For some reason, I have not bee able to update this over the last few months, so this is a test.  Let us know if we should continue now that most of you have given up...!

We hosted an excellant group of Jr. Highters (yes, not a typo!) last week, and here is a short composite written by Diana...

Well,  first of all, their was a mix up at the airport for Aaron’s team, so only six of them made it here on Saturday, then six more on Monday, then six more on Tuesday.  So, that limited their work in Patzun quite a bit, but God taught them a lot through it, and it turned out (what a surprise!) that God used the time with the smaller groups to unify and work on some things that they needed.  Niel stayed with the group in Patzun, and made the trip into the city to pick up the different groups from the team.  They painted some classrooms and worked on building a greenhouse there for the school, as well as meeting with the youth from the church, and Aaron, also, taught the Walk thru the Bible in Spanish, I think.  I went up on Saturday to help clean and cook, as Ken’s wife, Cindy, who had planned the food for the first part of the week , was sick.  Also, another missionary friend, went up with us on Sat. and stayed until Wed., helping as well.  I came back here on Sat. night, because I needed to be at the church on Sunday, and we still had duties here at LBN, so one of us needed to stay here for that.  It was good, too, as I had never cooked for a mission group before, so I needed to get ready, go to the market, etc.

They arrived here on Wed. afternoon, after visiting the Mayan ruins in Tecpan, and stopping at our favorite restaurant for lunch.  All were in pretty good shape, no stomach problems, only a few with colds.  We had arranged a boat trip on the lake to visit two different villages for Thurs., which went well.  On Friday morning, they visited the nature reserve and many of them actually went on the zip line!  Then, in the afternoon, they walked to the church and painted some crude wooden tables that are used for fellowship , practiced some songs to sing in the evening service, then brought the youth from our church all to Las Buenas Nuevas, to enjoy taco stew and watermelon together.  We were so impressed with the level of spirituality of this team, as young as they are.  They had great compassion and were willing to work everyday on whatever project, or cleaning needed to be done.  Got up very early on Sat. morning, and after breakfast, left on a chicken bus, for the airport at 6:30 AM.  Obviously, we are tired, but had a really good time with them, and it was good to see Aaron..

I had an interesting and encouraging experience yesterday.  The women's group at our church here in Panajachel meet every Wednesday afternoon.  They have decided to have a Bible Study one week a month.  The other Wednesday's, they do other things, like:  visiting, learning new songs, and some kind of craft project to help the community.  These women are precious Christians, but have never actually done a Bible study where they have had to search in their Bibles themselves. Other times, someone may give a short devotional, kind of like a really short sermon.  One of our women doesn't read at all, but I hope she will continue to come.  Actually she usually falls asleep.  Anyway, yesterday afternoon we started a new study on the women of the Bible, beginning with Eve. I taught it, in Spanish!  With much help translating from the Lord!  We looked at all the Scriptures that mention Eve, discussed the events in her life that God had permitted, and her response to these circumstances. The pastor has been very supportive for me to do this, but he stayed close, holding their baby while listening to make sure I could actually do it, and I think to see how the women reacted to this type of study.  They were a little hesitant at first, then a couple of them really got into it and started getting brave enough to answer questions, etc.  Then, today, when I saw one of the women, she said that all the women really enjoyed the study.  So, my prayer is this: that they would see how full of wonderful treasures our Scripture is and that they would want to study it more and more.  For the next month, they are memorizing Col. 2: 6,7 -  So then, just as you received Jesus Christ as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

We have been working with the bank here, and praise  God the bank part of the "crisis" has been resolved.  We have also been educated and humbled by the way christians here and in the states have enveloped us in prayer, and there has been monies come in to help us replace the car.  A real lesson in perspective and God's sufficiency and provision is being learned.  Dependance on our 401K has diminished, as it has also been.  It shows in great part where my trust need to fully be.

It takes some work to log on and read our blog here, so thank you.  Will try to be better in updating it.  We have been advised to consider changing the blog service to Facebook, as it is appearently used more.  What do you think?

I want to pass along an article by Ravi Z. which really spells out our message.  As you are impressed, feel free to pass stuff along to us!

Foolishness or Wisdom, Weakness or Power?

There is a striking verse in the New Testament, in which the apostle Paul refers to the Cross of Jesus Christ as foolishness to the Greek and a stumbling block to the Jew. One can readily understand why he would say that. After all, to the Greek mind, sophistication, philosophy, and learning were exalted pursuits. How could one crucified possibly spell knowledge?

To the Jewish mind, on the other hand, there was a cry and a longing to be free. In their history, they had been attacked by numerous powers and often humiliated by occupying forces. Whether it was the Assyrians or the Babylonians or the Romans, Jerusalem had been repeatedly plundered and its people left homeless. What would the Hebrew have wanted more than someone who could take up their cause and altogether repel the enemy? How could a Messiah who was crucified possibly be of any help?

To the Greek, the Cross was foolishness. To the Jew, it was a stumbling block. What is it about the Cross of Christ that so roundly defies everything that power relishes? Crucifixion was humiliating. It was so humiliating that the Romans who specialized in the art of torture assured their own citizenry that a Roman could never be crucified. But not only was it humiliating, it was excruciating. In fact, the very word “excruciating” comes from two Latin words: ex cruciatus, or “out of the cross.” Crucifixion was the defining word for pain.

Does that not give us pause in this season before us? Think of it: humiliation and agony. This was the path Jesus chose with which to reach out for you and for me. You see, this thing we call sin, but which we so tragically minimize, breaks the grandeur for which we were created. It brings indignity to our essence and pain to our existence. It separates us from God.

On the way to the Cross two thousand years ago, Jesus took the ultimate indignity and the ultimate pain to bring us back to the dignity of a relationship with God and the healing of our souls. Will you remember that this was done for you and receive his gift?

You will then discover that it is sin that is foolishness. Our greatest weakness is not an enemy from without but one from within. It is our own weak wills that cause us to stumble. But Jesus Christ frees us from the foolishness of sin and the weakness of our selves.

This is the very reason the apostle Paul went on to say that he preached Jesus Christ as one crucified, which was the power of God and the wisdom of God. Come to the Cross in these days given for our contemplation and find out his power and his wisdom.

3 MAR

Since the message below was written, more has come to light needing prayer. It appears the thieves were able to use the banking numbers in the day timer and have accessed our account here, taking a large amount of our ministry money used to support us and for a group coming for a short term mission trip.  Our work ministries here are uplifting, blessing us in many ways, but needless to say, just the process of living here and dealing with the conditions is challenging….  It really shows the immense need for heart changes….

2 MAR

We just returned from our trip to Antigua this afternoon.  We were supposed to come back yesterday as soon as the conference for missionaries was over, but being flexible was really tested in us this weekend.  When we got there on Friday morning,  we parked the car on the street very close to our language school, so we could visit our teachers and so some shopping before we went to the hotel.  We put on the “club” and went our way.  Four hours later, after we had eaten lunch, we returned to our car only to find that it was not t here.  Someone stole our vehicle in the morning, in broad daylight with all our things in it, without breaking any glass or causing anyone to see.  We just couldn’t believe it!  We went back to the school to ask them what to do.  Then we walked to a police station only for them to tell us to go to another station,  So we walked somemore.  Reported it stolen, then walked to the hotel, in shock!  Couldn’t believe it!  We called our field director and missionary couple..  One couple was still at home, so they brought us some toothbrushes and a few clothes that we could use.  Only had the clothes on our back!  Of course,  it definitely could have been worse.  We were not accosted physically or harmed.  But I had brought all my favorite things to use at this conference, my favorite skirts, blouses, jewelry, nightgowns, shoes,etc.  Even my Bible and notebook and Niels’ daytimer and his tools  were in the car.  Not our computer, praise God, nor our camera, w hich we had forgotten.  But you feel so violated and the whole weekend, felt like I looked like a `castaway!  But Niel said Sat. night that it could have happened anytime we were in Antigua and God allowed it to happen when we were at the conference with our fellow missionaries.  Everyone prayed for us and we called our pastor, so our friends at our church here in Pana were also praying. 

We thought we might just go back home on a bus on Sat., because we were so bummed out, but the police said that we needed to go to another police station on Mon. to do something else about the car.  Another God thing!  We needed to be there this weekend.  The messages, singing, and comfort from our fellow believers really helped our spirits.  So, on Sat. morning, we skipped a session to take our only clothes to be washed, then went to the Paca (kind of like a Guatemalan Goodwill) to see if we could find some other clothes to wear.  We found a couple things, but the pants we bought for Niel didn’t fit and the blouses I bought for me didn’t work, either, but the skirt was fine and I could wear it with one of the blouses I had borrowed from a friend.  I don’t think I have ever been in a hotel with so few “things” before.  There were two groups from the states there to minister to the missionaries.  Some helped with the singing, with the kids and teens.  Some helped with computer problems, others came to give hair cuts, manicures, and massages.  I actually got a hair cut, which was good since my hair dryer and my curling iron were both in the car.  I am having trouble finding a curling iron here.  The only one I have seen, in Chimaltenango today, cost $30, so I didn’t get it.    Anyway, some people from one of the groups from the states, came to us on Sat. and gave us some money that someone from their church had sent to help someone who needed it, and later that day, another person from that same group also gave us some money.  Then on Sun., we were given an envelope from our CAM missionaries who were there, with $200, to help.  So, of course, God will provide and we know that.  We just need to give up those “special things” that we lost,  to Him.  A bag that Aaron and Ruth had given us for Christmas with pictures of Peter on it and monogrammed with Grandma and some travel mugs also with his picture, were lost with the car.  Those kinds of things that really can not be replaced are the hardest. Also,the bags that we used to keep our cosmetics, shampoo, etc.  I could go on and on, but you understand, I’m sure.

Anyway, we are now home, after having been loaned an old car to use until we can find another one - from some missionary friends.  We only had liability insurance and not theft, so the cost of another car will be on us.  Also,  we cannot replace any of the things that were stolen with our “missionary money” because only things that are used in ministry can use those funds, according to IRS.  But we are here, healthy, and revived in spirit, waiting on the Lord and knowing that we are in His hands.

Niel & Diana Thomas

CAM International

8625 La Prada, Dallas 75228

nthomas@caminternational.org

https://guatthomas.angelfire.com/blog

www.caminternational.org

Everyone out there in Bloggland...We didn't up date you on the radio transmitter debauckle:  we were able to install a small unit to replace the one the "government" took, so at least some locals can hear programming.  As of just yesterday, got the word from the lawyer that no, no progress made on getting it back.  We'll let you know of any progress on this fromt.  No, they don't have to have a reason.  Such is a Socialist country.  We're praying for the U.S.A., as it isgoing headlong into the socialist abyss.  Even more disturbing is the stand promoting and funding worldwide abortion.  Don't get me started!!

Pray with us, folks.

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.