Frontline Updates

Monday, July 13:

The team arrived by 4:00 p.m. and set up tents, cut t-shirts into diapers, separated VBS materials, and then had dinner. After dinner, we jumped right into training by going over our frontline manual. Since the temperature dropped drastically tonight, most of the gals slept in the house. The guys toughed it out in the tents.

Tuesday, July 14:

A wake-up call from Drill Sergeants Doug Wilson and Spike McWilliams began at 5:45 a.m. with loud yelling, "Get up you maggots!" and a chain saw screaming in the background. To start off the morning, the team did Calisthenics and then dove into quiet times. After an hour with God, the team enjoyed pancakes and sausage. We then moved outside for the remainder of the day for team building. Training was a blast! It was exciting to see the team bond together as they prepared for the frontlines. I was really proud to see several people get out of their comfort zones on the ROCK WALL. Some overcame fears as they learned to trust their team in the TRUST FALL. One of the most inspiring moments during training, was 74 year old Patricia, looking at the 12 foot flat wall and saying, "I wanna go over the wall." Then, as she gets to the top of the wall, her teammates pull her over and she stops on top of the wall and acts as though she's circling a lasso overhead. I truly hope I have the same endurance and spunk as she does when I am 74! After team building, the team enjoyed dinner, packed and re-packed bags to make sure we were under the weight limit, cleaned the house and campus up and were once again ready to dig into the Word and be officially commissioned to the field as Trail Blazers. It was a very moving and powerful evening around the campfire as the Trail Guides anointed all of the missionaries and prayed for the trip. At 2:00 a.m., the bus was loaded and we pulled out of the long driveway on our way to the airport. Check-in went very smoothly and the team was off before you knew it. It was a very emotional time for me; personally, as I watched my team disappear off into the distance.....as I was not boarding the plane with them. Now, we will wait for a call once they arrive in Guatemala.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009:

Robin called around 4:00 p.m. letting me know that they had arrived in Guatemala City. Unfortunately, they were held up in customs for a little while. Since we had 27 checked bags (containing items to be handed out such as clothes, toys, toiletries), all bags were searched. The officials were asking for $300 to tax the items we brought in. Our contact, Gerber (we call him Care Bear) and the guys on the team were met with the officials as the gals on the team prayed for favor. Our team did not have to pay a nickel and they were released through customs. I touched based with the team once again as they were on the bus heading into Zacapa. The team arrived at EDV Hope in time for dinner, where they were greeted by a group from Puerto Rico and were treated to a fiesta and authentic Guatemalan food. The team then enjoyed the rest of the evening in the pool and resting in the hammock pavilion.

Thursday, July 16:

The team started building the green house.

Friday, July 17 and Saturday, July 18:

Today is an emotional day for me, as we have to lay to our dog, Lil' Bit, to rest. We knew earlier in the week, that she only had a few days left. She acted strangely when the team was training. Today, we woke up to find her not doing well at all. We couldn't let her suffer any longer, so we had to make the dreadful trip to the Vet.

While waiting to be called back into the room, the team called to let us know that they have been working hard on the greenhouse. The foundation had been laid, and they were applying "white wash" to the base. On Saturday, they will put the frame together with PVC pipe and then cover it with a mesh material. Once they finish this greenhouse they will move on to the next one. We want to thank you for sending the team to Guatemala! Part of the proceeds for the trip is designated to a project. This year, the project is building a greenhouse. There are several being built on the EDV campus, which will allow them to grow fresh vegetables for the orphans and the elderly home.

Sunday, July 19:

Hola,

We just finished up 3 church services on Sat. and Sun.. We are seeing God move in great and awesome ways. A man named Carlos that we and the church prayed for was HEALED! He is no longer having problems that was prayed for. We have seen salvation and people coming up for prayer for different sickness.

We are asking for prayer for a young boy that has limited sight. We are believing for complete healing, a new Christian that needs a job to support his young family, and many more requests for healing.

We ask for prayer for the team. For protection from the sickness that most people get when the come and visit (dehydration, dysentery, etc.) This is the time on the trip that this starts attacking. We think you all for the prayer and support that you have already given us.

For the ones that have loved ones with us, we are all doing good. Nothing major is happening, just a great move of God. We have met pastors from Cuba and Puerto Rico. We are pouring into each others lives. Pray for the pastor from Cuba, his name is Junior. He can't see his son for a year. He has moved from Cuba to Guatemala, but can't take his son until he has been out of the country for at least a year. So he is waiting. He is an awesome man.

We love and miss you all.

Robin and Kathy and
Team Guatemala

Monday, July 20 and Tuesday, July 21:

I surprised the team and went down to visit them for a couple of days. I was very excited to see the progress of the greenhouses, as the foundations had been laid and the walls were ready to go up. The team has been working in extreme heat and it is taking its toll on some of them. We had a couple of minor health issues that were addressed. The team will be resting on Tuesday.

Carlos Vargas, the founder and director of EDV Hope, gave the team a tour of the entire complex after breakfast on Monday. Then, he dropped our team off to work on the greenhouses. After dinner, Carlos brought in a family from Cuba to entertain us with music and dancing. The rest of the evening was free time and the team enjoyed the swimming pool and relaxing in the hammock pavillion.

On Tuesday, the team sorted out hundreds of pairs of shoes to take into the jungle. They will be providing shoes to all members of three villages. Since the team is heading into the mountains tomorrow, this was the only work assignment they had today, as they need to rest before heading into the Arenales. After sorting shoes, the team could choose to hang out with the orphans, hang out in the nutritional center (where the babies are) or go swimming. The team rested well the remainder of the day and is feeling refreshed and ready to go to the mountains.

Wednesday, July 22 and Thursday, July 23 and Friday, July 24:

The team headed into the mountains at 7:00 a.m. They will be distributing shoes and doing Bible lessons for the villages. Since they are in the mountains, there will be no communication from the team until late Friday evening or early Saturday morning. Remember, no news is good news! Please pray for safety, healings, signs and wonders and most of all....SALVATION. We will let you know how the village trip went when we hear from the team. When the team leaves Arenales on Friday morning, they will have a free day in Livingston. They will board a small boat and take an amazing tour of the Rio Dulce (Sweeet River) where they will experience beautiful scenery, hot springs, exquisite food and see indigenous peoples in their natural environment. Once they arrive in Livingston (which meets at the Carribean Ocean), they will go shopping for souvenirs or just hang out on the dock and breath in the ocean air!

Friday, July 24:

I received a call from the team leaders letting me know that the team was out of the jungle and heading back to the EDV Hope campus. Check back on Saturday for an update from the Arenales Jungle! I can't wait to hear all of the great things that God did!

Saturday, July 25:

The team spent the day with the orphans and elderly.

Sunday, July 26:

The team ministered in "Care Bear's" church. The rest of the day was spent with the orphans and in the nutritional center. The team will be packing up and heading out early tomorrow morning.