Johnny and Maria Coker

"Not much time..."

2010-10-07T07:41:00.002-05:00

Some of you are aware that my widowed aunt had moved to Decatur and was living in our house with my mom. It seems that love is always around, no matter what age you are. Yesterday, Aunt Tommie, 81 years old, married Edward Shaw, 82 years old, and moved to Texas!

As she told me, "When you're 81, you don't waste time because there might not be much left!" The happy couple wed in front of 8 witnesses, all of whom got to sign the marriage license.
Congratulations Tommie and Edward Shaw!

P.S. I represented our side of the family in true Guatemalan style...barefoot! My only pair of black shoes broke three steps inside the church!

Changes in plans

2010-09-22T16:29:00.002-05:00

Just a short update to let you folks know just what is going on with us. I will blog on these things in the next few days, but for now, let me say that Johnny is NOT going to drive through Mexico...a big answer to prayer. I flew to Tampa today to spend a couple of days with our youngest daughter and her husband, Jennifer and Andy, before heading to Decatur on Saturday. Johnny will follow me as soon as our fully loaded, very packed and stuffed pickup truck gets put on a boat. He will have to drive some, but it will be in the United States!

Watch for blog updates in the next day or two (I promise!) of our summer, our daughter and son-in-law's visit and our despedida!

Mudslides

2010-09-05T11:15:00.002-05:00

You may be hearing in the news about mudslides in Guatemala. The western side (mountains=us) is completely shut down and can't move. We got up to rain and came through several "young" slides on Friday morning, heading to the capital. Shortly after we came through one of the slides, the mountain let loose and hit a bus, killing 12 people. We made it to the capital without incident, sold the black pickup and trailer and picked up Lindsay and Micah from the airport. And that's as far as we have gotten. The highway west (back to the Camp) is shut indefinitely, until the roads are cleared and the slides stop. Just west of us, a slide buried a whole bus. Traffic was stopped behind them and people ran to help uncover those buried. Then more of the mountain let loose and the rescuers themselves were buried. They don't know just how many were killed, but they are saying at least 40, plus those that were in the bus.

We are OK, as are all the CAM missionaries that we are aware of. Thankfully, a wonderful CAM missionary family that are in the States right now, have let us use their house in the capital. Lindsay and Micah have their suitcases, so they have clothes. Johnny and I were only expecting to be here one night, so we are extremely limited on clothing, but we are all together and safe. We may not get to play tourist like we had expected, but, as I said, we are all together and safe.
We will post more later, as the news comes in.

We are happy to announce...

2010-09-04T17:09:00.002-05:00

Boyd and Julie Robinson, of New Mexico, have been approved to be the next directors of Centennial Camp! They still have to raise support and spend some time in language school before arriving at Centennial Camp, but it is so nice to know that the work will continue! Please pray for their time of support raising and packing up to move to Guatemala. When I get a picture of them, I will post so you can get to know them!

What's happening...

2010-09-03T21:27:00.002-05:00

Was asked to update my blog, so I will push the blogs about the teams from this summer back a week or so and give an update.

After we sent the last team home, we started packing...and giving things away! Our Guatemalan brothers and sisters have descended on our house, looking in all of our drawers and closets for things of ours they want! I finally set up a "yard sale" in the living room that I add to as I go through things and decide whether to keep or sell. Jordan, a young man from California that is working with us, has been at the house for the last couple of nights. We had to keep his bedroom door closed to keep people out of it! They think nothing of opening all of your cabinet doors to see what you have...and what they might want. But things are going. We met a nice couple that work in the Peten who is buying the black pickup and trailer. It seems perfect for their needs and an answer to prayer on their side for a dependable vehicle and on our side for a sale!

It has rained everyday, usually starting about lunch time. Since the dryer burned up (thankfully after all of the teams!) I have to hang my clothes on the line to dry. So my day starts with...#1 making a pot of coffee, #2 putting in a load of clothes, #3 drinking a cup of coffee while I check the internet, #4 hanging the clothes on the line, #5 more coffee while I start packing. We gave away all of our extra food this week, some to Guatemalans and some to other missionaries, so we are down to pulling something out of the freezer for supper (we find out what it is after it thaws sometimes), eating cereal left over from the teams, and trying to finish up the cheese, sandwich meat, bread and peanut butter and jelly from the teams. Mealtimes are kind of...interesting.

I guess my hardest part is trying to coordinate everything. Can't deliver the fridge to the new owners until almost the last, but can't wait too late because the truck will be loaded. Can't get rid of the bed until the day we leave. And the hardest...making the young Guatemalan lady hold off on receiving the coffeepot she has already paid for until the very end! She couldn't understand why I said I needed to keep it until the last days!

Tomorrow we pick up our oldest daughter and her husband from the airport for a week of rest and relaxation. We are looking forward to a week of playing tourist! That will leave us a week to finish all of the packing, see how much of the stuff fits in the truck, then repack to get the most important things home. All of this with people stopping by to spend a last few minutes with us. Pray we will be gracious and not look at our guests as "interruptions". Pray we get everything packed and that it fits. Pray as we say goodbye to our friends from the last 5 years. And pray as we travel, Johnny by truck through Mexico and Maria by airplane to Tampa (a couple of days with our youngest daughter and her husband), before arriving in Alabama around October 1st.

Latest derrumbe

2010-08-16T09:21:00.004-05:00

Sorry for the delay since the last posting...hope to get caught up on postings on the teams next week, after the last team leaves. As you know, we had to take a few (very few) days in Alabama to renew Johnny's driver's license. While we were there, we were notified of a landslide between Solola and Panajachel. It wasn't until we brought the first Visalia team down to Pana that we saw the damage.

Coming up the mountain from Pana to Solola, you can see where the landslide took out a nice-sized portion of trees and foliage next to the waterfall.

A good view of what the road looked like when we first saw it. Big boulders had come down and took out the outside lane of the two lane road. Dirt and boulders also covered the road and isolated Panajachel for a couple of days.

This view is from the Solola side and was taken two days ago. You can see that they are already working on the area that was undercut (the land that was gone from under the road). The small yellow sign in the distance is the sign for the waterfall, to give you perspective. This area is now down to one lane, which is full of potholes from the boulders hitting the road. Rumor is that there were some injuries to people in a car that was passing thru this area and another small slide pushed them off the mountain several days after the road opened back up. Last week, we just had to pass this way going into Pana and returning to the capital because we worked across the lake and took boats each day. This week, however, we are working at the Camp and pass this way daily, up and down. Pray for safety as we (and others) cross this area routinely.

Southern Baked Beans

2010-07-30T01:00:00.000-05:00

Southern Baked Beans

Can't take credit for this one, found it in a cookbook!

1 pound bacon, fried crispy and crumbled

2 1/2 onions, diced, sauted in bacon drippings until brown

6 cans pork and beans (or if using other types of canned beans, drain them)

8 Tbsp yellow mustard

12 Tbsp pancake syrup

10 Tbsp ketchup or BBQ sauce (Bob Gibson's from Decatur, AL, is quite tasty!)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Mix bacon, onion and drippings with remaining ingredients. Pour into 2 9X13 pans and bake covered for 45 to 60 minutes. Serves 16 - 20.

Tamale Pie

2010-07-27T01:00:00.000-05:00

As we make a quick trip to Alabama to renew Johnny's driver's license, here is a recipe that has been popular this summer!

Tamale Pie

Base:

4-5 chicken breasts, cooked and diced or shredded

2 Tbsp olive oil

2 cups chopped onion

1 clove garlic minced

1 large can stewed tomatoes

1 large can tomato sauce

1 cup strong chicken broth (I use a boullion cube in warm water)

1/2 - 1 tsp chili powder (How picante do you want it?)

1 tsp dried oregano

1 can whole kernel corn (with peppers, if you can get it), drained

Cornmeal topping:

1 1/2 cups cornmeal, plain without flour

1 1/2 cups flour

2 eggs

3 Tbsp sugar

1/4 cup butter, melted

1 Tbsp baking powder, omit if using self-rising flour

Grease bottom and sides of a 9X13 pan. In large saucepan, saute onion and garlic in olive oil until everyone comes to the kitchen to see what's for supper...or until the onion is softened. Add stewed tomatoes, tomato sauce, chicken broth, chicken, chili powder, oregano, corn and mix well. About this time, taste it to see if you need salt or more picante (chili powder)! Taste it again, just to be sure! Put into 9X13 pan.

In another bowl, mix together the cornmeal, flour, eggs, sugar, butter and baking powder. Stir together well. If you live in the South, Jiffy Corn Muffin mix is a good substitute...if not, well, get to mixing! You will need to "dot" the top of the chicken mixture with the cornmeal mixture, so if it needs a little more liquid, add water a little at a time until it is a little thicker than pourable. "Dot" the top of the casserole and put in a preheated 350 oven. Because I make this in quantity, you may have a full casserole. If so, place the casserole on a cookie sheet before putting in the oven. When done, the cornbread topping should be browned and the chicken mixture hot.

Since this recipe was given to me as: "Oh, about a cup of this and a pinch of that...", play with it. Since I'm usually making 3 to 4 pans at a time, I just add until it looks right. I usually have too much chicken mixture, so I have found it freezes well and can be thawed at a later date and cooked with just the addition of the topping! Try it and let me know if I am really off on my measurements!

Jordan Dudley

2010-07-24T12:15:00.003-05:00

Meet Jordan Dudley from Visalia, California.

Although Jordan is here to work with the water filtration systems his church (First Presbyterian of Visalia, California) has installed with us over the last 3 years, 6 in total, he has been also joining us as we work with workteams this summer.

Thankfully, Jordan can do a little of everything...and has these past 4 weeks. In the first three days he was here, he earned his keep by fixing our water system at the Camp and fixing some problems Nahuala was having with their system! He joins the teams in construction when they are here and works on water systems when we are traveling with the teams.

He works well with all the different teams, especially the ones with young ladies!

His mother raised a right nice young man! When he joins us and the teams for meals (he never misses one), he won't eat until I have served myself, and even washed dishes one morning to keep me from having to do them! (Yes, mom, he knows how to do dishes!) He also jealously watches the teams members as they serve themselves firsts and seconds because he knows he will receive the leftovers! After about 7 trips here over the years to work with us, he knows most of my menus, has his favorites and shows up early for those meals!

As our third team in a row left this morning, he will be helping us prepare for his home church to arrive in three weeks and put in a water system across the lake. In the meantime, he will also be helping another missionary with a team putting in a system in Patzun! Busy, busy, busy!

We are enjoying working with Jordan and Johnny loves having a man around to be "manly" with. They talk water systems and such...I am enjoying having a "son" around!

Summer 2010

2010-07-17T22:46:00.003-05:00

Early June saw the arrival of Spring Creek Church from Pewaukee, Wisconsin. It was a large group of high school students and leaders that worked hard and played hard!

Not many of the days were this sunny. But they spent lots of time bending wire and making "cages" to go in the fence.

Then, fence was raised across the front of the property to help secure the area. Income for the Camp is made when people use it, so now they have to enter through the gate. This a project that will continue throughout the summer, with pictures from other teams, as we complete the circuit around all of Centennial Camp!

I am sorry there are not many pictures of such a great group, but I was only able to obtain a limited number of photos. Any additions would be greatly appreciated!!

Shepard's Pie

2010-07-14T09:15:00.003-05:00

I was asked by the Wisconsin team to post some of my recipes...so, until I have time to load pictures of the Wisconsin team and the Orr team, here is one of the current recipes! Hope you like it!

Shepard's Pie

2 pounds of ground beef, browned
1 can whole kernel corn or Veg-All
2 packages (1 box) of mashed potatoes or equivalent "homemade"
1 package Brown Gravy mix

This is the amount that fits in a 9 X 13 inch pan...adjust for the size crew you are cooking for!

The ground beef, mixed with the prepared Brown Gravy, goes in the bottom of a well greased pan, followed by the corn or veggies and topped with the prepared mashed potatoes. Put all of this in the oven for 30 to 45 minutes, or until bubbly. This is the way I remember it being made at Judson Collage in Marion, Alabama. Adjust as you wish, adding onion, cheese, or anything that strikes your fancy!

More pictures soon of the teams!

Random Pictures of the Soccer Team from Alabama and Beyond

2010-07-09T20:26:00.003-05:00

Just a few more pictures before moving on to the next team...

Strange things happen on mission trips
Sisters

OK, when you use pictures taken by the team members, you get strange pictures of cows,

and pigs. It's intriguing, I guess.

The fourth work day, the team dug a line to get us water again. Some Christian brothers from Nahuala were there to help. These are two of the men in their traditional dress.

The last day, after a day of shopping, we had one last group picture.

It's always interesting to see what pictures there are!

Lots of looks as several of the team members walked the streets of Pana carrying a pinata.

Next blog...Wisconsin!

Cables Xtremos!

2010-07-08T16:02:00.003-05:00

Today seemed like a good day to die...

so here we are fixing to zip line!

You can see the closed eyes and the scream that echoed through the forest as I jumped off of the first platform.

There were a total of 8 lines to ride and, as you can see, we were very high above the trees!

Toward the last few lines, we finally got the hang of it...

and graduated!

Soccer Clinic, Part 2

2010-06-29T09:00:00.000-05:00

Random pictures of the soccer clinic held at the Camp in June.

Soccer balls were donated and each child received one with a soccer shirt and a cloth backpack, which included a Spanish Gideon New Testament.

There were young ones and early teenagers in the various groups.

The kids learned the importance of exercising and warming up before games.

World Cup Wannabes!

2010-06-27T22:46:00.003-05:00

As we begin working with the second team of the summer, I will be posting on the soccer clinic team that was here in June. There are some problems loading pictures, so there will be a little each day!

OK, they were only World Cup wannabes, but they learned and practiced skills for soccer for two days.

The girls were asked to come in their "P E" outfits, but there were those that played in traditional traje!

Each day had two sessions for two different groups. We reached about 150 kids each day. A devotional ended each session, led by group leaders.

An extra was the haircuts available by two young women of Birmingham, Alabama! Took a little coaxing, but once the others saw a couple get their hair cut...the line was out the door!

England visits America in Guatemala!

2010-06-19T11:59:00.002-05:00

Last night we had visiting friends from England for supper. We met some of the group a couple of weeks ago when they came to the Camp to help with some cleanup. They are working at one of our churches two miles away and offered to help us out. The group has been here since the middle of March, sleeping on the floors of churches and eating Guatemalan food and what they cooked themselves. When we offered hamburgers, hotdogs, baked beans and brownies, they were all over it! We had a great visit last night and learned about the lives of ten 19 and 20 year olds, despite the differences in accents! They really enjoyed speaking English to someone other than each other and none spoke more than basic Spanish. And they all wanted to know more about Janel (far right) and growing up in the U.S.!

2 Days later...

2010-06-18T15:25:00.002-05:00

Poor Janel! She spent two days with us shopping for the three teams...traveling out to the Camp...then cooking all of the meat! By the time we were through, we had cooked 52 pounds of ground beef, 32 pounds of chicken...

and made 66 hamburgers! She doesn't want to see hamburger for awhile!

Tonight, we will have 10 students from England over for...HAMBURGERS, what else! We have made baked beans and brownies also for the evening. I will post tomorrow on the cookout!

Janel Ealy

2010-06-15T10:06:00.002-05:00

Meet Janel Ealy from Aston, Pennsylvania! We picked her up yesterday and she helped us shop for three teams at once. After we get back to the Camp this afternoon, we get to cook for three teams at once! She will also be working with the Guatemalan pastors tomorrow as they practice on their English. She has a Pennsylvania accent, but after living in Memphis, Tennessee, for two years, she has a tendency to develop a "Southern" accent when she is around folks from the South. So, Mom, she will be a "Southern belle" when she returns home!

Mail Call

2010-06-05T00:01:00.000-05:00

We received mail here at the Camp yesterday! Usually our mail comes through Dallas or Las Buenas Nuevas in Panajachel. Except for the power bill, which we can literally find anywhere at the Camp (usually not in the mailbox), we never receive mail here! But yesterday, a mailman rode up on a bicycle with one piece of mail, made me sign for it (it was not registered) and give my passport number to be able to receive it. It was Brad and Lindsey Bridges prayer letter - Brad and Lindsey are some of CAM's newest missionaries in Uruguay. Glad it wasn't junk mail! And it only took 3 years for us to start getting mail here...now that we are leaving...

Two days of sun!

2010-06-03T15:30:00.002-05:00

We're excited...we had two days in a row of sun without rain! That has given us a chance to do some clean-up without being knee deep in mud.

Yesterday morning, one of our area churches showed up with 7 guys to help us clean up. They started with the backyard landslide that took out our fence. Until we get that fixed, Snow has to be on a chain all of the time...which she is not fond of. She is our escape artist who loves to get free and roll in cow...you get the idea.

The well diggers became well cleaners! There was mud 1 meter deep (about 3 feet, for those metrically challenged) in the well that came in through the ground water. They went down into the well, sent up buckets and buckets of mud, cleaned down the well walls and cleaned out our cistern tank. We now have water and can take a shower in water that is cleaner than we are!

On a side note that tells a little of the culture in our area, the family of well diggers are just that...well diggers. None of the kids go to school (not even that little one) because they will grow up to be well diggers and they don't need school for that, so says the father. Unfortunately we see that all too often, whether they are well diggers, farmers or whatever. Even though all children are required by law to go to school through the 3rd grade (???), the law is not enforced. So grows another generation without education.

Santa Rita

2010-06-01T00:01:00.000-05:00

On Sunday, I mentioned that Johnny and Esteban went to a nearby village to help with relief efforts. They took the 4WD truck, but still had to walk part of the way in.

You can see the line of cars at the top of the picture. They were stopped by the line of boulders and trees that came down the mountain and crossed the road. When they first got out of the truck and Johnny took a couple of pictures, the guys working all stopped and started saying he was a reporter. Then he began helping with moving the boulders and someone recognized him as "the Camp missionary".

They drove over one area of debris, but got stopped at another and had to walk into the village. You can see where the wall of mud, water, boulders and trees came through the town. Esteban had an uncle who was a pastor at the evangelical church in the village. His house had 4 feet of mud inside, which they helped clean. The clothes were left with him to use and disperse.

They also helped move mud, boulders and trees from across the main road in town.

The torrent of debris and mud took out road and houses on it's way to the lower side of the village. Thankfully, no one was killed.

Day 3 of Agatha

2010-05-31T10:49:00.002-05:00

We have electricity, we have internet...we are doing OK. What we don't have, nor does anyone else around us, is clean water! Our water comes from a well in our back yard. With the fast rise of the water table underground, the well is filling with not only water but also mud. What filters we have can't take care of it. We have some drinkable water, enough if we are careful, but all of the water in the house - the shower, the toilet, the faucets and the washing machine - looks like the water above. Kind of hard to wash clothes in water that is dirtier than the clothes you are washing!

Day 2 of Agatha

2010-05-30T13:07:00.004-05:00

It is 12:30PM, local time, and the rain has stopped for the time being...we even had a little weak sun this morning! So I got out and took photos of the damage from last night:

These first two photos were taken minutes apart. It had been raining all day when we heard what sounded like a truck on the little road between our house and the "hill" next to us. It wasn't a truck, it was the hill coming down.

Minutes later, I snapped this picture
of the hill sliding down even more, taking out a small tree and bending the fence over. Snow is now on a chain because she could get out so easily.

This was the side of the hill overlooking the small soccer field on the lower level. Besides the hill crumbling, this was covered in water last evening and, even now, has inches deep mud that you sink into when you walk on it.

Unfortunately, all of the work that the Wisconsin youth team put in two summers ago got washed down the river. When they return in a few weeks, they may very well get to do it all over again!

A view in the other direction...all of that mud you see is several inches deep and you sink into it when you walk on it.

From atop the hillside next to us, you can see how the land slid. This was a small road that people used to get to a village on the mountain on the other side of the river.

Looking across the river to the municipal soccer field, you see bare places on the mountainside. These were where landslides occurred last night. Most occurred as dusk arrived, along with a heavy rain, and we could only hear them, not see them. It was scary hearing all of that but not being able to tell where it was coming from.

Yes, we had damage...but we are OK. Our house is dry (except for the leaks) and we have food and electricity. The road to Solola and Panajachel is out. And the surrounding villages are calling for help. Many are cut off, mudslides taking out roads, houses and people. Johnny and Esteban (our guard) have gone to help in a village above us where several lost houses. Don't know if there were any deaths or not. Johnny took clothes that were left from teams (see, they came in handy!) to hand out to those who need them. As we find out needs, we will try to help. And, unfortunately, it's not over. The tropical storm continues to pour rain over lower Mexico and Guatemala. The temperature is dropping and the rain will begin again within the next couple of hours. Yes, pray for us, but also pray with us that the Guatemalan churches will look beyond themselves to see the needs around them and be a light in this scary time.

Stay tuned for more news later, as we get it. I hope to have pictures from Johnny from the relief efforts he and Esteban are doing. To see some of the pictures taken and put into the national newspapers, go to the following websites. They are in Spanish, but you can see some of the devestation this seemingly small tropical storm has caused.

www.prensalibre.com

www.nuestrodiario.com

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

2010-05-29T10:34:00.003-05:00

As I mentioned in a post earlier this week, it has been raining here...lots!

We had our quarterly consejo meetings here and stayed wet most of the time. Thankfully, everyone left yesterday about 2:00 PM, before the REAL RAIN started. It has rained solid since about 4 PM yesterday and we have towels all over the house to handle the leaks in the roof!

From the living room window, we could see that the river had risen. It wasn't until Johnny put on his rainsuit and boots, went down into the playground area and took pictures that we saw just how bad it is. And we are expecting rain all weekend from a typhoon off the Pacific coast.

Usually the river is 2 feet below and 3 feet on the outside of the fence. The playground equipment is just to the left of this picture.

Guatemala is expecting flooding and mudslides from all of this rain. And all of this is on top of the volcano, Pacaya, erupting. Keep us in your prayers as we travel, beginning Monday, to pick up work groups (in the capital where the volcano eruption is) through the flooded and mudslide areas between here and there.

Four hours later...

As you can see, the water is encroaching. On the right side of the picture, the fence is giving under the weight of the water. Usually it stands 6-7 feet high...

Pacaya erupts

2010-05-28T23:45:00.002-05:00

One of the most active volcanos in Guatemala erupted yesterday about 3 PM. Pacaya is about 20 miles outside of Guatemala City and has affected life in that area. Above is a picture taken from the internet of Pacaya erupting in 2002. We have not seen pictures yet, but they are saying that lava is spewing into the air like it did then.

We have not been affected, as far west as we are, but those in the capital and nearby towns are covered in volcanic "sand". The above picture was taken in a town between Guatemala City and the volcano and was published in a national newspaper today. Friends in Guatemala City say there is about 3 inches of "sand" and ash on everything. The international airport has been closed until at least Saturday. Everyone is doing OK, just staying inside until it passes. As the volcano continues to erupt, that may be awhile...

Rainy day

2010-05-27T09:50:00.002-05:00

Rain...this morning it started even before I got up. We usually have sun in the mornings...but not today.

Normally it wouldn't bother me so much, but today and tomorrow, we have about 70 pastors and church leaders coming for our quarterly consejo meetings. They insisted on having it here at the Camp this time, even though we have a small meeting room and no dormitories yet. So, they will sleep in the garage tonight and eat out under a canopy in the yard. At least we have bathrooms!

Sube-baja

2010-05-22T00:05:00.000-05:00

Sube-baja...that's what they call a see-saw here. Esteban, the guard, built one for the playground area. As you can see, more than just the kids use it! Many of you know these guys...Juan Agosto Saenz (former pastor of the Pana church) on the left and Samuel Can (Camp administrator) on the right.

God's Grace

2010-05-18T20:08:00.003-05:00

What do you do when the roads are blocked? Three minutes before getting on the road to take the guys to the capital, we were informed that the roads were blocked from manifestaciones or demonstrations. This was 9:00 in the morning. When could we hope to get through? Maybe noon, maybe later! It was actually later...5:00 in the afternoon before the traffic started moving again. Thankfully, we had not left yet. We would have been stuck in the truck without lunch, bathrooms or anything to do. So we found something to pass the time! Unfortunately, when we heard the traffic moving again, we jumped and ran, left the game where it was and don't even know who won!

Great Commission 2020

2010-05-07T22:12:00.002-05:00

Have you ever felt like you didn't know enough to lead someone to Christ? Do you feel that church needs to be "glamour" and "glitz" to attract people? If you do, check out the simple websites of Global Media Outreach. Most are very simple, without graphics or much else, but they present the Gospel very clearly. At the bottom is a button to indicate if you made a decision or not and if you want follow-up. These websites are in almost any language imaginable! In English, look at: www.4stepstoGod.mobi, www.Jesus2020.com, www.Godlovestheworld.com, or www.trueloveandGod.mobi. There are others, but you get the idea. Simple, right?

Now, go to www.GreatCommission2020.com. What you will see is a map of the world and indications when someone logs on to one of Global Media Outreach's sites. You will also see if they made a decision. It's humbling to see flags go up literally all over the world. I watched for 20 minutes and saw decisions made in countries such as Iran, China, Peru, United States and India. Pray for this ministry...they are reaching people in countries that we can't enter. As many problems as we may have with the internet, you have to admit that God is using it!

Unique musical group

2010-05-01T21:00:00.000-05:00

I am attempting to do something I haven't tried before. Below is a video clip of an unusual musical group we heard recently in one of our local churches. Easter Sunday, during a praise service at that same church, they played and sang again. I was so impressed that I resolved to try to pass this on so you can hear it also! The pipes and flute played are unusual...I haven't heard groups use these before. You will also notice two different types of guitars, besides the more common style. I have heard these played by two different groups in the last few weeks.

I am sorry that it is not the whole song but you will get the idea. I hope you enjoy this as much as we did!

Next time you see those guys on the streets of Pana selling the pan flutes, just think what you could learn to do!

One, two, three...

2010-04-15T16:36:00.002-05:00

No, I haven't gone back on my promise to continue the blog...it's just that our internet connection of late has been super slow. So, no pictures until I can get them uploaded.

This afternoon I had a Quiche language lesson. My guard's wife, Katarina, is my teacher, along with her 5 year old son Misael. As I would count, using the magnetic numbers on the fridge, he would count along with me. I can count from one to ten, but don't ask me to name them out of order yet! Misael had his own lesson...after we practiced in Quiche, I taught him one to ten in English. He did very well. Sad that I am on the level of a 5 year old...

"Lost" "pieces"

2010-04-07T00:01:00.002-05:00

Look at what I discovered in Alabama in February! Almond Joy...our favorite! Next would be the Dark Chocolate, and last the York Peppermint Patties. Snuck a couple of bags in the carry-on before leaving. Yum! Got the first season of Lost for Christmas. Had to see what everyone was talking about! Needless to say, I liked it, got hooked and bought Seasons 2 - 5 on sale at Amazon. Guess what we do in the evenings?

I'm hooked...Johnny's just burned out!

So I bribe him with the Almond Joy!

Office and Salon

2010-04-05T16:35:00.002-05:00

Remember the office and salon that was finished by the teams last summer? You'll be happy to see that we finally have some furniture to make them a real office and salon!

The table with the two chairs will soon hold a desktop computer and printer!

The "lockers" in the corner are for the different church committees in the area that may want to use the office as their meeting place, since we are fairly central. The committees can bring files, office needs, etc. and put in their "locker" and lock it with a padlock. Since file cabinets are very expensive, this was a simple way to give up to 10 committees room! The file cabinet in the other corner will be for the Camp.

You are looking at the start of the Pastor's Library. We have been growing since this picture was taken and now have over 50 books, various DVDs and programs for the pastors to use! All of the books, DVDs and programs are in Spanish and have been donated by various individuals and groups. We would love to fill this bookcase and have to buy a new one!

Finally, the Salon now has two whiteboards and a clock, besides the tables and chairs! We are still looking to buy a pull-down screen for use with the projector. We have the money but locating the screen has been the problem. Here's Johnny resting after he and Samuel hung the boards.

The request for much of this was placed in the CAM Christmas Catalogue this past holiday season. As you can see, gifts given to the Christmas Catalogue are put to good use! Thank you to all who gave, whether through the Catalogue or as a team. All of this has been used and will find many more years of usefulness!

He Is Risen!

2010-04-04T00:01:00.001-05:00

He Is Risen!

He Is Risen, Indeed!

Semana Santa - 2010

2010-04-03T00:01:00.000-05:00

The week of Semana Santa, or Holy Week, is celebrated throughout the Christian world. Here in Guatemala, Holy Week is a holiday, with many businesses closing at least from Thursday thru Sunday, if not the whole week. We have stayed at the Camp this week, having various groups from the churches come to have "retreats" and such. Travel is more dangerous this week and the pickpockets are out in force in the tourist areas such as Antigua and Panajachel.

Pray for those, here and all over the world, that don't believe in the cross...those that have never heard...those that don't accept the sacrifice that was given. Christianity is not a religion, it is a relationship. A relationship with God and His Son, Jesus Christ. A relationship that accepts the sacrifice that was made on our behalf. Many religions say, "Do, do, do". God says, "It has already been done". And the debt was shown "Paid in full" by the Resurrection!

We will celebrate on Sunday, the Day of Resurrection, with one of our area churches. You, dear friends, will be in our hearts.

Back again!

2010-04-02T12:30:00.004-05:00

Those of you that haven't been here since last summer will be pleased to see the work of our January team from West Rome, Michigan. Those of you from West Rome will be pleased to see the work that has been done since you left! The gates give us more control over people coming onto the property (our side, at least) by car. There is a walk-thru gate on the left of the big gates that doesn't have a door yet, so walk-thru traffic continues. Other than one of our barbed wire fences getting cut, we are not having the problems with the locals that we had at first, as we began to fence and close off trails and secure the property. We are doing it slowly, so, like the frog in the pot of slowly heating water, they are getting accustomed to it little by little.

I have always been a procrastinator...just ask my mother! After 3 years of blogging, it has gotten slower and slower. For that I am sorry. I don't get much feedback, so it's hard to see if I am just doing this for me or if others enjoy it also. I guess there are others also because this week I received an email saying certain folks were having withdrawal symptoms! So, here I am again. I hope to continue in a timely manner, although pictures will be more sparse than usual. The time it takes for pictures to load has been one of my issues. So, more blogs with fewer pictures, OK?

Those of you that read this, thank you.

It's being used...

2009-12-02T10:30:00.002-06:00

Besides the English classes I have been teaching, the first "formal" use of the new salon was yesterday by pastors and their wives in the Pamazebal area close to the Camp. There were 23 in attendance. Johnny took these pictures during their meeting.

We still need a large whiteboard and a pull-down screen for the front of the meeting room.

The tables and chairs were donated with a generous gift from Wisconsin!

Again, thanks to all who had a part in building and helping supply the new salon. I don't have pictures of the new bathrooms in use...but we are ever so thankful for them also!

Vacation Bible School 2009

2009-11-11T12:04:00.004-06:00

We would like to say "thank you" to all the folks who helped us help the local churches with Vacation Bible School. As many of you know, school is out here November, December and part of January. So, as the U.S. churches do in the summer vacation, we have Vacation Bible School during the vacation break...usually in November or early December. We had many gifts from teams that came down during the year of craft supplies, Bibles and a special gift from a good friend in Decatur, Alabama, which supplied materials for teaching. In all, we were able to help 8 churches with craft supplies, teaching materials (in Spanish, of course), Spanish Bibles and money to help support the VBS. The church of the pastor in the photo is doing three VBS programs - in their church and in 2 other villages that do not have an evangelical church present. In one, they use the local school without any electricity. Just this one church alone reaches about 250 children! So you see why we are so thankful for your gifts! It is amazing to see the ingenuity of the teachers to make some kind of craft project out of whatever they are given! God has blessed these programs in reaching children for Christ and God will bless you for helping. All of the pastors we have helped have wanted us to tell you all...

Gracias, Maltiox, Thank you!

2009-11-05T00:01:00.001-06:00

He came to work...and work he did! Wayne Campbell, the youth pastor at our home church, First Bible Church of Decatur, Alabama, visited us for a week in October. He wanted to see what we did and boy did he ever!

Wayne spent a couple of days learning to tie wire and make concrete on the ground. He was helping us prepare for the dedication of the Camp by putting up a wall and fence at the end of the soccer field.

He also spent almost every evening helping out with some computer problems!

But everything he did wasn't work! We did visit Panajachel and Antigua. Here, you can see him climbing the waterfall between the Camp and Panajachel!

Thank you, Wayne, for all of your work! But most of all, thank you for coming to visit and lift us up!

Centennial Camp Dedication

2009-11-03T12:33:00.007-06:00

Finally, after three years of work! Monday, November 2nd, all of our churches were invited to join us in a dedication of Centennial Camp. We had just returned to the Camp the evening before after a week in Dallas, but were up early Monday morning to welcome around 1,000 of our church members to see what Centennial Camp was all about! Below are some pictures of the day:

We had children and ancianos and everyone in between!

The basketball court, the papifut court, the playground equipment and, especially, the new bathrooms were all utilized!

As you can see, we packed them in!

We were joined by several of our CAM staff - Niel and Diana Thomas, Glenn Stewart, Brandon Scott (who didn't show up in pictures because he took many of these!), Joel, Vivian and Josh Lara and finally Mike Stephenson, who represented CAM International in the dedication!

We welcomed everyone...I managed to do it in English, Spanish and Quiche! After a time of worship, a devotional by the president of the national Centoramerican church consejo, a congratulatory speech by Mike Stephenson of CAM and a prayer of dedication by Joel Lara...

We enjoyed praise music by a ensemble from the Esmirna church in Solola! There were about 6 marimba players playing on 2 marimbas, a bass, drums and various percussion instruments. You can see the drummer above...he really enjoyed what he was doing!

Finally, the ribbon was cut on the new building! Then...what everyone had been waiting for...

fun and games! Noe refereed the guys' papifut games while the ladies played a basketball tournament! I didn't get a picture of the winners with their trophies because during this time they also started feeding the crowd.

We only had about 1,000 people...I can't imagine the crowd of 5,000 that Jesus fed! Puts it all in perspective, doesn't it?

I want to thank all of the teams we have had in the last 3 years and who worked so hard on the Camp. This was only the beginning of what we will have, but it was a good start! Thanks to you all and God bless you!

Almost finished!

2009-09-28T13:27:00.004-05:00

For anyone who has done construction in Guatemala, these are familiar sights...

gravel...

sand...

and a bucket brigade!

Such was our Monday, a week ago! The guys had finished the "prep" work for the cistern on the mountain and were ready to pour the walls.

It took all of us, including Junior and Johnny, to make the concrete and get it in the forms before the rain started.

Just had to put this one in...he's so cute!

Believe it or not, they had a shovel that even fit my hand! I spent three hours shoveling sand and filling buckets. Thought I wouldn't be able to move the next day but God was gracious.

After a lunch on the ground of caldo with chicken and vegetables, we headed to the house just ahead of the rain. Good timing!

Two days later, the forms were removed and now they just have to make a top for it and fill it up! We are having a celebration to officially open the new building on the 2nd of November. By that time, all of the bathroom amenities will be completed and the lights in! (Wayne, guess what you will be doing!)

Water on the mountain

2009-09-14T00:01:00.000-05:00

Before we hook up the water to the bathrooms recently built at the Camp, a water cistern needed to be dug on the mountain across the highway. Johnny, Noe and Kiki have spent the last week and a half digging and preparing the hole for concrete. First, rocks had to be taken up from the road to the cistern location.

And Johnny told his cardiologist he was just doing "administrative work"!

The rocks are thrown into the hole...

then leveled. A layer of concrete will be placed on the bottom and sides.

Two small springs empty into the cistern also. Kiki drinks the water, saying that it is not contaminated, just dirty...and a little dirt is good for you!

Johnny prepares to make another load.

San Andreas bridge

2009-09-12T00:01:00.000-05:00

Our last team in August worked daily in the Centroamericana church in San Andreas Semetebaj. Panajachel is located in a valley between two mountains, with one entrance coming in from Solola and the other from San Andreas. So each day, we traveled to San Andreas from Panajachel, having to cross over a bridge enroute. Each day, we watched the bridge crumble a little more and feared we would not continue to be able to pass. Well, the bridge hasn't fallen off the mountain yet! We passed that way last week and I took pictures of the continuing "crumble".

They say they are going to build a new bridge, but if they don't hurry, any small earth tremor will take care of the destruction process! We still pass that way, wondering each time if we will be able to return!

Nahuala feeding program

2009-09-10T15:51:00.003-05:00

On Thursdays, I go to a pueblo close to the Camp where we have a church with a medical clinic, school, feeding program and after-school program. This church has a wonderful ministry in the town of Nahuala. In particular, I work with the feeding program, feeding as many as 3000 underpriviledged a week! They feed on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays most weeks with a different group of women and children coming each day. Here are some photos of my day today:

A young lady who is training as a nurse and working in the clinic gives a short teaching lecture on
a health related issue most weeks.

Each woman brings a container from home when they come to eat. After all have eaten lunch, the remaining food is divided among the containers for the women to take home.

The brick thing in the background is the stove. It has a piece of sheet metal on top, where the pots go, and a fire underneath, that heats it. Nothing is baked, everything is cooked on top of the stove. In front is Isabel, behind is Elsa and Juanita. Besides letting me help, they are intent on teaching me Quiche! I am collecting up quite a vocabulary!

Tamalitos, or small tamales, are usual for each lunch. The left-overs are divided among the women.

The dining room got painted this week and all of the tables and benches were taken outside and scrubbed. Also, the floor got a good scrubbing!

They are in the process of building a new kitchen and storeroom. The kitchen is almost finished and, as you can see, the storeroom is still in process.

God is blessing this church and the work that they do. Recently, we were able to pass along a gift from a friend in the United States. With this gift, they will be able to supply more fruit vegetables and meat to the meals. Also, Juanita wants to buy a small, portable CD player to use with the children's song CDs that many of you have sent for us to give out. The families that come to the feeding program are rarely evangelical, most are Catholic or nothing at all. Juanita gives a devotional each day before lunch for the women and wants to teach the children songs about Jesus!

Widows and Orphans

2009-09-02T16:19:00.003-05:00

Even though I am behind on my postings of teams from this summer, I wanted to show you a group we met two days after returning from the States. This was a group of widows and orphans from Totonicopan, west of us on the Pan American highway. They come from two villages which are, at present, having a very nasty border dispute. The Saturday before this group came to the Camp, 40 people were injured in a clash between the two villages. Since this ministry serves both villages, people from both villages were here together and no problems! This was an answer to prayer! They had a great day playing basketball, soccer and just having fun. Many were young children, all were without many resources. Several of our teams this summer brought items for us to use as we saw fit, in particular, children's clothes and Bibles in Spanish. Well, guys, both got used ! The children's clothes that were brought and most of the left over adult clothes from the teams were handed out. It was one of the most orderly times I've seen! Each person got one item and many of the mothers got something for their child instead of for themselves! The church helpers that were there helped give things out and knew who needed what. Bibles were also a need for the church since most of the members don't have Bibles of their own. The church received Bibles to be used in the services and Bible studies.

It was a blessing to be able to share from our plenty (thanks to you!) with those that were so needy. Since many of these villages are in the mountains, need for warm sweaters for the women and girls and warm clothing for boys is always there. We have also had several requests for Study Bibles in Spanish.

Thank you to all of you that were a part of this summer's teams and brought items for the people of Guatemala. May we be faithful to use them to God's glory!

Oddity

2009-08-31T11:10:00.002-05:00

I reckon I must be an oddity in this area. Yesterday, while doing my exercise walking on the basketball court (20 laps is a mile), I collected a group of women and children on the road above...just watching! Most people in the mountains don't have cars so they walk. To see someone walking around and around and going nowhere was terribly funny to them. Glad to see I can bring a smile to someone's (or several someones) face!

The Summer's Project

2009-08-11T18:40:00.003-05:00

This is the view we had at the first of the summer...

and this is the view now!

The building is composed of bathrooms and showers with a small tienda on the first level (building completed last summer) and a salon and office on the second level (completed this year).

Since it has taken me a month to blog again, I thought I would show the overall view. In the next few weeks, I will show pictures of the various groups we had helping us with this and other projects! But for now, some pictures showing the (almost) completed project!

The roof here in the office was a bear, having to incorporate a curved wall. After much anguish and knashing of teeth, this was the result!

The salon is now receiving its tile floor and is totally "stuccoed" inside and out.

The bathrooms have received their floor and wall tile. Now all that is left is to connect the toilets, sinks and showers.

And for our newest addition...we now have a pair of dove. Now all we need are names...any suggestions?

Salon in progress...

2009-07-11T12:20:00.002-05:00

Since the internet is so slow today, I will just post a few pictures to give you an idea of what is happening. As you can see, the roof over the salon is half on, with First Bible of Decatur, Alabama, coming next week to complete it. Noe is putting a stucco finish on the inside walls and we bought some beautiful floor tile yesterday. Also, when all is completed, we had a generous gift of cash to buy the tables, chairs, whiteboard, etc, from Wisconsin and a gift of a projector from California! I can't wait to show you the completed room!
Some of you worked on the lower level last year. Finally, we are getting the wall tile up and will soon have the toilets and showers in. By the end of the summer, we hope all of this will be in use!

Kiki and Miguel have been working hard to get this completed!

Thank you to all of you that have worked on these projects, assisted with the building financially and prayed for these projects and their eventual use. May God bless you all.

Slow...

2009-07-09T21:26:00.001-05:00

Tried to post some pictures tonight of the work that was done last week. Sorry...after 4 years without, it has been great to have internet...even if it is slower than dial-up! Not fast enough to load the pictures but I'll try again tomorrow. Until then, Dios te bendiga!

More on California/Ohio

2009-06-30T00:01:00.001-05:00

Making friends
My personal gardener!

Smiles cross all barriers

Time out for games

Doesn't taste bad...once you get past the legs!

Visalia, California + Painesville, Ohio

2009-06-29T00:01:00.000-05:00

Over the next few days, I will post pictures of our week with the Visalia team. (We had one join us from Painesville, OH, also.) In the meantime, I will be collecting pictures for the upcoming team!

When they send the wrong block, you make it work!

It's just like icing a cake...

But play nice!

There's always wire to bend.

We loved playing games after work! But you had to watch Alex...he was quiet but deadly!

The Second Floor is started...

2009-06-28T16:41:00.003-05:00

As Summer 2009 begins, our first teams arrive. This summer's project is to put the second floor on the building that was started last year. It will be a meeting room that will hold about 50 people and an office on one end. The team from Visalia, California (and one from Ohio) got the walls up...

and now we are waiting for Pewaukee, Wisconsin to put on the roof! We are still finishing the bathrooms (the first floor) but most of that is tile work and hooking up toilets and sinks. This will be a fruitful summer in the work at Centennial Camp! May it all be used to the Glory of God!

Mexican Train/Chicken Foot

2009-06-20T00:01:00.000-05:00

Learned some new games...and new rules to old games! This group must not be working hard enough; they stay up late each night and play games. And they are cutthroat! Pictures of their work coming soon!

I like my chairs!

2009-06-18T00:01:00.000-05:00

When you are an intern, you get to do lots of things! I had bought the material for these chairs and had not had time to cover them. Krystal offered to do them and they look great! Thanks, Krystal!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

2009-06-16T00:01:00.002-05:00

It may look like a new toy, but Johnny and Samuel had great fun using the new lawnmower and I loved having my grass cut! You can see how tall the grass was...and it was even worse in the back yard! Then it was the basketball court and the lower picnic area. You should have seen him zoom up the hill when the rain started!

Fun!

2009-06-15T22:09:00.004-05:00

This is representative of all last week! This week too...lots of cooking. We have a great group from California starting the second floor of the bathhouse building. Wisconsin, better hope they get all of the block laid! We have other plans for you! And FBC to follow! Can't wait!

2009-06-02T19:29:00.002-05:00

Even though it is the rainy season, we have had almost a week of very little to no rain. It really was kind of nice, I worked in my garden several days. But today we returned from the capital to a torrential downpour. But Krystal was happy...she finally got to wear the rain boots she brought!

Krystal Holst

2009-05-24T00:01:00.000-05:00

Meet Krystal Holst. She came to Centennial Camp last summer with her church group and contacted us about being an intern this summer. She is from Wisconsin and attends Grace College in Indiana. Last week we stayed in Panajachel because she was working at a school, attached to one of our churches, in San Andreas. They had her teaching English to middle school aged kids each afternoon. Krystal was very creative and played games with them to increase their vocabulary, such as Pictionary in the photo below.

Here, she is working with a group of young ladies putting a puzzle together by matching English words with their Spanish counterparts. As I said, she is very creative! She was such a success that the school (and the kids) wanted her to come back next week. So next week she will teach elementary school kids (English again) in the mornings at a public school in Argueta, then afternoon classes with the San Andreas school. Oh, and on Wednesdays and Saturdays, she is working with kids at a nearby church. Such is the busy life of the intern!

My Day

2009-05-23T11:55:00.002-05:00

Sorry that I haven't "spoken" in awhile. Some people have asked what a typical day is like for us. I thought I would give a glimpse...

After returning from Panajachel at 7:00PM last night, Krystal (our intern) and I waited for Johnny to get back from the capital. He arrived about 11:00PM, exhausted, so it was bed for all of us. This morning I was up at 7:00AM, fixed breakfast and put in a load of laundry. Johnny headed up the mountain looking like a Guatemalan with his azadon (hoe), machete, botas (rubber boots) and mochila (backpack) carrying his lunch. He is working up on the mountain with a group of brothers from a village across the lake. Then, I washed the breakfast dishes, got a shower, entertained a family that came by to visit and sold a tarea of wood (about a cord, more or less). But since it was a truck load of women and a young boy, I also loaded the wood onto the pickup. And all of this is before 11:00AM! Now I need another shower, do some more laundry and sweep and clean the house before taking Krystal to her teaching duties at a nearby church this afternoon. While she is teaching, I will meet with a young lady that is working on her English for a couple of hours. Then home, fix supper and clean up before bed. Then it starts all over again tomorrow!

You come down and I will find work for you!

Rainy season is upon us

2009-04-30T01:00:00.000-05:00

Last week, the rain started in our area of Guatemala. Now we have to remember to take umbrellas with us everywhere. Harking back to the days of our mothers, I have to remember if I have clothes on the line! But it is settling the dust and bringing out the flowers. Because it is cooler in the afternoons/evenings, jackets are usually needed and we have fires in the fireplace often!

What do you do...?

2009-04-27T14:36:00.002-05:00

What do you do when four people show up at your house for a "lunch meeting" at 1:00 PM...a week early?

You feed them tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches!

Such is life!

2009 Guatemala Field Conference

2009-04-21T11:33:00.002-05:00

La Mision, in San Lucas, was the site of CAM's annual Guatemala Field Conference. It was a time of relaxation and renewing of the body and spirit in a beautiful setting!

Our speaker for the weekend was Roger Raymer, pastor of Lakeridge Bible Church in Mesquite, TX. He did a wonderful study on faith and how that relates to us, using Hebrews 11. As much as we enjoyed his time with us, we won't let him come back without his lovely wife Judy!

The only drawback to the location of the conference was the pig farm next door. We prayed often that the "Swine #9" would blow the other direction! And those of us that stayed overnights at the mission house got serenaded each morning by excited pigs...sounded like at least a thousand...at feeding time (5:00 AM). It gave a whole new meaning to "squeal like a pig"!

Cutting trees

2009-04-14T17:04:00.002-05:00

Finally, we are beginning to cut the trees on the mountain. This must be done before we can build more around the existing cabins, as much to raise money for the Camp as to clear areas for building. Oxen are used to move the logs from where they are cut to the side of the road so the truck can pick them up. I was surprised at how trained the oxen were! With just a couple of hand signs, the young man could make them go forward, back up and step over the log so they could pull it. It was pretty amazing!

Semana Santa

2009-04-10T01:00:00.001-05:00

Semana Santa - Holy Week - is a week-long celebration in Latin American countries like Guatemala. Many people are off from work, the banks only work half-days, the schools are out and everybody that can comes to Antigua! Although Antigua is famous all over the world for its celebrations of Semana Santa, on a much smaller scale you can find the same type of celebrations in almost every town.

Depending on the time of the processional, as much as 12 hours before begins the making of the alfombra. The alfombra, (carpet or rug) is elaborately made from such diverse items as flowers, vegetables, plastic or paper mache figures, colored sand or colored sawdust.

As much as a year before, the artisians decide on a pattern. These can be bought in the stores or handmade and be original designs. Because they are large, boards are placed across the design for the artists to use.

As I mentioned, the designs are elaborate and take many hours to complete. Usually whole households work on them together, placing them in front of their home or place of business. We watched this particular one being made, started before dawn and finished minutes before the processional passed over it.

Many people watch the alfombras being made, but the processionals themselves draw hugh crowds. Each Catholic church has its own processional and route. In Antigua, there are many processionals, each being done by a different Catholic church. All of the surrounding villages have one, so there are several each day, starting on Monday of Holy Week until the Sunday of Easter.

The members of the processionals are usually male, although we have seen a couple with women. The men are in either costume or robes and are carrying the "float" from their church. These men represent the Roman soliders that arrested and crucified Christ. They are proceeded by men in robes carrying burning incense, which is very strong and distinctive.

The "floats" are massive, weighing hundreds of pounds. This one pictures Jesus carrying His cross to Calvary. The women we saw carried a "float" of the Virgin Mary and was maybe half this size.

There are approximately 40 men carrying this "float". It is carried very slowly and with a side-to-side motion. As they walk over the alfombra, it is destroyed. All of that work is demolished in minutes!

Occasionally you will see an alfombra that celebrates the resurrection of Christ. And on Resurrection Sunday (Pascua), many of the evangelical churches have sunrise services. Pray that more people will focus on the Resurrection and the payment that was made for us. Pray we have wisdom in presenting this Good News to all of Guatemala!

Tortillar

2009-04-09T18:45:00.006-05:00

Did you know there is a verb "to make tortillas"? We can't find it in any dictionary, but the ladies in Patzun said there was!Here we are making tortillas for the team I helped with in Patzun. The big, round griddle, a comal, is heated by propane gas in this case. In many homes, they are a piece of sheet metal over a fire!

Our group had trouble with their flights, so the young ladies from the earliest arrival got to help and received a cultural lesson!

I did better this time around! Two years ago, these same ladies tried to teach me how to make tortillas and I caused quite a bit of amusement!

Andrea and Katherine found out that if you don't keep your hands wet enough, you tear up the tortilla! On the other hand, if they are too wet, it tears up also! Since the Guatemalan women begin learning as early as age 4 how to do this, we were a little behind in the process!

Country Cousins

2009-03-31T00:01:00.000-05:00

Meet the "Country Cousins"! We are a team of CAM missionaries here in Guatemala mainly located in the Lake Atitlan/Quetzaltenango/Huehuetenango areas. Last week we met together as a team for the first time and had a great time! Even though we are 2 and 3 hours from each other, we are the closest CAM missionaries to each other. We are also the only group of CAM missionaries not living around Guatemala City. So we have each others' backs.

L-R standing: Steve and Elise Sywulka (team leader), Danny and Daphne Foote, holding Naomi with Isaac, Chloe Ann and Titus kneeling in front (Santiago, across the Lake), Niel and Diana Thomas (LBN), Brandon Scott holding Deacon with wife, Jenny, and Madeline in front (Quetzaltenango), and Johnny and Maria Coker (Centennial Camp). Not shown are Dave and Helen Ekstrom (Huehuetenango) who were in the capital for Dave's back surgery. Pray for these folks because they are our "family" here and we need each other.

James 5 :16

Jornada Medica

2009-03-30T13:00:00.000-05:00

As you read this, I will be working with a group out of Texas for the next three days. My primary function, along with two other nurses, is to run a medical clinic in each of three villages around the Lake: San Pablo (Monday), San Juan (Tuesday) and San Marcos (Wednesday). Other people in the group will be involved with local churches and teaching children. Pray for our time working, that in all we do, Christ's light will shine through us and it all be to God's glory! I will post pictures at the end of the week.

Happy 4th Anniversay to Us!

2009-03-29T21:40:00.004-05:00

Today is our 4th anniversary of our arrival in Guatemala. It has been an eventful 4 years with many more to come, God willing. Continue to pray with us for the Guatemalan people. We have seen many changes in the country since we first began coming on mission trips. But, as is seen all over the world, people still need the Lord. That's why we came...that's why we are still here.

Matthew 28:19, 20

Check it out!

2009-03-23T00:01:00.000-05:00

Last Thursday, we had a visit from members of Healing Waters International - Greg, Juan and Mario. We had a great time visiting and they checked out our water filtration system, then Johnny took them to Panajachel and Pamazebal to see those systems. Greg has a blog in which he posted of their visit with us. You can see it at www.blogadegregorio.blogspot.com (see the March 19th posting) and visit Healing Waters International's site at www.healingwatersintl.org to learn more about their work here, in Mexico and in the Dominican Republic! Thanks, guys, for a great morning!

"Mr. Shu"

2009-03-22T00:01:00.000-05:00

Jerry Shumake, aka "Mr. Shu", has been a family friend since I was in Junior High. (We won't discuss how many years that has been!) He and his wife have "adopted" us and Centennial Camp and we had the pleasure of visiting with him while we were in Decatur. We missed seeing Terry, his wife, but you may can catch her if you visit them at their business, Shumake's Furniture!

Saturday morning

2009-03-21T14:42:00.004-05:00

At about 8:30 this morning, a group of 17 from San Lucas Toliman, a village around the lake from us, arrived to work here at the Camp. The above picture may not look like much, but 6 or 7 truckloads of dirt were moved from across the highway to fill in behind the new wall by one group. They also moved the small trees that had originally been planted on the left of the wall to the right. Another group dug a 25 foot trench and a 7 foot deep hole, which will all be part of the septic system for the bathrooms. All in all, a good morning's work. I know that Johnny is pooped!

Gracias hermanos!

The Starbucks team!

2009-03-20T00:01:00.000-05:00

L to R: Olivia, Brittany and Joy

Three of "My Girls" in Decatur, Alabama!

March return

2009-03-19T15:54:00.007-05:00

Whew! Everybody has probably thought I had fallen off the face of the earth! The last 4 1/2 months have been both a blessing and a curse (you try living out of a suitcase for that long!). For those of you that don't know, within the week of returning to Guatemala in January, I was back on a plane to Alabama. My mother had had a reaction to a new medication in that it interferred with her blood thinner. She began bleeding internally and had lost several pints before it was diagnosed. Thankfully, a bullnosed cardiology nurse bullied her into the hospital and saved her life. I want to publicly thank her and friends of my mom who got Mother to the hospital and picked me up at the airport and delivered me there also. And all of you that knew what was going on and prayed for my travel, Johnny's forced batchlerhood and our subsequent "second honeymoon" at the Bass Pro Shop! After several weeks recuperation, Mother is doing well.

We had a great month visiting churches, seeing all our doctors (we're healthy for another year) and attending the missions conference at First Bible Church in Decatur, Alabama. Then we spent a week in Big Sandy, Texas, in training before returning. It was amazing what had been accomplished in the four months I had been gone! The bathrooms are almost finished, just lacking the wall tile and toilets. A road has been cut to the cabins at the top of the mountain (everyone that had to tote brick, sand, gravel and water up the mountain will be happy to see this!) and Johnny's truck makes it up there fine! Check below to see pictures of some of the changes!

Not all of the road is this flat, Johnny did have to use 4WD for one steep part, but this sure beats climbling 500 ft. straight up! Especially if you are carrying a load!

The bathrooms and the tienda at the end of the building. Teams for the summer of 2009 will be working on the second floor of this building, making an office and salon or meeting room.

I forgot to mention the wall built to enclose one of the parking areas. When finished, it will be capped with brick to dress it up.

To God be the Glory!!

Yeah! I'm Back!

2009-02-09T09:59:00.002-06:00

OK, let me qualify that...I'm back to blogging, not to Guatemala - yet. Johnny arrived in Sylacauga (find Birmingham, AL, on the map and look right and slightly down) last Wednesday evening. Thursday was spent at the doctor's office with my mom in a follow-up after her hospitalization. Friday, Johnny and I slipped away and had a "second honeymoon". We drove to Prattville, AL, (that's right, Prattville) and had supper at the Bass Pro Shop! Actually, I'm just giving Johnny a ribbing, the Bass Pro Shop has a great restaurant inside with wonderful seafood! We both overate and had a great time! And since my camara stopped working, we went to Circuit City and helped them with their closeout sale. After buying the new camara, Johnny asked to see the old one...and with the push of a couple of buttons, he got it to work again! Shucks, I thought I had him fooled; oh well, the ticket at Circuit City said "all sales final, no returns"...

Maria's Mom

2009-01-12T09:58:00.002-06:00

Many of you are aware that Maria returned to the States just one week after we got back to Guatemala. Her mom had a serious adverse reaction to a new medication. She had started the medicine while we were there but it took awhile for the side effects to show up. The new medicine interacted adversely with her Coumadin, causing her blood to become very thin. This led to severe bruising, fatigue, and shortness of breath. She was admitted to a hospital and
Maria went straight there when she arrived in Birmingham. Mom is home now and doing very well. She needs to regain her strength and still address an underlying heart condition. Maria will stay with her and I will fly to the states in February as we had originally planned to do. We have several churches to visit and missions conferences to attend. Pray that Mom's health will remain strong and for our travels. We look forward to visiting with many of you.

Johnny's blog

2009-01-12T09:38:00.002-06:00

Most of you know Maria usually does the "blogging" in this family, but since I have the computer it now falls to me. Maria wanted me to blog about my experience yesterday at one of our local churches. I had been asked to be there with my computer and projector to show a DVD for the congregation. I got there early to set up but the pastor said the dvd had not arrived yet. So, I sat there as he stalled for time. Finally the dvd arrived and I put it in the computer. Nothing. It would not play. The computer would not read it. I asked the pastor if by chance this was a pirated dvd and he said,"Probably". He then asked if anyone had a dvd of some kind with them. One member offered to run home and get one. He returned with a dvd and just in case, brought a video and VCR. Again, the dvd would not play. Then I realized the problem. Many of you may not know that dvds are made for regional showing. The US is Zone 1 and Central America is Zone 4. Look on the back of your dvd case and you should see a globe icon with a numbver inside- that is the zone number. The dvds we buy here are usually good for both zones. Since our computer was bought in the states it was set for zone 1. It can be changed but only so many times before the change becomes permanent. So, no dvd showing. I hooked up the VCR to the projector and put in the tape. It was a US movie dubbed in Spanish called "A Thief in the Night", about the rapture. Great story line, but the film was made in the 70's. Did we really look that bad??? Polyester leisure suits, bell bottoms, mini skirts, Elvis sideburns, one girl had her hair in those giant curlers with a scarf over them that I remember my sisters using. It was hysterical to watch but I was on the front row and couldn't laugh without detracting from the message. I was glad it worked because the pastor had no back-up plan, like a sermon prepared. Some days you just shake your head.

Some December remembrances...

2009-01-05T14:10:00.005-06:00

On December 2nd, my daughter Lindsay, who designs jewelry, had her first "trunk show". Mother and I drove to Nashville to help her and her friend Kat, who was hosting the show, set up and assist in whatever way we could. We had a blast and got a kick out of seeing Lindsay as the artist and designer she is!Ladies from all over Nashville crowded into Kat's dining room to see the jewelry Lindsay had displayed.
This is just one of the tables that contained almost 300 one-of-a-kind pieces available at the show.

Each piece is named with a girl's name

and given a personality.

I'm proud of my daughter and her talents and wanted to brag a little to all of you. She did very well at her first "trunk show" and hopes to have other shows in the future. Her designs can be seen on her website, Simon and Ruby, found at www.simonandruby.etsy.com.

I am happy to announce...

2009-01-03T11:40:00.002-06:00

We are connected!! Finally, after 4 years, we have internet in our house! It's not high-speed yet, but it's better than we have ever had (anything is better than nothing!). This photo was taken last night as we tried to find the Sugar Bowl on the web. The closest we got was ESPN-Radio and the ESPN play-by-play diagram. But before getting the internet, we probably wouldn't have known for several days that Alabama lost!

I hope to be able to blog much more often, to the delight of some of you and the chagrin of others! Keep an eye on us here for more from...

CENTENNIAL CAMP!

Happy New Year 2009!

2008-12-31T11:19:00.002-06:00

Here's wishing you a Happy New Year in 2009! Check back soon for news of internet at the Camp!

#1 Extranjero of Nahuala

2008-12-08T12:00:00.000-06:00

Last week, Johnny was named #1 Extranjero of Nahuala! This means he completed his paperwork for residency and is the first foreigner to be an official resident in Nahuala. When we return to Guatemala after the holidays, I hope to be #2!

Christmas and Music

2008-12-05T22:33:00.003-06:00

Christmas, to me, has always included music. Old favorite Christmas hymns such as O Holy Night and The First Noel, newer ones such as Mary Did You Know? (I will always picture John Godwin singing that one) and The Messiah. Songs that tell the story of the gift given to mankind with such undeserved love. Songs that tell of the unprecedented event that occurred over 2000 years ago. Songs that still my heart each year with wonder.

Tonight I had the opportunity to attend a Christmas Dinner Theater at the First Baptist Church of Sylacauga, Alabama. It was what I needed to start the Christmas season with...something to remind me of the true meaning of Christmas.

Brr...

2008-11-22T15:37:00.003-06:00

I was feeling sorry for those of you having cold weather already while we had warm days where we could still wear short sleeves. The nights were cool, but the days were sunny and great! About the time our team from California arrived, so did the cold weather! Because of where we were working, they stayed on the mountain with us and got to experience a little of what we live thru. You have to remember that our houses have no heat, so our house and the dormitory where the guys stayed was cold - with mornings in the high 40's, low 50's. There was frost on the ground each morning until the sun rose above the mountain and you could see your breath in the air - inside the house! Welcome to balmy Guatemala!

All I can say is...

2008-11-15T23:20:00.002-06:00

Roll Tide Roll

Alabama still #1!

Thank you!

2008-11-12T15:06:00.003-06:00

This is the time of year for Vacation Bible Schools in Guatemala. The children are out of school from the end of October until the middle of January, so many of the churches plan their VBS during this time. Many of you that have visited and worked with us this year brought craft supplies that we help supply the churches with. In the above photo, our guard's three children are separating big bags of beads into smaller bags with the colors for the "Gospel" bracelets. They were a big help with a monotonous task and enjoyed making bracelets of their own to be able to tell the Gospel story! In the background, you may can see the piles of supplies that are being divided and given out. We have had more visitors in the last week asking for our help. We couldn't have done it without you! Thank you to all of you that sent supplies or money to help the churches with this particular form of evangelism. Don't be surprised in Heaven if someone comes up to you and says they are there because of you!!!

Dios te bendiga (God bless you)

The things you learn...

2008-11-06T15:20:00.002-06:00

There are things you learn, living in a foreign country. After nearly four years in Guatemala, I learned something new yesterday. I already knew that the rainy season kept things damp...all of your envelope flaps prematurely stick together as do your stamps. (Thank goodness for the "pre-stick" kind!) Anyway, yesterday I learned that Listerine strips stick together also. Johnny and I were in a meeting with about 30 people when I offered him a "breath strip". What I didn't know was that three or four had stuck together! Now, these things tend to be strong anyway but three or four of them together about burned his mouth and he couldn't do anything about it! We did not have any water available so he had to sit there and take it, eyes watering and about to choke. Yes, it's funny the things you learn...

Graduations

2008-11-05T00:01:00.001-06:00

We have developed many relationships since moving to Guatemala. Last week, we were invited to a graduation where we were introduced as the grandparents!

Psycho kites

2008-11-02T00:01:00.000-05:00

The dry season is here, we haven't had rain in almost a week now. Along with the sun comes the winds. So far, our roof has survived although when the wind comes down the chimney and blows the ashes from the fireplace all over the house...

As I said yesterday, this is the season for flying kites. Wilder (left) and Fabio (right) made their own kites and were out bright and early Saturday morning.

They were up on the soccer field where the wind was really getting their kites up!

We always knew that Xiba didn't like cows and goats...she would go crazy at the twice-daily parade of bovine. Now, we have discovered another dislike of hers...Kites. When the boys were flying their kites, Xiba was going absolutely crazy!

We will always be protected from psycho kites!

Dia de los Muertos

2008-11-01T15:09:00.005-05:00

November 1st...The Day of the Dead. Sounds grusome, but it is an annual Catholic holiday that is followed by All Saint's Day on November 2nd. To celebrate, the people go to the cemeteries, decorate the graves and spend the day. Meals are eaten over the gravesites with food being left for the departed. Kites were traditionally used with noisemakers to attract the attention of God to pray their family out of Purgatory. I don't know how much the kites are used for that today, but it is traditional to fly them during these two days.

Sumpango, a small village just outside of Guatemala City, is famous for their large kites that they fly each November 1st. The size of the village triples during this time.

Here is a typical scene at a local cemetery. There are particular flowers that are grown specifically for this day.

Kites are even flown at the cemetery.

These are just some of the ways we see the darkness of Satan's realm. The evangelical church does not celebrate with these traditions, but due to the large Catholic population in Guatemala, most people are off from work, making it a "national" holiday. Pray with us that the Evangelical church in Latin America will be light and salt in an unbelieving world.

Victor and his family

2008-10-14T20:42:00.001-05:00

Everyone was laughing and having a great time before I took the picture. This is typical of the indigenous culture, they are very solemn for pictures. Juana, Victor's wife is teaching me Quiche - she speaks little Spanish so I am learning her language!

Maria

A Real Vacation!

2008-10-10T12:57:00.012-05:00

We returned yesterday after a week on a 46-foot catamaran with 10 people. Yes, we are still smiling! It was a wonderful trip, even if the boat got small toward the end of the week.

These were our "family" for 6 days. All were U.S. citizens, although most lived elsewhere. We had lively conversations about life in Belize, Guatemala, California and New Zealand!

Meet the crew that sailed us around the Belizean reef and fed us. From left to right:

Elias, Carlos and Capitan Raul.

As I told the others, we were "living our dream"! The hammocks were cool during the day and great for sleeping...

the fishing was sporadic but enjoyable...

and I went thru three books between swimming and sitting and soaking up the sun.

Elias was a great cook and after arriving in the Gulf waters, we had fish or lobster every meal except breakfast!

These are some of the beautiful waters we swam and they snorkled in. I found I was a little to claustrophobic for snorkeling but enjoyed paddling around in the water and doing alot of sitting and sunning!

Johnny's first catch

The only time on shore was a couple of hours walking around Livingston. As you can see, we did get a little rain, but that didn't stop us!

We are ready to get home and gear up for the final team of the year in November. Rainy season ends around the first of November and the kids are out of school the end of October. Should be an interesting next couple of months!

Pure Water

2008-10-03T20:21:00.000-05:00

In June of this year, the Emmanuel Church in Panajachel received a water filtration system from First Presbyterian Church of Visalia, California. Since that time, they have offered filtered water free of charge twice a week. Since Panajachel's water comes from Lake Atitlan without any cleaning, this has given the people of the town an inexpensive way to stay healthy. Benefits of drinking clean water are learned along with the spiritual benefit of living water for your soul!

Some recent work at the Camp

2008-09-29T20:32:00.003-05:00

OK, Jess, you wanted some updated pictures! Here are the walls Victor and Johnny built. This incline will go from the parking lot up onto the soccer field. It can be used by vehicles, wheelchairs or, hopefully one day, a lawn mower!
The building on the left will soon have a second floor, with the steps going up! I talked them into adding a bodega (storage area) under the steps for cleaning supplies.

Poor Francisco! I caught him putting stucco on the ceiling of the women's bathroom. He was in semi-darkness and I blinded him with the flash! Oh well, the hazards of working around a woman with a camara!

The grass on the soccer fields is filling in nicely and by the end of the rainy season, we should have a good playing field!

Maria

Latest changes to LBN

2008-09-18T14:31:00.000-05:00

Here is a recent picture of the new construction here at LBN. Eventually, these will be apartments for guests, office areas and storage. It will be beautiful when it is finished!

Maria

Restful weekend

2008-09-15T14:36:00.002-05:00

This is a holiday weekend here - Independence Day for most of Central America. A group of us from CAM met at Las Buenas Nuevas for a restful weekend and time to catch-up with each other, our ministries and prayer requests. Some of the newest missionaries with CAM have little children, so it has been an experience to plan things around toddlers and kids under 10! But we had a great time and look forward to more fellowship time with each other. Two of the newest couples (and the ones with all the kids) live closest to us! Still an hour or two away, but closer than anyone else!!

Maria

Hanna, Ike and Josephine

2008-09-04T22:46:00.003-05:00

Some of you may know that Johnny and I were prepared to take a week vacation, our first since before coming to Guatemala. We had finished with the teams scheduled for the summer and had a break of a couple of months before the next team. Frankly, we were looking forward to the break! Headed for the Gulf of Mexico, sun, fishing, with a bag full of paperbacks, we arrived in Guatemala City to find we had an email stating our vacation had been cancelled! It seemed there were not enough bookings for the trip we were taking, so the company had to cancel it. Of course we were disappointed, but our cloud had a silver lining. As we look at the weather for our part of the world, it appears that even in our disappointment, God is protecting us. We are thankful that even with our desires, He protects us from what would harm us! So we have rescheduled and continue to look forward to our restful vacation. Hopefully there will be sun, good fishing and dry paperbacks!

Maria

Snow

2008-08-30T23:14:00.000-05:00

No, we don't have snow in Guatemala, but then, maybe we do! We woke up one morning to Xiba (our German Shepard, pronounced "Sheba") barking her head off. On the basketball court was a coal black Chow, maybe a year old, wearing a collar and dragging a chain. We asked around at the neighbors and no one knew who might own this dog. So, much to Xiba's chagrin, the new dog was put in our fence so she (yes, another female) would not wander in the highway and be hit. Johnny has named her Snow (so yes, there is snow in Guatemala), a name that has caused more than one belly laugh from the Guatemalans. Xiba is very protective of us and will not let Snow near us or the food. Snow does not seem to be abused as she loves the darker skinned Guatemalans more than our fair skin, wants to climb in the truck with us each time we go somewhere and thinks she is a house dog! The cat doesn't like that...

Now, if I can just teach Xiba to share...

Maria

Three days...lots of work!

2008-08-28T12:04:00.004-05:00

They were only here for three days but did a load of work! From Bellingham, Washington, fourteen people, ages 18 and up, worked at Centennial Camp stringing fence and building playground equipement.

The fencing around the lower area at the "river" (creek in Alabama) is now complete. This will help corral kids, keep them out of the river and, hopefully, help keep animals from grazing on the grass. It's not the grazing that bothers us, it's the deposits left behind!

The Vacation Bible School of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Decatur, Alabama, took up a collection for Centennial Camp, shortly before the church came here for a mission trip this summer. The money paid for the supplies for the above playground "fort", which was then built by this team. I will post pictures as it is finished, but this will join the other playground equipment (below - built last year) for the enjoyment of all the kids who visit the Camp.

Thank you to Emmanuel Bible Church, Bellingham, Washington, for all their hard work!

Maria

A Day at the Camp

2008-08-23T22:49:00.005-05:00

On a beautiful day last week, we had two of our churches visit for a day at the Camp! There were about 40 - 50 people here who, after a devotional time in the morning, spent the day in basketball tournaments! We had lunch on the ground and ended the afternoon with a "torch run", which actually only went the length of the driveway, but was complete with torches and signs!

The playground equipment we built late last year has been popular with the kids. In fact, we plan on building another "fort" area this next week with a team from Washington state! We'll keep you posted!

Maria

2008-08-13T13:45:00.003-05:00

Our recent team from Wisconsin worked and worked to prepare the terraza so they could pour the concrete. Rain and time conspired to keep them from this task, but less than a week after they left, a group of 39 men, representing 11 churches, arrived for a day of concrete pouring. This was the most support we have received from the churches at one time! God knew what He was doing! The delay in the pouring of the concrete the week before caused the need that these churches answered, pouring not only concrete but sweat equity into THEIR Camp! Many of the men that came and worked stated that they had never been to the Camp before but would certainly return! Praise the Lord!

A concrete mixer was rented for the day.

A bucket line was formed.

And now we have a roof!!

Everyone was sunburned and covered in concrete by the end of the day, including me! With all of that testosterone around, I didn't feel the need to include myself in the bucket brigade so I took pictures. But even that can be dangerous if you get too close!

Maria

LBN Update

2008-08-07T14:33:00.004-05:00

Just a couple of photos to let you see the progress at LBN. The rain has slowed things down, but we have had several days that we beautiful and the construction progresses!

Maria