Dia de Padres...

As the Guatemalan holidays are somewhat different from those in the USA, fathers day gets a double bonus. Here in GUA the date is a constant. So every June 17th is celebrated as father's day regardless of the day actual.

For the officers there was a play day -which tranlsates directly into fútbal. These guys got together for a game and then grilled meat, frioles, salsa and tortijas. Since there was a portable grill, this constituted as a cookout. During this time it was my pleasure to meet with Comisario Utulan the lead man for all of the department of Sacatepéquez and also his boss Martinez Aguilar - who manages five departments. (Not seen in this photo are the additional 30 men that showed up late...)

This year we were able to be a part of a great event for the guys in the National Police. The day included two events. The first of which was for the officers in Sacatepéquez and the other for the agents. All of whom were dads.

Later in the evening we had a time of worship and study with the agents and also food for the body - a lot of pizza. Yea God!

Pastores' Finest...

This weekend Antonio and I were blessed to see the tail end of a graduation ceremony for the Civil Police of Pastores. We have been a part of their trining with weekly studies similar to what we have with the National Police of Guatemala.

It was rather humorous - The Tuesday before the event we were given personal invitations for the graduation that showed that I had a part in the ceremonies. The Chief of Police insisted that I be at this event as it was very important - I was on the list...

We saw the time had been changed for the event to start at 9am. When we first talked it was a 12pm startup with a parade and festivities to be followed by formal presentations closer to 1pm. That didn't work for Pastores and as a result, they wanted us to change our schedule. the only difficulty for us would have been that this was on a Sunday Morning right in the middle of our church service. I explained we could not arrive any sooner than 12:45pm. They said, "Okay".

As is turned out sure enough we arrived right at 12:45pm. The officers saw us and ushered us into a room full of energy, sound, excitement. With a total of 7 in our party, plates of food were immediatey rushed over to our table and we were treated as the guest of the hour.

But as we completed the meal I noticed that the food line had diminished as did the crowd eating. At first chance I spoke with the Chief of Police and asked what was next? Where was the presentation? He replied, "Sorry we stalled as long as possible, but two other guest on the list to present were not able to come at the last minute. So we wrapped things up and started lunch. But thanks for coming for lunch."

Wouldn't you know it, when most of life happens minimum of an hour late in GUA, these guys were right on time. We were late to our own party. HA,HA.

Be that as it may, this team of men are now trained and serving in their community. And they plan to continue with their training in Biblical values.

Changes with the PNC...

When asked what to me is the most incredible evidence of God in the ministries of IDC, I used tell them the fact that I am a chaplain for the Tourist Police of Antigua. However this past week that all has changed. God is moving.

For the past year and a half, I have been praying that God would open the doors beyond only the Tourist Police of GUA. Antonio and I were never able to get into the central office of Station 74 - the central offices of the Department of Sacatepéquez. During this past week we recieved notice that the Station Commander for the Tourist Police for the last couple of years Oficial Javier Castillo was being transfered to the city and that a new station commander for the Tourist Police was coming in. Oh and by the way Castillo is leaving tommorrow. It appeared that we were in for major changes that would impact this ministry in ways we didn't know.

Here is the fallout. While picking up Bibles from the Offices of Valor and Service, I was handed a letter - informing me of my new appointment under Valor and Service as the Chaplain for the Department of Sacatepéquez. Castillos replacent is a higher ranking officer that loves what we are doing in his new station - his name is Oficial Nelson Lopez. By invitation of Comisario Uluan (the #1 man in Station 74), we are opening new studies that his men are directed to be at. This has opened opportunities to include more people and pastors.

This new appointment has brought other invites from other divisions and Police Academies to begin new study locations teaching Biblical values to the National Police of Guatemala.

Yea God!

A Celebration to note...

It never fails that in the middle of tragedy it is so easy to overlook amazing points of progress. April Clark wrote this article. It truly captured the essence of what made May the 14th special in spite of other tragedies the same day. Yea God!

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Hello, everyone; I have a wonderful story that I would like to share with you this week. So sit back...relax....and enjoy...:)

About 2 1/2 years ago, a small, enebriated man showed up at a Wednesday night church service. He sobbed brokenly and professed Christ as his Savior that night. This was a man who had on many occasion been seen in the park, intoxicated and propositioning women for sexual favors. Some thought him homeless, many others thought him detestible, the vast majority seemed to think very little of him and even less of his future.

That first night began a long and difficult journey for this man. He did well enough for about six months, then he reverted back to his old ways and began drinking again. It lasted for about a month, then he returned to the church, sobbing, begging for forgiveness. The pastor lovingly received him, told him it was okay, and the man began to volunteer in the church, doing what he could to help out. About 4 months passed, and he had another relapse. Many shook their heads, grumbled that the man would never amount to anything, and asked the pastor why he bothered to waste his time.

After that last relapse, the man managed to get his head clear once more. He returned with new convictions; he began to understand the value of friendships, support, loyalty, and most importantly, how much he was loved by God and how much he needed Him to overcome his addiction. He started attending a new ministry in the church called "Celebrate Recovery". He realized that there were others like him, who were desperately struggling with addictions and who wanted to give their lives in service to God. He made a commitment to persevere, to stand firm, and when all else failed, to stand.

A few months later, the pastor, seeing the vast improvement in the man, as well as his spiritual growth, decided to take a chance on him. He decided to put the man in charge of the cafe in the church, that had up until that time been floundering terribly. The man, seeing the responsibility that was being entrusted to him by the pastor and feeling that this was a chance to in a sense redeem himself and the negative opinion so many people had had of him, eagerly plunged into the new job opportunity. He took over the business with an attitude of thanksgiving for what God had done in his life, and he prospered. He grew the business until, it was more profitable than it had ever been before, bringing in new clientele, new foods, and finally having to hire an assistant because there was just too much business to handle by himself.

Last Thursday night, I had the pleasure of seeing this man, Manolo, celebrate his one-year anniversary of sobriety at a Celebrate Recovery meeting in Iglesia del Camino. I listened as the 60 + people who came to celebrate with him poured out praised to God for the change in him, and also to Pastor Mike, who had put himself on the line because he had believed in him. There were many tears, but they were tears of joy. I got to see an entire family whose lives had been changed by the magnificent Hand of God. And every week, as I sit in staff meetings with Manolo, he never ceases to give glory to God for what has happened in his life.

Now THAT is what I call a testimony...:) Praise God!!!

Much love and many blessings!
April