Greetings again from Guatemala! This is Jason blogging tonight just after our Friday night supper and devotional. We had a great day today, we were glad, and we rejoiced in it.
Many of us have had the opportunity to share with each other our various reservations about coming on this trip. We have admitted to one another that we premeditated while still stateside on passages such as Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and brave. Don’t be afraid of them and don’t be frightened, because the Lord your God will go with you. He will not leave you or forget you.” and Joshua 1:5 “No one will be able to defeat you all your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forget you.” However, after our first day in the field I know from our conversation tonight that we worked together effectively as the foot of Christ…
We awoke this morning in time for breakfast, despite the roosters crowing all night long. Our lodging has been fantastic! Hospitality and facilities are comparable to a Motel at home. The food prepared for us this morning was good enough that I plan on trying to replicate it once I get home. We loaded into our transportation with broken hearts/spirits as Dr. Hook had requested the night before (Psalm 51 “… The sacrifice God wants is a broken spirit. God, you will not reject a heart that is broken and sorry for sin”).
Arriving at our destination a short time later, we exited our vans and gathered on a dirt road in the hills. One of the local pastors, Rolando, had acquired a “Salon” for us to hold our clinic. The Salon serves as a Community Center. The school building that we had thought perhaps we would set up in was unable to be opened as school is not currently in session. We learned at that time that initial request for the Salon was refused – – as they do not desire an evangelical presence. Two weeks ago Rolando heard from a local spokesperson that we could use the Salon for our clinical purposes. We were not to use it for the gospel. We learned of the local church’s difficulties in combatting dogma and traditions. My understanding is that it is believed by the majority of the people that a personal relationship with Lord and Savior Jesus Christ through the study of The Word of God is not necessary. There is rampant false doctrine espoused that relies on rituals such as blessings of clergy for entrance into eternal communion with our Lord. Some of the local peoples who desperately need the local church have “dug in” and are unwilling to even have discussions.
Today, 13 broken hearted, broken spirited, no hablo’ing,folks from FBC in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina gathered in a Salon with Rolando and his family. For those of you who are not good at math 13 does qualify as 2 or more. God is faithful.
The Salon was divided into three parts (dental, medical, and pharmacy). Teeth were extracted by those with no dental experience. Some prescribed medications for the first time in their lives. Some who are “not good at praying” prayed with people who needed it – – because they needed it. Some who have had physical limitations availed the day ready for tomorrow.
I have thought about being a part of the body of Christ. I have considered myself most likely to be a part of the pancreas. Today. . . I was part of the foot. JR may have said it the most succinctly that I have yet heard it said today: There were 5 boys down the hill from us leering at us from afar. When we waved they would slink low. When one of our Spanish-speaking friends called to them to come closer they did not move. So, JR walked down the hill to them and gave the 5 boys each one cookie. As he walked back up the hill, he turned to the other local pastor who was sitting beside me and said, “I got ’em a cookie . . . Now you bring ’em to Jesus.”
There are no more reservations on this team concerning our abilities. None of us are capable of furthering the task at hand. We are all inadequate. Today The Holy Spirit was there to comfort us with the knowledge that we were in concordance with his will. Please pray as you read this that the foot of God from Mt. Pleasant, SC gets this local church in the door of these desperate people.
E3 Global Teams 
Our son, Luke is seven years old and was adopted from Guatemala. He has a message for you and the Guatemala people you are serving. He wants to say thank you for helping them and that he is praying for you as you show them Jesus love. He prays they will ask Jesus to live in their heart as he has done.
I just can’t keep from smiling as I read this post. Our God is so Huge, and so Awesome! Bless you all for what you are doing in His name.
So glad y’all are well. Lindsay thought it was really funny that the roosters crowed all night : ) Praising God for His work through all of you. Love and prayers from home!