World Ministries-Guatemala
WOC Guatemala Mission Trip
Twelve members of World Outreach Church left for Guatemala on May 9th for a week-long mission trip. The team was hosted by John and Sharon Harvey, founders of ASELSI, Asociacion Equipando A Los Santos Internacional, in the town of Chichicastenango.
The purpose of the trip was to build upon the foundation of a long-established relationship with ASELSI Ministries. Led by Pastor Phillip Jackson, the mission team brought a variety of talents to the ministry as they interacted with the Quiche and Ixil tribes of Mayan Indians.
Teaching
Pastor Jackson was invited to teach a seminar for local pastors in two locations: Chichicastenango and Nebaj. In both towns, his presentation focused on the atonement and the power of the cross for every believer. It was a much-needed teaching as many Mayans associate the cross with idolatry. Pastor Jackson was well received by the large groups of pastors, some of whom had traveled for five or six hours to hear him.
Construction
Part of our group ministered with hammers, shovels, and saws. The construction team spent a day putting a roof on a newly expanded church in the village of Rio Azul. Afterwards the ladies of the church treated the team to a local cabbage soup lunch. In addition, the team built a flowerbed and dug holes for planting palm trees in the ASELSI compound. The highlight for the team, however, was replacing a rusted roof with new tin on the house of a single mother of eight. According to her, the new roof was an answer to prayer.
Children’s Ministry
Simultaneously, another part of the team member ministered to the local children at ASELSI and in Rio Azul. They brought crayons and coloring pages, songs and games, and, most importantly, love. One of the highlights for the children was to get to meet Gozer the Alligator, a popular puppet-friend of WOC’s Children’s Ministry.
As expected, the team came home with more blessings than they gave. It certainly looks like World Outreach Church will be returning to Guatemala with more teams in the future.
Below is a Christmas update from John and Sharon Harvey, Directors of ASELSI Ministries in Guatemala. May we pray that the great gift that is Christmas will work deeply into the hearts and lives of those to whom the Harvey’s minister.
Dear Friends,
We were told that here in Guatemala, Christmas was a time for sinners to celebrate a two-week long party. It included much music, dancing, drinking, and left many lying in the streets in a drunken stupor. The birth of Jesus and its meaning for each of us got left in the dust. Churches instructed their members not to participate in the parties. Most of the churches refused to mention the Lord's birth because of the debauchery of the season. No lights, no trees, no Christmas carols; you get the picture.
About ten years ago, Sharon and I decided to bring the powerful meaning of Christmas to the people who come to our clinic. We decided to have a clinic Christmas "fiesta". It has become a very meaningful event.
We want to thank all who so diligently helped us with gifts for the 1500 children and babies that came to the celebration. All are patients for our clinic that came during the year.
The families started arriving at four in the morning. By eight, we had divided the families in three groups of around eight hundred each. One group at a time, they saw clowns and puppets that kept them laughing. A group of ladies from Gateway Church in Dallas brought puppets and marionettes and did a great job entertaining with songs. Since we had smaller groups, we evangelized with less confusion than last year. Many came forward for prayer and salvation.
Then there were the gifts. There was time for everyone to receive their gifts, a big hug and a "Feliz Navidad".
Thank you for your help. From the east to the west, from the north to the south, boxes arrived in time to separate the gifts for every age group, and every girl and boy. Thank you for your prayers. God was with us - Emanuel!
John and Sharon Harvey
Directors of ASELSI Ministries