On November 6, Impact Ministries at Tactic, Alta Verapaz released me with a "farewell" party and prayer of blessing as I entered into my last month of missionary service in Guatemala, at least for this next year, 2010. God willing, I will return to Guatemala from my sabbatical year in Canada in January 2011, again serving with passion and commitment, the needs of the poor and hurting indigenous peoples. Meanwhile in Canada, I will press into the Lord, learning more of His love and preparing for a greater anointing for service when I return.
Farewell and blessing by Impact Ministries in Tactic, Alta Verapaz, GuatemalaI would like to give you a few highlights of this last month. In early November I stayed in Guatemala City for several days and visited sick children and a missionary in one of the large city hospitals. It was a delight to visit with the children I had worked with in one of Impact Minstry's village schools and to witness how God was intervening on their behalf.
See my previous blog of Nov. 12.
Evelyn waiting for heart surgery in a hospital in Guatemala CityFollowing that, I had the blessing of volunteering my nursing skills at a week long camp for the disabled in Chimaltenango.
Bethel Ministries week long Christian camp for disabled teenagers and young adults.It was a special delight to spend time with my "sponsored daughter", Sonia at the camp. I met Sonia over three years ago at a hospital in Chichicastenango. Twelve year old Sonia was not expected to live as she was barely concious from kidney failure due to the disabling affects of polio which she had contracted as a 4 year old. Through prayer and God's grace Sonia survived and is now a robust happy and very active 16 year old, although still paraplegic. I have been sponsoring her in school over the last 2 years and now Bethel Ministries has taken over her support. PTL!!
Sonia, my "sponsored daughter" at Bethel Camp for the disabledMyself and nurse co-worker Heather enjoyed a very meaningful week together meeting the medical needs of over 60 disabled young people as they in turn enjoyed the presence of the Lord and His healing power in their various situations.
Heather and myself serve as camp nurses at Bethel's temporary medical clinic for the disabled.The biggest highlight of this past month was my return visit to Chichicastenango. I was invited to spend one morning in the ASELSI Father's Heart Clinic working in the Pharmacy, as their regular Pharmacist was on vacation. It was such a blessing working with the ASELSI staff again and renewing relationships with many. The day was topped off by a special American Thanksgiving dinner for the international staff members of ASELSI. What a delight! God is good and so gracious in all His ways.
American Thanksgiving dinner for the international staff at ASELSIKathy, my evangelist friend from Antigua, Guatemala, met me two days later and together we visited two different villages over the next four days, showing the "Jesus" movie and other evangelistic movies, influencing hundreds for the kingdom.
Evangelistic talk by Kathy following a film showing
Speaking at the church in Sepela before the film showing.It was a special blessing to show the films in the village of Sepela and meet with the young ladies from my former discipleship class. They are all well and following the Lord with joy and enthusiasm.
Three girls from my discipleship class ran to meet me as I entered their village of SepelaIt was such a delight seeing them work together on refreshments for after the movie....chuchitos and hot chocolate! Nothing could be better on a cold evening in Sepela.
Making chuchitos (Guatemalan "hotdogs'" - small chucks of barbecued chicken in a tomato sauce, wrapped in a tortilla and steamed in a corn husk ).
Guatemalan hot chocolate cooked over an open wood stove (plancha).
Saying goodbye to "my girls", many of whom received the Lord in my discipleship class.Just to add cream to the cake (so to speak), I was finally able to track down the one girl from my discipleship class who lived in Chichicastenango, 16 year old Juana. It was not easy as she has no family in Chichi. and so no fixed address. She usually just lives where she works as a cook or housekeeper. We had a wonderful reunion. It was such a blessing visiting with Juana knowing that she is still fervently following the Lord after accepting Him as her Saviour in my class about one year ago. God is SO good!!!
Juana and myself at her worksite as a cook and store assistantAnd so ends my four years as a nurse evangelist to the indigenous of Guatemala. I thank God with a very grateful and humble heart for all that He has done both in me and through me in these very precious four years. I look forward with anticipation not only to reconnecting with my family in Canada (2010), but also to returning to Guatemala, God willing, in January 2011.
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to observe all things." Matthew 28:18



































