Seeds to Harvest Guatemala- Ministry Update - May 2025

Seeds to Harvest Guatemala- Ministry Update - May 2025

Dear Friends and Family

 2nd Corinthians 3:2-3 Paul urges believers to share their stories, writing, “You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to one known and read by all.  And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.”

Sometimes the most powerful thing we can tell is our own story and we have all been given our story for a reason … which is why we send our ministry updates.  Our story is about Jesus Christ and the work He has done and is doing in our lives, and in todays world more than ever we need to tell our stories and point people to the way, the truth and the life, Jesus Christ.  He is the only way of salvation, the only way to the Father, by faith alone.

In our last update we had spoken about sending another container of food and in fact had begun the paperwork when we found out that Evangélica Alianza, the non-profit group that brings our containers in to Guatemala tax free had an expired license with the arm of the Government that provides the Phytosanitary Certificate … a document needed on both sides of the shipment. To date we are still waiting.  There is always great need for the food and with what we have left, we have had to limit it to those in extreme poverty, or abandoned women with children, and the elderly.  
We have installed around 51 vented stoves now in 3 different communities.  A few of them were such hardship cases that we waived the deposit.  One is a Pastor who joined the Pastor training classes in our home.  He is suffering from diabetes and although is stable at the moment, he has been unable to work much outside of his Pastoral duties.  Most Pastors here work in the fields or construction to support themselves and their families.  
We have some potentially exciting news about Susanna, the little girl with the injured leg.  She was seen by a group of specialists from the US in March. They did a minor surgery to remove a bone spur, and they are looking at the possibility of bringing her to Florida to do what needs to be done to fix her leg.  We were told that this is only a possibility at this point.  But we also  know that all things are possible with God and so we are praying and would ask for your prayers also.  
The Pastor training was hindered by road blocks for a couple of months in a row, but such is life in Guatemala.  You re-coordinate and move forward, although it can be frustrating at times.  Things are moving ahead now.  


A younger missionary couple that we know who live in a town near us are interested in possibly hosting a Pastor Training in their area.  We have met with them a couple of times and in fact he will teach some of the modules that we need a teacher for.  It is exciting to see the interest in furthering the gospel this way. We have always felt that it is better to equip the existing Pastors with training, as they can then take the gospel into their communities, in their language.   They consider the opportunity to learn and study in this program a great opportunity and privilege and we consider it a privilege to be able to coordinate and host them.  
A young man who is part of the Calvary Antigua Church leadership, has been coming to visit and preach at the Santa Marta Church.  We have known Melvin for many years, and God placed it on his heart to come to help and encourage both us and the Church at Santa Marta.  He hopes to bring teams periodically and this will be a blessing to all.
On our last visit to Santa Marta, a newer couple that attend the Church asked us if we would come to visit and pray with her mother who is 87 years old.  As we walked along the path up into the hills to their home, we learned that she had heard the gospel and believed just 3 months ago.  We met with a beautiful, elderly lady who is at the end of her life here on earth, but was very much at peace.  We had a time of prayer with the family … they were thankful, and encouraged by our visit they said.  It is true that sometimes all a person has to do is show up, to show that we care.  
In late March we took a couple of weeks to go visit our family in Wisconsin and then to Alabama to visit a Church who have supported us since the beginning of our ministry.  


Such a blessing of course to see our grandkids and a blessing to visit Shiloh Church in Alabama.  Such warm, generous and loving people.  Over the years they have sent several teams to Guatemala and have shown such an interest in what we do.  They gave us their morning service to share about our ministry and many hearts were moved.  
On Good Friday we were invited out to a village to show the film we have called Magdalena.  It was a long drive, at the very end of a long pot hole filled road, and when we arrived they fed us chicken soup, and then after the movie we were all fed tamales.  Food is an important gift whether we give or receive, and when we receive it, we know they are giving their best out of their meager provisions.  It is always very humbling to us to be treated so generously .


 We found out that a group of short term missionaries, from Missouri had come and built their Church about 3 or 4 years ago.  It seemed to be thriving and there was a good response to the gospel message given in the film, and by Erick after.
Recently we had a baby dedication at the Nations Church, where we attend.  A family here in Guatemala that we have become good friends with over the years, the daughter, Olga, who is in the final stages of becoming a Doctor, part of which includes working in a clinic in a rural area, a couple of months ago, began seeing a malnourished, scabies covered baby, with diarrhea and other issues.  What we understand is that the mother became pregnant through abuse and didn’t want the baby and was considering abandoning him.  Olga offered to take him and the mother consented.  They have already gone before a judge and Olga has been given legal custody.  


As I held baby Cesar, I couldn’t get over what a miracle this situation is and how quickly it all worked out.  Olga is single, but her whole family have committed to helping her.  You could see the love they all had for this baby.  Unfortunately we hear many stories of abandoned babies with sad endings so it is amazing to see this healthy 3 month old with a beautiful future ahead of him.  
We head back to Canada in early June.  We will be spending a quiet restful time in Nakusp, but   you are welcome to reach out to come for a visit any time.


Thank you for your continued support and prayers for our ministry.


Blessings
Denis and Eileen