Tuesday morning Julio and Paty were kind enough to take me to a local shop where I found a few t-shirts for my kids and a pair of sandals for my wife. While we were out we enjoyed Coffee and fellowship together then stopped by the bus station for my ticket back to Guatemala City. Then I had lunch with Pastors Clarence and Marion Wright at the campus of Living Water Teaching Bible Institute.

Later that afternoon Julio and I had a follow up meeting with Pastor Roman and some of his associate pastors. We asked Pastor Edward to join us as well. Upon arrival in Cantel we noticed a gathering of people and white cloth over the door of a house indicating a death in the community. Pastor Roman was a few minutes late due to the funeral, as we thought. We had a total of seven (7) leaders in the meeting. We all discussed the listening programs and shared ideas for reaching, teaching and changing lives.

The common belief shared by these leaders is clear. When the poor and illiterate people can hear and learn for themselves about the Blessing and promises of God, they will share the good news with others who might not otherwise find out, and the Church will grow because of these listening groups. Lives will be changed, if anything can change a nation it’s the Word of  God!

Later that evening I stopped by Julio’s house to film his wife Paty giving her testimony about the miracle healing she received. I will post links to that video soon. I have other great footage from this mission trip that will be posted as well.

The next morning I traveled by Bus to Guatemala City and stayed at the Dos Lunas Hotel Wednesday night, and my friend Victor took me to the Airport at 6:30AM for my flight back to Raleigh. Now I know what it’s like to walk in the perfect will of God. “without faith it is impossible to please Him” (Heb 11:6)

Wednesday morning Julio and I set out to another appointment that Pastor Ernesto had lined up, this was Pastor Luis Tale who happens to be Pastor Ernesto’s brother. What a beautiful drive, traveling through Almolonga (aka ‘the vegetable basket of the Americas’) to Zunil. The majority of the population in these villages speak the K’iche’ language.

Pastor Luis was already expecting us to talk about the Proclaimer now that word was out. He was immediately receptive and began to discuss the use of it. He said that he will use it to begin each Bible study class as well as dedicating one night each week for listening group and discussion.

Pastor Luis is a man after God’s heart, he emits the Love of God with a gentle spirit. I sowed a Spanish Proclaimer into his ministry and told him that I would be back to bring a K’iche’ Proclaimer. His church is in a dense populated neighborhood and the sound of the Proclaimer was heard by many who walked closer with curiosity.

Zunil is a beautiful and historic town. This indigenous K’iche’ community has recent reports of public hangings. When there is overwhelming evidence against a criminal who committed a crime such as rape or murder, the locals have on occasion taken the law into their own hands.

Later that day we met with Pastor Edward Rustrian at his church in Xeul, a small village located close to the city. Most of the people here speak Spanish although, not unlike the rest of the country, most are illiterate and the Proclaimer will have a huge impact on the congregation. Pastor Edward knows that “Faith comes by hearing” and expects growth in the people from the inside out. Pastor Edward invited Julio and I to attend his church the following Sunday where Julio preached on faith and I spoke about the Proclaimer and presented it to Pastor Edward.

On Saturday Julio and I met up with Alfonso Arroyave, for their scheduled Bible class in the village of Chiquisis. It happened to be the end of module one and the students (many of which are future pastors), received a certificate. This is a K’iche’ community located high in the mountains and without electricity. During class when Julio was teaching I received instruction from God concerning the last Proclaimer. In obedience to the Holy Spirit I sowed this last unit into Julio Castro, he is ministering to different groups of K’iche’ people and I know he will be a good steward of this Proclaimer.

On Sunday Julio and I attended Church with Pastor Edward. On Monday we met with Alfonso again to go with him to San Marcos and minister at a drug and alcohol rehab center. Alfonso’s ministry is a blessing as he serves these hurting people with the love of God. It’s a privilege to witness the work that Alfonso is doing for the Lord Jesus. He is on my daily prayer list. That evening I had dinner and fellowship with Alfonso and his family at their home, the Holy Spirit came as he and his wife prayed for me, a powerful experience in itself would have been worth the trip.

Bible students in Chiquisis

]]> http://anewliving.com/2010/01/29/with-regard-for-guatemala-part-vi/feed/ 2 http://anewliving.com/2010/01/28/with-regard-for-guatemala-part-v/ http://anewliving.com/2010/01/28/with-regard-for-guatemala-part-v/#comments Thu, 28 Jan 2010 17:54:56 +0000 Edwin Miears http://anewliving.com/?p=678 Continued from part IV

Quetzaltenango has two main Roads going through the City, one going North and South and the other East and West. Our next destination required going back through Xela, which allowed for an important stop for Coffee. After all, it is possible to please God with faith. (with faith/con Fe) or, with Coffee…an amusing Guatemalan proverb =) don’t get it? You had to be there when Julio said it.

Cafe Baviara is a great place for an excellent cup of gourmet coffee. Nothing fancy, just fresh harvest local grown beans, fresh roasted, fresh ground and pressure brewed. Guatemalan Coffee is the best I’ve had, and I’m looking forward to my next cup with Julio at Cafe Baviara, (no, not Bavaria).

So then we headed out to Cantel to meet with Pastor Roman Sosa. This is a larger church and Pastor Roman also has a ministry of training and assisting other young Pastors in the area. I explained my mission and demonstrated the Proclaimer, Pastor Roman seemed to get it.

In response he mentioned ideas of scheduling listening programs for his congregation. I thought I should explain that there was no obligation and he told me that he was already at peace. He said that I was sent from God and that he understood my purpose and he was honored to be part of it. He told me that he’s looking forward to sharing testimonies and gathering leads for me to reach the people in more remote areas.

This is a congregation of about 70 people of which about 30-40% speak K’iche’ primarily. I was prompted in my spirit to give him one Proclaimer in Spanish and one K’iche’, so I asked Pastor Roman about sharing the Proclaimers with the other churches he works with. He said that he will loan these Proclaimers to the other Pastors that he is mentoring and he was already thinking about the logistics of getting this done on a bi-weekly basis.

Pastor Roman is a true leader, and a man of honor. He said that he believes the Church will grow through these listening programs. When the people in community hear about these groups listening to the Word of God in their own mother tongue, then more will come. He suggested a follow up meeting for the next week before I leave the country. We prayed together before adjourning.

Julio and his wife Paty invited me to their home that night for a meal. I got to know them and their children as we enjoyed fellowship and exchanged testimonies of what God has done for us. They are a beautiful family of God and I’m privileged and blessed to be their friend.

Pastor Juan Antonio Vasquez with his grandchildren and me.

The next morning Julio and I met with Pastor Earnesto on campus for some brief background and directions to the appointments that he arranged for me. We were on our way to the first appointment and by 9:15am we found the small village near Totonicapan and met with Pastor Juan Antonio Vasquez.

Pastor Juan immediately saw the value in the Proclaimer for the growth (literally and spiritually) of his congregation but he had to make certain that he was not going to subject his congregation or his community to a debt or obligation. Once we explained to him there was no obligation he had more questions about the Proclaimer, how it works, where did the recording come from and who is speaking the Word in K’iche’?

I explained that FCBH has a studio in Arizona where the recording is made and then transferred to the chip. Then he asked one more time in a kindly different way… what I wanted in return. I told him that I wanted to be able to contact him again to follow up and get testimonies, and I wanted him to give me leads to help me find those lone believers in more remote areas so that I might get a Proclaimer into their hands, and finally as I described myself as a farmer and I want to plant into the soil of him and his community, he accepted the gift saying that I will reap a harvest.

When I demonstrated the K’iche’ Proclaimer the Pastor’s daughters and grandchildren and other women that were near enough to hear the Word spoken in their own Language drew near with curious excitement. Soon the kids were in the meeting with us. Pastor Juan asked me to explain the Proclaimer to his grandson who will be in charge of operating it. We had fellowship and prayer then enjoyed a soda and snack together and the Pastor and his family sent us on our way with a gift for each of us from their fields, a squash the size of a watermelon called Chilacayote.

I was completely overjoyed as we left. Julio and I had worked together in unison. He not only translated for me in a professional manor but he also shared the passion, it was clear that he believed in my mission as he and I were serving God together. I am honored to share this milestone in my ministry. Look at what the Lord has done!

We decided to celebrate with a coffee at one of Julio’s favorite shops in Xela before heading out to our next appointment.

Julio Castro

A chronicle of events so far;

In September 09 I discussed with my Pastor Jim Whitfield the call that God has on my life to Guatemala. In October Pastor Jim introduced me to his long time friend and Missionary to Lima Peru, Jim Andrews who referred me to Marion Wright of Living Water Teaching in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. I contacted Pastor Marion by email and the referral from Jim Andrews gave me favor with her. This does not mention all of the open doors but a few of the big ones, there are so many things that God has done to get me here.

That brings us to the meeting I’ve been talking about in Parts I & II. There is (so far) one more introduction that has proven to be monumental. You’ll remember that Pastor Clarence had left a message for one of his contacts that may be available as a translator, Julio. Late afternoon Sunday I received a phone call from Mr. Julio Castro who said that he is interested in talking with me about my mission, we set an appointment for 8PM the same evening. Julio is an Instructor at the Living Water Teaching Bible Institute and a Builder who usually has a house or commercial building project going on during the college break but he is not occupied at this time.

Almost immediately our spirits connected and when I demonstrated the Proclaimer in the K’iche’ Language as well as Spanish, he was taken back for a moment then said to me “you have been sent from God!”. Julio has been giving his Saturday afternoons to teach a Bible Class in a K’iche’ village (with no electricity) where he and his partner are having to use another translator (from Spanish to K’iche’) as over half of the class does not understand Spanish. Julio is not only a qualified Spanish/English interpreter but he has a 4wd car that we could use and he grew up right here in Xela. He already said what I was thinking, that he was sent from God! Julio and I ended the meeting by setting an appointment for 8AM the next morning to meet with Pastor Earnesto about the appointments with his contacts in the field.

The story continues in Part IV

Living Water Teaching

During this meeting the administrators of Living Water Teaching (Pastor Marion and Pastor Clarence) introduced me to this great Ministry of 30 years and asked me to tell more about my mission. I explained that I am called to the poor and illiterate people to share the Word of God through Audio Bible Listening Programs and my mission is to find the people, meet a need, share the Gospel, build listening groups, and follow up.

Presenting the Proclaimer (see welcome page for details) as a ministry tool that is perfect for this calling I mentioned that I brought with me six units total, 3 in Spanish and 3 in K’iche’. I shared how God has opened door after door, that I am walking in His perfect will by faith and as I take a step in obedience thereafter another door opens. I told them that I was believing God for a contact, specifically a bilingual person who knows the area.

I asked if they could put me in contact with Pastors or leaders who live in remote areas where the K’iche’ language is spoken, immediately Pastor Clarence made a phone call to one of the department supervisors on campus, Pastor Earnesto came into the office and Pastor Marion translated for me and Pastor Clarence (gringos) and brought Pastor Earnesto up to speed and he said he would set appointments for me with a few of the Pastors in K’iche’ villages.

Pastor Clarence then made another phone call and left a message for a possible translator (Julio) who might be able to join me in the field. Pastor Marion and I were in contact by email but before this meeting we had not met. They offered me a room on campus for a very reasonable price and the Hospitality was very gracious.

This all took place within a few hours of arriving in Quetzaltenango (Xela) on Friday 04Dec09

The language issue in Guatemala can be confusing but most people speak Spanish. As for the K’iche’ people most of the Pastors and leaders can also speak and read Spanish but many of the people (especially women and children) still only speak their mother tongue and most cannot read.

The story continues in Part III

23Dec09

Santa María (volcano)

I arrived in Guatemala City on 02December09 as scheduled, but the Airlines misplaced one suitcase. As I walked out of the airport there must have been 300 people crowding the arrivals exit, it was comforting to see Victor holding a sign waiting for me, what a blessing to have made arrangements with the Dos Lunas Hotel located just minutes from the Airport in a secure community bordered by 8 ft. walls with razor wire and armed guards at the gate. This is not extravagance but common security in Guatemala. The luggage issue was resolved the next day and I was on my way to Quetzaltenango (Xela) only one day behind schedule.

After a 4 hour Bus ride to Xela, (SHEH-lah) I hired a Taxi and found the campus of Living Water Teaching, a 30 year ministry lead by Pastor Marion Wright and her husband Pastor Clarence Wright. Pastor Marion’s first husband Dr. Jim Zirkle died in a plane crash in November 1998 along with her son, son in law and several other missionaries. The ministry has continued by the grace of God. It is my privilege to be acquainted with Pastor Marion, the ministry staff, and especially Pastor Clarence.

They were very busy with the upcoming arrival of over 50 missionaries for a Children’s Christmas Shoebox program along with the administration of the Bible College, but both Pastors made time for a meeting where they introduced me to some of their people who became instrumental to the success of this mission.

This is a beautiful thing, walking in His perfect will, trusting Him. When you have faith in God it is possible to please Him, and when you trust God then you will have more works. I am humbled to be here, and so grateful.

Hebrews 11:6 James 2:18

The story continues…

Guatemalan Highlands

It is amazing how God has opened door after door with each step I take in faith. I’m so grateful to be walking in His perfect will, what an honor to be called according to His purpose.

Counting down less than two weeks until my trip to Guatemala. On 12/2 I will fly out from Raleigh to Miami then to Guatemala City. Arriving late I’ll get a room for the night and the next day take a bus to Quetzaltenango, about a four hour journey. Quetzaltenango, also known as Xela (SHEH-lah) is the second largest City in Guatemala, unofficially considered the “capital of the Mayas”.

My first business in Xela will be meeting with Pastor Marion Zirkle Wright and her husband Pastor Clarence Wright on their campus of Living Water Teaching Bible Institute, a 30 year Ministry founded by Pastor Marion and her first husband Dr. Jim Zirkle who died in a plane crash in 1998.

Lord willing, this is the beginning of an effective work for Jesus, my mission is clear; Find the people, Meet a need, Share the Gospel, Build listening groups, and Follow up.

For the Harvest,

Edwin L. Miears