Hopefully as many as 30 people will want to get their hands dirty in Guatemala this summer! Here’s the team so far:
Steve Johnson has taken Habitat for Humanity’s team leader training and has gotten himself certified in First Aid (“apply pressure!”) and CPR (30 – 2 – 30 – 2) by the American Red Cross in order to guide this trip. He can’t wait! Guatemala is a new country for him, somewhere around 31 or so on the list of countries visited so far. Over the years he’s been a teacher at Bible Schools and Operation Onesimus and produced numerous preaching videos that have been distributed worldwide. He’s working on Spanish with Rosetta Stone at the moment.
Bruce & Joanie Parker are both retired and divide their time between mission work in India, Meal a Day work in Latin America and the Caribbean, and family time. They have traveled extensively including over 5 years of foreign mission work in Latin America, the Caribbean and India. They both speak Spanish. They have a long history of work with young people, as public school teachers, teachers and helpers at Bible Schools and Operation Onesimus training, etc. They have 3 sons and 4 grand children.
¡Hola! Soy Caleb y estoy súper emocionado trabajar con todos ustedes.
Hi, I´m Caleb Zilmer and I´m very excited to be working with all of you. Btw, I just got the email and, having learned about myself that if I wait a little bit to do anything it doesn´t get done, so I decided to get right on it…but didn´t see how I could/if I could start a new thread, so I´m commenting to this one.
Anyway, the reasons I plan on going to Guatemala with you all this summer are varied. In no particular order or degree of importance to me, they are the following (though I´m sure others will arise as I think more about it):
I have had the opportunity to participate in many preaching efforts in many parts of the world over the past 11 or 12 years, and recently have been much more drawn to humanitarian work, i.e., in my eyes, living a more direct representation of the love that God teaches us through his word and life experience. Acts of service in providing for the needs of people to me have a much more concrete and practical purpose.
I am a Spanish teacher, currently, also, and have a deep love of the language and Hispanic people and cultures, so any opportunity I have to live in ¨el mundo hispano,¨ I take it (ultimately, my goal is to be living permanently somewhere in South America teaching English, working on similar, community building projects, etc.). Also because of the gift of language that God has blessed me with, a large part (I think? I guess we´ll see what pans out
of my participation in the team this summer will be as an interpreter/translator.
Uhh, this is getting pretty long, so maybe I´ll leave off there. I´m really looking forward to meeting you all and working with you all and getting to know more of my family!
Hello Caleb,
I got my acceptance letter yesterday, and I thought I’ll get to the blogging thing later. When I saw your note I had to laugh, I know what you mean about the procrastinating thing. Fortunately for me I have a wife to keep me in check. Come to think of it that can be a blessing and a curse. Let me rephrase, it’s always a blessing! (that’s just in case she reads this. Love you Honey!)
I digress, I’m really looking forward to going for all kinds of reasons. One reason I think I put in my application was that simply acts of kindness speak volumes over and above what you say. That’s why I feel so drawn to Meal a Day in general. If it wasn’t for the outpouring of love and unconditional kindness I was given in Norfolk, I never would have become a part of this community at all. Matter of fact, I completely disagreed with the Christadelphian when I first met them, but their openness, love, kindness and generosity were so compelling I couldn’t stop thinking about them. They had a cohesiveness with each other that was unparalleled with anything I had seen before, and they accepted me so freely I was left dumbfound at times. To be able to pass that along will be my great pleasure.
According to Bruce’s email the average age is 30! That ‘s so cool! For the first time in my life I’m above average!!!!
So who else is signed up?
Hey Guys My name is Josh im am so glad and greatful to be accepted for this wonderful thing we are going to do, 1 big reason I guess for me going is that i have never done a preach/ touch and teach type trip in my life and look forward to work with the team and getting to know those i dont know. the other reason is working with people of like faith and i dont get that where i work so its something i hold value in to be working side by side with brothers and sisters. I know how to work with tools i work for a company that does duct fabrication anyway there is a little bit about me
Just wanted to say Hi to everyone, my name is Rich.
I am excited to be going and cant wait to get there. One of the reasons I want to go is because my goal is to try to live the Bible and its principles and not just know them.
¿Quién otro sabe español?
Hi guys (James and Josh!)
Hablo un poco, Rich – pero necesito estudiar otra vez. No lo he practicado hace muchos años.
I received my acceptance e-mail yesterday, too – and promptly made a squeal of delight that about half the floor in my dorm probably could have heard
My reasons for wanting to go are very similar to Josh’s. I’ve wanted to do missionary work for several years now, and this is a good stepping stone for later trips; public speaking isn’t my strength, but God’s blessed me with a fair ability to use my hands (art major). Meeting other Christadelphians is a big one, too – it’s difficult at events like GLCBS. There will be more chance to really get to know people on this trip. Other than that it’s a great opportunity to improve one’s spiritual life.
Of course, it’s also possible that they’re only allowing me on this trip because I wrote that I’m a decent cook ^_^
Hi, all, my name is Kaitlyn. I’m from New Jersey and I am 19. I’m soo excited to be going and I’m also excited to meet all of you whom I don’t yet know! One of the major reasons that I want to take part in this is because I believe that actions speak louder than words. We can’t just be talking about God’s word, although that’s very important. We have to be living it, too. And what better way to shine our light than to help those in need?
Some random facts about me- I am a college student studying history education and music
- I am a hostess/waitress at a steakhouse
- my favorite food OF ALL TIME is spaghetti
- I have two younger sisters, and I also have a Basset Hound named Jake
There, some fun facts about me! I’m so pumped to meet everyone! =]
Hey everybody, I’m from Virginia and I am in my last semester at VCU. I am student teaching full time as the final part of my training to be a music teacher.
I am part of this team because I am convinced Jesus did a good deal of this sort of thing as a young carpenter. I have also been to the countryside of Guatemala and seen the poverty that some of its citizens deal with. I look forward to being able to share the love of Christ with these folks in building some shelter for them.
I also thoroughly enjoy Central American culture and cuisine. I like the Spanish language and in my experience the places where it is spoken.
Greetings brothers and sisters in Christ. I caught wind of Guatemala a few weeks before the application was due. I feel like this is a phenominal oppurtunity to gain a new world perspective. I feel that this experience will be a humbling one. I am always striving to strech and further understand the love and compassion of Christ. I’m currently stting tight in Liberty Missouri waiting to go study in New Zealand. I’m studying abroad this semester and look forward to getting back to jump into Bible Schools and Guatemala. I’m very stoked!
Love in Christ,
Matt Drabenstott
Hello everyone,
My wife Maria and I Have been looking forward to becoming a part of this project. She’s from Guatemala and this would be the first time in over 20 years that she visits her country of origin, so you can imagine the joy this brought us both. But the most wonderful thing about it is that we get to do it (Lord willing) along side brothers and sisters, some of whom we will meet for the first time, working for the glory of our Father in heaven. This would be the first time for us doing missionary type work as well.
As several of you have already mentioned this would be a great and humbling opportunity for us to understand a little better the love of Christ for us all, gaining a little more weight of faith in this experience.
My name is Tamar Lange, I’m 20 years old. I am a full-time student and hold a full-time job. I have gone to bible schools my whole life, and in recent years have attended Onesimus training (three times). In 2008, the last year I have attended, I was also one of seven on the Onesimus Team. On the full program our group traveled from Canada, to Rockford, Illinois, to Portland, Oregon, and the Oregon Coast! These three weeks we helped out the local ecclesias in various ways. We were very blessed to get to know each other, work together, and love each other, all in the name of our Father. This trip to Guatemala will be my first major missionary experience. I have been to Canada several times, but have only been out of North America once; I spent ten days last summer in the UK for vacation, though I did stay with, and meet many brothers and sisters.
On this trip I hope to strengthen relationships with brethren I already know, and gain closeness with the brethren I have yet to meet. I hope to leave with an appreciation for another culture, and a renewed connection with God. I earnestly want to help others and am grateful for this opportunity. I’m excited, and praying for all to come!
Hi everyone! My name is Sophia Wood, and I am eighteen years old. Like Kaitlyn and Rich, I’m also from New Jersey. I’m a senior in high school and next year I plan to go to Rutgers University (where I hope to join the pharmacy program).
I am so excited about going to Guatemala this summer for a number of reasons. I first heard about about the project at Operation Onesimus last year and have been considering going since. The project is especially exciting because it is a great opportunity to let our light shine and impact the lives of those who need it most. Also I hope to meet other brothers and sisters, grow in faith, and bring the excitment from this experience back home with me.
I took Spanish for a number of years in school, but this year I dropped it, I hope to brush up on the language before the trip.
Hello all,
Although hailing from the great white north, I have spent the last four years in Richmond, VA earning a degree in Communication Arts (I like to call it a practical, problem-solving based illustration program).
I’ll be finishing up this year and feel open and ready for direction and for God to continue working in my life! (Ps 37:5)
I feel so blessed and am thrilled to be a part of such a great project with so many loving and willing workers.
This experience will be a spiritual and physical boost for my life of service in Christ, and I can only hope it benefits those we are helping even more than ourselves.
Hello TEAM!!
My name is Emery Chiles and I am 21 years old and currently live in Richmond, Virginia and attend the Richmond Chapel. I grew up in northern Virginia attending the Arlington meeting until I moved to Richmond 3 yrs ago. I am a junior at Virginia Commonwealth University and am studying History for secondary education (like Kaitlyn) and am minoring in Religious Studies.
I, too, have attended OO training a few times. I also did the P2P training (Prepare to Preach) in Oregon in August 2009 and this past winter break went to Cambodia with P2P. I hope that those experiences have given me talents with which I can contribute to our team in Guatemala.
I am very excited to go for so many reasons. ( Like Caleb, in no specific order) I have wanted to participate in Habitat for Humanity for quite a while, but never had the opportunity. I enjoy the Latin American cuisine. I am very excited to do good works in the name of Jesus, I believe doing things like this is what he intended for us to do.
I am really excited to spend some excellent time with brothers and sisters.
I have to warn you, I took like 13 or so years of French, but I know a little bit of Spanish vocab, and plan on bringing a dictionary. I am basically a pharmacy and will be quite over prepared probably, but that tends to be a good thing in this type of situation!
I can’t wait to get working!
Hi everyone!
We are going to have a great team! I’m looking forward to meeting those of you I don’t know yet, and working with all of you.
I am a senior nursing student at Illinois State University, so Lord willing, by the time we leave for Guatemala I will be a nurse. I also work in the mental health unit of one of the hospitals in Bloomington.
Like others have mentioned, I also feel that Jesus set the example for us to touch the lives of those around us with love. I’m really thankful that Meal-A-Day is giving me this great opportunity to do just that!
Hey all,
I’m Adam, I was born, raised, and currently reside in the Commonwealth of Virginia. I’ve been in the working world for 2.5 years after 4 year of college.
I’m a firm believer that one of the most important things we have is each other, and that we should take any opportunity to show we care. I figure that makes God happy.
This will be my first missionary-ish trip. Sounds up my ally. I’m pretty excited. I don’t speak a lick of Spanish.
Hey everyone!
I am so excited to share this amazing experience with all of you! I also agree that Jesus set a clear example for us to go out and spread the gospel to those who don’t know it yet. Of course one of his main ways of doing this was getting to know the people who he was preaching to, and adapting his methods to their individual needs. That is one reason why I am so excited to go on this trip. Another reason is that I want to start traveling to DO something, not just for leisure and for myself. This is the perfect opportunity to do that.
I am currently a Psych major at the University of Guelph, and hopefully I can get out of school as soon as humanly possible to start my life.
I used to help out at the Manitoulin work weekends twice a year, but as I am pretty sure knowing how to paint benches and clean bathrooms don’t add particularly to my construction knowledge I am looking forward to learning some new skills. I am also stoked to be participating in my first real preaching effort and I absolutely cannot wait!
See you all there!
Hiya. I’m Seth Wubbels.
I’m going to go to Guatemala with all of you.
How about that?
I’m a pretty great person, and I bet you are too.
So, we should get along.
The best thing about me is my fantastic (sarcastic) sense of humor.
The worst thing about me is also my sarcastic sense of humor.
I enjoy the irony.
I grew up in Pennsylvania, but moved to Illinois after graduating high school. Seven years later, I am now a junior in college shooting for a degree in Journalism. I also work at the Olive Garden restaurant, which is the most recent in a long line of food service jobs. I like working in the service industry because it challenges me to be more of a people person. I also sometimes don’t like it because of that fact. Ironic again, but true.
I believe that to become a better person it is necassary to challenge yourself. This is my primary reason for deciding to go to Guatemala. I will be forced outside of my comfort zone and challenged to be productive. It’s a chance to grow, and I have a lot of growing to do.
Some of you know I very well, and others not at all. I hope to grow closer to all of you. I hope to strenghten the bond between us that Christ has already created. Life is rough sometimes, and we all need eachother. It’s a beautiful thing.
Alright, let’s get pumped, kids.
I love you all,
Seth Wubbels
Hi All!
I’d like to thank brother Matt for telling me about this amazing experience, as well as, thank brother Bruce and sister Joanie for allowing me to apply! I know some of you, actually, very few of you! (Seth, I haven’t seen you in years!) However! I am thrilled to be a part of this team, I feel like i know all of you already–just from reading this page!
My name is Juli, I’m 23 years old. I work full time as a Registered Nurse in a critical care unit at a smalltown hospital (in a suburb of Cleveland, Oh). I have some experience with Habitat for Humanity– I volunteered while in College. I also have some missionary-like experience. I was a part of a small group (of about 8 people) that travelled to Jamaica in Dec.08-Jan.09. It was an amazing experience, and I feel extremely blessed to be able to say that i rang in 2009 singing Church hymns in the mountains of Jamaica with fellow brothers and sisters.
I’m looking forward to getting to know each and every one of you! There is no telling what this trip has in store, with God as our guide, it is sure to be outstanding.
– 2 Thessalonians 1:3
I’m pretty excited for some Wubbels fantastic sense of humor
i seem to know everybody here so far except james ross should be fun to work with you guys, and JULI im so happy you got approved, i hope we are all able to make it Lord Willing
Hi Everyone:
I’m happy to be part of the team. My home ecclesia is St. Paul, Minnesota. Vicki my wife and I have traveled around much of Mexico and have wondered several times if there wasn’t something we could do to help spread the truth of God’s word. The opportunity came a few years ago to help on a campaign in Tampeco then again in Guadalajara that Vicki also helped on. I am 65 and speak just enough Spanish to feel comfortable traveling in Central America. Two of my hobbies are woodworking and cave exploring. I have worked on cave project in many parts of the US and in Mexico. In 1989 I participated in an archaeological project in a cave in Israel, and in 2000 on a project to survey Mayan burial caves in Belize. It will be great to work with you all this summer.
Dennis
Hi everyone, was nice to read about some of you!
I’m Katie Dawes from Toronto Canada. Right now I’m finishing up my fourth year at university and God Willing will be going to Teachers College the year after that. This summer I’ll be doing a teaching placement and then working as a fitness instructor.
Ever since I heard about the Guatemala Build I’ve been so excited! Last summer I did some volunteering with Habitat in the city and I loved it, it was such a unique experience. And building with other brothers and sisters is going to be even better since we’re all here to show our love for God in these acts of service. And it’s not often you get a chance to do something for someone that will totally change their life! This will be a first for me in terms of missionary-type trips and so definately a change from what I am used to. But hopefully one of many.
Hi again,
So, we are supposed to post here once a week right?
Well, I have just finished reading the posts that came after mine, and I realized that I didn’t really write a great bio for myself.
Here’s a bit more info:
I like to travel. I have been blessed to travel with my dad to some of those 31 countries he mentioned (unfortunately my number is not nearly as high, but I’m working on it!)
I spent about 6 months in India the year after I graduated from high school, and I learned a lot about myself and about the ins and outs of longer-term “missionary life.” I think that trip was a starting point for me, and I want to continue to learn and grow.
I recently started doing more in my own community by becoming a volunteer for the American Red Cross. It’s great to be able to do good things for people in underdeveloped countries (believe me, I love to travel), but I realized that I don’t have to wait for 5 months to make a difference in people’s lives. I can be doing that already. I guess I have always known this, but I haven’t ever made it an ongoing part of my life. I’ve volunteered here and there at different places but never on a regular basis, so I’m really excited about doing this!
There are tons of opportunities to reach out to others now.
I agree with Adam, I think it makes God happy when we show we care.
Have a great week!
Rachel
Hi all
Joanie and I are going slowly insane…we leave a week from today for 3 months in India on a White Fields WCF supported effort, Then we have a few weeks back in the States, and are off again for two months of Bible Schools plus Central America. So much to do, so little time!
We enjoyed reading all your applications (and now your BLOG entires). What an amazing team!
Please pray regularly for all the team… for health and safety, and for encouragement as each of you are raising the funds for your share of the costs of this trip.
And focus on your spiritual lives, because you know I’m going to ask you how they are!
Well, off to do the next thing on my list.
Love to you all
Bruce
Hello all,
I’m one of the “older” Christadelphians on this trip (was baptized 41 years ago). Jeanne and I live near Rochester, MN and we attend the Christadelphian Ecclesia of St. Paul. Many of you probably know our daughters: Lori Jackson and Kari Larsen.
I have traveled extensively, but so far most has been for work. This will be one of my first opportunities to do something good for the community and I am really looking forwards to it.
I hope I can be of help to some of you younger members of the team and a big help to those that we will be working with.
Looking forward to our adventure.
Love to you all, Horst
Hello All
I’m getting really excited about this trip. I am a firm believer that helping people is just as important as, or more important than, preaching to them. This will be my first real go at it, except little things here and there in Virginia with our CYC.
Meeting and working with all of you will be quite great.
Central America is a fascinating, wild, sad, and wonderful place. This will be my second trip to the region, and I can’t wait to see it again. The land is beautiful, the poverty is astounding. People seem content, though, which is a beautiful lesson for all of us who have so much more than we need.
I am so looking forward to the inspiration I will receive from the people we meet, as well as all of you.
May God bless you and keep you
Peace, love, and safety
Colton
Dear brothers and sisters,
How is everyone feeling about this adventure?
This is such a fantastic opportunity, and I am so looking forward to working with all of you.
I was brainstorming an idea for an informative speech I have to give in a couple weeks for my communications class, and a friend suggested that I talk about Guatemala! So, I’m doing research on Habitat for Humanity and Guatemala! Not only does this provide me a subject for my speech, but all the research will expand my knowledge about Habitat (which I actually know very little about), and Guatemala (which I really only know the safety precautions for).
I suggest that we all do some studying up so we can fully understand the organization we’re working with, and the country we’re going to.
Also, what it everyone planning for raising funds?
Rachel, Seth, and I will be holding monthly events at our meeting for fund-raising. First up this March, a Bake-auction! Instead of just selling pies and such, a family’s famous batch of cookies will go to the highest bidder.
This is a fun way to raise funds, rather than just asking the ecclesia for donations. This allows us to have fellowship, and food-forever bringing Christadelphians together.
Hope you all are doing well-physically, mentally, and spiritually; keep it up through work and school, and family, I know I’m struggling to.
Peace and Love Brethren,
Tamar Rebekah
Hey everyone!
Hope everyone is doing well. I am loving all of your posts. It’s so fun to read about all yous and learn a little bit about everyone.
I recently sent out fliers to a bunch of friends and family describing our mission and asking for small donations. The feedback has been awesome! Not only have I received donations from members of my ecclesia, but also from the lady I babysit for and even one of the bartenders at the restaurant where I work! Pretty much, what I’m saying is, don’t rule out basic fliers. They are to the point and direct, plus they give a lot of information. I’m also looking into more creative kinds of fundraising, possibly something involving delicious foods?!
Hey everyone! Sorry im a tad late on this blog thing:)
Im very excited to be apart of this trip! It is such a wonderful opportunity to let our lights shine! My name is Katie Lawrence and I am from Guelph Ontario.
I’m very excited to share this wonderful experiance with everyone. I feel this is a chance for us to open our eyes, see a completely different outlook to the world. This is my first time leaving North America and I know it’s going let me step out of my regular comfort zone. I’m very excited to share the gospel like Christ did and help the poor and needy.
It’s amazing to see how many people are going on this trip! I love all the enthusiasm. Lets LET OUR LIGHTS SHINE.
God Bless,
Katie.
Hi Team!
My name is Emily Schlageter, I’m 20 years old and I am from Richmond, Virginia. I moved here about a year and a half ago from Seneca Falls, NY. I attend Virginia Commonwealth University where I am an Elementary Education Major.
To me there is no better way of showing the love of Christ than helping those in need, so I am just so so excited for our trip to Guatemala! I love projects, especially where the results are super obvious and what gets more obvious than a house? I can only imagine what an amazing experience this trip will be for all of us. Hope all is well!
Love,
Emily
Hey guys sorry i havent talked on this thing in a while my computer was under repair, anyway Im really looking forward to this trip and to be able to work with you guys. Most of you i know and some i dont and i look forward to getting to know ya, and kaitlyn i suggest selling peanuts people like peanuts
First of all, I apologize for my long silence! The past month has been one of THOSE months
…it sounds like many of you can relate!
I don´t know about you all, but Guatemala is finally starting to feel like a reality. I just completed the HH app. and it feels like this trip is much more of a reality, now…up until this point, it´s had a veneer of fantasy for me.
In reading some of your posts, your ideas for fundraising are awesome!!! I really liked the idea of the bake-auction, as well as passing out fliers (to anyone and everyone–the work we are going to be doing is the sort that just about anyone can jump on board with!!!).
In beginning to think more deeply about what my hopes and fears are for this project (for the team, for those that we´re serving and for myself, individually), I have been doing some introspection that I thought might be valuable to share with you all. Some of these thoughts may be half-baked, and they are certainly on-going, and perhaps they´ll be of benefit to you, too.
Most of all, I hope to learn a lot about all of the people I will be sharing this time with, especially those we will be serving. I already have a deep love of the Hispanic people, and a profound, sometimes gut-wrenching sympathy for the oppression that has been the norm rather than the exception for the majority of Latin America (there are many historical reasons for this, but primarily the Spanish conquest has left lasting scars that continue to manifest themselves in some very dysfuntional ways), and I want to deepen my understanding of the people and their circumstances–and I desire to be of greater service to them than I have been able to be in the past.
I also am looking forward to building more connections with you all, the team. For the past few years, I have had many reasons to experience a great deal of disillusionment with the Christadelphian community, and have been feeling rather disconnected of late. Recently, though, I have had a few healthier experiences and, while I am still very troubled about many trends amongst the Christadelphians, I see that there also exist some very positive trends (CMaDFA being one of them), and I hope that my involvement with the HH project and with you all will be a good uplifting, encouraging experience for us all.
Finally, for myself, I hope to learn greater humility. At times, when I have been involved in experiences where I am in a relative position of power (a missionary teaching classes; a relatively affluent, white male living in society; a person with a United States passport travelling in other parts of the world; etc.) I have been unaware (or perhaps just insenstive) to the privelege automatically attached to such circumstances. I hope that, by being more aware now than I used to be to some of this unearned privilege, I will be more capable of understanding those we meet in Guatemala, and empowering those who we tend to call “underprivileged.”
In reading back over this post before submitting it, I almost deleted it all and just left a nice little ¡Hola! to you all, but I have chosen to go ahead and put it out there in the interest of “…si un miembor sufre, todos los miembors sufren con él; y si un miembro es honrado, todos los miembros se regocijan con él” 1 Cor 12:26. As the body of Christ, we all have to be involved in each others´ lives. Also, in a more secular vein, some communications theories state that mutual disclosure is what relationships are built on; so, in the interest of ramping up the discolsure…
So, those are my thoughts at the moment. What are the hopes and fears that the rest of you have?
Hey Steve i heard an email went out i dont think i got it i think it was the HH app
It’s been a little crazy trying to blog on CMADFA recently. I’m mastering the ropes of a HUGE Univeristy down here in Auckland, NZ. I just started classes and it’s such a flip culture from my 1,200 Student Liberal arts college back home.
Living in such a different environment is totally preparing me for Guatemala. I’m learning how to adapt in a new environment quickly. I’m learning the different between surviving and thriving. I’ve met TONS of Christadelphians down here. (they call them Christos) It’s been my absolute pleasure to be immersed into the CYC down here. I feel like I’m on a 24/7 Bible Retreat.
I can’t wait to transpose the lessons I learn down here to Guatemala. I can’t wait to dig deep in this mission and build bonds with brothers and sisters that are surely an ephemeral glimpse of what is to come.
Love in Christ,
Matt Drabenstott
Oh my.
I had just written a lengthy comment. And my internet connection at school kicked me off for a moment, losing all I had written. I don’t think I have the strength to do it again. How about an abridged version.
Basically-
Agree with Caleb- reality!
Parents worried about safety-
My mother (to Steve J.): “If Tamar doesn’t come back, you shouldn’t either” ha-ha
Crazy excited to work with all of you! Learn, grow, experience!
Prayer!-
Chile
Haiti
Our developing trip
Kingdom Come!
That about covers it. Love you all! Peace.
~tamar rebekah~
Its been a while since I have posted. I have been super busy with work since we are expanding our shop. I was reading some of the posts and it seems like Guatemala is so far off, but I was looking at some of the steps I need to take to get there (like getting a plane ticket) and there really aren’t that many left, so we’ll be in Guatemala before we know it. I just wanted to post to everyone this encouraging passage I found the other day.
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. – Deuteronomy 31:6
Hey Everybody!
Sorry it has been awhile! I am currently so excited to go to Guatemala, I told my boss about it the other day and she told me she was really excited and wished she could come. So no problems getting time off haha.
Hopefully soon Richmond will turn into fund raising central! Adam posted some links with our ideas and I really hope they go well!
Please continue to post your ideas too!
Well I am off to school for the last day before Spring Break, I hope to come up with some more goals like Caleb’s to share with you all over break!
Love,
Emery
Hola Hermanos y Hermanas!!
Sorry we(my husband and I) have not commented for a while. We are exited to see a lot of our brothers and sisters going, some of them that we know and some of them that will meet for the first time. With our Ecclesia we are also planning on having a dinner night and have all different kinds of foods and invite people to come and donate what ever they can to help us raise some money for the trip. Lord willing this trip is going to be a wonderful experience.
We will continue on praying for all of us.
with Love in Christ,
Alex and Maria
I’ve been wondering what we are going to be doing down there. I wouldn’t expect us to build an entire house in less than 2 weeks. Anyone have any idea what teams usually accomplish?
I don’t know about you, Adam, but I plan on building at least TWO, maybe THREE houses while we’re there. I think that with the right coordination, you and I could even get one house done just between the two of us. You lug bricks, I’ll stack them up with mortar. Done. That’s all there is to a house….right?
It must have slipped my mind that you were coming, Seth. Yeah, I’d say 2 houses minimum
Anyone else feel like this whole going to Guatemala thing still seems far off and kind of nebulus? I think one day I’m gonna get on a plane, and it won’t hit me until I land that this thing is actually gonna happen. Soon too.
Anywho. For those reading this blog…this is a blog right?…for those reading this still, here’s a heads up for you. I’m currently a journalism major at Illinois State University. As such, I spend most of my time writing and learning to find news stories.
Well, I see this trip as a pretty solid opportunity for some form of a news story. Probably more than one. So, I’m planning to document stuff. Part of that is definitely going to involve me “interviewing” a lot of you. I’ll probably interview a lot of people while we’re there, as well as some before we even leave (GLCBS anyone?), and some later on after it’s over.
This is more or less a heads up so nobody gets too weirded out later on if I ask start asking you questions and writing your answers down.
Ok, love ya, bye,
Seth
I just “slipped” from your mind, Adam?
I’m a little hurt. But I still love you.
-Seth
Like Seth, I was planning on trying to document as much of the trip as possible. I am getting a new camera soon.
Last week or maybe two weeks ago, Levi found this video and played it for our CYC. I hope you all like it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzqTFNfeDnE
Does anyone know if we need to get any immunizations for this shing ding?
hey guys its been a while since i last commented but i did have a question about the vaccinations, i went to see my doctor today to get a physical done and i told him about guatemala and he ask me where are we going to actually be when we are there and what he means by that is are we going to be in the or near the city or more of a rural country area and he told me there is a difference depending on were we are going to be and if we are in the rural we need 2 extra vaccins for maleria and rabies and if we are in the city the original 3 are typho fever and hepititus A and B but if we are in the rural part we need all five if are in the city we need the last 3