As I write these words, I am sitting with Cesar Gonzalez in his home after a week of visiting Play. Story. Eat. groups here in Guatemala. I understand that I have gotten out of some major snow shoveling back home! January in Guatemala offers warm, springlike weather! Wish you were here!
We have now visited 7 different groups in these 7 days. Each group’s story really encourages me about the future of PSE in these parts. Today we took some time to evaluate and rest before another week of visiting groups. Next Monday, Ray Gurney and Rex Kelley will be coming to Guatemala to go with Cesar and me to the jungle to help with training of pastors and making some new connections for future theological training.
Then we plan to go to Honduras, where Nola will fly into San Pedro Sula to join us for some initial meetings with some ranchers who are interested in knowing more about our Christian Rancher groups. If we have time, we may do a one day side trip to the island of Roatan.
I hope to keep sending notes to you. Below are a few pictures of the past week’s groups and activities. Hope you enjoy!
10:02 PRAYER
Thank you for your prayers for us as we continue to travel and visit groups in the next weeks. Pray also for safe travel for Ray and Rex January 21 and Nola on January 25.
ENGAGE
We are working on continued plans for March and part of April when Cesar and his wife Elba are planning to be with us. If you have a desire for us to schedule time with your group, please let me and/or Bill know right away.
INVEST
Thank you for your continued giving and generosity. You have made a big difference in the past month. Keep those cards and letters coming!
CLICK HERE FOR THE EASY BUTTON TO INVEST.
Until next time, stay warm!
Love y’all!
Steve
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.
In a first group meeting near Quesada, Cesar explains the rules for a cup stacking game.
In a ladies group near Quesada, the ladies pause at the end to share a tamale with one another.
This tamale was cooked in banana leaves and is popular to eat at Christmas time.
This group near Arenal begins their meeting sharing what they are grateful for.
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.
The meeting at the lake is only a few miles from the Pacific Ocean. This seafood soup had a little of everything in it!
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.
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).
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!
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.
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.
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.