2/17/2006
The 2006 Geatemala Mission Team,
Steve Kaphingst, Lee Anderson,Debbi Goehner, Eva Goehner,
Dale Jacques, Paul Schroeder and Dave Schmidt.
Seven St. John’s members are in Guatemala, reaching out and carrying the love of Jesus in their hearts.
Arriving in Guatemala City on Friday afternoon, February 17, they plan to visit The Servant’s Heart, a ministry to children living in the Guatemala City dump. (You can view an article about The Servant’s Heart at www.lcms.org/ca/mission/harvestnews/2002/10/HN_Guatemala_Oct02.htm, the October 2002 issue of Harvest News, the LCMS World Mission publication).
On Saturday, they travel to Salquil Grande, a small mountain village about seven hours’ drive north of the capital city. They plan to build a hostel from adobe brick, interact with local residents and school children, deliver vitamins, t-shirts and school supplies collected by the St. John’s school kids, plus other things needed by the school. The team is working with Dr. Mike Soderling and Weaving Hope, a ministry dedicated to bringing hope to poor women in Guatemala, with a special focus on widows and single mothers with children (see more at www.weavinghopeministry.org).
The people of Guatemala suffered through a thirty-year civil war, which ended in 1996. It is a long road to rebuild, littered with not only the ravages of war, but also the aftermath of hurricanes. Last fall, Hurricane Stan came from the Pacific and wiped out many villages and roads. God can use our small efforts, working alongside the people of Guatemala to help make their lives a little easier. But more than that, we pray He will use our presence to cast the warm light of His love on everyone whose lives this mission will touch, both here in West Bend, in the poverty of a crowded Guatemala City, and in a small mountain village of Mayan descendants entering a modern world.
Please pray for our team traveling to Guatemala, for safety and witness, and that lives will be blessed and lives will be changed. Pray also for their families at home, that they will remain healthy, strong and joyful.
From the Weaving Hope website: “Pray that we would get everything ready and in order for our next construction team. St. John’s team from West Bend, Wisconsin, will be arriving Feb. 17-27 and we plan to have them work in Salquil. We will be working with adobe block, a new experience for all of us. Pray for protection traveling, wise use of time and divine appointments. We always desire to stretch our teams (just a bit) with hopes that the Lord would meet them where they are....”Dear St. John’s Lutheran Church,
Chris and I would like to thank you for your desire to be involved in our ministry here in Guatemala. Your financial gifts and prayer support enables us to do the work that God has given us to do, as well as to continue seeking His will for your lives. We could not accomplish the tasks set before us if it weren’t for partners like you.
During this time of year, we continue to count our blessings. The Lord enabled us to move into a new home we had built here. We felt the Lord leading us to commit to living in this area for at least ten years. We know from personal experience that obeying can be an extreme challenge; but we continue to see His faithfulness in all that we do.
May the Lord bless you tenfold for the blessings you are to us. May we continue to partner together to complete the work that He has for us to do in Guatemala. We are excited about the opportunities; andwe know we couldn’t accomplish these goals without the help of friends like you. May you and yours have a very Happy New Year!
Dios les bendiga, (God bless you)
Mike, Chris, Ian, Taylor & Leah Soderling