If you follow our blog you know that I (JD) am really bad about this whole blogging thing! Mainly because by time I sit down at my computer at night my brain has given up and gone to bed haha. But here is an update of this summer and some upcoming new about the fall!
This past summer was probably the hardest I have ever worked in my entire life! As Field Director for Clubhouse, I run day to day operations in coordination with our National Director. This includes being the team liaison (taking care of teams), doing logistics for team ministry, handling administrative responsibilities, and making decision on daily schedule changes, on top of trying to take pictures and video for our ministry.
This summer, we saw 20 churches come on mission trips with us and we still have 3-4 more teams that will be coming this fall (over 300 volunteers)! God is expanding our ministry faster than we can keep up with! The teams were able to see many salvations and lives changed. Two of our teams alone saw over 100 salvations the weeks they were here. Along with helping people to meet their ultimate need of salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ, teams were also able to meet physical needs of many Guatemalans. We built houses, stoves, vertical gardens, chicken coops, and delivered food to families in need. Along with our volunteer teams this summer, we have many other projects going on. We are in the middle of construction on our school and camp. We are already in the planning stages for a fall youth camp for the older kids in our programs and next summers volunteer teams. It has been a busy but incredible summer, and we are so thankful that the Lord has allowed us to be apart of it!
As some of you know, we traveled back to the States in August to renew our Visas and for a little R&R. It was great week to be back and see our families and a few of our friends! We wished we would have been able to see everyone! But only being home for a short time we wanted to be with family as much as possible. We are coming back soon! We will be back in October and will be staying through Christmas. We are so excited to be able to back for an extended period of time to not only see everyone but to also share about what the Lord is doing here in Guatemala! We will be at the Clubhouse booth at the Conclave Conference in Dallas in October. We have a couple of speaking engagements in Texas so far this fall. If you would like us to come share about Clubhouse and Guatemala send us an email at JD@clubhouseg.net or at JD@clubhouseguatemala.com. We will also be having a few small fundraisers while we are back. More info soon on those!
Our little family is doing well! Karis is continuing to grow. She is very close to walking, but still waking up 3-4 times a night which makes for very tired parents. Hard to believe our little girl is almost one! Bethany is doing well (minus the lack of sleep). Mike has asked her to work with our new sewing ministry Clubhouse has started. She will be working closely with Pastor Fernando's wife Swanda to find patterns for the women to sew as well as collecting supplies. I am doing good as well. I started back to seminary this fall after taking last semester off because of our move. I only have 8 classes left for my Masters of Theological Studies and then, Lord willing, I will be done with post high-school studies after 8 years!
Thank you all for your continued prayers! Hope to see you soon!
JD, Bethany, and Karis
