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UPDATED May 5, 2008
Come visit our new site, From Darkness to Light which deals with our new work concerning possession and oppression, deliverance
and exorcism. While it is just being formed now please click here to view.
Read messages or leave a comment in our Blog!
Check Out The New guatemalago.org/San Juan 10:10 Website:
New Website
Acts 26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may
receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
Click here to see the video of the Christmas '07 party for the children of El Pinal in Jutiapa, Guatemala.
Homes For Sale
And the winds came...Where have all the roofs gone? We sent teams into the community just after New Years when severe winds
ripped the roofs from the 'casitas' in the community of Chulla above our home. They repaired and/or replaced many roofs and
made a Happy New Year for many!
January 1, 2008 The wife of the Pastor of the local Baptist Church, Alpha & Omega Baptist Church in Panajachel, has
recently undergone surgery for cancer and heart problems. Please pray for them as treatment continues.
Along with this family Guatemalago.org is also supporting Julio (brother of our English teachers, Luis and Angel) who
has possible brain tumors. Tests are currently underway and we will keep you updated.
JANUARY 2, 2008 Reynita UPDATE Click Here.
DUSTIN UPDATE January 2. Click below.
Read the Dustin UPDATE here
| Atitlan Sunset |
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| Atitlan Sunset |
November 25, 2007 Reynita is having some difficult times. Read about it by clicking below.
Reynita
September 25, 2007 The last of the medical team/visitors leaves today. We had a great time and many
memorable moments. But what stands out in my mind is a 6 year old boy named Dustin who is dying. Read about it and see the video here.
September 25, 2007 We have moved to our new house! However, the internet upload speed is VERY
slow so we will be uploading more from this medical mission soon. A very special thank you to all those who participated!
July 2007 Prayer topics: Opening the eyes of those wandering in the wilderness, those with sickness,
upcoming trips, the house, those with addictions, those with burdens; God's Glory!
June 2007 September Medical/Dental Mission Trip is taking form! We have two teams thus
far--more to come? Are you coming?
June 2007 Jim and Teresita are in the United States with the kids until August 31.
April 2007 Don Ives and his Starfish team are in the Phillipines now and need your help. Click here or on the photo below for the story.
April 15, 2007 Starfish Ministries is in the Philipines currently, We are returning to CA this morning and God is great!
April 2007 Pastor Garcia has fully recovered with no surgery! The doctors were amazed!
For Those Tears I Died
It Is Well...
Jim
Updated Feb '07 Sherri Occhi, who accompanied us on our December 7th mission trip and who is suffering
through stage 4 cancer, has had and accident and is in the hospital in California. Read her story HERE.
Updated Feb '07
December 18, 2006 Pastor Garcia, pictured below, is gravely ill and in need of your
prayers. READ ABOUT IT HERE.
December 14, 2006 The medical team is on their way to Beleze via
Tikal!
December 11, 2006 We are in the middle of our week of Medical and Dental Clinics,
and Vacation Bible School for the kids. We have daily averaged 90+ medical patients, 40+ dental patients
and 200+ kids. Two of our Guatemalan helpers have accepted Christ and things are going as God has planned. We
are so busy! I will write more soon...
November 12, 2006 My kids went home today. God blessed them extraordinarily!
$700 in travel vouchers and a free upgrade to first class! I was blessed to have them here as well. CLICK HERE to see the pictures from their trip.
NOVEMBER 14, 2007 A DAY IN THE LIFE-- on June 27 of this year we had an incredible
day as told in the story you can read here. Today, November 14 we had another incredible day in the life that you can read here.
November 13, 2006 Today we were to meet a 13 year old girl with cancer
in Antigua. But instead we attended her funeral. CLICK HERE for the details.
November 10, 2006
Today Jim (my son) and I, along with Hector visited four families in Santa Catarina. The boy at the right,
whose name is Michael Angel was a member of one of them. The kids on the left, whose father gets drunk and in the middle
of the night terrorizes them are members of another. CLICK HERE to read about their stories. .
The December 7 mission trip is coming together, is God calling you? Take a look at our tentative schedule.
11/04/06 What's new here in Guatemala? Typing! While stopped
at the border several months ago we found eight used typewriters for sale. Cheap! We bought them and Hector
and Pedro had some tables made and now Pedro teaches two classes each day.
What an incredible sunset! CLICK HERE to see more of Hectors photos shot in late October.
11/02/06 Our trip complete we are finally in Panajachel! CLICK HERE to read the conclusion of our trip including the giant pothole, the man laying in the middle of the highway and the shredded
beef in a bag.
November 3, 2006 These little girls took our picture! Jim and I rented motorcycles and took a
ride around the Lake-in the rain!
And we were there! I took the picture to the left. Read the story below for
details and click below for the video!
SAN CRISTÓBAL DE LAS CASAS, Chis, Nov 1, 2006. - The
Zapatistas, an erstwhile rebel group turned political movement, announced this week they will close highways in Chiapas to
support protesters in the neighboring state of Oaxaca.
"No honest person can keep silent and immobile while an entire people, mostly indigenous, is murdered,
beaten and imprisoned," the Zapatistas said in a communique signed by Subcomandante Marcos.
The Zapatista leadership decided that on Wednesday it will block the highways and roads passing through
the territories where the group is active, and it urged residents in those areas to avoid traveling.
Click the play button twice below to see the video.
October 29, 2006 Our friend Gaspar (in cowboy hat) needs surgery. Read the emails from
Brian (currently in Guatemala) and our medical friends HERE.
October 28, 2006 My son Jim and I set out to drive from San Bernardino, California through Arizona,
New Mexico, Texas and Old Mexico to Guatemala. Read about the trip HERE.
Watch the Starfish Ministries "Phillipines" video:
Click Here
PLEASE READ. Go to sj1010.org IT IS A WORK IN PROGRES.
Watch this video "How Long Will The Enemy Mock You Oh God."
Push the "play" button twice.
September 1, 2006 The trip to Guatemala by truck from
California through Mexico began August the 26th. Once again God showed his faithfulness in getting us out of some
situations and through others. Click here for details.
August 25, 2006 Due to complications, emergency
surgery for Reynita was performed the 21st of August. Click here to read the story.
July 12, 2006 So much has happened on the last trip that I have not written about, and
I don't know exactly why that is. But today I received an e-mail from Rani who is still in Guatemala, concerning a trip
to the neurologist he took with a child named Miguelangel. When I read it I understood why I hadn't spoke about this
child more before. It was to be Rani's story!
July 3 and 4, 2006 Hector, Rani and I spent
these two days in the jungle of Tikal in northern Guatemala. God richly blessed us and has opened doors in this hot
and humid jungle. Click here to read the incredible story!
June 30, 2006
For the Pablito update including a new video, click here.
For the Fernando Jose update including a new video, click here. For the latest on Otto (good kid, bad drugs) click here
June 27, 2006 You have to read about this extraordinary day in the life.
June 26, 2006 If you haven't read about little 10-year-old Reynita
please click here. If you know about her watch the video below by clicking the play button. You may have to click it several times
to get it to start. To donate money to this little girl please click the link above..
>
June 25, 2006
I have an additional update on Reynita. Also, Renée Asuzaana and their two kids are visiting me in my house this week. It is good to spend time with
old friends. Later in the week Rani is returning.
The news here continues to be poor. Since October and the great "torment" Hurricane Stan (see the video below)
there has been much work done on the river to stabilize it and several temporary bridges have been built to help the people
crossover. Most of this has been done by private citizens and philanthropists. On Saturday, June 17, 2006 another
day of heavy rains produced a small flash flood which totally destroyed all bridges and crossing points except for two: the
main bridge far to the north of the town for pedestrians and one small pedestrian crossing. To date nothing has been
done to try to restore the crossing points. Additionally, much mud washed through the streets and there was much fear
among the people. More coming soon.
June 23, 2006 I am back in Guatemala for several weeks. The first thing I did when I got
here was to visit with Reynita, the little 10-year-old girl who needs the operation to avoid certain death. Read about it here.
June 22, 2006 When I drove into town yesterday with Hector and Jose Carmen I immediately knew
something was up. It is the rainy season here and it was the last thing they needed. A storm on Saturday washed
out all the temporary bridges and river crossings except the main bridge at the north end of town. Additionally, it
destroyed all the riverbed drainage improvements (what little there are) that had been made since October. I will write
more on this very soon.
Click the "PLAY" button below to see a presentation about the Children of Guatemala.
June 3, 2006 Gene Veal was a great man of God and friend who went to be with the Lord last year.
Click here to see the video tribute (nothing to download or install, simply click above).
May 16, 2006 See an awesome 12 minute video of the damage the day
before and the day after hurricane Stan. The first part of the video is the day before the flood, which occurred at
2:30 in the morning. The second part consists of the three days following the devastation. Just click the play button below
as this is hosted on Google video. <>.
April 30, 2006 I am back in California for a while. I returned on April 5 but was called back to Guatemala
a week later and then returned to California once again on April 18. I'm planning on being here in California until
early June, God willing.
Much continues to happen in Guatemala and I apologize for my lack of updates. However, we are still waiting on information
to pass along but here's the best I can give you:
FOR UPDATES ON PEDRO AND MARIA CLICK HERE
FOR UPDATES ON REINETTA CLICK HERE
April 12, 2006
Frequently in our lives we make plans but things go bad. We think we must have made a bad decision-- but did we? Was it a bad decision? We frequently shortchange our blessings and misdiagnosis our situation because we don't
bother to see the big picture-- maybe it's not about us! Click the picture to read the story.
April 4, 2006 Pedro (the drunk) and his family have
some difficult times. Click here to read more.
April 2, 2006
Rani's project for Lucia is now complete. Click here for pictures.
April 2, 2006 I have updated today. Look around or click here.
May 29, 2006 Do you believe God's promises? Really? Click here.
March 25, 2006 Too much stuff happening, I will write lots soon. Honest! Read This.
March 17, 2006 Today we went back to Santa Catarina and met with a man named Philippe who
has a radio program and needs help. Then we went up (up, up, up) the mountainside to the home of Pedro and Maria who just decided to follow Christ. We were then approached by a man with a hip problem and then a woman who wanted
a house and then another younger woman with vision problems. Later, we showed a couple movies at our new building in
Santa Catarina as well as our building in Panajachel. A very eventful day!
March 16, 2006 Today was the first distribution of the container items donated from other countries, and given to us by the government of Guatemala on Wednesday.
March 15, 2006
Today, in one of the first official acts taking place in our new building in Santa Catarina Palopo, three people pray
to receive Christ. Click the picture to read about the grace of God.
March 14, 2006
Well, the day has finally got here. The container has been picked up at the dock here in Guatemala and is in transit
to Panajachel. It will arrive tonight! And, AND, as if that's not good enough for God, he has given us a special
treat! Click here to read about it.
March 13, 2006 Tonight we were able to begin showing movies in our new
building in Santa Catarina. Click here for details.
March 13, 2006 Alcohol destroys lives in Santa Catarina-- meet Pedro.
March 12, 2006
Rani has posted a new update. Read it here.
March 8, 2006
More pictures have been posted of the family whose baby died several weeks ago.
March 6, 2006
We have rented a building in Santa Catarina and are currently working on it to have it ready by Monday, March 13, 2006.
We will use it to hold meetings, show movies and teach English to the community. Click here to see it
March 6 2006 Reinetta continues to do well as she is now taking classes in her home and
learning and studying five days a week. She has her uniform, shoes and supplies just like the other kids. Read about her here...
March 4, 2006
SOSEP Guatemala update on transporting our container click here
March 3, 2006 Want to volunteer? Click here.
March 2, 2006 This baby was sick in November. Today we went to visit the family to enquire as to his condition. Click the picture to
read the sad story.
February 19, 2006 As we continued to prepare for our March trip it appears that we will have some 15 people coming and going at different times during the month. Click on the
picture to the right to discover who is going and what we are talking about. Then help us by praying that God will continue
to use us as he grows us to be a blessing to others for his glory.
Please remember my cousin Donna in your prayers.
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February 17, 2006 Sometimes in our lives we receive bad news or at least what we think is bad news. Click bad news to read about what bad news really is.
February 16, 2005 Please take a moment of your time for God, and read at least one
of the articles below:
Read "Jesus, Jesus, I Will Follow Jesus"
Read "Where God Wants Me -- Genesis 37"
Read "CUT THE ROPE"
February 16, 2006
The month of March will be very busy for us. Rani is in Panajachel now and I will be returning in less than two weeks. And then Barbara, Robert, Matthew, Abby, Kim, Lucy,
Jimmy, Tom, Lisa, Travis, Stacy, and several more people will be coming to help us distribute clothes and hold dental clinics
and ?????????? Please pray that God will direct our steps and we will be willing to follow him.
February 16, 2006
Donna's cancer has returned and she needs your prayers. Click the picture at the right to read about it and then please, remember
her in your prayers.
February 14, 2006 Rani has returned from North Carolina and is currently in Panajachel. With a group of supporters in the States he has collected
some money and is undertaking several projects for the people of Santa Catarina! That is awesome! Rani and
I had an excellent time together with God when he came down late last year. He has been a blessing and an inspiration
to me, and I thank God for sending him. Click on the picture to the left to read about his experiences.
February 13, 2006
Today I received a letter from a man calling himself Agnostic J, which in part read, " The Bible (and Koran) is a dangerous book written by ignorant 1st century men. It is the ultimate
confidence game, played out by man." Read two of his letters here.
February 8, 2006 The container is off! To Guatemala for a
scheduled February 23 arrival. Praise God, in his time. More on the plan for distribution soon!
Please pray for me...
January 30, 2006 I will be returning to the U.S. tomorrow at 2:30 a.m. (ouch!). We plan
to return in March with many helpers to perform various services, including dental clinics and clothing distribution.
The container is almost 'in transit' (Praise the Lord!). We have met several new families and finished some 12 homes to date. We have ceased the projects for the time being as money is very tight and we await new direction from God. Thank you all who have prayed for and
supported this minstry and the people God has placed in our path.
January 27, 2006 Read the article on fear Click Here.
January 21, 2006
Reinetta is a 10-year-old girl who has many problems by our earthly standards. Read about them and her sweet spirit here.
January 17, 2006 Today we ran into a group of doctors and medical students/volunteers from the United
States providing free medical care
to the people of the Lake Atitlan area. A great bunch of folks! Read about it here and see all the photos.
January 16, 2006 Free download of MP3 Ray Boltz--Thank you for giving to the Lord-- Click Here
January 13, 2006 I have just learned that a member of Immanuel Baptist Church, a friend to some of you, took
his own life after struggling with some personal issues earlier this week. While I do not know much of the details I
do know he left a wife and children. I do not pretend to understand what happens in these circumstances but I know
that many people are affected. I know that his wife and children need your prayers.
Please stop what you're doing and take a moment to lift this woman and her children, and all the other people
affected by this to the Lord. Please stop now and pray for them.
Jan 9, 2006 I have created several slideshow presentations and I think you will enjoy them. Please
click here for more information. You won't be sorry! Here are a few of the early comments:
"Do you like making me cry...It was really neat and humbling.
I’d like to show this or other shows to other people."
"You certainly touched me with the slide show. Words
are not adequate....".
"while she watched the slides. We both sat there and cried..."
"I got to see the slide show this morning. I guess I probably
should have picked a better, or should I say, more private place to see it. It sure struck a heart string with me.
It is hard not to cry when I see pictures of him..."
"This is so neat! Did you
send it to everyone? I just cried and cried..."
If you haven't checked it out you are missing a blessing! Please click here for more information.
01/06/06 New Home Reconstruction in Santa Catarina. We have finished 10 projects to date. The pictures speak for themselves. We have posted full financial disclosure for each
project. The summary is as follows: Donations: Appx $4,600 US Expenditures: Appx $9,407.19 US That equates
to $940.71 per house! See all the projects by clicking here.
Read the new article "I am Thine O Lord."
| Click the picture for more Maximon |
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01/03/06 Coming soon...I visited Santiago, Panajab, the village destroyed in the storm with hundreds buried alive.
Look at all the Santiago Pictures
01/01/06 I started the new year off right by paying a visit to the local Mayan god, Maximon in the lakeside village of Santiago de Atitlan. That's the little guy on the right. He may look silly but he is
not to be messed with!
Read about the possession! Excerpt: She was speaking the words but it wasn't her voice and the content was different. The voice was making comments about five family members who had died in the recent
past, saying that three of them had accepted Christ, but "he" was able to take two of them to hell...
See the rest of the pictures and read the story by clicking on the picture of Maximon above.
Look At All Maximon Pictures
| Click the pick for the story and more pics |
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12/31/05 These are the steps to the house of Juan Francisco. He lives high above most other people in the village of Santa Catarina. I mean high above them. The walk to his house almost
killed me, going up concrete steps that were more like ladders than stairs. Click the picture to read the story.
12/30/05 Today we had some of the kids over who lost their homes in the aftermath of Hurricane Stan. We showed them the movie "Narnia" and had a great time. To read the story click here.
| Why is Juan smiling? |
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| Click the pic to find out |
12/27/05 A quick note on Pablito: He is learning to walk! He is gaining strength, his health is improving and he is taking two and three steps
by himself! We have so much to be thankful for.
We are taking him to the hospital this week for testing, then to his neurologist in mid January. We will keep you
posted.
Merry Memas!
Oh wait, not Memas, I meant Christmas. Sometimes I get confused and think CHRISTmas is all about me (hence MEmas
instead of CHRISTmas). But we know it should be about him...hopefully in your house...
Please take a look at these pictures and then go look at the site
for the story
December 17, 2005-- I am currently in California attending to some business having returned a little over a week ago.
Unfortunately (fortunately?) I have been sick with the flu most of that time. I will return to Panajachel by the
end of the year, God willing.
Currently the work continues on the reconstruction and repair of several homes in the Hurricane Stan Relief Projects-Panajachel and Santa Catarina. Many pictures have been posted of the construction as it progresses along with some financial
disclosure of monies spent. Currently you have given over $4,500, all of which has been spent for the families, helpers
and materials to construct the homes. To see a quick sample of the financial disclosure go to Santa Catarina--Magdaleno Lopez Nimacachi.
| Click the picture |
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12/14/05 Several days ago I saw the movie The Cinderella Man with Russell Crowe. The movie was
very good! The story is set in the depression of the 1930s and the family is unable to do basic things such
as pay its bills and buy food or wood for heating. They're constantly hungry and in one scene Russell Crowe's little
boy is caught stealing a salami and bringing it home for the family. The boy is taken back to the butcher where the
salami is returned and an apology is made to the butcher. Once outside Russell Crowe talks to his young son about why
he stole the salami. Breaking down in tears the son explains that his friend was sent away to live with relatives because
his mother and father couldn't afford to feed him, and he was afraid the same might happen to him.
In the mind of a child...
Latest News
CLICK THE BACKHOE FOR PICS OF RECONSTRUCTION...
| Click the backhoe to see our current projects |
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| Click the backhoe for a list of expenditures |
On October 5, 2005 a devastating series of events occurred in our area destroying lives, homes and property.
The recovery effort from hurricane Stan continues to be our primary focus. For the latest pictures on the projects currently under way as well as expenditure
of funds collected please click the backhoe to the right.
To donate now to this effort click the DONATE link below.
DONATE
Difficulties in your life? Read the article on hardships to understand a little bit better. Can't understand how our great God, who is a God of love can allow these terrible
things to happen? Tsunamis, earthquakes, hurricanes? Want to explain it to others in a way that makes sense?
Read the article Life after Eden. Do you struggle with unbelief, worry and anxiety? Read Unbelief-Why is my life miserable?
Big news in March 2006! Lucy Veal is coming back to Guatemala, God willing! And we can't wait! Lucy has been here twice before and the people ask
about her all the time. When her husband Gene died last May I felt I had lost a lifelong brother though I had only known
Gene for six months. He and Lucy had accompanied us just two months before he died and we had a great time. To
see the pictures in the slideshow Gene created click here
| Click on the picture to read about the dedication |
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The new Baptist Church in Panajachel was completed on November 15, 2005. We funded the $30,000 project (mostly material cost) but the church
supplied most of the labor to build it.
Test Video
Back in November we were trying to move a conta
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