Bringing Hope

Ministry at House of Hope
Over the past two months we have had the privilege of ministering to children at the House of Hope (Casa de Esperanza) in Santiago, Sacatepéquez, about 45 minutes from where we live. Our friends Mike and Kambria Robertson spearhead this wonderful ministry which includes a feeding center, an after-school program, a dental clinic and vocational center offered to children and their families living in poverty. Each week we get to teach the children about God's love for them and His hopes to do wonderful things in and through their lives.

Last week Ethan and Bethany had the chance to come to House of Hope, too. They're usually in school when we go and minister there, but on this particular occasion they had the day off. As the 50 rambunctious kids rushed into the classroom as I prepared to teach, Bethany got a little scared and ran into my arms. I explained to the children (who at this point were as quiet as I've ever seen them, wondering what was bothering Bethany) that sometimes she can be very shy especially in unfamiliar surroundings. I held Bethany in my arms during the entire class, and it served as a great object lesson - I taught the children that we can take comfort in that, during time of fear and anxiety, our Heavenly Father promises to hold us in His protective and loving hands (Isaiah 41:10).

Miguel the Barber
I was getting my haircut a couple of weeks ago, and my barber, Miguel, asked, "What kind of work do you do?" I answered, "I'm a missionary. I minister to children living in poverty in Santiago." After a little more discussion, He said, "I would like to go out there and give the children free haircuts." So last week he came and gave 14 haircuts. It was a lot of fun for the kids and a blessing to their families.

Prayer Request and Praise Report
We want to thank you for praying for Alison! She is doing much better after complications from a root canal that left part of her mouth and half on her chin completely numb. She has regained much of the feeling back, and we're optimistic that she'll regain all of it. Thank you again! God is answering your prayers!

Also, we ask you pray for us as we seek God's continued guidance in our lives and ministry. We sense that some exciting changes are on the horizon. Thank you!

Back to the Jungle/Ethan the Missionary

Back to the Jungle

Praying for the sick in the village of Las Gaviotas

Preaching about the Father's Amazing Love

In July and August we had the opportunity to spend time ministering in Petén, Guatemala, where we spent 10 weeks in 2011 doing our missions internship. During our time in Petén, Alison utilized her amazing nursing skills by teaching a group of new interns on how to provide medical care in remote areas far away from hospitals and doctors. Later that week we conducted two village medical clinics with the interns and other GTN missionaries (Alison and the clinic staff cared for more than 250 patients.) While patients were waiting to be seen by medical staff, I presented the Gospel to them. After each patient received medical care, we took time to talk and pray with them as well. One of our missionaries reported that four people received Christ the second day of the clinic! Please pray for these new believers to grow and be strong in their faith!

Ethan the Missionary
Ethan started 5th grade and Bethany started kindergarten last month (The time really is flying!). After the kids got home from their first day, Ethan shared with us that he noticed one of his friends' shoes had holes in them and looked pretty shabby. We had just given Ethan a new pair of shoes for the new school year, and he couldn't help but feel sorry for his buddy. Ethan said to us, "I want to use my allowance money to buy him a new pair of shoes." Alison and I were deeply touched by Ethan's compassion and desire to bless his friend. We went to the shoe store where E picked out the pair he thought his friend would enjoy the most. Yesterday we gave the shoes to the boy's mother so she could surprise her son with his new shoes - an anonymous gift from a friend.

Thank You!
We thank God for those of you who partner with us in presenting Christ to the people of Guatemala. The word of God says that your giving is a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God (Philippians 4:18). If you would like to partner with us, please get in touch with us at syntax_gravy@hotmail.com. You can give online at www.gotonations.org/atwood . Love to all!

To North Carolina and Back

In the Tar Heel State

Preaching at our home church, the Matthews Church of God
in Matthews, NC

Alison, Ethan, Bethany and I had a wonderful time being home in North Carolina. Our six weeks there were spent visiting with our wonderful family, missions partners, prospective partners and friends. We were blessed to speak at 10 different churches in four weeks throughout Western North Carolina about our experiences during our first year on the field as well as our plans for the coming year. Thank you to all who took their time to meet with us, cook for us, pray for us, have fellowship with us... we are blessed beyond words to have such a wonderful missions family. Our only regret is that we simply didn't have enough time to see everyone. Next year we plan to take a little more time to do so!

Back in the Saddle
We got back to Guate safe and sound on Wednesday. Now we're off to the jungle region of Petén, Guatemala on Sunday, July 14 where Alison will be teaching missionary interns with Go To Nations about how to do medical work in remote villages where there is no doctor. Later in the week we will be conducting medical clinics, praying for the sick and preaching Christ in two different villages. We look forward to sharing exciting testimonies about God healing broken bodies and broken spirits during these ministries!

Thank You!
We thank God for those of you who partner with us in presenting Christ to the people of Guatemala. The word of God says that your giving is a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God (Philippians 4:18). If you would like to partner with us, please get in touch with us at syntax_gravy@hotmail.com. You can give online at www.gotonations.org/atwood . Love to all!

Preaching at Los Achiotes/Ministering to Children in La Primavera

Pastor Adrian and some of the members at
the Asamblea de Dios-Bethel

Preaching at Los Achiotes
I hope all of you are doing very well! It's been an adventurous past month for us. April started with a trip to a small community called Los Achiotes, about three-and-a-half hours from Guatemala City, to visit a pastor I'd met last fall. The reason I decided to go was to get to know Pastor Adrian, his church and community a little better, because I feel that the Lord may be leading us to do ministry there. It was my first trip out to a village/rural community by myself, and it was a great experience. After visiting with the Pastor, his wife Nohemi, and their youngest son for about an hour, he asked me if I'd be interested in preaching that day in their evening worship service. I didn't hesitate. "Con mucho gusto!" ("It would be my pleasure!") was my reply. But with only about three hours before time for the service to begin, I politely asked if I could have some time to prepare (at my level of Spanish, it's a little more difficult to preach on such short notice :-) That night I stumbled through a 20 minute message, but I sensed that God's Hand was upon me, and I was overflowing with joy that God had given me this opportunity to share His Word in Guatemala's primary language. We're looking forward to developing this relationship with Pastor Adrian, and excited about getting "our foot in the door" at Los Achiotes, in hopes that soon, we'll be able to take the Gospel to the unsaved of the community.

Ethan enjoying craft time with the children
at La Primavera

Ministering to Children in La Primavera
We also had the opportunity to visit and minister at an extremely poor area in the town of Villa Nueva, just outside of Guatemala City. We worked with our friend, David Rosser, of Hearts for Heaven Ministries in the community called La Primavera. There I had the chance to teach the children about Christ, and Alison, Ethan and Bethany also spent some quality time with the children as we played soccer and did crafts. Please pray for this community. As is all too common in Guatemala,  La Primavera is riddled with poverty, gang violence and drug abuse - all a result of spiritual darkness. Our desire is to invade the darkness with the message and love of Jesus Christ.

Coming Home Soon!
We are so excited about coming home for the summer (or at least part of it)! It's going to be a great time of visiting with family and friends, and also a busy time of fundraising as we share our vision with churches and prospective partners. Please let us know if you'd like for us to come share at your church, class or small-group meeting. We hope to see then!

Thank you!
We thank God for those of you who partner with us in presenting Christ to the people of Guatemala. The word of God says that your giving is a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God (Philippians 4:18). If you would like to partner with us, please get in touch with us at syntax_gravy@hotmail.com. You can give online at www.gotonations.org/atwood . Love to all!

Where to Find The Latest Updates

Yes - We are working in Guatemala! We'll probably start using this blog again soon, but you can find our latest newsletters at: www.gotonations.org/atwood , click on the "Newsletter" link to read up on what's been going on. God bless you and keep you!