Greetings from Guatemala!!

Hello family!
Just thought I would update a little bit while I have the time! : )
Guatemala is awesome! : ) I am so blessed to have the opportunity to be here! My 6 week adventure is coming to a close, I only have until June 3rd until I come home! I wish I could stay here longer! (Sorry mom! ; ))

Originally I was only supposed to be here for a week, but God let all the pieces fall together for me to stay longer and get to see Tash, Paula, Andres and Carlos in Honduras as well as work here now with another organization!

My first trip here was to Chichicastenango (have fun trying to pronounce that! lol) with Res from Grand Haven to work with Ron Morin and his ministry Pray America. The week flew by, but we ministered to hundreds of people! We built three houses, helped build their new mission base--paint, plant, pray, etc. work feeding programs where we would help with the food as well as do a church service for the parents and kids. I had an amazing time there!

The Saturday that our team flew back to the States, I stayed back at the airport and was picked up by Debbie and Alvaro Flores--Grandpa/ma's friends. (It is such a blessing to reap the seeds sewn by them!) I spent the rest of the day with them, then the next morning, I took a bus from Guatemala City to Tegucigalpa, Honduras to see my family there! : ) The bus ride went surprisingly well! (not that I am complaining haha) I have to say that the bus ride was a bit of a stretch though! lol

The next ten days I spent with Tash, Paula, Andres and Carlos at their home. The first time Andres saw me he put out his arms and wanted me to hold him. That was awesome b/c I wasn't sure if he would remember me! : ) I went to Paula's church and went to the orphanage she volunteers at sometimes as well as went to the Honduran Natl. Penitentiary with Paula & some girls from the church with the only prison ministry for the 18th St. Gang. That was an amazing experience, both for being a future police officer as well as being able to hang out with them and minister!!

After Honduras, I took a bus back to Guatemala City where I stayed with Debbie and Alvaro again, then the next day met Dan Smith with Paradise Bound Ministries--based out of Hamilton--at the airport to work with him and construction groups for the US for the next month. Here, Chimaltenango) I met some incredible people!! Notably the employees of Paraiso (paradise in spanish : )). Estuardo and Hermano Jesus are amazing men of God, and it is great getting to know them. I met Hermano Jesus when I was here 2 years ago.

Last night, I got back from Bendicion. It is a very remote village by the Pacific coast--and it was very hotttttt!! lol While there, our group was fixing up an old plantation house from the 1800's for the rest of the summer teams coming to build houses here. Because the village is almost 3hours away from the current base, it was decided that teams should just stay at the village where they are building at and not waste valuable man hours driving! : ) The village is so incredible. You can feel the presence of God and I cant wait to see what is happening and what will happen in the future. I met some awesome people there, and it was great getting to spend the time getting to know them and build relationships!! It was VERY hard to say goodbye!!

However, while there we received really bad news. Estuardo and Hermano Jesus were robbed after going to a bank here in Chimal. Estuardo was shot thru the back, and the bullet took out his lung and lodged in his shoulder. HJ was beaten and the thieves got off with about US $3000. HJ is fine now, but Estuardo is still in the hospital. I ask that you all lift him and his family up in your prayers!!!!! The robbery took place right in front of his 9 year old sons school, and he witnessed the whole incident. Estuardo is paralyzed from the chest down, but stable. It is amazing to see God working though! We have been able to transfer him from a quite bad hospital to a private one which is much better!! Also, there is a Physicians Asst. from the US who was here from the team at Bendicion, and she has been able to stay and be with him and make sure that he is receiving the care he needs. Also, just today Estuardo started feeling tingling in his legs! I know that God will use this incident for His glory and that thru it all, people will be saved!

No worries though, I am fine! I am safe, healthy and cannot wait to start working with the next team that is coming tomorrow! We will be working on the new mission base being built here and landscaping.

I know this is a long novel, but I thought you would all like the update!
God Bless and keep praying!! : )
Much love,
Luke