Blessed be Your name, On the road marked with suffering, Though there's pain in the offering, Blessed be Your name

This is Maria.

On a crisp, fall feeling day in the village of Chiminisiguan, "Maravilloso es Dios. Maravilloso es Dios" softly, sung, danced in the atmosphere, bringing a spiritual warmth upon the clinic. It was one of the widows singing a beautiful song to Jesus in our last meeting. The woman was Maria, a widow who lost her husband 8 years ago, and has 8 children.  What a beautiful thing for a woman who lives in poverty, and who has suffered the pain of loss to praise Jesus in the midst of it all. But, not only that, she was praising Jesus in the midst of a village that seems spiritually dark. Of the 9 women, only 3 of them say they go to church. So to break into praise in the midst of the group, was truly a holy moment.   
  We had our 4th Widows'/women's meeting on Tuesday.  As you can see, it started with a flicker of light. The women, once again, came with enthusiasm, interest, and baskets. It was really a kiss from God being in the midst of that meeting. I can not explain to you what I feel when all the women are there, huddled around the fire place meeting together for a purpose. As I watch them, I see this great potential for a group that would give these woman a safe place to feel loved, and encounter Jesus, together in unity. As I watch them, I feel this great love welling up for each one, and compassion for each one that only comes from God.... And, as I watch them, I also feel the huge weight of responsibility of helping lead God's beloved ones into something new. If often feel so incapable and ill-equipped to do this group well. I found myself asking "what is the purpose of this group, what is the goal? And how are we going to get there?". I know God loves these women. I also, know he will hold me accountable for how I deal with them. He after all, looks after the widow and the orphan. So pray for me please. Pray for wisdom and revelation. Pray that I could do this well. Pray for these woman as well, that they would encounter the love of Jesus.



 Just FYI:  Our cup overflows with these beautiful baskets.The ministry bought every last one of them. The plan is to sell these baskets to fund this project for these women. So when I come home for the holidays, I will have tons of baskets for sale:) If you need any Christmas gift ideas :) They are beautiful, and come with a tag that has the picture and story of the woman that made the basket.)

A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. Psalm 68:5

At our second Widows' meeting,the Lord was so good. We gathered by the fire place, and began in prayer. The goal for this meeting was to show the "second step" of making a pine needle basket...but to my joy and surprise the ladies brought in several finished, beautiful handwoven pine needle baskets!

The most beautiful basket was intricately hand-made by a widow well known to us, her name is Marta. Her son, Miguel, is on the nutrition program, and came into us in the final stages of malnutrition. He had severe signs of the common form of malnutrition here, due to a protein deficient diet. His hands and feet were swollen making it obvious that he was suffering. Little Miguel would not smile. His life-less face spoke only of the pain of having no father, and no food. We laid hands on him, and pleaded for our heavenly Father to hear our cry. Then,even though Miguel was a bit older than most of our nutrition kids, but we started him on the program.  Every two weeks we gave him a supply of milk, vitamins, and "incaparina" (a vitamin shake).  Slowly, but surely, he changed. His weight increased each time he came to the clinic. Soon, he was even smiling, showing his improvement. It is due to our good, good father in heaven, that Miguel is now a healthy little boy.  

So, when Marta came with her beautiful basket to sell, it meant more to us than just a basket. It meant food on the table for her little boy.
And that, my friends, is why we do this...to follow in the footsteps of our Lord, and Savior. Doing what the Father does..He is, after all  "A Father to the fatherless, a defender of the widows"...

Pray for Miguel...pray for Marta...

Meet the Women of the Widows' Project

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This is Tomasa. She is a widow that AIM (Adonai International Ministries)  has been friends with for many years. AIM first met Tomasa through her husband, who was a community leader from her village, and was dying of cancer.  The Lord used AIM to help her husband as much as they could, but he eventually passed away. This left Tomasa with seven children. AIM provides her with food monthly, and is she now apart of the Widow's project. Pray that she grows deeper with Christ during this season, and for provision for her family.

This is Delia. Delia is from a rural, village near our town of Canilla', Guatemala. Her husband abandoned her, and the children seven years ago. In addition to her own natural children, Delia took in a baby girl that was not her own, after the natural mother died. The little girl is now on our nutrition program due to being malnourished, and in a constant fight with respiratory sickness.  Delia now, "fights", as her neighbors put it, to provide for her children on a daily basis. Pray for her provision, and that she develops a personal relationship with her Savior, Jesus. Pray for health for this family.


These are just two of the six women that have begun to meet biweekly in a group. Tomorrow, will be meeting number three. Please pray God meets these women in a unique, and personal way. Pray for provision. But most importantly, pray that we are able to show these women Jesus in the midst of their struggles. 

My Father's House

Abba Father
My Defender
You are Holy
And I surrender
For in my weakness
You protect me
When my heart strays
You Correct me

I cry Abba Father -
I love you, Daddy
Abba Father...
I love you, I love you
I cry Abba Father -
I love you, Daddy
Abba Father..
I love you I love you
Daddy
Every time we sing this song during our worship on Tuesday nights, I cry. Every time...

This past Tuesday was no exception. I sat with my eyes closed focusing on the words, and my mind's eye swept away to my own earthly father.I suddenly pictured his house, where I often come to visit. I began to comprehend the parallel between him and my Father in heaven.  For the first time, as I counted the wonders of my own father, I realized my Father in heaven was just the same...

In my father's house I am always welcome. I have a warm bed to sleep on. I have good food to eat.  My father's cabinets are never bare, instead, there is always plenty. And, he tells me I am welcome to anything I desire. My father keeps nothing from me, but is instead generous. My father is not poor but rich....rich in love, rich in kindness, and rich in mercy. My father never requires me to perform, or earn his love, but instead I can rest in knowing that he loves me. Whenever, I enter my father's house I know that I am special. When I am with him, there is no other daughter he is thinking of...just me.

 I am his only daughter. 



  In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.³ If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am,there you may be also. John 14:1-2



song: Album- Invitation To Eavesdrop

Fuego

The volcano in Antigua, Guatemala erupted today. There were some very amazing photos posted on the Antigua Facebook page (as seen above). We were unaffected by it here in Canilla', El Quiche, Guatemala. However, Duane had a flight to Guatemala City today, and he said he saw it.  He said he saw it raining ash, and could see the puffs of smoke in the air. But, God is good, and the flight was made back home safely. We do know though that there are lives being affected by it, so we pray for help and protection for those families near the volcano! 

For more information on this eruption click this link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-19594481

My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me. Psalm 63:8

^{Dear Heavenly Father,}

      ^{Thank you for your son Jesus. Father, I desire to be with him, where He is, to behold His beauty, all the days of my life. I want to be lost in the river of fire, the river of desire for more of Him every single day. One thing I desire of the Lord, to behold his beauty, and to be found in Him. Lord, you can take everything, but one thing I desire to dwell with you, and behold your glory. Everything else fades, but one thing remains....Fix my eyes on eternity.} 

^{Help me to forget what lies behind. Help me to come into the fullness of your forgiveness. Help me not to rely on past failures, or past successes, but instead to press on toward the goal of knowing you. I don't want to live in the memory of yesterday, but I want to live in today.}

^{Lord, I want to be zealous for you for decades. I want to be hungry for you, desiring more and more of you everyday. I want to be on fire for you in my 60's, 70's, 80's....But I know, it's not about what I do, what I earn...but about what Jesus did on the cross. There is nothing I can do to add to His blood.}

^{So, help me to live out of the overflow of your pursuit for me....}

^{My soul clings to You;
Your right hand upholds me.}

this is my prayer after listening to a teaching by Corey Russell called "Staying on Fire for Decades"

From Ashes to Joy

Four, beautiful, Mayan, widowed woman huddled by the fireplace.  The lines on their faces, tell of the hardship they have endured during their lifetime....war, poverty, and abandonment.  Who can 
"bestow on them a crown of beauty,
 instead of ashes,
the oil of joy,
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
    instead of a spirit of despair?"
There's only one, found worthy. His name is Jesus.






 We've been in prayer for months now, about a project that will help the many widows in the particular village/area of Chiminisiguan. The ministry has been helping these many widows in many ways for a long time...but recently, the desire arose to start a project/group that would provide a place for widows to have community, hear the gospel, and provide them with a skill or trade to help earn income. So, after many months of prayer, on Tuesday we had our first meeting.

  After the nutrition kids, and some general consults we invited the widows into the clinic to start a meeting. Meanwhile, the medical clinic carried on as usual. We opened the meeting with prayer, and an explanation of the purpose of the group. We also asked if anyone had a trade, or skill, that they knew to make, or sell. The general consensus was "no". Then, we began showing them how to make pine needle  baskets that are simple and easy to make.  Pines grow all around this area, so the materials would be easy to obtain. To my surprise, it really seemed to take off! They learned very quickly, and better yet, they seemed to enjoy making them! After working on the baskets for awhile,we asked the group, when they would like to meet again. When given the choice of one month, or 2 weeks, they all chose 2 weeks!  

Now, when you've worked with areas like this before, you know that this can only be God. I've had enough experience working in these areas and other parts of Guatemala to know that normally, when starting a program, you try, and try, and try to stir up interest to no avail.  I give all glory to God who gave the timing and the setup.  Now, I also know this was just the first meeting and many trials may come, however, I am so grateful as it seems that God is in this! It's not just another program or activity. 


I believe God is going to move through this program to reveal Himself a little more to the woman. 

Please be in prayer that Jesus is known to these widows. I speak Isaiah 61 over each one of these woman:

Instead of your shame
    you will receive a double portion,
and instead of disgrace
    you will rejoice in your inheritance.
And so you will inherit a double portion in your land,
    and everlasting joy will be yours.