With this being my second trip to Guatemala, I felt as though things would possibly be the same as they were this past summer. I had also been dealing with a lot of pride issues knowing that for many of the people who are apart of our team are going on their first mission trip. However, I have quickly realized that it is a totally different trip and our team has a different chemistry. Prior to our trip I have been learning more and more about gaining endurance in my faith so that I can be a man of God through Romans. Through this I am learning to humble myself and to be able to put myself below everyone else regarding the people of Guatemala as well as the people in my team and everyone back at home. This year I am really looking forward to spending my time at the new preschool and the special needs hospital so that I can reconnect and build stronger relationships, showing them the love and grace that God has in store for them!

-Hunter Creamer

p.s. A huge thank you to everyone that either supported me financially or from prayer. You are a huge part in my trip and I can't wait to share more with you all.

Leaving for Guatemala form my last high school trip

Well today we leave for Guatemala and I've never felt more ready or prepared well... for anything. God has given me such a peace about this week even though its my last year as a student. these past couple weeks in preparation he has shown me patience and peace because preparing for college is stressful but he has also shown me how his plan far exceeds anything I could dream of! the verse he has given me this week is Romans 8:28. It says "and we know that in all things works for the good of those who love him who have been called to his purpose." Along with this verse all thought out this week I will be praying Romans 5:3-5 which says not only praise in the good times, but we also need to praise and point to God in the trials. Because suffering creates perseverance and perseverance creates character in Christ, and that creates a hope that will never fade and goes beyond all understanding. I know God has put this in my heart to tell the ones Who need this ultimate hope in him in Guatemala. This week I also ask that you pray that hearts in Guatemala be opened to the gospel of Christ. I also would like you to pray that we as a team become broken until there is nothing left but Christ!

-Joshua Puckett

The team has arrived!

Just an update to let everyone know, the team has arrived safely! Thank you for your prayers!

Information for Parents

Hello Parents,

Hannah and I are so excited for your kids to arrive tomorrow.

Wanted to make you aware that Guatemala is 2 hours behind GA time. Their plane is scheduled to arrive at 11:16 Guate time. If their flight is on time, and by the time they all get their luggage and go through customs. I anticipate us leaving the airport close to 1 Guate time. Which will be 3 ish in GA. When we return to Seteca, where we stay, Hannah will post a quick blog that the team has arrived.

If you have any concerns during the week. Please email me at apohlmeier@lakewoodlife.org
I'll be checking my mail periodically.

I've really been praying John 15 for the team. That we would do nothing apart from the Father. And we do ministry out of our relationship with Him.

We met with Pastor Saul last night. Such a great talk about the week.

Please be praying for
Caleb Parrish. He'll be preaching in the landfill's church service Sunday night.
Maddie Halstead and Sydney Creamer will be sharing living testimonies (what God is doing in their lives right now-in their quiet time) and David Funk will be leading worship (in English).

Basically the team will hit the ground running! Sunday will be a long good day. Pray for endurance.

So pray for our team as a whole, pray for your child. That this week would be transforming in their spiritual lives and that The Lord would show you ways to minister and encourage and pray for your high school student.

Here are the names of the leaders and students so you can pray by name.

Leaders:
Wayne Parrish
Jeff Crocker
Jeff Branyon
Brandon Brown
Allie Pohlmeier
Mike and Chelsea Beard
Hannah Miller
Mark Thomas
Bryan Parker
Robert Puckett

Students ( in no particular order...)
Lizzie Farr
Betsy Barrett
Claire Smith
Hunter and Sydney Creamer
Gracie and Ellie Parker
Maddie Halstead
Layne Saliba
Caleb Parrish
Jon Hunt
Joshua Puckett
Sam Simpson
Seth Miller
Ross Walters
Josh Alcorn
David Funk
Matthew Nelson
Taylor Cox
Brooke Copeland
Kennedy Crocker
Cara Beth Branyon
Courtney Staples
Haley King

So you know about our week
Sunday: fly in, prayer in landfill and church service
Monday: preschool in the AM. Afternoon students rotate with house visits, construction, and VBS. In the evening men will go to the service for those addicted to glue. Girls will hold a prayer vigil.
Tuesday: same as Monday. Evening church service
Wednesday: Special needs hospital and free day in Antigua
Thursday: preschool in the AM. AIDS hospital for children in the afternoon
Friday: malnutrition center in the AM and feeding in the landfill in the PM
Saturday: prayer at the site for a new church plant with pastor Saul and then the afternoon rotations of construction, visits, and VBS.

We have a full week! At all the services students will be preaching or giving testimonies.

We know right now that Tuesday at the glue service:
Matthew Nelson
Layne Saliba
Joshua Puckett
Will be sharing testimonies.

Remember to send sunscreen, work gloves and work clothes, good shoes, and a jar of peanut butter for the team. (Oh...your child might be sick of PB upon our arrival home...we'll be feasting on that often)

Remember...international airport at 6:30am Sunday. Look for Mark Thomas.

Thank you for the courage to send your baby to a foreign country. I know that might be scary; thank you for entrusting them into ours (and the Lord's hands) we do not take that lightly.

Off to run more errands,
Allie

Logistics and a feast=greatness to follow :)

A little pre-trip feast at TGIFridays on Good FRIDAY with pastor Saul and his family...talking a little life, a little logistics/schedule about the upcoming week with the team, and his dreams for church multiplication..what a grand night!

Evening thoughts

Are we daring enough to invest our faith in an unruly-yet totally loving God?

What a great devotional with the Lakewood team (who is arriving on Sunday) on my heart and mind. I long for us to take leaps of faith that defy common sense, that we would risk everything and obey the very words of God. That we would trust completely in the Father and as opportunities of adventure arise...we would leap to take it and operate out of our love relationship with Him. Are we daring enough to invest our faith in an unruly-yet totally loving-trustworthy God?

"Jesus Christ demands (the same) unrestrained, adventurous spirit in those who have placed their trust in Him... If a person is ever going to do anything worthwhile, there will be times when he must risk everything by his leap in the dark. In the spiritual realm, Jesus Christ demands that you risk everything you hold on to or believe through common sense, and leap by faith into what He says. Once you obey, you will immediately find that what He says is as solidly consistent as common sense.

By the test of common sense, Jesus Christ’s statements may seem mad, but when you test them by the trial of faith, your findings will fill your spirit with the awesome fact that they are the very words of God. Trust completely in God, and when He brings you to a new opportunity of adventure, offering it to you, see that you take it. We act like pagans in a crisis— only one out of an entire crowd is daring enough to invest his faith in the character of God." Oswald Chambers

Preparing for the team's arrival

Greetings from Guatemala!
We are eagerly awaiting the team's arrival on Sunday.
The Lord has been reminding me that He is a detailed God and that He cares for me and the little details that make up my life. He has shown us this reminder in many ways since we arrived yesterday! Yesterday was a wonderful day of making preparations and reconnecting with people who are very dear to our hearts.
It feels so great to be back in this city. One of our dear friends and translators, Ingrid, had us over to her parent's house last night for some authentic Guatemalan food. Black beans, guacamole, rice, tortillas, and soup! Yum! All of Allie's favorites :) Here is a pic of us and our delicious meal. Thank you Cecee and Ingrid!
Thank you, God, for bringing us here!

Monday March 25th, preparing for Guatemala 2013

Preparing for the trip next week, I keep praying and thinking about how we are preparing ourselves to go to another country. Today we are putting VBS supplies in boxes and making sure some of the finances are in order. Practically getting ready for the trip always makes things more exciting since it is so close! But in our final meeting with the guys yesterday, I kept noticing that when we pray we are asking for certain things that The Lord will prepare in us for the trip. And all of that is great if what we pray carries over when we come back home.

In high school, I used to study for tests only so that I can pass and get a good grade and then I would forget what I studied and not apply what I learned. It was very common for me to stay up way too late and cram, but I've noticed in my life how that could possibly carry over.

For us to go and serve The Lord we want to adequately prepare ourselves, but I want us and our students to not be in the mindset or impression that we should prepare ourselves just for the trip (like a test) and then when the trip is over we are done. When we ask The Lord to work on our hearts and prepare us for the trip, I think the impression we can sometimes portray is that we are asking The Lord to give us something for a period of time, or according to our need when we are in Guatemala. When what we need to be asking for this trip or any is, "Lord what in me needs to be less so that I can serve you regardless of our location?" Because God longs for lasting effect, He longs for us to take in and learn so that it sticks, and we in return conform more to the image of Christ regardless of our situation or necessity.

Because when we get home our heart for people should not change. People here are broken and hurting in many different ways that a lot of times are masked and hidden. So as a mission group, my prayer for us is that whatever we ask for in preparation of Guatemala will carry over into where we live. Cause it can be just as hard to share about Christ with those who are closer to us. So my prayer is when we ask for boldness or passion or a servants heart we will allow God to strike us a little deeper, so that it sticks.