We have experienced the grace of God and received the encouragement from two church congregations during the past year. On January 18 and 25 we were commissioned to 'go' and bring the Good News. We were challenged to be Christ's ambassadors to the people of Guatemala. In Maranatha, Pastor Jerry Hoytema preached on the "Feeding of the Five Thousand" and how Christ gives his followers everything they are in need of to do His work. We were encouraged by his words and through the prayers that followed. After the service we were surrounded by the people who offered their words of encouragement and talked about one day sending a team of their own.
In Bethany, Pastor Martin Dam (guest pastor) preached on "How Do We Love?" and "Whom Do We Love?" It was good for us to hear this messages as we contemplate why we are going on this trip! Our own pastor, EJ deWaard then also commissioned us to be Christ to the people of Guatemala, we read a responsive litany with the congregation and the elders came to the front, layed their hands on us as a team, and prayed over and for us. We knew that we were in God's presence. A powerpoint was shown at both services about Guatemala and the site we would be - they say a picture is worth a thousand words and its true!
God has been real and present during the past year. He has blessed our efforts immensely! We have prayed together, talked together, fundraised together, and fellowshiped together. We pray that it was all done in the name of Christ. As we look forward to this coming Monday, when we step on the plane and head south, we ask that you also will continue to pray. Pray that we will represent Christ well. Pray that we will have His compassion and concern for the people of Guatemala. Pray that we will have good health as we experience altitude and a different climate. Pray that God will bring us opportunity to minister to the people there. Pray that the work we do will be only to the glory of God. Pray that we will receive the gifts of the spirit in our hearts - love, peace, patience, self-control, kindness, gentleness, humbleness, and more. Pray for safety in heart as we see some of the evil the people of Guatemala face. Pray for physical safety as we travel by plane and van, as we work hard, as we are in a different country. Pray that the relationships on the team will strenghten and will become close. Pray that those who are anxious about this trip will experience the true peace of Christ as they bring those anxieties and cares to Him. Above all, pray that everything we do will honour and praise our Creator. May all the glory go only to Him.
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