Good morning. This update has been late in coming for sure. So let’s get to it.
Our Guatemala Trip Actually Happened!
First, the trip to Guatemala did happen November 8-18, after a delay for Cesar to recuperate a little longer from Covid-19. Thankfully, Cesar was healthy and we were too. Jim Kavalec, a retired physicians assistant from Burwell, Nebraska, went with me. During our time there, we scouted out various possibilities for a medical trip next year, and we made visits to key leaders of groups in several parts of the country. Overall, it was a great trip. Check out these pictures.
On this day in San Pedro Alvarado, we met with Manuel (white shirt) who has a pharmacy near the border of El Salvador.
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.
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.
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.
We met with a group of men and women at the cattlemen’s association in Jalpatagua.
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.
We always eat well on these trips.
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.
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!
One Sunday morning Jim got a baptism by fire when he went with me on a hike to a church in the jungle.
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!
After 2 hours, we arrived at the little church in Ochul Choch. Jim was spent!
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.
During their worship service, the Ochul Choch congregation loves to sing.
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.
On our last day in Guatemala, Cesar hosted a gathering of city leaders from Santa Cruz Narranjo and Santa Rosa de Lima.
Here, Cesar introduced Carlos Revolorio, the mayor of Santa Cruz Narranjo.
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.
This team helps women in Santa Cruz to come up with ways to make items to sell and supplement their family income.
At this meeting of leaders, Cesar wanted me to share about a failed water project in the town of Laodicea, the church that Jesus had a message for in Revelation 3 of the Bible. The gist of that story gets to the fact that at the end of Jesus’ message, he is knocking on the door of the church in Laodicea (a church that was rich, lukewarm, and self-sufficient) and wants to come in and be with them and eat with them. Similarly, Jesus knocks on our doors too, and we can open the door—or not. We can let Him in our lives to take over and we can let Him into our jobs at city hall (or wherever we work) to lead us with wisdom as well. Several shared of their desire to let Jesus take over their lives and lead them in their profession. Cesar will be following up with several of them in coming days.
Reed Family Covid Outbreak
As Jim and I were packing our bags to get ready to come back from our Guatemala trip, Nola called me and informed me that four of our family in Kansas City had tested positive for Covid-19.
After I landed back in Kansas City, we immediately delivered medications and started making our rounds. Soon the four became nine. For those who know my family, here is the list: Kenny Warren, my sister Lu Warren, Zac, Liz, Gail Bryan (Liz’s mom), Zeke, Lana, Andrew, and Bridgett. Kenny, Lu, and Lana have gotten pneumonia with it. Lu and Lana were hospitalized. Our grandkids have all had super mild cases. As of this writing, Lu is out of the hospital and Lana is still in. Thankfully, Nola and I have not gotten it, nor have my mom or dad.
Normally, Nola and I have traveled to Oklahoma at Thanksgiving, but this year, we stayed home to take care of the Kansas City family and to not be unintentional carriers.
Nola hands my sister, Lu Warren, a hot meal on Thanksgiving day. Her husband Kenny is standing behind her.
On Thanksgiving, Bobbi, one of our daughters-in-law, cooked for everyone, and Nola and I made the rounds delivering the turkey, dressing, and sides to our clan. Being the only Reed household without Covid, Nola and I have been the designated “gophers.” We believe that we are closer to the tail end of this, but we sure could use all the prayers we can get!
Bill Burrows Prayer Concerns
In the last update, I mentioned Bill’s cornea transplant surgery. He has done well on that, but he has had more issues with A-FIB and is scheduled for a heart ablation surgery on December 22nd. To complicate things a bit, his son, Jacob, and daughter-in-law, Melissa, who moved into Bill and Joyce’s home to relocate from Chicago to Kansas City, have tested positive for Covid.
So Covid has come to Bill and Joyce’s home as well. If Bill gets it, his surgery plans could be in jeopardy. So please be in prayer for their health and that Covid moves on from their family.
Loss of Friends
The past few weeks, we have lost several friends and ministry partners.
Sue Lindsay
On October 20th, we lost Sue Lindsay after a week of trying to recover from a stroke. Sue and her husband Peck have been long time friends of our family and this ministry. Peck has been a trusted advisor to us, and Sue was one of our greatest advocates. I remember in the early days of doing cowboy ministry, she recruited some of the first cowboys to go to Guatemala with me. Her daughter, Natalee Beck, a veterinarian, got recruited by Sue to go to Honduras several times with us. And her grandkids, Jacob and Emma Beck have been on trips as well. I can’t help but smile when I think of Sue. She loved to tease, and the last time we shared a meal with a group of pastors in Nebraska, she hid my plate!
Peck and Sue Lindsay at the Kansas/Nebraska Convention meeting just a few weeks before Sue’s passing
Frank Molano
Another friend we lost in the last few weeks is Frank Molano. Frank did rodeo ministry for years with high school students in the Denton County/North Fort Worth, Texas, region. Frank passed away a few days after having a tough fall. A couple years ago, Frank spent a month traveling with Cesar and me between Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. Frank had such a heart to see people come to know Christ. And it was great that he spoke Spanish fluently and could hold groups spell-bound with his stories. There are many cowboy church pastors in Texas that came out of Frank’s rodeo ministry.
Here Frank is sharing his testimony with a group of bull riders at the University of Agriculture in La Ceiba, Honduras.
Michael Wright
The most recent friend to leave us is Michael Wright. Michael had been part of a group here in Kansas City that started meeting weekly at the home of Dick and Barb Cates a few years ago. Michael passed away in his sleep November 30th after less than a year of battling lung cancer.
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.
Each day we have is a gift. I am thankful for these friends and that one day in the not-so-distant future, we will be reunited in heavenly homecomings.
10:02 PRAYER
Please pray for health for all of us—especially those dealing with Covid-19. Also pray for wisdom for Cesar in helping all the new groups in Guatemala and the leaders of the communities mentioned above. Pray that they invite Jesus into their lives and their jobs of helping people during these difficult days. Pray for Jim and others to have wisdom in planning a medical trip next year.
ENGAGE
As we mentioned in the last update, if you are interested in joining one of our mission teams this year, or in having us come do a “Be the Church” service or training, let us know.
INVEST
Thank you for your faithful giving to this ministry. You are making these trips and outreaches possible.
CLICK HERE FOR THE EASY WAY TO INVEST.
Thanks for your prayers. If we can pray for you, please send us a note.
Love y’all!
Steve
Cesar and Elba show Jim one of their favorite dances. Continue to pray that they have energy and strength for these days.