Here are the updates that we received from Pastor Rusty, while Team One was in Guatemala ...

Monday (October 17), 8:57 a.m.

We Made it! Rain and numerous mudslides and boulders and closed roads and rain and rain and mudslides later. The people are wonderful, Tom is magnificent, the land is breathtaking. But I'm at a bit of a loss. I've never seen poverty on this scale. Even the poor of Mexico are well off compared to these. Dead dogs on the side of the road- which is no surprise because you can easily see the ribs of all the dogs-people young and old rummaging through every trash pile. And yet I sit here on what could have come out of an Elvis movie on a tropical island surrounded by huge plants and flowers and facing a pool! It seems God wants us to bless these persons while being blessed in such a strange way. Tom says he has mission teams who get angry with him for keeping them in such a paradise-complete with huge glass sliding doors to our rooms but he says, because of the complete lack of tourism, it's cheaper than anything else around that would be far less comfortable. And he helps keep this guy in business. So here I sit in paradise waiting to go out into what seems to me to be utter and devastating poverty. And I have wi-fi. (Say what?!?!?!) It brought tears to my eyes last night. Of course it's not really like the movies but I've never been on a mission trip quite like this. There are MANY inconveniences but who notices in such a place? Roads really are aweful and very uncomfortable, but you won't mind a bit because you never stop looking out the window. We had to come in on a long alternate road last night which was almost washed out-eight feet of running mud with a wall on one side and a very long drop on the other. It was AWESOME!!!! The team worshipped and celebrated the Lords Supper last evening, and every member is taking turns leading devotions and worship through the week. They've decided to get uncomfortable for Jesus in more ways than one. I stand amazed but not really surprised. Ha! I love you more than you know. -- Rusty

Monday (October 17), 11:03 p.m.

The two women-the mother and the grandmother-were huddled in the little shack because of the rain. The single room, maybe 20 feet by 12 feet at most, had only two beds, an old curio cabinet, and a glorified campfire in the corner for cooking. No vent accounted for the heavy soot deposits on the walls and ceiling, and probably for the younger woman's cough. Concrete floor and large gaps in the walls were just accepted as part of the hard life here. We carried the heavy parts of the new stove through the narrow path through the tall corn stands, walking through the mud past the dog, only to be surprised by the small broken-down shack appearing in a small clearing. Inside the shack there were sheets hung horizontally from the four corners over the two beds--obviously positioned to keep the rain from falling directly onto the beds, from the many holes in the worn metal roof. Completing our first stove, the grandmother begins to cry and blessing us all-saying how she could not believe what we had done for them--changing their lives forever. The mother insists we stay and disappears only to appear a few minutes later with small glasses of orange drink and a plate of pieces of sweet bread. Through her tears, she "required" us to partake. I sat stunned because she offered us what would be all they had to eat. Fighting back MY tears with the rest of my team, we had what we thought of as the finest Holy Communion ever. Two women, with lives changed instantly and forever, crying in joy at how we blessed them and offered us all they had in the process, changed me. I left the room last because I wanted to cut across the language barrier to tell them something important. I spied a picture of Christ hanging on the makeshift wall. As I left, I looked at their tear-swollen eyes, kissed my fingers, and them touched them to the picture of Jesus. Looking back at them, I smiled and winked. No words needed. They understood in an instant why we had trudged through all the rain and mud and had sore backs, to do something just for them--an act of love because we love Him, and because He loves them! They smiled, hugged me like they didn't want to let go. And cried again. I think they realized that God had not forgotten them. As I walked back to the pickup truck again, through the corn, in the pouring rain alone, I heard in my heart, "Nice work son," and the tears found their target. And so we travelled back to the mission in the open back of the pick up truck during the pouring rain not really saying much, knowing what a truly holy moment we had just experienced. Ready to load up and head out again. Wet, muddy, and cold, our work for the day was just beginning. Welcome to Guatemala ... I love you People of THE PROMiSE ... more than you know. Your most humble and honored pastor today, -- Rusty

Tuesday (October 19), 8:45 p.m.

Rain and rain and rain and to top it off, I got sunburned today!!!!! How do you get sunburned in the rain????? Well, I guess the answer is to spend the day at more than 5100 feet out in the rain in the subtropics! I've counted around 75 mudslides so far. Most just close one of two lanes. But they are all on curvy mountain roads where sometimes it takes part of the road with it. Not too dangerous but a reminder of the inability for local Governments to deal with any demand at all. Installed two more stoves today and continued building the house after carrying 90 pieces of lumber on our shoulders down mud paths. Good work done almost completely in the unrelenting rain. The thing that moves me is the way these people, as destitute and even desperate as they are, are still full of hope and quick to smile. As I ride around in the back of a pickup truck, a simple "Buenos Dias" is always met with a smile, wave, and retuned greeting -- from small children to old people. They are friendly everywhere and appreciate why "gringos" are here. So, even though this is among the poorest places, it is also among the friendliest. Breathtaking scenery, magnificent people, and hope. What a combination to be blessed as you bless. Please keep up your prayers for us and these wonderful people. Lives are being hugely changed every day because God has something big in mind here. -- Rusty

Wednesday(October 19), 11:05 p.m.

The heavy rain over the night and on into the day Wednesday finally closed the only way in and out of town - because the other road is still blocked by the boulder. So for the first time, we were forced into a holding pattern. Luckily, we have some very experienced persons skilled in "local economic stimulus" ministry. (Better known as SHOPPERS!) And WOW did they do a great job!!! The road was open by lunchtime but because of major shutdowns, no stoves could be delivered to the mission, so none were placed today. Which was fine becuase it allowed the entire team to work on building the house. One lesson learned by this impatient type A personality-type: We do not change Guatemala. Guatemala changes us! So tell team 2 to leave their impatience in the States and come learn the Guatemalan way. Loving the people is easy. Walking with them is not. We are physically exhausted every night. A 10pm bedtime is late for us. That's to be expected as there is hard work to do here. But as I must admit, the emotional toll often is far heavier than any of us could have foreseen. Erin led morning devotion today and reminded us that even though the need here is overwhelming, for those we touch, we help God change lives ... because they don't have "nothing" as we often think. They have God and therefore they have hope. Our job is to make that obvious. And so we do. Because I'm on the other team which installs stoves, I had not been able to meet the elderly lady for whom the house is being built. She's nearby everyday staying in a damp garage made of mud - with no windows - because she has nowhere else to go. As we were packing up today, I sort of cornered this sweet, extremely shy woman to introduce myself as the pastor of this silly group. She immediately grabbed my hand and began repeating "gracias" over and over and over. When she finally gave my hand back, I did what has become my signature here. I kissed my fingers and looking up, lift my hand to the sky and say "Senior" which means God then I point to my heart. And even though most of the people we deal with don't speak Spanish, they understand that. I then say Jesus Christ in Spanish and rub my heart again, and point to the team. This dear tiny woman raised her hands to heaven and said something about us blessing her and God blessing us and then took my hand again and began the whole "gracias" thing again. When I indicated back to her that she was the blessing to us, she stopped and just stared at me. After a few seconds she bowed and backed up - something I'd not experienced before. And then it struck me -she reckoned herself completely unworthy of such a powerful "compliment." So, I walked over to her, stared her down, and simply said, "Si!" (Yes!) She then took my hand a last time and kissed it. So I bent over and kissed hers, then left, leaving her frozen not knowing what to do next. When we encounter persons here, we "blow them away" because it means their lives change big-time and permanently. So we give God the glory ... in mud-smeared pants ... in shoes that haven't been dry since we got here ... with tired and aching muscles ... and often with tear-filled eyes ... we give God the glory. People of THE PROMiSE, thank you for allowing us to represent you in this place. It's a privilege we do not take lightly. Indeed, we cannot. And so, we give our best -- every single one of us -- every hour we're here. We pray we make you proud as learn we how to give ourselves away far more than we even thought possible. And as we do, it is our hope that we're giving some of "you" away too. I love you more than you know. And thank you for your prayers. The rain is stopped for now. -- Rusty

Thursday(October 20), 8:45 a.m.

Dry Shoes and sunshine this morning!!!!!!!!!! We haven’t seen sunshine since we’ve been here. Wow! Keep up the prayers! And if that wasn’t enough, I had HOT water for my shower!!! What a great day so far. Jennifer, remind the congregation – the prayers of the righteous!!! I’m not sure if this is a miracle, but it’s close enough for me. -- Rusty

Thursday (October 20), 11:39 p.m.

Tidbits and random observations: Sunshine!!!!!!!!!! For the first time since we entered the country we saw sunshine and NO RAIN at all today! Thank you for your prayers about the rain. The entire team decided to throw everything we have at completing the house building which was thrown way behind because of all the rain. Every person work really really hard and we worked as together as any team has ever done in all of human history!!!!! Well, we really did work together as one very well oiled machine today. We completed the floor, two walls, most of the roof, and two windows and one door (all built from scratch). One more day will do it if we have no rain, so please keep up your prayers!!! Except for lunch at the mission site, we eat every meal in the "upper room" of the Bomberos firehouse. Bomberos are volunteer firefighters who even take turns sleeping there. It's another win-win-win arrangement that Tom is famous for. Nothing fancy at all. Just folding tables and plastic chairs, and simple food. But it feels holy to us. Oh Team 2: if you have a birthday while you're here, be CERTAIN to tell the Bomberos!!! They have a special way to celebrate! (Just ask Lee Ann...) They also have these crazy huge speedbumps everywhere around the country. They work to keep the so-called "chicken buses" (which are everywhere and just like you've seen in the movies) from flying down mountain roads at crazy breakneck speeds as they honk with their airhorns But they are a huge pain to those of us riding either in the back of an already overpacked minivan or in the bed of a pickup truck. I vote for those speedbumps to go away!!!! Also, taxis in this country, for the most part, are little three-wheeled vehicles which are glorified three wheel motorcycles that are covered with plastic. They fly around everywhere and are the absolute most "pimped out" things you'll ever see! Lights and music blaring with flames on the mudflaps. Wicked cool! Also, you have to learn to ignore the c and the h on all water knobs. They have no meaning. Also, there is no such thing as either air conditioning or heat..just more covers! (Nights get very chilly at this altitude.) And carpet is a figment of imagination here. Every floor is either dirt, concrete, or tile. (Love that step onto freezing cold tile feeling in the mornings...but thankful for it.) I love you more than I did even yesterday!!! (And that's a lot.) -- Rusty

Friday (October 21), 11:45 p.m.

The last workday today. We make the three plus hour minivan ride back to Guatemala City tomorrow for the flight home. Today was another very hard, very long day. But..........(wait for it)............we DID IT!!!! We finished the house! Starting with nothing but a bare patch of land on a 15-20 degree slope, the house half of the team slopped through pouring rain and constant mud digging holes and placing poles! Nothing stopped them. And with all the road issues, new stove parts could not be delivered until tonight--which we helped unload so Team 2 will have plenty to do!!!! With a second dry day, The entire team worked at incredible pace to finish this project. Staying way late tonight, it was completed. We moved the woman's bed ( nothing more that a flat wodden table and two layers of cardboard boxes for a mattress) and few meager possessions into the house. We then held a house blessing which included every Guatemalan helper!!!!!! And we were SO Jesus centered as we did it. Wow that felt good! They stayed and even rotated around the room with us. Oh, my how cool! That ended with the to-be-expected tears. Another life changed forever...and another story of God's incredible power and love. We then travelled to the mission site, unloaded about 5,000 pounds of stove parts, and then made the nearly 30 minute trek down the mountain back to Panajchel...and dinner in the Bomberos upper room. Tom presided over Holy Communion for us, and then we ended the day. On November 6th, you will be treated to a most moving report from your individual mission team members. Please don't miss it!!! It will include every member of BOTH teams! God has placed a heavy burden on their hearts to share this incredible joy we have with you. It's time to testify! Sisters and brothers, words won't work to covey what we've experienced here. I'm not sure we can even recall it all. But of two things I am certain. First, your trust in us, and all your support were well-placed. Every member gave more than their all and even gave quite a bit of you away too! Second, God did undeniably massive things while we were here. Thank you again for the opportunity to work for you as the hands and feet of Christ. Now, rev up your prayers again for Team 2, because I've got a powerful feeling this week was just a warm-up! Tom quoted Mother Theresa saying, "If you love until it hurts, eventually there will be no more hurt...only more love." People of THE PROMiSE, I truly love you so much that sometimes it hurts. So I think I'll continue... I'll see you all SOON. -- Rusty