Guatemala Mission Report - Feb 2024
Blessing to all who have helped and prayed for us as we began this new work in San Marcos, Guatemala.
Through the connections made meeting Salomon Escobar in Manitoba, sharing the work he is involved with in San Marcos, Guatemala with the organization, he, along with his brother and others started, “Fundación Agape sin Fronteras”. Helping to raise support for the needs of both the physically handicapped, and helping the local churches with Bibles and other materials.
Recognizing their need for discipleship in these churches, with much discussion and prayer. We decided to team up and organize this mission to promote our “ETS” class, and also were able to support the churches with Bibles. 1000 New Testaments provided through Valdemar’s contact in the USA. 400 complete Bibles purchased through that same contact, funds provided by Country Harvest Church near Winkler, MB.
The team sent by Discipleship International included, Valdemar Sánchez and Irma Paz (DI Mexico Director), Ismael Mendoza (DI Puebla Director), Álvaro (Puebla Interpreter), Richard Heide, and myself Tom Friesen. An extremely capable and qualified team.
Our work began on February 3, 2024. A member of Salomon’s team in the area, who is the director of a university, gave us permission to share with seven different classes of student. Many made decisions to receive Christ and we also provided new testaments to all of the students.
On February 4, Sunday we went to a local church. We were invited to give a short course on sharing the gospel. We showed them how we share the bridge illustration. Although a very young church, they were very attentive and happy. In the afternoon, they invited the village to a service, that we shared testimonies, the bridge illustration, and a talk about discipleship. A few people did make decisions to follow Christ. After the pastor indicated that they are currently using different materials for discipleship. None the less, it was overall a very good experience.
The following day February 5, the same pastor invited us to speak at a house church that he started about 45 mins away from where we were staying. Again they invited the neighbours. The house was overflowing with people. Approximately 50 adults, and just as many children. As Valdemar and Ismael shared inside, I shared the bridge illustration on the roof with those that could not fit inside.
On February 6, we spoke at the “Corinthians” church which was near by Cero Grande. Again sharing the gospel and speaking about discipleship.
On February 7, we shared at (….). They had all their church leaders show up for the presentation. It was here that the we had a few people decide they needed the training. Ismael will begin a Zoom class to train these leaders.
The 8th we had no activities planned. So, we used the morning and early afternoon to share the gospel in the streets of San Marcos. We divided into 3 teams, joined by Ruben Velasquez who decide to join the discipleship class the day earlier. His perfect English qualified him to be a great translator. It was very interesting to me, as most people we spoke to were already Christians. But we did manage to find a few souls the needed Jesus.
February 9th, we used this morning to visit a couple of families that Salomon had been helping financially. We first visited a family with a girl that was deaf, they brought her a couple gifts, and we spent a short time talking with her mother. Then we visited a family with a girl that was wheelchair bound, we shared the gospel with them. Her uncle and a cousin both received Christ. After this we went to visit Ismelda, who was born with disfigured legs and needed a wheelchair to move around. Since Ismelda and her cousin were no believers, we took the opportunity to share the gospel. They both received Christ. The parents wept with joy. It was very emotional.
In the afternoon, the church we last worked with had organized a big event at the park in San Lorenzo. Before it began, we walked the streets and invited the locals to join, while passing out New Testaments and tracts. They setup a stage and has various groups open up with worship music. After, Valdemar shared his testimony, Ismael preached a gospel message, and I shared on the importance of discipleship. Then they closed with a very good music group.
On Saturday, February 10th we did a special service at New Jerusalem Church in Cero Grande. At least one lady receive the Lord.
Our last day, February 11th we travelled a couple hours to a church up in the mountains. Again sharing the gospel, and discipleship. Richard also played a couple worship songs to add to the many other performances they had lined up.
As a final note, every church we worked with was provided enough Bibles to meet their congregations needs, plus extras to distribute as they needed. I was impacted by the strong Christian presence opposed to the catholic presence I am accustomed to in Mexico. There is a need for discipleship overall, like in most churches in the world.
- TOM.
