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!
Good morning everybody!
I’m back from Guatemala and have a lot to share about my recent trip! Before I do that, let me say a few words about our January “MAPS” initiative.
MAPS Update
If you are joining us in this update for the first time, “MAPS” is our daily scripture plan for having lifegiving conversations with Jesus. For those who have engaged in our January experiment, I hope you have enjoyed it as much as I have. I’m grateful that Nola and I have been able to do it together—even with me being out of the country. Besides getting some spiritual traction, we have had some good laughs along the way as I have bumbled along in several of my scriptural commitments! Check out the Zoom call replays for a couple of these stories!
Join Us in February!
Now that we have done this in January, we’d like to keep it going and invite you to jump in with us in February! The focus of this month is: “What is our mind occupied with?” (What are we thinking?)
Below are several links to get started. One is a link to a recording of our last Zoom meeting from January 26th. It starts with me at Arrowhead Stadium right before the Chiefs game! I shared a bit about my trip to Guatemala before Bill led the group in hearing from one another about how it’s been going. Note that our next MAPS Zoom call will be Sunday, February 16th, at 4pm.
Links to Our MAPS Info
To play, enter this Passcode: p5j+yd0T
As always, I love hearing from you. If you have a MAPS story, write us!
Steve
PS…now scroll down below for the Guatemala news and pics!
James Project in Guatemala
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!
As I mentioned last time, for me, part of this trip was a scout trip to check out the James Project in Monjas, Guatemala. This is a ministry that is rescuing children from abuse and neglect and helping to restore families in crisis. I went down with Jim Fruth and Dave Owen of Lenexa Baptist. After spending time with them, I stayed an extra week to make the rounds with Cesar to touch base with friends in other places doing cowboy ministry, soccer stuff, and a ministry to senior adults in Santa Cruz Narranjo.
From my perspective, I was amazed at how all our connections came together. Here are a few pics to tell the stories.
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.
Tiffany is sharing the view of the surrounding mountains near Monjas. Jim Fruth is looking on from the right.
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.
Here’s one of the houses getting ready to sing their theme song to our group.
The children were quick to give hugs to all of us. Here Jim and Dave share a moment with two little girls.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Here we are praying over the ground of an adjacent property where new structures will house battered women and their children together.
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.
After our team left the James Project to go home, Cesar and I came back to Monjas a couple of days later and put on an event at the children’s home with some of our cowboy friends from the Cattlemen’s Association in Monjas and the Lions Club in Monjas. The following pics are from that day.
Cowboy Day at James Project!
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.
When we got to the center, our rancher friends were ready to round up the kids and show them how to rope!
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!
Here the president of the Cattleman’s Association brings a greeting to the children.
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.
The kids loved the sack races.
Musical chairs is always a hit.
Here Gloria gives a prize to the jump rope champion.
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.
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.
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!
I was amazed at how God brought several of our friends together to bless the children of the James Project. Cesar will be going back to Monjas next week as the Cattlemen’s Association will be having their annual fair, and one of the days they will be hosting a free Children’s festival. Since meeting the children at James Project, they wanted to make sure that they are invited to be special guests of the Cattlemen’s Association.
Stay tuned for more info as we partner with Lenexa Baptist and the James Project!
Making the Rounds
Here are a few pics from when Cesar and I met up with friends in various places that second week.
At the Senior Center in Santa Cruz Narranjo, I got to “win” the dancing competition with this dear lady!
Here Cesar gives her a scarf that she proudly wears.
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.
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.
Melanie, one of Cesar’s granddaughters, tries her hand at swinging a rope.
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.
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.
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!
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!
Thanks so much for your continued prayers and support.
Love y’all!
Steve
You can give through the link below, or checks can be sent to:
Daybreak International, 11628 Oakmont St., Overland Park, KS 66210