The 2019 KBI Graduation

At the end of the year we had our 3rd graduation at Kekchi Bible Institute!

Mari, Rodrigo, Henry, Gerson, Angelina, Giovani

I wanted to share a little bit about each graduate's plans. Mari and Rodrigo each completed the full 3 year program of 60 courses. In mid December they moved to the unreached village of Agua Chiquita. They have a son whom Titus will miss very much.

Jackson and Titus

Giovani came to the farm as a single student, met the cook and got married! He completed the 3 year program and Angelina didn't begin studying until later, but completed the certificate program of 20 classes (she actually completed 35 classes). They also moved in December to the unreached village of Se Pur. They have one son as well. Since moving they have already faced some opposition among the village leadership but God cleared the way for them to remain in the village. 

Graduates with all of the men and women who teach at the institute. (Oscar's face is behind Eulalia, but we really appreciate him too.)

Henry was in the first group of students to ever come to the farm. Besides Elias, Jimmy has probably spent the most time with and feels the closest to Henry. When he left 3 years ago, with one semester to go, that was a very low point for us personally. He returned this past year, with his wife Ana. She is still completing the program, so he will stay here for a while. He will be teaching some first year classes at the institute and is our translator for all of our materials that we want to be put into Kekchi. He is a gifted teacher and translator, so we wouldn't mind if God's plan for him was to partner with us long-term, but God will reveal that in His own time. When I try to predict things like this, I'm always wrong!

There are a couple missing from this photo, but these are the other men beginning their 2nd and 3rd year at the institute, plus Gerson and his brother.

 Gerson is the first student to graduate single. Like Jimmy said in the graduation video he made for the students, it isn't for lack of options, haha! Gerson is waiting for a girl that wants to serve God along side him. He lives the farthest away out of anyone and is one of the only students who had a dad that truly supported him studying at the institute. His dad is a pastor in the department south of here and Gerson returned to his church to take over the youth ministry he start during breaks at the institute. He spoke of coming back once he is married to partner with our association to begin a church plant in Petén. (It is just an association to be legal in Guatemala, each mission once it becomes a self supporting church will file paperwork to become it's own association.) Can't wait to see what God has for him!

 Each year we learn so much about how to better prepare each student. We adjust and readjust constantly. This is the first year we worked outside the umbrella of an existing association for the church plants. These 2 families are pioneers. If they persevere and are successful, this will serve as proof of concept for other graduates who want to be autonomous. Please pray for them!

Another adjustment for the upcoming year is we have learned that many students (not all) move out of their parents' or inlaws' house to move onto the farm property. That means that when they leave the institute, it is their first time truly outside of a big family situation (We consider the farm community a big family!) where they are setting up their own house and won't have someone around to help them all the time. It can be overwhelming. Day one at the institute will be different for new families. It's hard because you want to fix everyone's problem immediately if you can but in some cases that will stifle their future. Please pray for our upcoming year!

This upcoming year will be our first where the ladies have a uniform too. We were all pretty excited about it!

It is such an honor to share 3 years with these individuals who sacrifice so much to follow God's call. The farm is such a unique environment. Everyone is there to grow, us included!

A New Name

Before Rigo came to the institute he had been a Christian for a total of 3 months. He was 21 and up to that point had come to be known as a drunk. Being a talented mason he used the money he earned to buy alcohol. He grew up without a father, but had a loving mother. She taught him about Jesus, only he rejected it.

He got a job working on a church building. While he was there he was contemplating suicide because he knew his life was missing something and everything he was trying to fill it with was just making it worse. He began to remember the things he heard growing up. He realized at that point, that God was drawing him into a personal relationship with Him. He put his faith in Christ that day leaning over a barrel of water used to mix concrete at the job site. I think it is beautiful the way that God so clearly drew Him to Himself.

Rigo introducing himself the first day of classes.

 A lot of people didn't believe that Rigo could change, but after that day his entire life was different. He never drank again. When he heard about the Institute from a national pastor, he contacted Jimmy about coming to learn more about God. Jimmy asked him, "How do you know you are called to be a pastor, when you've only been saved for about a month?" Rigo responded, "I have a burning inside me to tell others what I know." Jimmy approved his application and he became one of our first students. 

The first group of students who came. I'm pretty sure Rigo's shirt was soaking wet in this picture because he had just washed it and we did not plan on taking this photo that day, haha! (He is the 1st one on the left.)

Despite never finishing the 3rd grade, Rigo dedicated himself to not falling behind and thus never failed a single class. Beyond his studies, he memorized Bible verses on his own time in both Spanish and Kekchi. That is what I always think of when someone mentions Rigo, that he knows a LOT of scripture. His passion for the Bible also led him to be a successful evangelist, winning several families to Christ in the village neighboring the farm.

After studying for 3 years at the institute and leading Juana to Christ, who would later become his wife, he began his new life of ministry in the village of Agua Negra this past June. He had shared with Jimmy his concerns about not having enough food to eat. He had been serving in his home church for a while doing mason jobs during the week to save up money for his first work. Even up to the last week before he was scheduled to move to Agua Negra he was thinking about postponing it two more weeks to have time for one more job, just in case they needed money. Well he decided to go.

I'm so glad that he did because the church had been preparing for their arrival. They had been calling Jimmy for months asking for someone who knew the Bible to come teach them. Rigo and Juana were greeted with so much love! The church had a big celebration. They had a special handing over of the keys to the church ceremony. They signed an official creed to make him pastor, Juana signed it too because she is very much part of the ministry, they are serving God together.  

Parsonage

And as far as them having food to eat, the members had gathered 12 sacks of corn and had them waiting for them in the kitchen along with a financial gift. Here they are praying a prayer of dedication in their new home. You can see some of the sacks behind them.

The people were so grateful that a trained pastor chose to move to their village (There is a huge need here!) that they all brought fresh fruit and vegetables to show how dedicated they were to treating their pastor well! This is when Juana started to tear up.

I am so thankful that God brought such a great couple and a village hungry to learn more about Him together. As passionate as these members are to know God, Rigo and Juana are just as dedicated to faithfully completing the task God has for them! 

A couple weeks later Rigo called and said that he had 7 chickens that members had given him to eat and that he felt bad for having such an abundance. Haha! I wonder if God is laughing too. He takes such good care of those who are serving Him. 

God has greatly blessed him, but more importantly He has given Rigo a new name. Before he was known as a drunk but now he goes by Pastor!

The New Dean of Students at the Instittute!

I just want to share with everyone the big blessing that God sent our ministry and family! We have been praying for some nationals to come along side and help at the institute. No one knows the culture and language like another Kekchi. I didn't understand how this would be possible since we really wanted someone who had a strong Biblical education. Obviously that is a need in our area or else Jimmy wouldn't have started the institute. 

Well God sent a wonderful couple! Pastor Ely decided when he was 10 that he wanted to learn to read. He didn't speak any Spanish. He started just hanging out in the back of a school classroom (Spanish speaking), helping with chores, like hauling water. Soon the teacher asked if he wanted to study and let him join their class. When he was almost 20 he decided he wanted to prepare for ministry and traveled to Guatemala City and studied in a Nazarene seminary. He lived on campus and studied for 3 years (kind of like the institute here;).

At that seminary he met his Spanish speaking wife, Cristy. They were married and later returned to Petén with a heart to reach his own people. Once someone works their way to Guatemala City they rarely do not return to rural Petén. He has a visa and has traveled to the States for pastor's conferences and even was offered a full time pastorate position in Missouri. He turned it down because his burden for his own people is so strong.

{Pastor Ely traveling with some of the students}

We haven't ever met a couple like Pastor Ely and Cristy. We love them dearly and are so thankful that they have accepted the position as Dean of students at the farm. They live on campus now and he teaches several of the classes. They just recently turned over a Kekchi church that they planted to another national, so they know about church planting!

This is a huge blessing to the farm and the men there, being trained for ministry! Please pray for Pastor Ely and Cristy as they are transitioning to the farm and their new job. They have a newborn too, name Moises.

That's Spanish, for Moses, for those of you who remember that I wanted to name Titus that! God brought us a Moses after all, he will probably be Titus' best friend one day!

God is so good to our family and ministry. He ALWAYS provides. Today is our 10 year anniversary in Guatemala. I am so thankful for all that God has taught us through this journey of Who He is, His power, and how much He loves us! I pray that He allows us to spend the rest of our lives here, finishing the job that He gave us to do!

Family Traditions #28: Christmas 2014

This was the year of the marshmallow. We had hot chocolate several nights a week while we played games... usually spoons. 

 

We consumed LOTS of them... probably too many, 

but we made many memories while we were doing it. 

 

We did so good, we put our tree up December 1st

 and watched White Christmas (ok, Mama made everyone watch White Christmas). A couple nights later we watched It's a Wonderful Life. But then we didn't watch anymore Christmas movies until after Christmas! 

 

And Yep, there was more hot chocolate!

 Of course we did our Advent Tree Devos each night!

And we did lots of Christmas activities in school. 

{Silly Silas!}

In early December our town always has 2 nights called Mesitas (little tables) where they sell homemade candies and goodies in the center square. It's like a huge bake sale with tons of music.  Each year we are always looking forward to all the goodies and we always get sick that weekend. Same thing this year. Silas and Eden were so sick, only Jonah could go. We called it Daddy-Jonah night. Jonah was VERY excited. He had pop and all kinds of snacks and just got to hang out with Dada! He did bring his brother back a blowup Spiderman!

I haven't shared this yet, but the institute has started its first church plant! It is on the corner of the farm property and is for the village next door. This Christmas Eve (Nochebuena) activity was the first one at that location.

 We went caroling again like we have done in other locations in years pasts.

 Here we are wrapping up cookies with invitations attached announcing our services.

 We have had several families hopping on the truck that brings the students to the services in San Pancho, so those are the ones that are in these photos. They will be the beginning of the church plant.

 We had a little devotional before heading out...

 and some cookies!

 There is no public lighting there, so it was REALLY dark. Plus there was lots of wind, so good luck lighting a candle.

We were walking in the dark in knee high grass on rocky unlevel ground with cellphone lights and carrying a bunch a cookies and kiddos... it was an adventure!

Nearly each house gave us tamales, the Nochebuena traditional food.

We couldn't carry them all.

Besides handing out the invitations, it was a nice bonding time with our core group!

 Afterwards a family invited us over for tamales at their house.

I love my little missionary kids! 

Later when we got home we opened one present, which is a tradition for our family. It is always a game we can all play together.

{I don't remember what Dada was saying in the picture, but it doesn't look like Silas was buying it!}

It was Phase 10. We played a version of that, with you guessed it, hot chocolate for a while  

and then we did our last advent devo before Jesus came!

After the kiddos were asleep Jimmy and I only had to move the dollhouse in and stuff the stockings. We usually have sparkling grape juice and then sit together by the tree, that's our tradition.

Christmas morning we made it up before the kids, but everything went fast once they were awake. 

Usually we do stockings and then eat breakfast before the rest of the presents, not this year! We were done opening presents by 8:20.

 Eden got chapstick in her stocking since she is always playing with mine... hopefully it was edible!

We skyped with both sets of grandparents!

 Then the kiddos got nice long naps before our friends came over for supper!

After dinner we had our birthday cake for Jesus!

We had a wonderful evening with our sweet friends and are so thankful that we got to spend a little of Christmas with them! 

 Later that night we had our last advent and put baby Jesus on the tree! Jonah has our bell wreath in his hand. They like to sing Jingle Bells and shake the wreath.

Here are some photos from the next day:

{Eden loves her dollhouse Jimmy made.}

{Jonah, Dada, and Silas spent almost 3 hours putting together the Lego castle MaG sent}

{E and I played with our new polish!}

{Twins!}

We had a wonderful memory filled Christmas together celebrating God sending His Son for us! We hope that your family did too!