Chicua III is a small community nestled in the hills about 30 minutes outside of Chichicastenago in the western mountains of Guatemala. Recently we got lost trying to use a digital map to find this community so we asked some of the friendly locals. They directed us to leave the paved highway behind as we …
Sharing Jesus with shoeshine boys
Shoeshine boys often have their eyes downcast, not because they’re sad, but because they’re looking for dull, dusty shoes that might earn them a few coins. Many of these boys are between 8 and 14 and help provide for their families by roaming the streets and parks looking for people with dirty shoes. Once they …
Lunchtime for teachers
It was lunchtime for teachers and values were on the menu. Through some God-given connections, we have been building relationships with schools, teachers and the local school district here in Chichicastenango. As part of this we invited about 75 teachers to join us for lunch at a local restaurant. We wanted to present our book …
Adventures in the Bible books have arrived!
After a long journey in a shipping container, 2,228 Adventures in the Bible books arrived in Guatemala City this month. These 344-page books are filled with 161 Bible stories written in Spanish in easy-to-learn formats, with maps, interactive questions, verses and coloring pages to help kids learn the Bible. We are distributing these books in …
Training teachers to disciple kids
In the neighborhood of Chulumal III sits a church building where the Gethsemane Methodist Church meets. It is nearly surrounded by a grassy yard that is often trampled by the feet of kids and adults who come to learn, share, and grow together. In January, Michael lead a group of about 16 church leaders in …
Encouraging leaders at a local church.
Michael taught a class on the importance of vision and working together at a meeting of the 2022 teachers for IgleKids (Kids Church) at Iglesia Algo Nuevo, Chichicastenango. I love the heart these teachers have for kids!
10,000 downloads of Bible resources for kids
Churches, children’s homes, families, and ministries in 32 countries have been downloading the Adventures in the Bible stories and coloring pages…lots of them. Since we posted over 130 stories from our Adventures in the Bible kids resource book in April, 2021, 10,000 copies of the stories have been downloaded in 32 countries. The last seven …
Encouraging and equipping teachers
Since 2015 we’ve been helping with the teachers at an elementary school that sits about two blocks from our home. With help from generous donors we outfitted a computer lab with 10 computers. We’ve provided school supplies and English teachers. When school is in session, the teachers bring children to our yard for break time …
Children’s ministry in Sacapulas
A few days before Thanksgiving, we loaded up the kids along with a few friends and drove a couple of hours to the town of Sacapulas. Located in a river valley between mountains, Sacapulas is known for home-made sweets and for being hot. We met up with Cesi and Chechin, a sweet couple who have …
A Christmas festival for the heart.
It was a drizzly afternoon on the day of our Christmas Party, and we weren’t sure how many people would show up, while we put up a tarp to cover the seating area. We had no need to be concerned about people showing up… As the start time of 4 p.m. drew near, the skies …
