Guatemala
Medical Clinic
In May of 2007 I went on my first trip to Guatemala, the land of the eternal Spring! This picture was taken a year later as I was in San Marcos with a Medical Mission. I had the privilege of sharing the Gospel with hundreds of patients while they were waiting for their turn with the doctor. This little boy was one of those patients and said to me in Spanish, "I am going to tie you up and put you in my pickup truck and take you home with me to my house." At the start of the day he was very intimidated by me but as the day warmed up he did as well. And as you can see we became very good friends.
My first trip to Guatemala City was with my sister Karen and her husband Rick. She and Rick had been missionaries in Guatemala for 5 years and were now back in the states. Rick needed to return to Guatemala to see some doctors and 10 days before they were to leave I felt the Lord tug on my heart that I was to go. Well, this was the beginning of 8 trips to Guatemala in 2 1/2 years. I met the Director of Precept Ministries in Guatemala City on that visit and became very close with he and family And through this friendship the Lord began to open the door for many more opportunities for ministry in Guatemala. From yes, the above mentioned Medical Clinics, 5 different times that year, and teaching Bible Study and leading Women's Conferences at Precept Ministries in Guatemala City. In October of 2009 I even had the privilege of taking a group of Women's Ministry leaders to Antigua, right outside of Guatemala City, for a Women's Retreat. What fun that was!
The people are so beautiful! They show such gracious hospitality and have a hunger for the Word of God so that they may grow in their walks with Him. The Lord has used my hurts and pains, joys and victories to be an encouragement as I have traveled to this land. They have changed my life forever!
My first trip to Guatemala City was with my sister Karen and her husband Rick. She and Rick had been missionaries in Guatemala for 5 years and were now back in the states. Rick needed to return to Guatemala to see some doctors and 10 days before they were to leave I felt the Lord tug on my heart that I was to go. Well, this was the beginning of 8 trips to Guatemala in 2 1/2 years. I met the Director of Precept Ministries in Guatemala City on that visit and became very close with he and family And through this friendship the Lord began to open the door for many more opportunities for ministry in Guatemala. From yes, the above mentioned Medical Clinics, 5 different times that year, and teaching Bible Study and leading Women's Conferences at Precept Ministries in Guatemala City. In October of 2009 I even had the privilege of taking a group of Women's Ministry leaders to Antigua, right outside of Guatemala City, for a Women's Retreat. What fun that was!
The people are so beautiful! They show such gracious hospitality and have a hunger for the Word of God so that they may grow in their walks with Him. The Lord has used my hurts and pains, joys and victories to be an encouragement as I have traveled to this land. They have changed my life forever!
This lovely woman is Marcia. It was such a blessing to meet her one day as a friend and I were being "tourists" in Antigua. Marcia was born without the full use of her hands and feet and spends her days sitting in her wheelchair, drawing with her feet to raise money for her family. You would not believe how very talented that she is. She grips the colored pencils or pens in her toes and creates a gorgeous picture. As people walk by and watch her draw they drop a coin or two into a can that she has sitting next to her. My friend Lucy and I stopped to visit with her and we prayed with her and were able to just love on her. The next day we came back to see her again. This time there was a little girl standing beside her chair and we asked, "Is this your little sister?" Marcia, bowed her head down and said, "No, she is my daughter, I was raped! What a sad story but oh how good our Father is! She has a lovely daughter!
Marcia mentioned to us that the wheelchair that she had did not belong to her and she wondered if we could help her get another one. So on my next trip to Guatemala, a few months later, Lucy's Sunday School class sent money to buy a new wheelchair for her! Her face lit up when she saw it. I have returned to Antigua several times since that day and each time I bump into Marcia and give her a big hug, buy a picture and pray with her. Thank You Father for allowing me to be Your hands and Your feet to Marcia! This is an update! I received an e-mail from Lucy B. Paulk last week concerning Marcia. Lucy and I had the pleasure of meeting Marcia in 2008 on a visit to Antigua. Lucy recently spoke with Marcia's mother and was told that Marcia was in the hospital and had been diagnoised with a brain tumor. I am sad to say that Marcia passed away a few weeks ago. Sad for the loss that her dear family will experience, sad because when I return to Antigua I will not find her on the sidewalk anymore to greet me with her beautiful bright smile as she created a masterpiece with her feet but rejoicing in the hope that she may be with the Lord. Lucy was told that Marcia and her mother were just recently baptized together. We understand that it is not baptism that saves but this is sure a good sign that the Lord had given her a heart for Him as she followed Him in believers baptism. As I consider the blessing of knowing this woman my eyes fill with tears! Thank You my loving Father for the privilege of meeting this sweet girl and literally kissing her with Your love and compassion. Your love is amazing. You have blessed me beyond, beyond as I go! I love you so....................
Marcia mentioned to us that the wheelchair that she had did not belong to her and she wondered if we could help her get another one. So on my next trip to Guatemala, a few months later, Lucy's Sunday School class sent money to buy a new wheelchair for her! Her face lit up when she saw it. I have returned to Antigua several times since that day and each time I bump into Marcia and give her a big hug, buy a picture and pray with her. Thank You Father for allowing me to be Your hands and Your feet to Marcia! This is an update! I received an e-mail from Lucy B. Paulk last week concerning Marcia. Lucy and I had the pleasure of meeting Marcia in 2008 on a visit to Antigua. Lucy recently spoke with Marcia's mother and was told that Marcia was in the hospital and had been diagnoised with a brain tumor. I am sad to say that Marcia passed away a few weeks ago. Sad for the loss that her dear family will experience, sad because when I return to Antigua I will not find her on the sidewalk anymore to greet me with her beautiful bright smile as she created a masterpiece with her feet but rejoicing in the hope that she may be with the Lord. Lucy was told that Marcia and her mother were just recently baptized together. We understand that it is not baptism that saves but this is sure a good sign that the Lord had given her a heart for Him as she followed Him in believers baptism. As I consider the blessing of knowing this woman my eyes fill with tears! Thank You my loving Father for the privilege of meeting this sweet girl and literally kissing her with Your love and compassion. Your love is amazing. You have blessed me beyond, beyond as I go! I love you so....................
Philippines
Village Church
This picture was taken on my first trip to the Philippines. I joined a team from Waynesville North Carolina in April of 2008. Eddie and Nancy Nelson were the team leaders and were very kind to invite me to join them. We were on a Medical Mission at this little village church and these children, as you can see, are bowing their heads and folding their hands and putting their faith and trust in the Lord Jesus alone for forgiveness of their sins and salvation. I have loved this photo, it takes me right back to that moment.
While in the Philippines we stayed at Open Door Christian Orphanage. I met the pastor and his wife, Pio and Nenette Occeno and this was the beginning of a wonderful relationship with them. On the first trip we ministered to the people through Medical Clinics and sharing the Gospel in Bicol which was about a 10 hour drive away from San Pablo City where Open Door is located. The trip was so very successful, the Holy Spirit truly did draw men, women and children to Himself. We made some precious friendships as we worked with the native Filipinos and we got to know the orphans at Open Door.
This past April 2009 I returned with Nancy and Eddie Nelson and this time we stayed at Open Door and held the Medical Clinics there in San Pablo City and had the patients bused in from a local dump site where they lived. We saw hundreds of patients over a 4 day period and many came to salvation through Christ Jesus. We purpose to meet their physical needs but most importantly their spiritual need. "For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16
While in the Philippines we stayed at Open Door Christian Orphanage. I met the pastor and his wife, Pio and Nenette Occeno and this was the beginning of a wonderful relationship with them. On the first trip we ministered to the people through Medical Clinics and sharing the Gospel in Bicol which was about a 10 hour drive away from San Pablo City where Open Door is located. The trip was so very successful, the Holy Spirit truly did draw men, women and children to Himself. We made some precious friendships as we worked with the native Filipinos and we got to know the orphans at Open Door.
This past April 2009 I returned with Nancy and Eddie Nelson and this time we stayed at Open Door and held the Medical Clinics there in San Pablo City and had the patients bused in from a local dump site where they lived. We saw hundreds of patients over a 4 day period and many came to salvation through Christ Jesus. We purpose to meet their physical needs but most importantly their spiritual need. "For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16
Lori Lynn at the doctor
While at Open Door this past November, Debbie Bradford and I met a little girl named Lorilynn who is deaf and mute. She had been living at Open Door for only a short time with her mother named Lovely and her older sister. Lovely has been working in Pastor Pio and Nenette's home, cooking and cleaning for them. I can't remember her sisters name but she attends school there and Lorilynn just hangs out. The children at Open Door are very nice to her and many of them have been learning sign language so that they can communicate with her. One morning I was visiting with Lovely and asked her how long Lorilynn had been deaf and she told me since birth. I asked if she had every taken her to a doctor and she said that she had never taken her to a specialist. In fact she had been told by a school nurse that Lorilynn needed a hearing aid but Lovely could not even afford the doctors appointment to have her checked out. So Debbie and I put our pesos together and made arrangements to take her first to a Ear Nose and Throat Specialist in San Pablo City, and then we were referred to Manila. What an adventure! As the doctor tested Lorilynn with the hearing aids at the highest frequency that she was able to I started to well up with tears because Lorilynn looked like she was hearing something. But no, it was a false alarm, she only felt the vibration! Man! We tried! She may not have been able to hear but we loved on her and were able to leave the funds with Nenette so that she will be able to have transportation each week to a school for those with special needs. Praise His Name!
Melanie and Joseph
These children are Melanie and Jospeh. A brother and sister who came to see my friends Reuben and Cora this past April while they were at Open Door on Medical Mission. After being examined it was discovered that both of the children have heart murmurs. Nancy Nelson asked if I would pray for them and shared with me their situation. Melanie and Joseph had been abandoned by their parents and were living with their eighteen year old sister. She had a toddler and a baby on the way and the children had been living with she and her husband and it was very difficult and put a burden on this young couple. I felt the Lord prompt me to ask Nenette if the children could come and live at Open Door. She said, "Yes, but they would need to have sponsors." Well, thanks to many of you, in just over 24 hours gifts of over $1,500.00 were promised to sponsor them. The above picture was taken in November of 2009 when I returned to Open Door. And the morning after I arrived Melanie and Jospeh approached me right away. They remembered meeting me in April but I was not there any longer when they finally arrived to move in. It was almost like they were my children, they could tell that we had a special connection. I sat down to visit with them and took time to share the Gospel, praise the Lord, both Melanie and Joseph came to faith in the Lord Jesus. I wept as they humbled themselves, confessing their sins and placing their faith in the Lord. This is true JOY!
Update on Melanie 4/26/11
Melanie and I
Two years ago this month Melanie and Joseph, pictured above, came to Open Door for a Medical Mission and I prayed with them. As you will remember they both had heart problems and were living in very sad conditions near the local city dump. You have supported them both for this past two years and yet in January Melanie left the orphanage and school. She is now 17 and she met a man 24 and did not return to Open Door. When I heard the news I was so sad because I had hoped that she and Jospeh would continue living at Open Door and attending the Academy and Church. Joseph is thriving and my heart leaps with gladness but "no Melanie" made me sad. So!!!!! Yesterday Dannette led myself and some of my friends to a slum like area where she was believed to be living. I am attaching some pictures so that you can see what I saw. Upon arriving at the place, we approached the shack that she and Joseph once lived in with their older sister. But no Melanie!!!! We had to climb up the side of a hill to get their after traveling by Jeepney. Melanie's cousin agreed to lead us to where she was now living. So back down the dangerous hillside and through a squatter's slum, where children run and play among the wild dogs and trash and stagnet water with huge smiles on their faces as they shout, "Hello!!!, How are you"???
When we made it back out to the main road we hired two tricylces/motorcyles to take us to the our new destination. I asked my friends to please have the drivers stay as we were pretty far off the main road and I didn't want us all(6) to have to walk back. A woman approached us and asked who we were looking for, we said Melanie and she said, she is there in their home taking a nap! She then ran ahead of us to alert Melanie. You could here all kinds of voices in the shack and one of my friends said, Melanie was saying she needed to change her clothes. I said, She does not have to change her clothes for me!!!! As she appeared in the doorway of the hut, she said, "Ate Cindy|!!!!!!! with a huge smile on her face! Her heart was pounding! I said, Oh Melanie, I found you! I have missed you!!! She embraced me and said, Ate Cindy I have missed you too and we both cried.
Why did I want to see her???? I wanted to let her know that even though she has made a decision that was not pleasing to the Lord in moving out and living with this man and now being pregnant that the Lord has never stopped loving her. I asked her if she remembered the day she prayed with me to give her life to Christ and she said, Yes, I asked her, Did you mean what you were saying??? She said yes! Then I said, Honey, then admit where you have failed and the Lord will forgive you, He loves you and wants to grow you up in Him. Nenette has said that she can come back to Open Door but not with the man of course. But I don't know what decision she will make. I wanted her to see that the love of God will hunt her down and find her and embrace her! I could go on and on with all that I shared with her and the fellow but I don't want to keep you. She said they would come on Sunday to church at Open Door!!!!!
Wasnt' the Lord sweet to let me touch her once again with His Words of Eternal Life?
When we made it back out to the main road we hired two tricylces/motorcyles to take us to the our new destination. I asked my friends to please have the drivers stay as we were pretty far off the main road and I didn't want us all(6) to have to walk back. A woman approached us and asked who we were looking for, we said Melanie and she said, she is there in their home taking a nap! She then ran ahead of us to alert Melanie. You could here all kinds of voices in the shack and one of my friends said, Melanie was saying she needed to change her clothes. I said, She does not have to change her clothes for me!!!! As she appeared in the doorway of the hut, she said, "Ate Cindy|!!!!!!! with a huge smile on her face! Her heart was pounding! I said, Oh Melanie, I found you! I have missed you!!! She embraced me and said, Ate Cindy I have missed you too and we both cried.
Why did I want to see her???? I wanted to let her know that even though she has made a decision that was not pleasing to the Lord in moving out and living with this man and now being pregnant that the Lord has never stopped loving her. I asked her if she remembered the day she prayed with me to give her life to Christ and she said, Yes, I asked her, Did you mean what you were saying??? She said yes! Then I said, Honey, then admit where you have failed and the Lord will forgive you, He loves you and wants to grow you up in Him. Nenette has said that she can come back to Open Door but not with the man of course. But I don't know what decision she will make. I wanted her to see that the love of God will hunt her down and find her and embrace her! I could go on and on with all that I shared with her and the fellow but I don't want to keep you. She said they would come on Sunday to church at Open Door!!!!!
Wasnt' the Lord sweet to let me touch her once again with His Words of Eternal Life?
5/1/11
(Left) Melanie and I. (Right) Melanie and Joseph
As I walked downstairs this morning to attend the teen girls Sunday School Class , one of the ladies said, Ate Cindy, Look it's Melanie! Melanie had come to Open Door just as she said! I had prayed while in my room earlier that she would come and I would get one more chance to see her and there she was! What courage that took this young girl! She did not know that I was even still here, I had told her that I was leaving last Tuesday as I had thought but the Lord had other plans. So of course I embraced her and then she and I headed over to a shed to have Sunday School. There was some confusion on who would teach so I told the girls I had a song on my I-Phone that I wanted to share with them. "Alabaster Box". And I said, I guess I should read the text from the Bible so that you know what it is talking about. You may recall that Jesus is having dinner at the house of Simon the Pharisee and a woman, who is a "sinner" comes and pours perfume from her alabaster box on the feet of Jesus and she also wipes his feet with her hair and tears. Simon thinks Jesus is certainly no prophet if he will speak to a sinner and Jesus puts him in his place!! Its in Luke I think Chapter 7! Oh how precious our Father is, here Melanie comes to Open Door, yes a young woman who made some wrong choices but Jesus receives us when we come repentant and willing to offer Him all we have and all we are! As I sat there leading the Class I could not believe how the put all of this in place, He continues to cause me to weep with joy! Enjoy the pictures of my sweet Melanie and she is a result of your prayers. She is going to pray about coming back to Open Door in June for School. We will see what the Lord does!
April 2011 Mission to the Philippines
The Ladies from the Breakaway Retreat!
Joana Kathlene
Joana Kathlene Bitmal a young girl that Sonflower International Ministry sponsored this past year. She was in her fourth year at Open Door and graduated April 1, 2011 as the Valedictorian of her class. I am so proud!! The past two years we have sponsored a girl that ended up being the Valedictorian!!!!!! As I have had a chance to visit with her this week she has shared with me that she would like to attend a Laguna College in San Pablo City to study to be an Civil Engineer. Wow!!!!! This is a smart young lady and as you can see a beautiful girl. Kathlene is active in the local missions that the Youth/College participate in each Sunday afternoon. They go to a local Village Church, a sister church of Open Door and minister to the children. Leading them in songs and games and Bible Stories. The price per semester for this college is, ARE YOU READY FOR THIS? $358.00 per semester. We have another girl that we already support and she is in her 4th year of college and her tuition is $180.00 per semester. Kathlene is desiring to go to a school that specializes in this field and I have encouraged her to reach for the top not to lower her standard but to seek the Lord and His provision for her education. I told Kathlene that I would write a letter to my ministry partners back home and see who would like to specifically donate toward her schooling. Out of the 171 of you on my mailing list any amount will add up to take care of this need for this beautiful girl. She is so humbled as she watches the Lord supply for her. If you should desire to help you may go to the Pay pal on my web page or just mail a check to my address. I love you all, Thanks for sharing so that many lives may be touched!!!!
Precious Jericho
As we traveled through the busy streets of San Pablo City a little boy 11 years old approached us with his hand out begging. It took me back two years, Joseph was that little boy! He was living at a dump site and now has a home, and education, lives at the site of the church, food in his belly and Jesus is the topic of conversation! Of course I could not just give him a coin! He actually asked for money for some rice and I told Ella who was with me, lets buy him some rice. So he led the way. We came to a little Canteen on the side of the road and purchased him a meal. He then said, could he get some for his brother and sister too. Where are your parents Jericho? My mother lives in Bicol, six hours south and she left us here! They live on the streets. How can this be?? Who would do this to their children??? Apparently hundreds do and on any given night on the streets of San Pablo City you will see the children going through trash looking for food. I have attached a picture of Jericho for you to see a before and after picture. I decided to bring him back to Open Door and give him a shower, new clothes and shoes for his feet, because he did not have any shoes. Do we really know how blessed we are?????? Father You have blessed us exceedingly abundantly beyond, beyond!!! You have said when you have done it unto the least of these you have done it unto Me!!!! For you our Father we serve. As I prayed with Jericho I could not help but cry as I think of your amazing grace. While he was waiting for his new clothes he was staring at me and asked Ella, Why does she have a pointed nose!!!!!! She said to him, she is an American! I guess I really do look different then the rest!!
Joseph is to my left, this was at the Good Friday Service and as you can see a few of the orphans joined us. The other picture is the day I took Joseph shopping and we met Jericho. Joseph is off the streets now and has come to Christ and the Lord touched Jericho with His love for him as well. Jesus said, when you have done it to the least of these you have done it unto Me!!!
A Woman on the Street
Oh Father, You have said, I was hungry and you gave Me meat, I was thirsty and you gave Me drink, I was a stranger you took Me in, naked you clothed Me, when I was down you visited Me, when others turned you came unto Me!!!!!! As I type this verse, I am crying, the woman pictured above did not understand English and not even Tagalog BUT YOU DO FATHER!!! This was done UNTO YOU!!!! Work Your marvelous purpose! Only You know Your plans but as I touched this woman who begs on the streets, is very thin, clearly has no hope and then You walk up to her through me Your instrument. As I prayed with her I thought, Oh Father may she see Jesus in me! I am your servant!! Amen
This morning I took Joseph, Danneth, Apple and Shane to get haircuts! I will attach a picture, what fun! We then went to the grocery store to pick up some ingredients for dinner! I am teaching them how to make an American Meal!! Can you believe it? Those who know me know I only make a few things and when I could not find baking soda for Banana Bread it was then a casserole, Chicken Divon(sp?)!!!! While we sat in the kitchen waiting for the Gas Oven(they really scare me) to cook the casserole the girls and I sat down to have devotion. In the margin of my Bible I had written, April 27 2010, Ty's Birthday!!!!! How cool is that!! Today is my son Ty's Birthday and here I am again!
Ukraine
Sumy, Ukraine sunflower field
If you were to come to my home you would see that I love sunflowers because I have them everywhere. As I shared before, they make me smile. I believe that the Lord created them not only for the seeds but to bring a smile to our faces. His signature is all over His creation! Do you think He knows my love for this flower? I do, and on my second trip to Sumy Ukraine in August of 2007 we passed acres and acres of fields filled with sunflowers. It was as if the Lord was showering me with kisses and confirming in my heart, "Cindy, you are right where I have led you!"