I can't believe I did it!!

Check out our pictures of our day off on the zip line and at the lake!

Let me start by saying, climbing anything, up a hill or mountain, never works out well for me.  I climbed a volcano on my first trip to Guatemala and all I can say is, the only way I would do it again is if I was promised that Jesus was waiting for me at the top, and even then I would might have to think about it.  Then last year I climbed Mt. Zion in Egypt.  Everyone promised me that it would be an experience of a life time, I should have taken that as a warning! We climbed it at 4:00 am in the dark!  I was told that the sun rise would be breath taking, it was, and the journey down the mountain was also memorable.  I came to understand why Moses was so angry when he got down from Mt. Zion only to find the Isralites worshiping a golden cow, I would have been mad too.  Today, I did my first zip line and it began with a steep climb . . . uphill!!!  This time though the the journey was worth it!!  I need to work on my "breaking."  But over all, I loved it!!!  Tomorrow, we get back to the houses and work on putting the finishing touches before we do the dedications!! 
Mary Dyar

Ten Houses Up & Ready for Concrete Floors!

See all of today's pictures at www.facebook.com/FBCWilmington!

Coming back to Guatemala never gets old!!!  So far the weather has been great, the people have been wonderful and the kids are enjoying everything from crayons, to blowing bubbles, to throwing a ball around!!  Wes, we miss you!  We have absolutely no one to pick on!!  Gary Harris, I think I did you proud yesterday, I made a baby cry!!  Alan and I are on "Team Jeff" and he has been doing a great job.  Tomorrow is a free day and then it's back to work! This year I have a "Newbie" with me, Rebecca, she and I have been in charge of the doors and windows, and she handles the power saw like a pro! 
Mary Dyar


New blogger....it's Brett now.  I've been wanting to come to Guatemala since the group got back from the first trip several years ago and I'm so glad I am finally getting the opportunity.  It's been great working again with former Mission Trip contruction partners Warren Garrison and Don Vigus.  Our team has had a lot of fun building our three houses.  The willingness of the people to help out on their houses has been great to watch.  Jorge was especially eager to help today!  This is my sixth mission experience outside of the USA and it's hard to believe the conditions that we see the people living in ... however, they seem perfectly happy ... makes you appreciate what you have, but also makes you realize how much we could actually do without!  I'm looking forward to the rest of the week...and even though I've never been on the Guatemala trip with you, it's just not the same with out you here Gary! - Brett Queen

Ten houses! Pretty unbelievable! We have an amazing group of people this year- I have equally enjoyed getting to know everyone on the team as well as all the people in the community. This is our third year and it is truly different and such blessing each time. It has been an eventful and adventurous two work days so far and I am taking every minute in. It is such an incredible blessing to be able to take this time and completely open ourselves up to following God's leading each and every minute of the day and being able to see Christ in the face of every person we meet...especially the children. I think I have gotten more exercise running and playing "juegas" with the kids in the past two days than in the last two weeks! I am savoring every moment and so thankful to be here.... we do miss you Gary, Jeff and Jane!!! -Kelly Pittman

Drew Pittman, Kip Galyean, and Brent Dixon (aka "the three amigos"), just completed construction on their 3rd home.  Our second home was next to the community outhouse, only to be followed by the third home; adjacent to a digestively active mule!  Kelly and Beth have developed a close relationship with a blue eyed white horse who shall remain nameless per confidentiality agreements.  Let's just say nature has an urgent way of calling.  Our team mascot, Ralph, helps in many ways unknown.  Brent's hammer broke on the first nail and was relieved of such duties for the subsequent homes.  Last but not least, Jayne is not scared of saws, drills, barbed wire, post hole diggers, or a madman with a machete; hard core to say the least.  All this goes to say, we've laughed a lot and are making great memories and fiendships.  We're looking forward to what comes next for all of us!
Brent Dixon

Pictures from Day One

Check out all of today's pictures on www.facebook.com/FBCWilmington!


There's nothing like experiencing first-hand how these people live. This is a great team that knows how to have fun amidst putting together house frames...interacting with families-many children eager for the surprises we brought.   Rebecca McKenna

Six Houses Underway!

Very blessed today with great weather and an awesome view of the nearby volcano!  For those that went last August, I think we are building very close to the same village.  We broke up into three teams of 7 with John's grandson joining us to make the teams equal.  Samuel was right there to tell us we were doing things wrong with  a No,no, no shaking his head or an Ah-Yiy-Yiy!!  The children were friendly and quickly gathered to color and blow bubbles on the hill with some of the girls!  Occasionally a piece of fruit would fall onto the worksite and we would find one of the boys climbing the trees around us.  After the first round of homes were built, we moved to the next three sites. Two teams had to spend time digging up huge boulders before they could begin and two teams have adopted custom building skills to make the homes fit on smaller lots.  It looks like we could be very close to completing the majority of the work tomorrow if we get another dry day.  It is a great group this year and everyone's seems to really be enjoying themselves.  Stay tuned, I have a feeling there will be some funny blogs coming as the week progresses. Drew Pittman

We've arrived!

We arrived in Guatemala early this afternoon.  We left en route to the mission house in four vehicles.  Unfortunately, two of the vehicles got separated from the other two.  Fortunately, we had two missionaries and five international cell phones with us.  Unfortunately, they were all in the first two vehicles.  Note to self...  But Don Vigus and Warren Garrison did a super job of, first and foremost, finding a McDonald's in Guatemala City to eat lunch at (Don's favorite international dining experience), and then getting us on the road to Chimaltenango and the mission house.

It is raining today and in the upper 60's!!  Tomorrow should be in the 80s.  Pray for clear skies.  The mud was pretty thick on the road to the mission house.  For those of you who have been here before, because we got lost we came in on the road with deep potholes past the cemetery.  It was a messy obstacle course.  Pray that conditions dry up a bit before tomorrow.

Heading Out Tomorrow!

Little girl in line at the food distribution

We head out from the Activities Center at 5:00am tomorrow.  Looking forward to finding out what village(s) we will be working in.  Hope to get back to visit some of the families that we have worked with in the past.

Our plan is to build 10 houses this week and distribute food to 100 families.  We will be checking on the bicycle ministry started last year and will let you know how that is going.

21 folks are on our team this July.  It is a terrific bunch.  You will get to hear their impressions and see their work as the week goes on.  About 1/2 of our team has been to Guatemala before.  We have 11 folks going for the first time.  Looking forward to spending time with all of them and seeing what God has in store.

Grace,
Jayne

Ten Days Until the Team Leaves for Guatemala

Please be praying for the Guatemala Mission Team.  We will be leaving VERY early in the morning next Thursday, July 28th to catch an 8am flight out of Myrtle Beach.  We will arrive in Guatemala City around 12:30pm, Guatemala time.  They are two hours earlier... I think.

Please pray for safe travel.  Pray for the people that we will be working with - that God would prepare their hearts and ours for all that he will be doing in us, through us and among us while we are there.

If you are a Google Earth fan, you can check out Chimaltenango, Guatemala.  Chimaltenango is both a city and a state.  The mission house is in the city of Chimaltenango.  Almost all of our builds have been in the state of Chimaltenango.  Sometimes that can be ten minutes away, sometimes it is an hour and a half away... straight up the mountain. 

The team met for a preliminary meeting last week.  We are all very excited and humbled by the opportunity to go and to serve.

Grace & peace,
Jayne Davis