Team Lightning and Team Storm Chasers (AKA Lightning Chasers) have joined forces to serve together at New Generation for five weeks. Pastor Juan, his wife, Evelyn, and their children, Lilly and Paul, have welcomed us into their family and life. Their vision for this ministry is to provide for the community both physically and spiritually through church services, an after-school study room, tutoring, language classes, meals, soccer yard, and fellowship. While they have been serving for years here in Chichicastenango, it’s a dream come true for them to own property and build a new ministry site in the mountains 20 minutes outside of town.

Photo creds: my squadmate, Jacken Holland

     The Guatemalan government has given individual communities the power to set rules and restrictions for their areas. Each community (think of a neighborhood size area) is governed by a group of leaders, but one person functions as the head decision maker. While the community New Generation is in isn’t quite as locked down as some of the surrounding communities, it has severely limited what we can do. When we arrived, we found out we wouldn’t be allowed to go outside of the ministry’s fenced yard other than for trips into town. We often see children playing soccer just down the road, but to honor our host and the community, we haven’t been able to join them...yet. 

     As we pray and wait for openings, we are serving wholeheartedly within the walls. Our daily activities have consisted primarily of manual labor (landscaping by hand, painting, plastering, laying flooring, building stairs, etc.) to finish the church’s new building and land and serving the local police. Watching the ministry site come to life has been a rewarding experience. It’s been hard physically, but hey, we’re all building muscle and getting tan! We can’t wait to see how God uses this ministry for many years to come.

     Our trips to town have become a special treat for us. As we ride down the mountain’s curving roads in the bed of a pickup, our packed load of 11 “gringos” provides plenty of laughs to the locals. Once in town, we prayer walk and minister to people on the streets and in the markets. I especially love hanging out with the children who sell miscellaneous wares. They try to talk us into buying something by saying things like, “I make good deal for you” or “buy it for your mama or your ex-boyfriend”. My favorite part is getting them to just be kids instead of salesmen. I had a sweet moment with several of them in a coffee shop last week. We drew monkeys in my journal while we chatted and they taught me Spanish. :) 

     Keep us, Pastor Juan, his family, and the New Generation ministry in your prayers. We know God will open doors when the time is right. When He does, we want to be fully ready mentally, physically, and spiritually. 

Hasta luego!