Celebrating Dad Marr's 90th Birthday

Several days ago we celebrated Dad's 90th Birthday.

A picture is worth a thousand words - well, many pictures will tell it all!

Mom and Dad

Mom will be 90 on January 20, 2019 

 Dad with Great Grandson, Jake (he's Brenda and Drew's son and Rick and Bev's grandson)

Dad with great grandchildren, Jake and Callie (she's Catherine and Clay's daughter and Rick and Bev's grand daughter)

Dad's favorite team - especially when they are winning!  

Go Dallas Cowboys!

Mom and Dad with Brenda and Drew and their kids

The Original Marr family

from youngest to oldest

Sherrie, Ronnie, Judy and Rick

Rick with Mom and Dad

Rick and Bev's 3 grandsons, Cooper, Camp and Colton

Birthday celebration. Dad was even serenaded in Spanish.

Happy Birthday Dad!  We are so glad we could celebrate YOU!  You are the B.E.S.T

Chivoc Village

On Sunday, Glenn and I drove Helen and Elisa out to Natalie's house for lunch and then on to the 3pm church worship service in her village of Chivoc.  

Chivoc is about 

38 kilometers one-way

or 23 miles one-way

or 1 1/2 hour driving time

Yes, very winding roads with switch-backs!

Natalie, age 23, has been living and teaching in this area for over a year now and she desperately wanted Helen, age 90 and half, to make a personal visit to her village.

Along with the pastor's wife, Natalie had prepared a delicious lunch for us. Of course we had to have tortillas to make the meal complete!

After lunch and a short visit at her humble residence, complete with a potty stop, we headed to Natalie's church.  Over the back hills and into the village we drove on what would have been a 4 wheel drive journey a few years ago before the cement road was put in.

The Pastor expressed his appreciation for us bringing Helen for the worship service.  Glenn, Helen and even Elisa spoke briefly.

We used WAZE to find our way, back over the mountain ridges, along a 2 lane road to Guatemala City.  When came around one corner and topped a ridge, we finally had a great view of the city.  Amazing.

38 more kilometers back to the city and 1 1/2 hours we were back into the city!

Matthew 28:19-20 

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

A Week with Matt

Last week, we hosted Matt from Wildwood Church.

Our week was filled with different activities showing Matt different ministry opportunities here in Guatemala.

A Picture is worth a Thousand Words!

These are just a few snapshots of the week we experienced with Matt.

Happy 50th Birthday to Me

According to FaceBook, my birthday is not until October 20, however, today is my 50th Birthday - my Spiritual Birthday.  Happy Birthday to me!

Here's the story

Back on Oct 4, 1968 - 50 years ago today, I was reborn. 

 I asked Jesus into my heart.  I knew it was a special day.  As an adolescent, I had been searching for answers for a year.  I knew there was something different about the Jesus story.  I knew there was an application.

My mom took my younger brother and sister and me to a new weekly Bible Study geared for young folks at Dr. and Mrs. Mim's house.  It was held in an old converted garage that was turned into a game room.  Mrs. Alice Rankin was the teacher.  She carefully placed the stick figures onto the felt board.  I believe the lesson was about Joseph or Moses.  We sang songs, such as "Stop! and let me tell you, what the Lord has done for me".

After singing and listening to the story, Mrs. Rankin clearly presented the Gospel message and asked if anyone wanted to say the prayer.  Carefully I repeated it.  As we drove home that Friday afternoon, I knew in my heart my search was over - my new life had begun.

I'm grateful for Alice Rankin who pointed me to Jesus.  She graciously and faithfully spent her years telling other kids and parents about Jesus.

After that experience, I became grounded in the Word.  I memorized scripture through Bible Memory Association.  I attended Miracle Camp in Ringgold, LA.  I went on a mission trip that changed my world.  I attended and graduated from Moody Bible Institute. I started reading through the Bible in One Year.  I met my "Mr. Wonderful" and we traveled to Bolivia to serve the Lord there.  Now, we are living and serving in Guatemala.

This past summer, Glenn and I stopped and visited with Mrs. Rankin's daughter, Jan and her husband, Bob Hollingsworth.  At the table, I expressed my gratefulness to her for her mother's ministry.

In celebration of my 50th Spiritual Birthday, I presented Jan a cross stitch.

Thank you Jan for sharing your mother!  Thank you for sharing her with me! And thank you Jesus!

Happy Spiritual Birthday to me!  

Happy 50th Spiritual Birthday!

Fuego Volcano Erupts

On Sunday, June 3, in the middle of the afternoon, the Fuego Volcano erupts.  The devastation is dramatic, sad and heart wrenching.

It was just a normal Sunday afternoon, as we were watching the Paris Open on TV.  Glenn mentioned that it was getting quite dark.  We thought it was the normal afternoon rain shower.  Later that afternoon, Glenn noticed a small layer of ash was covering our patio, all over our yard and out into the streets.

It was at this point we turned on the TV to watch the media.  Facebook had lots of images of the devastation.

Fuego (which means Fire) is located just outside of Antigua.  This Volcano is less than 30 miles (as the crow flies) from our house.  The winds were blowing East North East, towards Guatemala City.  At 2:15pm, the Guatemala City Airport was closed.  The last time the nearby Pacaya Volcano erupted in 2010, the Guatemala City airport was closed for 10 days - creating headaches for travelers.  Back then, in 2010, there was much more ash that coated the city as well as our neighborhood.

Sunday, as we watched the news, we could tell that the major devastation was closer to the base of the volcano.  The small villages of El Rodeo and Alotenango were devastated by the pyroclastic flow that ran quickly down the volcano.  No one can outrun the blast.  I've read it is more like a Pompeii effect.  The road down from Antigua to the town of Esquintla is closed.  There was at least one bridge that was destroyed. 

As we view the Guatemalan TV, people are still crying out looking for their loved ones.  There are many bodies that have not be identified. Customarily, the Guatemalans buried their loved ones within 24 hours.  

Local believers have set up Relief Centers where Guatemalans can donate bottled water, non perishable food items and used clothing to those affected.  Churches have opened their doors to house those who have been misplaced. 

#PrayforGuatemala is a trending thread. 

The President of Guatemala has declared 3 days of mourning.  Many local schools have canceled classes.

The world class and famous La Reunion Golf course was completely covered from the blast of the Volcano.

Thank you to those of you who are praying for us and for Guatemala.  All the Camino Global Guatemala missionaries are safe.  Pray for the relief efforts going on.  Pray that folks would be open to the Gospel of Salvation. 

Give to the Camino Global Disaster Relief Emergency Fund

"Though the mountains be shaken
    and the hills be removed,
yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken
    nor my covenant of peace be removed,”
    says the Lord, who has compassion on you.  Isaiah 52:10