Good morning everyone!
A couple of weeks ago, Bill and I had a great time in both South Dakota and in the Sandhills of Nebraska.
The first week in June, we started off in Colome, South Dakota, for Calvary Chapel’s annual Vacation Bible School. The theme for the week was “The Great Jungle Journey.” My assignment: to share missionary stories from the jungles of Guatemala.
I must admit that the kids really spurred me on in telling more stories than I had originally planned! And I really enjoyed the responses of the children. By the end of the week, several of them expressed their desire to follow Jesus. They were so attentive and made me realize that I need to tell some of these stories to my own grandchildren!
From VBS to Troubleshooting
After a great week of VBS, we drove a few miles south to Burwell, Nebraska, so that Bill could be one of the presenters at the Sandhills Center for Christian Leadership Network, led by Joel Wentworth, to do a breakout session titled “Troubleshooting Small Groups.” The pastors and leaders really appreciated how Bill took their questions and, using some dialogue, talked through possible solutions.
In addition to that, Bill also did the heavy lifting of preaching messages on both Sundays of our trip. I got to say a quick word of thanks to both Calvary Chapel and Burwell Baptist for their long-standing partnerships and support in the Guatemala mission endeavors. And I must say that in both places we were treated like family. Here are a few pictures to highlight the week.
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.
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.
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.
Each day of Vacation Bible School, the kids lined up outside to enter the church building for the beginning of their Biblical adventure.
Each day the children recited the pledges of allegiance to the flag of the United States, to the Christian flag, and to the Bible.
The first day, the kids learned some new songs that emphasized various aspects of the jungle adventure theme.
With the added motions, it didn’t take long for the kids to sing and move to the music.
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.
Each day the children enjoyed some play time.
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.
Here’s the whole VBS crew on the last day.
At the end of the week, the children shared with their parents the songs and some of the stories they learned during the week.
Here Dena Weidner, one of the jungle adventure guides for the week, leads the children in sharing with their parents what they learned.
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.
Bill celebrated his birthday while we were gone, and here, Keith and Judy Moody treated us to a delicious home cooked birthday steak dinner!
10:02 PRAYER
(Pray Luke 10:2 each day at 10:02 am or pm that the Lord of the harvest will send out laborers into His harvest fields.)
Bill and Joyce just moved a few days ago into a house closer to their grown kids and families here in Kansas City. Continue to be in prayer for them and their transition.
Pray for our Lenexa Baptist Guatemala team as we prepare for a sports-related mission trip planned for August 6-13. Currently we have 18 signed up!
ENGAGE
If you are interested in the August Guatemala trip, let us know ASAP. And if you are interested in helping us recruit another team for a later trip, let us know that as well.
INVEST
Thank you so much for your continued investment in this ministry. Your giving has been crucial to all we have done the past several months both here and in Guatemala.
You can give through the link below, or checks can be sent to:
Daybreak International, 11628 Oakmont St., Overland Park, KS 66210
Thanks again for your support. Please let us know about any of your prayer needs.
Love y’all!
Steve
PS…On an early morning run near Keith and Judy Moody’s place, I felt compelled to stop and take this picture.
There is just something about a South Dakota sky!