Snapshots from Guatemala....

As we walk away from a trip, there are always snapshots that stick with us. They flash through our memories often and flood our soul with emotions. We asked our interns to share a couple of those pictures with us from this past trip to Guatemala. Here they are:

We visited a family in Lantana. The father of the house was going through the same thing that Greg Brown went through. He was into alcohol. His wife was a Christian and she wanted to share Christ's love with him. He said that he believed in God but was a little confused about Jesus. I guess what really got me was when we prayed with the family. The daughter that was about my age wrapped her arms around me and cried on my shoulder. I started crying also. God just gave me the understanding of what they were going through. After we prayed, the preacher gave the father his Bible and I felt peace in the house. The mother and daughter kept thanking me for listening to them. Tears were pouring from my face.

We begin each VBS lesson following along and doing fun songs with the children led by the members of New Jerusalem church. Even though the songs are in Spanish, it is so fun to dance and sing these songs with the children. After we finish the songs, someone from the church explains to the children why we are here, and then begins playing a soft song in the background...the only familiar word is "hallelujah"....as the song begins to play, the team breaks up and finds a group of children to pray with. Words can not describe how God seems to work through this song with every group of children. Today, I prayed with a group of three girls and one boy (all pre-teen looking). Once the song was over, I gave them a big group hug and the girls began to walk away. As I began to stand up, I saw the boy pull his shirt over his face..he was crying and wiping away his tears. Once I realized this, I gave the boy another big hug, and we just sat there for a minute hugging and then wiping away tears. Seeing a man cry ALWAYS gets to me....but seeing a preteen boy like this crying..not caring that older boys were around..not caring about how it made him look..not caring about anything, really tore my heart out. I don't know what this boy is going through at school or at home, but I can't imagine it was anything good. However, I know that no matter where you go, a hug is a hug. A prayer is a prayer. No matter what language you speak. To know this for me was one thing, but then to see God at work in this time and to use something as simple as a hug was amazing.

Lord, help us to never forget these images. May they burn into our memories so that we live each moment for your glory alone. Show us how to live and follow You in a way that gives you all the glory, honor and praise!

Blessings & Burdens

As we walked the road with Pastor Morales yesterday we heard his heart for the people and vision for the village mission church. After a time of prayer on the side of the road, we ventured up the hill to visit a couple of families he knew. The blessing of this amazing man of God overwhelms me every trip! We were blessed to watch his heart love on children in tough situations with the most authentic expression of Christlike compassion. His example is such a wonderful picture of the Father's heart and the Savior's hands!

The burden of the day rushed into my heart as I played with a group of boys in the street. Rich Stewart and I were being schooled in ball handling skills by some young boys in the street in Lantana, when I realized how close we were to the road we had just walked. The burden of Pastor Morales' heart came rushing over me... The mission church in Lantana needs a permanent location in the village. Earlier we had paused on the road to pray for a piece of land to build a church and continue reaching the community. As I stood in the street I saw just how perfectly positioned this piece of land is for the mission.

With every blessing here in relationship we build with the local church and the families who are building the Kingdom here, come burdens for more people! Burdens to reach more. Burdens to give more. Burdens to be more of the body! Will you join us as we take up this burden in prayer alongside the local church for land? Will you pray with us for favor with the owner and his willingness to sell a piece of choice land to the mission! The blessings far exceed the burdens when we walk this journey together!

In His Grip,
JT

Prayer Always Changes Things

For those of you following the ministry blog, I apologize for the delay in an update. I will try to be more regular with posts and updates in the days and weeks to come.

Today we experienced the power of prayer in a powerful way. Our day yesterday was tough as the children seemed out of control and not ready to listen. As we shared with the leadership at Jerusalen Church about how the day went we were reminded that we had not gathered to pray before the children joined us. This was a humbling moment for us all! We were so eager to get busy working we had overlooked a basic step of obedience.

As we gathered together today in the sanctuary before any children arrived, prayers were lifted and the Father granted our team focused hearts. All morning the team experienced group after group of children listening and learning. Praying over the children and again praying before the afternoon sessions brought more of the same. The children listened, learned and responded today in an amazing way!

Thank you to our faith family here in Guatemala for helping us refocus and recenter our obedience! We look forward to one more morning tomorrow with children at Jerusalen Church and then on to Lantana to visit and share in homes. We will carry food bags and the Gospel tomorrow as we walk with the young Lantana church into their community. Pray with us as we seek His will for our remaining time here in Guatemala. Pray for open hearts and boldness to come not in the absence of fear rather boldness to come in the presence of obedience!

In His Grip,
JT

Why Should I Take a Short-Term Mission Trip?

Are you spending your money on something worthwhile? Why not spend it on something eternally worthwhile.....like a mission trip?

There are many positive things that can come from taking a short term mission trip....

■You will see and experience a different culture. Even within the United States, there are people that do not live as you do. You will see the way they live, how they look at life, and gain an understanding of different people and their needs.
■You will see that in general all people are alike. We all have the desire to be loved, included and cared for. We all have hopes, desires and feelings. We are all human and created by the Father.
■You will gain compassion and empathy for others. This is a taught behavior; we don't just wake up with it one day. Parents, teach your children in this valuable way. It changes them forever.
■You will be more grateful for what you have or don't have. You will stop feeling sorry for yourself. You will have a more thankful heart and less desire to complain.
■You will not come home the same. You will be less inhibited to share Christ with those around you after serving on the mission field. You will be more comfortable to pray for others and witness to those around you.
■You will be more likely to help with missions in the future. You will see first-hand how missions work and will meet and care for real people who need and depend on your help.
■You will be more likely to commit to God and carry this forward after you return home. You will want to get more and more involved in your church, local community and global community.
■You will be making a difference in the Kingdom of God. Through your work, your prayers, your encouragement and your love, you will be making a difference in winning souls for Christ.
■Large numbers of people taking short-term mission trips can make a huge impact on missionary work being done. When we do building work, construction projects, Vacation Bible School, Crusades, Block Parties, etc. we are working to better that community and they will benefit from it. When we share our voices through song, our talents through instruments, our testimonies of how God has blessed and changed our lives, we are showing them Christ first-hand.
■Finally, many who do short-term mission work feel Christ calling them to long-term missions.

So, what are you waiting on?

"And the King will say, "I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me! " (Matthew 25:40)


Contact is at www.1wayministries.org for more information on a short-term trip in your near future.

I Don't Have Time.....

"I don't have time" for Jesus was the woman's reason for not becoming a Christ-follower. I have to help my husband make shoes. I have 2 children. I have to provide for my family. I just don't have time.

The passion inside of me was about to boil over as I listened to this woman, living in a 2 room, delaphidated old house in Lantana, explain her situation in life. I am standing on a dirt floor and can see through the roof. Her two children are seated on the only two seats I can see in the house trying to finish their homework. The local pastor is pleading with the woman to give her life to Christ. I am appalled at her excuse...until..God Himself reminds me that we are rebellious. Our sin is NO different. Our lives are the same...filled with things to do and places to go. Overflowing with excuses for not spending time in His presence. I am humbled...He is using her life to remind me of my sin and the debt I owed.

One of the ladies from the local church, in a very pointed way, shares that we all have time for things that are important (these are the times when having our translator is handy for the simple delay in the relay of information). Then, the pastor asks several of us to share with the woman.

I have NO clue what was even said at that point except that God was glorified. Scripture was read and quoted and relied upon unashamedly. God's Word is POWERFUL, and His Gospel is true. God has spoken through His Word, and it is the best tool to point people to Christ!

The woman changed...her countenance immediately brightened...the load was lifted. Her new status was as a Christ-follower. My heart rejoiced. God took that moment in Guatemala to show me how powerful He is and how He draws people to Himself. We have NOTHING to do with salvation...He ALONE does all of the work. We just have to obey what He tells us to do...and He will be glorified.

What do you have time for today?

Holding Down the Fort

Next Monday, January 24th, our entire family will board a plane for Africa. We have no idea when we will return. Our court date is up in the air for the adoption, and there are many hurdles, setbacks and delays in the process. But, we're going. You see, our children, Zeke and Elly, are there, and they are waiting for us.

JT recently wrote the following for an upcoming newsletter that explains our hearts:

"Paul speaks in Romans 8 of our waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons! The journey to our adoptive children has typically been more about our eager wait than theirs. How is that used to show us about our own relationship with Him?
One joy that comes in adoption is the excitement of the first time for so many things. The first grape eaten, the first flight on a plane, the first night in a bed of their own, the first meal where they get full! Yet, when we look into the heart of our heavenly Father, we see that the adopted child eagerly anticipates the adoption. I am not sure how much the children we are bringing home really wanted to be adopted because they did not know it was even an option in their lives until we showed up. I believe this is the concept that I have learned that motivates me the most. I know of the possibility of adoption. Therefore, I know the joy that will come and the anticipation is overwhelming at times.
God has known throughout our entire lives what we would do in response to His offer of adoption. He has orchestrated every detail of our journey to draw us to Himself. Now, I am not sure how I would respond if I were in Zeke and Elly’s shoes right now…but I do know how hard it can be to recognize the times when love does not flow from their mouths for me. I do know the days of concern when the glimpses of the past peel through and they do not wrap their little arms around your neck and squeeze!"

In our absence, we are honored and blessed two have two new semester interns from Samford University working with us. Kelly Zimmerman and Meagan Sloan will be working in the office while we are gone. They will answer emails and try to sort through everything that needs to be done for upcoming trips.

Karen Katchuk, one of my best friends in the whole world, will be helping from Kentucky. She is my "go-to" staff member who can help mission trip participants finish their paperwork, encourage people to go on trips and just be the overall OWM spokeswoman!

Rashel Ross, another great friend, who I had the privilege to serve in a local cancer foundation, is also stepping up. She's helping to write the checks, make the deposits and keep OWM financially afloat while we are gone!

I'm so thankful for each of these ladies and their willingness to pinch hit for us while we are gone. Without them, we would not be able to do what we are doing. Thank you all for your love and support during this time!

Africa's Calling....

Since our first trip to Africa in 2007, it's been on our hearts and minds consistently. On that trip JT had prepared the team for not knowing what we would do, what we would eat or where we would sleep. So, we boarded the plane not knowing much but preparing for God to direct our every move...and we were blessed beyond measure. As with all trips there was little to no access to the outside world via technology, and it was refreshing to see how little we missed it. All of the distractions were gone, and we could totally focus on God's plan for us. What an incredible time of total dependence on the Father, late nights discussing His Word, and amazing hours of prayer! Oh, to be in that place here...I LONG for that. I commit to that.

Again Africa is calling to us, but this time for a different reason. We are boarding a plane on January 17th to head to Uganda. JT has been multiple times, but this will be my first trip (Sheryl). I'm eager to see all of our friends and to soak up the culture again. I LOVE Africa...I've prayed that God would send me there for the rest of my life...I adore the culture, the pace of life, and the people.

But, this time we're going to adopt our two youngest children, Zeke and Elly. They are not biologically related to each other and have never met. They are our children already, and we long for them to be here. We are following God's direction to adopt them. We will be the ones who are blessed. We are humbled and excited and scared and honored....

None of the pictures above are our children, but you won't have to wait long. We covet your prayers and thank all of our OWM team for walking this road with us. We are amazed at God's faithfulness and grace...to Him alone be all the praise!!!