Hi everyone!
So much has been going on behind the scenes in these first two months of 2020. (Yes, more exciting and important to us than even a Chiefs Super Bowl win!!) Today I want to share some things that will help you know where we need fervent and ongoing prayer.
At the turn of the new year, our local Play. Story. Eat. team did some strategic planning. When I was in Guatemala, I spent about a week doing similar collaboration with Cesar Gonzalez. In the past few weeks, we have begun to implement some of the priorities from that planning.
Two “BHAGS” (Big Hairy Audacious Goals) in 2020
Goal# 1: “Visit” every group this year by way of video or a live call.
In the past few years, Cesar and I have spent much of the month of January and part of February burning up the roads in Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador trying to visit our friends starting Christian Rancher groups and new churches in the jungle. And then in recent years on the home front, Bill and I have traveled from South Dakota to Texas to touch base with friends and supporters as well.
But with nearly 100 places to go in Central America and probably half that in the U.S., we realize we need to rethink how we are traveling. While we know that waltzing into town and having personal contact is great, we can’t visit every group in person in one year, much less more often than once. In January, we experimented with making video calls with groups to encourage, and it seemed to be received well, and we believe that if we continue doing this, it would allow us to touch more groups more often. So we would like to do that for every current group in Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador.
Cesar and I greet a group in Honduras by way of a WhatsApp video.
To help us do more communicating using multiple platforms, we have hired a young man to help us on a two-month trial. I will share his name with you further down in this email!
Goal #2: Creation of video and audio training content for leaders and groups.
Along the lines of visiting remotely, we plan to provide training videos and send them using readily available technologies. While in Guatemala, Cesar and I made 8 short videos that introduce people to Christian Rancher groups. We hope to create more in Spanish.
In one of our first attempts at creating a training video, Cesar shares how the first Christian Rancher groups got started.
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.
Once I got home, we started working on video concepts and podcast concepts in English. And that leads me to reveal who is going to help us accomplish this!
Welcome Justin Jacobson: Newest Team Member!
Justin Jacobson has joined our local team here in Kansas City to help us take steps to improve and expand our communications. Currently we are in the second month of a two-month trial period to produce different communication pieces. Both Bill and I have really enjoyed Justin working with us. Justin is a new believer, having come to Christ because of the Play. Story. Eat. process and the ministry of a local church here in Kansas City. Soon we hope to hear him tell his story on a podcast.
Justin Jacobson gives Bill and I last minute instructions before producing our first podcast!
Justin’s job will include social media expansion, creation of online training videos for the website, and creation of a podcast for church leaders and disciple makers. Already we have begun filming and recording. Soon we hope to unveil some finished products. In the meantime please pray for me, Bill, Cesar, and Justin as we learn how to do this. Also pray for increased funding. We are working to raise Justin’s support for the rest of the year.
Project Goals for Cesar
Cesar Goal#1: Finish construction project at our base camp in the jungle.
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.
As I write this update, Cesar is in the jungle with a Guatemalan construction team that is finishing out the building of our base camp facility. Thanks to some funds from Cross Creek Baptist Mission in Oak Grove, Missouri, this project will be a game changer for our work there.
In January, the walls took shape.
Right now, the team is finishing out the stucco for the cement blocks. These types of walls will help keep the critters out (mostly scorpions and snakes!) and will allow for an air conditioner unit to be installed that will greatly improve the sleeping conditions. This will allow Cesar and other personnel to come and stay longer.
These pictures from last week! One of our friends is putting on the finishing touches to the front door!
Plans are to have a Guatemala medical team use this facility more often so that helpers can stay several weeks at a time to do more comprehensive church planting and health projects. From past experience with these kinds of projects, receptivity to the gospel is multiplied. Stay tuned!
Cesar Goal#2: Leadership development once a month with our Xinka friends in the mountain region above Jutiapa.
Cesar and the community leadership team of Manantiales, Guatemala
In the last update, I highlighted the beginnings of this project. As soon as Cesar gets back from the jungle, he will take a week to train and give counsel to leaders of this group.
Equine Therapy
Several of you with interest in this project have asked for more specifics. In January, Linda Wright, a horse trainer for equine therapy horses, spent a couple of weeks working with Bambino, a horse that friends helped purchase last year. The idea was to train the horse to be ready for the program. But the reality of the situation was that training Bambino was only part of the task. Training Humberto Solares and his workers to work with Bambino was of even more value.
Linda Wright points out some issues for the handler to be aware of in leading Bambino for a therapist to work with a client.
While down there, Linda helped them set up a simple and achievable program that trains for 10 minutes every time the horse is fed. After six months, Humberto and Linda and other horse people will determine if Bambino will be able to do the job he is called to do. While Bambino is capable of doing rides for children, he’s not able to deliver on the emotional therapy part of the job just yet.
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.
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!
Note that in addition to the equine therapy program, Humberto has been convening two PSE groups. And his daughter Paola is leading a youth group as well. Pray that these groups continue to flourish and grow!
10:02 PRAYER
Please pray that we develop the skills needed to effectively communicate using various video and audio technologies to connect with leaders and groups. Also pray that we will be disciplined and diligent in doing what is required to produce these materials and tools.
Pray for increased funding to pay Justin.
Pray for energy and stamina for Cesar as he works with the team to finish construction at our base camp, and pray for the Xinka team that Cesar will be working with later this month. Note that Cesar’s birthday was February 16! If you’d like to send him a birthday wish, I’d be glad to bank shot it to him if you don’t have his email.
ENGAGE
In response to the last update, I will be meeting this next week with a couple of people interested in a mission trip to help with the Xinka project. As you read of the work in various places, remember that you have skills and experiences that God wants to use for His glory. As God prompts your heart, we would love to encourage you to follow His lead. If you think we could help, contact us!
INVEST
We are currently near the end of the two-month trial period with Justin. So we need to raise about $1500 per month to have him continue. Any extra gifts would be extraordinarily strategic for funding this emphasis for 2020.
CLICK HERE FOR THE EASY BUTTON TO INVEST.
Thanks for your continued prayers and encouragement!
Love y’all!
Steve