Your Witness Matters -- A Story 12 Years in the Making

Do you ever wonder if sharing your faith really matters? Do you sometimes question your ability to lead someone to Christ? Do you have friends and family who seem like lost causes in crossing the line of faith?

Here's a story that has been in the making for 12 years. Grab a cup of coffee and linger a bit with me, because I need to take you back to Guatemala in January of 2006. A group of Nebraskan ranchers, while on a mission trip to Guatemala, told Cesar Gonzalez that they would like for a group of ranchers from Guatemala to come visit them for the week of the big rodeo in Burwell, Nebraska, in July of 2006. In what we called a "reverse missions trip," ten Guatemalans made the journey to Nebraska. The idea was to see if we did a missions project in "reverse" and had Guatemala friends come and visit us, we might include more people in the missions process here at home who would never be able to go to Guatemala.

Cesar took this picture of the Guatemala team that visited Burwell, Nebraska in the summer of 2006. Note that Oscar is seated on the curb in the middle. His cousin Alex is in the green shirt next to him. Elba, Cesar's wife, is seated on the right. Rolando is second from the top right. 

Of that group of 10, only four were believers. We prayed that the other six would pray to receive Christ on that trip. I even remember on the second day in Nebraska sitting in Rex Kelly's living room going through a plan-of-salvation talk and inviting those six to respond, and not one did. I was disappointed. The guys all enjoyed the trip immensely, and we all had a good time. But our idea of seeing some pray to receive Christ while in the U.S. didn't pan out. But our Nebraska friends kept praying. And Rex and Deb Kelly stayed in touch with a couple of them by email and Facebook.

As the years rolled by, one by one, they came to know Jesus. Rolando came to know the Lord a few months before having a massive heart attack and dying. German and Juan did so later at their respective ranches in Guatemala. Otto did we think at a cattlemen's association meeting in Jutiapa. Alex did, a couple of years later after his wife nearly left him, and Rex and Deb Kelly, through many emails, encouraged he and his wife to stick it out. But Alex's cousin, Oscar, a trick roper and the life of almost any party, was a tough cookie to crack. While being generous and friendly to us--participating in several cowboy events with us in Guatemala--he just never would cross the line of faith for his salvation.   

Oscar, a trick roper, leads the Guatemala delegation in the Burwell, Nebraska parade. Rolando is carrying the Guatemala flag on horseback. 

Oscar showing his stuff at a ranch with a group of new friends from Nebraska. 

Meanwhile, Rex and Deb and many of our friends in Nebraska continued to pray. On our last trip to Guatemala a few weeks ago, Rex was reunited for a lunch with Alex and his wife Joanna, their twenty-something sons, Alan and Alejandro, Oscar, and Oscar's girlfriend. In introducing Rex to her sons, Joanna said, "I want to introduce you to the man who, with his wife Debbie, helped save our marriage." The two boys remembered how hopeless their parents' marriage seemed when they were teenagers. One of the boys told of how depressed he was in those days, but because of the change in his parents, both boys came to faith in Jesus too. 

Alex and Joanna Salazar pose with their two sons, Alejandro and Alan along with Alan's girlfriend. 

While Rex was enjoying reminiscing with Alex and Joanna, Ray Gurney, pastor of Cross Creek Baptist Mission in Oak Grove, Missouri, felt burdened to talk with Oscar, who was sitting next to him at the dinner table. Though Ray had never met Oscar before this day, he had heard about his recent troubles. For the past several years, Oscar has lived a nightmare. A few years ago, his father died in prison after being framed for an apparent murder of a cousin in the family. After his father's death, the truth came out that he did not commit the murder. In the meantime, another cousin of Oscar's turned up dead, and Oscar was similarly blamed. The authorities cleared him, but in a country of vigilante-style justice, Oscar had been living in fear that there are people wanting him dead too since the real culprits had not been brought to justice.  

"Oscar, do you know that Jesus Christ can save you just like he saved Alex and Joanna?" Ray asked, referring to the miracle story told of Alex and Joanna coming to Christ and seeing their marriage saved. Alan, one of Alex and Joanna's sons, translated for Ray.

"Si," Oscar nodded.

"Would you like to get that done right now?" Ray asked.

"Si," Oscar said, with tears forming out of the corners of his eyes.

Over a family style lunch at a street-side restaurant in Monterrico, Guatemala, the prayers of a group of faithful friends in the Sandhills of Nebraska were answered as Oscar prayed to receive Christ. After the prayer, Ray prayed for protection for Oscar and that the truth would prevail and that soon the situation would be resolved. 

Oscar with his girlfriend moments after praying to receive Christ. 

"How do you feel Oscar,?" Ray asked after he concluded his prayer. 

"Like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders!" Oscar exuded. To Ray, the tears he noticed coming from Oscar's eyes now seemed like tears of joy. 

Rex Kelly, left, and Ray Gurney share a moment to reflect on a car ferry near Monterrrico, Guatemala.  

10:02 PRAYER (LUKE 10:2)

Editor's note: Just before sending this update, we have learned that in a dramatic court case, Oscar and his family have been completely cleared and the real murderers convicted. Thank God for this and for Oscar's newfound faith! 

INVEST

Thanks for your continued generosity that keeps us traveling and responding to what God is doing with our friends in many places.      

THE EASY BUTTON FOR INVESTING IN PSE

ENGAGE

Next week, Bill and I will be traveling to Texas to visit many of our friends in the Fort Worth and North Texas region. Stay tuned for more details on that.

For you coffee lovers, we still have a few bags of coffee left from our coffee grower friends in Moyuta, Guatemala. If you'd like some, let me know. 

Love y'all!   

Steve

Strengthen and Encourage...Making the Rounds in Guatemala

A few weeks ago I mentioned to you that I was heading to Guatemala to do one thing--encourage. When I arrived, Cesar had a scripture that was burning on his heart, and it caused us to add another key word to our trip.

Cesar had just read Acts 14. In this passage, Paul and Barnabas were traveling on one of their missionary journeys, and after leading many to the Lord, they endured persecution and severe difficulties. In one place Paul was stoned by an angry crowd and left for dead. Amazingly, Paul survived, dusted himself off, and with Barnabas decided to double back through all the places they had been. Acts 14:22 says they "strengthened and encouraged the disciples to remain true to the faith."

Cesar and I met with leaders from El Estor who are starting new Christian Rancher groups. This region has many ranches near Lake Izabal. 

So, holding that scripture in our hearts and minds, Cesar and I made the rounds for two weeks dedicated to strengthen and encourage our friends starting Play. Story. Eat. groups of various kinds. Of these are Christian Rancher groups, women's groups, soccer groups, churches in the jungle, and more. Here are a few pictures of some of the places we went. In coming days we hope to share some of the stories of what God is doing in each place. 

Represented in this meeting of leaders near Moyuta, Guatemala, are folks starting a soccer group with drug addicts, a coffee growers group, and a Christian Rancher group. 

A ladies group brought together by the mayor's wife near Quesada, Guatemala 

Rex Kelly, of Ord, Nebraska, joined me, Clarrisa, Cesar, and Humberto to talk about an Equine Therapy program near the zoo in Guatemala City.  

The team starting a Christian Rancher group near El Salvador and the Pacific Ocean at Las Lisas, Guatemala 

We took a boat tour with leaders near Las Lisas, Guatemala, who are particularly interested in addressing the trash problems in their region. 

10:02 PRAYER (LUKE 10:2)

Please pray for Cesar as he continues to stay in touch with the leaders in these pictures. Continue to pray that God would continue to raise up leaders for His harvest. 

INVEST

Thanks for your continued generosity that keeps us traveling and responding to what God is doing with our friends in many places.      

THE EASY BUTTON FOR INVESTING IN PSE

ENGAGE

Want coffee? I brought back 45 bags from Moyuta, Guatemala. This coffee is from the very mountain where one of our coffee growers PSE groups is starting. Email me your address, and I will send it to you! Suggested cost is $15 a bag. 

Here is our friend Dario roasting a batch of high elevation coffee from Moyuta. If you would like to try some, let me know! I have 45 bags of it! 

Well, I guess that is enough for now. Next time I hope to share a story that has been developing for 12 years!

Love y'all!   

Steve

The Unexpected Day Billy Graham Encouraged me

I am back from Guatemala and have much to share with you. But today I want to take a few minutes to honor a man who has inspired millions of us around the world. As I write these words, I have just finished watching the service honoring Billy Graham in the rotunda of our nation's capitol. In watching this, my mind drifted back to a couple of days before July 4th of 2014.   

I was exhausted. After covering three countries and three projects, I wanted to get home. But I had a problem. I had used frequent flyer miles to book my flight home, and the itinerary was strange. I'd go from Guatemala to Miami, spend a short night in Miami, and then fly out to Charlotte, North Carolina, at 6am the next morning. After a five hour layover in Charlotte, I'd fly directly to KC and get home late on July 3rd. 

Going to the airport in Guatemala, I was so sure that I could get on a standby flight to get home more directly from Miami in one day. I'd done it before on other trips. But this day it didn't work. No one with the airline would let me change anything! At least not without a sizable fee.

So after spending the night in Miami, I got my cheapskate self on that 6am flight to Charlotte. When the stewardess asked me what I wanted to drink, I asked for my usual tomato juice. When I set it on my tray, I glanced out the window. Unknowingly, my tray table was bent downward a bit, and my tomato juice began to slide. I turned my head just in time to see it tip right into my lap! Aaaargh! What a mess! Worse than anything was the location! I spent about 30 minutes in the bathroom trying to dab it up and minimize the visual effects.

When I got to Charlotte, I looked on the board and noticed two earlier flights to Kansas City. "Let's try this one more time," I told myself.  Walking up to the customer service counter, I handed the agent my ticket and made my pitch. "I'm heading to Kansas City. Can I get on an earlier flight?"  

After a few clicks on the computer, my cheerful airline helper said, "Sure! We can get you on." 

"Great!" I proclaimed, fist pumping. 

"The change will only be $75," they continued. Immediately my countenance dropped. Calculating in my head, I realized I'd only get to KC two hours earlier, and considering my last paint job, $75 for a couple hours of work was something I couldn't sneeze at! So I thanked them for their trouble and declined the offer.  

"What am I going to do for 5 hours?" I muttered as I walked away.  Then, going down one of the halls, I noticed a sign with a picture of Billy Graham. "Hmmm, what is this?" 

"Billy Graham Library, 5 minutes away," the sign read. "Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm." I looked at my watch and it was 9:00am. I walked straight out to a cab. Fifteen minutes later I was in the library! 

This is the house that Billy grew up in.  

Immediately on arrival, I felt the caring of the volunteer staff there. I must have been a sight. I had my travel backpack still strapped on my back. My clothes were all wrinkled from travel. My pants were still a bit discolored by my tomato juice. When one of the staff asked me what brought me to the library, I told them of coming home from a mission trip and having been stuck in Charlotte and seeing the sign in the airport. They seemed so excited about me being there and helped me map out my way through the exhibits. After a couple of hours of browsing and watching multiple video presentations of various aspects of the life and ministry of Billy Graham, I felt rejuvenated. The bonus came at the end when one of the staff pulled me aside to pray for me and encourage me in my missionary work. 

Here is the entrance to the Billy Graham library. You notice that you enter by the way of the cross. The building is built in the shape of a dairy barn to remember that Billy was a simple country boy who grew up on a dairy farm. At his home, Billy's father and several other men prayed that a great preacher of the Gospel would come from their town. Little did they know that 15 year old Billy, milking the cows in the barn, would be the answer to their prayers.    

One of the most impressive things about being at the library was not about how great Billy Graham was, but more importantly, how great God is and how great His message of salvation is.

For me it was like finding an unexpected oasis. My layover became a three hour spiritual retreat. By the time I got back to the airport, I was rejuvenated! As I boarded my plane to Kansas City, I now knew why I had to go through Charlotte. And I shuddered, because I could have missed God's blessing.

Soon, Billy's body will be buried next to his wife Ruth there on the grounds of the library.

I love the playful and humble inscription at the bottom of Ruth Graham's grave. She insisted on this phrase after seeing it posted on a newly opened highway. "End of construction--Thank you for your patience." 

And in the coming days, I may just need to figure out how I can get "stuck" in Charlotte to be blessed again by the inspirational life and message of Billy Graham. But the next time I go, I will be more careful when I ask for tomato juice!

Thank you for your continued prayers. I look forward to sharing more from this last trip.

Love y'all!

Steve

You Made a Difference this Week in Guatemala!

Hello Everyone!

Thank You! Cesar and I thank God for your prayers and support each day. Your faithfulness is paying off. The Gospel is spreading in Guatemala! 

As I write this note, I have just come out of the jungle and am trying to get my head back into civilization and modern communications. When I close my eyes, I can still hear the howling monkeys. And when I tune my ear, I can hear the songs and praises to God of the 40 people crammed in and around a hut who have just started a new church since November.

Aníbal (white shirt), pastor in Sejux, and his new congregation sing praises.

In a new twist, Cesar and I have brought five Kekchi friends from the jungle who will be traveling with us for four more days as we make our rounds visiting some of our new groups. Every day as we travel, we are doing both formal and informal training on the Play. Story. Eat. process. So far it has been extraordinarily good. Having the extra time with our Kekchi leaders is making it easier for them to digest the training, and we can do a lot of it as we go.

Kekchi group traveling with us: Left to right is Aníbal, Lorenzo, Cesar, Jose, and Jose's daughter Maria.

In the next few days, we will be meeting with cowboys, coffee growers, and women’s leaders. Also, our Kekchi group plays the marimba, so at each gathering (including Cesar’s 70th birthday party Saturday, Feb. 17!) they will add extra spice to our meetings. In addition, we want to see if having a mix of cultures offers us a way for the various groups to get a vision of how the missionary process and principles can work for any group.

The Kekchi team played the marimba on our first stop near El Estor, Guatemala.

10:02 Prayer

Pray that this week we will equip someone in each group to be able to facilitate a group in their area. As of this writing, we have already touched base with 5 different areas and key leaders in our visits. Each place seems primed and ready to grow.

Invest

For this trip, special thanks go out to our friends from Orangecrest Church in Riverside, California. Because of their monthly support for jungle church planting, we have been able to support the work of this newest church in the jungle and have the resources to do this special training this week. Thanks Josh De La Rosa and your team!

Engage

In the months of March and April, Bill Burrows and I will be going to Texas, Oklahoma, and Nebraska to do several different PSE training events. Stay tuned for the exact dates and schedules for each.

Thanks for your continued prayers this week. We believe that our open doors and opportunities here in Guatemala are due to your faithful prayers on our behalf. Muchas gracias!

Love y’all!
Steve

Mission Encourage

Hi Everybody! 

Since getting back from Guatemala on my latest trip, I have been struggling a bit in how to communicate what is happening in our projects. For one, the scope of it all is making it harder for me to keep up. Christian Rancher groups, women's groups, and churches in the jungle are getting started in many places I've never been. 

But more than just the scope of it "down there", we have stuff happening "up here" in the U.S. With more and more Play. Story. Eat. Friendship Circles getting started, I am feeling like a spectator at a ping pong match with my head swiveling back and forth! And worse yet, I don't even know what the score is! We haven't stopped to take inventory of the current group counts.  

On Friday of this week, I am heading to Guatemala again to join Cesar Gonzalez to do one thing--ENCOURAGE. For one, we plan to engage  the leaders of the 5 new groups that started in January. In addition, we plan to make a run to the jungle to encourage them as well. Here's a brief list of the groups we hope to connect with: 

• Rodeo-related friends in Agua Blanca 
• Two new groups wanting to start equine therapy programs 
• Leaders of the ladies groups in Quesada
• Bull riders starting PSE groups in their home towns
• A coffee growers group near Moyuta 
• A new church that started in the jungle a couple months ago
• Our church-planting pastor friends in the jungle 

I hope to have a better idea of how to communicate some of this as I see it first hand. From time to time, I will try to drill down into a story that might inspire us or call us to pray in new ways about what is happening.  

10:02 PRAYER (LUKE 10:2)

Please pray for Cesar and me as we travel the next couple of weeks. Pray that God would continue to raise up leaders for His harvest. 

INVEST

Thanks for your continued generosity that keeps us traveling and responding to what God is doing with our friends in many places.      

THE EASY BUTTON FOR INVESTING IN PSE

ENGAGE

If you haven't been part of a Play. Story. Eat. training experience, we would love to come to you this year! Bill Burrows and I are in the process of working out the year's schedule of 2018 PSE Experiences, so now would be a great time to contact us! 

Love y'all!   

Steve

Welcome Zeke to the Reed Family!

Hi Everybody! 

Nola and Zeke for the first time. 

Since getting back from Guatemala, Nola and I have been enjoying some of the perks of the grandparent gig!

Our third grandchild, Zeke, was born January 11th to our son Zac and his wife Liz. So, for this week's update, I thought I'd share a few pictures!  

Next week I plan to share more about the opportunities before us that have come from this past mission trip. 

Hope you are doing well! 

Love y'all. 

Steve 

Weighing in at 9 lbs and 6 oz, Zeke is resting from his first hard days work!  

A proud dad! 

Zeke and Liz. 

Zeke meeting his cousin Bridget, for the first time! 

Your Prayers Answered In Guatemala

Good morning everybody! 

Now that I have been home for a few days, I'd like to stop and say "Thanks" for your prayers for our teams in Guatemala the first couple of weeks in January. During that time, we posted a few pictures of us doing a variety of things--from a Play. Story. Eat. training, to Sam Anderson doing an Equine Therapy talk and demonstration, to participation in a rodeo, to working with a mayor's wife with over 40 women's leaders, to a meeting in a beautiful coffee plantation, to dancing with folks at a senior citizen home! 

Most notable is how we saw 5 new Christian Rancher groups get started! In all our trips, I can't remember that many groups getting started in such a short span of time. In addition, we believe that we have about 27 people primed to start other groups--including women's groups, a coffee growers group, and others. Maybe in the coming days we will stop to count how many places we now have Play. Story. Eat. groups using some version of our process.  

Even though we participated in several high profile events, we believe that we did some of our best work out of the spotlight--especially with our friends who are considering starting other PSE groups.

First meeting of a new Christian Rancher group in Moyuta 

To give you a snapshot, I want to talk about two days that kind of blew my expectations. On Tuesday, January 9th, we had a first event in Moyuta. This place is located within about 15 miles of the El Salvador border. Anatoly, a young man who turned 25 years old our last day with him, had organized the meeting with Alicia, a friend of his. Both of them had attended our PSE training event January 4th at Cesar's place and were excited about getting a couple of different groups started. This particular day, we met at Anatoly's coffee plantation that his family has had for a couple of generations. Our meeting place was under a screened coffee net that shaded us and overlooked a picturesque lake where a few men were fishing and nearby some ladies were washing their clothes by hand in knee deep water.

While sipping some of the best coffee you'll ever find in the world, we had quite a diverse mix of people--from some fairly well-to-do coffee plantation owners to a couple of guys who had been homeless at one point in their lives. Most of the 25 or so in attendance were believers, but a few were not. One of those was a man named Dario, an Iranian refugee who fled Iran in 1979 when the Shah of Iran was getting ousted. Somehow he managed to get some land and learned to grow coffee in these hills and had managed to fit in. While still considering himself a Muslim, he claimed to be a God fearer and was extremely attentive to everything we did and especially loved it when we had our horseshoe throwing competition.

Our team posed with the group that's starting to meet monthly. Anatoly is the top guy in the denim shirt. Alicia is in the middle with the scarf around her neck. Dario is kneeling with Michael Macias on the far right. 

While a few did pray to receive Christ at the meeting, Dario didn't, but he hung around for the group picture of those who wanted to start the group. So pray for him and the others planning to continue meeting in Moyuta.

Getting ready for the official start of the program with the Cattlemen's Association of Moyuta in San Pedro Alvarado 

Sort of connected to this group is the cattlemen's association of Moyuta that has it's milking coop building in San Pedro Alvarado, about 100 yards from the El Salvador border. On Sunday, January 14th, we had an event with this group and their families. About 150 showed up! Cesar and I talked about how we had come to connect guys in Christian Rancher groups all over Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. Renato, our Brazilian team member, gave his testimony. And then we did our play time. Over 30 guys had come with their horses to participate in the "riding of the rings" event. This event is extraordinarily popular in this region and drew riders from about a 20 mile radius, including about a half dozen guys from El Salvador. Local businesses had donated prizes, including a brand new saddle for the winner! 

The crowd getting ready for the horse demonstrations and the "Riding of the Rings" 

In the "Riding of the Rings," the cowboy tries to spear a keychain-looking ring dangling from a rope. If he spears a ring, he wins a prize and gets a kiss from a beautiful young lady! 

Laura Slaughter poses with a cowboy for a picture after giving him a prize of a rope. And yes, she did give him a kiss on the cheek! 

The donor of the saddle gives the grand prize to the winner!   

10:02 PRAYER (LUKE 10:2)

Pray for these folks starting new groups, and please pray for Cesar and me as we plan to meet with them in February to help them get their groups established.  

INVEST

Thank you for your faithful support. You invested close to $5000 in this one trip. And God produced amazing results. Way to go!      

THE EASY BUTTON FOR INVESTING IN PSE

ENGAGE

If you would like to know more about how PSE might benefit you or your church, let us know! We are seeing good things happening with our partnering churches as they try out some of the basic strategies we use in our missionary work.

Love y'all!   

Steve

Horse trainer, Sam Anderson, takes one of the horses on a test drive. 

Guatemala Week 2: Updated

Hilda López sharing her faith story in Quesada. January 12, 2018

Hello Everyone! 
This is Bill Burrows. Steve and the team have been having electricity issues this week, so updates have been tough to come by. Steve sent several pictures and a few details in the small window of time that he had. Look for them on the dates below.

See updates for Week 1 below this entire update in "FOLLOW ALONG WITH THE MISSION TEAM IN GUATEMALA! UPDATED!" to learn what God did in our first week.

Laura Slaughter and Hilda Lopez arrived safely and went straight to playing, storying, and eating!

Please Pray and Engage

Please continue to engage with us by asking God to heal the normal health issues related to going to a Central American country and for a safe return home by the team.  

DAY 7 TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2018 - UPDATED

• Purpose: Make new friends and introduce PSE Friendship Circles

  • Made 30 new friends.

  • Many professions of faith

  • Sparked 2 PSE/Christian rancher groups

  • Potential of 5 new Friendship Circles

• Where: Moyuta, Guatemala, and possibly into El Salvador
• Who: Steve, Sam, Michael, Renato, Cesar
• How: Building trust with new groups by listening to understand their reality  

 

DAY 8 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2018  - Arrival of Team #2 from Kansas City to Guatemala 

• Where: Kansas City to Atlanta to Guatemala City to Cesar's home in Amberes, Guatemala
• Who: Laura Slaughter, Hilda Lopez
• How: Airplanes (7 hrs) and 4X4 Pickup (1.5 hrs)

DAY 9 THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2018- UPDATED PHOTOS

• Purpose: PSE Evangelism
  • Update Pending
• Where: San Jose Acatempa, Guatemala
• Who: Laura Slaughter, Hilda Lopez, Cesar, Steve, Sam, Michael, Renato, PSE Women's Group
• How: The PSE women's group will invite their husbands and other families in the community to a large group PSE evangelism event.

DAY 10 FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, 2018 - Updated  

• Purpose: Introduction of PSE Experience

  • Presented the PSE Process to 40 leaders of groups representing as many as 1,000 women in the region. They have a burden to serve those with special needs and are making great progress in doing that!

• Where: Quesada, Guatemala
• Who: Laura Slaughter, Hilda Lopez, Cesar, Steve, Sam, Michael, Renato 
• How: Working with women's micro-business groups of the region, the team will initiate the PSE process by having intentional spiritual conversations in small groups as well as large group activities. 

 

DAY 11 SATURDAY, JANUARY 13, 2018  Updated

• Purpose: Change of Plans - DAY OF REST AND RECOVERY
• Where: Cesar's Home, Amberes, Guatemala
• Who: Laura, Hilda, Cesar, Steve, Sam, Michael, Renato 
• How: Doing whatever needed to regain physical and spiritual strength

DAY 12 SUNDAY, JANUARY 14, 2018  

• Purpose:
  • UPDATE PENDING
• Where: 
• Who: Laura, Hilda, Cesar, Steve, Sam, Michael, Renato 
• How:

DAY 13 MONDAY, JANUARY 15, 2018  

• Purpose: Share the love and joy of God with area Senior Citizens group
  • UPDATE PENDING
• Where: Santa Cruz Narranjo, Guatemala
• Who: Laura, Hilda, Cesar, Steve, Sam, Michael, Renato 
• How: The team will dance, share their stories and God's story, and eat lunch with these wonderful friends. (pic from July) 

Santa Cruz Narranjo, Guatemala. Senior Citizens

DAY 14 TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2018 - TRAVEL HOME DAY!

Love y'all!   

Bill

Follow Along with The Mission Team in Guatemala! Updated!

Hello Everyone! 
I'll be in Guatemala from Wednesday, January 3, to Tuesday, January 16, with a team from Open Range Fellowship. While I am gone, Bill will be mapping out our movements and updating this page on a regular basis.

Pray and Engage

Please engage in this trip with us by asking God to empower and encourage us to follow His lead in initiating and developing friendships with the Guatemalan people. 

 
Day 1 Wednesday, January 3, 2018 - Travel Day

UPDATE: Sam, Micheal and Renato arrived safely in Amberes on Wednesday evening. Steve was stuck in KC unable to get a seat to Dallas.

• Where: Kansas City to Dallas to Guatemala City to Cesar's home in Amberes, Guatemala
• Who: Steve Reed, Sam Anderson, Micheal Macias, Renato Quadreli (from Brazil)
• How: Airplanes (5 hrs) and 4X4 Pickup (1.5 hrs)

Day 2 Thursday, January 4, 2018 - Guatemalan PSE Experience

UPDATE: The PSE Experience at Cesar's home had about 20 people. The event went well. They had a great time playing horseshoes. Michael said, "The group stared out real quiet, but at the end people were like old friends." The groups where able push through the "uncomfortable" and connect with God and each other. Please pray that they will continue to Play. Story. and Eat. together. Steve made it to Amberes Thursday evening. Yeah God!

• Purpose: To equip Guatemalan pastors and believers to initiate and develop PSE Friendship Circles
• Where: Cesar's home in Amberes, Guatemala
• Who: Steve, Sam, Micheal, Renato, many pastors and potential PSE disciplers.
• How: We will Play. (horseshoes) Story. (story activities) & Eat. (Guatemalan pot-luck)

Play. Story. Eat. Experience Amberes, Guatemala July 2017

Day 3 Friday, January 5, 2018 - Chiquimulilla Cattlemen's Gathering

MAP

UPDATE: 

Potholders Open Hearts and Minds to the Gospel!

Cesar Shares Gospel using potholders!

I wish I had the time to share the stories of today. In a nutshell, after making friends with some ranchers and friends of Oscar (Coca) Melgar, Sam spoke from horseback and Renato shared his faith story. But it was the potholders that gave us a spark to present a salvation message.

Several prayed to receive Christ and a new PSE group is forming.

A New PSE Christian Rancher Group Formed! Ranchers and Friends of Coca Melgar

• Purpose: To share the Gospel and invite engagement in Christian Rancher Groups/PSE Friendship Circles (joined by our friends Oscar "Coca" Melgar and his cousin, Alex Melgar)
• Where: Oscar's ranch in Chiquimulilla, Guatemala
• Who: Steve, Sam, Micheal, Renato, "Coca," Alex, ranchers from the region
• How: We will play rancher games, share the gospel and our salvation stories, encourage them to join or form Christian Rancher Groups/PSE Friendship Circles, and enjoy a meal together.

Renato Sharing the Gospel!

Day 4 Saturday, January 6, 2018 - Agua Blanca Rodeo

Last year at the Agua Blanca rodeo many of the bull-riders came to Christ. Since then, Cesar has visited several of them in their homes and helped them start new Christian Rancher groups.

UPDATE:  In Agua Blanca we invited our old and new bull-rider friends to play horseshoes in the arena in front of the early crowd. Renato gave his testimony. The team re-connected with the bull riders and promised to meet them in their homes to encourage the PSE/Christians Rancher groups. Much to our surprise, 8 of the bull-riders were from Brazil! Renato connected with the Brazilians. They plan to continue the relationships back home and see were God leads. The team was unable to do the Brand skit but it worked out for the best. 

Bull-rider Horseshoes Agua Blanca Rodeo

• Purpose: To share a Gospel Invitation with everyone attending the rodeo, and to equip and encourage our bull-rider friends as they develop their CRG/PSE Friendship Circles 
• Where: Agua Blanca, Guatemala
• Who: Steve, Sam, Micheal, Renato, rodeo crowd, cowboys, bull-riders
• How: We will enjoy the rodeo, present Gospel skit "The Brand" written by our friend Keith Moody, encourage our bull-rider friends to develop and form new Christian Rancher Groups/PSE FC's, and connect over a meal together.

Day 5 Sunday, January 7, 2018 - Serve Jalpatagua, a Grieving Community

The original Jalpatagua Fair plan was to participate in the parade and activities for their annual celebration. But the president of the cattlemen's association was murdered just a few weeks ago, so they canceled all activities except for ours. 

UPDATE: We attended a joint meeting of the women's association and the cattlemen's association. Cesar did a great job addressing the murder of their leader. He expressed our condolences and promised we would continue to pray for them and their town. Latter we laughed together while roping the steer heads. Diana, one of the Guatemalan ladies on our team shared the Gospel using the potholders. Renato give his testimony and about 5 or 6 people responded to the salvation message.

• Purpose: To serve this grieving community as God leads, present Gospel message with invitation, encourage new CRG's/PSE FC's
• Where: Jalpatagua, Guatemala
• Who: Steve, Sam, Micheal, Renato, rancher families from the region
• How: We will hear their stories, share the gospel and our salvation stories, encourage them to join or form Christian Rancher Groups/PSE Friendship Circles, and share a meal together.

Day 6 Monday, January 8, 2018 - Equine Therapy Ministry

UPDATE: Yesterday Sam did a great job doing the equine therapy demonstration at Humberto Solares ranch. In doing that we did get a chance to also play and organize for a new PSE group that will meet weekly at Humberto's. We finished the day singing in three languages!

Humberto Solares, a friend, is setting up his ranch to do an Equine Therapy program for special needs children. Humberto also has a Christian Rancher group meeting at his ranch.

• Purpose: To equip and encourage Humberto and the ministry team in the CRG/PSE Process
• Where: Humberto's ranch in Santa Rosa de Lima, Guatemala
• Who: Steve, Sam, Micheal, Renato, Humberto, Equine Therapy team, and the CRG/PSE group
• How: We will be there to encourage his group and reinforce the PSE discipleship process that has already been started.

Love y'all!   

Steve

Hiking With Bill and Steve PSE Style!

If you have been around Bill and me for very long, you have probably heard about our weekly hikes. Believe it or not, for years we have consistently asked the same basic questions every time we get together. We've become good friends over the years, but more importantly I believe we've become better people.

The practice of hiking together is play for us. As we walk shoulder to shoulder, up and down hills, through the trees, and by the waterfall, we are able to lay down our internal shields and weapons of defensiveness down. With open minds, hearts, and wills, we can then hear and respond to God. 

Every week we intentionally choose simple, specific actions to take, based on shared Bible passages, our stories of resistance and/or responsiveness to God, and current circumstances. Over time, little by little, God is changing us, forming Christ in us. Bill and I are not special, nor have we arrived. We are just two ordinary people choosing to hear, trust, and obey God, while hiking and talking together.

An Invitation to Life-giving Conversations

We invite you to join us in being the church with each other. Find someone and have a soul-connecting and life-transforming spiritual conversation consistently over time, years even. Every person on the planet needs a friend who loves Jesus. You need that, and you can be that friend for someone. 

If you don't know how or if you are somehow stuck, Bill and I might be able to help. That's why we began Play. Story. Eat., to share our experiences with you and learn from yours. Please consider hosting or attending a Play. Story. Eat. Experience near you.

Bridge over grassy lowlands in the park. At the right time of day deer are close enough to touch.

A Virtual Tour of Steve and Bill's Hikes

Several have asked us about what we do, so I thought I'd take you to the nature trail in Parkville, Missouri, on a typical Bill and Steve hike to give you a feel for how we use the PSE questions.   

"Mornin'!" I greeted Bill as we got out of our cars. 

"Hey," Bill acknowledged as he walked around his car and I pushed against my back bumper to stretch my calves.  

"Did your Missouri Tigers win on Saturday?" I asked. 

"Yes, but it was ugly," Bill answered. "How about your Okie State Cowboys?" 

"No. They lost in a barn burner to OU." 

"Sorry man. Well, what can you be grateful for this morning?" Bill asked, kicking us into our first PSE question. 

"I'm grateful that Nola and I got to go up to Omaha last weekend to see the grandkid," I answered. "I don't know how he does it, but he knows exactly what to say to wrap us around his pinky! What about you?" 

"Well, I'm grateful for getting to hike yesterday with Justin. We had a great conversation." 

"Cool," I responded. Then flowing to the next PSE question, I asked, "What are you concerned about this week?" 

"I am really worried about my friend Henry. He's struggling physically and emotionally. Plus just getting all the tasks done before the end of the year. And all my family is moving in for the week of Christmas. I'm excited, but the preparation is a load, especially on Joyce," Bill answered. "How about you?" 

"I'm right there with you on getting those tasks done. I'm also worried about Mom. She fell last week and messed up her knee; she is really hurting."

After further descriptions of Mom's struggles, Bill directed upwards. "Let's pray," he said, and he began to pray out loud for me and my concerns. I then reciprocated. At a couple of times during our prayer, we met up with people on the trail, and paused briefly to say "Hi" and then continued as we kept walking.

We Are Accountable

Once I finished praying, Bill asked, "What act of obedience did you commit to the last time, and how did it go?" 

"The last time we were together, we were talking about the verse on how we need to spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Out of that, I felt like I needed to call John to encourage him. So, I did call him, and he told me more of what he is dealing with. I think we were both glad that we got to talk. How about you?" 

"The part of that verse that I was struck with last time was the part that said 'let us consider how to spur one another on.' I felt like I needed to focus on the word 'consider' and really think about my friend Justin. That spirit flowed into our walk yesterday, because I wanted to listen and lighten his load. When I'm wrapped up in my agenda, it's hard to really hear what's going on with someone else. I did OK." 

"Good deal," I affirmed. Then moving to the next question, I asked, "Who did you tell your change story to this week?" 

"Three Js: Justin, Jane, and Jan," Bill answered. "What about you?" 

"I did with my Man-Up group last Wednesday night."

Time to Hear and Obey God's Story 

"Cool. So what scripture do you want to consider?" Bill asked, keeping us moving. 

"Speaking of our Man-Up group, we were talking about Jesus' parable of the lost sheep," I said.  

"What did the passage say?" Bill prompted. 

"Jesus was eating with tax collectors and sinners, and the Pharisees and teachers of the law couldn't believe Jesus would lower himself to do that. So Jesus tells a story. He said, 'Suppose you have 100 sheep and you lose one. Isn't it logical that you would leave the 99 and go look for the lost one? And then when you find that sheep, you throw it on your shoulders and take it back to the fold and then out of joy you invite your friends to celebrate the fact that you found your lost sheep.'" 

"What does it mean?" Bill asked. 

"Jesus told the story to say that lost people matter to God. And since God rejoices over one sinner who repents, He wants those of us already in the fold to also welcome those who are outside and lost to join us as we follow Jesus' example." 

"What do you need to do about it?" Bill challenged. 

"This week I need to reach out to my neighbor across the street. I think he probably sees me as a religious, Pharisee-type person. When I see him this week, I need to talk with him and listen to how he is doing. Eventually I'd like to invite him and his wife over to dinner sometime, but that feels a little too much on the first contact. So this week I will have a conversation with him, and while doing it I want to value him as a person God cares about."

The Process in Full

There are three other questions we ask before we pray with one another, asking God to give us the courage and the strength to obey Him and follow through on our commitments. If you would like to see the whole list of questions/activities, click here! 

10:02 PRAYER (LUKE 10:2)

Continue to pray for the Open Range teams that will be going to Guatemala January 3-9 and 10-16. And pray for the Play. Story. Eat. training events January 4th in Guatemala and January 6th in Oak Grove, MO. If all works as planned, we will have Renato, our Brazilian friend, joining us in Guatemala. Please pray that the communication between Spanish and Portuguese works well. 

INVEST

This is the last week to get your end-of-year giving done for 2017. Thanks for your continued generosity and your investment in this ministry!     

ENGAGE

Please consider joining us at the next Play. Story. Eat. Experience.

• When: Saturday, January 6th, 9 am - 5 pm
• Where: Cross Creek Baptist Mission, 1050 SW 15th St., Oak Grove, MO 64075
• What: Plenty of Fun, Connecting, & Eating; Lunch & Snacks Included
• Cost: No Fees - Donations Accepted

      
Love y'all!   

Steve