0c21-49e0-a329-7f13856e158a/IMG_8433+%281%29.jpg Updates - The Play. Story. Eat. Good Life Tour - Make it stand out Joel Wentworth, pastor of Burwell Baptist Church and also the coordinator for the Sandhills Church Network, invited us to come be a part of their annual Rural Christian Workers Conference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/dbf93a43-bd98-4b9c-b9cd-5dc9d2a5ad4a/IMG_8442.jpg Updates - The Play. Story. Eat. Good Life Tour - Make it stand out Mike Johnson, pastor of Ridgeview Bible Church in Chadron, Nebraska, presents his first of three sessions for the Rural Christian Workers Conference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/2416942a-7c4d-440d-8dfd-23ee23883cab/IMG_8446+%281%29.jpg Updates - The Play. Story. Eat. Good Life Tour - Make it stand out After introducing Bill, Joel walks offstage with his shepherd’s staff, a tool that he is known to use if anyone gets too long winded in their presentation! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/f09684db-29e0-4103-b188-d51ac022183e/IMG_20221008_082924992.jpg Updates - The Play. Story. Eat. Good Life Tour - Make it stand out Joel’s wife, Linda(left), and Dana Plugge, the administrative assistant for Burwell Baptist, are ready to serve at one of the break times. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/b87004c3-5a49-4c25-ad72-d83225ca57ca/IMG_20221008_103443571.jpg Updates - The Play. Story. Eat. Good Life Tour - Make it stand out There were several groups that had tables for more information at the Rural Christian Workers Conference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/644e1f5c-2d30-4501-ac06-82d8292c1aaa/IMG_20221008_105354161.jpg Updates - The Play. Story. Eat. Good Life Tour - Make it stand out In our breakout session, I shared about how our ministry began and introduced Bill. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/f2a6ece1-002c-40bc-9916-c1d82444b50d/IMG_8448+%281%29.jpg Updates - The Play. Story. Eat. Good Life Tour - Make it stand out Here’s Bill teaching in our breakout session of the Rural Christian Workers Conference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/33bac32d-f34b-4e3b-a818-80902896151f/IMG_20221002_163238603.jpg Updates - The Play. Story. Eat. Good Life Tour - Make it stand out Bill taught at the Sandhills Church Network meeting at Grace Bible Church in Loup City, Nebraska. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/4e78ed5b-4e54-4c50-910a-47a2c8835948/IMG_20221005_201544518.jpg Updates - The Play. Story. Eat. Good Life Tour - Make it stand out The youth were divided into teams to have a “table surfing” contest! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/ac88d150-ee1b-4696-abf4-ff22caf56365/IMG_20221005_194407605.jpg Updates - The Play. Story. Eat. Good Life Tour - Make it stand out Here Bill introduced the topic “Life or Death” to the kids. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/7d2524bb-63de-4b9e-91b9-9600e5c19ee8/IMG_20221005_200347473.jpg Updates - The Play. Story. Eat. Good Life Tour - Make it stand out Bill challenged the youth to trust God and experience life as He created us to live it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/2e33b2e0-8021-4272-a58a-9712e8170b3c/IMG_8386+%281%29.jpg Updates - The Play. Story. Eat. Good Life Tour - Make it stand out Left to right are Joel Wentworth, Bill, Suzy Gragg, and Joyce Burrows. Until seeing it for ourselves, we had no idea what Joel was talking about in mentioning the drought effect on lake Calamus. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/cff765e4-c7f7-4118-9a71-dfbc251db625/IMG_8387+%281%29.jpg Updates - The Play. Story. Eat. Good Life Tour - Make it stand out The banks were at record lows when we were there. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/54084308-53bf-4771-989e-52dd190bc0dd/IMG_8400+%281%29.jpg Updates - The Play. Story. Eat. Good Life Tour - Make it stand out On another day, Bill and Joel admired the tracks of a turtle that evidently had to work hard to get down to the water. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/aa9c7f8c-0f30-48a8-a6ab-cc729ab8a347/IMG_8407+%281%29.jpg Updates - The Play. Story. Eat. Good Life Tour - Make it stand out Good friend Rex Kelley of Ord, Nebraska, shows Suzy the cockpit of his plane he uses to spray crops. Incidentally, Rex and his wife, Debbie, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary while we were there! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/558ebe4a-e10e-4738-afda-48bba505bf13/IMG_8421+%281%29.jpg Updates - The Play. Story. Eat. Good Life Tour - Make it stand out Suzy Gragg and Cory Johnson, a farmer near Burwell, posed for a picture right before Cory took Suzy out for a couple rounds of harvesting corn on his big rig. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/93a4f9e3-e7ef-4f1e-b97e-ce0ca15730ea/IMG_0433+%281%29.jpg Updates - The Play. Story. Eat. Good Life Tour - Make it stand out Between Bill and I are our good friends, Janna and Doug Olson. Doug is pastor of the Ord Evangelical Free Church. Janna leads out as a coordinator and administrator for a local theater that does a variety of live performances. In addition, she makes some of the most amazing and delicious organic breads, which she sells at the local farmers market. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/27020648-b26f-42a9-86b9-bd3385e31a8a/IMG_0432+%281%29.jpg Updates - The Play. Story. Eat. Good Life Tour - Make it stand out In our tag team presentation, I took a few moments to describe the worst, best day of my life! To conclude the message we described that regardless of our circumstances, we have a choice to enjoy Jesus or not. And only a life lived with Jesus in charge gives us the opportunity to truly live the “good” life. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/2afd787c-8e4a-4153-8428-4786a831f3dc/IMG_8501+%281%29.jpg Updates - The Play. Story. Eat. Good Life Tour - Make it stand out Les Green (blue shirt), pastor of Western Way Cowboy Church, leads worship with several musicians and singers on Thursday night, October 20th. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/fa906a2d-1ea6-48f0-9220-bb2d9b6120f1/IMG_8508+%281%29.jpg Updates - The Play. Story. Eat. Good Life Tour - Make it stand out At a recent wedding reception of some friends, Nola and I were given some battery powered, flashing cowboy hats! Maybe we need to take these to Hawaii! https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2021/3/14/guatemala-bound-finally-7n2wt-k3frg-2jpn9-grpkm-atk4d-ars4s-lhe8n-ljxmb-fr6zx-c7kre-bjah6-69yye-3g6n6-5hymr monthly 0.5 2022-10-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/13c6f5ab-c70d-44f4-99ee-811c9459f0e8/IMG_7897+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala/Nicaragua Soccer Update - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/f911668e-a7a5-4482-a130-1f796814742c/0312921f-ded0-4044-9c9c-a36e31b5dda8.jpg Updates - Guatemala/Nicaragua Soccer Update - Make it stand out This is a recent pic of Cesar and Elba Gonzalez near their home in Amberes, Guatemala. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/3efffed9-36da-4e2c-9baf-ac5f07a3ccc9/IMG_7636+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala/Nicaragua Soccer Update - Make it stand out Here is our Guatemala team enjoying a good meal in Honduras en route to Nicaragua. From left to right is Juan Carlos, Luis Carlos, Dr. Esteban, and me. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/7eb6dade-2707-463a-8db7-7ca3e1735b58/IMG_7690+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala/Nicaragua Soccer Update - Make it stand out Eduardo Mejia, a former professional soccer player in Nicaragua, is being interviewed in the San Ramón city square by a local television crew. During the interview, Eduardo invited boys, girls, men, and women to sign up their teams online or in person. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/42dda169-9746-4d67-87e6-29eaffaae0b2/IMG_7665+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala/Nicaragua Soccer Update - Make it stand out Here, our Guatemala team carries a couple of the trophies out to put them in the back of pickups. Before the tournaments, Eduardo and his team drive through the streets inviting kids to sign up so that they could win one of these! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/7fd0d3b4-ce5a-414b-9039-4cf4c7fbdcdd/IMG_7732+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala/Nicaragua Soccer Update - Make it stand out The night before the first day of the tournament, Eduardo instructs our group and key leaders from the city of San Ramón about the schedule for the following day. You can see by the picture on the wall that we were not in Kansas! Seated behind Eduardo is the Vice-Mayor, who later greeted our group. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/e800ae73-07c2-4b0e-86d6-057b1bb89f5f/IMG_7742+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala/Nicaragua Soccer Update - Make it stand out The Project Hope team often transports their own soccer goals to the tournaments. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/f1ffbc66-a35c-4599-9f7d-49e277283be9/IMG_7755+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala/Nicaragua Soccer Update - Make it stand out Getting the fields ready for play, the team divided the large soccer field into eight smaller fields so that more games could take place simultaneously. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/8bf5e598-b4a1-416f-8f27-97e76bf2867a/IMG_7763+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala/Nicaragua Soccer Update - Make it stand out The sound team sets up and tests the equipment before the tournament begins. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/8c9c37fc-8ca6-4e4e-add4-983114250688/93ca0214-8641-4244-beb1-dcd2f2da1d6c.jpg Updates - Guatemala/Nicaragua Soccer Update - Make it stand out They had me hold the sign with the name and logo of the tournament. “Furia Santa” means “Holy Fury”. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/754b95b5-c68b-4782-aace-5cbb050b0110/f304a378-3cd8-468d-b321-62faf21b159d.jpg Updates - Guatemala/Nicaragua Soccer Update - Make it stand out A group picture of our combined logistics team from Nicaragua, Guatemala, and the San Ramón city hall leadership group. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/c3df3650-2de7-4bc3-9f3b-47e07f4e7810/IMG_7825+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala/Nicaragua Soccer Update - Make it stand out The day started at about 8:30am when all the teams were required to be ready in the stands. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/b37a298e-adb2-4b1b-8f40-7f330607cf3d/IMG_7814+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala/Nicaragua Soccer Update - Make it stand out The Vice-Mayor of the city of San Ramón welcomes the players and spectators to the first day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/cef9d254-45e7-46d6-92f7-47a9abd9f529/IMG_8033+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala/Nicaragua Soccer Update - Make it stand out After the initial greeting, the Project Hope drama team performs a mime set to music. During the drama, a hapless woman gets chained by dark forces. While they are working their evil, Jesus walks toward them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/9dfa77de-9576-428b-88ba-e820d1bbe3a8/IMG_8034+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala/Nicaragua Soccer Update - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/f27b305e-f6c0-4b45-b2c8-92151574a567/IMG_8035+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala/Nicaragua Soccer Update - Make it stand out Jesus blows away the demonic forces to free the woman from their clutches. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/c58238a4-3b50-4318-abe1-efd26bf91816/IMG_8040+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala/Nicaragua Soccer Update - Make it stand out After the skit, Eduardo approaches to deliver a message using a colored soccer ball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/be5f95e9-52e3-487d-93ba-be01a77376f6/IMG_8044+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala/Nicaragua Soccer Update - Make it stand out Each color of the ball represents a key part of the gospel message. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/45747431-d77f-45d3-9804-4a3ba45416a0/IMG_8054+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala/Nicaragua Soccer Update - Make it stand out After explaining the gospel, Eduardo leads the crowd in a prayer of salvation. Then he invites those who prayed to come forward out on the field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/c5ba1305-8f74-4948-9357-ce0042167c7f/IMG_7834+%281%29.jpeg Updates - Guatemala/Nicaragua Soccer Update - Make it stand out As people respond, the evangelism team writes down the names and contact information of those who came down. They take a picture of the person and collect all the info for a future follow-up team of people from the region who will call them and continue to stay in touch with them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/6bd43f7f-139b-467f-8ca8-4a93a3bc6c39/IMG_8064+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala/Nicaragua Soccer Update - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/4ac3a981-a705-4ddd-b56f-6caff6474dbc/IMG_8070+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala/Nicaragua Soccer Update - Make it stand out After the initial group came on the field, others on the team comb the stands to have spiritual conversations with those who may not have come to the field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/8291ff3c-59d4-4a81-b2f3-31f02ebfa77a/IMG_8076+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala/Nicaragua Soccer Update - Make it stand out Here, Luis, a pastor from Managua, converses with several spectators in the stands. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/0aaa1a4f-a445-4c95-9b44-dca5782e0b1c/IMG_7845+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala/Nicaragua Soccer Update - Make it stand out You can see several games of boys taking place across the big field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1b95521e-b535-403e-aae4-467b4667d3c7/IMG_8115+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala/Nicaragua Soccer Update - Make it stand out Here, two men’s teams play in a semi-final game. Though we never had rain during our tournament, it rained every day before and after it. So the fields were muddy and a challenge to the players. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/b17e9cda-481e-4f80-8156-6297d5f91113/IMG_7860+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala/Nicaragua Soccer Update - Make it stand out The girls had a division to play as well. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/cbbb736b-2613-4d04-a286-0879c3b48636/IMG_8093+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala/Nicaragua Soccer Update - Make it stand out The play of the men’s division was very competitive. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/90380393-48b9-4f00-b30d-d058cd4c171f/IMG_7895+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala/Nicaragua Soccer Update - Make it stand out In one of the women’s games, it came down to penalty shots to determine the winner. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/e79fd926-2e8b-4ab1-b456-6e33b2192d27/IMG_7870+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala/Nicaragua Soccer Update - Make it stand out The Project Hope team did a fabulous job keeping our team hydrated and taken care of at the tent of operations. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/694129e5-92e6-49bc-bc25-7392e746c916/IMG_8102+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala/Nicaragua Soccer Update - Make it stand out One of the men’s teams gathered to pray before their final game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/6b573a06-3c22-46ed-94c5-0e6d033bf2ee/IMG_8122+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala/Nicaragua Soccer Update - Make it stand out With the two teams in the final, the referee gathers the teams for instructions before the game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/35a16630-7763-427e-93d2-783303e05825/IMG_8173+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala/Nicaragua Soccer Update - Make it stand out Here are the winners of the men’s division. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/47700d65-03c7-44dc-9c17-4a2f6419fd4e/IMG_8166+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala/Nicaragua Soccer Update - Make it stand out Luis Carlos, of our Guatemala team, congratulates the most valuable player of the tournament. Luis Carlos is a customer service trainer for a major bank in Guatemala but also works with a non-profit soccer organization. Since coming back from the trip, he has worked closely with Cesar Gonzalez in continuing the project in Guatemala, and he will be our leader of logistics for the next few events in Guatemala. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/09e62367-e002-4cc4-92eb-721467fd93e6/IMG_8138+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala/Nicaragua Soccer Update - Make it stand out Eduardo gives a recognition to the Vice-Mayor and his leadership group for their support of the tournament. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/2602e983-577a-4709-9ddd-6fbd0bc56af5/IMG_7996+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala/Nicaragua Soccer Update - Make it stand out Pastor Juan Carlos, with arms stretched out, led in prayer as several referees on our team prayed to receive Christ. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/93c23eee-1f4b-42a5-8379-947f6d52ed9d/IMG_8319+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala/Nicaragua Soccer Update - Make it stand out Cesar and I got to speak personally with Salvador Rodriguez, the mayor of Santa Cruz Narranjo, about the soccer tournament idea. Since we have already done multiple projects with him and his administration, he agreed on the spot. In the past few weeks since this initial meeting, Cesar has worked with their sports/soccer liaison with the city on obtaining the fields and connecting with the soccer teams in the region. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/a055fa7b-9486-491c-ba1a-6c45fbe7e0d6/photo0.jpg Updates - Guatemala/Nicaragua Soccer Update - Make it stand out From left to right is Zai, Zac, Zion, Liz, and Zeke! https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2021/3/14/guatemala-bound-finally-7n2wt-k3frg-2jpn9-grpkm-atk4d-ars4s-lhe8n-ljxmb-fr6zx-c7kre-bjah6-69yye-3g6n6 monthly 0.5 2022-08-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/c929a3fb-6fea-457b-bcef-14846559e994/IMG_7140+%281%29.jpg Updates - Summertime Highlights and Upcoming Soccer Projects - Make it stand out The kids gathered outside getting ready to march into the church building at Calvary Chapel. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/31ed9104-f3c3-44f1-ac4e-a483bd717531/IMG_7137+%281%29.jpg Updates - Summertime Highlights and Upcoming Soccer Projects - Make it stand out The children lined up in their groups and entered together. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/510338aa-44b1-4cfa-9b7f-58fbf67865da/297798602_411980477695686_7213619637334474473_n+%281%29.jpg Updates - Summertime Highlights and Upcoming Soccer Projects - Make it stand out Each day we started with a large group. Over 67 children came, and I have to admit that their excitement was contagious! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/98e558a0-2a4d-4149-b847-2988ca5f87ac/IMG_7134+%281%29.jpg Updates - Summertime Highlights and Upcoming Soccer Projects - Make it stand out As has been done for many years, Pastor Keith Moody introduced the pledges of allegiance of both the American and the Christian flags. Then the rest of the week, selected children led out in this time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/924e753d-3b74-46ab-b579-761df5ca97bb/IMG_7151+%281%29.jpg Updates - Summertime Highlights and Upcoming Soccer Projects - Make it stand out Songs are always a big part of VBS, and here, Betsy Shippy teaches the kids a “Stop” and “Go” song. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/b9360971-9587-4525-b56f-af13903217fc/297679282_1675000652882978_7824445311209528009_n+%281%29.jpg Updates - Summertime Highlights and Upcoming Soccer Projects - Make it stand out The first day I talked about cowboy ministries in Guatemala, and how it all got started. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/169f0144-4de5-4d15-bae4-2759fe8ec8cb/IMG_7139+%281%29.jpg Updates - Summertime Highlights and Upcoming Soccer Projects - Make it stand out In this part of South Dakota, cowboys show up for VBS! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/903ffa48-6730-4ee2-afc1-76b801a622b7/298787571_783218332822466_4071087941466436498_n+%281%29.jpg Updates - Summertime Highlights and Upcoming Soccer Projects - Make it stand out The second day, I wore a backpack and my hiking boots and talked about our jungle projects. The kids engaged in asking great questions! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/d49fcb01-d20e-43a9-b969-e7357cd7187f/296189714_3314283278849587_556484406091325606_n+%281%29.jpg Updates - Summertime Highlights and Upcoming Soccer Projects - Make it stand out On the fourth day, Riley Shippy helped me talk about bull riding. In our cowboy groups and our bull riding groups, we always ask, “What bull are you going to ride as a result of this Bible story?” Afterwards, I told the kids what bull I needed to ride as a result of being with them. So the next time I see them, they are supposed to ask me if I did my commitment! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/88a790a1-6173-42b1-8446-f77ac2205257/IMG_7176+%281%29.jpg Updates - Summertime Highlights and Upcoming Soccer Projects - Make it stand out Riley showed his gear for riding bulls and shared why he wears each item and what it does for a bull rider. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/31adcaeb-d31a-4b41-832e-0921873b4aef/IMG_7154+%281%29.jpg Updates - Summertime Highlights and Upcoming Soccer Projects - Make it stand out Each year for one of the crafts, the children make different pieces of a Nativity set. If they come to VBS every year, by the time they “graduate”, they have all the pieces for their own nativity set. Here the children are painting their manger characters. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/5543fcc2-7d8d-47b7-a57e-4dc92b5330df/IMG_7156+%281%29.jpg Updates - Summertime Highlights and Upcoming Soccer Projects - Make it stand out This group painted their mangers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/8f6bd377-52d5-4142-9eb2-0b92d3285d3e/IMG_7161+%281%29.jpg Updates - Summertime Highlights and Upcoming Soccer Projects - Make it stand out One of the songs the children sang was about getting on a big boat (the ark) and so here one little boy shares his picture of his big boat. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/361c9d6c-1c5b-4956-bf06-76397acbe558/IMG_7172+%281%29.jpg Updates - Summertime Highlights and Upcoming Soccer Projects - Make it stand out The weather was perfect in June, and the kids enjoyed playing outside. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/0e80274c-8bb1-4671-bdec-3522f8db6da8/IMG_7199+%281%29.jpg Updates - Summertime Highlights and Upcoming Soccer Projects - Make it stand out The last day the parents were invited for a cookout and for the children to sing and share about their week. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/444234e0-6c61-4d08-ae4d-68762cd2fbb0/IMG_7202+%281%29.jpg Updates - Summertime Highlights and Upcoming Soccer Projects - Make it stand out Perfect day for a weenie roast! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/f084d465-7a93-4ae9-9720-5c83bc86b658/IMG_7204+%281%29.jpg Updates - Summertime Highlights and Upcoming Soccer Projects - Make it stand out After the cookout, we all went inside for the kids to share with their friends and family what they learned. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/df5aac0a-c964-45af-9401-56bab98f7de6/IMG_7207+%281%29.jpg Updates - Summertime Highlights and Upcoming Soccer Projects - Make it stand out Singing the theme song https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/133878bb-d443-426a-9b3c-1c7f77a3dad7/IMG_7224+%281%29.jpg Updates - Summertime Highlights and Upcoming Soccer Projects - Make it stand out Here, Keith awards the children for the memory verses learned during the week. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/439c25e4-8ba9-49c7-b966-560e2741e910/97edb742-dacd-42b2-bfe2-bfdb7377931d.jpg Updates - Summertime Highlights and Upcoming Soccer Projects - Make it stand out This is Dr. Esteban Polanco, a physician in Jalpatagua. He will be our driver. With him will be two other men. I hope to introduce them to you when I get back! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/564b302f-7210-4bde-a970-b887338c1901/296204515_746006976697347_6096388113929947078_n+%281%29.jpg Updates - Summertime Highlights and Upcoming Soccer Projects - Make it stand out Here was our whole VBS crew on the last day. https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2021/3/14/guatemala-bound-finally-7n2wt-k3frg-2jpn9-grpkm-atk4d-ars4s-lhe8n-ljxmb-fr6zx-c7kre-bjah6-69yye monthly 0.5 2022-06-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/5d49042e-5b0b-4f1b-bc36-adb3e8dd93cd/IMG_6959+%281%29.jpg Updates - All Wet and All Blessed in Guatemala! - Make it stand out It rained almost every day on this trip, so there was an abundance of water. Here’s a shot of a waterfall that is not too far from Cesar’s house in Amberes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/0224e641-e0cc-44f1-b176-9c4ca0f9919d/IMG_6965+%281%29.jpg Updates - All Wet and All Blessed in Guatemala! - Make it stand out Here is a typical group meeting of our friends in San Pedro Alvarado, Guatemala, near the border of El Salvador. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/de4c8cfd-a91b-4b5b-aa2a-ae5ecf361bb4/IMG_6957+%281%29.jpg Updates - All Wet and All Blessed in Guatemala! - Make it stand out On the only day that we had a cancelation of a group due to a mix-up in communication, we visited this family near Cesar’s house. Eddie, the man sitting on the right, is a construction worker who has worked for Cesar on all his remodeling projects. A couple of months ago, he nearly died from pancreatitis induced by heavy drinking. On this day, he, his wife, and three daughters prayed to receive Christ. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/56700d54-0920-4d74-9db5-1ed0bf909c70/IMG_6961+%281%29.jpg Updates - All Wet and All Blessed in Guatemala! - Make it stand out The same day that Eddie and his family came to Christ, a couple of hours later we visited with his 88 year old grandmother and an aunt. And both of them prayed to receive Christ! We got word that they all got together later and celebrated their decision to follow Jesus. Here, Eddie’s grandmother is showing off her bracelet that Cesar had her make while we were visiting together. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/b0db575a-25f3-4bfd-a7a1-9433772d78a9/IMG_6994+%281%29.jpg Updates - All Wet and All Blessed in Guatemala! - Make it stand out When we first caught up with Alfredo, he was in a training session with a horse that he had made good progress with. Most of the horses that he works with are horses with major problems, and their owners are coming to him as a last resort. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/44b63793-54e8-4e23-b4ce-9cc3b8e87910/IMG_6999+%281%29.jpg Updates - All Wet and All Blessed in Guatemala! - Make it stand out Here Alfredo introduces us to two horse trainers from Nicaragua. Later that day, Edubije, the guy in the center, and one other guy from Nicaragua prayed to receive Christ and are now in our Monday group. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/a7a9e4ff-cade-4257-818e-47a18fe16b6c/IMG_7010+%281%29.jpg Updates - All Wet and All Blessed in Guatemala! - Make it stand out When we got to Alfredo’s house, he showed us his pack of blue heeler dogs and pups. He has trained them to work the rodeo bulls and help distract the bulls when a rider is down or in danger. The pups are also trained and sold to other ranchers for working their cattle. Alfredo jokes that at most rodeos they make more money than he does! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/883d65a6-0ec8-4c38-9c4f-02718ad344e9/IMG_7033+%281%29.jpg Updates - All Wet and All Blessed in Guatemala! - Make it stand out Alfredo is bringing out a new horse that has been assigned to him for rehabilitation. Several years ago, Alfredo was left almost completely blind in his left eye from a bull-riding mishap. He attributes much of his pain and suffering as a help in dealing with both horses and people. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/7b4f6f2a-3eb6-4bd5-abb5-b069b3bf3a4d/IMG_7034+%281%29.jpg Updates - All Wet and All Blessed in Guatemala! - Make it stand out Alfredo tells us that this horse is a lot like some of the guys he works with who have trust issues. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/dc5dd018-95c4-4d91-bc22-8906de327cb4/IMG_7035+%281%29.jpg Updates - All Wet and All Blessed in Guatemala! - Make it stand out About that time, this horse broke the line! Alfredo says that his faith is what he relies on when dealing with horses like this and with friends who are making bad decisions. In both cases, God has given him success. Many bull riders have stayed with Alfredo and gotten squared away with positive life changes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/439c25e4-8ba9-49c7-b966-560e2741e910/97edb742-dacd-42b2-bfe2-bfdb7377931d.jpg Updates - All Wet and All Blessed in Guatemala! - Make it stand out This is Dr. Esteban Polanco, a physician in Jalpatagua. On one of the days we were in Moyuta, Guatemala, we mentioned to Dario, a coffee grower friend, what we were planning on doing with soccer. Dario immediately said, “You need to talk to this doctor who has started a soccer school for children.” He pulled out his phone and called the doctor directly and asked if he could meet us right then. Thirty minutes later we were sitting in his exam room. Dr. Polanco did his medical training in Cuba, and while there, he was told to keep his religion to himself. But as a bold believer he evangelized by simply reading the Bible out loud in parks! People came to faith by the hundreds. One day I hope to share his story. By the time we explained our idea, he jumped at the chance to meet me in Nicaragua! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1a599b5c-8325-48a7-8e56-50b901b17196/b214483e-b004-4292-a5a5-46b40d74b8fa.jpg Updates - All Wet and All Blessed in Guatemala! - Make it stand out On my last day in Guatemala, we had a coffee meeting with Alfredo Mendoza, a relative of some friends in Madison, Nebraska. (Julieta, a sister-in-law, sat next to me on a plane ride from Guatemala to Dallas about five or six years ago!) In April, when I was at Calvary Community Church in Madison and Northern Heights Baptist in Norfolk, they heard of how I needed help with this soccer project. They called Alfredo in Guatemala and told him about it and urged him to contact me. Alfredo is an administrator in a university in Guatemala City. When he called me, I learned that he had started a non-profit that helps children of lower economic means to have uniforms and shoes to play soccer. Also a dedicated believer, he loved the way we use the colored soccer balls to share the gospel. And because of his family’s strong endorsement, he told me that he would consider it an honor to help in any way he could! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/24436b58-f8c6-46c9-ae5b-db6bc3fca08d/7fe83fd0-9671-41d0-944c-3693f0d30261.jpg Updates - All Wet and All Blessed in Guatemala! - Make it stand out And last but not least, we met with Flori Salguero, the president of a girls soccer federation. About five years ago, we met her when she was working with the President’s wife on a project for senior citizens. It just so happened on that day that we were there and she was visiting that group. She loved what we did and wanted to stay in touch. As an aside she mentioned her role as a volunteer in the federation for women’s soccer. Little did we know that she later became the president! This day as we shared with her our project, she immediately agreed to be a part of our team. She also asked if we could make sure we not only bring boys, but girls to come play soccer! So ready or not, this thing is rolling! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/0b68d0e2-4fbd-488e-b6d6-95318b6701b9/eb2f05fe-db8f-4223-864b-a0ca8124605f+%281%29.jpg Updates - All Wet and All Blessed in Guatemala! - Make it stand out This was our last meal before getting on a bus that would take us to the main starting point in Jutiapa. Juan Carlos, my pastor buddy, is on the far right. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/d0be1c57-7374-49bb-9244-567f20bb9b50/IMG_7091+%281%29.jpg Updates - All Wet and All Blessed in Guatemala! - Make it stand out Once we got to Jutiapa, all of us first timers were assigned to tribes and called to line up military style with our backpacks on. Shortly after I took this picture, they came and collected all our cell phones, our watches, and our money! So for the rest of the retreat, I could not take my own pictures! (There were photographers taking pictures as we went, so shortly before sending this to you, I got access to some of those!) As they took our stuff, it started to pour down rain. Normally, I have a cover for my backpack, but it was buried inside my pack. And the leaders immediately started running us through drills in the rain! For the next three days, I was mostly wet! And that was way harder for me than the actual hikes. Each day we hiked about half the day. Periodically they would stop us for a message on building character and listening to Jesus and the like. While at first it was hard and grueling, once we started getting into a groove as a tribe, and started having amazing conversations with each other and with Jesus, we could feel something change in each one of us. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/815a1397-9261-49c8-b236-a2a8f5d809e3/fd24c56a-db2a-4ee8-976b-f04657f87ae2.jpg Updates - All Wet and All Blessed in Guatemala! - Make it stand out This men’s ministry is called “Legendarios” or Legendaries. The theme comes from “Legendary #1” who is Jesus, and He calls us to follow Him, to be legendary men in our homes, at work, in our churches, and in making disciples. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/c2dbd60f-78c0-472f-bd25-26bd9dcea553/935f6b54-9091-4ce7-ab1e-b0b507b2fb3e.jpg Updates - All Wet and All Blessed in Guatemala! - Make it stand out Here we were waiting for instructions for a competition. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/a837ef38-288f-4e10-ae6c-eb96363ed96e/2ed28f24-51ff-40c9-a7bb-aea1afe8cfe1.jpg Updates - All Wet and All Blessed in Guatemala! - Make it stand out Because we were thrown into competitions without much of an introduction other than our name and where we were from, we had a hard time remembering everyone by name. For me, they caught that I was from Kansas. So that became my name—“Consas” (Which is how they say “Kansas!”) The guy in the blue shirt behind me is named Edin. He was an amazing guy who kept our tribe together. And he wants to travel with me anywhere I go whenever I am in Guatemala. He is a gifted communicator, and lives only about 3 hours from the jungle. So pray that I get more time with him. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/f7a18479-daa9-454c-9baf-2889ecbe9aec/IMG_7121+%281%29.jpg Updates - All Wet and All Blessed in Guatemala! - Make it stand out All the tribes lined up at the beginning of day 2 awaiting instructions before hiking. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/ced1ee9c-3a6d-4bf1-95aa-542475154f7a/IMG_7122+%281%29.jpg Updates - All Wet and All Blessed in Guatemala! - Make it stand out The beauty was amazing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/cfa7e2dc-19ad-403a-a2a7-1aeb1db5984e/IMG_7124+%281%29.jpg Updates - All Wet and All Blessed in Guatemala! - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/011a65fa-04bb-414e-9dde-9f67936d69d1/IMG_7123+%281%29.jpg Updates - All Wet and All Blessed in Guatemala! - Make it stand out On day 3, I was asked to speak to the larger group on behalf of my tribe. Here I’m sharing a little of my story and how I realized that I was in way over my head! I hadn’t gone on the retreat with the idea of recruiting guys to go to the jungle with me on one of our projects, but in this moment, it dawned on me that these guys were built for the challenge. So I threw it out there for the entire group. Now, I have dozens of guys who tell me that they are ready to go with me to other jungle places to evangelize! I can’t tell you how much that encourages me as I think about the future. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/4eb75264-c0a0-44f2-bcac-557f5863c0f3/8ec6ff53-4b6f-4033-8e94-ba4a9a387015+%281%29.jpg Updates - All Wet and All Blessed in Guatemala! - Make it stand out On the next to last day, Juan Carlos, who was serving for the event (and who had a cell phone since he was not a newbie!) got this picture with me. At this point I was wearing the only clothes I had that were dry! Shortly thereafter, even these were soaked! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/6aaf4509-2d7e-4e89-a107-fa4cc447e8f2/IMG_7125+%281%29.jpg Updates - All Wet and All Blessed in Guatemala! - Make it stand out During our last group time as a tribe we talked about what each one of us was going to do about our time in the mountains. Here I was sharing what I felt like I needed to do. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/b4b46e19-3557-4365-b6ce-e8055f3c4ac6/4a3d901f-2f26-46dc-87fd-99d9ee67e081.jpg Updates - All Wet and All Blessed in Guatemala! - Make it stand out Here’s my tribe on the day we earned our orange Legendary shirts and took our official tribe picture. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/63093e3f-883e-48e4-8c6a-4b9f8c7b2326/IMG_7110+%281%29.jpeg Updates - All Wet and All Blessed in Guatemala! - Make it stand out After we got up in the air on my return flight, I had this view, and I opened up my Bible to Hebrews 12:1-3, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2021/3/14/guatemala-bound-finally-7n2wt-k3frg-2jpn9-grpkm-atk4d-ars4s-lhe8n-ljxmb-fr6zx-c7kre-bjah6 monthly 0.5 2022-05-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/d7d3fdd7-9026-435b-b8af-e5fc768fa9d5/IMG_6812+%281%29.jpg Updates - Northeast Nebraska Connections And More Bull Rider Stories - Make it stand out Bill invites the guys to respond to a question during the first part of the training at Camp Assurance. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/0173c04a-424c-413f-9fd0-1ef31187bd90/IMG_6829+%281%29.jpeg Updates - Northeast Nebraska Connections And More Bull Rider Stories - Make it stand out Here, Bill is orienting the guys to our famous “Wagon Train” drill that helps us initiate spiritual conversations with two simple questions. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/c79e9823-7ff1-4916-8524-9243073c7a00/IMG_6824+%281%29.jpg Updates - Northeast Nebraska Connections And More Bull Rider Stories - Make it stand out On the far right, Shannon Arduser, the director for Camp Assurance, shows us some new ground where the camp plans to build new facilities for accommodating groups. In the red sweat shirt is John Smith, pastor of Gospel Chapel of Newcastle, Nebraska. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/5ee5c453-d551-488a-9609-f905fedcfd9d/IMG_6830+%281%29.jpeg Updates - Northeast Nebraska Connections And More Bull Rider Stories - Make it stand out Before finishing out the day, the guys shared around a campfire of what bull they were going to ride. (Also known as what they intend to do about what they learned!) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/7a165e34-8ef7-4ec4-870e-6a9c6353b4ff/Picture1.jpg Updates - Northeast Nebraska Connections And More Bull Rider Stories - Make it stand out David Martinez introduced me on a Sunday morning at Northern Heights Baptist in Norfolk, Nebraska. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/c9596e49-d0bb-45cd-84da-db4d84787893/IMG_6919+%281%29.jpg Updates - Northeast Nebraska Connections And More Bull Rider Stories - Make it stand out Eliezer’s bull riding promo shot https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/260243e3-a9dd-452a-8c0e-2c8e55f1a645/d0863cde-285f-4b5f-bc7a-d7ceb5e1714e.jpg Updates - Northeast Nebraska Connections And More Bull Rider Stories - Make it stand out Here Eliezer is on one of his rides in Agua Blanca, Guatemala in January of 2017. Incidentally, Eliezer won the rodeo that year. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/ba23bbb4-1c2e-4f90-9d2b-c2ecc869b2d0/__DSC0570_Original+%281%29.jpeg Updates - Northeast Nebraska Connections And More Bull Rider Stories - Make it stand out This photo was from January of 2017 when we did a lunch with the bull riders of the Agua Blanca, Guatemala, rodeo. Here Cesar is opening up the time with introductions. During that time together, 19 of the guys prayed to receive Christ. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/527febde-6c5e-458b-a49a-7b284683b04e/1.jpeg Updates - Northeast Nebraska Connections And More Bull Rider Stories - Make it stand out Eliezer is the one in the shorts. He says that he remembered hearing the testimony of Clint Bailey, one of our team members, who was a bull rider and is now a horse trainer. You can see in his left hand one of the written testimonies in Spanish of one of our other team members. That tool with the testimony of Clint Bailey was what we used that day to lead the guys to Christ. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/8706dd45-c0f2-4419-9d40-1a820ede1fe6/__DSC0596_Original+%281%29.jpeg Updates - Northeast Nebraska Connections And More Bull Rider Stories - Make it stand out Another shot from January 2017, this one was taken of Clint Bailey meeting other bull riders after sharing his testimony. https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2021/3/14/guatemala-bound-finally-7n2wt-k3frg-2jpn9-grpkm-atk4d-ars4s-lhe8n-ljxmb-fr6zx-c7kre monthly 0.5 2022-03-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/d8239480-29d7-454d-a6b5-d1ee0ca06a8e/Eating+on+the+first+night+at+Project+hope.jpg Updates - A Last Minute Trip To Nicaragua - Make it stand out Project Hope has its base outside of Managua, Nicaragua. Here we are eating together for the first time after arriving from the airport. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/f688d0fc-5d9d-405c-be41-78734606d068/Travis+talking.jpg Updates - A Last Minute Trip To Nicaragua - Make it stand out On our first day getting to the site, Travis Stearns (right) and Eduardo Mejia (left) get the group oriented. Travis and his wife, Tammy, have led the charge for Project Hope in Nicaragua for more than 10 years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/eba45b11-0f3c-4e91-8f6d-f2d3a66e6024/IMG_6160+%281%29.jpg Updates - A Last Minute Trip To Nicaragua - Make it stand out Here, Tammy Stearns leads a fun mixer activity with both Gringos and Nicaraguans! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1838b18d-6e63-42ff-9b93-18901bf5b91b/Large+group+gathering.jpg Updates - A Last Minute Trip To Nicaragua - Make it stand out Each day before starting our work on the homes, we started with a large group gathering of all who would be working together. The staff at Project Hope set the tone of fun and friendship and then a spiritual thought for the day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/9467802e-3e41-424f-a4b1-27114143a528/IMG_6307+%281%29.jpg Updates - A Last Minute Trip To Nicaragua - Make it stand out Here Eduardo gets “volunteers” to perform various stunts as Siamese twins! Doug Hague is on the left. Ronda Reinhardt is on the right. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/ca94d518-e552-4913-a7b4-d4f6b9a71f3e/IMG_6064+%281%29.jpg Updates - A Last Minute Trip To Nicaragua - Make it stand out After large group, we broke into small groups that included most of our work partners. And in that smaller group we took the large group theme and had guided discussion and interaction before we started the work day. Here, Karl Pfloeger (seated on the right) is leading our group discussion. Standing next to him is Moises, a translator with Project Hope, helping the group with translations. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/8e701b3f-dc78-4145-a0c6-3fc10e8b3866/IMG_6214+%281%29.jpg Updates - A Last Minute Trip To Nicaragua - Make it stand out For an idea of the kind of construction we did, here is an example of what one of the houses looked like when we got done at the end of the week. Matt Clough, pastor of Fellowship West, myself, and a Nicaraguan friend, just got done roofing this house with its tin roof. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/bb3c69e6-b7f1-4315-abc9-00d4f6f135b7/IMG_6003+%281%29.jpeg Updates - A Last Minute Trip To Nicaragua - Make it stand out Mark Morgan and I were partnered with Alicia and Roberto Mendoza (Roberto is not pictured here.) as we worked on building their home with the whole team. Alicia gave both Mark and me a Nicaraguan-made maraca when we met for the first time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/0eb436e2-85cd-4c93-897a-0f4a1f7475a9/IMG_6094+%281%29.jpeg Updates - A Last Minute Trip To Nicaragua - Make it stand out Holding the shovel is Roberto Mendoza, our friend who Mark Morgan (standing on the left) and I partnered with in building their house. The Project Hope methodology for building the homes requires both future home owners and volunteers to work together to build their home and all the other homes in the new neighborhood. One benefit of this was that by the end of the week of construction, we had worked together many hours with dozens of people and had many amazing spiritual conversations in the process. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/9abd4242-7c3a-4437-92c9-d58b840cded5/IMG_6139+%281%29.jpeg Updates - A Last Minute Trip To Nicaragua - Make it stand out Tim Dykman and Nicaraguan friend, Carlos, finish out the last bit of the concrete block wall. In the background Doug Hague watches. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/cfa93ec0-b565-4a86-b218-a5e0b3639515/IMG_6220+%281%29.jpg Updates - A Last Minute Trip To Nicaragua - Make it stand out Here is the first sheet of tin on the roof of Roberto and Alicia’s house! The reflection in Matt’s face indicates that this job required some vigilance in keeping lathered up with sun screen! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/65551442-1199-4d17-b825-9d0dfea4621c/IMG_6224+%281%29.jpg Updates - A Last Minute Trip To Nicaragua - Make it stand out Roberto shows his approval of the siding on the front side. Mark Schultze (walking towards the camera) was our crew leader helping us keep up with the jobs on each of the sites. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/9d552c55-5129-4895-8c11-841aff1a3ba9/IMG_6569+%281%29.jpg Updates - A Last Minute Trip To Nicaragua - Make it stand out As a housewarming gift, at the end of the week, the completed homes completed received a new efficient wood stove for cooking. David, who is running the wheel barrow, was one of the guys I worked with a lot in mixing concrete. We had great conversations, and David was one of the 17 baptized the last day! Walking alongside is Kathy Moxley. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/8cbb8805-932f-47bd-8ab8-905243b406ac/IMG_6558+%281%29.jpg Updates - A Last Minute Trip To Nicaragua - Make it stand out Doug and Debbie Hydeman give a gift to their family along with the stove to celebrate the completion of their house. Moises helps with the translation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/2f366ebe-6551-4900-a4a1-455e914ab308/IMG_6047+%281%29.jpg Updates - A Last Minute Trip To Nicaragua - Make it stand out One of the defining moments of the week was when Eduardo gave a clear gospel message on our first working day, and about 18 people prayed to receive Christ. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/6a86866d-aeb7-48b7-a58d-5a0d682a266e/IMG_6050+%281%29.jpg Updates - A Last Minute Trip To Nicaragua - Make it stand out People raised their hands to indicate that they had prayed a prayer of salvation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/14fcb983-f94d-48a8-b6b5-0396bc825058/IMG_6056+%281%29.jpg Updates - A Last Minute Trip To Nicaragua - Make it stand out After praying and raising their hands, Eduardo invited them to come forward. Afterwards our team prayed for them and congratulated them. Most of them were baptized on the last day together. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/c0ff8738-d990-4537-b11c-3752f4be016c/VBS+kids+group+shot.jpg Updates - A Last Minute Trip To Nicaragua - Make it stand out On three of our work days, we held VBS for an hour and a half in the afternoon. Eduardo led the charge, and we Gringos filled in to help and enjoy building relationships with the children. Here was a group pic after the first day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/c15e718d-d748-4ff4-b0e7-712232836259/IMG_6133+%281%29.jpg Updates - A Last Minute Trip To Nicaragua - Make it stand out The children used the chairs as their tables for drawing. During the week, they learned about God the Creator and what He created each day of the creation story. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/2bed6964-cb4c-4622-9271-8e7aec5e7072/IMG_6169+%281%29.jpg Updates - A Last Minute Trip To Nicaragua - Make it stand out Eduardo was a former professional soccer player in Nicaragua and loves to get everyone moving. From left to right, you see Brooklyn Linduff, Tricia Bell, Doug Hydeman, Halley Spencer, and Carol Dykman. Kathy Moxley was hiding behind Eduardo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/fbe2c693-056d-47ae-85cb-23573e32f5f8/IMG_6172+%281%29.jpg Updates - A Last Minute Trip To Nicaragua - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/93dc4732-bd71-4733-82ae-d4a3581fd697/IMG_6171+%281%29.jpg Updates - A Last Minute Trip To Nicaragua - Make it stand out I loved the reactions of the kids. They were definitely into the motions. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/94a4d09e-1d01-451b-ba46-445f0b37f0d6/IMG_6176+%281%29.jpg Updates - A Last Minute Trip To Nicaragua - Make it stand out Carol holds the microphone so Eduardo can tell the creation story and show the pictures to the children. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/be910382-07d5-4fc8-955b-f63332d9c019/IMG_6200+%281%29.jpg Updates - A Last Minute Trip To Nicaragua - Make it stand out One afternoon during the week, Tammy Stearns led a women’s gathering where she and our team shared in a craft, a talk, and cake. At the end each received a crown to emphasize how special they are to God. Here, Tammy is praying a prayer of blessing over the ladies. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/e9cc2a79-d577-42cd-bd53-6d106e178a31/IMG_6201+%281%29.jpg Updates - A Last Minute Trip To Nicaragua - Make it stand out I walked up on the ladies’ gathering as I was finishing my work on the concrete sand pile for the day. Alicia wanted to get a picture with me. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/b0699050-6b95-4d31-b72c-4d28e2ff3729/IMG_6270+%281%29.jpg Updates - A Last Minute Trip To Nicaragua - Make it stand out With the men at New Beginnings ministry, Travis Williams shared his story of addiction, trouble with the law, and coming to know Jesus. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/b5c7ddc6-89e2-46ed-b2e4-4241d4253a7c/New+beginnings+prayer+huddle.jpg Updates - A Last Minute Trip To Nicaragua - Make it stand out A group prayer concluded our time with the men. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/ff3e59d3-9e13-4c08-9ea5-5d52e98b2b4e/IMG_6744+%281%29.jpg Updates - A Last Minute Trip To Nicaragua - Make it stand out Most evenings, we ended the day with a time of worship and a devotion. Here, Howard Dickinson and Kelly Hughes lead us in a song. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/379c1054-b29d-4db1-a228-891001312a73/IMG_6408+%281%29.jpg Updates - A Last Minute Trip To Nicaragua - Make it stand out The one evening we didn’t have our group devotion was when we celebrated with the children and families of Taellor’s House. This is a ministry to single mothers and their children that was started in memory of Taellor, Travis and Tammy Stearns’ daughter who died unexpectedly at 19 years old in 2014. Today, this ministry is a hub for over 112 children and their families. This evening the children performed, and our team served hamburgers to all. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/8fc669ee-3a57-4a7b-b2d7-ca28aefc8fae/IMG_6389+%281%29.jpg Updates - A Last Minute Trip To Nicaragua - Make it stand out The team serves hamburgers to the kids and families at Taellor’s House. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/5230f50f-8a49-4e6c-840e-7124e34d4700/IMG_6397+%281%29.jpeg Updates - A Last Minute Trip To Nicaragua - Make it stand out Kyler Reinhardt shares his testimony with some boys at Taellor’s House who he spent time playing baseball with earlier in the day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/a860e5b1-a065-49ca-afa7-0b396bd4fbf3/IMG_6425+%281%29.jpg Updates - A Last Minute Trip To Nicaragua - Make it stand out The children reenacted the story of the good Samaritan. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/f9c53b54-b8df-4680-8731-6036bea5ad89/IMG_6491+%281%29.jpg Updates - A Last Minute Trip To Nicaragua - Make it stand out Before leaving for the evening, the team gave bags of food to each family represented. Each mom got a hug from Tammy before getting the food. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/a2cc2868-d6af-440d-a5d7-b0313b66b339/IMG_6454+%281%29.jpg Updates - A Last Minute Trip To Nicaragua - Make it stand out Here Sterling Farber gave a bag to one of the mothers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/5661595c-6532-49e6-9ed6-704b628251aa/IMG_6598+%281%29.jpg Updates - A Last Minute Trip To Nicaragua - Make it stand out On the last day, we stopped by this church in Nagarote where the last Lenexa team had been a couple of years ago. The purpose was for some from that trip to reconnect with their partnered families from the last trip and to deliver food. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/8d282e3e-8ad8-4287-bfd6-26a6693f0537/IMG_6609+%281%29.jpeg Updates - A Last Minute Trip To Nicaragua - Make it stand out Kathy Moxley shows pictures to the family she was partnered with in Nagarote. This little girl was about two years old at the time and can barely believe she was that little in the pictures! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/db9f95ca-79a0-4cc3-a54a-7a3917a46e21/IMG_6635+%281%29.jpg Updates - A Last Minute Trip To Nicaragua - Make it stand out Kyler and Ronda Reinhardt give a Bible and food to one of the moms in Nagarote. Standing to the left is an official from the mayor’s office who was working alongside us that day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/fe4397b9-f351-4926-b9a9-7be1139f0cce/IMG_6710+%281%29.jpg Updates - A Last Minute Trip To Nicaragua - Make it stand out Before heading into the water, Kelly Hughes (far right) asked for a raise of hands of all those who were getting baptized. He then gave an explanation of what baptism means and how we were going to do it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/a2c92760-4f68-43c7-b4b1-078e5da59aa2/Baptism+group+in+line+in+the+water.jpg Updates - A Last Minute Trip To Nicaragua - Make it stand out One of the things I loved about this baptism was that we had worked with most of these people for a week, and our whole team had new friends getting baptized. Several of us got in line with them just to celebrate the moment with each one. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/35787b0f-8a8f-472c-9de5-5cb619ccdff1/Randy+baptizing.jpg Updates - A Last Minute Trip To Nicaragua - Make it stand out Here Randy Schmidt baptizes a woman that he led to the Lord during the week. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/9225ffec-bf37-4b26-89fb-4666de29cb0b/Baptism+of+Alyson+of+Nicaragua.jpg Updates - A Last Minute Trip To Nicaragua - Make it stand out Alicia was baptized. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/37ef2425-95c3-4db5-816c-87fb5681e6af/Baptistm+of+Ricardo.jpg Updates - A Last Minute Trip To Nicaragua - Make it stand out And so was her husband Roberto. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/7a28c571-a908-4c19-9903-b579c7fdd827/Baptism+with+Ricardo+in+Nicaragua.jpg Updates - A Last Minute Trip To Nicaragua - Make it stand out It never gets old getting wet with new believers! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/f8905e0c-c6c7-49d6-8007-a3ce966e6228/David+and+I+in+the+Water.jpg Updates - A Last Minute Trip To Nicaragua - Make it stand out David and I had some amazing conversations working together, and his willingness to be baptized was a huge step for him. Being there for that moment was one I’ll never forget. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/9362263d-d048-40db-884b-28c03789a849/Furia+Santa+Soccer.jpg Updates - A Last Minute Trip To Nicaragua - Make it stand out Here is the flyer that Eduardo made to highlight the last tournament they did in Nicaragua. Note that they use the ball of many colors to share the gospel. We have used the same approach in Guatemala, only on a much smaller scale than what Eduardo has done. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/4d41f85a-9dc2-4325-b44b-e79d83ebd296/IMG_6742+%281%29.jpg Updates - A Last Minute Trip To Nicaragua - Make it stand out The last night together, before our devotion, Eduardo shared with us the locations where they have done their tournaments in Nicaragua. The day before I had called Cesar Gonzalez in Guatemala and told him about our conversation. “Tell him to come to Guatemala!” Cesar exclaimed over the phone. After Eduardo’s presentation, I asked the group to pray for this to happen, and they committed to do so. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/e83acb84-6447-4a5b-b23d-88c8fbcf454a/Eduardo+with+trophies.jpg Updates - A Last Minute Trip To Nicaragua - Make it stand out This past weekend, March 25-26, 2022, Eduardo’s team led a tournament in Matiguas, Nicaragua. Shortly before finalizing this update he sent me a note saying that 186 people prayed to receive Christ! Here he is holding the MVP trophies that were to be given out for the tournament. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/7d4b693b-e5d8-4952-b6d4-a6719756097c/me+giving+a+bag+away.jpg Updates - A Last Minute Trip To Nicaragua - Make it stand out Tammy Stearns took this pic at the Taellor’s House celebration. I think my face says it all for how I felt about this trip! https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2021/3/14/guatemala-bound-finally-7n2wt-k3frg-2jpn9-grpkm-atk4d-ars4s-lhe8n-ljxmb-fr6zx monthly 0.5 2022-02-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/812b022d-0f69-4bf0-9e1b-750c3552f29f/IMG_5589+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Trip Troubles Lead to God’s Gracious Blessings - Make it stand out At the top of this volcano is a beautiful lake that fills the crater. It was near here that one of our friends from Ipala had started a new group. Though the group normally meets in town, they wanted to do something special for us, so they met us here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/b72057ce-2b52-4267-936d-6479ed3e8db0/IMG_5597+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Trip Troubles Lead to God’s Gracious Blessings - Make it stand out Before starting a horseshoe competition, I took this group photo. Cesar and Elba Gonzalez are on the top left. Ray Gurney is next to Luis Cuellar in the blue shirt. Luis has been starting several groups in the past year. The men in the front row in orange shirts are part of a men’s backpacking ministry called “The Legendaries.” Luis wanted us to meet them, and it turned out to be something of a life saver for us later in the trip. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/696022ab-3c73-48f6-92a9-82ae5c69008e/af8ff327-8f34-4bcf-a8f6-2042eb5beabd.jpg Updates - Guatemala Trip Troubles Lead to God’s Gracious Blessings - Make it stand out Juan Carlos Lopez, a construction guru and lay pastor of a church in Ipala, is the leader of “The Legendaries.” A little over a week after taking this picture, Juan Carlos and one of the men from his church drove 7 hours to come rescue us when we had no transportation! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/73729f80-d3f7-4564-83d2-a6cd747ee4de/IMG_5603+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Trip Troubles Lead to God’s Gracious Blessings - Make it stand out Juan Carlos’ hat has a special message on the inside. It says “Unbreakable men in the service of Jesus to make history and to give their life for their friends.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/18beb760-da82-40e6-a3c7-af6ae6242179/IMG_5652+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Trip Troubles Lead to God’s Gracious Blessings - Make it stand out Our first day in the jungle, we stopped by a new church start that Cesar had been advising near Setal, Guatemala. Here Ray is praying a blessing over the food. Word had gotten out that we were coming, and they served us Kakik! It’s a spicy soup—to be eaten with large amounts of tortillas! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/78ae5133-49fb-492b-955a-8b384767adca/IMG_5705+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Trip Troubles Lead to God’s Gracious Blessings - Make it stand out On our first day of hut-to-hut visits, Ray struggled from just the hikes up and down the hills of this village near La Laguna, Guatemala! But what a view! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/da7de744-be27-4236-9b9b-ceab421373c1/IMG_5715+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Trip Troubles Lead to God’s Gracious Blessings - Make it stand out Nola went visiting with some ladies of the church. Even though they couldn’t speak the same language, they managed to communicate with hand motions, pictures on the phone, and lots of laughs! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/9a80b90e-4e0a-4941-bdcd-bb435b4982d3/IMG_5714+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Trip Troubles Lead to God’s Gracious Blessings - Make it stand out This woman, home alone with her children, scurried to find a couple of chairs for us to sit on for a visit. Ramiro, the pastor of the church in La Laguna, is standing in the pink shirt. One of his members is in the blue shirt. At the end of the visit, this woman told the men in the Kekchi language, “I’d like to receive Jesus as my savior, but if my husband finds out, he will beat me.” Less than an hour later, Ramiro had hopped on a bus with us to take us back to town. About a mile down the road, we happened upon an accident in the roadway. A man was laying on the pavement. “That’s her husband,” Ramiro said, pointing to the man in the road. A day later we found out that the man was in a coma, and the church members were caring for this woman in her distress. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/46c747ee-b771-43d8-82f1-a7a09cad5d3f/IMG_5722+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Trip Troubles Lead to God’s Gracious Blessings - Make it stand out Our second day of visits required us to ride in the back of a truck for about an hour and a half. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/99f5992b-9361-4fe9-b97f-f208976e51b1/IMG_5728+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Trip Troubles Lead to God’s Gracious Blessings - Make it stand out Then we got off the truck and boarded a boat to travel up river to get off near a village near Chotal, Guatemala. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/0c52d73d-b933-48ec-a701-e59cf1eb8f79/IMG_5739+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Trip Troubles Lead to God’s Gracious Blessings - Make it stand out After getting off the boat, we hiked a bit more and arrived at the Templo Bautista Rio Jordan (River Jordan Temple Baptist) Church in Chotal. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/dbdc46d0-2221-40ea-a181-a9c37f3a243c/IMG_5748+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Trip Troubles Lead to God’s Gracious Blessings - Make it stand out This picture captures the drastic changes taking place in the Kekchi culture. I snapped this before getting a group picture of all who had prayed to receive Christ in this home. But you will notice that one of the daughters is watching a video on her cell phone. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/4cc0ba48-dd44-4416-a92c-4a7700b1151a/IMG_5754+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Trip Troubles Lead to God’s Gracious Blessings - Make it stand out Several ladies wanted to have their pictures taken with Nola. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/6adba3dd-3b1f-42e7-a146-0b948a571855/IMG_5807+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Trip Troubles Lead to God’s Gracious Blessings - Make it stand out Juan Carlos sang with his daughter, Helen, in the church service. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/757610bf-0cf2-4ca5-a6eb-ef76721884a5/IMG_0015.jpg Updates - Guatemala Trip Troubles Lead to God’s Gracious Blessings - Make it stand out Here I was translating for Ray as he brought the message. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/bf5752f6-46d1-4021-82f0-a6c23f57079f/IMG_5812+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Trip Troubles Lead to God’s Gracious Blessings - Make it stand out This is Juan Carlos’ family: his wife, Glendy and daughters Tiffany, Mari Elsi, and Helen. One other surprise to us was the fact that the restaurant where we were eating at, belonged to them! (Nola and I had wondered why, when they sat down, none of them wanted menus!) Most days, they all take turns waiting on tables or cooking. The soup pictured was one of their specialties that Helen and her mom created. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/fac47035-449e-4c2f-a6df-5b31ac6482b9/IMG_5841+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Trip Troubles Lead to God’s Gracious Blessings - Make it stand out Glendy wanted to take this picture of us with their cooking staff. The mural in the background was designed and painted by Juan Carlos! What a talented guy! Notice the two flags in the mural. The one on the left is of Guatemala. The other one is of El Salvador. The restaurant features food from both countries. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/f5ca9b80-4c69-4668-a4ef-85ec8c68c74e/IMG_5835+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Trip Troubles Lead to God’s Gracious Blessings - Make it stand out Here Nola is finishing up her pupusa, an El Salvador specialty, that Glendy and her team coached Nola into making! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/2f044222-0c56-4e10-bc17-b6b0c9da94e6/IMG_5845+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Trip Troubles Lead to God’s Gracious Blessings - Make it stand out Nola’s pupusa wound up on Ray’s plate! Pictured with Ray is Jose Garza, the truck driver who came with Juan Carlos to bail us out the day before. Jose speaks English a bit, and he and Ray enjoyed talking cars, motorcycles, and life as a new believer in Jesus. One year ago, Juan Carlos led Jose to the Lord, so all this is new to him. Jose asked me to translate the last thing he wanted to tell Ray, because he didn’t have the words in English. “I don’t know why God gave me the privilege of driving these servants of God for the past couple of days, but I am so thankful for this opportunity to get to know you.” Believe me, the feelings were mutual. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/aa8888fb-8bcc-49ff-95d8-c68df3654264/IMG_5858+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Trip Troubles Lead to God’s Gracious Blessings - Make it stand out Before we went down to the river for the baptism, we met at the horse stables of our friend, Luis Cuellar, to talk about what baptism means. Top left is Alfredo Barrantes, of Costa Rica. Top right in the green shirt is Rafael Da Silva, of Brazil. Here, Alfredo had asked Cesar if we could come back when the other guys were ready to get baptized. “We will baptize you, but from here on out, you guys will baptize the next ones.” Cesar explained. “That permission comes not from us, but from Jesus Himself who said that we are to go into all the world and make disciples…baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit…” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/41098d97-90bc-42d3-aaa3-382df38cfff0/IMG_5894.jpg Updates - Guatemala Trip Troubles Lead to God’s Gracious Blessings - Make it stand out Alfredo was the first one in the water. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/c75a6044-51a1-4aa0-9092-89977aaf8c1f/IMG_5895.jpg Updates - Guatemala Trip Troubles Lead to God’s Gracious Blessings - Make it stand out I loved the fact that these guys jumped in with their boots and hats and everything! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/f88f62a8-4325-4c3b-b192-44de07f4a4b1/IMG_5896.jpg Updates - Guatemala Trip Troubles Lead to God’s Gracious Blessings - Make it stand out Next, I asked Alfredo to help me baptize Rafael. Below is the whole video. Whether you speak English, Spanish, or Portuguese, I think you understand why it was such a meaningful day for all of us! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/b6f4aa29-ab1a-4cd1-96dc-a1f03b08ad70/IMG_5878+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Trip Troubles Lead to God’s Gracious Blessings - Make it stand out After getting wet, Nola snapped this picture with Cesar. Even a week after the event, Cesar and I were admitting to how much that day meant to us. “That was the best medicine I had the whole week!” Cesar blurted to me on a Zoom call yesterday. I couldn’t agree more! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/ca4d570e-b1e7-409a-85b8-bacbe25f605e/IMG_5627+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Trip Troubles Lead to God’s Gracious Blessings - Make it stand out Thanks Ray for hiking up this hill! And for gutting it out this trip. Happy belated birthday! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/d808b784-1182-43ab-924e-984d688ec34d/IMG_5697+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Trip Troubles Lead to God’s Gracious Blessings - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2021/3/14/guatemala-bound-finally-7n2wt-k3frg-2jpn9-grpkm-atk4d-ars4s-lhe8n-ljxmb monthly 0.5 2022-01-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/0f0e5056-c7e4-4e3c-8362-a9514e007994/IMG_4560+%281%29.jpg Updates - New Year, New Projects, New Life in Jesus! - Make it stand out Cesar has been working with this group of Kekchi pastors in Frey Bartolome de las Casas in preparations for this upcoming crusade. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/712461c3-10cb-4cea-b767-dbee97849529/IMG_5225+%281%29.jpg Updates - New Year, New Projects, New Life in Jesus! - Make it stand out This is a picture of Alfredo (far right) and several of his rodeo friends who are starting a new group together. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/b5b4670f-9139-486a-a942-ee59d45a0c12/IMG_5574+%281%29.jpg Updates - New Year, New Projects, New Life in Jesus! - Make it stand out Cesar sent me a video of Alfredo on a ride last week in Guatemala. After a year of practically no rodeos, these events are beginning to happen again. Shortly before the pandemic, Alfredo had been sharing of his faith in Jesus when given the microphone after a good ride. Now he wants to get other bull riders fired up about sharing their faith too. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/08489729-e5e1-48ea-b2de-654b5f35ae00/IMG_5445+%281%29.jpg Updates - New Year, New Projects, New Life in Jesus! - Make it stand out After telling the Christmas story with a nativity set, Nola got the grandkids to thank God for Jesus’ birthday. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/b1b2ebe2-bac6-40b4-9ea7-a8cba47768e6/IMG_5452+%281%29.jpg Updates - New Year, New Projects, New Life in Jesus! - Make it stand out The mommas thought a pic of the cousins in matching pajamas would be really cute. After several attempts to get them still on the couch for a group photo, we realized that it was about like holding basketballs underwater! This is the only pic I got with all of them together before one of them threw up, another took his pants off, and the mammas gave up on their apparently impossible idea! https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2021/3/14/guatemala-bound-finally-7n2wt-k3frg-2jpn9-grpkm-atk4d-ars4s-lhe8n monthly 0.5 2021-12-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/e05eb55c-d228-491c-a3fb-d0423d3d413b/IMG_5162+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Trip report, Covid Concerns, and the Loss of a few good Friends - Make it stand out On this day in San Pedro Alvarado, we met with Manuel (white shirt) who has a pharmacy near the border of El Salvador. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/510f6f63-0aae-477d-80b6-37e742923305/IMG_5175+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Trip report, Covid Concerns, and the Loss of a few good Friends - Make it stand out Here we are with the staff that leads a Senior Citizen program in Sana Cruz Narranjo. Before the pandemic, the seniors gathered here. Now the staff takes meals each day to their homes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/a861ea7f-a3bb-4f42-9fac-21d024f2edaa/IMG_5181+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Trip report, Covid Concerns, and the Loss of a few good Friends - Make it stand out Though the mayor of Santa Cruz Narranjo was not here, he wanted us to be greeted in his office. Here we are pictured with two of his administrative assistants. This particular mayor was elected to office right before the pandemic hit. On our last day in Guatemala, we met him in person with some more of his staff at a meeting Cesar arranged at his place in Amberes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/d4aa3493-6148-43df-8978-6e4b19adbf96/IMG_5178+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Trip report, Covid Concerns, and the Loss of a few good Friends - Make it stand out In Santa Cruz Narranjo, Jim discussed the possibilities of collaborating in a medical clinic there. During the visit, one of the officials showed what is in a Covid-19 kit that the city was making available to those infected with the virus. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/cf20d533-9d2e-4e42-8abd-eeec80dc1bd5/IMG_5188+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Trip report, Covid Concerns, and the Loss of a few good Friends - Make it stand out We met with a group of men and women at the cattlemen’s association in Jalpatagua. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/c610ab16-1999-43ef-887f-b5a0f3a8bd77/IMG_5218+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Trip report, Covid Concerns, and the Loss of a few good Friends - Make it stand out We had an impromptu meeting with leaders of the cattlemen’s association in Agua Blanca. Here we are outside their arena where in years past we have participated in their annual rodeo, drawing 3,000 people a night. This year marks the second year they have not been able to have their event. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/fd0c7fac-3cf4-4ea2-a83a-52970e09ca09/IMG_5224+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Trip report, Covid Concerns, and the Loss of a few good Friends - Make it stand out We always eat well on these trips. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/19960113-853e-44ff-80fa-ff1f3f60b87a/2cae3644-d59d-41b0-b053-e6a717147aa7.jpg Updates - Guatemala Trip report, Covid Concerns, and the Loss of a few good Friends - Make it stand out We gathered at a bonfire in Chiquimula, where our friend, Luis Cuellar, is starting a Christian Ranchers group. This particular night, about 20 gathered, including several professional bull riders. Unfortunately, I didn’t get good pics of them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/f9272692-8bd2-4cd3-8331-6f5cbfe2d09c/IMG_5388+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Trip report, Covid Concerns, and the Loss of a few good Friends - Make it stand out At the bonfire, Cesar had me share a story and then invite us all to “ride a bull” — to make a specific commitment to do something as a result of the Bible story. Here, I’m telling of a cowboy in Honduras who made a commitment not to kill anybody! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/bb0ebee5-b8d0-4b8b-aa58-e49cccf44153/IMG_5252+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Trip report, Covid Concerns, and the Loss of a few good Friends - Make it stand out One Sunday morning Jim got a baptism by fire when he went with me on a hike to a church in the jungle. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/d0f2d8ef-7acd-4aa3-b270-b6753fe4af73/IMG_5311+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Trip report, Covid Concerns, and the Loss of a few good Friends - Make it stand out It’s almost impossible to get an idea of the condition of the trail after a rain. Jim would like you to know that rubber-soled cowboy boots aren’t the best footwear for the hike! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/ade323eb-d5d0-469f-8721-4d0539e489ea/IMG_5256+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Trip report, Covid Concerns, and the Loss of a few good Friends - Make it stand out After 2 hours, we arrived at the little church in Ochul Choch. Jim was spent! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/10420f0e-579f-4960-a1d7-189be87c9a1f/IMG_5258+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Trip report, Covid Concerns, and the Loss of a few good Friends - Make it stand out Lorenzo (on the right), the pastor of this congregation, introduced me to some of his children as they were walking down to the church house. While this is the main congregation that Lorenzo pastors, he and his church have helped start 3 other churches, and while we were there, Lorenzo committed to help start a fourth one. Since coming home, I heard that last week Lorenzo and that fourth group had their first gathering. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/c2831f3d-08cd-41ac-b5d7-1210e0e20615/IMG_5276+%281%29.jpeg Updates - Guatemala Trip report, Covid Concerns, and the Loss of a few good Friends - Make it stand out During their worship service, the Ochul Choch congregation loves to sing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/04b5146b-4f00-4971-ab6b-5d03441d05f6/IMG_5280+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Trip report, Covid Concerns, and the Loss of a few good Friends - Make it stand out At the end of the service, Lorenzo asked Jim to do a presentation of a head scarf for one of the ladies of the church. I’d not seen this done before! So, after a little explanation from Lorenzo, Jim did his job and we prayed a prayer of blessing for this dear lady. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/5635fa5e-0542-429b-ba0d-a560aea14c90/IMG_5355+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Trip report, Covid Concerns, and the Loss of a few good Friends - Make it stand out On our last day in Guatemala, Cesar hosted a gathering of city leaders from Santa Cruz Narranjo and Santa Rosa de Lima. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/2ef62889-2480-4f9b-bb37-af47c98507c1/IMG_5371+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Trip report, Covid Concerns, and the Loss of a few good Friends - Make it stand out Here, Cesar introduced Carlos Revolorio, the mayor of Santa Cruz Narranjo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/2b2cb8ac-0d2e-4c93-a5a5-91ac00bd215c/IMG_5345+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Trip report, Covid Concerns, and the Loss of a few good Friends - Make it stand out In our meeting with the city officials, each one shared a description of what they do. This team talked about one of their projects in developing more fertile crops and higher yields using organic methods that can be done on either a small or large scale. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/ab7a021d-44ed-4f05-82a2-ca5e796c68fd/IMG_5359+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Trip report, Covid Concerns, and the Loss of a few good Friends - Make it stand out This team helps women in Santa Cruz to come up with ways to make items to sell and supplement their family income. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/65346415-c33f-4c4c-b74a-462ece1d72bc/IMG_0871+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Trip report, Covid Concerns, and the Loss of a few good Friends - Make it stand out Nola hands my sister, Lu Warren, a hot meal on Thanksgiving day. Her husband Kenny is standing behind her. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/3614f75d-aca5-40e1-b416-d22f7dc92751/sue_and_peck_cropped-650x675.jpg Updates - Guatemala Trip report, Covid Concerns, and the Loss of a few good Friends - Make it stand out Peck and Sue Lindsay at the Kansas/Nebraska Convention meeting just a few weeks before Sue’s passing https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/60136bd3-cb47-4fb3-9b2b-f8f3b6e4558e/IMG_0549.jpg Updates - Guatemala Trip report, Covid Concerns, and the Loss of a few good Friends - Make it stand out Here Frank is sharing his testimony with a group of bull riders at the University of Agriculture in La Ceiba, Honduras. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/c9e220ab-1b46-4159-b22e-dd3ff8e2e5a0/IMG_1245.jpg Updates - Guatemala Trip report, Covid Concerns, and the Loss of a few good Friends - Make it stand out Two years ago, we took a pic of our Sunday morning group to say “Hola” to Cesar and Elba Gonzalez in Guatemala. Michael is wearing the cowboy hat. From left to right are Michael’s wife, Linda, Barb Cates, Nola, and Dick Cates. Dick passed away in September of last year after battling Parkinson’s. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/36751d5d-b467-4c6b-97ff-ffff6905d2f4/IMG_5337+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Trip report, Covid Concerns, and the Loss of a few good Friends - Make it stand out Cesar and Elba show Jim one of their favorite dances. Continue to pray that they have energy and strength for these days. https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2021/3/14/guatemala-bound-finally-7n2wt-k3frg-2jpn9-grpkm-atk4d-ars4s monthly 0.5 2021-11-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/5d379c99-37e5-4c2c-bc4e-9e16c13592fa/IMG_5111+%281%29.jpg Updates - "Be the Church" Presentations and Delayed Scout Trip to Guatemala - Make it stand out On Sunday night, October 3rd, the Calvary Chapel congregation of Colome, South Dakota, participated in our “Be the Church” drills. Here, they were reading jokes to one another in preparation for further instructions. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/d61ae7cd-bda8-489b-82ce-b5d765026162/IMG_5094+%281%29.jpg Updates - "Be the Church" Presentations and Delayed Scout Trip to Guatemala - Make it stand out While at Calvary Chapel Church, Bill shared about how to “be the church” and get spiritual leverage to love God, love others, and make disciples. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/9b407331-a97f-4bd5-a3f6-5d42fe014bb5/image+%281%29+%281%29.png Updates - "Be the Church" Presentations and Delayed Scout Trip to Guatemala - Make it stand out At the 10:30am service at Northern Heights Baptist Church of Norfolk, Nebraska, I engaged my friends Caleb and Riley to help me with the “Be the Church” demonstration. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/8bdd51f4-495e-4a4d-aaa7-c0ca7b2c9aaf/image+%283%29+%281%29.png Updates - "Be the Church" Presentations and Delayed Scout Trip to Guatemala - Make it stand out While I spoke to the English speakers in the auditorium, David Martinez translated a live broadcast in the Spanish speaking service. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/50c4f300-cda6-468b-a470-548576e29f01/IMG_5126+%281%29.jpg Updates - "Be the Church" Presentations and Delayed Scout Trip to Guatemala - Make it stand out Pastor Keith Moody, of Calvary Chapel in Colome, and his wife Judy paused to rest for a minute before the last night we were together. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/92422c7a-7430-4b2e-842a-ac27eec85291/IMG_5116+%281%29.jpg Updates - "Be the Church" Presentations and Delayed Scout Trip to Guatemala - Make it stand out In what we call a “wagon train,” we had folks sharing what they were grateful for and what they were concerned about before praying with one another. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/cfd453b9-9f97-4e33-9513-1c13f71e8ecc/IMG_0824+%281%29.jpg Updates - "Be the Church" Presentations and Delayed Scout Trip to Guatemala - Make it stand out Randy Shippy raises world champion professional rodeo bulls in Colome. As a dedicated Christian, Randy loves sharing his faith with other bull riders and folks in the professional rodeo circuit. We hope to do a video Zoom call with Randy next month when Cesar and I are planning to be talking to a group of bull riders in Guatemala. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/cb9b4cdf-cc8e-4b6b-b57f-13db1e3b08d1/IMG_0818+%281%29.jpeg Updates - "Be the Church" Presentations and Delayed Scout Trip to Guatemala - Make it stand out Randy took us through the herd of some of his best cows for producing the best bulls. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/050e6d72-ba62-41f9-b312-7ca18b7b03b1/IMG_0816+%281%29.jpg Updates - "Be the Church" Presentations and Delayed Scout Trip to Guatemala - Make it stand out Amazingly, the mamas of Randy’s best bulls are like overgrown pets. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/968daf8f-7722-4810-a1c2-e7e6095dd935/IMG_5124+%281%29.jpg Updates - "Be the Church" Presentations and Delayed Scout Trip to Guatemala - Make it stand out During one of the days in South Dakota, Bill and I helped Kevin Moody (left) and Keith Moody process some cows at the feed lot that Kevin manages. Because of a family emergency, his usual help didn’t show up. So Kevin put us to work! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/64007d7f-915e-4f75-9b66-af37342d42a5/IMG_5119+%281%29.jpg Updates - "Be the Church" Presentations and Delayed Scout Trip to Guatemala - Make it stand out Keith saddles his horse to get ready to send the cows through the chutes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/ff6ae9cf-c6c5-47f9-9deb-e04c0321c0a7/IMG_5125+%281%29.jpg Updates - "Be the Church" Presentations and Delayed Scout Trip to Guatemala - Make it stand out “You don’t have any trouble with shots do you?” Kevin asked. “Not if that shot is not for me!” I answered. Kevin gave us instructions, and like our “Be the Church” training, he had us immediately practice what he taught us! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/0bb836e5-9d0b-4169-95a0-4b8600689be4/IMG_5120+%281%29.jpg Updates - "Be the Church" Presentations and Delayed Scout Trip to Guatemala - Make it stand out This is one of 285 head of cattle that Bill and I helped process with Kevin and Keith. If you ever need a shot in the neck, Bill and I can help you! (If you are a cow, that is!) https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2021/3/14/guatemala-bound-finally-7n2wt-k3frg-2jpn9-grpkm-atk4d monthly 0.5 2021-08-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1628884001529-1JNPM5LONDGR5DSBYTTL/IMG_4810+%281%29.jpeg Updates - Summer Update And Prayer Requests - Make it stand out On June 6th, the day after Bill’s 60th birthday, he got a nifty pair of glasses for a surprise birthday celebration! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1628883647615-LFU025HRDXTY9SO7Z1P1/IMG_4909+%281%29.jpeg Updates - Summer Update And Prayer Requests - Make it stand out In a recent Zoom call with Cesar Gonzalez and Humberto Solares, Cesar asked how Humberto was getting along since getting the Covid-19 virus. “Soy muy agradecido,” he said. “I’m very grateful that I am getting better.” Humberto went on to say that he and all of his family weren’t 100%, but they all were getting better. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1628886046686-XIBAEB1CJVMSK3QMTHVG/IMG_4819%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Summer Update And Prayer Requests - Make it stand out At Burwell Baptist Church in Burwell, Nebraska, pastor Joel Wentworth and his son, Emmet, built this prop for Bill’s presentation last year on how to “Be the Church.” Joel customized the triangle for their church and uses it to point out the three vital conversations for a growing disciple. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1628884361303-AJYGEGNZD4YS8K08O1W8/IMG_4815+%281%29.jpeg Updates - Summer Update And Prayer Requests - Make it stand out On the town square of Ord, Nebraska, Doug Olson, pastor of Ord Evangelical Free Church, greets folks at the Farmers Market, with his daughter Anna. Not pictured is Doug’s wife Janna, who bakes home-made bread that sells out quickly on this first day of the season. Jana also is the community coordinator for The Golden Husk, the theater in the background, that is a gathering place for family friendly shows for the community. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1628885648318-CSS0RLVM5RIP99DIPP8L/IMG_4817+%281%29.jpeg Updates - Summer Update And Prayer Requests - Make it stand out Jana Olson, far right, gives us a tour of The Golden Husk Theater. One of her favorite events of the past year was a community Christmas play that presented the gospel and served to energize their own church. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1628890220440-GXVUEN9P3IUPCXZGESGU/IMG_4821+%281%29.jpeg Updates - Summer Update And Prayer Requests - Make it stand out As the sun begins to set, Dave Gideon and a friend from Burwell, Nebraska, assess their progress on getting hay out of the field. Dave and many others in Nebraska have been prayer partners and participants in multiple mission trips through the years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1628887184300-54QZXGJKWSN60C9NTS2B/rodeo+bible+camp+%281%29.jpg Updates - Summer Update And Prayer Requests - Make it stand out Here’s a pic from Rodeo Bible Camp in Johnstown, Nebraska. A team is praying for and preparing to do a version of this in Guatemala in November. Please pray! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1628887507097-0K0PPURCC1WK4TEW7L71/rodeo+bible+camp+tables.jpg Updates - Summer Update And Prayer Requests - Make it stand out Joel Wentworth shared with us that over 50 children prayed to receive Christ this year at the Johnstown Rodeo Bible Camp! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1628884135256-MIB6SSV7QV31NG4LGHQH/IMG_4765%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Summer Update And Prayer Requests - Make it stand out This is one of the houses we painted this summer in Lenexa, Kansas. I took this pic the day we finished. We are thankful that in each house we have painted, we have had opportunities to do our Play.Story.Eat. process with each other and pray for the families in each home. https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2021/3/14/guatemala-bound-finally-7n2wt-k3frg-2jpn9-grpkm monthly 0.5 2021-05-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1621639623636-08AY4UZ3P567MWSSSHRE/IMG_1197+%281%29.jpg Updates - PSE Road Trips and Summer Fun - Make it stand out In the past couple of years, we have had a part in the training of Hispanic leaders of Northern Heights Baptist Church of Norfolk, Nebraska. David Martinez, far right, leads the Spanish congregation and has been training about a dozen lay leaders in their Instituto Biblico (Biblical Institute). Here, Bill prayed at the beginning of a meeting before we split into English and Spanish groups where we talked about how to use the Play. Story. Eat. method in starting new groups. Since that time, 5 groups have been established by these folks! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1621638672070-BP5AFTZ54QFCVHOWNM1R/IMG_3553+%281%29+%281%29.jpg Updates - PSE Road Trips and Summer Fun - Make it stand out Last year, we enjoyed the best steak of our lives with Rex and Deb Kelly of Ord, Nebraska. We will definitely be back there! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1621638468288-Q5G2144SK5B62NFJAI3O/IMG_4690+%281%29.PNG Updates - PSE Road Trips and Summer Fun - Make it stand out Also last year, we sat down to eat with the Olsons of Ord, Nebraska. Here, I made Doug, on the left, say a greeting for a Rancheros Cristianos video. We will be back at their church at the Evangelical Free Church of Ord. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1621640879705-5NVDWUEBHD2WC5XM4QSX/IMG_3548+%281%29+%281%29.jpg Updates - PSE Road Trips and Summer Fun - Make it stand out Last year Bill did a session on a Disciple’s Leverage for a men’s lunch group at Burwell Baptist. We anticipate another gathering like this one as we continue our discussions about how to have life-giving conversations with Jesus and others. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1621641929731-BZR7ZVD0YCSYKBARKG0R/IMG_4480+%281%29.jpg Updates - PSE Road Trips and Summer Fun - Make it stand out In our latest trip to Guatemala, Cesar and Elba posed for a picture in Chiquimula, Guatemala, with Ray Gurney, pastor of Cross Creek Baptist Mission. Hopefully, all our buggies will be ready to roll when they come to visit! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1621634547881-ORU7J08UFPCHPAB37YJC/IMG_2168.jpg Updates - PSE Road Trips and Summer Fun - Make it stand out Justin Jacobson helped us in many different ways this past year as we got further into making video and audio recordings. This picture was taken on a day we were brainstorming together. https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2021/3/14/guatemala-bound-finally-7n2wt-k3frg-2jpn9 monthly 0.5 2021-05-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1620423287924-X11966QWYJIA6FIOUJ2W/IMG_4629.jpg Updates - Guatemala Trip Wrap-up tOP 10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1620423509407-T6A402GH4YOAD9276EAT/IMG_4469.jpg Updates - Guatemala Trip Wrap-up tOP 10 Here is a group of administrators for the department of transportation in Jutiapa, Guatemala, meeting under a tree with us during their lunch break. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1620426783275-R5A33LVOIGYF5MLUCB1M/IMG_4287.jpg Updates - Guatemala Trip Wrap-up tOP 10 A typical Zoom meeting with Cesar, me, and a leader of a cattlemen’s association in Raxruja, Guatemala. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1620424759294-B5NQAU8ELOX4WYATQBWN/IMG_4518.jpg Updates - Guatemala Trip Wrap-up tOP 10 A first meeting of a group near Chiquimula, Guatemala. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1620423668531-0MCJDSZQE4OXQNHUZG0N/IMG_4433.jpg Updates - Guatemala Trip Wrap-up tOP 10 Here, Ray Gurney, Cesar, and good friend, Humberto Solares, talk about one of Humberto’s groups meeting via Zoom these days. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1620424131826-8M47QTSQK4JSCU9I19LR/IMG_2164+%281%29.jpg Updates - Guatemala Trip Wrap-up tOP 10 Justin does a sound check for Bill before recording for a future podcast. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1620424908150-8FHZUJVXLFDK12NHFJOM/IMG_4612.jpg Updates - Guatemala Trip Wrap-up tOP 10 Cesar and Elba share a moment before a meal with their daughter Mirna Elizabeth on this last trip. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1620427309091-53MUDFAEZGJ4ZQ6HLA57/IMG_4631.jpg Updates - Guatemala Trip Wrap-up tOP 10 My hen scratching from a recent session of the “SALTY” process that I use in daily conversation with God. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1620425072464-AN9IYMPDPATHT0ZU2RBG/IMG_4492.jpg Updates - Guatemala Trip Wrap-up tOP 10 Kids ask me all the time if I see monkeys a lot in the jungle. The true answer is not very often. But here is a monkey that our hotel in Chiquimula had as a mascot! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1620425676456-176P5F3QAN11YDVZS1T9/IMG_4486.jpg Updates - Guatemala Trip Wrap-up tOP 10 And there was a water buffalo at the hotel too! https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2021/3/14/guatemala-bound-finally-7n2wt-k3frg monthly 0.5 2021-04-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1619282275548-A73YGR69TJXRG9YMBYCV/IMG_4590.jpg Updates - The Latest from Guatemala! Cesar with his spray bottles that he used for all of this trip. Here at Cesar’s home in Amberes, Guatemala, he is ready to spray anyone who comes close to him! This alcohol-based solution was used to spray our hands or even our whole bodies before and after being with people or touching susceptible surfaces. From my experience I would say Cesar had the quickest draw! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1619284882684-YRCPVGMPFWDDLTDD8MUZ/IMG_4429.jpg Updates - The Latest from Guatemala! On one of our first days, we spent the morning visiting with Humberto Solares, a friend who has started several groups and is interested in using “Bambino,” the horse pictured above, in equine therapy for children. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1619299538509-QM0PZY7210L1SIHJM79N/079.jpg Updates - The Latest from Guatemala! In January of 2014, in an artificial insemination training, Luis holds the mike for a participant who is learning how to use the probe. Not pictured is Tom Huffman. Unfortunately, every time Tom spoke, I was translating and didn’t get a picture of Tom in action! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1619279731847-LZMX53WMEN2R5JKRMX1N/Resized_20210415_092629.jpg Updates - The Latest from Guatemala! Ray took this picture of me with Luis as the reporters were hooking up a lapel mike on me and testing the sound. As you can see from my face, I was going to have to think quickly! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1619301354794-CG6JR8X0KEW3HVC4GU69/Resized952021041595100517.jpg Updates - The Latest from Guatemala! Luis stops to encourage some volunteer artists painting a mural at the city building we were about to enter. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1619302788757-EHO6TE58KUK3NR455WU9/IMG_4458.jpg Updates - The Latest from Guatemala! Here Luis and his team are getting ready for their meeting to discuss a program for helping the poor to plant gardens. As a farmer and rancher himself, Luis was in his element as he and others were discussing how the program has worked so far. We stayed only a short while and then had to leave for our next meeting. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1619303931413-96QVHMFO74V24Q86ZOQT/IMG_4470.jpg Updates - The Latest from Guatemala! Tino introduces us to his friends and co-workers at our Jutiapa DOT meeting. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1619307635376-2PHPSJXGIWPR804ZGYRW/Luis%2Bpic.jpg Updates - The Latest from Guatemala! Here is a pic of Luis the first time I met him on a Zoom call with Cesar. Luis was telling us about how this horse of his had great potential but needed a good trainer. Later he said, “I think I have a lot in common with this horse! I want to be better trained for God to use me.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1619306396169-U5MZOTPU4XDUR1WAHMQG/IMG_4476.jpg Updates - The Latest from Guatemala! Here Luis shares more of his story as his assistant shows us his prized paint horse. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1619309586242-WW73O4JZ8OF8CAKDLLDA/IMG_4479.jpg Updates - The Latest from Guatemala! Here Ray prays a prayer of blessing over Luis and his wife Grecia (which means Greece in Spanish). Luis is also a bicycle enthusiast, and this morning he rode his bike to our breakfast. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1619311939196-PBS81S4NIFVTFLONE11V/IMG_4506.jpg Updates - The Latest from Guatemala! Here Ray greets Boris, a friend of Luis, who met us for lunch at Luis’ restaurant. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1619312184290-NQ2H03B0Y8DV00FVDDDQ/IMG_4513.jpg Updates - The Latest from Guatemala! Luis walks us over to a meeting spot near a beautiful lake in a mountain setting above Chiquimula. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1619312556334-KHDWVXHTBEZG1SQV6DB0/IMG_4516.jpg Updates - The Latest from Guatemala! This group of guys met with us in an area filled with hammocks and benches. The men were intrigued by the idea of a group for those who don’t go to church. All of them admitted to believing in God but not attending any church. The day after we left Luis was a Sunday, and we heard later that he rode his bike back up to them with a group of bike friends, and these guys all showed up again! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1619313751105-VFPCLIVL7631PWFLMVCM/IMG_4544.jpg Updates - The Latest from Guatemala! Here we met with the cattlemen’s association of Raxruhá. We had visited that group nine years ago, and recently Cesar reconnected with them. They were about to decide if they were going to continue as an organization. After initial talks with Cesar and a couple of Zoom meetings with them, they have determined to continue and to ask God to help them carry out a positive vision for their region. Here we are sitting under one of their structures for exhibiting animals. There are a couple of dedicated Christians among them, and we believe they can readily help lead the group in their devotions that they want to have before each meeting. They also want to continue to Zoom with Cesar and me occasionally. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1619314367832-KYQ3LPWY09IA6NHALKRM/IMG_4551.jpg Updates - The Latest from Guatemala! Here one of the Kekchi pastors reads a scripture in the Kekchi Bible before the start of our training at the association headquarters in Fray Bartolome de las Casas, Guatemala. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1619314583951-3DDOQ1UTS1V7V7REUDNE/IMG_4556.jpg Updates - The Latest from Guatemala! Cesar speaks to the group with German Tzi, the director of missions for the association, translating into Kekchi. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1619314801402-IDG1439S6A2AW07K1PR2/IMG_4563.jpg Updates - The Latest from Guatemala! Here Cesar is prepping volunteers to pray one minute prayers for themselves, the leaders of the crusade planning, and for their list of 10 friends who don´t have a relationship with Jesus yet. This association has over 80 churches, and if their combined efforts prove to be as fruitful as in other regions of Guatemala, they should see hundreds of people come to Christ this next year. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1619287045521-FHZHF2VGSLF4LPPVISC4/8313534c-ba14-4ba1-87b2-97977b84fc54.jpg Updates - The Latest from Guatemala! After Ray left, we made a visit to a Senior Citizens center in Santa Cruz Narranjo. No longer able to have the folks come to them, they are taking food to the seniors. Here, they sprayed me down when Cesar and I went to see the leaders of this program. The ladies you see in this picture are forming their own Play. Story. Eat group among themselves and Cesar and I will be Zooming with them a couple of times a month. https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2021/3/14/guatemala-bound-finally-7n2wt monthly 0.5 2021-04-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1617831637936-YAJ3C9BGUCJRBOK9G87X/IMG_0785.jpg Updates - Guatemala Bound with a Grateful but Heavy Heart Flying in or out of Guatemala during the day, you get a great view of the volcanoes that surround Guatemala City. This picture I shot a couple of years ago as I flew home. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1617827428864-SU5IRVBDUUECAJCPAJM8/IMG_1115.jpg Updates - Guatemala Bound with a Grateful but Heavy Heart I took this picture on August 31, 2019, just a few moments before the family gathered to celebrate Patsy’s 90th birthday. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1617827896344-3258OW2FJ76LJG5SY4PR/IMG_1120.jpg Updates - Guatemala Bound with a Grateful but Heavy Heart Patsy loved family get-togethers, and with six kids and many grandkids and great-grandkids, her birthday party was a lively occasion! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1617831432159-HER58PQ55O8FE8I4DBMQ/IMG_0388.jpg Updates - Guatemala Bound with a Grateful but Heavy Heart Here’s Patsy with her five daughters on July 4, 2019. From left to right are Annis Sanders, Allena Gimlin, Patsy, Carmi Davis, Nola, and Marilyn Rogers. https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2021/3/14/guatemala-bound-finally monthly 0.5 2021-03-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1615756300319-0ACO38QD7X1E9QEFSECD/IMG_4325%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Gearing Up for Guatemala Trip—Finally! Here I’m introducing Cesar before he speaks to our Rancheros Cristianos groups by way of a recorded Zoom video call. Cesar is excited about having the first mission team come visit him in Guatemala in over a year! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1615764528454-0MDI1Q6TP4QQWJUFWULQ/IMG_9628.jpg Updates - Gearing Up for Guatemala Trip—Finally! In January of 2019, we spoke to the Kekchi Baptist Association pastors group. Here Cesar shares how to use enjoyable play activities for evangelizing new villages. On the far right is Ray Gurney, pastor of Cross Creek Baptist in Oak Grove, Missouri. Next to him is Rex Kelly of Ord, Nebraska. Since that time this group of pastors and leaders have started several new churches. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1615765493835-CIGKY8TXM9HP8JYRH7WA/IMG_0205.jpg Updates - Gearing Up for Guatemala Trip—Finally! German, the leader of the Kekchi Baptist Association, interprets Cesar’s talk from Spanish to Kekchi. For the past year, Cesar has traveled to the jungle to continue evangelism training for the pastors. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1615758549232-VXL8GNHKJ8UE1S759EDO/Luis%2Bpic.jpg Updates - Gearing Up for Guatemala Trip—Finally! Luis, a rancher and horse enthusiast from Chiquimula, Guatemala, shows me one of his problem horses in a recent Zoom video call. He would love to have one of our horse trainer friends come down and give him some pointers on what to do with this horse! But more importantly, he wants to get his friends together to start a Rancheros Cristianos group. In April, we plan to spend an entire day with him. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1615766228739-ZKBQ0AQ052JQWFGP209U/Bill+on+a+video.jpg Updates - Gearing Up for Guatemala Trip—Finally! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1615767324807-0YR14C643VG0HJX7DQIX/IMG_4389.jpg Updates - Gearing Up for Guatemala Trip—Finally! Nola has a parrot looking at our magnet on our refrigerator! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1615756927929-M0OMFRJ0VDG8EKY86RV9/IMG_4387.jpg Updates - Gearing Up for Guatemala Trip—Finally! During that cold spell in February, I showed my friends in Central America what we were dealing with in the Midwest during several weeks of extreme cold. After such a cold winter, I’m looking forward to heading south! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1615765831603-9KUNFUB2058UO66P26YG/IMG_6878.jpg Updates - Gearing Up for Guatemala Trip—Finally! I told Cesar he better be loaded and ready for “bear” when we come! https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2021/1/13/thankful-to-god-for-his-provision-through-you monthly 0.5 2021-01-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1610753550252-6Y6S47GGD9536IQ93TKD/IMG_3839%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Thankful to God for His Provision...and for You! Here I am “Zooming” for the first time with some pastor friends from the jungle! Twenty years ago, in this same area, I could take a digital camera and snap pictures of them and then flip the camera around for them to see the first picture they would have ever seen of themselves! My, how times change! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1610754555388-IAUXS24NPO6W3WZE3587/IMG_4136%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Thankful to God for His Provision...and for You! Cesar Gonzalez shares a message for one of our weekly Rancheros Cristianos videos. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1610754014179-LGEEXAMRD6ST601YMGKW/IMG_4135%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Thankful to God for His Provision...and for You! For Christmas, I got some of the singers in my family to sing “Feliz Navidad” to our Rancheros Cristianos friends! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1610754821740-QJF6RKRMTAEW3VSXWI63/IMG_3748%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Thankful to God for His Provision...and for You! Here Bill Burrows and I do a video on how to have a soul-connecting conversation with another disciple of Jesus. https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2020/11/30/giving-tuesday-opportunity-to-help-in-disaster-relief monthly 0.5 2020-12-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1606834952515-UEFEFVL0JKUM6GQFHSMT/IMG_3824%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Urgent Request: "Giving Tuesday" Opportunity to Help in Disaster Relief Across Guatemala, hundreds of bridges like this one have been washed out. The same is true in Honduras and Nicaragua. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1606834877486-4M5Y1Y8WK46WCK1O0L4F/IMG_3823%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Urgent Request: "Giving Tuesday" Opportunity to Help in Disaster Relief This is a river near Zacapa, Guatemala. Its bridge was washed away with the raging waters. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1606753149114-NVOCI2D8Z01GUYITMYWB/IMG_3781%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Urgent Request: "Giving Tuesday" Opportunity to Help in Disaster Relief This young boy is telling of his house and community near Campuro, Guatemala, being flooded and washed away by the rising waters. In an interview after fleeing for safety, he talked about how he doesn’t blame God for his plight. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1606750283157-K8XNOBN52ZGWYEHOPRV0/IMG_1376%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Urgent Request: "Giving Tuesday" Opportunity to Help in Disaster Relief In this picture taken last year on November 1, 2019, a team from LifeQuest Church of Belton Missouri experience the cultural flavor of the Day of the Dead celebration. That day, Manuel Campos (second from the left) wanted me to take a picture of him with the team in front of his family cemetery plot near Nueva Santa Rosa, Guatemala. Little did I know that this would be the last picture I have of Manuel. https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2020/10/23/fall-update monthly 0.5 2020-10-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1603460937835-ZLWE3OG1F5IR6GO3XJNM/IMG_3582%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - From KC to Nebraska and Back Literally and to Guatemala and Back Virtually! Joel Wentworth greets our Rancheros Cristianos on a recent Sunday with his congregation in Burwell, Nebraska. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1603460771338-Y430JSM96112QOYKNXC0/IMG_3579%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - From KC to Nebraska and Back Literally and to Guatemala and Back Virtually! On September 20th, Nola and I welcomed viewers onto our back porch for our first ever virtual meeting of Rancheros Cristianos! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1603464588957-NC5CINK9FZJBCE4D2FU7/IMG_3589%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - From KC to Nebraska and Back Literally and to Guatemala and Back Virtually! Cesar offers a greeting to the folks in Burwell, Nebraska, from his home in Amberes, Guatemala. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1603465796823-ZMRPYG87RO87517EOJJ9/IMG_3590%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - From KC to Nebraska and Back Literally and to Guatemala and Back Virtually! Humberto Solares, of Santa Rosa de Lima, Guatemala, sings the Spanish version of “One Day at a Time” for one of the Rancheros Cristianos videos. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1603463233497-E88TPT4B4Z3ZUO54H5UZ/IMG_3588%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - From KC to Nebraska and Back Literally and to Guatemala and Back Virtually! Here, Lawrence Turner is inviting the Guatemalan ranchers to come up and buy some of his cows he’s just taken to the sale barn in Valentine, Nebraska! He also committed to pray for the Guatemalans and asked them to pray for us and our nation as well. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1603462127027-EZ8UPGIO3PJPP71OSREO/IMG_3553%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - From KC to Nebraska and Back Literally and to Guatemala and Back Virtually! Rex and Deb Kelley hosted us at their bed and breakfast in Ord, Nebraska. Here they spoiled us with the best Nebraska steak I have had in my life! I took this picture and sent it to Cesar to make him jealous! Seated from left to right is Nola, Rex, Joyce, Bill, and Deb. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1603462774342-OR1MRRM6YFU4NGJLXASB/IMG_3585%252B%2525282%252529%252B%2525281%252529.jpg Updates - From KC to Nebraska and Back Literally and to Guatemala and Back Virtually! Bill gets a volunteer to help him in getting spiritual leverage at the Sandhills Association gathering. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1603462405066-IGKD3HEVQ7VKHQN7LVYB/IMG_3586%2B%25282%2529%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - From KC to Nebraska and Back Literally and to Guatemala and Back Virtually! Bill also did the same presentation with the youth at Burwell Baptist. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1603467999799-OTP2PKGMNARBNMV55QUB/IMG_3591%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - From KC to Nebraska and Back Literally and to Guatemala and Back Virtually! Bill shares a greeting to our friends after we finished painting the Huffman house. https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2020/8/19/pardon-our-dust monthly 0.5 2020-08-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1597919088442-UFKFLJBGKXRUJ14ZX2XY/IMG_3390%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Pardon Our Dust! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1597838100953-D4BDCLXDGR8GC6L40ANC/90507781_2987221687966243_7312942095075901440_n.jpg Updates - Pardon Our Dust! At the first stage of stay-at-home orders in March, Nola had me painting and then installing a new ceiling fan light. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1597837250950-HO3RF6MTBUIINRN9T6I4/c5cdd679-4ee5-43b7-8acb-67842a1ee7b5.jpg Updates - Pardon Our Dust! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1597841860967-T7SVPYVL4OEZG97L2MU8/BeTheChurch-Color.png Updates - Pardon Our Dust! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1597836064274-1IB6TTLPG6MR7EBD9NC8/IMG_3334.jpg Updates - Pardon Our Dust! More kicking up dust! A couple of weeks ago, a roofing crew came over to my house and had to replace some deteriorating plywood before re-roofing the house. Amazingly a couple of the guys were from a town in Honduras that I have been to! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1597836814693-VZ7XYZNPOFMXH8RUDXXB/435.jpg Updates - Pardon Our Dust! I snapped this picture outside of the Billy Graham Library. I love Ruth’s sense of humor! https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2020/7/24/play-story-eat-summer-update monthly 0.5 2020-07-28 https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2020/5/15/the-unveiling-of-our-new-training-videos monthly 0.5 2020-05-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1589479139881-3QXAIIKGETFCAPUM6NS5/BeTheChurch-Color.png Updates - Be the Church Blog Coming Very Soon! https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2020/4/12/happy-resurrection-day monthly 0.5 2020-04-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1587728284168-J78C41SIU5AIAMYZHQ5J/IMG_2506%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Latest Developments in Our New Reality Before shooting a training video, Justin Jacobson, Bill Burrows, and I put our swords together before we pray and do our three musketeer “all for one!” thing. The two swords that you see are thanks to our friend Bill Buchanan, of Reeds, Missouri, who gave them to Bill and me last year. We were at a loss of what to do with them! But now they help us do something equivalent to a high five when we are supposed to be 6 feet apart! Thanks Bill! We have now put your swords to good use! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1587728155036-3WRFBJ1CHXTFTW6R1DAH/IMG_2510%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Latest Developments in Our New Reality Here Bill is recording the audio portion that goes with the slides shown on one of the first “Be the Church” training videos. Justin is making sure that the slides keep up on the video. We are working to produce each session in both English and Spanish. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1587728936602-5VVRXI8OVX9GRRPTKBWQ/IMG_2518%2B%25283%2529%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Latest Developments in Our New Reality Here I am a couple of days before Easter recording a video in a cemetery for my cowboy friends in Guatemala. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1587730397214-ZGLVWZ7XWGD585VHC5OX/688d2a83-5377-41b0-9405-843f2682f662+%281%29.jpg Updates - Latest Developments in Our New Reality In these days of quarantine, Elba Gonzalez, Cesar’s wife, shows off her first fruits of the mango season. She knows how much I love mangoes and sent this picture to rub it in that I am not down there enjoying them! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1587759097234-ZTPYFURS3PEQY07OCY6C/140510GuatemalaPalm07%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Latest Developments in Our New Reality Here is a palm oil plantation. Many of the men in the jungle are working in these operations. Due to the transportation shutdown from the Covid-19 crisis, all of these businesses, as well as the bigger ranch operations, have stopped hiring day laborers until they are able to go back to normal operations. Many of our church leaders in the jungle are without employment. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1587730487044-9MXL7KP7VGAAPI6PP692/38b4f4c8-a823-42cc-a10c-3a68b6db5d72%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Latest Developments in Our New Reality The four men on the right are leaders helping a pastor on the far right start a new church near a palm oil plantation. This picture was taken just weeks before the shutdown. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1587730621092-VI388TTEXT12NOMNWU9U/5b15537f-5467-46ff-ba20-15df41460553%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Latest Developments in Our New Reality Cesar enjoyed cooling off in the river near the village of one of the newest church plants. This picture was taken just a month before the shutdown. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1587732621616-QTENQ7O5Z8J2IXUKJ1RT/IMG_9695+%281%29.jpg Updates - Latest Developments in Our New Reality This lady boiled some snails to add some protein to their soup. It is quite tasty! And nutritious! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1587732668324-H4XIG2TF0YPIN4FQKH51/IMG_5395+%281%29.jpg Updates - Latest Developments in Our New Reality The beauty of God’s creation never ceases to amaze me! https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2020/3/26/the-coronavirus-and-playstoryeat monthly 0.5 2020-03-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1585235938628-XKGC35W6IJ21W5U1217A/Coronavirus+Outbreak+20200125_150049.jpg Updates - The Coronavirus and Play. Story. Eat. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1585237517400-FRQUJ1AV583X8BOSG2O1/Bill%2Band%2BJustin%2Bworking%2BIMG_2166%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - The Coronavirus and Play. Story. Eat. Here’s Justin working on a sound check for Bill as we prepared for a podcast trial run. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1585286736999-VCP3ZSC1PN5V5DDTJRKV/IMG_2309%2B%25281%2529%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - The Coronavirus and Play. Story. Eat. Ray Gurney, pastor of Cross Creek Baptist Mission, in Oak Grove, Missouri, sends a video greeting to a motorcycle group near Coatepeque Guatemala, while I wait to translate. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1585241185342-RGRN3YB8BUOWNG21ZUZ3/Cesar%2Band%2Bmotorcycle%2Bgroup.jpg Updates - The Coronavirus and Play. Story. Eat. The last weekend before the Coronavirus shutdown, Cesar was with a new PSE motorcycle group at their annual parade in Coatepeque. Here they are holding an envelope of money collected for a fellow motorcyclist who is suffering from serious burns from an accident. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1585237879317-UDED6Z6ELXYDUG7VV9CE/Bill%2Band%2BBlake%2Bhigh%2Bfive%2BIMG_2222%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - The Coronavirus and Play. Story. Eat. The week before social distancing, Bill Burrows and Blake Huston high five in celebration of a completed discipleship step taken on a walk at the Parkville, Missouri, nature trail. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1585242823204-SF7D9KQ58ZF2926JY7S1/Omaha%2BSunday%2Bservice%2Bonline.jpg Updates - The Coronavirus and Play. Story. Eat. On March 15th, we watched a church service online of Stonebridge Christian Church in Omaha, Nebraska, where Josh and Kristin attend with our grandsons. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1585288879096-FXU492OD0C2Z0F91EDZB/IMG_2310%252B%2525281%252529.jpg Updates - The Coronavirus and Play. Story. Eat. Sharing a video message with Cesar and leaders https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2020/2/12/behind-the-scenes-preparations-for-2020 monthly 0.5 2020-02-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1581547380074-HY3PUBILRPJUYIAK3X3A/Steve%2Band%2BCesar%2Bsay%2Bhi%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Behind the Scenes Preparations for 2020 Cesar and I greet a group in Honduras by way of a WhatsApp video. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1581531819309-5LWY6KBEF9PHZ78DK9YH/Cesar%2Band%2BSteve%2Bvideo%2Btalk%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Behind the Scenes Preparations for 2020 In one of our first attempts at creating a training video, Cesar shares how the first Christian Rancher groups got started. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1581536530668-9KZMODKY3WQGAZH66TZM/Bill%2Band%2BSteve%2Bvideo%2Bshoot%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Behind the Scenes Preparations for 2020 Bill Burrows is clapping to mark the beginning of a video shoot for an introduction to our ministry. The production of training videos in 2020 is a part of our strategic plan to use simple technologies to better communicate with our friends anywhere in the world. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1582258408705-EAHDKJRW1VICH06F8ST7/Justin%2BJacobson%2Bat%2Bwork%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Behind the Scenes Preparations for 2020 Justin Jacobson gives Bill and I last minute instructions before producing our first podcast! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1581543960156-RY2671X5EO04G7YIP3RQ/IMG_20191203_155429+%281%29.jpg Updates - Behind the Scenes Preparations for 2020 In December, a Guatemalan friend worked on the systematic take-down of the wooden planks we had for walls at our base camp in the jungle. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1581543685849-PWRLA309SBBD23VR6H7C/IMG_20191205_091153%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Behind the Scenes Preparations for 2020 In January, the walls took shape. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1581547768875-4MIIIPMKRR0BT4JSRG1N/Finishing%2Btouches%2Bto%2Bconstruction%2Bin%2Bthe%2Bjungle%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Behind the Scenes Preparations for 2020 These pictures from last week! One of our friends is putting on the finishing touches to the front door! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1581544326169-3VU9DB19QTC774QRTFUJ/Cesar%2Band%2BCarlos%2Bleadership%2Bteam%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Behind the Scenes Preparations for 2020 Cesar and the community leadership team of Manantiales, Guatemala https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1581542019295-60CU10MWW4JY7EXNNDO7/Linda%2Bwith%2BBambino%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Behind the Scenes Preparations for 2020 Linda Wright points out some issues for the handler to be aware of in leading Bambino for a therapist to work with a client. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1581541777243-TZCTWOYLGM0XC2Z3UP8W/Getting%2BBambino%2Bready%2Bfor%2Ba%2Bsession%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Behind the Scenes Preparations for 2020 Getting Bambino ready for a session, Linda and Humberto check out the equipment. Looking on is Clarrissa, an equine therapy specialist from Guatemala City, who will be also be working with Humberto to build up the program. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1581541202474-OOSG8HBSQTSVFSM7H6D1/Clarissa%2Bwith%2BGirl%2Bdoing%2BEqT%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Behind the Scenes Preparations for 2020 This autistic girl began her session with Clarrissa and Bambino terribly afraid of horses. Here at the end, she asked if she could do one more lap! https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2020/1/29/behind-the-scenes-preparations-for-2020 monthly 0.5 2020-02-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1580317055225-57A7VTWZQCQR2OQIR25A/IMG_1927%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Back Just in Time for the Super Bowl!!! Touchdown, Kansas City! Patrick Mahomes es magnifico! It was fun seeing the game in Guatemala and hearing the announcers do their play by play in Spanish! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1580317573896-T1ZY1S6IFWJHYEF4RWMS/IMG_1861%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Back Just in Time for the Super Bowl!!! Linda Wright gave Humberto Solares some pointers in working with Bambino, our horse that is being trained for an Equine Therapy ministry in Guatemala. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1580318214337-PRUJPC7D2ZNUCBCTHI86/IMG_1835%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Back Just in Time for the Super Bowl!!! In Luis’ speech, he shared that his relationship with Jesus Christ is the most important thing in his life and that he wants to invite the community to ask God to help them make their city better. He even cited the story of how Jesus took a small boy’s 5 loaves and 2 fish to perform a miracle. Luis was incredibly bold in stating that he believes that God can multiply what they have to help make a difference in their region. I was amazed and grateful. Please pray for Luis as he starts his administration. This is a dangerous job. Two of the past 5 mayors have been murdered. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1580318504585-32JV91PS5FXF7GVXD7TT/IMG_1851%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Back Just in Time for the Super Bowl!!! After the inauguration, we met with some old friends at the restaurant of our friend Otto (standing between Cesar and me in the center). Otto came to Nebraska about 13 years ago on a reverse missionary trip and is part of the cattlemen’s association in Jutiapa. Tino, the guy kneeling, is a good friend who heads up the department of transportation that builds roads in the region. On the far left is Rogelio, an assistant of the mayor and a friend who works at the weekly cattle sale. On the far right is Carlos, a new friend that Tino introduced to us. Carlos is a Xinka Indian, and leads a group of 800 Charismatic Catholic youth in a mountainous region where Tino just built a road to their village. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1580313254522-7PULT7DSZ2B8KGXH09QD/IMG_1944%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Back Just in Time for the Super Bowl!!! Sitting at 4,623 feet, this is lake Ayarza. We had to snake our way around it, and then go up a mountain to get to Los Anonos, the closest town to Manantiales, which is Carlos’ village. Manantiales means “springs” in Spanish. This village has several springs that flow out and down the mountain to supply water to about 15 villages. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1580390407387-23DGQ93RF3W0H9AZ3HR8/IMG_1954%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Back Just in Time for the Super Bowl!!! We met Carlos at the public health entity in the bigger town of Los Anonos. Here we met with health officials to discuss the logistics of a latrine program for Manantiales. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1580427074977-JPH9004CV2H5FL0XD7S8/IMG_1953%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Back Just in Time for the Super Bowl!!! Here the leader of the public health team hears of the needs of Carlos’ village and offers to train them in how to build the latrines for the community. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1580390855176-YCO0EQ63L8F3F4MFMWO8/IMG_1980%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Back Just in Time for the Super Bowl!!! After the meeting in Anonos, Carlos got in the truck with us and led us up the new road to his village. To construct the road, the able-bodied men in the villages along the proposed roadway were commissioned to help the road construction crew in clearing the initial barriers for the road to be cut with bull dozers and other heavy equipment. For several months last year, Carlos led the charge in recruiting volunteers to work side by side in this project. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1580390624204-BUT9YPDK2SA151U53BZT/IMG_1960%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Back Just in Time for the Super Bowl!!! Once we got to Manantiales, Carlos introduced us to the two teachers at the school. Several years ago, the men of the village helped build this school by carrying every concrete block and every construction item on their backs or with mules the hour from where the main road used to end. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1580314973976-DG8YQ7OKXU6SOKMQNP8F/IMG_1965%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Back Just in Time for the Super Bowl!!! Carlos invited the leaders of the nearby villages to come meet with us at his parent’s house located near the school. As a part of our discussions, we talked about having a relationship with God, so Cesar used the multi-colored soccer ball and pot holders to share a gospel message. All were very receptive and want to continue having these spiritual conversations. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1580319885130-Q1EZFIHUG922I59HPPHO/IMG_1974%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Back Just in Time for the Super Bowl!!! After the meeting, Cesar and Carlos talked about how Carlos needed to delegate leadership like Jethro counseled Moses to do in the Bible. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1580319363157-UU0OFQL58UNVMCPZ3A26/IMG_1970%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Back Just in Time for the Super Bowl!!! This view out the back of Carlos’ parents’ home shows Carlos’ house a little further up the mountain. In the foreground you can see the red coffee beans turning ripe for harvest. Because of their higher altitude, this is some of the highest quality coffee in the country. Yet, through the years, they have received less than fair market value. We hope to connect them with other coffee grower friends who have done some things to get higher prices for their coffee. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1580468927704-O2YVEWHHAUX9YM9SVIRJ/2020%2BChiefs%2Bfan%2Bclub.jpg Updates - Back Just in Time for the Super Bowl!!! Gooooo Chiefs!!! Woo hoo!!! https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2019/12/18/merry-christmas monthly 0.5 2019-12-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1576682082823-SU2K556L4TK53HVJII1Y/The%2BGrandkids%2B2019%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Christmas Comes in Small Packages On a chilly day this fall, we had all six of our grandchildren together. As you can see, getting a picture with all smiling on cue was a challenge. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1576681789366-OV1CFSLLKSMGSQKKWGFA/Reed%2BFamily%2Bpic%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Christmas Comes in Small Packages From the Reed family to yours…Merry Christmas!! https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2019/12/18/you-did-it-in-2019 monthly 0.5 2019-12-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1576678841153-ILM2C0X7KF70YWGCDZ4A/IMG_0242%2B%25281%2529%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - You did it in 2019! A team from FBC Benbrook, Texas, is ready for a day of hiking and ministry in the jungle of Guatemala. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1576678009696-AUJ35RPQUSUJBWMVJBIU/IMG_1166%2B%25282%2529.jpg Updates - You did it in 2019! A favorite staple of any Play. Story. Eat. training event is the wagon wheel drill. Designed to give participants training in initiating spiritual conversations, this exercise took place at Burwell Baptist in Burwell, Nebraska. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1576676882088-7N23TVSZW7CL1QMEGBB9/IMG_0734.JPG Updates - You did it in 2019! This is the moment right before 15 bull riders near La Ceiba, Honduras, prayed to receive Christ. https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2019/11/12/retracing-our-steps-in-guatemala monthly 0.5 2019-11-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1573579773563-UJCDEV6M7ETMTVICNYUJ/IMG_1367%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Retracing our Steps in Guatemala On the first day, the LifeQuest team retraced our steps to the “dogbite” church. This is a place near Cesar Gonzalez’s home where a new church has begun and where a couple of years ago I had got bit by a dog! In front is Erica Whittington, following her is Sue Teegarden, then Corinne Daut, and Tim Goulet. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1573566121139-PHBBGOSK7YJEAWVJ3SWO/IMG_1354%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Retracing our Steps in Guatemala Tim Goulet, the worship and youth pastor of LifeQuest, tells a story with the use of some balloons. Note that this new congregation meets in a coffee field. Behind Tim is the back wall of their little building that they have begun constructing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1573565572765-JOSE715M84W829IIIBNC/IMG_1384%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Retracing our Steps in Guatemala Valentin Solares shows us a pacaya that was growing wild on his ranch as Tim looks on. He explains that if you were in the jungle and needed something to eat, you could survive on this plant. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1573564818461-GASGFK6R2ZSA8A8OJAWP/IMG_1387%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Retracing our Steps in Guatemala A new Christian Rancher group gathers at the home of Valentin and Mari Solares near Chiapas, Guatemala. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1573566842949-SQ9NRJX8G31JESVELUXF/20191102_181148%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Retracing our Steps in Guatemala At the end of the evening, Cesar and Valentin invite those who would like to, to pray a prayer to receive Christ. Several did so. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1573568053880-T0YVCXLKW03P0ZU5UYQF/20191105_115001%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Retracing our Steps in Guatemala Here Humberto talks about the progress being made with the horse that we bought this year for the equine therapy program. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1573602188337-TSDP262NF54TT717V27V/IMG_3990.jpg Updates - Retracing our Steps in Guatemala Corinne gets licked by Bambino, the equine therapy horse. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1573617452721-3VN732P9OCE4RZUIB8VO/IMG_0440%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Retracing our Steps in Guatemala Humberto does a practice run with Bambino and some volunteers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1573568350671-BIRBYAPJYV2KQLJDRKDW/IMG_1590%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Retracing our Steps in Guatemala Before the equine therapy talk, someone got the group playing with a balloon. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1573565211834-8RG0ALNU69S0UG86ER10/IMG_4005.jpg Updates - Retracing our Steps in Guatemala Oliver, a new friend attending Humberto’s group that jams together, plays a social action song for us. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1573583090318-VX9XWVFB31T3JSLIN8A9/IMG_1490%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Retracing our Steps in Guatemala Cesar translates Tim’s story to the seniors near Quesada, Guatemala. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1573583417049-1305F9CL6V73OK8Z2EIK/IMG_1532%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Retracing our Steps in Guatemala Sue (left) and Corinne (right) help the staff deliver the meals to the seniors in Quesada. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1573582807739-1OR3O9E8YJ3LI1NLGG88/IMG_0287.jpg Updates - Retracing our Steps in Guatemala Erica prepares to hand out balloon bouquets to several of the ladies. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1573583702194-ON4GV3DPA39ZVZE55OU1/IMG_1552%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Retracing our Steps in Guatemala Tim helps the director of the center to move the pinata as one lady prepares to take a swing with her cane. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1573602983692-8M4P4SB8ZJIHTCHRVLSL/IMG_0475%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Retracing our Steps in Guatemala At the senior center in Santa Cruz Narranjo, the team takes turns dancing to some of their favorite songs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1573610020055-DXW6SA6ARSXPVOG12FH8/IMG_1644%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Retracing our Steps in Guatemala At the seniors center, this lady shares how she is grateful to God for helping her battle cancer, and she wanted to sing a song that praises God in the good times and the hard times. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1573582337194-9C98ZWDILY6OJARARTXA/IMG_1434%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Retracing our Steps in Guatemala Corinne shows how to make a balloon dog to a church group in Chiapas. This group is branching out to use the PSE method to start new groups. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1573582054547-QH8E2F0QL5CQT5EQTH7E/IMG_1418%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Retracing our Steps in Guatemala In a balloon inflating competition, the girl on the right whoops her older and bigger competition! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1573614852848-VP20ZI7PYCZUXOYIGXPD/IMG_1668+%281%29.jpg Updates - Retracing our Steps in Guatemala Here a couple of boys play a game called Score Four that Delbert Wagner, a Nebraska friend, invented and constructed to send on this trip. Delbert, they loved it! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1573612624216-EKME1JT350HWGVLYMA6T/IMG_1332%252B%2525281%252529.jpg Updates - Retracing our Steps in Guatemala Sue enjoys a moment with a mother and her girls. https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2019/10/10/the-missions-boomerang-takes-us-to-nebraska monthly 0.5 2019-10-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1570706907360-9B04RWYA3ZZ83SIYA277/IMG_1091+%281%29.jpg Updates - Missions Boomerang Comes Back to Nebraska! You can’t go to Valentine without checking out the livestock auction at the sale barn! From time to time, Lawrence Turner and his friends have had cowboy church here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1570706676455-W983FLH28LZ8KLQHEJ9O/IMG_1108%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Missions Boomerang Comes Back to Nebraska! A few of our friends in our PSE training at First Baptist Valentine took a picture with Bill Burrows (black shirt in back). Johnathon Moore (kneeling) is pastor. Lawrence Turner is on the far right. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1570707137562-NYN4TPU30U66ERE8FFH4/IMG_1102%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Missions Boomerang Comes Back to Nebraska! During one of the training sessions at FBC Valentine, partners practiced sharing their current reality stories. A current reality story is one where we tell what God is doing right now in our lives. On the right is Scott McClellen, pastor of the Valentine Berean Fellowship Church. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1570726430804-0URYACVI2H3VOYFTTNJA/IMG_1101%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Missions Boomerang Comes Back to Nebraska! It sure is peaceful out on Turner ranch near Sparks, Nebraska. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1570707475030-P1P4TKYQAS5D1UV13J6U/IMG_1154%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Missions Boomerang Comes Back to Nebraska! The Burwell Baptist Junior High group invited us to talk to them about our PSE method. Here, they try their hand at a new teamwork game that one of their youth leaders invented. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1570707665285-7G0C5QZEOMOET3CY8KT6/IMG_1161%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Missions Boomerang Comes Back to Nebraska! Marty Archibeque, a Burwell veterinarian, shows how he made his game. He still hasn’t come up with a name yet! But whatever it is, I am planning to take this idea to Guatemala this year and test it out! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1570707911006-TTH5MD5YAGC1S56SE6KM/IMG_1169%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Missions Boomerang Comes Back to Nebraska! In the PSE training, participants play using Marty’s game. The goal is to move blocks to designated spots in the circle. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1570710727558-2EKZGLXOAFUMX0MN3FSU/IMG_1166%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Missions Boomerang Comes Back to Nebraska! In the PSE training, the wagon train drill offers a quick and effective way to practice initiating spiritual conversations. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1570708177167-DWAQ8AY2LOYV4GGHSJY7/IMG_1179%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Missions Boomerang Comes Back to Nebraska! On the Niobrara river near Lynch, Nebraska, Joel Wentworth surveys the remnants of the dam that got washed out in the March flood. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1570717290864-ZE1J11P10PG9U7YUFZHO/IMG_1181%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Missions Boomerang Comes Back to Nebraska! Joel surveys the progress on the rebuilding of the home of Jim McBride, the fire chief for the town of Lynch. Jim had been instrumental in saving many in the town during the flood. But his home was flooded as well. Now, people from the community along with friends from Northern Heights Baptist Church of Norfolk and disaster relief workers with the Kansas-Nebraska Convention of Southern Baptists have returned to bless him. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1570708641609-SACVVO91WI8R748NCF2H/IMG_1196%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Missions Boomerang Comes Back to Nebraska! David Martinez introduces me to the Spanish speaking church at Northern Heights shortly before speaking. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1570708821833-Q4Z4KWOP9W9YP7N4P4SQ/IMG_1197%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Missions Boomerang Comes Back to Nebraska! At the Monday training, we prayed before dividing the group up into English speakers and Spanish. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1570709938571-D7175P4V64YR0RJROYYG/IMG_1237%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Missions Boomerang Comes Back to Nebraska! Landon, our number 5 grand child, gets a taste of what being one is all about! https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2019/7/24/belton-missouri-team-falls-in-love-with-the-old-and-young-in-guatemala monthly 0.5 2019-08-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1564027847620-4RHAY379UHM0UZG3NJP9/IMG_0488%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Never too Young, Never too Old--Belton, Missouri, Team Falls in Love in Guatemala! On our first day, we met with the seniors center of Santa Cruz Naranjo. Here our team posed with a dear lady from the center. From left to right is Dawn Farrill, her husband George, 16-year-old Alexandra “Alex” Catron, Belinda Burkhardt, and me. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1564595517399-YSIKZDAEK9HT4MS14Q6S/IMG_0776%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Never too Young, Never too Old--Belton, Missouri, Team Falls in Love in Guatemala! On our last day, we spent the morning with a group of school children. Here, George holds a target as the children take turns throwing balls at it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1564029301876-HOB2RO1HFL17TJNSAFY4/20190722_100107%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Never too Young, Never too Old--Belton, Missouri, Team Falls in Love in Guatemala! At a seniors center near Quesada, Guatemala, we were called upon to dance with the men and women as Cesar served as the DJ—playing some of their favorite songs from their youth. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1564029934071-2GSSHQRWBAQ2H4F2UFNG/IMG_0539%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Never too Young, Never too Old--Belton, Missouri, Team Falls in Love in Guatemala! At a youth group gathering of Iglesia Mision Damasco (Damascus Mission Church) in Rinconcito, Guatemala, Dawn delicately placed her piece on the top of the Jenga tower as her team looked on. This youth group is planning a trip to the jungle this year to help with our work there. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1564030110674-D29STWCRJI0IDCUP2649/IMG_0545+%281%29.jpg Updates - Never too Young, Never too Old--Belton, Missouri, Team Falls in Love in Guatemala! All enjoyed the Jenga challenge! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1564599142896-PZGJNCC0YEUSY1D4BBML/IMG_0558%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Never too Young, Never too Old--Belton, Missouri, Team Falls in Love in Guatemala! At Iglesia Damasco in Rinconcito, this man shared what he is grateful for. He lost his leg in an accident falling from the top of a train in Mexico last year while trying to get to the United States. He is grateful for his life, his church, and his friends. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1564029047727-2JEIV0MWE50DVCUZRZW8/IMG_0443%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Never too Young, Never too Old--Belton, Missouri, Team Falls in Love in Guatemala! In Santa Cruz, Alex placed bead necklaces around each neck of the senior ladies. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1564028303990-J48P81UCTOJ3EMFQ9G1D/20190719_101050%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Never too Young, Never too Old--Belton, Missouri, Team Falls in Love in Guatemala! Dancing with the seniors in Santa Cruz Naranjo https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1564595757463-BAP3DGDHKU2YA4I74VO9/IMG_0790%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Never too Young, Never too Old--Belton, Missouri, Team Falls in Love in Guatemala! Making balloon figures was a hit at several places. Here, Alex showed some children how to make a dog. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1564605670175-QTH3E1K2XN1E7U8U4VVZ/20190724_104355%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Never too Young, Never too Old--Belton, Missouri, Team Falls in Love in Guatemala! To this group of 2nd and 3rd graders, Alex shared how when she was about their age, her parents divorced, and it forced her to grow up quicker than she wanted to. About three years ago, she came to faith in Christ and now loves going on mission trips. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1564031177150-LFRN9HOB67X9GRNWKIYS/IMG_0697%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Never too Young, Never too Old--Belton, Missouri, Team Falls in Love in Guatemala! We spent one day with Humberto Solares. Some of you may remember that a team from Open Range Fellowship in Lone Jack, Missouri helped him purchase this horse (named Bambino) for the beginning of an equine therapy program for special needs children. Here, Humberto leads Bambino as Clarissa, an expert in ET from San Jose Pinula, Guatemala, tests the horse’s abilities and points some things out to the group gathered for the orientation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1564614970628-A12PC3YFMYNH6F5LJR5T/IMG_0733%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Never too Young, Never too Old--Belton, Missouri, Team Falls in Love in Guatemala! When we stopped to eat after the training, Bambino stuck his head in the window to see what we were eating! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1564599276597-4G65TJL3P5A56OQIHW6C/IMG_0823%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Never too Young, Never too Old--Belton, Missouri, Team Falls in Love in Guatemala! At the first meeting of a new Christian Rancher group in Chiapas, Guatemala, Valentin Solares, a local pastor, makes a point as he welcomes his friends to a Guatemalan style barbecue. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1564598130519-KX4A3R139M0G7A43H7SC/20190721_174537%252B%2525281%252529.jpg Updates - Never too Young, Never too Old--Belton, Missouri, Team Falls in Love in Guatemala! At the Jesus Viene (meaning Jesus is Coming) Church in Chiapas, Guatemala, George told the biblical story of Matthew 20 where a vineyard owner pays all the workers the same daily wage—even to those who only worked an hour. As a manager of a landscaping company, he shared how crazy it would be for him to do the same thing—highlighting God’s amazing grace to all, even to those who come to Christ at the last hour. As a Christian since 2017, George feels grateful that God gives him the same claim to eternal life that long-time believers get. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1564030566117-JSIS1K4BVDOPLBP0CDKO/IMG_0607%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Never too Young, Never too Old--Belton, Missouri, Team Falls in Love in Guatemala! A trio sang for a PSE Sunday morning gathering with the Jesus Viene Church in Chiapas. On the left is Carlos Chavaria, the pastor and long-time friend. Later this year, Carlos plans to take a team to the jungle to partner in our mission work there. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1564030861553-838AJBQ6ATCQKF8EUBGK/IMG_0648%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Never too Young, Never too Old--Belton, Missouri, Team Falls in Love in Guatemala! At the seniors center in Quesada, these ladies made a sign to welcome us. It says, “Welcome American Brothers.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1564029651075-6AERJ3KRN6W3QU61GI58/IMG_0639%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Never too Young, Never too Old--Belton, Missouri, Team Falls in Love in Guatemala! Belinda and Alex tying off balloons https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1564029479557-CVM7YZW46RAK3GW9BV10/IMG_0479%2B%25281%2529%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Never too Young, Never too Old--Belton, Missouri, Team Falls in Love in Guatemala! This little lady suffers from dementia but dances out of pure joy! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1564030066787-8IYOXBY5TQMRY21QZW9S/IMG_0571%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Never too Young, Never too Old--Belton, Missouri, Team Falls in Love in Guatemala! George played Connect Four with a new friend in Chiapas, Guatemala. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1564030200900-7BUSXRV8YJ9XDXMLZHIP/IMG_0576+%281%29.jpg Updates - Never too Young, Never too Old--Belton, Missouri, Team Falls in Love in Guatemala! Alex shakes hands with her opponent. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1564030423019-OK4IPB083KYGPNRK5JFA/IMG_0594%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Never too Young, Never too Old--Belton, Missouri, Team Falls in Love in Guatemala! Dawn gave a prize to Elizabeth Chavaria, the pastor’s wife in Chiapas, after playing Connect Four together. After the trip, Dawn wrote her friends on Facebook to say, “This trip was life changing!” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1564614749640-A7USLSFX2KP2EOCE5ZZW/IMG_0704%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Never too Young, Never too Old--Belton, Missouri, Team Falls in Love in Guatemala! As a former barrel racer and self-avowed horse lover, Alex couldn’t wait to ride Bambino. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1564616024438-J23L63HK8HHGWY75AMMZ/Steve%2Briding%2BBambino%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Never too Young, Never too Old--Belton, Missouri, Team Falls in Love in Guatemala! Taking Bambino for a spin https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1564615936003-KWMI4M6DI5EW5F3HN782/Belinda+with+girls+%281%29.jpg Updates - Never too Young, Never too Old--Belton, Missouri, Team Falls in Love in Guatemala! Belinda gets a selfie with a couple of school girls. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1564599027613-Q6G8AVVUG8TSZ7HLZNCS/IMG_0805%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Never too Young, Never too Old--Belton, Missouri, Team Falls in Love in Guatemala! The last day, the group posed for a picture with a class of school children near Amberes, Guatemala. https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2019/7/10/jungle-team-sows-pse-seeds-in-new-places monthly 0.5 2019-07-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1562777629394-28ESPTYY71HZD2ZH0VK2/IMG_0169%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Despite Persecution, One New Jungle Church Starts in a Tough to Reach Place From left to right, the Benbrook team consists of Cody Lawrence, Joe Velasquez, Tim Tucker, and Pastor Todd Pylant. Leading the way is German Tzi, the director of missions for a Kekchi Baptist Association of churches. This week, we hiked to four out-of-the-way places to encourage new believers in the start-up of new churches. On our first day, German took us to a mountain village called Volcan Semux. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1562778957618-TWUTMAWR9U4E1RVDWF6R/IMG_0148%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Despite Persecution, One New Jungle Church Starts in a Tough to Reach Place After about an hour and a half hike, we got to the village and learned that in March, four families came together to start a church there. However, a couple of people in the community vowed to burn their houses down if they proceeded to start the church. Read the rest of the story below. Here, German makes introductions and shares what we would like to do together with them. Note that they have worked on building their meeting space out of lumber they cut from the jungle with chain saws. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1562781468425-WZFFCOSK36H0RWAMCRK6/IMG_0104%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Despite Persecution, One New Jungle Church Starts in a Tough to Reach Place To break up the story-telling time, we paused to play. Realizing that our original plan to play soccer was not practical because of their mountainside location, we improvised. (Ever chased a ball down a mountain?) So we decided to run relay races up and down part of a trail. Here the children showed the adults how it was done. Later the women and men took their turns! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1562781669622-SDGE0EUHOSCRR7SIYWXB/IMG_0123%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Despite Persecution, One New Jungle Church Starts in a Tough to Reach Place With squeals of laughter, the ladies ran to hand off of their hankies to their teammates! Even with their long skirts, these ladies ran fast! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1562781872020-M9QEBETY9GNV9XXR2C7M/IMG_0143%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Despite Persecution, One New Jungle Church Starts in a Tough to Reach Place Tim and Joe gut it out on the trail as the red team holds their lead! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1562781135907-EUBI74K87VJV4B9MXJW5/IMG_0160%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Despite Persecution, One New Jungle Church Starts in a Tough to Reach Place After sharing faith stories, this young man asked if someone would help him become a follower of Jesus like the others in this new church. Here, German is leading him in a prayer of salvation as we prayed together with him. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1562792048405-0SNICR8MQU3ZXBA9G0MM/IMG_0165%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Despite Persecution, One New Jungle Church Starts in a Tough to Reach Place Before leaving the church at Volcan Semux, a couple of people asked if we had any medicine for some cuts and burns. Here Tim and Joe are pulling out some band-aids and antibiotic ointment to put on several wounds. Every village we visited asked us if we had any medicine or medical supplies on us. We felt helpless seeing how, in these more remote places, small ailments and wounds can turn into a big deal when not adequately treated. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1562791086531-SXQ2K4I314VK8TBM7GF0/IMG_0086%252B%2525281%252529.jpg Updates - Despite Persecution, One New Jungle Church Starts in a Tough to Reach Place Reluctant to say much, this man listens as German told me how these new believers stood firm in the middle of persecution. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1562799110478-RYMQH6AISWN9A5PYAEX4/IMG_0164%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Despite Persecution, One New Jungle Church Starts in a Tough to Reach Place While sitting around to hear the stories, one woman hung her baby from a beam to rock her to sleep. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1562792178135-V5IKY0QAM6Y5B1UKEE9A/IMG_0189%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Despite Persecution, One New Jungle Church Starts in a Tough to Reach Place In this village in Raxaha, Todd and Cesar turn the rope while Joe and a Kekchi boy try to jump together. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1562799917954-JV7V3LWCUP5RQGUHXNI9/IMG_0264%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Despite Persecution, One New Jungle Church Starts in a Tough to Reach Place Lorenzo, the pastor of the church at Ochul Choch meets us on the path to head up the mountain to his church. The village has about 15 families and all but one has been won to Christ. Even with that success in their village, they are not sitting on the job. In the past couple years they have started 3 other churches. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1562793028889-0XIX6WCCVF9UM386EGA7/IMG_0302%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Despite Persecution, One New Jungle Church Starts in a Tough to Reach Place After a hard day of hiking to Ochul Choch, the team shares in a worship service. Here, Joe shares his testimony while Lorenzo translates it to Kekchi. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1562792943477-KNKFT76K2MNVCGFKUJS8/IMG_0279%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Despite Persecution, One New Jungle Church Starts in a Tough to Reach Place In Ochul Choch, Pedro and his family share a meal of the spicy chili soup with us. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1562801191356-AY5333ZHIO58G6N2MTMP/IMG_0285%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Despite Persecution, One New Jungle Church Starts in a Tough to Reach Place Pedro and some of his friends and family join together outside Pedro’s hut for this picture. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1562801054038-DTLOSGKX7TG0KUZB4VHG/IMG_0292%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Despite Persecution, One New Jungle Church Starts in a Tough to Reach Place Here’s how we set up to sleep in a couple of villages. This is the fellowship hall of the Ochul Choch church. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1562793161720-H7163LY28DVBRTFN8I41/IMG_0227%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Despite Persecution, One New Jungle Church Starts in a Tough to Reach Place In the village of Ferial, we get ready to play soccer with a group of men and boys. After the game we sat on the field and shared stories. This opened up a whole group of unbelievers to the church that we were working with on that day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1562792292465-6HGZA2P17U39CU9C743G/IMG_0190%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Despite Persecution, One New Jungle Church Starts in a Tough to Reach Place After playing soccer in Raxaha, we agreed to bring a team in the future for a four-team tournament. Here Cesar presents a ball to the organizer of the village’s soccer teams. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1562792584733-FA0W0FZAEQBN1FPL9IPY/IMG_0203%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Despite Persecution, One New Jungle Church Starts in a Tough to Reach Place One evening, Cesar and German had a group of pastors meet us so that they could meet Todd and hear more of our Play. Story. Eat. methodology. Todd spoke to the men from 2 Corinthians 3:4-6 when Paul speaks about how our competence comes not from ourselves, but from God. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1562792713409-J5HQISFZQRGIGWRVU1YA/IMG_0204%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Despite Persecution, One New Jungle Church Starts in a Tough to Reach Place Here Cesar and German are speaking of the levels we work at when starting churches. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1562792832316-8ZT57PI4KF24XCH3O3T6/IMG_0206%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Despite Persecution, One New Jungle Church Starts in a Tough to Reach Place During the time with the pastors, we taught them to play the game of Connect Four as a way to highlight how they could use play in ministry. Here Todd shows them how to play. Since several pastors came from a long distance, they spent the night at the association so they could travel by day the next morning. We left at about 10pm. German later told us that the ones who stayed got so hooked on the game that they played until 1am! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1562792455098-1QT50CT517ZMNBRRVBLU/IMG_0193%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Despite Persecution, One New Jungle Church Starts in a Tough to Reach Place After playing soccer in Raxaha, the church ladies fixed us a meal of beans and eggs and tortillas. With no utensils, the custom is to use the tortillas to scoop the food into your mouth. Here Todd is getting another tortilla to help in his efforts! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1562804515443-JVIOJQAOYT4MILB1DQXQ/IMG_0336%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Despite Persecution, One New Jungle Church Starts in a Tough to Reach Place The last day we had to hike in the rain. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1562804430069-8RC6QQR8CYBSL7DFKI88/IMG_0329%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Despite Persecution, One New Jungle Church Starts in a Tough to Reach Place Part of the trail went nearly straight up and over a mountain. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1562804615617-JDOFBE2KU5UARX7Y5YSU/IMG_0338%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Despite Persecution, One New Jungle Church Starts in a Tough to Reach Place Here we made it to Sepoc, our final destination. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1562804279185-ANUY4WY2VUW5M52IL6N8/IMG_0341%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Despite Persecution, One New Jungle Church Starts in a Tough to Reach Place How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news! Romans 10:15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1562803552515-VOUEY7A2UMKJSWPWDA2I/IMG_0357%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Despite Persecution, One New Jungle Church Starts in a Tough to Reach Place Before leaving the jungle, we took a moment to wash away the mud and the sweat from the morning hike and enjoy the waterfalls of Las Conchas. https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2019/6/21/passport-snafu-demonstrates-gods-faithfulness monthly 0.5 2019-06-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1561150529536-SMJKIUVXF6L0UGLBNLOO/IMG_0055%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Passport Snafu Demonstrates God's Protection After multiple delays and frustrations, I got a passport at 2:30pm Wednesday afternoon in Dallas, Texas, and then at 6:45pm was on a plane to Guatemala! But it wasn’t really that simple… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1561154749025-FGFFCJOOJLV3AOVH1N3I/Dallas+shooter.jpg Updates - Passport Snafu Demonstrates God's Protection Brian Isaac Clyde is about to turn around and shoot at an entry to the Federal Building in Dallas, Texas. Dallas Morning News photographer, Tom Fox, shot this picture as he was about to enter the building to cover a court case. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1561155141927-1NJVTXJKWEO8088NBT15/IMG_0011%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Passport Snafu Demonstrates God's Protection On Wednesday morning this was the line to get into the Federal building. Due to extra security, it took a while to get in. https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2019/6/14/new-pse-groups-in-honduras monthly 0.5 2019-06-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1560547120760-MAFKTPJ18H6J568QDV0H/2019%2BHonduras%2BIMG_0549%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - New PSE Bull Riding Group in Honduras! Frank Molano, of Fort Worth Texas, shares a story with some students of the John F. Kennedy School of Agriculture near La Ceiba, Honduras. Frank invested 18 years in ministry working as a chaplain to high school rodeo families in Texas and was part of the first cowboy church started in Texas. Frank’s stories really connected with this group. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1560552168127-6OH91FDYHSUYJ3CBLK1A/2019%2BHonduras%2BIMG_0762%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - New PSE Bull Riding Group in Honduras! On the Saturday of the week of the fair, about a mile stretch of downtown La Ceiba, Honduras, was lined with thousands of people gathering to celebrate the annual fair and rodeo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1560546931616-KLRKPBU0OWCZO4BJ4CMM/2019%2BHonduras%2BIMG_0546%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - New PSE Bull Riding Group in Honduras! Two professors from the university convened a group of students that they thought might be interested in hearing our story of working with the National University of Agriculture in Catacamas, Honduras, and Christian Rancher groups. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1560552950057-6N3Z05295ZSC01IXPRGU/2019%2BHonduras%2BIMG_0558%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - New PSE Bull Riding Group in Honduras! After introductions, Cesar gets us organized to have a tug-of-war and then some other impromptu relays and games. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1560547971675-R53MGS5ZCZX3DGBH4A9L/2019%252BHonduras%252BIMG_0578%252B%2525281%252529.jpg Updates - New PSE Bull Riding Group in Honduras! Cesar talks with the bull riders. They wanted to go get some Brahma bulls from the university’s herd and bring them to the campus arena for a bull riding. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1560548121585-NVX3UQZF0RSUU2SNZE1G/2019%2BHonduras%2BIMG_0596%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - New PSE Bull Riding Group in Honduras! Rounding up the herd to select the four or five bulls for riding https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1560548218210-XZFUI3MLHL9PTAT6S6Z1/2019%2BHonduras%2BIMG_0642%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - New PSE Bull Riding Group in Honduras! Now it’s show time! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1560548314745-79OSCBR2H4JADDR4EBSG/2019%2BHonduras%2BIMG_0630%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - New PSE Bull Riding Group in Honduras! This was the best ride of the day! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1560548420233-XZYNAR6ORUHFBCBVXN2R/2019%2BHonduras%2BIMG_0650%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - New PSE Bull Riding Group in Honduras! After toppling a rider, this bull is trying to see what one of our friends has in his hand. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1560547707983-Y8F17RMQF0CQBG838F45/2019%2BHonduras%2BIMG_0576%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - New PSE Bull Riding Group in Honduras! Here’s the official photo of our first day together. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1560548791307-XMEUGAHRM2UJZI5X381U/2019%2BHonduras%2BIMG_0742%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - New PSE Bull Riding Group in Honduras! From left to right is Fernanda, her fiance, Leonardo, Cesar, Frank, Adonay, and me. Adonay is the leader of the new Christian Rancher group that is getting started in this location at the fairgrounds of the La Ceiba Cattlemens Association. This group is committed to sponsoring the student group. Some of our Texas friends might remember Fernanda and Leonardo coming to Texas in 2015 with a group of bull riders for an exchange program at Texas Tech. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1560548991663-96G3EKYBSW5DUUJDUQ9A/2019%2BHonduras%2BIMG_0714%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - New PSE Bull Riding Group in Honduras! With some highly prized show animals nearby, Cesar talked the handler of this bull to come be a part of our brand skit! The point of the skit is to determine who your real owner is when you die. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1560549201190-MVP1DYEXM9FWB7B04IWL/2019%2BHonduras%2BIMG_0728%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - New PSE Bull Riding Group in Honduras! Here is a rich and famous man in the skit. He has his fame as his brand. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1560549313783-J2NJOXCT9HVPT0VNQDU9/2019%2BHonduras%2BIMG_0730%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - New PSE Bull Riding Group in Honduras! But when he dies, his owner (the devil) takes him away! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1560549518565-B7BCBI9LIO9NT80L627R/2019%2BHonduras%2BIMG_0734%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - New PSE Bull Riding Group in Honduras! This is my favorite picture. After the skit and the testimonies, it was time to pray, and here Cesar was tying it all together to invite those who wanted to do so, to pray to receive Christ and have His brand seared on their lives. A moment later, all eagerly did so as Frank led them phrase by phrase to pray a prayer of salvation. After hugs and high fives, we walked away understanding we were now family. Please pray for this new group of spiritual friends! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1560544388980-TIIYHYNKK6FTG686I31K/2019%2BBridget%2Band%2BAdalyn.jpg Updates - New PSE Bull Riding Group in Honduras! Our grand-daughter, Bridget, holds Adalyn, her new baby sister! Bobbi and Ryan Reed are the proud parents. All are doing well! https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2019/5/28/from-the-jungle-to-honduras-and-back monthly 0.5 2019-05-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1559091968638-4O2PJKMHF2ALHXGCPUDL/IMG_0469.jpg Updates - Jungle PSE Training German Tzi, mission director for a Kekchi Baptist Association based in Fray de las Casas, Guatemala, shares how the 70 churches in their association need to learn how to be more intentional in evangelism and church planting. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1559092088451-5535LI29K5VOVVA0PKJK/IMG_0479.jpg Updates - Jungle PSE Training Cesar begins the Play.Story.Eat. training with the story of why we have come. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1559092563099-BR14N7NF8TUO4T6WWJMO/IMG_0518.jpg Updates - Jungle PSE Training Nothing like jumping rope to get the blood pumping! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1559096221693-265YWMNSOXDYMSAYAZ1C/IMG_0504.jpg Updates - Jungle PSE Training Frank shares the biblical story of the great banquet and how God often goes to the overlooked places in the world to call people to Himself. Frank kept the pastors engaged in his story of being reached by a cowboy church in Fort Worth, Texas, that then helped him go out to reach kids in high school rodeos. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1559092732279-ZGQ182I5ZTR8B72T2QOU/IMG_0497.jpg Updates - Jungle PSE Training Sitting down to eat with the pastors, they had no problems with this part of the training! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1559092919516-L2ULDTFB2V228A73YYSF/IMG_0511.jpg Updates - Jungle PSE Training In our training we always talk about laying down our shields and our weapons to be open hearted with God and others. This pastor shares the concept in the Kekchi language on the second day with the pastors who were hearing the concept for the first time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1559095821016-5OI0JU4439PJIMA2D5O6/IMG_0512.jpg Updates - Jungle PSE Training This pastor repeats Cesar’s teaching from the day before about being fishers of men. https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2019/5/19/equine-therapy-ministry-gets-a-horse monthly 0.5 2019-05-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1558306161761-8NO6R51OSX7G3QX8N5EA/IMG_0319.jpg Updates - Guatemala Equine Therapy and PSE Happenings! Sam Anderson sizes up a horse in Guatemala with our equine therapy team in search of a horse to start a new program this year in Guatemala. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1558304821213-SQ50OYA4PI88IZ79JRJA/IMG_0286.jpg Updates - Guatemala Equine Therapy and PSE Happenings! Linda Wright checks out the hooves of this horse. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1558305260237-4ROU19DMTO5U86JVQTQT/IMG_0327.jpg Updates - Guatemala Equine Therapy and PSE Happenings! Sam looks at another horse with Mike Crutchfield looking on. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1558305043427-JGTXBSZH3ZYRHRR2AMWZ/IMG_0347.jpg Updates - Guatemala Equine Therapy and PSE Happenings! Sam Anderson checks out a mare while her owner looks on. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1558305438222-AHKP4A48Q2TZ4G3T81J3/IMG_0357.jpg Updates - Guatemala Equine Therapy and PSE Happenings! Linda tests the walking pace of this horse. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1558305676600-1HM709KJP6D0KJNJX014/IMG_0358.jpg Updates - Guatemala Equine Therapy and PSE Happenings! Cesar Gonzalez hands the money over to the owner for the first horse to be trained for equine therapy while Humberto Solares looks on. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1558309512794-TLT3OIQ1B5VR27JY7TAJ/IMG_0360.jpg Updates - Guatemala Equine Therapy and PSE Happenings! Humberto poses with our new horse! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1558309902568-BDQOSM0K9FP57K8LNLSF/IMG_0300.jpg Updates - Guatemala Equine Therapy and PSE Happenings! Sam officially offers a saddle donated by Linda Grimmet of Lone Jack, Missouri for the equine therapy program. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1558310110257-TO8VXXUX8KPFAXUJ3POY/IMG_0392.jpg Updates - Guatemala Equine Therapy and PSE Happenings! Play.Story.Eat. training with pastors and leaders in Guatemala City. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1558312901233-ICUP9PJDDBJL44OMLEWL/IMG_0401.jpg Updates - Guatemala Equine Therapy and PSE Happenings! In our PSE training, Mike tells his story while Cesar translates. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1558313060011-LB5W8N9Y9ISDQDCOG3VB/IMG_0413.jpg Updates - Guatemala Equine Therapy and PSE Happenings! The first meeting of a Christian Rancher group in Ahuachapan, El Salvador. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1558313208975-ZHFEDU1YBF9J4JFELZ4R/IMG_0414.jpg Updates - Guatemala Equine Therapy and PSE Happenings! Sam speaks to the group how horses can teach us about God. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1558313275787-2IBX1U37OOFH4VPMCTHH/IMG_0421.jpg Updates - Guatemala Equine Therapy and PSE Happenings! These ladies are making Pupusas for the group. If you ever go to El Salvador, you must try them! They are delicioso! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1558313738716-0IMBTD31BCVI5NX3HRMR/IMG_0377.jpg Updates - Guatemala Equine Therapy and PSE Happenings! Sam has fun with the kids in a Play.Story.Eat. group at Humberto´s house in Santa Rosa de Lima, Guatemala. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1558313943795-CD4ZL13NT0PTA93I6ADO/IMG_0378.jpg Updates - Guatemala Equine Therapy and PSE Happenings! At a senior citizens program near Quesada, Guatemala, Cesar introduces our group. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1558314101706-JMQEEY8V430UN7LVNEKR/IMG_0382.jpg Updates - Guatemala Equine Therapy and PSE Happenings! Frank shares his story to a receptive group. https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2019/5/8/teams-heading-to-guatemala-honduras-and-el-salvador monthly 0.5 2019-05-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1557346608087-2DP99JMODGBMLR158XR1/IMG_0210%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Teams Heading to Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador Barbara Harshner, a horse trainer from Lone Jack, Missouri, gives some pointers to our equine therapy team getting ready to go to Guatemala. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1557347239102-LILFYCVAJQPXALHFPJL1/IMG_9628%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Teams Heading to Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador Cesar speaks to a group of Kekchi pastors at their annual meeting in January to invite them to come back in May for training. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1557347981667-KV0AQASPDAJJJI1R61WD/IMG_1125%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Teams Heading to Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador In La Ceiba, Honduras, last February, my wife Nola stands in front of an area that will be teeming with people during the days of their annual fair in May. https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2019/4/18/1002-prayer-revisited-with-new-friends monthly 0.5 2019-04-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1555623043992-AO6CVS1X6FKGYDFXGN4W/IMG_0106.jpg Updates - Luke 10:2 Prayer with New Friends At a meal at Sam and Judy Anderson’s in Sibley, Missouri, we enjoyed some tasty deer steaks and all the fixin’s! From left to right around the table are Cesar Gonzalez, Elba Gonzalez, Michael Macias, Carla Macias, Sam, Judy, and my wife Nola. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1555620576289-RFV712A6M3KX974O4EVY/fa1e9933-412e-4699-b2c2-9e8dc8c57632.jpg Updates - Luke 10:2 Prayer with New Friends On Sunday, April 7th, we gave a short mission report at Top Hand Cowboy Church in Valley Mills, Texas. From left to right are Bill Burrows, me, Greg Moore (pastor of Top Hand), Elba, Cesar, and Frank Milano. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1555674648102-875IBZ2JEI2TDWHGWQP7/Cracker%2BBarrel%2Bwith%2BRick%2Band%2BFrank.jpg Updates - Luke 10:2 Prayer with New Friends At a Cracker Barrel near Fort Worth, Texas, we reconnected with Frank Milano and Rick Watson (sitting on the same side of the table with Cesar). Both of these men have been to Honduras on mission trips with us. And both have been part of the start-up of several cowboy churches in Texas. In fact, Frank was a member of the first official cowboy church that was started in the 80’s at Billy Bob’s in Fort Worth—known as the world’s largest honky tonk! Great story! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1555619914722-XXF1TWQSROZ03NM8QB7J/IMG_0178.jpg Updates - Luke 10:2 Prayer with New Friends One day in Fort Worth, Cesar and Elba enjoyed a stagecoach ride at the world famous stockyards! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1555672582318-8XYT8U9F7YORZL02A5B2/LQ%2BTaste%2Bof%2BGuatemala.jpg Updates - Luke 10:2 Prayer with New Friends While speaking to folks at LifeQuest Church in Belton, MO, Steve, Nola, Elba, and Cesar shared how team members can share their faith story in cross-cultural settings in Guatemala. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1555677096061-G88P0YOS6SKZNNMLHDXU/Elba%252Band%252BChris%252BPinion.jpg Updates - Luke 10:2 Prayer with New Friends Pastor Chris Pinion greeted Elba as we entered the building of LifeQuest Church in Belton, Missouri. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1555619337262-3GRJ0UN6715BR71T48DS/IMG_0078.jpg Updates - Luke 10:2 Prayer with New Friends Elba Gonzalez taught some of the ladies at LifeQuest Church how to make tortillas. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1555619476017-JFJX4I36S3X6H7SPUYM4/IMG_0107.jpg Updates - Luke 10:2 Prayer with New Friends With a group of friends at First Baptist of Avilla, Missouri, Elba shows how to flip the tortillas without a spatula! On the right, Joann Clark tries her hand at it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1555673771664-M36NZMRIR2JBNJPRWE9G/Cesar%2Band%2BMichael%2BWright.jpg Updates - Luke 10:2 Prayer with New Friends Cesar and Michael Wright, of Oak Grove, Missouri, pause for a picture between stories of surviving in the wilds of Alaska and Cesar sharing how he grew up in Guatemala. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1555673677925-3N8ILUJXYXMNM5034UAW/Elba%2Band%2Bthe%2Bcolonel.jpg Updates - Luke 10:2 Prayer with New Friends Elba hang’n with Colonel Sanders https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1555669981130-JLDGV93F082N8SM2HISM/IMG_0060.jpg Updates - Luke 10:2 Prayer with New Friends In Omaha, Nebraska, Dr. Kristin Reed graciously performed a complete eye exam for Cesar and Elba—saving them time and money in getting current prescriptions for eye-wear before returning to Guatemala. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1555619720448-P4VJ18JZNVMYVRH1WLEU/IMG_0132.jpg Updates - Luke 10:2 Prayer with New Friends Near Benbrook, Texas, we visited Mark Welch’s farm where he builds working windmills. This particular windmill provides all the water for his house. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1555619812391-L2KAMRKED6QKCGT358ZG/IMG_0140.jpg Updates - Luke 10:2 Prayer with New Friends Mark Welch (center) explains how his windmills work. Frank Milano (left) and Tim Tucker (right) look on. When Mark was in Guatemala last year, ranchers were intrigued by Mark’s windmill experience and are asking him to help them figure out if windmills would be practical for watering their cattle. https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2019/3/22/cesar-and-elba-in-nebraska monthly 0.5 2019-03-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1553285013307-QZYALDBDJM8WOOBA0XW7/IMG_0034%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Cesar and Elba Freeze in Nebraska! Cesar and Elba posed for a wintry picture outside of Rex and Deb Kelley’s home. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1553287739889-H0NPRPYWYQ3H2ZIKW2S1/IMG_9978%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Cesar and Elba Freeze in Nebraska! David Martinez (in white shirt), expressed his gratitude after the service on Sunday, March 10th, when his Norfolk congregation (the Hispanic group of Northern Heights Baptist) surprised him with a spontaneous birthday party and pot luck. Note the week after we left, severe flooding took place in Norfolk, and David and many in his congregation holed up in the church one night due to rising waters. As of this writing, all are well. (See pic in prayer section.) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1553288038622-L83JOVOWZPSRMOGSNDEZ/IMG_0014%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Cesar and Elba Freeze in Nebraska! Cesar spoke to David Martinez’ Bible Institute group in Norfolk, Nebraska, about the Play. Story. Eat. process. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1553286881491-GT01B78F6MAMU6KXI2MY/Slide4%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Cesar and Elba Freeze in Nebraska! Elba showed some girls at the AWANA “Taste of Guatemala” night in Burwell, Nebraska, how to make tortillas. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1553287061473-KGW63KJ0CUG2OGVZ6Q7O/Slide7%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Cesar and Elba Freeze in Nebraska! The team jumped rope at Burwell Baptist Church Awana program. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1553369785575-RLFVR6TP2O215TWBR5A1/IMG_20190309_101305449+%281%29.jpg Updates - Cesar and Elba Freeze in Nebraska! “The Wagon Train” at Burwell Baptist Church PSE Training Camp was a great experience! It’s a group exercise that allows everyone to share and pray for every other person present in one-on-one huddles. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1553294502211-T4OFS2VEGFA11Z7KPHJ6/maxresdefault%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Cesar and Elba Freeze in Nebraska! This is downtown Norfolk on March 15th. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1553290156151-Q2ROZUBMS5IVCFHB6RKF/flood%2Bevacuation%2BNorfolk%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Cesar and Elba Freeze in Nebraska! Folks set up sleeping spaces in the Northern Heights Baptist Church in Norfolk, Nebraska. https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2019/2/25/the-realities-of-border-issues-affecting-our-friends-in-latin-america monthly 0.5 2019-02-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1551109888105-ZAWBEA5ZWCH746PGKUOT/IMG_9327%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - U.S. Borders are Enticing Our Friends in Latin America These men took me down to their community water hole before one of our newest groups gathered for the first time near Quesada, Guatemala. After talking about their ideas for pumping water up to the community, I snapped this picture and asked the young man with the US flag on his shirt a question. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1551116441275-ESS7J6KCGWH12U6KGQNE/History%2Bpic%2Bof%2BJason%2Bin%2Bjungle%2Bshowing%2Bpics%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - U.S. Borders are Enticing Our Friends in Latin America In January of 2004, on our first trip to the jungle, Jason Neland takes a digital snapshot of the children and then, to their squeals of delight, shows them their pictures! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1551117954696-I5ZWR18MUNEDSO4AHFFG/IMG_8004%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - U.S. Borders are Enticing Our Friends in Latin America I took this picture last year of these Kekchi teens using their family cell phone to entertain themselves. These girls were taking pictures of what we were doing and showing their friends! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1551133057969-M6R3BF1GKDJOT31Q35D1/IMG_9563%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - U.S. Borders are Enticing Our Friends in Latin America In a closing prayer at a church near Rinconcito, Guatemala, the church prays for our partnership and a mission trip that their young people plan to take with us to the jungle in a few months. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1551133178015-1E3WU85LJ5FLJ737ORXZ/IMG_9691%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - U.S. Borders are Enticing Our Friends in Latin America Rex Kelley and Ray Gurney pose with the nucleus of a new church in the jungle. The pastor is not pictured here, but in private he told me that he was seriously considering joining a family member in the U.S. working on a roofing crew. Please pray the pastor stays to lead this flock! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1551133326951-HZMJVHF75O760LRZWPO0/IMG_9699%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - U.S. Borders are Enticing Our Friends in Latin America A pastor’s gathering in Por Venir, Guatemala, met to pray with us shortly before we left that area for Honduras. Several of these pastors have been involved in soccer evangelism, and Cesar wanted to make sure that they knew to come help us train other Kekchi pastors in May. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1551133826043-PT07MVC3G7LF75XJIEZH/IMG_9628%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - U.S. Borders are Enticing Our Friends in Latin America Cesar speaks to a group of Kekchi pastors in Fray de las Casas, Guatemala. Leaders from this group are committing to help our Kekchi pastors in locations we have worked for many years to learn how to use Kekchi language Bible tools. In May we plan to come back for PSE training with this group. Because of a new road, this more mature group is much more accessible to our younger group of churches. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1551130595748-AEKNBNSW1BABBHA9SLUJ/IMG_9826%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - U.S. Borders are Enticing Our Friends in Latin America Nola and I enjoyed a rest stop near the coastal town of Tela, Honduras. It was great having Nola come down and join us in our week in Honduras. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1551133499413-IKV3P395EXK6YVJMHDIO/IMG_9717%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - U.S. Borders are Enticing Our Friends in Latin America At a restaurant overlooking the ocean near La Ceiba, Honduras, we enjoyed a meal with Adonay, our friend at the head of the table, who will be leading a new Christian Rancher group. As a leader in a Cattlemen’s Association, he later took us to their meeting. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1551133595256-D4HIH0BW3J2GZT5GF92R/IMG_9719%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - U.S. Borders are Enticing Our Friends in Latin America For you food lovers, here was my steamed fish with rice, salad, and fried plantains. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1551122919427-HAIB6OH5TVE1LRWYNIV9/IMG_9727%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - U.S. Borders are Enticing Our Friends in Latin America At our hotel in La Ceiba, we were reunited with some friends we met a few years ago on the other side of Honduras. Fernanda, the girl across the table from me, and Junior, the young man sitting next to me, were students at the National University of Agriculture in Catacamas and part of a student-led Christian Rancher group. Now they are engaged and living in La Ceiba, where they grew up. In 2015, they visited Texas Tech University with a group of bull riders as a part of their exchange studies in agronomy. During one week, I took them around the Dallas/Fort Worth region of Texas, meeting with cowboy churches and friends. Here we are reminiscing and talking about starting Christian Rancher groups in their region. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1551128958374-77Y3R12J6YZOQNRIUGOT/IMG_1147%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - U.S. Borders are Enticing Our Friends in Latin America Standing at the back of the property of the Cattlemen’s Association in La Ceiba, Honduras, you can see the runway in the background for their international airport. Standing left to right is Cesar Gonzalez, Ray Gurney, Rex Kelley, and my wife Nola. Rex couldn’t help but be excited about the possibility of one day flying his airplane here! Please pray with him on that. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1551129068721-W7XWG9BXVRN3MVWKTEY5/IMG_1162%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - U.S. Borders are Enticing Our Friends in Latin America In our meeting with the leadership of the Cattlemen’s Association, they were enthusiastic about what we are doing with Christian Rancher groups and asked if we could help them start a group on their premises. You might notice Adonay seated to my left. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1551129185264-8G1NZQLG1PVRL0PPKVMV/IMG_1164%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - U.S. Borders are Enticing Our Friends in Latin America At the back of the association property is this picnic area, and when Cesar asked the leadership group if they would allow a group to meet there, they enthusiastically agreed. So we took a moment to pray that God would do great things from that spot. Again, you can see the runway in the background. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1551132458128-DGNSBGU1ZUN39P0SSLGA/IMG_9940%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - U.S. Borders are Enticing Our Friends in Latin America On what was supposed to be our last day in Guatemala, this group of friends came over to Cesar’s place to visit and wish us well. During this meeting, we got word from our airline that our flight was canceled! One of the volcanoes near Guatemala City spewed some ash in the air and shut down the airport for a day. We got home one day later than we had planned but with no other catastrophes! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1551132092491-P9XZ55WLLTE0DI94KQ6W/IMG_9834%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - U.S. Borders are Enticing Our Friends in Latin America Nola and Rex listen to the guide tell how this stella chronicles the history of one of the Mayan kings. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1551132372134-V3LQJBTULZ7NQ54D7RID/IMG_9885%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - U.S. Borders are Enticing Our Friends in Latin America Ray, whose name in Spanish means “king,” stands in front of the area under the arch where the king would sit and rule. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1551132277079-0LZ7406QDVQ79W2C7ZBT/IMG_9879%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - U.S. Borders are Enticing Our Friends in Latin America Nola and I are overlooking the giant field and stands used for a soccer-like game where the captain from the winning team was sacrificed to the gods so that the Mayan nation’s crops would be fruitful in the kingdom. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1551138148828-VCA284FPFDLU9RCZNLFQ/IMG_9844%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - U.S. Borders are Enticing Our Friends in Latin America This stone, in the shape of a turtle, was used by the Mayan king to cut himself over the indented bowl area and let the blood flow down the groove to the ground. The blood of the king was thought to be sufficient to appease the gods for the sins of the people. Mayan preacher alert… Oh, but there is the King of glory! The King of all kings who shed His blood, so that no one would ever have to make another sacrifice to appease the God of the universe. One perfect sacrifice offered one time for all! (Hebrews 10:8-18) Man, these Mayan rocks can preach! Can I get a witness?!! https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2019/1/15/news-from-guatemala-1 monthly 0.5 2019-01-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1547606868077-E2F9KWH8LEBKD27GAPFN/IMG_9312%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - The Latest News from Guatemala In a PSE group in Santa Rosa de Lima, Cesar looks on as Humberto plays a birthday song on his guitar while his wife Enma brings out a birthday cake for a member of their group. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1547608342945-WM1RUEXPOSL1FAEEZF9R/IMG_9341%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - The Latest News from Guatemala In a first group meeting near Quesada, Cesar explains the rules for a cup stacking game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1547608549457-FSA6LD5V94E2RCT8V096/IMG_9360%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - The Latest News from Guatemala In a ladies group near Quesada, the ladies pause at the end to share a tamale with one another. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1547609544317-S054ZINSI3QUGDRO3HAG/IMG_9361%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - The Latest News from Guatemala This tamale was cooked in banana leaves and is popular to eat at Christmas time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1547609845421-6EETDA8V5XXLZ1VVJH9K/IMG_9362%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - The Latest News from Guatemala This group near Arenal begins their meeting sharing what they are grateful for. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1547610213357-XAFBBCX51JP00PPID6RG/IMG_9365%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - The Latest News from Guatemala Another PSE group meeting under a tree near San Pedro Alvarado. In asking what this group could do for the community, they discussed working with local officials to help clean up the area around the lake. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1547611095466-P6EEIYVQVV0MO2N3LGDD/IMG_9368%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - The Latest News from Guatemala The meeting at the lake is only a few miles from the Pacific Ocean. This seafood soup had a little of everything in it! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1547611422972-OIPXQ7S1E2JOX4AJ8K1K/IMG_9373%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - The Latest News from Guatemala The ladies who fixed the soup allowed me a moment to snap their picture. The structure in the background is the framing of a restaurant that will be run by the local community to raise funds for maintaining the lake. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1547611701149-QMUJDNP1KF65OZE0PUTJ/IMG_9413%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - The Latest News from Guatemala Here is a meeting of a group in Las Bolsitas, near Cesar’s home. For those who know the story, this is the dog bite church! It got started in a house where I got bit by a dog. Note that they have moved to this new space in the middle of coffee trees (which is what you can see in the background). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1547612129158-X8WOT0UN0F64TNZ03AMB/IMG_9407%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - The Latest News from Guatemala The group in Las Bolsitas started with a children’s group. To reach more of the parents, Cesar offered a prize to each kid who ran home and got their mothers. This boy is thrilled that he got his mother and will soon get a prize! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1547612986997-QGU13LWZHWJIN1XCMQYZ/IMG_9418%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - The Latest News from Guatemala Sanders, a 12 year old boy, prays at the end of our meeting in Las Bolsitas. Called “the preacher,” Sanders has been a believer for a couple of years and owes his dedication to God delivering him his life when he had no hope for living through a serious illness. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1547614779821-89R0NTRGLWXW2M4KEQKY/IMG_9466%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - The Latest News from Guatemala In a children’s event at a church near Cesar’s home in Amberes, these teachers enjoy a moment when Cesar gives prizes for various children who participated in the story time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1547615547078-APZAT09XHA5XVMYBYHC7/IMG_9480%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - The Latest News from Guatemala At the end of the children´s meeting, Cesar presented colored pot holders to some of the women and asked this volunteer to share what the colors mean. https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2018/12/27/between-christmas-2018-and-2019 monthly 0.5 2018-12-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1545962742331-NYCA9MR0J6E7A73LK4IL/2018+4+Grandkids+pic+%281%29.jpg Updates - Between Christmas 2018 and a Happy New Year Thanks to the efforts of Josh and Kristin directing and cajoling, we got this treasured picture a couple of days before Christmas. Our four fun and squirmy grandkids are (from left to right) Zeke, Landon (in Brayden’s lap), Brayden, and Bridget! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1546275707695-CH5CCDMF0DIV2PHG0SBV/Reeds%2Bin%2BCanadian%2BRockies%2B2018.jpg Updates - Between Christmas 2018 and a Happy New Year Here’s a line-up of the Reed family crew. From left to right is Bobbi, Bridget (in the backpack carrier), Ryan, Kristin (with child!), Josh, me, Brayden, Nola, Zeke, Liz, and Zac! The family vacation in Banff, Canada was so much fun! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1545976198555-8N2Y1BWDDRDCPZP18IID/2017%2BSteve%2BNola%2BBridget%2Bat%2Bwedding%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Between Christmas 2018 and a Happy New Year At a Christmas wedding last year (2017), Nola and I got to sneak in a pic with Bridget! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1546275448128-S90Q387E23V9DUU88K9Y/image1%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Between Christmas 2018 and a Happy New Year Zeke on his birthday last January. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1546275819533-W0T4V6EVY7SBIJA4VDIC/Zeke%2BOSU%2BCowpoke%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Between Christmas 2018 and a Happy New Year Zeke came into this world an OSU cowboy! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1546275235900-U0CI7Z4GFI9VACYIX6FL/2018%2BNola%2Band%2BBridget%2Bluau%2Bpic%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Between Christmas 2018 and a Happy New Year Bridget goes Hawaiian this past summer at her Mom’s daycare. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1545975641618-LPOXQ0N5O5AHI6NILB4W/2018%2BZeke%2Bbackpack%2Bsnooze%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Between Christmas 2018 and a Happy New Year While on our family vacation in Banff, Zeke took a snooze in his daddy’s backpack carrier. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1545975529703-VHR7FGH5T80DXQDC6T3J/2018%252B3%252Bgrandkids%252B%2525281%252529.jpg Updates - Between Christmas 2018 and a Happy New Year Bridget, Brayden, and Zeke got a buggy ride at the Omaha zoo this past summer! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1545975868454-Z4RXPD5UAXAXZ6UL02IY/2018%2BNola%2Bwith%2Bhands%2Bfull%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Between Christmas 2018 and a Happy New Year Noni (Nola’s grandma name) has her hands full with Bridget and Zeke. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1545976047862-J33TMLJF2886KVYV4AKB/2018+Nola+and+Zeke+touching+fingers+%281%29.jpg Updates - Between Christmas 2018 and a Happy New Year Here’s Noni doing her magic with Zeke. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1546275116074-TEWCYEZC2V3EYBFFN5VN/2018%2BBrayden%2Bholds%2Bpaci%2Bfor%2BLandon%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Between Christmas 2018 and a Happy New Year Brayden does his big brother routine with Landon. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1545976264319-NIL6R0ZQGL7HLX6RLCTI/2018+Landon+in+Husker+gear+%281%29.jpg Updates - Between Christmas 2018 and a Happy New Year This is Landon, a month or so after coming off the assembly line in September. In spite of our best influences, his parents plan to brainwash him into becoming a Nebraska Cornhusker! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1545975718311-ZUWHMJDVY51FBLI07LY8/2018+4+cousins+play+the+piano+%281%29.jpg Updates - Between Christmas 2018 and a Happy New Year At Christmas the kids all wanted to play a Christmas carol! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1546275027194-EN8RYIM1STJJ5AW25YFT/2018%2Bfamily%2Bstanding%2Bon%2Bglass%2B%25281%2529.jpg Updates - Between Christmas 2018 and a Happy New Year Here’s one last shot of our crew, all hoping you had a wonderful Christmas and wishing you a happy New Year! https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2018/12/4/jungle-pics monthly 0.5 2018-12-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1543959072183-4L7LN6Y53GMV7JB1A2OR/IMG_9002.JPG Updates - Just Another Day in Paradise! The first morning in the jungle, I took Aden out on a run near the town of El Paraiso (Paradise), and we saw this waterfall. Yep, it was just another day in paradise! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1543958362794-W5RFJ6YQSBX6R1L5Y7XX/IMG_9016+%281%29.JPG Updates - Just Another Day in Paradise! After seeing the waterfall, we decided to jump in and found that the cool waterfall fell into a hot spring! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1543958555477-ENRS2S5HNC5DIJRGE7MY/IMG_9024+%281%29.JPG Updates - Just Another Day in Paradise! As we soaked in the beauty, I looked up to snap this picture. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1543959563697-CJCRO7K9CMYCEI3TS0KA/IMG_9037+%281%29.JPG Updates - Just Another Day in Paradise! A few hours after being in El Paraiso, Aden and I are looking from a tree-house above the waterfall called Las Conchas. Don’t tell his mom, but later on, we jumped off the 30-foot waterfall in the background! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1543959791458-GLCVGWL5AK7POR0V5OO7/IMG_9030+%281%29.JPG Updates - Just Another Day in Paradise! another view of Las Conchas https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1543963785574-T8BDZUA2KO8UTBSAX4IJ/IMG_9041+%281%29.JPG Updates - Just Another Day in Paradise! Aden pauses to admire this view of the river El Chiyu from right above the falls. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1543965010148-X5I3FXSZXGSAH78HR7MF/IMG_9063+%281%29.JPG Updates - Just Another Day in Paradise! The next morning we met with a gathering of pastors in Sepoc. As I look around the circle, each man represents a church that has been started in the past 15 plus years. This day, Cesar is leading a discussion about how, with the opening of a new road, it is more feasible to connect with a Kekchi Baptist association only 3 hours away for training and encouragement. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1543964771202-N8TVO2AVHXDFQUJZHHCI/IMG_9074+%281%29.JPG Updates - Just Another Day in Paradise! After the meeting in Sepoc, Aden and I, along with three other men, hiked about an hour up and over a mountain to Ochul Choch. Here Aden is happy to get up and start our first day of hiking. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1543965723608-N7TXXWQ9TAJWMKSC5IZ7/IMG_9073+%281%29.JPG Updates - Just Another Day in Paradise! It’s almost impossible to capture the perspective of how steep this trail gets. I’m looking almost straight down to take this picture of Aden and our friend Cesario, who is carrying my backpack. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1543965533961-6DE86E1K6BNV1I6RUAYX/IMG_9075+%281%29.JPG Updates - Just Another Day in Paradise! On one of the lower flat sections of the trail, I was grateful that this was the “dry” season, and we had virtually no mud to slop through. Behind Aden is Cesario, Lorenzo (pastor of the church at Ochul Choch), and Pedro. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1543964504947-F03OVUE4BJA5KL1HGJ2I/IMG_9078+%281%29.JPG Updates - Just Another Day in Paradise! We stopped for a break in front of Lorenzo’s house. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1543965995791-PEFY0ZRM2ZR1QG98V47P/IMG_9113+%281%29.JPG Updates - Just Another Day in Paradise! Once we made it to Ochul Choch, our friends wanted to see if we were interested in riding a horse and then playing soccer! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1543966212610-9LJMTOEZWALXDXL90TTG/IMG_9115+%281%29.JPG Updates - Just Another Day in Paradise! Aden jumps in to play before it gets dark and the church service will begin. Soccer has been the primary evangelism tool used by our Kekchi churches to reach new villages with the gospel. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1543967360195-JOWIHQZ49MYUJ5PE8YF0/IMG_9124+%281%29.JPG Updates - Just Another Day in Paradise! A Kekchi worship service begins in Ochul Choch. The song leader calls out the songs to the base fiddle player and the marimba team. Lights are provided by a gasoline powered generator that is rumbling outside. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1544021676598-4IV64FX916E0ZY3A5WW0/IMG_9121+%281%29.JPG Updates - Just Another Day in Paradise! As the service began, one of the mothers hung her baby on a hook where she slept soundly the entire 2 and a half hour service! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1543967805640-C8U61YIFO4RXKCIYILBV/IMG_9128+%281%29.JPG Updates - Just Another Day in Paradise! Lorenzo helping lead the children as they sing for the congregation. After this I got involved in the service and forgot to take any further picks! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1543951183178-KIKGQ7DJJZC9UEUB1WHS/20181111_162454_HDR.jpg Updates - Just Another Day in Paradise! Aden was fascinated by all the critters around us. Here is one of our gecko roommates. Unfortunately he couldn’t save us 15% on our car insurance! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1543968641351-RZP68Y111TAS12E99T4G/IMG_9132+%281%29.JPG Updates - Just Another Day in Paradise! The next morning, and only a few days before Thanksgiving, these turkeys were grateful that they were from Guatemala! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1543966430430-8S9MUHT3HJ5UWAAMGS7Z/IMG_9138+%281%29.JPG Updates - Just Another Day in Paradise! After spending the night hanging in a couple of hammocks in the church, Lorenzo and his wife and daughter show us where they are working their fields. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1543966654195-WJTJSB9UYEOQMSEMXDM2/IMG_9142+%281%29.JPG Updates - Just Another Day in Paradise! Lorenzo looks over his field of cardamom. These bushes produce a berry used to make perfumes. He and his wife sell this for money to give to the church. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1543966997983-TYLNBYJNQLODX8RB905M/IMG_9148+%281%29.JPG Updates - Just Another Day in Paradise! Going under the cardamom plants, Lorenzo wants to show us how they harvest the berries. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1543966841717-NHAYEUW1HTZABLXR0CJ9/IMG_9147+%281%29.JPG Updates - Just Another Day in Paradise! Lorenzo’s wife is picking the berries off the cardamom as they grow out of the base of the plant. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1543971145424-GN9P6RTPXGEOQKPQPQC6/20181112_175606_HDR+%281%29.jpg Updates - Just Another Day in Paradise! Here is a piece of chocolate cooked in a hut in the jungle. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1543970767092-BGNJZQZJJ9F0LCRMS0D4/IMG_9152+%281%29.JPG Updates - Just Another Day in Paradise! Here is the cacao fruit. When it is peeled the beans come out white as seen in the basket. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1543971496271-Q747BCBXCOH4G0PNYAFQ/IMG_9153+%281%29.JPG Updates - Just Another Day in Paradise! Once the cacao beans dry, they look like this. Then they can be cooked into a drink or mixed with sugar to make what we recognize as chocolate! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1544019229868-5VA3UOWP15H3CJUWVLYC/20181112_154222_HDR+%281%29.jpg Updates - Just Another Day in Paradise! This bridge will allow the construction of a road that will cover much of the ground we hiked on our last day in the jungle. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1544019423027-2TK3K63JRCQ4T484KBUV/IMG_9204+%281%29.JPG Updates - Just Another Day in Paradise! This swinging bridge that has handled foot traffic for many years may become obsolete in the near future. Watch out for that first step! It’s a doozy! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1543968097999-982XNFF5YN8ZU2D9VXHH/IMG_9216+%281%29.JPG Updates - Just Another Day in Paradise! Coming out of the jungle, Aden reflects on his week in Guatemala, and he admires one of Guatemala’s several mountain ranges of volcanoes. This one is near Ipala, Guatemala. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1543968340725-YF5KKZH54LSUJ85FCBPI/20181115_082714+%281%29.jpg Updates - Just Another Day in Paradise! All cleaned up and heading home! Aden and I are grateful to you for your prayers during our time in Guatemala. https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2018/11/28/from-guatemala-to-thanksgiving-to-you monthly 0.5 2018-11-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1543517533370-U9LLMNTYXERNE4WVODX8/IMG_20181117_161328526+%281%29.jpg Updates - Thanksgiving Flows From Guatemala to You Jacob Burrows and Melissa Hochheimer about to be tied into a knot, crushed, and eaten… Sorry, I meant married! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1543517327674-4CHASYXJN4WKHKHJJZZF/IMG_20181117_170258106+%281%29.jpg Updates - Thanksgiving Flows From Guatemala to You Melissa & Jacob Burrows and Joyce & Bill Burrows https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1543445818988-AS42O6JQ8G2S2RLA8R40/Picture6.jpg Updates - Thanksgiving Flows From Guatemala to You Seated around the table from left to right, our Kansas City team consisted of Erica Whittington, Ty DeMint, Joe Cooper, me, Jeff Kroenlein, and Tim Goulet. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1543446820010-JW268IDY0595AU816A5M/Picture4.jpg Updates - Thanksgiving Flows From Guatemala to You Here are the staples of the Guatemala diet—beans, eggs, and tortillas. The eggs can be fixed almost any way you like, and this meal can be eaten for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Here, Ty was loading up on the green hot sauce! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1543445652853-B2BBR99JTJLU4MVDRYIH/Picture5.jpg Updates - Thanksgiving Flows From Guatemala to You A new Christian Rancher group met near Pedro de Alvarado, just a few miles from the El Salvador border. This group had been meeting under a tree, but thanks to a donation from Cross Creek Baptist Mission in Oak Grove, Missouri, they had just recently put up a tin roof to shed the water for the rainy season. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1543441412563-BWIC9UF46WOA1IH0ZRBS/IMG_8829.JPG Updates - Thanksgiving Flows From Guatemala to You Tim Goulet (center) is teaching Ty and Erica how to make balloon figures. Balloons were a huge hit for all ages every place we went. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1543442899493-U8K04BCEMTVQY1XFGUHQ/IMG_8941.JPG Updates - Thanksgiving Flows From Guatemala to You Joe helps keep everyone supplied in balloons at a senior citizens center near Quesada, Guatemala. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1543443223029-7HDX7VIKJL8IGLZNEYYR/IMG_8962.JPG Updates - Thanksgiving Flows From Guatemala to You Ty shares a moment with a little girl in Quesada. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1543446610619-FQS7RJCGWS03N7FNFLIG/Picture1.jpg Updates - Thanksgiving Flows From Guatemala to You I’m doing my best to translate Tim’s instructions on making a sword with the balloons to a group near Pedro de Alvarado. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1543441576473-RZ6GLDDRY263ZRSVF34L/IMG_8849.JPG Updates - Thanksgiving Flows From Guatemala to You Jeff, Erica, Ty, and Joe hang’n with some new friends at their home in Las Bolsitas, a village where a new church has been started. It’s also the home of “Tigra” the dog who bit me nearly two years ago! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1543441944125-CKBN7ODFZXW7EZMNFUJ4/IMG_8908.JPG Updates - Thanksgiving Flows From Guatemala to You Tim speaks to a youth group in Santa Rosa de Lima through a young interpreter from that group. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1543442137059-HWIFIJWKKDJEZRKCJ7HQ/IMG_8919.JPG Updates - Thanksgiving Flows From Guatemala to You Erica stirs up the mixture of a home-made cleaning solution that women near Quesada, Guatemala, are selling to supplement their family income. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1543442409430-ADCGO1Q94KTCSV6779GL/IMG_8935.JPG Updates - Thanksgiving Flows From Guatemala to You Cesar gives a gift on behalf of our group to a leader of a women’s group near Quesada, Guatemala, to serve as seed money to buy materials for a micro business multiplication project that makes and sells lotion for women. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1543442707243-8SK59KD2KXJKO7RBUKOX/IMG_8938.JPG Updates - Thanksgiving Flows From Guatemala to You Erica teaches some ladies how to make a dog with their balloons. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1543444160087-PFV3VQNX7SRSIFG3ML1N/IMG_8979.JPG Updates - Thanksgiving Flows From Guatemala to You Ty and Jeff get in on a group exercise at the senior center in Santa Cruz Narranjo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1543443975807-XWRUUVBVAAJ6QJ99H8W3/IMG_8969.JPG Updates - Thanksgiving Flows From Guatemala to You Ladies at the senior citizens center in Santa Cruz Narranjo perform Guatemala’s official dance. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1543443723414-GWQ87JMWN4SPKK53HSND/IMG_8988.JPG Updates - Thanksgiving Flows From Guatemala to You Jeff enjoys a moment as one of the regulars at the senior citizens center in Santa Cruz Narranjo invited him to dance. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1543443358154-VAR73KLY6K0MMUBRLAH8/IMG_8951.JPG Updates - Thanksgiving Flows From Guatemala to You Ty shows us how to play a game unstacking and restacking cups. Cesar is directing the time keeper to start the stopwatch. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1543446727703-SZ6ZMBY261JM8I4M1CJR/Picture3.jpg Updates - Thanksgiving Flows From Guatemala to You Cesar loves to have groups play Connect Four while they wait for people to gather. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1543443632188-PSPUVCIC7N044R9BY2Z6/IMG_8947.JPG Updates - Thanksgiving Flows From Guatemala to You Erica expresses gratitude to one of the workers at a senior citizen center near Quesada. https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2018/8/6/where-dogs-bite-god-plants-a-church monthly 0.5 2018-11-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1541433008363-WAVFA1RNHFO6HX4BO2LX/group+at+Day+of+dead.JPG Updates - Where A Dog Bites... God Plants a Church! Our first day in Guatemala, the team paused in a cemetery for the annual “Day of the Dead” celebration. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1541433160933-ESZPJKNIP7GC0Z8FP5VC/Tigra.jpg Updates - Where A Dog Bites... God Plants a Church! My friend Tigra, who bit me nearly two years ago. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1541433300749-U17X35A4E45NBDJ3QQD6/Team+with+Tigra%27s+Family.jpg Updates - Where A Dog Bites... God Plants a Church! In front of Tigra’s house, I took this picture of our group before we hiked to Cesar’s house. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1541433641939-1JCGPQ7UJDD2QZ2RKHW2/Children+at+Cesar%E2%80%99s+House.jpg Updates - Where A Dog Bites... God Plants a Church! About 60 children came for our children’s event at Cesar’s house. Here they sat for instructions before breaking into three groups. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1541433743096-PY8AIQ8I6O25K2V0OMA1/Alejandra+with+pineapple.jpg Updates - Where A Dog Bites... God Plants a Church! Alejandra served us our Crazy Pineapple. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1541433816011-4NSC9B2ORSE1M97GK9O4/Ty+Joe+and+Tim.jpg Updates - Where A Dog Bites... God Plants a Church! Ty, Joe, and Tim enjoyed the pineapple. https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2018/10/19/from-kansas-to-guatemala-and-back-god-is-moving monthly 0.5 2018-10-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1539949943172-92LQC057SLGOYFCS7VVF/IMG_8807+%281%29.JPG Updates - From Kansas to Guatemala God is Moving Bill and I enjoyed our time with the great folks of Cornerstone SBC of Hays, Kansas. What a great weekend! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1539951203508-VP3PD7NUGC2E8GIJSB9H/History+pic+of+Sepoc+baptism+Jose+and+Jim.jpg Updates - From Kansas to Guatemala God is Moving Here’s a picture of the first baptisms in Sepoc 13 years ago. This church is now the leader in the region in helping other churches get started. I hope to get pics of their recent baptisms. Stay tuned! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1539951057630-5N9YAWCPM0LYX6C1MGJN/History+pic+Sepoc+baptism+group.jpg Updates - From Kansas to Guatemala God is Moving This is one of my favorite jungle pictures of all time. It captures a new church reflecting on the significance of the baptisms they have just witnessed. https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2018/9/25/nebraska-connections monthly 0.5 2018-10-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1537902578344-OQJ3A2SK3N35YLE18SAJ/IMG_8793+%281%29.JPG Updates - PSE Training Camp Events in Hays, Kansas and Norfolk, Nebraska David Martinez speaks to Companerismo Cristiano, his congregation meeting at Northern Heights Baptist Church in Norfolk, Nebraska. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1537902464959-IPHUK2I5WX9Z9R8787AV/IMG_8796+%281%29.JPG Updates - PSE Training Camp Events in Hays, Kansas and Norfolk, Nebraska The Companerismo Cristiano congregation hung around to take a picture with me after the service. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1537902309187-XA3NP8VSPOOV255FULWW/IMG_8802+%281%29.JPG Updates - PSE Training Camp Events in Hays, Kansas and Norfolk, Nebraska In a fun surprise, I got reacquainted with my airplane friend, Julieta, here with her daughter after the Sunday service in Norfolk. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1537905842059-SAGBTFGRN0ZYUXHHRB38/Resized_20180918_122101_4325+%281%29.jpeg Updates - PSE Training Camp Events in Hays, Kansas and Norfolk, Nebraska At Primera Iglesia Bautista in South Sioux City, Nebraska, I got to hear about God’s moving in the churches in that region, and they allowed me a chance to share the Play. Story. Eat. story. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1537902927166-5ZX69FLFK4HY6ZN63AQR/Steve+Nola+and+Landon.jpg Updates - PSE Training Camp Events in Hays, Kansas and Norfolk, Nebraska Landon Michael Reed arrived off the assembly line September 20th weighing in at 8lbs 7oz. Nola and I got a chance to approve of Josh and Kristin’s hard work! https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2018/9/14/barbs-story monthly 0.5 2018-09-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1537225065046-1K2ZX8IE08FZ902PJQHQ/20180917_112937+%281%29.jpg Updates - Barb's Story ... a Testimony of Play. Story. Eat. in Kansas City Barb & Dick Cates https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2018/8/29/when-it-rains-gods-blessings-pour monthly 0.5 2018-08-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1535556176696-LQCXS62KJDEZB4XQ1W44/100_5702+%281%29.JPG Updates - When It Rains, God's Blessings Pour... Ray snapped a picture of the president of the Kekchi association of churches inviting our pastor friends in the jungle to join their group. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1535539885960-1NL3C2XHGEAG7HCKOFNV/PHOTO-2018-08-27-08-52-50.jpg Updates - When It Rains, God's Blessings Pour... Cesar's note on some spare calendar pages inaugurated the new Kekchi association of churches and their gathering dates for pastors and leaders. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1535555706580-9CPHIFQ22P698N97ANO6/100_5628+%281%29.JPG Updates - When It Rains, God's Blessings Pour... Ray Gurney poses with the nucleus of a new church in Sejux, Chahal, Guatemala, standing under their church's new roof. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1535539441569-WAU937WU9EOH0S4GHEBR/IMG_9486+%281%29.jpeg Updates - When It Rains, God's Blessings Pour... Thanks to Ray's church, Crosscreek Baptist Mission, since Ray's visit, this congregation has been able to finish their construction and get the box for hookup to electricity that just recently came to their village. This photo was sent to Cesar yesterday to show that they had just finished constructing the outside walls of their structure. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1535546753630-TEW4JI9AQGE91OZ86ENH/Muldrow+group+pic.jpg Updates - When It Rains, God's Blessings Pour... Rick and Karen Deason, far left, gather with a few of our friends from Muldrow, Oklahoma, who are dedicating themselves to being "a friend who loves Jesus" in their home town. https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2018/8/6/the-crazy-days-of-a-playstoryeat-summer monthly 0.5 2018-08-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1533582701989-AJQHFE8HDB6ZO38T4I21/Reeds+in+Canada+ontheglacier+2018.jpg Updates - The Crazy Days of a Play. Story. Eat. Summer The whole Reed clan poses for a chilly group picture during their Canadian vacation in June. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1533585726372-LDIR25TFAZLMBKBS6WUQ/2018-08-05-PHOTO-00000259+%281%29.jpg Updates - The Crazy Days of a Play. Story. Eat. Summer The water project in Sepoc was recently completed. The water is pumped from a spring below up to a couple of containers above. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1533585842587-N5GVJQHLIFKW14X2A6XR/2018-08-05-PHOTO-00000260+%281%29.jpg Updates - The Crazy Days of a Play. Story. Eat. Summer From the containers on the top of the hill, the water drops by gravity to the village of Sepoc. Here the workers turn on the faucet for the first time in their village! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1533585030073-Y5T5ZQ2FCCUBFZCVSIY6/IMG_0997+%281%29.jpg Updates - The Crazy Days of a Play. Story. Eat. Summer August 4th Nola and I celebrated our 34th anniversary in Chicago around a work trip for Nola. https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2018/6/20/the-momentum-of-little-things monthly 0.5 2018-06-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1529527445494-PNT5HWP1WCU91HPY58VA/IMG_0675.JPG Updates - Little Things Add Up Quick Here is a group picture of the Guatemala delegation that came to Valentine, Nebraska, for their rodeo in August of 2015. Marcos is on the far left. https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2018/5/30/im-not-going-to-kill-anybody-this-week monthly 0.5 2018-06-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1528310404301-UZQAB7JFLXEGQ0JFUUUD/DSC08050.JPG Updates - I'm Not Going to Kill Anybody This Week... In 2006, at a ranch near Jalpatagua, Guatemala, horse trainer, Byron Garwood, worked with a troubled horse that had never been saddled before. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1528310717662-XT5D15ZCR5VW9O4EPIY9/DSC08055.JPG Updates - I'm Not Going to Kill Anybody This Week... Within a couple of hours, Byron had the horse saddled and was riding it. This demonstration opened many invitations for us to go to cattlemen's associations all over Guatemala to talk about doing church for cowboys. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1527706466457-KB4V9ITDVH5O6J3LQ03A/IMG_5194+%281%29.JPG Updates - I'm Not Going to Kill Anybody This Week... David, a rancher from Poncaya, Honduras, shares his first act of obedience to Jesus in a Christian Rancher group. "I'm not going to kill anybody!" https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2018/5/25/d5zeqquypjsr2emjvcwz8e7mhmm9kl monthly 0.5 2018-06-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1527255621368-S0Y0Z5DQG1QOOP3KTQ3K/garbage+%281%29.jpg Updates - Talking Trash in Guatemala Opens Doors to Share the Gospel In most smaller villages in Guatemala, there is no garbage dump or designated place to throw trash. This has polluted many of their streams, rivers, and water-ways. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1527259259186-BZV2TNQG41WXMPSBBNX2/IMG_8235+%281%29.JPG Updates - Talking Trash in Guatemala Opens Doors to Share the Gospel Ray Gurney talks about his trash idea while walking through a beach community in Las Lisas, Guatemala. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1527263096520-MGYS54A0091B7S8WWFCO/IMG_8252+%281%29.JPG Updates - Talking Trash in Guatemala Opens Doors to Share the Gospel Cesar (seated in the hammock) speaks with Manuel on a boat trip to explore a protected river canal that is being negatively affected by trash. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1527253657220-11Y7PD7C8TRU2RKXDOQN/IMG_8359+%281%29.JPG Updates - Talking Trash in Guatemala Opens Doors to Share the Gospel In a village near San Pedro Alvarado, Guatemala, Manuel and a group of community leaders gather a group to talk about their trash problem. Before setting up for this meeting, a new Christian Rancher group was established that will make this project their way to demonstrate their love and concern for the people of their community. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1527708090614-XKGEIGOFS0WZ9RH0XX58/IMG_0265.JPG+%281%29.jpeg Updates - Talking Trash in Guatemala Opens Doors to Share the Gospel Tim Tucker, music and youth director for First Baptist of Benbrook, Texas, waits while I translate his words to the group. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1527707340579-9KUKUWB1IYDF8QMV12R5/IMG_2051+%281%29.JPG Updates - Talking Trash in Guatemala Opens Doors to Share the Gospel Mark Welch speaks to the group about his Dad's simple methodology in handling trash on his farm back in Texas. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1527253514945-9N0W7GIEWBDJL5DHNJFA/IMG_8352+%281%29.JPG Updates - Talking Trash in Guatemala Opens Doors to Share the Gospel The new Christian Rancher group met for the first time. Seated to the left of Cesar are Ray Gurney, Tim Tucker, and Mark Welch. This group committed to meeting every other week and will work to tackle the trash issue as a team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1527709383953-08CO0FW8VBVKZUAUNGAE/Strengthen+and+Encourage+Coffee+growers+%281%29.JPG Updates - Talking Trash in Guatemala Opens Doors to Share the Gospel Our friend Dario roasts another batch of coffee for us. Let us know you would like some, and we'll send it to you! https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2018/5/2/are-you-story-ready monthly 0.5 2018-05-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1525289996645-Y9SVHFUT22CZ82LVXWSK/IMG_8303+%281%29.JPG Updates - Make A Life-Giving Connection Today! 5 Years ago, Greg and Kendi Boller started the Lonestar Cowboy Church in their barn. Today, close to 100 strong come each Sunday. Greg is standing in the top left corner. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1525290264319-C9UMJTWZR48R7SQMP69T/IMG_8326+%281%29.JPG Updates - Make A Life-Giving Connection Today! This colt was born in an adjacent barn stall just a few hours before the Lonestar Cowboy Church began its Sunday service! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1525290607547-NJH285EKY90JGZEOVLAG/IMG_8340+%281%29.JPG Updates - Make A Life-Giving Connection Today! Greg and Kendi Boller with son, Ayden, and Bill Burrows. https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2018/4/19/how-do-you-measure-your-fish monthly 0.5 2018-04-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1524159534532-BMPXXUWUIOPEBT1HROLJ/fishing.jpg Updates - How do you catch fish? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1524158888127-W7NTDYWUW46TCPFNJNZM/2011+January+188.jpg Updates - How do you catch fish? In 2011, Cesar makes a point about horse trainer Gary Snider's story on a fun day with cowboys near Chapas Guatemala. Paul Embick of Long Pine, Nebraska looks on. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1524165486594-CHSBFN1HVH8TJU4X9NAX/IMG_2171.JPG Updates - How do you catch fish? Two friends converse at a cattle sale in Guatemala. https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2018/4/12/making-the-rounds-in-the-heartland monthly 0.5 2018-04-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1523535359977-8AIYHLUQMGXS4UZNZID3/IMG_3964+%281%29.jpg Updates - Making the Rounds in the Heartland Betty and Charles Alexander (and Cocoa, their chihuahua!) with me and Nola https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1523540164077-69ULR8M2CNB5YXZQUR8O/Aunt+Betty+and+puppets+%281%29.jpg Updates - Making the Rounds in the Heartland Here Betty poses with some puppets she made just before she sent them to Cuba. https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2018/3/28/ready-to-make-a-change-that-sticks-this-time monthly 0.5 2018-03-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1522257149405-ZI3P4RMI86H0KC4GF6QQ/JCC_0194-X2.jpg Updates - Ready for a resurrection? This Easter make a change that sticks https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1522251093204-GFNUI6O9RSBHMZZ33PNX/6-source-model.jpg Updates - Ready for a resurrection? This Easter make a change that sticks This chart depicts the six sources of influence in the book titled Influencer. Currently a team of us are working through this material to help refine our mission process. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1522252371284-LJAS0QIQR9H5UEA1AETU/cowgirl+for+christ+%281%29.jpg Updates - Ready for a resurrection? This Easter make a change that sticks https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2018/3/9/after-12-years-of-friendship-oscar-crosses-the-line-of-faith monthly 0.5 2018-03-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1520605502292-0WN6JB9Q7SQTTD9YT67Q/100_6088.JPG Updates - Your Witness Matters -- A Story 12 Years in the Making Cesar took this picture of the Guatemala team that visited Burwell, Nebraska in the summer of 2006. Note that Oscar is seated on the curb in the middle. His cousin Alex is in the green shirt next to him. Elba, Cesar's wife, is seated on the right. Rolando is second from the top right. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1521138601808-SUOGPSRA6FYU6LW0MMRC/100_6157.JPG Updates - Your Witness Matters -- A Story 12 Years in the Making Oscar, a trick roper, leads the Guatemala delegation in the Burwell, Nebraska parade. Rolando is carrying the Guatemala flag on horseback. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1520605984444-B9LQP4MKMEW546DYEPDU/100_6229.JPG Updates - Your Witness Matters -- A Story 12 Years in the Making Oscar showing his stuff at a ranch with a group of new friends from Nebraska. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1521131687274-UDHECZJSU053Q7KBEQF9/20180224_163441+%281%29.jpeg Updates - Your Witness Matters -- A Story 12 Years in the Making Alex and Joanna Salazar pose with their two sons, Alejandro and Alan along with Alan's girlfriend. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1521131775722-8IWWHTZBWDI1GN93XDGI/2018022495163449+%281%29.jpg Updates - Your Witness Matters -- A Story 12 Years in the Making Oscar with his girlfriend moments after praying to receive Christ. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1521131582417-JGHOYYXAQQV0JBBLSM2R/IMG_8270+%281%29.JPG Updates - Your Witness Matters -- A Story 12 Years in the Making Rex Kelly, left, and Ray Gurney share a moment to reflect on a car ferry near Monterrrico, Guatemala. https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2018/2/20/title monthly 0.5 2018-03-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1520620368331-SA7F04CIDKMM20CK6GFO/Strenthen+and+Encourage+El+Estor+%281%29.JPG Updates - Strengthen and Encourage...Making the Rounds in Guatemala Cesar and I met with leaders from El Estor who are starting new Christian Rancher groups. This region has many ranches near Lake Izabal. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1520621955491-RQPGV5MUUJGB5HLPVAKF/Strengthen+and+Encourage+Moyuta+%281%29.JPG Updates - Strengthen and Encourage...Making the Rounds in Guatemala Represented in this meeting of leaders near Moyuta, Guatemala, are folks starting a soccer group with drug addicts, a coffee growers group, and a Christian Rancher group. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1520621713138-18H2ITC93K98GQF470L4/Strengthen+and+Encourage+ladies+of+Quesada+%281%29.JPG Updates - Strengthen and Encourage...Making the Rounds in Guatemala A ladies group brought together by the mayor's wife near Quesada, Guatemala https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1520621528121-7LKMOOG8EEN1VRCKR0O9/Strengthen+and+Encourage+Equine+Therapy+%281%29.JPG Updates - Strengthen and Encourage...Making the Rounds in Guatemala Rex Kelly, of Ord, Nebraska, joined me, Clarrisa, Cesar, and Humberto to talk about an Equine Therapy program near the zoo in Guatemala City. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1520621813270-KV5UV8FZ95A6MA3M61WD/Strengthen+and+Encourage+Las+Lisas+%281%29.JPG Updates - Strengthen and Encourage...Making the Rounds in Guatemala The team starting a Christian Rancher group near El Salvador and the Pacific Ocean at Las Lisas, Guatemala https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1520622097271-S7I5M0BHYRX5QI3O1UTR/Strengthen+and+Encourage+Trash+expedition+%281%29.JPG Updates - Strengthen and Encourage...Making the Rounds in Guatemala We took a boat tour with leaders near Las Lisas, Guatemala, who are particularly interested in addressing the trash problems in their region. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1520621376704-0MCTIS84LR4VUF90OC4V/Strengthen+and+Encourage+Coffee+growers+%281%29.JPG Updates - Strengthen and Encourage...Making the Rounds in Guatemala Here is our friend Dario roasting a batch of high elevation coffee from Moyuta. If you would like to try some, let me know! I have 45 bags of it! https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2018/2/28/my-tribute-to-billy-graham monthly 0.5 2018-03-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1519853164938-62UVIO6PPS5HUAT6JJCK/441.JPG Updates - The Unexpected Day Billy Graham Encouraged me This is the house that Billy grew up in. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1519853258181-HCFQ1FIBTOILOHHH7R88/439.JPG Updates - The Unexpected Day Billy Graham Encouraged me Here is the entrance to the Billy Graham library. You notice that you enter by the way of the cross. The building is built in the shape of a dairy barn to remember that Billy was a simple country boy who grew up on a dairy farm. At his home, Billy's father and several other men prayed that a great preacher of the Gospel would come from their town. Little did they know that 15 year old Billy, milking the cows in the barn, would be the answer to their prayers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1519853347891-EL2N82DKZY990H6N82LF/435.JPG Updates - The Unexpected Day Billy Graham Encouraged me I love the playful and humble inscription at the bottom of Ruth Graham's grave. She insisted on this phrase after seeing it posted on a newly opened highway. "End of construction--Thank you for your patience." https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2018/2/16/your-prayers-and-support-making-a-difference-this-week-in-guatemala monthly 0.5 2018-02-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1518823131611-D775YB3P8FVPO8CWYO27/An%C3%ADbal%2C+new+pastor+in+Sejux%2C+%28in+the+white+shirt%29+and+his+new+congregation+singing+praises..jpg Updates - You Made a Difference this Week in Guatemala! Aníbal (white shirt), pastor in Sejux, and his new congregation sing praises. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1518823332767-Y6KU8WWYZ0RR6FXAWYD8/Cesar+posing+with+our+Kekchi+group+traveling+with+us.+From+left+to+right+is+An%C3%ADbal%2C+Lorenzo%2C+Cesar%2C+Jose%2C+Jose%27s+daughter+Maria..jpg Updates - You Made a Difference this Week in Guatemala! Kekchi group traveling with us: Left to right is Aníbal, Lorenzo, Cesar, Jose, and Jose's daughter Maria. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1518823524452-5RKCFJVLBPVJ99UJCG54/Our+Kekchi+team+playing+the+marimba+on+our+first+stop+near+El+Estor%2C+Guatemala..jpg Updates - You Made a Difference this Week in Guatemala! The Kekchi team played the marimba on our first stop near El Estor, Guatemala. https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2018/2/6/jhwqx4uuqcqspvtgz2jag96birrdt2 monthly 0.5 2018-02-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1517922764194-BC0G8NEAZWF3OMO5KODV/Cowboy+Steve+in+Guatemala.JPG Updates - Mission Encourage https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2018/1/30/big-blessing-comes-in-a-small-package monthly 0.5 2018-01-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1517320083457-0D64JZIY2MT4IGCMVBM8/image1+%281%29.jpeg Updates - Welcome Zeke to the Reed Family! Nola and Zeke for the first time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1517323794808-QTAQ0OF5UF4RX780VJ45/Zeke+OSU+Cowpoke+%281%29.jpg Updates - Welcome Zeke to the Reed Family! Weighing in at 9 lbs and 6 oz, Zeke is resting from his first hard days work! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1517321368148-ZX8NOYO4K5ADGTQ866UL/Zek+and+Zac+%281%29.jpg Updates - Welcome Zeke to the Reed Family! A proud dad! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1517321474267-K6HY6YWU1I2A8L6BNTH2/Zeke+and+Liz+%281%29.jpg Updates - Welcome Zeke to the Reed Family! Zeke and Liz. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1517321825881-KE8C7U3YVY5FPR29DG01/Zeke+and+Bridget+%281%29.jpg Updates - Welcome Zeke to the Reed Family! Zeke meeting his cousin Bridget, for the first time! https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2018/1/22/recap-of-guatemala-trips monthly 0.5 2018-01-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1516666889498-3RHNU937N5HSCA8NDKM2/IMG_7652+%281%29.JPG Updates - Your Prayers Answered In Guatemala First meeting of a new Christian Rancher group in Moyuta https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1516667085795-AB82GL7OXJW0U7HPKKJJ/IMG_7664+%281%29.JPG Updates - Your Prayers Answered In Guatemala Our team posed with the group that's starting to meet monthly. Anatoly is the top guy in the denim shirt. Alicia is in the middle with the scarf around her neck. Dario is kneeling with Michael Macias on the far right. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1516667206030-YTV58AMOVEFVAKF7R280/IMG_7812+%281%29.JPG Updates - Your Prayers Answered In Guatemala Getting ready for the official start of the program with the Cattlemen's Association of Moyuta in San Pedro Alvarado https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1516667364586-OX6CYRMAYSSJN6T7QG8B/IMG_7829+%281%29.JPG Updates - Your Prayers Answered In Guatemala The crowd getting ready for the horse demonstrations and the "Riding of the Rings" https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1516668309454-AT2C50YKX4M2OW9DVS24/IMG_7852+%281%29.JPG Updates - Your Prayers Answered In Guatemala In the "Riding of the Rings," the cowboy tries to spear a keychain-looking ring dangling from a rope. If he spears a ring, he wins a prize and gets a kiss from a beautiful young lady! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1516667492369-IKASDDVJDVGET8H4XYD6/IMG_7843+%281%29.JPG Updates - Your Prayers Answered In Guatemala Laura Slaughter poses with a cowboy for a picture after giving him a prize of a rope. And yes, she did give him a kiss on the cheek! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1516667717322-4D3ZDHFZ2POO2WPYUOHY/IMG_7885+%281%29.JPG Updates - Your Prayers Answered In Guatemala The donor of the saddle gives the grand prize to the winner! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1516667830150-Q08PU0IQHTW6NCAOGN38/IMG_7887+%281%29.JPG Updates - Your Prayers Answered In Guatemala Horse trainer, Sam Anderson, takes one of the horses on a test drive. https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2018/1/1/week-2 monthly 0.5 2018-01-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1515953653201-C062J7YZLTJDR4WHP7Z1/Hilda+L%C3%B3pez+sharing+her+faith+story+with+the+women%27s+leadership+group+in+Quesada+1.12.2018.jpg Updates - Guatemala Week 2: Updated Hilda López sharing her faith story in Quesada. January 12, 2018 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1515953935265-CZ8PFT27FRX1UPHURFXO/A+New+PSE+Group+in+Moyuta+meeting+in+a+coffee+plantation+1.09.2018.jpg Updates - Guatemala Week 2: Updated https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1515953961057-71R3L9V7EMIO5DPKQAX8/Group+in+Moyuta+1.9.2018.jpg Updates - Guatemala Week 2: Updated https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1515953962643-DM6QKE3NJZ05264B6NW5/The+group+in+Moyuta+showing+us+the+forest+near+their+coffee+plantation.jpg Updates - Guatemala Week 2: Updated https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1515955157243-UVMT5AB2ZVOK102FVXCH/Finishing+up+the+day+in+San+Jose+Acatempa+with+a+birthday+cake%21+1.11..2018.jpg Updates - Guatemala Week 2: Updated https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1515955157189-ILG0EDAWGAKH3XCXOMM6/Laura+wishing+Irma%2C+our+hostess+in+San+Jose+Acatempa%2C+a+Happy+Birthday%21+1.11.2018.jpg Updates - Guatemala Week 2: Updated https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1515951734166-E7TUE1SVBRTQ0Q79Y809/A+child+Jumping+rope+1.12.2018.jpg Updates - Guatemala Week 2: Updated Playing in Quesada! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1515951736010-UFMMPT1QWJW3LXFH7Y26/Jumping+rope+1.12.18.jpg Updates - Guatemala Week 2: Updated https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1515951739662-73FUVG7JSR8PXQBPLNVD/Laura+jumping+rope+1.12.2018.jpg Updates - Guatemala Week 2: Updated https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1515951740276-GGWW8SN0U0R2YXLVG04R/Michael+Macias+jumping+rope+1.12.2018.jpg Updates - Guatemala Week 2: Updated https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1515952326256-CF4R0VVDIGKGBWPKKHK0/A+group+photo+with+The+mayors+wife+of+Quesada+1.12.2018.jpg Updates - Guatemala Week 2: Updated https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1515952327124-WYVKF1ADF0LDFNZOXNBQ/The+meeting+in+Quesada+1.12.2018.jpg Updates - Guatemala Week 2: Updated https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1515460120659-BMWJRD5WB7M2PVD0E91H/Santa+Cruz+Narranjo%2C+Guatemala.+Senior+Citizens.jpg Updates - Guatemala Week 2: Updated Santa Cruz Narranjo, Guatemala. Senior Citizens https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2017/12/20/guatemala-january-2018-week-1 monthly 0.5 2018-01-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1514858738103-I06LWS7HDTAV37KS2GZ8/PSE+Experience+Guatemala+July+2017.jpg Updates - Follow Along with The Mission Team in Guatemala! Updated! Play. Story. Eat. Experience Amberes, Guatemala July 2017 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1515213867306-SYZS9FGS28P0CS0342XK/Cesar+shares+Gospel+using+pothollders.jpg Updates - Follow Along with The Mission Team in Guatemala! Updated! Cesar Shares Gospel using potholders! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1515214040442-Q15HZD6U395Y2QKEC9Q4/PSE.Christian+Rancher+Group+at+Coco%27s+.jpg Updates - Follow Along with The Mission Team in Guatemala! Updated! A New PSE Christian Rancher Group Formed! Ranchers and Friends of Coca Melgar https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1515455779778-7F4HD6QIQ3VPYKNKI8IF/Renato+Rodeo+Testimony.jpg Updates - Follow Along with The Mission Team in Guatemala! Updated! Renato Sharing the Gospel! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1515455660362-2KFT21MO8BCONODSOB2T/Bull-rider+Horseshoes+Agua+Blanca+Rodeo+Jan.+2018.jpg Updates - Follow Along with The Mission Team in Guatemala! Updated! Bull-rider Horseshoes Agua Blanca Rodeo https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1515507901301-XHWAJP9BZ74VENA31LBN/Sam+Equine+Therapy+getting+to+know+the+horse.jpg Updates - Follow Along with The Mission Team in Guatemala! Updated! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1515507900764-0YEM3VG8F76G0HF8EHM1/Equine+therapy+team+riding.jpg Updates - Follow Along with The Mission Team in Guatemala! Updated! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1515507904508-ORSLNQSO9LRVQZXZ3K9V/Michael+playing.jpg Updates - Follow Along with The Mission Team in Guatemala! Updated! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1515507902879-43EBY0PB59B5IWEZ2851/PSE+Group+Begining.jpg Updates - Follow Along with The Mission Team in Guatemala! Updated! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1515507903142-Q950N3QKUW55OPCY0P2U/Singing+Brazilians.jpg Updates - Follow Along with The Mission Team in Guatemala! Updated! https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2017/12/18/hiking-with-bill-and-steve-pse-style monthly 0.5 2017-12-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1513656022636-6PBM2JXFDMOETQ86F7RK/Parkville+Nature+Sanctuary+Sign+%281%29.jpg Updates - Hiking With Bill and Steve PSE Style! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1513655990065-MO7N6PV85ST4QM813CED/PNS+Bridge+%281%29.jpg Updates - Hiking With Bill and Steve PSE Style! Bridge over grassy lowlands in the park. At the right time of day deer are close enough to touch. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1513723900550-5SY2MRPUXHYZW8X9MTXZ/Bill+%26+Steve+12.2017+Parkville+Nautre+Sanctuary.jpg Updates - Hiking With Bill and Steve PSE Style! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1513724277785-M6L4OFPQXTM49ULQ870E/Bill+%26+Steve+12.2017+The+Dam+Hill.jpg Updates - Hiking With Bill and Steve PSE Style! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1513727053527-NSSD6YISLB6DMNU0TSYL/Bill+%26+Steve+12.2017+Walking+path+to+bridge+%281%29.jpg Updates - Hiking With Bill and Steve PSE Style! https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2017/12/15/what-do-people-mean-when-they-say-i-love-god monthly 0.5 2017-12-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1513400503252-4IMNYFDYI99WT0W6Y2NR/Kyle+%26+Milkyway.jpg Updates - I'm Questioning My Love for God Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Psalm 36:5 NIV -- What about my love for You? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1513399812969-YFVRPFZ86U0ZCNES76RR/Kyle%27s+Silas.jpg Updates - I'm Questioning My Love for God Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:18 NIV https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1513625215296-KWRY09Z22UFZVW9EBNCW/domino%27s+joyce+brandi+-scott+%281%29.jpg Updates - I'm Questioning My Love for God PSE Friendship Circle: Scott & Brandi Barnett, Joyce Burrows https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1513624773424-OJBPZBTN1DDVCTGE60S7/PSE+Training+Amberes+%281%29.jpg Updates - I'm Questioning My Love for God Guatemala Play. Story. Eat. Experience July 2017 https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2017/12/7/news-from-cesar monthly 0.5 2017-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1513053309091-7ENC3FUXHXOV8LHKNN5R/Water+project.jpg Updates - Hey Cesar, What's Up? Improvements to a water system we have partnered with in San Manzano Guatemala. This project has opened up relations between Catholics and Evangelicals and has been a part of the good will that led to a huge celebration in Sepoc for their anniversary. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1513053624567-YRE6EZE7WSM3YN6CKBKY/Jose+soccer+message.JPG Updates - Hey Cesar, What's Up? Jose (in the white shirt), pastor of the church in the village of Sepoc in the jungles of Guatemala, speaks to a group of soccer players after a tournament between four villages in March of 2016. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1513053097611-1H9ZPEMI55TDD020U4HS/Cesar%2CRomilio12.12.2017.jpg Updates - Hey Cesar, What's Up? Cesar Gonzalez with Romilio, a new rancher friend from San Luis, Guatemala. They plan to start a new Christian Rancher group on his ranch. https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2017/11/29/what-it-means-to-be-a-friend-who-loves-jesus monthly 0.5 2017-12-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1512444678787-AXQFPVPRCFC3X4N6B95A/IMG_20171127_111739+%281%29.jpg Updates - What Kind of Friend are You? Janice Brite and Virginia Jones hold up two of the 135 "talking" potholders they made for our ladies mission team to use in Guatemala in January 2018. The colors help people share the gospel, and the sheets are the printed Spanish version of the message. https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2017/11/27/your-friendship-matters monthly 0.5 2017-11-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1511824551285-VX1OK9MB424D0Q73W9FF/8lXP4B8BKpxpMDDgs6k8ZSmUAeqGRwGPGYRf0NbK0CTrSF5M_cFXKmA9d_PBGTqexIy4gbDZ38hdGt_NBv-az_I3CUkHXI-uxzz59jI8V72raxIF-iB-kEEdBFqMCZwino8FyphX9Dx8TFEfbq2Oo_aZmKDqc26n65KY31L7YOdEoVG02ws4QQ7E-faHwPVamx6wMHPIhbKeMztn-eb8STU_eJBEXbBpntIp0ih.jpg Updates - Your Friendship Matters! Steve, new friend "Junior", Bill https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2017/11/18/thanksgiving-your-opportunity-to-start-a-pse-tradition monthly 0.5 2017-11-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1511223783518-ZWS6A118YUG7HZYZTYVU/FBC+Avilla+PSE+Experience+9.9.17+%281%29.jpg Updates - Thanksgiving--Your Opportunity to Start a PSE Tradition Pastor Lance Green (in green), wife Nancy (3rd from left, back row) and some of our Avilla Baptist Church PSE Friends https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2017/11/13/grateful-nola-is-alive monthly 0.5 2017-11-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1510584775309-ATY76ZCG7BWWM9O5MN3L/IMG_7314+%281%29.JPG Updates - Grateful Nola is alive... Miraculously, Nola walked away without injury or even a bruise. But our van, after more than 311,000 miles of faithful service, took it on the chin. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1510585401347-XDU5HQQK3SDM3L299FRZ/IMG_7308+%282%29.JPG Updates - Grateful Nola is alive... A few hours later, Nola got to spoil Bridget, our granddaughter. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1510586682372-0M6AJBHH2RM9YV0KE1C8/Robertos+pics+2006+030+%281%29.jpg Updates - Grateful Nola is alive... The Gonzalez family would appreciate your prayers for Leonel. He is on the far left, his mother, Myrna, his sister Dulce, Cesar, Elba, and Leonel's cousin Josue. This picture was taken several years ago, before Dulce herself died of complications related to an apendectomy. https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2017/11/6/nebraska-trip-shows-you monthly 0.5 2017-11-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1510024288725-X3A10NN8Q8BFXRYR8EMZ/Nb33BQjlZy2C8n3uucQfrlKVYLy0EWgqWskxrEtgvdpXALdcgZDQtG-F2igklVsHm2DLQZA6vuyosrt8X-LGAlSxdbUvswPQlqnMZv7W85MaTAHQsNpRenuP6HMx6IEv-TWCveO6t8wwVUnuJfPS9Ut5uCLxn83dLk0w1IbUx4qi7SASDFZZ9w4QSrjDiSv8gwjHO-QZzUtfnx1LxzmL_RxxGeoGU57cZu7KTyd.jpg Updates - A Grass Roots discipleship Movement in Nebraska! PSE Experience - Long Pine, Nebraska 2017 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1510024436852-1KRY8NQCRS84LOLQY3XZ/7VRzmNPl8tVVCbBeyhtB96UPIwGmcX4K0ngwCTWX9XIW3hzm46U5YVd1qjdrDD_1h3tY9LlbJS-uZfrngEQWXgMEjRhX7XOnL0fsalko9qvnV696d2MGDmpFMkyBBHdZL8tpL-W06nzURu7GKqBfZqgVYj5Wa25De_pgxpQB7KKSbDhjqUVUS1pYnFfXh5azku7k7zVi8gI7YU1t6lMJhIn96sR0c7OlGZkRFp3.jpg Updates - A Grass Roots discipleship Movement in Nebraska! Wagon Train Time! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1510024343841-3F03QUO4MRKNLX5DWZS0/OFD9yXdQIFfKVPX4GI5E3r2KMYwmOfRlaSvKAEYXvai7Hyvw_oEdJlAusFLUFDhDyWGPhal0cQwN1URV5qiXgc_xjWB1e2C3_eaBF93MQdfSqZmrLWBEnm2OQ8gqbUzwIRlL_ynZTBW8iRuOsD-pJtK3-clL5kvD0QwRWidUpAmCII6PTbB02RvlYvX62m4r4kAPVr-awwVjHUe7eJZRjHaRI2yC1E5t9mYOu1-.jpg Updates - A Grass Roots discipleship Movement in Nebraska! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1510025708913-MHIM2V4C3746DR9NSU9C/t4YFPnWNYp8916X5VCVZg7cVXezBY2f64STH3yOGL0qnXokT0t-SXd5FwzcVqiQiD4VIvz9-O99FwdOvmo8K6tQxY0RzKxWYiuoerNzZnDDLDlnBhuZz2xCJlRIZrx_NmpVLL7cMrEJMNRyFL8JWKUsM2aL9MObYtqzJs9jry-yoryityIvFiqfzy_t1XsBii1PX1K6S-D86Isw23FPxuwgdYlygvdeQZg1vlo5.jpg Updates - A Grass Roots discipleship Movement in Nebraska! - What it takes to become a PSE Missionary https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1510021516456-CI7HJE97QRQ7NZMROZH4/Wew-sswXd5hxHTGUM4LiJly1AjLUYEDlD9o_3seTu3smrRMNCFV5J0FJlTaww1hz3gZajbhF9FXAFNYhwquNrRI5JSv2uro4WYjJ-Bd8y6Q0dysY_5dwy2ywXv2BV2lP1LrhxqfpoarbxqhqDWFVPvux0jq9cgB3diPWBcz6aKOmNXZerjAtzj0o4dJYAMV1_4Ow_z4rKLPXJgrR4I_o7XZm2QNNHndxw2KZDpL.jpg Updates - A Grass Roots discipleship Movement in Nebraska! Marianne Henley(Daughter), Sue Turner, Steve and Sonja Beavers(Daughter). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1510025955081-DF0WWY8WG2AEYY15PO0Z/IMG_7305+%281%29.jpg Updates - A Grass Roots discipleship Movement in Nebraska! Paul Embick arranged a corn harvest ride along for honorary farmers Steve & Bill! https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2017/10/25/the-fields-are-white-unto-harvest monthly 0.5 2017-10-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1509389757851-1RO0P3XPSNWDQZEUI29N/100_5267+%282%29.JPG Updates - Hey Cesar, What's up? Cesar Gonzalez in our first years of working with cowboys in Guatemala. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1509385480947-E4N3747O9D73ZM599P36/History+pic+of+baptism+group+in+Sepoc.jpg Updates - Hey Cesar, What's up? One of my treasured pictures from the beginning days of work in the jungle. This is the first baptism in Sepoc. Justin Hoskins and Jim Bogle are in the picture to the left. Jose, the leader of the village and future pastor, speaks to the group after the baptism. All those behind him who had been baptized, were about to be prayed over by the Christians present. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1509386322576-NBS7BST2HBA6S3F59LT8/100_3324.jpg Updates - Hey Cesar, What's up? In 2011, Cesar discusses with Kenny Najera (seated behind the desk) of what it would entail for us to have a connection with the National University of Agriculture in Catacamas Honduras. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1509386718162-TBGIXJ7BDEE9PI23BLF9/IMG_2299.JPG Updates - Hey Cesar, What's up? One of the groups meeting in Poncaya, Honduras. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1508944054846-CXK9TFM276TK0V7DCI2G/IMG_0536.JPG Updates - Hey Cesar, What's up? A picture from a couple summers ago of my wife Nola and Joyce Huffman with a group of Guatemalan ladies we are working with who visited Burwell, Nebraska. This particular day they were admiring Joyce's quilting operation in her barn loft. https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2017/10/18/from-my-heart-to-yours monthly 0.5 2017-10-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1508549594227-X3IC7LG2IWZT1IE43YL8/IMG_20170722_175002061_BURST000_COVER_TOP.jpg Updates - Taken to the Woodshed By God Cesar (Crocodile Dundee voice) to Bill..."Now that's a knife!" https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1508546862310-MW083N7AD2KB9BYPII9L/20170707_120743.jpg Updates - Taken to the Woodshed By God Mike's house next door to my Dad's house.. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1508591204509-EHURJTQB9QWJU5KI4JVU/IMG_7270+%281%29.JPG Updates - Taken to the Woodshed By God Steve the missionary... https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2017/10/11/ho4qbb9tdpoaydxh749acsty3oh2ki monthly 0.5 2017-10-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1508205480246-SROVF3QQZI83NG0H4VF3/IMG_0615+%281%29.jpg Updates - The #1 Reason Your Engagement is Needed In PSE Mission Trips Lake Atitlan https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2017/10/5/ready-or-not-nebraska-here-we-come monthly 0.5 2017-10-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1507499383839-74FM1TU49Y3FM7AXSS5F/Reed14059+%281%29.JPG Updates - Ready or not Nebraska, Here We Come! Diehard Nebraskans, Josh and Kristin Reed rooting for the Huskers along with son (and Steve and Nola Reed's grandson) Brayden. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1507499697227-YO6PVAOQ1R4R5VDCSV1E/IMG_3770+%281%29+%281%29.JPG Updates - Ready or not Nebraska, Here We Come! Joel and Linda Wentworth (holding sign) with fellow Nebraskans Gene and Vicki Rahn and their son Seth (kneeling on the left) and daughter Christa (standing to the right of Linda), share a laugh with a ladies group in Jalpatagua, Guatemala. https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2017/9/27/first-steps-in-a-making-pse-brazil-connections monthly 0.5 2017-10-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1506985221146-8PR0T021RSMG02L07VY4/IMG_20170929_102658+%281%29.jpg Updates - Cesar's Hospital Trip and Brazil Connection Cesar and his daughter Mirna at the hospital. https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2017/9/14/yes-we-are-alive monthly 0.5 2017-09-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1505413065764-I8EA3705W40S8AP2PDIU/piage+and+Justin+wedding+picture.jpg Updates - Prayer Team Alert! Yes, We are Alive and Well! Justin & Paige Jacobson https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1505388380217-71T0YX9GOKT9JVYF22YI/IMG_0587+%281%29.jpg Updates - Prayer Team Alert! Yes, We are Alive and Well! Steve and Nola welcome little Bridget into the world! Proud parents not pictured are Ryan and Bobbi Reed! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1505396700863-KVN5WFBXM5X598AC8REA/FBC+Avilla+PSE+Experience+9.9.17.jpg Updates - Prayer Team Alert! Yes, We are Alive and Well! New Play. Story. Eat. Missionaries! First Baptist Church of Avilla https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1505388547931-JUIGTZPJLGI43272KVHW/IMG_0591+%281%29.JPG Updates - Prayer Team Alert! Yes, We are Alive and Well! Baby Bridget sleeping after a hard first day of work! https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2017/8/15/construction-almost-complete-on-our-medical-clinic monthly 0.5 2017-08-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1502854272457-SXM39ZJUPXMUISI94VPQ/image-asset.jpeg Updates - Construction Almost Complete on Our Medical Clinic! Pictured around the table with Cesar and Elba Gonzalez is the construction team from Second Baptist Springfield and First Baptist Avilla, Missouri. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1502854481708-S8CJ2MBFF51Q2Z0UPO84/image-asset.jpeg Updates - Construction Almost Complete on Our Medical Clinic! Mark Green finishes installing a ceiling fan while brother Lance fiddles with a ladder and friend Bill Buchanan looks out the second story window to admire the view. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1502855675795-POGB7TT4GWGXJB078R1H/IMG_3810+%281%29.JPG Updates - Construction Almost Complete on Our Medical Clinic! Dean Kucharski lays tile while a Guatemalan team member looks on. https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2017/8/8/open-range-team-connects-well-with-womens-groups monthly 0.5 2017-08-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1502195208092-QODF1L6A0PFJQLFO4XJX/image-asset.jpeg Updates - Open Range Team Connects with Women's Groups The leadership team for a women's micro-business group in San Jose Acatempa, Guatemala, shows samples of the work of one of the ladies. Irma, the president of the group, is the second lady from the left. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1502199071045-GB5S63X8QWPMUAEYB6ZX/image-asset.jpeg Updates - Open Range Team Connects with Women's Groups The group in San Jose Acatempa eating together https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1502200619355-1EQMNDMZVDDX2VABCHCM/IMG_6950+%281%29.JPG Updates - Open Range Team Connects with Women's Groups Linda Wright receives a gift from Irma thanking her for coming and sharing her story with them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1502199614021-WRMP2RT0ELYE0M1AGALV/IMG_6936+%281%29.JPG Updates - Open Range Team Connects with Women's Groups Laura Slaughter (left) and Carla Macias (third from the right) pose for a pic with the tortilla-making ladies. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1502199916436-4WZD5XXEXIOK2WYXG0PW/image-asset.jpeg Updates - Open Range Team Connects with Women's Groups Carla is proud of her tortilla she made! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1502200493469-KMVCPLF8JDCQRT812917/IMG_6958+%281%29.JPG Updates - Open Range Team Connects with Women's Groups Cesar with Mirna as she shows us the coffee produced from her village https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2017/7/25/open-range-team-made-it-to-guatemala monthly 0.5 2017-07-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1500962900575-6VW0DMYERXO4Q2JH8I48/IMG_20170724_231747428.jpg Updates - Open Range Team made it to Guatemala! After a long day of travel, the Open Range team is excited to be in Guatemala! Pictured from left to right are Cesar Gonzalez, Elliott Langhofer, Michael Macias, Carla Macias, Steve Reed, Laura Slaughter, Linda Wright, and Bill Burrows. https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2017/7/19/playstoryeat-a-hit-in-guatemala monthly 0.5 2017-07-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1500521518832-1VVFKSNIQGPAPGGFZ704/image-asset.jpeg Updates - Play. Story. Eat. a Hit in Guatemala! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1500521351231-TFPI00KNIGKE2L70ANHH/image-asset.jpeg Updates - Play. Story. Eat. a Hit in Guatemala! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1500521614911-SJ5ZHP22VQGFQR9O7NLV/image-asset.jpeg Updates - Play. Story. Eat. a Hit in Guatemala! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1500520344953-2YKCVVLMAO3B1Y5XQ04B/image-asset.jpeg Updates - Play. Story. Eat. a Hit in Guatemala! The group enjoys sharing a meal together. https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2017/7/17/steve-and-bill-with-cesar-in-guatemala monthly 0.5 2017-07-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1500312433396-NP2VH2V925LTWM0T31WA/image-asset.jpeg Updates - Steve and Bill On Their Way To Guatemala Steve and Bill with Mike and Roxanne Mathis after painting their house last week to help fund upcoming mission trips https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2017/7/2/this-july-4th-one-more-friend-is-in-heaven monthly 0.5 2017-07-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1498997825669-Z2NJTT127NIHRRXCH40Y/image-asset.jpeg Updates - This July 4th, One More Friend is in Heaven Our friend Manrique, of Quesada, Guatemala. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1498997209244-XVP368PCC9RK6MYVZ7JI/image-asset.jpeg Updates - This July 4th, One More Friend is in Heaven Tom Huffman and Dave Gideon, of Burwell, Nebraska on a cowboy mission trip to Guatemala in January of 2014. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1498997319551-474BMF2M2NX9D8FMLSVT/image-asset.jpeg Updates - This July 4th, One More Friend is in Heaven A local veterinarian explains the mechanics of artificial insemination to a group in Jutiapa, Guatemala. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1498998117930-T8SCFUXMTBKNDG4UGDTL/image-asset.jpeg Updates - This July 4th, One More Friend is in Heaven Our first meeting with friends and family of the cattlemen's association in Quesada, Guatemala. Manrique is in the light green shirt and black cowboy hat on the far right. Standing to his left is Cesar Gonzalez. https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2017/6/21/july-4th-update monthly 0.5 2017-06-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1498439920929-NA4CDR3KWW94540DB2CX/image-asset.jpeg Updates - Play. Story. Eat. Experience a Hit! Friday night at the Play. Story. Eat. Experience, participants go through the "wagon wheel"--an exercise for everyone to answer five get-acquainted questions in two minutes or less. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1498437560447-5O6DPKEL6ZSS0DUYG8E5/2017+Open+Range+PSE+Group+.jpg Updates - Play. Story. Eat. Experience a Hit! The PSE Participants take a break Saturday afternoon for a group photo before the last session. https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2017/6/19/your-prayers-and-a-baptism-kickstarts-new-christian-rancher-group monthly 0.5 2017-06-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1497906080521-3ELRE3K8BTSR1JZJQIOL/image-asset.jpeg Updates - Your Prayers and a Baptism Kickstart a New Christian Rancher Group Cesar Gonzalez speaking to the gathering at Jose Matute's ranch https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1497906881460-0GT2NREUUVKP8G1AIJOG/image-asset.jpeg Updates - Your Prayers and a Baptism Kickstart a New Christian Rancher Group Having some fun after hearing Cesar Gonzalez and Frank Molano speak to the group https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1497906284256-O1NTWK12V817KSYJ014X/image-asset.jpeg Updates - Your Prayers and a Baptism Kickstart a New Christian Rancher Group Frank says a few words before he and Cesar baptize Carlos. Looking on in the hat is Jose Matute. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1497906420714-XG00D7ULFONNJT03D0IY/image-asset.jpeg Updates - Your Prayers and a Baptism Kickstart a New Christian Rancher Group Friends congratulating Carlos https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1497907204386-ZZZW1SYASG0TX9VM94OI/image-asset.jpeg Updates - Your Prayers and a Baptism Kickstart a New Christian Rancher Group Real cowboys get baptized with their boots on! https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2017/6/6/2lloyagrqckylq7y5z9yus8cz16yfg monthly 0.5 2017-06-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1497213948712-JI0IA4AJQPOIVGY74PBR/image-asset.jpeg Updates - Experience the play. story. eat. discipleship process Kekchi kids enjoy swimming in their favorite swimming hole. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1497214260311-674YBJY047YT90G5K915/image-asset.jpeg Updates - Experience the play. story. eat. discipleship process Clarita, the grand-daughter of one of the Kekchi pastors, leads kids in a song about a shark. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1497221841364-1B1R01NWAN9YGDCZ1ZPJ/image-asset.jpeg Updates - Experience the play. story. eat. discipleship process Cowboy Church pastors and leaders from more than half a dozen regional cowboy churches are introduced by Frank Slaughter and Dave Puthoff at a May 6 horse training event hosted by Open Range Fellowship of Lone Jack, Missouri. https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2017/6/3/bu34nk7x82su88fj2j8zgznstlyw8k monthly 0.5 2017-06-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1496509662762-J6DCWIKDQRSOZZR6YQFU/6.6.17+Update+Prayer+with+the+bull+riding+team+of+the+National+University+of+Agriculture+%281%29.jpg Updates - Your Prayer Matters: Answered in Honduras Prayer with the bull riding team of the National University of Agriculture https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1496509939255-TX0J85I5UY7918QF54VS/image-asset.jpeg Updates - Your Prayer Matters: Answered in Honduras Frank and Cesar taking a minute to relax and talk with bull riders https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1496510148140-XFXMRQ9DU25ZS4CYTK92/image-asset.jpeg Updates - Your Prayer Matters: Answered in Honduras Our team with the bull riders and a couple of professors https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2017/5/20/another-divine-appointment-on-the-road-to-honduras monthly 0.5 2017-05-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1495316348015-3SWXCJI1VF0TI6TIP0EG/image-asset.jpeg Updates - Divine Appointment on the Road to Honduras! Steve connects with Otto's group of rancheros! https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2017/5/9/a-stupid-thing-i-did-that-i-didnt-want-to-tell-my-mother monthly 0.5 2017-05-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1494882943654-UD2HK2L7OPDLO9W4GFV2/image-asset.jpeg Updates - A Stupid Thing I Did that Mom Doesn't Need to Know! Steve and Nola sport big smiles with Enma's class of 9th graders ! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1494883519790-IEBAT6TLGG0TPX00JEV7/image-asset.jpeg Updates - A Stupid Thing I Did that Mom Doesn't Need to Know! Here is "Tigra" the dog that bit Steve. ("Tigra" means female tiger in Spanish). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1494883334930-QPIJQCUDLLAWSJM3QNFM/image-asset.jpeg Updates - A Stupid Thing I Did that Mom Doesn't Need to Know! Tigra's Rabies Vaccination Certificate https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2017/5/11/ooops-i-forgota-bank-teller-catches-on-to-what-you-are-doing monthly 0.5 2017-05-12 https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2017/5/4/texas-cowboys-go-to-honduras monthly 0.5 2017-05-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1494265857169-MLVIPCFU848DEQ973FGZ/image-asset.jpeg Updates - Texas Cowboys Make a Difference in Honduras! Rick getting ready to serve as the announcer at the Sergio Andrade benefit bull riding event at Denton County Cowboy Church last summer. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1494264320562-ZM577CDX9SRKFABJUL96/image-asset.jpeg Updates - Texas Cowboys Make a Difference in Honduras! Frank Milano (orange shirt) and Alfredo Andrade (of Honduras) talk with Nick Gas (cowboy pastor and horse trainer) in a break in the action at the Denton County bull riding event put on in honor of Alfredo's son, Sergio, who was a professional bull rider and friend of ours who was murdered a couple of years ago. https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2017/4/12/after-reading-this-update-your-alarm-will-probably-go-off-at-1002-am- monthly 0.5 2017-04-24 https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2017/4/5/cant-get-women-off-my-mind monthly 0.5 2017-04-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1491439959107-ESI811CZ0S4VB2GO9EDE/image-asset.jpeg Updates - I Can't Get Women Off My Mind! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1491439605630-DKDAFMZ9Y157OTVYUI3V/image-asset.jpeg Updates - I Can't Get Women Off My Mind! https://playstoryeat.com/updates/2017/3/22/mysteries-revealed-from-the-daybreak-pse-summit monthly 0.5 2017-03-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1490276678069-QRTQOE256WHO3I412BMD/First+PSE+Missionaries%21 Updates - Mysteries Revealed From the Daybreak PSE Summit! The First Play. Story. Eat. 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https://playstoryeat.com/ser-la-iglesia/2020/5/16/believer-are-you-ready-to-be-the-church-in-a-changing-world-gyy55-a3w3w monthly 0.5 2020-05-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1589665685769-KEB292BJU7MQVZW41V6K/BeTheChurch-ShortColor.png Ser la Iglesia - Creyente, ¿estás listo para "SER" la iglesia en un mundo cambiante? https://playstoryeat.com/give daily 0.75 2023-02-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/568aa0dcc21b8690d5c57dfe/1452705658520-8FD1Z4VGP7WF2ZIGNWD6/20140916-squarespace-1555-blur.jpg Give https://playstoryeat.com/about daily 0.75 2017-11-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1480437753058-IO7C7RFGWCT4Z79CWL0I/2016-10-03+21.38.09.jpg About https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1481384213915-OO8QKOMWNRD5ZRZZU8HC/steve+reed+bio About https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1481384222648-ZTJ2MUWQIYWLRUNPGYZO/bill+burrows+bio.jpg About https://playstoryeat.com/thanks daily 0.75 2016-11-25 https://playstoryeat.com/thankyou daily 0.75 2016-11-30 https://playstoryeat.com/signup daily 0.75 2017-06-06 https://playstoryeat.com/contact daily 0.75 2017-11-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1480437753058-IO7C7RFGWCT4Z79CWL0I/2016-10-03+21.38.09.jpg Contact https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1509545883705-DTU9CA5R1MESWWSMIP1H/Play.Story.Eat+Transparent+2.png Contact https://playstoryeat.com/trip-options daily 0.75 2024-12-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1496351430037-BVT87XEGZY0TS4W5W4TA/IMG_3043.jpg Customized Mission Trips https://playstoryeat.com/cowboymissions daily 0.75 2024-12-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1497278843425-Z6GELE29SO3LQEHU2LNU/Farm-and-Ranch-Photography.jpg Cowboy Missions - Every cowboy needs a friend who loves Jesus. God has called you to GO, cowboy ... Why not do what you already know how to do, but at Latin American ranches and rodeos? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1496348175980-IF5A529Z0PV4E1WOOCT9/image-asset.jpeg Cowboy Missions Handmade saddles for sale at a roadside stand on the grounds of a regional stock auction facility in southeast Guatemala. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1496933710186-CVI4NSVU8F3O9DSUI3TM/image-asset.jpeg Cowboy Missions https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1496348809014-89PP0RZJ9S5Z6ZN8DEMD/image-asset.jpeg Cowboy Missions US cowboys enjoy seeing personal horse photos on the phone of a Guatemalan cowboy (and town lawyer) before a dairy co-op tour and lunch meeting with a womens' group. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1496348855744-UVTDRYWEBWQ6AZCEJ6Y9/steve+sam+horse+demo.jpg Cowboy Missions Steve Reed (left) provides live translation as Sam Anderson demos a horse training exercise interwoven with a message about our own reluctance to surrender and let God lead us. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1497015687221-5H1IBTJ6K1B3DGSSJX5D/image-asset.jpeg Cowboy Missions https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1496934320764-TS35GUP0GULX4KOG8APL/image-asset.jpeg Cowboy Missions https://playstoryeat.com/pse-experience daily 0.75 2024-12-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1496678350339-6IGPR9Y0S7AB1ZZ619SM/image-asset.jpeg PSE Experience Cesar Gonzales addresses a group of regional Guatemalan pastors and mentors before they conduct their own PSE interactions with other rural people in the coming weeks. https://playstoryeat.com/strategy daily 0.75 2024-12-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1496677019900-Z9G6D4MLK58Z2ZTZ5ZZU/IMG_2713.jpg Strategy Near the center of Aldea Amberes in Santa Rosa, a small town at the convergence of three roads in southeast Guatemala https://playstoryeat.com/welcome-brine daily 0.75 2021-05-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56098193e4b08650938b4d7b/1445291839682-LTLMA41CX3CAU21O5J91/pickles-editorial-green-v6.jpg Welcome https://playstoryeat.com/home-top-mentor daily 0.75 2021-05-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1620696203162-3NMBCNC41CZS7F3BP1OC/Play+Story+Eat.jpg Home Top https://playstoryeat.com/about-intro-mojave daily 0.75 2021-05-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1620696725502-32IX1N51DGJITGBFEBSE/Play+Story+Eat.jpg About Intro https://playstoryeat.com/landing-bedford daily 0.75 2021-05-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577ff8d3725e252f724493d0/1620700180652-7CEFHJIYP7L7KYPEA6SX/Play+Story+Eat.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/52a74d9ae4b0253945d2aee9/1535394848185-CGDDU4QCIRSO4U1270H3/image-asset.jpeg Home - About Find out about our organization, mission, our methods, and the results of our decades of advocacy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/52a74d9ae4b0253945d2aee9/1535394867157-MTQAOAQPKWQ68DDY1HTW/tumblr_mn8b8sLRb61rkz363o1_1280.jpg Home - Take Action Ready to take the next step? You can become a contributor to our cause, or participate yourself.