1. You cannot sustain long-term relationships.
2. You cannot say no.
3. Your list of friends is shrinking and your list of enemies is growing.
4. You fall head over heals in love with someone on the first date.
5. You do things you do not want to do tin order to please other people.
6. You get into trouble often because of the people you hang out with.
7. You own other people’s responsibilities as your own and often feel over whelmed by their needs.
8. You often get frustrated because you are always doing things for others and they do not seem to appreciate it.
9. You avoid people you have issues with. You are consistently in relational cold wars.
10. Other people’s chaos becomes your chaos
11. You have no limits on the amount of time someone can be with you, amount of energy someone can take from you and amount of help someone can ask from you.
12. You often fall prey to emotional vampires and find yourself in intravenous relationships where people are sucking the life out of you.

on the beach of Moose Factory.

12 Stone has a tradition with all of their missions’ teams. Where ever they go, a bible is taken to be buried in the ground. Along with it comes a piece of our earth to become part of their earth. Last night (Tuesday) was the night we decided to do this.

After dinner, our team decided to be dropped off at the beach. Why the beach? Well, the whole reason we are here is to work with the teens. All we have heard about is the oppression that has taken over the teenage years. Suicides and alcoholism are rampant among them. All of our hearts, especially mine, have been broken for this age group among the island. This small beach is where the teens like to hang out with no adult supervision. They take alcohol and weed with them. We have seen evidence of bonfires and trails. It is obvious that this area is well used by them.

Our time started out by walking up and down the beach to find out where the Lord wanted us to bury it. I saw Spanky, Zach, and Will point to a spot about 20 feet from me. It was right in front of a 4-wheeling trail. This is how they access the beach. Before we got down to dig a hole, we decided to spend some time with the Lord individually. We wanted to make ourselves right with God. We want to keep His favor over what we do, especially something this symbolic.

We then decided to dig a hole. Everyone of us got down and started digging, so we could all be apart of it. After digging, there were prayers written out with the bible that we read and prayed. Then as individuals we cried out what our hearts were to the Lord. This moment was really intense, for me at least. Then the time came for the burial. It was a beautiful experience to be apart of. I’m so thankful the Lord allowed us to have that time.

Will giving his testimony.

Wednesday was kind of a monotonous day. We woke up early, running on a little bit of sleep. Ate breakfast, had a morning devotional, got to cleaning and construction. Then lunch, VBS, and dinner. The only thing that was remotely different was that we had a Wednesday evening service. It was a slightly different format than Sunday in the sense that we ended by breaking up into smaller groups to pray, really neat!

Will was able to share his testimony with everyone this evening, and Clint spoke. Both were absolutely

Clint speaking at the Wednesday night service.

incredible. They were able to share their hearts. And to be completely honest, Clint brought tears to my eyes. Then after the service, we had an orientation on a history of the people. Yes, 2 days before we left the island. That’s where flexibility comes in. Hahaha. It was interesting and very insightful. Honestly, I wish we could have learned all of this a lot earlier, but I guess better late than never.

Also, I want to share a video with you. This is a look into what happens when we get slap-happy tired, and there are random toys around. This is DJ Spanky.

DJ Spanky

So today we dedicated the two houses we had built to the families as well as the gifts we had prepared for them. It was a short little ceremony of prayers and encouragement but brought tears from both sides. We are so blessed to be able to be part of what God did in these families lives, and it was a very emotional thing to say bye to them after spending so many days with them.

Our VBS for the day was cancelled so we spent the afternoon just playing with all the children from the neighborhood each  doing what we knew best from art with them to soccer to painting nails. We made so many friends here it´s tough for a lot of people to say goodbye. I gave Emilio, the boy who gave me the bracelet, a jar of peanut butter because it´s such a rare thing here and he gave me a note he had written in class. I have no idea what it says yet, but the front said ¨For Brayam, from your friend Emilio. Remember my¨ and with it´s sincerity and attempt at english it broke my heart.

Here´s something Kristen wanted to share-

¨AS we were leaving our host home my heart was fully broken. Saying ¨goodbye/see you later was possibly the hardest thing I have ever done. I was overwhelmed with joy, sad that we were leaving but at complete peace that I will see them again! My heart is being fullfilled with peace and love through the team and all these amazing people we encounter every day!!¨ 

Kristen

It is getting very close to our departure. We leave July 30th around 6am and will get back late in the evening on August 6th. We have a lot to get ready, lots of materials to gather, lots of packing to do, lots of goodbyes to be said. Somehow it simultaneously feels forever away and just tomorrow.  One of the things some of us have to accomplish in the next few days is getting our immunizations and anti-malarial medication. I personally am not so excited about the immunizations.

Our last team meeting we  gathered just to spend some time together, eat dinner and watch a movie. The night was not as boring as that may sound though. Within the first ten minutes of arriving I had managed to get a second degree steam burn on my hand and the entire team had to come together to finish cooking dinner, administering first aid, and figuring out what movie to watch. It was really great to see how we already function well as a team. We know in a sense what the others are thinking and are able to work together in a synergistic manner. The movie we ended up watching is The Book of Eli, not to ruin the movie for anyone, but the basic plot is that this man, Eli, has found the last Bible. All others were destroyed as it is said they will be in Revelation. One thing we have the honour of doing on this missions trip (and 12Stone has done on every missions trip for years) is planting a Bible. Carefully wrapped and sealed with handwritten prayers tucked in with it, we will get to bury this Bible for generations to come. We get to plant hope and salvation for those who will live a world with none. This missions trip is not just a week, its effects will be far reaching.

Another aspect of that meeting was discussing the final fund raising. The meeting was the night before we had to have all money in. And amazingly all of us were in good shape with out any major worries. God did some amazing things to provide for us to go on this trip. Someone that no one on the team knows donated a large amount to one team member, another team member was somewhat short at the half-way point and decided to put an ad in the newspaper, within days he had a woman call him that wanted to donate the rest of the money he needed. I hope that before this is all over we get to meet these wonderful people, the ones that are completely out of the blue, and the ones that have watched us grow over the years and have simply continued to encourage and support us.

And now for a big ask of anyone reading this. Please pray for us. please please please pray for us. Prayer is the most powerful way you can support us on this trip, and a way in which you can become apart of the trip without ever leaving home. I will be updating the blog as frequently as possible while in Guatemala to give you specific prayer asks, and updates on the trip (pictures too). If you would like to be notified when the blog is updated please email zacapa2010@gmail.com with your name.

Another way you can help us on this trip is donating supplies for the VBS we will be doing, and new or gently used shoes for Happy Feet, a ministry we will be working with there that provides shoes to those who have none. I know Toms shoes has raised awareness in recent years about all the dangers and diseases faced by those who have no shoes to wear, and the importance of providing them shoes, this is a way you can help, without having to buy a trendy pair of $40 shoes.

If you have any shoes or VBS supplies you would like to donate please email us at zacapa2010@gmail.com we will be glad to arrange to pick them up from you, or for you to leave them at the church.

Shalom

-Leah Cim

I just wanted to assure everyone that our three team members who had to go to Guatemala have returned safe and sound and with their new passports. It was a tremendous God-filled experience for them and everything is ok.

Thanks for prayers

We had an odd two days. Yesterday our group stopped for a photo on the  side of the m ountain and while we where sight seeing  some passerbyer robbed two bags from our van. Passports included. We spent the rest of teh day working on the houses and our first day of  Vacation  Bible School.

This keyboard is awful.  Both girls and the rest of the group are fine and intact and at the moment they and Stacey are on their way back from Guatemala City where they went and picked up new passports and a little McDonalds (Better food here, locally grown). but thank you for any  prayers you have to offer.  We finished one of the houses today and the other is lamost done. We will have a dedication ceremony for  the families receiving them with welcome baskets of necessities like soap. We are all burnt and exhausted but it is so worth it. The families are amazing people and never stop smiling and taking care of us. When it started raining Maria, one of the women, carried all of our packs into a house to keep it dry and even washed the cement off of Olivia’s jacket.  A woman from the other site baked bread for  the team and it is such a blessing to us in the heat.

VBS and happy feet  both went fairly well, but for the most part all the men wear 6s-8s  so our 9s-12s tended to be a bit big, and when we got in the van to go back to the hotel  we found a whole bag of small men’s shoes we had forgotten. The shoes will find their way to the people of the area next time, but it was a good reminder that in the limited time we are here that not only is there so much we can do, but we need to keep in mind that it’s ultimately out of our hands and in God’s. We need tyo trust  in his provision for them and not our own abilities.

Today, while three members where in Guatemala a fourth got sick with fever and vomitting. Lilly is feeling much better after a full day of sleep and tomorrow we will be whole as a team again which is good since we are at two thirds capactiy now. Our last day in Lake Atitlan is tomorrow and Friday we will be heading to stay the last night in Antigua.    

  Thanks you for everything

~B

VBS was a blast today. Our topic was “Jesus is our light.” He is the light of the world. We had fun playing games and eating snacks. It was great, but prayers have been answered. Yesterday kids had never heard the name of Jesus. Today I asked my group of 4-6 year olds what we learned yesterday, and they responded, “Jesus is our bread.” It was referring to Jesus as the bread of life. In that moment, my heart welled up with JOY!!! As disorganized as yesterday was, I thought the kids learned nothing, but I was proven wrong. I could not be more happy.

The title of this blog comes from when we were going through the memory verse from yesterday, one of the boys started saying it. As he got the first few words out, he put his finger up his nose and started digging for gold. It was disgusting yet amusing all at the same time.

Keep praying that the kids keep learning and enjoying time at VBS.

Earlier this morning was our construction time. The construction project is a big one, but not big enough for all 30 people here. So most of our Atlanta team went back to the New Youth Center to help clean. We found out last night that their facilities guy was out of town for a while… and lets be honest, the building needed some good cleaning. We grabbed mops, brooms, rags, soap, ect and we got to work.

It has been a wonderful day. Keep praying that the favor of the Lord will rest upon us.

Last night was our youth event. The turnout was as we expected… not very many showed up. But let me tell you something, for the few that did, they have been impacted in an incredible way. They received love and attention from some people who have more love than they know what to do with. We didn’t exactly watch the movie with them. We ended up playing ping pong, pool, and instruments with them. We had good quality time investing in these teens. The Lord seems to keep taking our plans and making them better!

Well that’s all for now. Keep reading and keep praying. We only have a few days left on the island. I can’t believe how fast time has gone by.

Also, here’s a few random things you may not know.

-The horse flies are HUGE! And when they bite they leave a HUGE welt on you. It’s nasty. The natives call them bulldogs.

-The mosquito is the national bird of Moose Factory. (not really, but they are everywhere.)

-There are no paved roads… only gravel.

-There are no moose on the island.

-There are no cats, but many dogs… who all love us.

-Zach is the tallest man on this island.

soccer.

That was the haunting question today. Not haunting because of the question, but haunting because of the answer.

After the opening game. (Girls won!)

Today we started our VBS. It was the most unorganized, fun mess we could have ever possibly gotten ourselves into. We had around 50 kids show up today. It was during the early afternoon. The question we all were asking our kids was, “Who is Jesus?” None of them knew. Not one child in my group could answer that question. I have been around places that are “unchristian”, but never have I been to place where Jesus was completely unknown. Pray for these kids this week. If nothing else, by the end of the week, I want them to know the name of Jesus, to know what he did, to know who he is.

But VBS was fun. Lots of games, crafts, and laughter. It started out with a bunch of kids who were too

Shawn and Eric(PA team).

shy to even give high fives. The day ended with kids who would barely even let go. It was amazing to see the transformation.

Yesterday is kind of a blur to me now, but I still want to give  you an update. We had 2 church services: morning and evening. The morning service consisted of our one and only Clint McCannon leading us in some worship.

giving her testimony in the Sunday morning service.

Then Shawn and Victoria gave their testimonies. It was a beautiful thing to watch them share part of their journey with the congregation of the Cree Gospel Chapel. That afternoon the PA team arrived. We went from a total of 12 people to 30. The evening service was conducted by them. They had a similar format of testimonies and worship.

Our team had an incredible experience yesterday of the Moose Factory history. We were taken on tours of their museum and historic sights. I thought that there couldn’t be that much to see, but I was proven wrong. There is so much history in this place. It was an exciting adventure.

Tonight consists of the teen movie night. Right now, people are in the community handing out flyers and

2 of the VBS kids.

connecting with the teens. Pray for this more than anything. This is where all of our hearts on our team seem to be. This is where the main oppression tangibly plays out with the suicides. This is the main place we want to see chains broken. Pray for openness among us and these teens.

Keep each member of our Moose Team in your prayers. There is a lot of oppression attacking us.

Dinner with both teams.

Pray for Anna Marie on the PA team. She was burned this morning by a pan of bacon grease spilling all over her as she slipped. She had to go to the hospital, but now she is back at the house resting.

Pray for unity among the 2 teams.

Pray for the teens.

Pray for VBS.