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April 28, 2010
Day 6
The ancient Mayans were very religious people. Their entire life was
focused on pleasing their gods. From building enormous pyramids to
even the games the people played, their end desire was to please their
god.
Last evening we attended a cultural musical presentation. A part of
the evening was a group of men playing of the ancient ball games.
They would race to the hall sacrificing bruises and scrapes on their
bodies to hit the ball with their hip. Using only their hips, they
bounced the ball off of the walls of the arena and eventually through
a goal. As the music ended, it signified the end of the game and the
crowd cheered as the victorious champion received his rewards. He was
given a necklace and an animal as his gift, but he did not enjoy them
long because his highest honor was then to give his life to his god.
The arenas showed pictures of heroes being behaved as their final
great act. Last evening, a character dressed as death followed the
champion from the arena.
When I think of all that these ancient Mayans gave to sacrifice to
their gods, I am ashamed that our culture struggles to even our God
time each day reading his Word. Many only attend church if it is
convenient. We could learn much. Psalms 51:17 says “the sacrifice
pleasing to God is a broken spirit.” God wants us to be humble before
Him acknowledging He alone is God. Then we are to do His will. The
saddest thing of all is that those great Mayan warriors sacrifice
themselves to a dead or nonexistent god. We serve a living God who
loves and created us and longs for us to love Him back. Pray that we
will have an opportunity today to share about our great God.
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April 27, 2010
Day 5
He had marble black eyes with hair that matched. His beautiful tanned
face held a kind smile, and his hands held a rosary. Jose’ was one of
the many children we met today. As the puppets presented the gospel
message he listened intently. After the puppet show Philip and Bobby
shared the gospel message with Jose’ and his friends. While the other
children ran to claim trinkets and candy, Jose’ stayed to look at the
evangelism cube and ask questions. Philip and Bobby gave Jose’ the
cube if he promise to share the message with others. Even as he left,
Jose’ was telling his friends the story of Jesus.
We were blessed to be able to minister to about 125 children at Chan
Chen today. We laughed a lot, played games with the children and
reminded them that Jesus loved them. One of the older children stood
by our face painting team telling each child in Mayan, “Jesus loves
you!” What a simple life changing lesson!
Work at the hotel training center is coming along as well. Our men
got to the project early before the sun was too hot and hauled rock,
gravel and dirt by shovel and wheel barrow. They were examples to the
villagers of hard work. We let the Mayan village feeling we had
accomplished much though there is still much to do keep praying.
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April 26, 2010
Day 4
Mission trips all vary. Most people will tell you that on the most
important word on any mission adventure is flexibility. Today we
experienced that anew. In the past we have driven the two hour trek
to Chan Chen n the jungle of the Mayan Zone, carried out the
activities planned then drove back in one day. Doug decided to do it
differently this year so we traveled to Coba, another Mayan village
about twenty minutes from Chan Chen and spent the day there. Many of
our team members climbed to the top of a 24,000 meter pyramid built
around 780 AD by the Mayans. We walked through jungle paths seeing
other ruins from the once great civilization. Many in the group
attached themselves to a cable and zip lined across crocodile infested
waters. Of course we shopped and invested in the local economy. You
may be thinking that sounds more like vacation that missions, but each
step along the way we had opportunity to tell the people why we were
there and what Christ has done in our lives and what He can do in
theirs. A handful of our team stopped to see a pet monkey outside of
one of the homes. They met a gentleman name Elgar Garcia. Edgar is
an artist and sculpts from tin coke cans. Some of our men began to
talk with Edgar about his spiritual life. He was a very intelligent
man and at first language was a barrier, but as our team members
prayed and shared Edgar understood more and more. He did not pray to
receive Christ, but seeds were planted. Only God know the eternal
outcome of the conversation.
Please pray for Edgar and the other people we came in contact with.
Pray that God will whet their appetite to know more about Him.
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April 25, 2010
Day 3
The ladies were still buzzing today about the conference we
experienced yesterday. Life change happened for many people. One
lady ran to one of our team members today saying God spoke to her so
powerfully yesterday. She grew up knowing God, but it wasn’t until a
couple of years ago that she met Jesus. She described herself as a
rebel who did things her own way. But when she met Jesus her life
changed. Doug baptized her some time back and no she has been in the
ladies Bible study at the church. She is returning home in August to
the U.S.where her family is. She hasn’t been home in 14 years and she
has-been burdened about how she could witness to them and show them
that she has changed and to lead them to a relationship with Jesus.
She determined yesterday how God wanted her to do that and now she
can’t wait to share not only with her family in Pennsylvania, but also
friends here how grace has changed her life. She is going in the
right spiritual clothing and splashing Jesus’ love on all she comes in
contact with. We praise the Lord for changed lives.
Les preached all three services here today. His message was on worry.
In a community that saw 70% unemployment last year, that topic hits
home. Doug said it best when he expessesed that worry is one of the
main reasons this church has seen stunted growth. The church must
learn to trust God and not fear. God can do miracles when we trust
Him. Les and Doug are right. When we worry we are expressing that we
don’t believe God can handle whatever our problem is. All churches
and every member could learn much about living faith filled and worry
free.
Please continue to intercede for us. We will be in the Mayan zone
Monday and Tuesday at Chan Chen. There is much work to do both in
construction and in working with the people. We will be staying the
right in the Mayan area, so please pray for safety as we travel, and
that God will show up in mighty ways. Thanks for being on mission
with us through prayer.
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April 24, 2010
Day 2
Thank you to all of you who prayed for the ladies event today. It was a
joy to see and hear so many women who longed to grow in their faith.
Cherylyn was a beautiful lady who came needing a special touch from
God. She is a ministering leader in an English speaking church in
Cancun. Through a broken heart, she shared how there were power
struggles in the church. They were trying to work through them, but
their hearts were heavy. We prayed for the church and prayed for the
leadership of the church.
Cherylyn represents one of about thirty women who came today to hear a
word from God. God spoke through Liam, a Spanish-speaking friend from
the church at Playa as she sang. Our team gave testimonies and we
even had an artistic team member paint to the “Resurrection Song.”
The messages were well received as a each lady were challenged to live
out their walks with Jesus and lead others to relationship with Him.
Each lady went home filled with delicious food and a gift bag filled
with goodies in addition to a fresh word from God.
Please continue to lift up this team as tomorrow we will be worshiping
with two churches here in Mexico. Les will be preaching in all three
services. Pray that the Spirit will change many lives in these
services.
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April 24, 2010
Day 1
“Mrs. Page, Mrs. Page hold on!” I turned for the attendant at the
ticketing counter to see my frantic new flier running towards me with
five pounds of lotions in five different bottles. In her haste she
reported, “they would not let me through the security check point with
these and I can’t throw them away.” We quickly unzipped my checked
bag and crammed the various shaped and sizes of bottles into my
already stuffed bag. With relief the new traveler returned to
security at peace that her lotions would meet her at her final
destination.
When we come to a new adventure there can be so many new demands and
expectations that we are not aware of, but God helps us to rest at
ease knowing He will take care of us. We can run to Him with our
heavy loads and He makes room to handle whatever we bring to Him.
Our flights were very uneventful and for that we are thankful.
Several of our team members were stopped through customs, but they
allowed all of our supplies through. We spent our first evening
making preparations for the women’s event today. We filled goodie
bags and prepared children’s games and gifts for them. It should be
an amazing day. Please keep praying for us.
Day 6
The ancient Mayans were very religious people. Their entire life was
focused on pleasing their gods. From building enormous pyramids to
even the games the people played, their end desire was to please their
god.
Last evening we attended a cultural musical presentation. A part of
the evening was a group of men playing of the ancient ball games.
They would race to the hall sacrificing bruises and scrapes on their
bodies to hit the ball with their hip. Using only their hips, they
bounced the ball off of the walls of the arena and eventually through
a goal. As the music ended, it signified the end of the game and the
crowd cheered as the victorious champion received his rewards. He was
given a necklace and an animal as his gift, but he did not enjoy them
long because his highest honor was then to give his life to his god.
The arenas showed pictures of heroes being behaved as their final
great act. Last evening, a character dressed as death followed the
champion from the arena.
When I think of all that these ancient Mayans gave to sacrifice to
their gods, I am ashamed that our culture struggles to even our God
time each day reading his Word. Many only attend church if it is
convenient. We could learn much. Psalms 51:17 says “the sacrifice
pleasing to God is a broken spirit.” God wants us to be humble before
Him acknowledging He alone is God. Then we are to do His will. The
saddest thing of all is that those great Mayan warriors sacrifice
themselves to a dead or nonexistent god. We serve a living God who
loves and created us and longs for us to love Him back. Pray that we
will have an opportunity today to share about our great God.
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