New Homes in 'The Village'

Yesterday and today I had the privilege of going to what we are calling "The Village."  I'm not sure if this is what the area is actually called, or if that is just the name we are using to refer to the location for the week.  We built houses, about 2 each day, for families that have a great need for them.  Many of the people we are building for already have homes, but they are generally overcrowded with the large families that exist within the culture here.  The houses we have  built are just about 12 feet on each side and covered with tin metal.  The families are so grateful to have us here to do this, and it is such a great honor to do this for them, and, in doing so, sharing the love of Christ!  Here are some pictures of from the past 2 days:

Also, some of us went on a tour of the grounds that we are staying on.  We got to see a lot of really cool things, and I got some really good pictures!

I am excited to be going back to the orphanage tomorrow.  It is our last day at the different work sites, so please pray for us as we prepare to say goodbye to the Guatemalans we have grown to love this week! 

The fatherless, the orphaned and abandoned

This picture shows a baby who is believed to be 5 days old and was found abandoned on the street in Guatemala.  Today, Diego was delivered into loving arms at the orphanage called Amor del Niño (Love the Child).

"For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God...He executes justice for the fatherless..."

Deuteronomy 10:17-18 (ESV)

"Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world."

James 1:27 (ESV)

Beginnings in Guatemala

I made it safely to Guatemala, and we just got back from our first day at our mission sites.  I went with several others to a school in a village called "Panamaquin." After we finally made it up the hour-or so-long drive on a dirt road up a mountain (emphasis on "up"), Jonathan Nason and I started out the morning painting a metal roof (blood red paint...and it's still on me).  We had backyard Bible club after lunch with the kids at the school (around 50 of them).  I got to lead a couple songs, which was interesting because they were all in Spanish.  Really, I was only just singing along to familiar songs with a CD, but the new words did make it difficult.  Tomorrow I will be going to an orphanage called "Amor del Nino." Some of the ones who went to the orphanage today said they were swamped by kids.  It should be fun! Please continue to pray for us!

The picture above is one I took from the roof of the house we are staying in. Amazing.

I Have a Blog!

Hello, all! So, this is my really cool blog where I can keep everyone up to date with all that God is doing in my life in the weeks and months ahead. I'll be posting anything from daily happenings to prayer requests and everything in between.

This summer I am going to:
Guatemala (May 25 - June 1)
Uruguay (June 13 - 21)
Kosovo (July 19 - 26)

I am so excited to have to opportunity to serve on these trips, but I am most excited about next semester. I will be taking a break from school to go to Kampala, Uganda for 4 months (August 1 - December 15)! I had the opportunity and privilege to go to Kampala for 2 weeks last summer, and I am so pumped that God has provided a way to go back! I will be going along with 3 other college students from across the country through what is called a "Hands On" project with the International Mission Board.

As I prepare to take action in saying "Yes!" to God's call, I am beginning to feel overwhelmed with all that I need to do, in getting everything lined up to go. These are just a few that I would appreciate prayer for:

Health Insurance: My parents informed me that I am only covered under their healthcare plan while I am enrolled full time in college. Taking off a semester will cause my current health insurance to terminate until I resume my education the following semester. I am trying to see if somehow I can get credit as an independent study or an internship so that I can still be enrolled full time and keep my current healthcare benefits. Please pray for one of these to work out, or else I will have to find a way to pay for health insurance while I am not in school.

Finances: I cannot afford to go on all of these mission trips. Some may call me stupid or foolish for signing up for all of them, but I know that God has given me these opportunities for a reason: to go! I am trusting and relying on God to use His people to provide financially for most of the costs of these trips. I have made efforts to save money on my own, such as moving back home (saving more than $300/month) and restraining myself from impulse buying, which can be difficult at times. Please pray for me as I write letters, that God would use the letters to compel the Church to provide not only financially, but also through investing time in prayer. The total costs for all of these trips is more than $5,000, not to mention if I have to pay for health insurance. I am a college student. I am trusting God. :)

Spiritual Preparation: Being spiritually prepared for each of these mission trips could be the difference between a great experience being used by God and utter disaster. I would absolutely hate to go to Africa or any of these places and, being unprepared, ruin what God has already begun doing through the missionaries in each of these countries. Please pray for me to stay focused on Christ and to be a man after God's heart!

These are just a few things that I can think of right now. I will post more as things arise (or I remember them).

Trusting in Him,
Stephen