2006 Sault Wesleyan Church Guatemala Mission Trip

2006 Mission Trip
Sault Wesleyan sent a 17 member mission team to Guatemala from February 25-March
4, 2006. Below are pictures and information about the trip. Scroll down to read more!

These pictures were taken on Monday, February 27th while the team was building a wall
at a church in San Marcos, Guatemala.

Update from Morrie Walworth, March 3
Ola:

Yesterday was Thursday and it was truly an event filled day. We started as we usually do
with a wonderful breakfast (the staff have been fantastic in their service to us) and then
we headed to the wall project. Everyone went to the wall today and an additional two
levels of block were layed. While most people worked on the wall Chad, Bill, Carl,and
myself toured the slide area to check into the possibility of building some kind of a
foot-bridge over this 50 foot ravine where the slide took out several bridges. People now
have to walk down the side of the ravine and back up the other side. This is real problem
during the rainy season. After that we returned to the wall and had a time of prayer with
Pastor Choppay. It was sad to leave but we did what we could and others will come and
finish the work and many will be blessed. We then took a short time to see last year´s
building site. We stopped and saw Horhay (the miestro for last year´s project). Our
house is still there holding strong.

After lunch we took a boat to San Tiago. It was a very relaxing ride. We had a great view
of all the lake and the surrounding mountains. During the ride I had a great talk with
Immer (one of our brothers here in Guatemala). He is a great man of faith. Once in San
Tiago we traveled to the major slide site to view the devastation. It was truly
unbelievable. We weren't there as tourists, but to see the impact on the community. So
many lives were lost by this event and it's right at the edge of town where so many of the
poor lived. As one person put it "It's like seeing two completely different worlds...1 minute
apart". It's really impossible to describe what we saw and how we felt as we walked the
area. We spent the remainder of the day in San Tiago taking in the sights and exploring
the city. There is so much diversity in the culture and the people. The old ways and
beliefs are so prevalent yet the new technologies are evident in areas where tourism is a
way of life. Here the two cultures seem to clash and it's hard to see things clearly. It's
hard to understand our role in the culture and how we impact their future. I know we've
helped people while we were here, but there are so many in need.

Well, we need to get ready to go. We hope to see you all soon. Good bye for now.

Morrie

Update from Janee Reed, March 1
Today we went up to San Marcos and San Juan. At the San Marcos site we finished
putting up a short wall and worked on the main wall of the church. At the San Juan site
they completed the walls and finished putting on the roof of the house in the afternoon.
We then went down to the shore of Lake Atitlan. There we had the pleasure of seeing
Bill Smart get baptised.
After lunch a small group went back to the house site and finished it off. At this time Imar
shared Jesus with the family. The rest of us went to Santa Clara and tried out Happy
Feet. This time was an absolute and total success!!! We were much more organized
and had an easy time with getting the children in and out. The only reason we stopped
was because we started running out of certain shoe sizes.
Finally, we all got to go back together and dedicate the finished house to the Lord.
While there we had the pleasure of giving most of the kids in the family a pair of shoes
and a few jars of peanut butter. The smiles on everyone´s faces really made everyone´s
day. To top it all off we got to hear all the children of that area sing "This Is The Day" in
three different languages including English. We were truly blessed!!
Back at the hotel, we had communion. It was a very open and touching time.

Update from Pastor Chad, February 28
Greetings from San Pedro, Guatemala. Today was another busy day for us. We
continue to work on the two projects. The house is almost done and we hope to finish it
on Wednesday and dedicate the house Thursday.

Today was an emotional roller-coaster for the team. We were very excited today. Immer
and I went to see two men carving a boat out of a tree. As Immer talked with them he
was able to share Christ with one of the workers. Next thing I know we were praying with
him to ask Jesus to enter his life. Praise the Lord! All heaven rejoices!

During the afternoon we went to one of the poorest villages in the area to give out the
shoes. It was a great joy for me to watch our team wash kids feet and give them a pair of
shoes, maybe the first they have ever had. Unfortunately, the crowd outside the church
became overwhelming and started causing problems. We became very concerned for
the safety of the children when the crowds started pushing to get into the church. For
everyone's safety we had to pack and leave without giving away all the shoes. It was a
very sad moment for the team. It was so hard to leave knowing that so many more could
have been helped.

Wednesday we are going to Santa Maria to distribute the rest of the shoes. Please pray
that this will go much better.

God is doing wonderful things for the team members. We are all being challenged.
Thank you again for all your prayers. We will continue to update as we are able.
Blessings.

Pastor Chad

Update from Amie Covel, February 27
So much is happening here in Guatemala, its hard to even know where to start. We are
definitely seeing God at work here in Guatemala and in our team. We are meeting
amazing men and women of God, working to serve God and their communities in what we
consider very difficult circumstances. I spoke tonight with Pastor Lucas (with Janette as
an interpreter!). In the past year he lost his only son in a bicycle accident. Yet he and
his wife Dora were still able to offer comfort to the people in their church following the
horrible mudslides. He said when he questioned the Lord about all of the suffering he
has gone through, God told him it was something he needed to experience and so he
has accepted it from God´s hand. Pastor Lucas is actively serving Him. The faith that
these pastors demonstrate is deep and very real. It is living and active in their lives.
Another man of God, Emmer, shared his testimony with me. As his eyes filled with tears,
he said, "When I speak of all that God has done for me, I become tearful because I am
so grateful." It is a privilege to witness the depth of faith of these men and women.
I was very excited to meet Ophelia tonight at the hotel courtyard with Pastor Lucas. As I
began to talk with her, I realized she was the same little girl that we had the privilege of
giving shoes to last year at the Happy Feet in San Juan. She does not have the lower
portion of her right forearm due to a congenital birth defect. Some of you may remember
seeing pictures of her and I that were taken last year. She is now eight years old,
attends church with Pastor Lucas, and is doing well in school. She also remembered us
as she pointed down to her shoes as she talked with our team members. What a
blessing our church has been in her life!
We are distributing the shoes tomorrow afternoon (Tuesday, February 28) in a remote
town high on the mountainside. The people there have recently begun to be more open
to the Happy Foot program, realizing that we are there to help them and their children.
Please pray for the afternoon to go smoothly and for many children to be reached for
God.

Leslie sharing her testimony on
Sunday, February 26th.

Debbie with Sunday School
Sunday, February 26th.

Building the home

Children waiting for shoes during the
"Happy Feet" ministry.

Happy Feet in Santa Clara
Wednesday, March 1

Dedication of the Home
Wednesday, March 1

Bill's Baptism
Wednesday, March 1

The disaster in Santiago caused by Hurricane Stan

Sault Ste. Marie Wesleyan Church
WHERE GOD’S WORD IS TAUGHT AND LIVES ARE CHANGED!

2006 Guatemala Mission Trip

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