"O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man."Nehemiah 1:11
When we pray together, I believe that we put joy in the heart of the Lord and that it strengthens our character, and we are able to feel the support of each other because we are in unity together. This is the reason I appreciate your support so much. Your prayers, economical donations, and all of the other blessings you give, like clothes, shoes, school supplies, etc. are so meaningful to me and to this ministry.
Groups for this Month
In the month of June, we had a lot of groups, so I want to spend most of our time talking about them. They were all sent from the Lord and a big help to Global Missions of Mercy. Three groups came for construction and evangelism, and one group came to play sports with the children and evangelize. The first group came on June 2nd, and they were a construction group from Alabama. This group was composed of two youth groups from two different Methodist churches. One youth group was from Killen UMC, led by Luke McIntyre, and another from Parkway Methodist church, led by Chris Weldon. They had 17 people, and they all worked on the septic tank project. They worked continued to work so hard, despite the fact that they had some difficulties. For example, when they were digging the hole for the septic tank, they hit a gigantic rock, and although they tried and tried to remove this rock, it was impossible. We called a tractor to remove the rock, but even the machine could not get the rock out because it was too big. So, we had to move the hole for the septic tank, but, praise the Lord, the tractor was able to dig the hole in no time. They were not able to finish the work of the entire project because of the rain and because it was so much work to do in just one week, but praise the Lord, they finished the platform of this project, so we hope to get the community together in August to finish the rest. This group also worked with the children and led a craft project that included a Biblical message, and it was so inspiring to see such young people teaching the Word of the Lord with such boldness. Some of the group also went to river and got two truckloads full of rocks that would be used for building a retaining wall at the bottom of the school. Having them come and work at Lela Obraje village was a privilege and a blessing.
On June 20th, the second construction group from North Carolina arrived, and this was their first time to come visit the village with Jeff Edwards. Pastor Chris Rathbone led this group, and they chose to construct the four bottom bathrooms at the school. During their work though, they also had troubles because one of the walls that was closest to the bathrooms fell, and this caused us to lose two days of work because of all of the dirt that needed to be removed. So again, we needed to hire a tractor to move the wall that fell and take all of the dirt away so they could continue with their work. This group was composed with a lot of hard working men and women, and they all gave their best effort to construct the bathrooms before it was time for them to leave. They were able to make all of the reinforcement bars and footings for the bathrooms, and these had to be very big because of the layout of the land, and they started the walls to the bathrooms and purchased all of the material needed to finish the bathrooms. While the men were working construction, the women were busy with the children and women in the village. The ladies in the group led the women in the village in a Bible study and a craft project. They made and painted napkins for their tortialls, and the women loved it so much, and while they were working, other ladies painted pictures on all of the children's faces and hands. They also worked with the children other days and helped with construction every opportunity they got. This entire group was a blessing! After this group left, Chao and another five men from the village stayed and worked, and they building the fallen wall again, which by the way, fell again. Chao, Chao’s brother, Noe, and Jorge are still working with these bathrooms, and we hope to finish them soon.
From the 26th of June to July 4th, we had a group from Highland Park Baptist church. There were 19 people in this group, and they were led by Pastor Larry Lewey. They came to build the retaining wall. The construction of this wall required lots and lots of rocks, so for two days, they worked in the river getting enough rocks to use to build the wall. With this group, we also had some trouble, because the dump truck used to get the rocks got stuck in the river. And for almost an entire day, the group tried to get the truck out, but it was impossible. So, at 5:00 in the afternoon, we called the mayor of Comoton so he could help us with his tractor. Praise the Lord, in 25 minutes, we had the truck out of the river without any trouble. The next morning, the truck and the group were ready to finish taking the rocks from the river. This was such hard work for them. They were wet and tired and dirty from working in the river, then had to dig 25 meters to make the footings for the wall, mix the concrete, take the rocks from one place to another, then, finally, make the wall. It was hard work, but they were so willing to do whatever needed to be done. This group was not able to finish the entire retaining wall, but Chao and five other men finished the rest of the work when they left. Also, the Highland Park group worked with the youth in the village and conducted a VBS with them. It is such a blessing to have all of the groups work with the children in the village, but it was nice to have a group come and work with the older youth of the village. Also, this group went to a church in the city to lead a service with music and testimonies, which touched so many hearts, and it was very enjoyable to be a part of. At the end of the week, this group cut and washed all of the students hair because the children have such a big problem with lice, so they have to wash their hair for lice at least twice a year.
The last group that came was from Missionary Adventures, and it was made up of ten college students. This group was actually not planned to visit our ministry. They were planning to visit Huehuetenango, but they changed the place because this area is too close to Mexico, which, as many of you know, has many cases of swine flu right now. They then decided to visit Lela Obraje village, and we received them with joy. They came for two days, and they stayed two hours each day. They played sports with the children and taught them the Word of the Lord.
On June 20th, the second construction group from North Carolina arrived, and this was their first time to come visit the village with Jeff Edwards. Pastor Chris Rathbone led this group, and they chose to construct the four bottom bathrooms at the school. During their work though, they also had troubles because one of the walls that was closest to the bathrooms fell, and this caused us to lose two days of work because of all of the dirt that needed to be removed. So again, we needed to hire a tractor to move the wall that fell and take all of the dirt away so they could continue with their work. This group was composed with a lot of hard working men and women, and they all gave their best effort to construct the bathrooms before it was time for them to leave. They were able to make all of the reinforcement bars and footings for the bathrooms, and these had to be very big because of the layout of the land, and they started the walls to the bathrooms and purchased all of the material needed to finish the bathrooms. While the men were working construction, the women were busy with the children and women in the village. The ladies in the group led the women in the village in a Bible study and a craft project. They made and painted napkins for their tortialls, and the women loved it so much, and while they were working, other ladies painted pictures on all of the children's faces and hands. They also worked with the children other days and helped with construction every opportunity they got. This entire group was a blessing! After this group left, Chao and another five men from the village stayed and worked, and they building the fallen wall again, which by the way, fell again. Chao, Chao’s brother, Noe, and Jorge are still working with these bathrooms, and we hope to finish them soon.
From the 26th of June to July 4th, we had a group from Highland Park Baptist church. There were 19 people in this group, and they were led by Pastor Larry Lewey. They came to build the retaining wall. The construction of this wall required lots and lots of rocks, so for two days, they worked in the river getting enough rocks to use to build the wall. With this group, we also had some trouble, because the dump truck used to get the rocks got stuck in the river. And for almost an entire day, the group tried to get the truck out, but it was impossible. So, at 5:00 in the afternoon, we called the mayor of Comoton so he could help us with his tractor. Praise the Lord, in 25 minutes, we had the truck out of the river without any trouble. The next morning, the truck and the group were ready to finish taking the rocks from the river. This was such hard work for them. They were wet and tired and dirty from working in the river, then had to dig 25 meters to make the footings for the wall, mix the concrete, take the rocks from one place to another, then, finally, make the wall. It was hard work, but they were so willing to do whatever needed to be done. This group was not able to finish the entire retaining wall, but Chao and five other men finished the rest of the work when they left. Also, the Highland Park group worked with the youth in the village and conducted a VBS with them. It is such a blessing to have all of the groups work with the children in the village, but it was nice to have a group come and work with the older youth of the village. Also, this group went to a church in the city to lead a service with music and testimonies, which touched so many hearts, and it was very enjoyable to be a part of. At the end of the week, this group cut and washed all of the students hair because the children have such a big problem with lice, so they have to wash their hair for lice at least twice a year.
The last group that came was from Missionary Adventures, and it was made up of ten college students. This group was actually not planned to visit our ministry. They were planning to visit Huehuetenango, but they changed the place because this area is too close to Mexico, which, as many of you know, has many cases of swine flu right now. They then decided to visit Lela Obraje village, and we received them with joy. They came for two days, and they stayed two hours each day. They played sports with the children and taught them the Word of the Lord.
Out of all of the groups that visited in the month of June, only a few of the people got sick, and God took care of each one of them the entire time they were here. We were very sad to see them leave, and they were sad too because they did not want to say goodbye to the kids and us. They were also smiling because they were satisfied with what the Lord had accomplished through them. They were all tired and with injuries because all of the work that they did, but in the end, we all shared one spirit…a spirit of thankfulness and love for the Lord, because He allowed us to be a part of Global Missions of Mercy doing His work in Chiquimula, Guatemala.
In the Ministry
Everything in the ministry for the month of June went well. The teachers and kids loved having all of the groups visit, and they loved making new friends. All classes went on as planned, and the students had their semester exams in June, and most students passed with excellent grades. The feeding center is still open five days a week, and of course, the students love having a hot meal after classes and recess. God has provided for our every need and more. As I stated before, we had a little trouble in the ministry with the rain, but the Lord has been faithful to provide ways to work past the difficulties. The men's ministry is continuing every week on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and it is still led by Daniel and Jorge. Chris Weldon, a pastor from Alabama, led one of the Bible studies when he visited at the beginning of June, and we were blessed to have him lead.
There is nothing else I can say but thank you, thank you, thank you, and thank you. Thank you for your job, thank you for your support, thank you for loving us, and thank you for your prayers. We are one in Jesus Christ.
I love you all,
Sarita Carson
There is nothing else I can say but thank you, thank you, thank you, and thank you. Thank you for your job, thank you for your support, thank you for loving us, and thank you for your prayers. We are one in Jesus Christ.
I love you all,
Sarita Carson
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