What a great day here at Fe Viva and in the area of Guazacapan. We have been all around today, and feeling pretty much like a local. We walked a kilometer or two to our first meeting, which is the common mode of transportation here! So wonderful to see the lush trees, walk in the muddy, cobbly stone roads, and meet and greet the many locals walking the same roads. We had a morning meeting in the BIBLE with the teens at Casa Samuel, an orphanage in the area. It was great - we had a lesson together about the first and most important thing that God has called us to - Knowing Him experentially. For our break I baked cookies to share. Coconut and cornflake chews - ha ha ha - after they took bites I told them coconut was in it. Most of their sweet faces tried to hide their dislike, as here it is very very rude to not say you like someone's food. I was able to smooth the icing over by joking and letting them know that it was okay if they didn't like it! We all had a good laugh and a cultural barrier was bridged - thank God!
Currently, I am glowing profusely (HEAT) after playing an intese game of basketball with the kids and some workers from Casa Esperanza (Orphanage at Fe Viva). They were aminals - and I can say that with a clear conscience! ha ha ha! I have played a fair amount of sports, but never have I met so many intensely (I MEAN INTENSELY) competitive people! There were a few screaming/yelling matches through the game. I must admit I caught myself almost entering a few....!! It was boys against girls, which can make for an ugly result at times.
Also had a devotional today with Casa - learning about how we are a chip off the Old Block - Isaiah 51:1-2 ( check it out :). Nothing like bringing a big rock to teach a lesson! Thankfully that ROCK is Christ!
So - off to continue this exciting day full of miracles and wonder in God!
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Monday, May 28, 2007
El Prision
Let's go back a few weeks...seeing as nothing new has been posted on this blog for a while :(.
On the way to Antigua and Guatemala City....travelling north from here (Guazacapan) there lies a city by the name of Esquintla. It is about one hour or so away from home. On the outskirts of this town is a prision....el prision... by the name of 'Canada'. I wonder who named the prision??
Going back about 7-8 years this place was called 'Little Hell' by the rest of the country. It was known to be the most violent and detestable prision in all of Guatemala. The most violent and dangerous offenders were sent here and many who were on death row lived within its walls. Around this year marker (7-8 yrs ago) a bunch of prisioners escaped. The entire country was shut down to find these men. I am honestly not sure if they were found and if they were they were likely executed.
Because of these events which affected the country at large doors began to open into the prision "Canada". Before this time the prision was quite closed to having a lot of outsiders come in and work with the inmates. The doors sprung open and the prision officials were allowing Christian ministries to come in and minister the life of Jesus Christ to the inmates. I can not imaging what it must have been like walking into "little hell" as some of the first men and women of God went in to share the truth of eternal life with these men.
Fe Viva, the ministry I am working with, is one of the ministries that went in those years ago when the penial system was crying out for help. We went in, preached the truth of Jesus Christ, saw many lives changed and transformed and then a Bible college was established. In the last seven or so years...this place once known as little hell has been transformed. There are still many in the prision that are hardened and want nothing to do with God, but there has been such a change that the prision allows foreign groups, such as us, to come in and minister and work with the prisioners.
A few weeks back - I experienced the prison called Canada. Hey - I had no idea I could get home in one hour :) In all seriousness - knowing what kind of place this used to be and then entering it myself....God is real and He is so powerful that He can change a person's heart who has been sentenced to life for murder into being a sincere servant of God who loves all those who hate him. We experienced this the day we went. We went to share with the Fe Viva Bible College students - of which there are over 100 ranging from inmate to the prision secretary and other top officials. This is only the Lord who can break down such barriers!
We shared our drama, about how Jesus can break every bondage that holds us back....we also lead them in worship in Spirit and truth and had a time of hearing testimonies. I was so blessed to be able to share a message from the Word of God with the students. They were so receptive and eager to learn from the Word. We talked about how God alone can make us new - into creatures that have never existed before. The new life in Jesus Christ - the life of freedom which our past and the devil would want us to forget we have in Christ. It was a powerful time in the Holy Spirit. Some commented that they had steam coming out of their ears by the time we were about to pray together. It was such a blessing and I can say that there is more fire of God in those men then I have seen in many people in Canada. The love of Jesus could be felt among them - it was so refreshing and a great gift to see what God can and wants to do in every one of our lives. These men had more hope than every person I have seen in the world that lives without Jesus Christ in them.
Just want to share with you all that I am honoured to be able to go into a prision, called Canada, to serve the men there with the Word of the Lord and in the love of Christ.
God's love is amazing and real - I want to share it with you all today, so I pray that whatever situation you are in, whatever kind of standard of life you think you live in - I want you to know that without the life of God, found in Jesus Christ you are the poorest person on earth. Truthfully with out a living relationship with Jesus (that does not mean dead religion) you are destined to spend eternity separated from God, in hell. THe reason we deserve hell is because each of us has sinned in our life because of the nature of mankind and God, who is 100% perfect, can not be near sin. God is just, however, and He has given us the choice to choose life or death. Choose life as so many of the prisioners in Canada have - life that is found only in Jesus Christ. Even though they may die physically soon - they have a hope for eternity that will never fail. There is a lesson to be learned from them all.
Let God embrace you, heal you and make you into the man or woman that He has made you to be - ask Him to forgive you and save your soul and change you to be like Him. He will do it, if you ask and believe in Jesus' name. This is the love of God, that while we were yet sinners, God sent His Son into the world to die for us at the right time. Whatever prision you are in today - God can set you free in your heart and that will overflow into all areas of your life. This is my desire for each reader today! That you might know and believe the one and only true God.
With His love,
Allison
On the way to Antigua and Guatemala City....travelling north from here (Guazacapan) there lies a city by the name of Esquintla. It is about one hour or so away from home. On the outskirts of this town is a prision....el prision... by the name of 'Canada'. I wonder who named the prision??
Going back about 7-8 years this place was called 'Little Hell' by the rest of the country. It was known to be the most violent and detestable prision in all of Guatemala. The most violent and dangerous offenders were sent here and many who were on death row lived within its walls. Around this year marker (7-8 yrs ago) a bunch of prisioners escaped. The entire country was shut down to find these men. I am honestly not sure if they were found and if they were they were likely executed.
Because of these events which affected the country at large doors began to open into the prision "Canada". Before this time the prision was quite closed to having a lot of outsiders come in and work with the inmates. The doors sprung open and the prision officials were allowing Christian ministries to come in and minister the life of Jesus Christ to the inmates. I can not imaging what it must have been like walking into "little hell" as some of the first men and women of God went in to share the truth of eternal life with these men.
Fe Viva, the ministry I am working with, is one of the ministries that went in those years ago when the penial system was crying out for help. We went in, preached the truth of Jesus Christ, saw many lives changed and transformed and then a Bible college was established. In the last seven or so years...this place once known as little hell has been transformed. There are still many in the prision that are hardened and want nothing to do with God, but there has been such a change that the prision allows foreign groups, such as us, to come in and minister and work with the prisioners.
A few weeks back - I experienced the prison called Canada. Hey - I had no idea I could get home in one hour :) In all seriousness - knowing what kind of place this used to be and then entering it myself....God is real and He is so powerful that He can change a person's heart who has been sentenced to life for murder into being a sincere servant of God who loves all those who hate him. We experienced this the day we went. We went to share with the Fe Viva Bible College students - of which there are over 100 ranging from inmate to the prision secretary and other top officials. This is only the Lord who can break down such barriers!
We shared our drama, about how Jesus can break every bondage that holds us back....we also lead them in worship in Spirit and truth and had a time of hearing testimonies. I was so blessed to be able to share a message from the Word of God with the students. They were so receptive and eager to learn from the Word. We talked about how God alone can make us new - into creatures that have never existed before. The new life in Jesus Christ - the life of freedom which our past and the devil would want us to forget we have in Christ. It was a powerful time in the Holy Spirit. Some commented that they had steam coming out of their ears by the time we were about to pray together. It was such a blessing and I can say that there is more fire of God in those men then I have seen in many people in Canada. The love of Jesus could be felt among them - it was so refreshing and a great gift to see what God can and wants to do in every one of our lives. These men had more hope than every person I have seen in the world that lives without Jesus Christ in them.
Just want to share with you all that I am honoured to be able to go into a prision, called Canada, to serve the men there with the Word of the Lord and in the love of Christ.
God's love is amazing and real - I want to share it with you all today, so I pray that whatever situation you are in, whatever kind of standard of life you think you live in - I want you to know that without the life of God, found in Jesus Christ you are the poorest person on earth. Truthfully with out a living relationship with Jesus (that does not mean dead religion) you are destined to spend eternity separated from God, in hell. THe reason we deserve hell is because each of us has sinned in our life because of the nature of mankind and God, who is 100% perfect, can not be near sin. God is just, however, and He has given us the choice to choose life or death. Choose life as so many of the prisioners in Canada have - life that is found only in Jesus Christ. Even though they may die physically soon - they have a hope for eternity that will never fail. There is a lesson to be learned from them all.
Let God embrace you, heal you and make you into the man or woman that He has made you to be - ask Him to forgive you and save your soul and change you to be like Him. He will do it, if you ask and believe in Jesus' name. This is the love of God, that while we were yet sinners, God sent His Son into the world to die for us at the right time. Whatever prision you are in today - God can set you free in your heart and that will overflow into all areas of your life. This is my desire for each reader today! That you might know and believe the one and only true God.
With His love,
Allison
Friday, May 4, 2007
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Amigos
Back to School & the beach...
Bright and early this morning we got up and loaded the bus we drive. We were prepared and ready....a public school of 300 children were anticipating our arrival. We drove down to a place on the Pacific Ocean really close to the El Salvadorian border, called Las Lisas to minister in a elementary public school. The Principal had requested our team to come and share the love of Jesus Christ with all of her staff and students, many for the first time.
Again - we had to take a taxi boat to get to the large sand bar from the main land. Once we arrived and began setting up in the courtyard...kids began flocking from their class rooms. It was amamzing to see 300 children all together. God was wonderfully present and we began the program. I was an MC of sorts and had a great time working with our translator, Clarice. The children were quite participatory and they really enjoyed all of the presentation. Puppets sharing Jesus, clowns sharing a Bible lesson, a drama teaching the love of Christ....and much more.
After we were done - the clowns (there are photos coming, ha ha!) went from class to class to give the kids gifts. It was great fun - so much joy in giving, especially to kids! After we changed from clowns back to our everyday selves. I went out to meet some of the kids and they began talking and listening to what I was attempting to say. I met a young girl named Dorcas and she wanted to show me her classroom...so me and a hoard of about 30-50kids walked/pushed me to see all ofthe kids classrooms! Before I was called back to eat an early lunch cooked by the teachers for us, I asked the kids how many of them knew Jesus. They all kind of looked at me funny. Thanks be to God - I was able to leave them with Jesus. I reminded them that He is why we came and to never forget that it is Jesus - it is all about Jesus. I asked them if they wanted to learn a song - in Spanish. They said, "YEs!!" We sang - 'El amor de Dios esta maravilloso' - the love of God is marvelous.....and a few knew it and the rest learnt it. This was a climax - leaving these dear children with the name and love of Jesus Christ. I left with my heart soaring for the Lord and my stomach full of fresh torillas and fried sea fish.
God is so good! What a priviledge and honour to know and love Him and to share His love with others. As I said to the kids today - I will say to all of us - it is all in Jesus. If you never remember anything else about me or anything - remember the Jesus is the way, the truth and the life and no one can come to the Father, but through Him.
Off to Belize tomorrow - photos to come soon....working out some computer glitches.
Bright and early this morning we got up and loaded the bus we drive. We were prepared and ready....a public school of 300 children were anticipating our arrival. We drove down to a place on the Pacific Ocean really close to the El Salvadorian border, called Las Lisas to minister in a elementary public school. The Principal had requested our team to come and share the love of Jesus Christ with all of her staff and students, many for the first time.
Again - we had to take a taxi boat to get to the large sand bar from the main land. Once we arrived and began setting up in the courtyard...kids began flocking from their class rooms. It was amamzing to see 300 children all together. God was wonderfully present and we began the program. I was an MC of sorts and had a great time working with our translator, Clarice. The children were quite participatory and they really enjoyed all of the presentation. Puppets sharing Jesus, clowns sharing a Bible lesson, a drama teaching the love of Christ....and much more.
After we were done - the clowns (there are photos coming, ha ha!) went from class to class to give the kids gifts. It was great fun - so much joy in giving, especially to kids! After we changed from clowns back to our everyday selves. I went out to meet some of the kids and they began talking and listening to what I was attempting to say. I met a young girl named Dorcas and she wanted to show me her classroom...so me and a hoard of about 30-50kids walked/pushed me to see all ofthe kids classrooms! Before I was called back to eat an early lunch cooked by the teachers for us, I asked the kids how many of them knew Jesus. They all kind of looked at me funny. Thanks be to God - I was able to leave them with Jesus. I reminded them that He is why we came and to never forget that it is Jesus - it is all about Jesus. I asked them if they wanted to learn a song - in Spanish. They said, "YEs!!" We sang - 'El amor de Dios esta maravilloso' - the love of God is marvelous.....and a few knew it and the rest learnt it. This was a climax - leaving these dear children with the name and love of Jesus Christ. I left with my heart soaring for the Lord and my stomach full of fresh torillas and fried sea fish.
God is so good! What a priviledge and honour to know and love Him and to share His love with others. As I said to the kids today - I will say to all of us - it is all in Jesus. If you never remember anything else about me or anything - remember the Jesus is the way, the truth and the life and no one can come to the Father, but through Him.
Off to Belize tomorrow - photos to come soon....working out some computer glitches.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Agua Dulce
This one was right out of a dream (yes...in the heart of God!)
As we waited for our "private boat" to pull up at the dock at Montericco I surveyed the larger taxi boats, knowing we would not be boarding such a one. Soon, a kind looking Guatemalan man docked, shaked the hand of Pastor Eric, the Pastor we were working with, and greeted each of us with a firm hand shake. We grabbed all of our supplies - a large bag full of puppets, a CD player, an amplifier, mics and sound equipment, and our personal gear and loaded up. We smoothly traveled through the mangrove lined river - we were heading to a church to serve. This was not ordinary, however, because the area we were now is was made up of many small islands. Every family lives on their own little island and travels by boat to wherever they need to go.
When we docked at the island that we were having church at, we walked up, and were greeted by many on the way. Some poked their heads out of their homes, others were seen as their homes were open. After some different techniques were used to gather the masses - plugging in to the amp and announcing to the islands that service would be starting soon - we began. God was faithful and many children were there and the people that made it for this day were touched by the variety of ways God's truth was presented. (They all seemed to love the puppets - adults too!)
We packed up our stuff and walked through the palm trees and beach area to the boat. The Pastor wanted to take us to see a local salt plant, so we weaved in and out of some more mangrove lined water ways and ended up at another island. Wow - I thought - factory style. But this was in someone's yard...using basic chemical reactions to dissolve and then distill the salt. Mmmmm -it was good - real sea salt! This family was so excited to have us for an informal toor. They remembered that durning Hurricane Stan our teams from Fe Viva delivered medicines to them. The man of the house shared from God's word with us and we prayed together and headed on our way. The kids who had stayed in the boat had caught crabs and surprized us when we got back in.
The Pastors one grandson, who was nine and very intelligent and comical, (Josue), gifted me the crab he had caught. I was really touched by his generosity and kindness. I was also really blessed by three of the Pastors granddaughters, who sat with me on the boat ride back to the mainland. We spoke in Spanish about a variety of things - they laughed when I made mistakes and it was all around fun! I blessed them all in Jesus' name as we hugged goodbye at the mainland - and let my new crab go back into the water. Sweet and smiling memories. What wonderful children of God :)
This day was such a blessing and encouragement - reminding me once again that simple child-like love and faith are invaluable and as Jesus says that we can not enter His kingdom without them. Soft, clean hearts and pure, innocent hands.
As we waited for our "private boat" to pull up at the dock at Montericco I surveyed the larger taxi boats, knowing we would not be boarding such a one. Soon, a kind looking Guatemalan man docked, shaked the hand of Pastor Eric, the Pastor we were working with, and greeted each of us with a firm hand shake. We grabbed all of our supplies - a large bag full of puppets, a CD player, an amplifier, mics and sound equipment, and our personal gear and loaded up. We smoothly traveled through the mangrove lined river - we were heading to a church to serve. This was not ordinary, however, because the area we were now is was made up of many small islands. Every family lives on their own little island and travels by boat to wherever they need to go.
When we docked at the island that we were having church at, we walked up, and were greeted by many on the way. Some poked their heads out of their homes, others were seen as their homes were open. After some different techniques were used to gather the masses - plugging in to the amp and announcing to the islands that service would be starting soon - we began. God was faithful and many children were there and the people that made it for this day were touched by the variety of ways God's truth was presented. (They all seemed to love the puppets - adults too!)
We packed up our stuff and walked through the palm trees and beach area to the boat. The Pastor wanted to take us to see a local salt plant, so we weaved in and out of some more mangrove lined water ways and ended up at another island. Wow - I thought - factory style. But this was in someone's yard...using basic chemical reactions to dissolve and then distill the salt. Mmmmm -it was good - real sea salt! This family was so excited to have us for an informal toor. They remembered that durning Hurricane Stan our teams from Fe Viva delivered medicines to them. The man of the house shared from God's word with us and we prayed together and headed on our way. The kids who had stayed in the boat had caught crabs and surprized us when we got back in.
The Pastors one grandson, who was nine and very intelligent and comical, (Josue), gifted me the crab he had caught. I was really touched by his generosity and kindness. I was also really blessed by three of the Pastors granddaughters, who sat with me on the boat ride back to the mainland. We spoke in Spanish about a variety of things - they laughed when I made mistakes and it was all around fun! I blessed them all in Jesus' name as we hugged goodbye at the mainland - and let my new crab go back into the water. Sweet and smiling memories. What wonderful children of God :)
This day was such a blessing and encouragement - reminding me once again that simple child-like love and faith are invaluable and as Jesus says that we can not enter His kingdom without them. Soft, clean hearts and pure, innocent hands.
Antigua....es muy bonita
Just a view of one of the volcanoes here in Guatemala from the touristic town of Antigua. Much history, much beauty and therefore many tourists - quite a shock seeing so many white people all in one place actually!
We were here for a seminar hosted at the YWAM base in mid-March. It is about 1 1/2 hours north east from Guazacapan...all up mountain. We passed a beautiful, challenging and encouraging day here. God is good!
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Homemade Hammock
Four of the eleven children that live in this home enjoy the bulack sac made into a hammock. Sweet smile and laugher continue and brief conversation regarding needs, school and daily things while we are there. We pray for the families before departing, continuing to trust the Lord for His best for each one....seen in this photo and not seen. This is one of the sponsor families that Fe Viva serves through the sponsorship program. (see www.feviva.org for more info if interested...)
This was my first time visiting the some of the sponsor families and was touched by God's great love for them and also their great physical needs...things that we would so easily overlook...like a private, covered place to wash and bathe and more than one bed for seven people! Nonetheless - they love Jesus with all their hearts and many of them smile contageously and prove to be examples for people that have lots of "things", but who are poor in God.
Continual learning :)
Beginning of March, 2007.
IN THE BEGINNINGMy Fellow Students........
2007 Missionary Training School
Justin, Jasmine, Kerry & I.
All dressed up and a blessings banquet to attend. A team from Kelowna came to bless all of the missionaries, local Pastors and ministry staff in the name and Spirit of Jesus. They served in many ways. Many were touched by God's love, healed by His power and lives were changed, Canadian, American and Guatemalan alike. Beginning of March, 2007.
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