Kitchen Of Love 15th anniversary Celebration!

    
     For over 15 years now The kitchen of Love Ministry, or "Cocina de Amor" has been established and committed to eradicating hunger in Guatemala city one mouth at a time.  For the past decade and a half Cocina de Amor has opened it's doors 6 days a week and offered a hot and complete nutritious lunch to anyone who may drop by.  Located in Zone 14 in Guatemala City and possessing another large facility out in Escipulas, the volunteers at Cocina de Amor tirelessly provide a consistent sustenance that hungry people of all kinds in the surrounding neighborhood have come to depend on and look forward to on a daily basis.  The food is always accompanied by an encouraging word, prayer, or just good fellowship to the many people who come.


"Jesus called his disciples to Him and said "I have compassion for these people and do not want to send them away hungry.  You give them something to eat."  Then Jesus gave the loaves to the disciples and the disciples gave them to the people.  They all ate and were satisfied.  Mark 15.


       The 15th Anniversary Celebration brought well over two hundred people on this very chilly Wednesday December 8th.  Cocina de Amor lived right up to their name and reputation by delivering hot plates of pasta, Pork, and fresh bread with coffee to everyone in attendance. Live music, free raffles, Cake for dessert and an impressive fireworks display made for a terrific and memorable evening to every one in attendance. Even so, this multi-dimensional celebration offered all that and so much more.



Pastor/founder  Jose Alvarez with  "The Semilleros de Cristo"

   I had met the founder and Pastor Jose Alvarez a handful of times back in the states.  Our ministries are very closely connected and he has come to my Church in Hartford and spoken on numerous occasions.  Pastor Alvarez is about the warmest man you will ever meet. He is the type of person who will tell you he loves you and you just know he means it.  He is a powerful preacher and is in addition quite a comedian and overall dynamic and genuine speaker.

Now that peoples bodies were a bit more at ease, with hot food and coffee gently nourishing and warming them from within, Pastor Jose began to nourish them spiritually.  He invited a few different people from his church and ministry to share about the miracles that God had done or was doing in their lives.  One woman spoke with tears of her miraculous healing from breast cancer.  Her husband, also overwhelmed with emotion spoke about his battle and victory with alcoholism.

 
     I too was completely and unexpectedly introduced, called on stage, and asked to share with the large group of listeners. Let me tell you it it's never easy to face so many people and share with them some of the darkest moments of your life, and then how God came into those moments with His wonderful light and took you from a previously drug-addicted person heading potentially towards jail or death to a respected missionary in Guatemala City. It's never easy to start, but once you begin it flows naturally and is an honor as well as my duty to do so willingly and with a grateful heart.  There were many in attendance with drug and alcohol problems who desperately needed to hear about the path out of their dark bondage.

     And people were moved by the entire experience of the evening.  They were moved enough to approach the altar and in search of fellowship, communion, answers, or even healing from the God they had just heard so much about.  That is when the real touch occurs and the Spirit of God moves amongst His people.  Everything we (the ministries, the  church, etc.,) do beforehand is merely to set the stage.  It is our offering to God.  Then it's time to pray and watch God work. 

    
     Just as I was able to testify about God's goodness as well as others, here too more testimonies are born.  Many of the same people who were going through a seemingly impossible storm and reached out to God for help on Wednesday night will be the ones sharing next year, or at thier own Church about how God miraculously comforted them and saved them from their circumstance that had them balancing at the brink of utter ruin.  That's how it works, and its a wonderful blessing to behold no matter which side of the testimony you happen to be on.  The important thing is that you share it for the next person's benefit.
     Just as it is of the utmost importance to meet the physical needs of God's people as well. James 2:14-17  "What good is it dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don't show it by your actions?  Can that kind of faith save anyone?  Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.  If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed, " but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?  So you see faith by itself isn't enough.  Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless." 
     Congratulations to"Cocina de Amor" for putting the hand to the plow and faithfully accomplishing this important work of Christ on a daily basis.  I thank God for their heart and Commitment to the hungry, both physically and spiritually.  It's an honor to be affiliated with this ministry and I pray that myself and many others too can learn from their powerful  example.



http://es-es.facebook.com/pages/La-Cocina-del-Amor/148890961796114

Follow this ministry by searching "Cocina de Amor" on facebook and youtube!

Meet the Animals of Hogar de la Roca!!!



"Someday soon we shall put on the sun.  Not the one we see, that's just a sketch of what's to come." (My Epic)
"Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies?  Yet not one is forgotten by God." (Luke 12:6)



Genesis 2:19  "So the Lord God formed from the ground all the wild animals and all the birds of the sky.  He brought them to man to see what he would call them, and the man chose a name for each one..."

Meet Perla!

Or in English her name is Pearl and she is certainly one of a kind.  This saucy Cocker-spaniel is the self-proclaimed queen in our little animal kingdom here at the house.  Having asserted herself as the dominate first lady Perla gets first choice of  food, water, or whatever other amenities may come their way.  Perla is our most alert watchdog and not a single passer-by goes unnoticed as her trademark high-pitched bark is heard by all and often conducive to setting off an "all dog alert."  The phrase is coined from the famous Disney classic "101 Dalmatians" where every dog in the neighborhood starts barking at once.  We have a lot of "all dog alerts" here, which is a good thing because there are a lot of robberies as well.  Fortunately for us Perla is on the case. If anyone was to make it through the dog alarms and into the house they would quickly run into Perla's second in command.

Meet Nala!

Complete with her very fashionable spiked collar Nala serves us as the bark behind the bite.  This strong and lean American Boxer is the intimidation factor towards any and all unwelcomed guests.  However if you were to spend anytime at all with Nala you would quickly learn what a gentle giant she truly is.  Being the baby of the house Nala craves attention and affection from everyone around her.  She loves to play, has an overabundance of energy, and has no clear idea of her true capacity for strength.

Meet Onyx!

In case you can't tell from this picture Onyx is a  sweetheart in the truest sense.  With such a meek and gentle spirit about her in a house full of dominant personalities, Onyx can often be seen waiting her turn to eat or to receive a belly-rub after the other dogs have moved onto another adventure.  All signs of meekness do however miraculously and instantly disappear as soon as the "blue ball" comes out to play.  In front of the house Chris will throw a blue racket ball down the street and the dogs will chase it and bring it back in the common way dogs do.  Onyx however is a speeding black bullet that leaves the other dogs with literally no chance of ever touching the ball.  So Chris has to hold her collar when he throws the ball and give the other dogs a big head-start.  Even so it's often Onyx who returns with the coveted "blue-ball" ready to reluctantly relinquish it to Chris hoping to repeat the process as many times as possible.

Perla's Puppies!

These little boys are no longer with us but their presence certainly made an impact on us while they were here growing up and getting ready to transition to their new families. They managed to be this cute and yet remain true "holy terrors."  It was a joy to see them grow and sad to see them leave one by one.  Selling puppies is something Chris does regularly as a fund-raiser for the ministry and I just heard Onyx is the next mom on deck!

Meet Hunter the Dog...!

What can I say?  The only dog I've ever known to literally have his own original theme song, Hunter has been my best friend and companion for over the past ten years.  More like a person than a dog Hunter has lived in the Suburbs and Cities of Connecticut and Massachusetts, Brooklyn/Williamsberg NY, an artist collective warehouse in Providence Rhode Island, and most recently as a missionary-dog here in Guatemala City.  Hunter has traveled across the 50 U.S. States on tour with my band many times and some of his favorite places to frequent are the Rocky Mountains, the Pacific Ocean (although not so much to get in the water), and the Grand Canyon.  Hunter has survived rat-poisoning, a broken hip, a brush with an alligator in Birmingham, an arrest at a Texas & Mexico border checkpoint with an overnight in Dog-prison, and multiple dog-gang related "jumpings".  Here in Guatemala, he has learned to get along fairly well with his new dog companions despite the age and size difference.  For the first time in ten years he isn't allowed in bed with me or on the furniture here which has been an difficult adjustment for us both.  However, Hunter is healthy, happy, walking often a couple miles a day, losing excess weight, and is full of life.


The setting sun and water volcano as seen from our roof-top.

      People who are new to Christianity or who are just simply curious will often ask if there is a place in heaven for animals.  I was one of those who found myself  lovingly contemplating my pet who experiences nearly the full spectrum of human emotion as well as a unique personality.  I often thought and hoped within myself that surely God has a place in eternity for creatures as noble as these.  Today, it is my belief that he does.  
     When God put creation into motion, before the sickness of sin entered into the picture, man, woman, and animals lived together in complete harmony. There was no sickness, no death, and no food-chain.  Heaven, will eventually be a "return to the garden" or original intended perfect state.  As a result of man choosing evil we are temporarily left in a "fallen state."  The animals were actually the first to suffer a capitol consequence of the fall.  The first biblical recorded death was not Cain Killing Abel.  After Adam and Eve received the knowledge of good and evil they were suddenly ashamed of their nakedness so "The Lord God made clothing from animal skins for Adam and his wife."  I can only image the desperate heaviness that moment must have held for the earth's first man and woman.  I envision them viewing a skinned animal carcass for the first time while flies and birds start to get their first taste for flesh. Perhaps the first cold breaze passed over their flesh and they shuddred in the maginitued of the moment.  Whether you believe in the creation story literally or as a mere interpretation of the truth, the truth rings clear.  Death, sickness, and violence, even amongst animals feels inherently wrong and out of place to us at the core of our souls.
Isaiah 11:6-9  "In that day the wolf and the lamb will live together;  the leopard will lie down with the baby goat.  the calf and the yearling will be safe with the lion, and a little child will lead them all.  The cow will graze near the bear.  The cub and the calf will lie down together.  The lion will eat hay like a cow.  The baby will play safely near the hole of a cobra.  Yes, a little child will put it's hand in a nest of deadly snakes without harm.  Nothing will hurt or destroy in all my Holy mountain, for as the waters fill the sea, so the earth will be filled with people who know the lord."
Hope is essential for all of us if we are going to make it through this fallen land of ours.  For Christians, it is essential to have hope in a heaven that excites us.  In fact, i believe Heaven is often viewed in a rather unspoken way as a potentially boring and shapeless place. That tells me that not enough people have really dwelled on what heaven will look like in a broad and imaginative scope.  The scripture above is a promise from God that I look forward too even now with near tears in my eyes.  For me, a sensitive animal lover, seeing nature return to harmony and a lion literally laying with a lamb is a promise and hope that sustains and excites me.  In addition to this there are many promises for you waiting to be uncovered and claimed between you and your creator.  I encourage you to find those promises.  Get a picture of heaven that will excite you!  Of course, your imagination couldn't compare to what you will experience as you behold to real thing.  But that shouldn't stop you from contemplating often the joy that awaits you in paradise.  Think of the vastness of the universe and the depths of the ocean and creation that will be yours to explore.  Remember..."God does not forget a single sparrow.  And the very hairs on your head are numbered.  so don't be afraid; for you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows."  Luke 12:6-7

Happy Thanksgiving from Hogar de la Roca!

     As most of you will probably know, Thanksgiving is an almost strictly North American Holiday. However on this November 25th,  Thanksgiving was brought to Guatemala.


Jireen sharing about the goodness of God to those in attendance


This wonderful celebration was spearheaded by American missionary and friend Jareen "mocha" Wilson.  Being from the states Jareen had it on her heart to show Guatemala the type of Thanksgiving she and her family have become accustomed to over the years.  It was also for the benefit of other American missionaries such as myself, in an effort to ease the potential lonely void that all too often attaches itself to holidays celebrated away from loved ones. Jareen and I  both attend and are representing the same Church from Hartford CT, Glory Chapel Intl. She is an incredibly talented and well rounded musician who is currently living at the "Kitchen of Love" ministry which opens it's doors everyday and feeds hungry neighborhood children.  In addition Jireen is using her talents to Perform at various festivals and Churches as well as teaching local children how to play various instruments for their church.



what are you thankful for?

  It's a fairly common practice in some American homes for each person to share one thing they are thankful for before the feast is served.  Jareen was thankful to have been completely delivered from cancer which she had a serious battle with throughout the year.  I watched her come and go from the hospital for months on end and it was admirable the way she endured the condition and triumphant the way God delivered her from the disease.  You learn a lot when you stop to listen to people.  After Jareen, other guest shared as well.  Some also shared about tragedies and trials they were grateful to have overcome this year.  However, many listening to their friends share were hearing the news of their struggles for the first time.  After everyone had taken their turn, it was the general consensus of the group that we have to take more time to listen to each other  in spite of our busy schedules.

The feast consisted of a blend of American, Guatemalan, and Peruvian food, all prepared and served with special  care and love. 



the entertainment for the evening!



And one of my greatest joys and blessings of the day.....



The men from Hogar de la Roca experiencing their first Thanksgiving!



     The holiday season is a mixed bag of emotions and for many a roller coaster of marvelous and melancholy moments all struggling to dominate the forefront  of your thoughts and overall holiday experience.  People are often surrounded and blessed by the presence of loved ones, yet are compelled to miss that special someone recently lost.  Or perhaps they are facing the new year with a complete and beautiful family, yet a recent layoff and uncertain financial future looming over the days to follow.  The point is that "perfect" moments are difficult to attain, yet it is our perspective on the situation as well as our ability to be truly grateful of any blessings we currently hold that will carry us through the holiday season with true joy in our hearts.  And if you posess this joy and hold it in your heart, here are five ways to share that joy with others as well as honor the God who has put these blessings into motion...

     Hebrews 13:1-5  "Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters.  Don't forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some of you who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself.  Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies.  Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage... and don't love money; be satisfied with what you have.  For God has said "I will never fail you.  I will never abandon you."

     The men at Hogar de la Roca too shall go through the full spectrum of emotion this holiday season.  At the table i was blessed to sit amongst men who had the true grateful spirit of thanksgiving in their hearts.  One was even moved to quiet tears as we ate.  When he was able to speak he shared with those near him his awe and gratitude for God's mercy.  He lived many of his years with no hope, literally waiting to die in the streets, and tonight found himself overwhelmed to be at a feast surrounded by new friends.      

     **However the tough times are around the corner.  Many of these men will be spending Christmas away from their families and children.  The absence of their loved ones will prove to be a constant reminder of the mistakes they have made over the years. It also may prove to be a gift- less Christmas not just for the men here, but for their children at home as well.  That is why Chris and myself are humbly providing an opportunity to share your joy in the Holiday season with the men and families of Hogar de la Roca. We respectfully ask for any small donation you may have on your heart to share.  These men have a great need for simple items such as underwear and socks, as most of our ment come to the ministry with only the clothes on their backs.  Even the smallest donation can be stretched to meet some basic needs of the men as well as some inexpensive toys for their children. Chris and myself will be setting up a Christmas tree donated by his wonderful parents and we hope to contribute ourselves in an attempt to include some gifts under the tree.  Perhaps as you go out to shop for Black Friday or continue through the hustle and bustle of the holiday season you will feel a tug on your heart to contribute to the Christmas of Hogar de la Roca.  If so, we suggest a financial donation and to allow su to do the shopping for you as international shipping fees are incredibly high.  And if not here than maybe in any one of the wonderful ways outlined in the above scripture from Hebrews.  One thing i can guarantee; blessing someone in need this holiday season is bound to make yours just a little bit sweeter.



please direct any questions, comments, or donation concerns to mehltron@yahoo.com 
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!


The email link follows above after donation concerns to..... the link remains hidden on some computers until you click on it.  The link is also available in my blogger profile.  God-bless!

A Divine Appointment with Destiny



John 6:39 "And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them up at the last day."

     At the end of my last post the fate of our new student "Charlie Brown" was treading very thin ice and all signs pointed to the fact that Hogar de la Roca was not an adequate place for Charlie to receive the treatment he needs.  Charlie had just one more night with us and if his seizures and hallucinations from alcohol withdrawal didn't cease, we were going to commit him to the Guatemalan City mental hospital. However, God works miracles at all the Youth Challenge ministries on a daily basis and Charlie was the most recent recipient of God's mercy and a new chance to start over again. And thanks to God charlie will begin his new life, not in the garbage dump in Antigua from where he came, but surrounded by loving people, prayer, food, showers, and a new family created and tailored just for him and his specific needs by his Father in heaven. 


Luke 6:21 "God blesses you who are poor, for the kingdom of God is yours. 
Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be satisfied.
God blesses you who weep now, for in due time you will laugh"


Pictured with Charlie are Mark and Dale, American missionaries living here in Guatemala and operating out of a Church in Antigua.  Mark  came across Charlie by chance on the streets of Antigua, and upon learning Charlies situation they offered him a place to stay with them, they provided him with money, and bought him a beautiful leather bound bible which is a constant source of encouragement and joy to Charlie.  Afterwards, having learned about our ministry, they brought Charlie to us at Hogar de la Roca in the hopes that with these simple selfless acts of love for a fellow human being, Charlie will be forever changed and leave behind his life of alcohol addiction in the streets for ever. That part is up to Charlie, but the change that has taken place in his life after just a week of living with us is incredible and an encouragement to the few who are willing to invest in the previously broken life of a wonderful human being who just needed a little love and a little push in the right direction.


Our annual 3rd sunday in house church Service for the community.  Can you spot Chris in the audience?  He never misses a photo-op.

       And for people like Charlie and many others around the world, that "push" into Youth Challenge/Hogar de la Roca has really been a divine appointment with God and destiny.  It's a place where God sets you apart for Himself, with the purpose of  putting you on his potter's wheel and sculpting you into the masterpiece you were originally intended to be with the touch of the skilled hands of the creator of the universe. This process takes time and it often hurts or seems crazy and impossible.  But after you see the miraculous move of God upon his people, most of which the world have already rendered as hopeless, it seems as though you may never again question with your heart if we live in the midst of a loving God,  father, and creator .  Lives change here, and it is such a blessing to be a part of and witness it all with my own eyes.  There is a very popular saying that goes, "Once an addict always an addict."  This is only true in the sense that someone who abuses drugs or alcohol can no longer have drugs or alcohol in any capacity.  Yet there are some who invest time at our ministry and no longer have a desire to use drugs or alcohol at all and aren't really comfortable with the idea of calling themselves a drug addict for the rest of their lives. They want to move forward  and God has this word for all His people.
2nd Cornithians 5 :17  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 

This post is published with the enthusiastic permission of our
newest member to the family, Charlie.

The house fills up and things get crazy!

A brief update!

     For the majority of my internship here at Hogar de la Roca the house had been fairly quiet.  We fluctuated between only two and three students. The two men who remained have already been here for about four months and flow with our routine fairly smoothly.  However after the convention we had three men come in almost at the same time.  We have two rooms, and 9 beds here at the program.  However three of the beds are in my room and students are required to be here for about 6 months before they enter into some of the privileges of their "second phase" in the program.  Add the fact that we are holding the final bed for a young man recently released from prison and you see that we are now just about full.

     Charlie Brown:  The pictures you see of some of the guys reading and sleeping are not indicative of the reality that has encapsulated our house for the three previous nights.  We did the intake on Friday of young man that we will call "Charlie Brown."  One of his names is accurate and the other is not.  I feel it would be unethical to reveal both his name and his history as it would be impossible for me to get his permission.  I hope to do bios in the future with some of the other guys in the house with their consent, but Charlie Brown is a special case.
     Although he claims to be in his early thirties Charlie looks closer to fifty.  He was brought in to us from another missionary group in Antigua.  Charlie is addicted to rubbing alcohol.  It is actually a common problem in a country such as this where alcoholism runs rapid amongst intense poverty.  Whereas the most inexpensive bottle of real liquor would cost around 5 Q., a bottle of rubbing alcohol can easily be obtained  for 1Q.  The only thing more devastating than the effects of the daily intake of rubbing alcohol into your body is the sudden cessation and withdrawal from it.
     Currently here at night four Charlie is lucky to be alive.  He has been continually shaking to the point where he can hardly hold a glass of water at his lips.  He has gone into full seizures onto the floor at random times.  He has thrown up everywhere. He vomited in the middle of a church service on his one and only outing with us,  as well as multiple times in and around the bathrom at the house. And the most severe symptom of charlie's detox is  hallucinations. Although it is most acute in the evenenings Charlie is subject to paranoid delusional episodes. Bashing his head against walls, running from people trying to  "kill him", flossing his teeth violently for seemingly no reason until his mouth is full of blood, and claiming to have sustained severe injuries that don't exist are a just a few examples of what Charlie has been doing all night long for three nights straight, much to this dismay of his exhausted yet supportive roomates and staff.  There are times when he has no idea where he is and tries to break out or just plain insists on leaving.  The last thing we want to do is let him go out in his condition, but as days move forward it is becoming more and more clear that Chris and myself are not equipped to deal with someone in Charlies condition.  As i stated, it is fortunate he didn't die in our house.
     Our hope is that we are reaching the end of an extreme detox and that the hallucinations are merely a temporary symptom soon to be relieved.  There are many "windows" during the day where we get to see the real Charlie.  When Charlie has his wits about him he is a wonderful, gentle, funny, and grateful person who is eager to help and excited to be a part of our house.  It is this Charlie that Chris and I are holding onto. It is this Charlie that we see fairly often that has encouraged us to keep him in the process here. We feed him, give him oral hydration salts, and pray with him continually.  However as time goes on and his symptoms remain we begin to wonder if there is a deeper problem and that maybe his alcohol abuse is actually an attempt to self-medicate his hallucinations and not the other way around.  The bottom line is we are not Doctors and Charlie needs one. However, Charlie has no money and we don't want to commit Charlie to the unknown fate of the city mental hospital when it seems so often like he just may come out of this at any time.  We are in contact with a team of clinicians from the states and are giving Charlie one more chance to sleep through the night and stop hallucinating.  If all the madness continues again through the night, it is for the benefit of the other men in the house and Charlie himself that we will have to commit him to whatever may be in a Guatemalan mental hospital.  As of this moment, charlie is sound asleep, and this blogger is typing as quietly as possible.
     I wanted to give a quick update to anyone who has been kind enough to follow my blog and has yet noticed that the posts have been becoming less frequent.  The simple truth is that with more students i have less time.  However God has put it on my heart to do this whenever i can. Plus i always look forward to sharing my experiences with you with the entirety of my heart.  Please know your feedback is a constant encouragement to me.  Comments are always welcome in addition to any questions or concerns you may have regarding any of the posts. May the grace and peace of the lord be with you all as you interact in your social and family networks making the drink of life just a bit sweeter for those you come across with only simple gestures of patient and genuine love.

Blessings come from the United States!

     Before the missionary team from America heads for home, they are sure to stop at each of the affiliated ministries for a visit.  For people who have travelled to Guatemala for the first time, this is a great opportunity to see the overwhelming need that prevails in this beautiful country, in addition to the attempts of some wonderful people committed to making a difference.  For those who come on the trips annually, they have a chance to see how God has moved in the different programs, meaning, to see how the programs have grown and improved since the year before. They are also able to see the areas that are still lacking, and of course, everyone is given the opportunity to help.

       Our guests from America got the full tour of the facility from top to bottom.  People took a lot of pictures and asked a lot of questions. One man who is enrolled in our program and living at the house was able to give his testimony to the group and share what God has been doing in his life since he arrived here at Hogar de la Roca.  I noticed most everyone on the missionary team took special time throughout the convention to get to know the guys in the program a bit, as well as to encourage them to keep going forward in their new drug and alcohol free life.

         There was an seemingly endless amount of love coming from this group of American missionaries that continued throughout the entire convention.  Above is a picture of myself with my new "moms" from First Cathedral Church.  We had never met before the week of the convention but when i was introduced to these ladies i learned they had already been praying for me since they heard i was sick with parasites. It was like we were old friends after our first meeting.  Some of them were nurses and they were always inquiring how i was feeling, what i was eating, and advising me what to eat and what not to. They gave me bags of antibacterial wipes and hand sanitizer, and even durring this picture they were scanning my room to make sure i was getting enough fresh air circulation through the windows.  I learned quickly that everyone on the team, whether i had known them previously or not, had a genuine concern for my well- being.  Every time I turned around i was handed a care bag of Gatorade, some chicken soup, or an impromptu prayer.  It was amazing.

       As the tour was ending and the team was getting ready to leave we all met up on the rooftop.  There people  took turns as they felt led and gave Chris and myself advice and encouragement regarding all the important work that lies ahead of us.  We met in a circle and all prayed together.  Then the team took a financial love offering amongst themselves and gave it to the ministry as a final goodbye blessing.

      After a lot of hugs and goodbyes the mission team was in the bus and on their way.  Chris, the guys, and myself were left with a week of emotional, spiritual, and financial blessings that will help fuel us into the new year and new projects we undertake in this mission and ministry. 

     We spend a lot of time talking about spiritual blessings in this blog, for this moment let's focus on some tangible blessing we have received!

     It is part of the tradition of the convention that on the final night that the group is in the hotel, we have what is called blessing night.  Every year the group is asked to bring a suitcase for themselves (of course), and an extra bag full of clothes or items they would like to give away to the programs.  One morning after the convention i was able to set up and fill two tables full of suits jackets, ties, shoes, sneakers, belts, soaps, jeans and so much more. Many of the clothes had been worn previously but there was no junk here.  These were real blessings consisting of great clothes and cosmetics in excellent condition.  I have been part of 4 or 5 intakes in guatemala (where we bring a new guy into the program) and they have all come in to this ministry straight from the street with literally only the clothes on their backs.  It meant so much to the guys to receive these clothes and toiletries.  Not only does a new pair of shoes and socks help your situation tremendously when you only have one pair that has bonded to your foot through fungal infection, but it also helps your self image to put on some nice clothes before you go out to church or to the market.  When you start to feel like a human being again, the desire to preserver through this difficult time of getting your life back together in the program increases in grand proportions.

      Clothes are terrific.... especially when you have a place to put them!  Up until this convention Hogar de la Roca had no furniture whatsoever in the bedrooms except for bunk beds.  The guys and myself had to pile our clothes neatly in a corner on the floor, live out of a suitcase, or put our clothes on an empty bunk bed if there was one in our room.  I have to admit it was kind of weird to start unpacking and not have a place to put books or deodorant or hang your jacket or dress clothes.  So everything was on the floor or an empty bed. 
     But with the money we were able to collect from the convention, adding up our shirt sales and financial blessings from the team, we were able to bring furniture to Hogar de la Roca!

     Clothes, dressers, closets, chicken soup, Gatorade, soap, and even money.  These are all wonderful things.  A lot of people come to third world countries and start to get resentful towards people who are "rich" or exceedingly comfortable.  There is even the tendency to start bashing America and it's people for maintaining it's blatant and boastful overabundance, and yet remaining seemingly obliviouss to it's starving neighbors on all sides.  While i can understand from where those feelings are percolating, i believe that view is too myopic.  Families need money to support themselves, churches need money to reach people and do their work effectively, and this ministry of Hogar de la Roca needs money to get a hot water heater so the guys don't have to take freezing showers when they come in off the street. In fact,  it takes money to open the doors of any organization designed to aid in a humanitarian capacity.  
     1 Timothy 6:10  For it is the love of money that is the root of all kinds of evil.  And some people, craving money, have wandered away from true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.  
     Everyone has the ability to make a difference in this beautiful world that sadly remains under the subjection of it's harsh elements and realities.  People are placed in different positions, by God, and are given the ability to help in a unique capacity.  However each one is equally as important.  Just as the human body needs it's arm as well as its leg to function at it's full potential, so does the body of compassionate people need those who are willing to live with less and sacrifice themselves on the mission field for example, as well as those willing to support the work  financially.  In ancient battle formations the treasury was kept way behind the lines of soldiers and protected, as it was their crucial duty to send supplies and funds to the soldiers up front as needed.  That picture is illustrative  of the position America has been standing in  for many years.  America has remained relatively safe, protected, and prosperous since it has been established.  
     However this position comes with great responsibility as well as a a temptation for greed.  There are some, such as the most recent example the American missionary team, and many others of course, who are using the blessings they have received in a rich American pursuit of happiness to look after their families as well as the happiness of others. There are others however, who have more than enough, yet are never content.  Enough, is never enough.  There is a difference between need and want, and yet that line has blurred in places like the United States.  We let ourselves become anxious and discontent over what we merely want.  When we live in this state of a constant and unnecessary compulsion to please ourselves, the desire in our hearts to help others cannot compete nor even exist.  We say to ourselves "When I get "this" i will be all set and can relax and be happy."  A lot of time, after some hard work we get "this" enjoy it for a only a mere moment and then our sights are instantly set on "that."  If we focus only on ourselves, or even the people immediately around us, it is my experience and belief that we will always be let down and left wanting more.  But if we can get a heart for others, and start investing in the happiness of others, either with our time or money, a change will take place in us.  We will start seeing the world with different eyes, and we will then continue on our true journey to the pursuit of happiness.

Y.C.I. Central America Convention!

     Every year in Guatemala a large group of American and Guatemalan missionaries come together under one united vision.  Luke 4: 18-19 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim the captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord's favor has come."
     The lives of Bishop Raul and Pastor "Willie" Gonzales are evidence of this scripture and vision in action.  Their was a time however until Raul Gonzalez was about thirty years old when he was considered by friends and family to be a hopeless heroin addict with no future.  Overcoming much, Raul Gonzalez left a legacy of love in the hands of his wife and other faithful men and women committed to this vision as well as the many men, women, and children whose lives are made better by his ministries daily.  Here we will focus our attention geographically on just one small piece.
Youth Challenge of Guatemala
Youth Challenge of Guatemala operates under a regional board, under this board exist several Programs

 Programs

 

• Reto Juvenil de Guatemala/Youth Challenge of Guatemala (Hogar de la Roca)

This is where I am living and working as a missionary for the next year.  Like the original Youth Challenge program in Connecticut this is a faith-based residential center that helps individuals with life controlling problems such as substance abuse learn to lead productive and meaningful lives.

• Nuevo Reto de Guatemala/New Challenge

Nuevo Reto (New Challenge) is a Christian ministry that reaches the street children in Guatemala. Founded in 1991, the mission aims to rescue kids from the streets and helping them to grow in a Christian family atmosphere. The program plans to operate in two phases; the first being a house for at least 40 kids under the age of twelve, the second- a house for boys older than twelve.

• La Cocina de Amor/ The Love Kitchen

Cocina del Amor operates as a church and a program. the program have branches throughout Guatemala, Cuba, Nicaragua.

• Libre Infancia/ Children in Freedom

Libre Infancia was founded in 1995. The program serves the children of families that live in the "Basurero Municipal" (city dump) in the capital city of Guatemala City. The program plans to be a small city, housing 500 children, 30 houses in addition to activities centers, health centers and other buildings.

• Amigos del Pobre/ Friends of The Poor
• Casa de Deborah/ Debroah House

This is a home just like Hogar de la Roca but for women.

The convention is held in honor of Raul and Willie Gonzalez, the programs they have begun, the people laying down their own lives to work at them, as well as those in need who are benefiting from them.

The Convention:

     The convention, which is held annually at the Hotel Camino Real, is a time of exhortation and building up.  The various leaders from the different programs as well as associated churches are involved with seminars, teachings, and often biblical preachings.  You need to have a lot of tools in your toolbox to be successfully sustained while laboring in one of these Guatemalan programs.  Here Pastor Willy Gonzalez, aided in translation by Chris Allende, is reminding those in attendance of the importance of patience. There were many opportunities to hear other very gifted and encouraging speakers as well.

     The convention is also a time for fundraising.  What you see are two men from Hogar de la Roca (Alfredo & Edgar), whose lives are in the process of being restored.  They are proudly holding shirts they helped hand screen themselves and are offering them for sale throughout the convention on behalf of our program.  Fundraising demands a lot of attention and creativity from the directors, leaders, and pastors in Guatemala.  This is vital not only to keeping the doors open, but also to keep them supplied with various essentials.  Our director Chris, is very good at thinking outside of the box.  He has learned for instance that American cologne bottles can be sold and recycled here in Guatemala, so he always has people bring them when they visit from the states.  He also breeds and sells puppies. 
     During the convention the are multiple "offerings" and financial gifts collected for all the Guatemalan programs.  The convention is a much needed and greatly anticipated financial boost for ministries that often go without so many things year round.

     The convention is a time for banquets, good food, and fellowship!  And in many ways, this is where the heart of the convention lies.  It can be arduous and desolate, to be a missionary in a third world country.  Their are times when the connected Guatemalan programs are so enraptured in their own schedule that fellowship lacks even between local ministries.  And if your from America, the truth that you are literally thousands of miles from home has the capacity to weigh fairly heavy upon you at times.  The convention is a reminder that there are people who appreciate you, and your sacrifice.  Both the Guatemalan and American missionaries go out of their way to mutually show their vast appreciation for each other.  It's commonplace at the convention to see groups of people feasting, praying together, holding impromptu meetings, and encouraging each other in many various ways. All the ministries are visited by the American missionary team, there are day trips and leisure activities, as well as different outreach and church services attended.

Lunch in Antigua

     I knew Lou Guerra before the convention from church.  Lou is an upbeat and positive person who is always eager to help and serve someone in whatever capacity he is able.  It is no wonder he was recently made a deacon at our church Glory Chapel Intl.  I got to spend a lot of time with Lou this past week.  He is the type of guy who pays his own way to Guatemala, and then volunteers some of his very limited free time to be part of a small team who came to my program to exterminate roaches and help fix our toilets.  He was always there to lay hands and pray for me as I was struggling with parasites during the whole convention, he bought me a beautiful lunch, and was just a complete blessing to myself and everyone around him.
     And it wasn't just Lou.  The whole missionary team displayed this same attitude consistently throughout the whole week.  I, being a Christian, love to see scripture come to life. Being surrounded by so many beautiful people i was reminded of  Galatians 5:22  "The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control.  Against such things there is no law.
     Anyone is capable, regardless of the faith they adopt, to display theses characteristics in their life at one time or another.  Christians however, must learn to genuinley display these "fruits" regardless of how they are feeling or what their circumstances may be dictating.  Of course this isn't easily done on our own, that is why the scripture begins with "The Holy Spirit Produces..."
     You find too many "Christians" today bombing abortion clinics, protesting gay funerals, and verbally condemning people to hell.  All of which is completely Anti-Christ, unbiblical, and in many cases even unlawful.  If more Christians would just work on their "fruit." Without saying a word, a life lived that is full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control, can speak volumes to Christians and non Christians alike about a more excellent way of life that we posses the power to carry out daily.  This missionary team of hardworking people used their vacation time to come serve, encourage, and bless people in another land.  The local pastors, directors, and missionaries here in Guatemala, lay down their lives daily to continue this vision that was first for Jesus, and now for anyone who chooses to adopt it.
Luke 4: 18-19 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim the captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord's favor has come."