Guatemala Mission: Ministry unexpected

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,  neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth,  so are my ways higher than your ways  and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9

With an abrupt change in plans, from a mission trip cancelled in El Salvador and rescheduled to Guatemala, and with little lead time, our medical clinic perhaps saw fewer patients than some years. But God's unexpected plans for us were even better: We were blessed to paint the inside of our hosts' church, paint students fingernails, tour the countryside on foot, and play games with kids. Our past posts reflect those unexpected joys. (See our update of "The Greatest," with new children pictures)

Our team at the public school

In addition, we had time to go to a public school, to talk to 80 students, their teachers and administrators about their health and well-being, to give them hygiene kits and pills for parasites, AND we were allowed to give them witness/evangelism bracelets, while explaining the Gospel message below!

The beads on the bracelets that each child and adult received were clear, gray, red, white, blue, green and yellow. Most of these students could read, but some of the adults we served cannot (of course, the school's teachers could read, many of them in Spanish and English). But they each now have a reminder of the message we were able to share with the colored bracelet beads:

Todd putting on bracelets

Clear--God is invisible, pure and holy. Is. 6:13
Gray--We are all separated from God by our sin. Ro. 3:23
Red--By God's grace, "God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us on the cross. Ro. 5:8
White--Now God sees us as Righteous. The white bead stands for purity and for the forgiveness of our sins, by God's grace. Eph. 1:7-8
Green--We read the Bible and pray to "grow" in faith and to disciple others. 2 Peter 3:18a
Yellow--We will receive the crown of life! "Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life." Rev. 2:10b

Bryan handing out hygiene kits

The students and teachers listened attentively, were thankful for the hygiene kits and medication and the bracelets. God's message of salvation reached a 100 more people than we anticipated. God is awesome in the unexpected!

Your 2015 Guatemala mission team