This afternoon, about 10 police came to our facility, Las Buenas Nuevas, like Gestapo, because something is amiss with our Christian radio connection which is located on our property.  It has been here for many years and is perfectly legal, but they are saying it is not and they have been here now for about three hours, getting witness signatures and pulling out all the radio equipment from under the radio tower, taping it up and carrying it away. Part of our responsibility is to assist keeping this vital station on the air.

It is very scary for our Guatemalan couple who live here because they know how the police can be extremely dangerous, want money as bribes, etc. We believe they are a bit more cautious with an American’s presence.

They could just take Marco and Niel away with the equipment if they want to.  Niel thinks it is our first real experience of Christian persecution.

Please pray for this situation to be healed by our powerful God and for the protection of our Guatemalan friends and our facility.  Many people here in the Panajachel area listen daily to the Christian radio - Radio Cultural TGN and would be distressed if it were taken away permanently.  It does give us pause about the corruption in the government here.  Niel did pull out our camera and took a lot of photos of who was here, what they were doing, etc.

We are trusting our Lord and His mighty strength.  Thank you for your prayers.

 This is the time of year in Guatemala for graduations.  The school year goes from Jan. to Oct.  We witnessed two graduations this year.  The first was a boy from our church who graduated last Sunday from secondaria, kind of like high school and junior college combined.  Graduation enables them to begin a career of sorts, however limited.  It was a big deal for our church family.  All regular services were cancelled and a special service was held at two o'clock for about three hours, followed by a big meal.  Preparations for the meal began that morning by women of the church and family members.  When I arrived to help, all the family women were standing around two very large outside griddles, patting out tortillas (about 75 lbs of tortilla masa!).  They are from another town and not used to seeing me, so they stopped, stared and giggled for about 5 minutes! I cut and peeled potatoes and carrots for a stew cooking in a gigantic pot on a large fire.  The graduate's dad even tried to teach me some Kakchikel language, which resulted in even more laughter.  Before I left, one of our church women told me: " It has been many years since any missionaries have participated in our church and it is a great encouragement to us."  That made my day!

The other graduation was for our friend, Ana.  She graduated from "Basico", which is like a mix of junior high and high school.  She is the mother of four children.  She got married at the age of 15, and never finished school, so she has been going to classes for three years every Sat.  We are very proud of her.  Her parents are now dead, so she asked us to substitute for them at the graduation services, which took place yesterday - one at a local evangelical church and the other at the city municipal hall.  We took the family out to dinner afterward to celebrate.  It was a very special day.

Diana

 Starting to be really busy here with preparations for VBS and also work around Las Buenas Nuevas.  I am trying not to take on too much in a hurry this time, however.  I think we will wait until Jan. or Feb. to start English classes again.  There is enough to do here and at church right now.  On Wednesday, the ladies Bible study group from the church met at the home of one of our members who is really gravely ill, the mother of our friend, Noe.  It was very interesting.  They definitely have specific customs on how to greet one another, the sick one, etc.  First, we all sat down and they sang.  It is so beautiful to hear the ladies sing, really loud and third world.  I finally found a book of choruses that they sing, but by the time I found the chorus in my book, they had moved on to another!  Then my friend, Ana, gave a short devotional about how when we are sick, we should pray and call the elders of the church to come and pray for us, etc.  It was very good.  Then it was time to pray.  They asked me and one other woman to lead out in prayer.  I am really still learning how to pray in Spanish, so it was difficult, but that was all right.  However, as soon as I started to pray, all the women started to pray at the same time, outloud.  I couldn’t even think.  I guess maybe that was good, as least I didn’t have to worry about what I was saying, because they weren’t listening anyway!  A definite cultural experience!  In church, when someone prays, they don’t do that usually.  After prayer,  the daughter  of the sick woman brought out a tray with cups of coffee just as we were leaving, so we had to sit back down and drink it before we left.  The coffee that they serve in cases like that is pretty weak and has sugar in it.  That’s it.  I was afraid it would keep me awake since I never drink caffeinated coffee after morning, but it didn’t, so I guess it was weak enough not to affect my sleep.  That is good to know.  I was thankful that I had worn a skirt.  They all had on the tipical women’s corte(skirt) and blouses.  I felt really good

  t hough, like I am finally fitting in as part of the church family.  Then we started to leave and the daughter had her granddaughter there.  About a year old, I would guess.  Anyway, that baby was so afraid of me, she couldn’t stop looking at me like I was an alien!  Then I realized that I really do look different.  These are precious people and I am so glad that God has put us here.

Our church here obtained a water purification system from a church in California to use to help the community and to be a testimony, but after they got it, they didn’t keep it up and were actually giving out polluted water as purified!  They charge 4 Quetzales (their dollar) for each 5 gal. container, which is a lot less than the people can get pure water elsewhere in town.  And they really didn’t know how to use it as an evangelical witness, either, so Niel has been going to the church two days a week to man the system, talking to the people who come for water, etc.  And he is making sure that it really is pure water.  He is working on a tract to give out to the people who come, talking about how Christ can give them living water, etc.  I really am proud of him.

If you were able to open the prayer update (some have had trouble), you know we have returned to Panajachael Guatemala doing missions with CAM International.  Rainy season is about over, and winds have begun to pick up.  The lake is reasonably calm in the morning, but white caps are predominant in the afternoon, so only the brave go out then.  The lake levels are up due to a heavier than normal rainy season.

We’ve had much to do at Las Buenas Nuevas especially with the new construction. I expect it’ll be nearly a year to completion.  Speed of completion of projects is not high on the priority scale here.  We’re gearing u for Vacation Bible School here, happening the end of November.  Still not enough teacher committed, so please pray for more.  Last year we had over 200 kids and only four teachers.  We have supplied through our financial partners the curriculum materials, and have challenged the church to supply handcraft stuff needed.  We’ve also been working with water purification to serve the community and to provide a springboard for presenting the gospel.

Of course, our major responsibility is LBN, and we are instituting different things to help our visitors….missionaries, pastors families, and groups….have a relaxing respite.  Keeping the houses in good shape, and upgrading them to U.S. standards is a priority.  My experience with Ecolab has been good training for our work here, and we're thankful God is using us here.More soon.  Thanks for dialing in.

Niel & Diana

http://smilebox.com/playEmail/4e444d304e6a6b304f4877344e54597a4e6a59350d0a&sb=1

Good evening. everyone.  The first thing I wanted to do is post a link for a slide show of some of the work on a recent trpi to El Carmen, a really poor, indigionous village a couple hours from Antigua.  Additionally, I'll post anothe blog from a friend that went with us to set up a water filter system there.

The road into, and, likewise, out of the village was unbeliveablly bad, and I had many doubts about making it in our .94 Isuzu.  At one point, we ad to use a chain and hook up with another vehicle to get us out of a ditch, and somehow damaged the underside of the engine causing a severe oil leak.  Hope to get it to a shop tomarrow for evaluation....

The pictures will show many arfeas in which we were allowedc to minister in El Carmen.  Besides the medications and treatment by Dr. Mynor, people recieved clothing and food badly needed.  The women from the San Antonio (Guatemala) church came and fixed a wonderful hot lunch for the hungry, and many knocked on doors in tghe pueblo sharing the gospel and giving invitations for the church service at the new church there.

We left totally exausted and thankful not only for the work, but for the now relationships formed and strengthened, and for the safe though not uneventful trip home.

We're soon to start our Tuesday night Bible study...so I'll sighn of now.  Thanks for the continued prayer support......blessing to each of you.  niel.

http://smilebox.com/playBlog/4e444d304e6a6b304f413d3d0d0a

Check out the results of our day of ministry - a great blessing!

Another rainy afternoon, Amigos!  Just wanted to take a few minutes for P.P.& I.....Prayer, praise, and information.

We've been working with a "small group" in a church ministering in a really poor remote village of El Carmen.  We've been able to spearhead a medical clinic there joining with this group which includes a MD.  It was so neat....last Wednesday night we met with the group, and prayed for medication.  I was able to get some money to them to buy some, although it was insufficient for needs. The very next morning I had an e-mail about an organization that had some medications for severe discount, although many have only six months before expiration.  Wow!  SO, Friday I met with the folks, and basically bought about 15 greatly needed meds in quantities for about $175., which would have easily cost over $2000. otherwise!

So, thank God with us as we excitedly prepare to minister at El Carmen in mid month.  We have also arranged for a guy here to build some water filters ideal for conditions in such a setting.  All the while, telling participants and the populace of God's plan of salvation and inviting them to the church plant our group has been working on, as the only evangelical infulence there.

So, between these arrangements and keeping up with our language training we've been staying really busy...and blessed also...  The new living arrangement has been one of those...much biggen than our last litttle apartment, and a bit less financially.  It's also closer in to help save $5.60 gas...

We'll update again after clinic and try to get some photos on as well. A heartfelt thank you to all of you for reading, praying, and giving as you can.

Niel & Diana 

Some of you may have seen the following, but just in case....

Please be praying for Guatemala.
As with many places in the world today, we face economic problems here in Guatemala. It affects everyone, but most of all the poorest are hurt the worst.
If you like statistics, here are a few...in April, the Consumer Price Index showed inflation of 4.32%, the highest ever recorded here. Over the past year prices for the basic staples, rice, tomatoes, vegetable oil, beans, corn, etc. have risen more than 50%! Groceries in general have gone up about 50% in the last year. That means a year ago if we paid $200 for a load of groceries, now that same amount costs $300. Yet, the poor here are not earning any more today than a year ago. Please pray.
Economic hardship like this also creates desperation in some, so crime increases, violence increases, the peoples sense of security decreases. Please pray.
Please also pray for the entire missionary community. It affects us also. While we are comfortable in comparison with the poor, it is making us cut back in areas also, which can affect our ability to do ministry. We missionaries receive a double whammy in a sense. Not only are prices skyrocketing, but we receive our salaries and ministry funds in dollars. The dollar is falling in value concurrently, so the money we get from the states for our subsistence and ministry falls far short compared to even six months ago.

This was put together by a friend here who has been here about two years, and I wanted to pass it along for increased insight.

We're doing o.k. down here, and would love to hear from you all. Please jot a quick note now and then...you don't know how encouraging it is to hear from you.  

We'l try to keep up with this blog, so please tune in on occasion.  Continue to pray for our spanish and that we are able to be a blessing to those God has brought us to...

Niel & Diana 

Hardship in Guatemala…

Hello everyone.  During these weeks at school we have been attending a small indigenous church in the pueblo of San Antonio.  It is a church similar in many ways to our church in Panajachael, and is the type many of you would want to minister to.  They themselves are trying to reach out to assist an even poorer, smaller pueblo on the side of a volcano outside of Esquintla, and helping a core of three families are spreading the gospel where there is no evangelical influence.  We are joining them to help with the task.  A local doctor from the San Antonio church very much wants to help with medical needs there, but needs funds to supply much needed to the poorest of the poor there.  We are asking you in the medical professions for help in gathering medications to be brought down to help with these needs.  Of particular need are anti-biotics, anti-parasite/aoemba/worm medications, analgesics, and cold/flu meds.  Anyone that can help, let us know and we will instruct how to send them to CAM Dallas who will get them to us.

In the more immediate term, we are trying to gather funds to buy meds locally to have a clinic in August.  Please consider helping us in this effort.  Tax deductable donations can be sent through CAM at the address below.

Thanks in advance for your prayerful consideration.

And please keep praying for Guatemala.  The food and fuel situation have become substantially worse over the last six months, and the poor are suffering in many ways.  Thank you in joining us in countering the work of the enemy, and in our effort to help others focus on our purpose, that of giving glory to our God.

I Cor. 10:31

Niel & Diana Thomas

#089695

8625 La Prada, Dallas 75228

I know, it HAS been a long time since we’ve updated this blog, so I’ll try and send it out individually.  We have enjoyed the fellowship with three other families of new missionaries also doing some language training here in Antigua.  Our understanding of Spanish is progressing better than I’d thought, and will greatly expand and increase our ability to minister…duh!

We have a small apartment about 30 minutes quick walk from our school,,and it is helping keep us fit.  The apartment is very unique, and is underground, so we cannot get cell phone signal.  Also, they haven’t perfected plumbing in an underground situation, so it’s a real trick to produce a successful flush.  

It has been a blessing to be able to see our grandson, Peter, on the web cam weekly.  Sometimes he’s even awake! 

A friend here had some observations I’d like to share and add to…so…

Some things you don’t see everyday in the USA>>>>  People sweep the dirt paths or floors with brooms.  And they water down the dirt and streets.  You can use a machete for anything: cutting the grass, as a hedge trimmer, cutting one’s fingernails, preparing dinner, etc.  There are men with guns for security everywhere: outside of pizza hut, in all parking lots, every business, walking the streets, etc.  Who knows if the guns even work? The open market is an interesting spot. Live chickens are for sale, right beside the huge bowl of pig fat, the meat hangs out in the unrefrigerated open air and along with wonderful, colorful fruits and vegetables.  Children, crippled people, and old people openly beg in the streets of Antigua.  Men lay in the streets passed out from alcohol consumption or something…  In our neighborhood there is an interesting combination of inhabitants, like no neighborhood in the States.  Next door to us is a beautiful house selling for $350,000 (behind a huge fence so that you cannot see), two lots down lives a family in a metal shack with at least 3 children.  Down around the corner is an open lot with a couple of horses tied to ropes and a colt hanging around.  The owner (yet unseen by us) moves the horses from time to time to different open lots within the subdivision.  There are at least two tiendas (shops) with household & food goods for sale; and businesses along side homes, for example a mechanics shop.  Motorcycles carry entire families and the tools for business (we’ve seen: ladders, planks, iron re-bar, pvc pipe, propane tanks, and I’ve even seen a hot water heater!).  Whatever, you do, unless you have a death wish, don’t get on a “chicken bus” to travel.  It’s always a scary encounter when you are driving and one of these sees how close they can get to your back bumper.  The drivers are crazy and there are many accidents.  Yet, most people rely on this mode of transportation to get around.  Considering all of this and much, much more, we find the people very lovely and generally are patient and will discuss things of spiritual nature as we struggle with the language.      

.  You will just have to come see it to believe it, and we hope you guys can. 

It’s time for a quick breakfast, then to put on the walking shoes, put our memory cands in our pockets, and head out to school.  If I only had a lunchbox…

Blessing to you all.  Thank you for your faithfulness. It means a lot!  Niel & Diana