Pedrito, a sweet little 4 year old boy lives right next to Rolando’s house in Barrio la Cruz. He can steal your heart so quickly with a wave or quick little kiss he blows your way. Pedro has struggled since birth with many health issues. He has a wonderful family that supports him, a father who works non-stop to provide for his needs and still finds the time to care for him, 2 older siblings who love him dearly and do very well in school, and mother who cares for him around the clock.

 When Pedro was born he had a twin that died a few days after birth and Pedro was very ill. Since then Pedro’s health has suffered and he has been in therapy. His health has improved but it is a daily struggle to feed him, teach him new skills and provide for his daily needs.

Recently as Pedrito has been leaning to crawl with his therapist, she mentioned that it would be great if he could have a mat to crawl on that could help his hands grasp the ground as he was crawling. So we asked and found someone to donate a mat and what a great help that has been!

 The therapist also suggested having something on the wall for him to crawl to, or to reach toward, or to have things to talk about for his speech therapy. So we discussed doing a mural. We had a group come down and with the group and other members of Paso a Paso we were able to do an amazing mural for Pedrito that he loves.

We can’t wait to update you all more on Pedrito and his family as he continues his road and life to recovery and healing!

Some of the richest moments of my life have happened alongside Paso a Paso Missions.  Having just returned from my second mission trip, I am reminded of the great blessings in store for those who serve.  Those who have taken part in similar endeavors know how difficult it is to sum up such an experience in only a few brief sentences. 

As I reflect on the journey to Central America, I’m happy to recall the many amazing people I’ve had the chance to serve alongside. It was a gift to interact with the team from Vintage Church, Stephanie Cady (especially her children: Bella, Austin and Emmett) and the neighborhood pastors and families.  Stephanie’s story of Paso’s divinely orchestrated beginnings and all that God has done was inspiring.  

Just about every aspect of the trip was interesting.  It was a joy to sit and eat with families who lovingly prepared tasty Guatemalan dishes.  No refrigerates means the food is often exceedingly “fresh”.  Some hosts even served familiar items, like fried chicken, French fries and Coca Cola!  The food, the families, the sights and sounds—it was a lot to take in!

As a team, we were able accomplish great things.  We had a chance to provide two families with basic kitchen necessities.  Through the generous contributions of many, we were able to purchase new cooking stoves, roofs, walls and school supplies.  We also had the opportunity to distribute many bags of hygiene products (e.g. toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, etc.) as well as water and fire safety information.  Talking with the residents of Barrio La Cruz and El Rejon and seeing the joy and hope in their eyes was uplifting.  The excited expressions of children receiving schools supplies and toothbrushes were a sobering reminder of what we often take for granted.     

Without a doubt, the trip was a blessed by God.  We left with many new and challenging thoughts and questions.  In John 15:17, Jesus said, “This is my command: Love each other.”  He said this that our “joy might be complete”.  As I reflect on this passage, I realize that our team felt this joy.  I can think of no better way to love than to extend one’s self with Paso a Paso Missions.  It is my hope and prayer that others will experience this great treasure as well. 

 By: Brian Timmer, Vintage Group May 2011

 Guatemala, Spring 2011

Breathtaking volcanoes looming silently in the distance. Stray dogs in packs roaming rough cobblestone streets. Bustling markets aglow with vibrant hand-woven cloth. Busses roaring passed trailed by thick clouds of black smoke. Rain water turning streets into raging rivers in minutes. Tree limbs heavy with limes and avocados. Armed guards with thick, black vests. The gentle patter of hands forming tortillas. Happy, smiling children. Razor wire and broken bottles sparkling in the sun. Contagious laughter floating through the air. Plates of delicious fried chicken. Piles of trash. Mountainous speed bumps. Fleeting glimpses of lush interior gardens. Pastel painted stucco….

These images, sounds, and smells remain vivid  in my mind since my return from Guatemala. Along with these memories, my favorite and hopefully most lasting souvenir is my new understanding of the world in which I live. It is clear to me now that I have never really appreciated the blessings that fill my life.  I have overlooked my home, my family, my education, my country, and even my kitchen sink with its reliable flow of pure, clean, potable water time and time again. 

Another striking realization is that I’ve done nothing special to deserve these blessings and privileges. They were simply bestowed upon me and could have just as easily been bestowed upon someone else.  People in developing nations have just as much potential as I do. ..they are filled to the brim. Their economic, political, and cultural situations, however, have a big impact on what they can accomplish. While I surf the web and go shopping, people in developing countries work hard to simply survive.  I never worry about what I will wear or eat or what will happen to me if I get sick. Sitting in my cozy home, eating my plentiful food, talking on the phone and reading books, it is all too easy to think that my life is normal or somehow the standard. After visiting Guatemala, however, I know that this is not the case. Had I been born there rather than in the US, life as I know it would be drastically different.

So now, what do I do with my new understandings and realizations? It is simple. I must respond. The stories of civil war, drought, earthquakes, eruptions, violence, and oppression that flash across my television screen every night are happening to real people just like me. Rolando, Aracely, Zaidy, Berta, Yolanda, Breici, Sergio, Rebeca…they are my sisters and brothers. We are all living out the circumstances we are given. We are all responsible for helping each other however we can.

 If I could, I would send everyone on a short trip like the one I just took. I am so thankful to have my eyes opened. My new vision changes everything…how I spend my time, my money, and my energy and how I see myself in relationship to the rest of the world.

This past week we delivered school supplies to children that received above average grades as incentives to keep up their hard work. In communities like Barrio la Cruz and El Rejon going to school, working with your family and farming it is not easy to keep up in school. We also were able to distribute bags of toothbrushes and toothpaste to the families with some saftey cards explaining water and fire saftey while sharing some simple Bible verses.

We went to El Rejon a farming village and were overwhelmed by their love for us and their hard work in school and in their community. Each year we support more children in El Rejon and e continue to pray how God will have us expand our work there and we ask for you to pray with us and pray for our protection in the community.

The rest of our week was spent building two stoves and rebuilding two kitchen rooms for families in need. We purchased the stoves and while they were being built we tore down and rebuilt the new kitchen rooms out of sheet metal, wood and a lot of love and hard work.  

 We will have more detailed updates about the individual projects very soon! Thank you all for you continued support and please keep the prayers coming for our work and safety.

We always look for areas in Barrio la Cruz or the surrounding areas that we work in that need some construction repair or work done. Well this trip we asked, planned and as it turned out the few things we originally had planned to do didn’t seem to be panning out. So after a few conversations and “fijese que” moments we came to realize that our main support right in front of us in El Barrio needed help. Rolando’s mom and dad, Berta and Enrique have been living in an adobe room for decades and after many floods, earthquakes and much more it is hardly standing. They wouldn’t dare mention it to us because there are many more in need in their opinion but there was no doubt in our mind, we were going to build them a room.  

  So off we went and bought material and with the help of their family we began to build the block foundation, the wooden post, the lamina, steel walls and roof. It is now more of a home then they could have ever ask for. They are still in need of electricity to the home  but that will take time.  They are content, it is safe and their own.

We were able to have our own little house warming party with a big pot of American chili and it was great to share the moment with them! They are so grateful! 

Please contact us if you are interested in donating for a home, construction, or coming to build yourself!!!

Brian y Brian

God had a different agenda then they did for this trip, and it’s been an exciting and amazing adventure. Stephanie, had to leave Guatemala for a family emergency. Even without Stephanie, our connection to the community, the guys have been welcomed in the community and have been helped with translation by several friends whom Brian and his family knew when they lived in Antigua. Rolando, a pastor from the local church, has also been a constant companion. They have given out supplies, visited families, surveyed damage from the tropical storm and yesterday they bought supplies for two families to rebuild their houses, destroyed by the storm, and for 3 families to replace their roofs.

Please pray for these things: for their physical protection (they are roofing and out in the sun all day), for wisdom for what projects to take on in these last few days and for grace on both them and the community as they prepare to leave. The needs are great and I know if will be hard for them to leave. Tomorrow they will go on a prayer walk through the community. Check out the ministry site to learn more about Barrio La Cruz at pasoapasomissions.org. so you can pray with them.

Here is a link to a video they posted from a visit to a small house church. http://vimeo.com/12366892I’ve added a few photos, but there are so many more, Look for an update in the future from the actual
travelers and photos to be posted on flikr.

He shared that he had never requested a Braille typewritter. He knew that he was still waiting on the Braille Bible as well. He realized that the day he received the typewriter and that God would provide the Bible that he became at peace with being blind. He had thought prior, that maybe he hadn’t received them because God would restore his vision.

After several, several years of asking, writing calling and much prayer Rolando received the 20 some books he was missing to complete his Braille Bible! He had aquired several books, mostly the new testament over the years but was never able to get the other books. We had tried very hard to get them to him and even had groups that were responding saying “they are on the way” but for Guatemala we know that can be years! But just last week a fellow missionary who had also spoken of Rolando had received the books in Braille that he was missing!  Rolando now says, it is easy and peaceful to accept his blindness, God has now provided everything he needs.

Praise God for his faithfulness and for meeting his needs!

What a blessing to return to Guatemala!  The people are so gracious that it makes  serving so rewarding.  This year I was able to participate again in  preparing the school supplies to be distributed to the children.  The week before the distribution the parents were required to attend a meeting.  At that time, the guidelines were explained again on how it is determined who receives sponsorship and what is required of the children, e.g., passing their classes, attendance, etc. in order to continue receiving support.  All were excited to see Stephanie and express their appreciation.

On another day, several ladies gathered at the church to talk about the dolls they have been making.  Last year several ladies were introduced to doll making and are progressing very well.  A pattern book was donated along with some different types of yarn and the ladies had fun developing new ideas for doll clothes and hair color and styles.  They also spent some time cutting out doll patterns so they could take them home and work.  Check out the large dolls at http://www.flickr.com/photos/14597608@N08/sets/72157623125964334/   and small dolls at  http://www.flickr.com/photos/14597608@N08/sets/72157623001328207/

Each women receives all the profit from the dolls and it is used to help support their family at home, work and school; in addition to giving the women a sense of self-worth. By the women selling just 1 large doll a week, it is equal or more to a week worth of income.

We had several opportunities to spend time with Rolando and his family.  He continues to minister to the people in and around the community. To some his blindness would appear be a hinderance; however, God continues to use him in mighty ways and he walks up and down the mountains much better than most sighted people.  He knows everyone and I mean everyone by their voice.  Through Charles Stanley’s ministry, we were able to obtain 40 messengers (they looks like the old transitor radios).  Each messenger contains 35 sermons in Spanish and is capable of being charged either by electricity or by solar power.  Our hope is that over the next several months between Rolando and Stephanie they will be able to provide the messenger to the people in and around the community.  There are many people who are not able to make it to church or who cannot read and this will be a great tool to help them grow in the Lord.

Another highlight of our trip was to visit the property that Rolando’s family owns which is partially planted with corn and coffee plants.  In Guatemala if the land is not fully planted when the parents die, the children do not necessarily get the keep the property.  To help provide for Rolando in the future, we felt it was important that the property be fully cultivated and planted.   It will be done in the spring.   Thank you Lord.

Thank you everyone for your prayers.   I hope you will plan a visit to Guatemala in the near future.  You will not be disappointed.  You will not only be blessed but will be a blessing.

written by: Marge Stearns