Guatemala Relief Trip July 11-20-2014
Strange how the Father works. Maybe it’s stranger how we work. He always has a plan were just allowed to tag along. So what brings me to San Marcos, Guatemala. I’ll try to make a very long story extremely short.
Once we set our Haiti school plan in motion four years ago I knew GMSM’s involvement would be semi temporary. The plan all along was to set it up in hopes that we could instill in country ownership. This is a hard concept for this country but to me it’s the only hope of sticking your hand back in the pocket and quite holding it out for a freebie. So I really began to pray and meditate that doors and new territory (Jabez) would open. I have always been patient but will admit as the years began to roll by I became a little antsy.
Then in November 2013a typhoon of all typhoons blew through the Philippines. When this happened an incredible burden fell on me. I made a few calls but all some organizations wanted was cash because ” were not mobilizing at this time”. Well most of you know I’m not about not mobilizing but about attacking the issue if it’s the Fathers will. The only southeast Asia connection I had was my buddy Clint Akins. I gave him a call and we made some calls and from that point I stepped back. A week or so later a man named Jim Jennings from Conscience International ( CI ) called me and said we are mobilizing and you come highly recommended to us. So I made my first trip with CI. I liked how they work and they liked how I worked and fit in.
Conscience International is a first response for natural disasters, humanitarian relief, peace keeping and community development organization in a nutshell. Started in the early 90’s they work all over the world where ever Father leads them. They have asked if GMSM would partner with them as part of an international relief coordinator plan. So here I am in Guatemala.
I was scheduled to fly down to Laredo and spend some time in Nueavo Laredo with pastor Felipe. We are hoping that door will reopen along with CI to do some relief work. Well two days ago a 6.9 earthquake hit along the border between Mexico and Guatemala. CI has been in this area before so they do have a few connections down here. As part of the first response on the ground we will start repairing some of the 1500 homes and churches that were damaged. CI asked if I could gaff the Mexico trip and get down to San Marcos, Guatemala ASAP. Felipe understood so I now sit on a bus in the middle of Guatemala headed to an unknown destination. Things will be in place when I arrive but I’m just not sure who I’ll be meeting. CI sent a field director down one day ahead of me so I know I’ll eventually run into him.
We have set Pastor Harry up with a great working school. We also have set him up with CI to help with strategies on how they can become self supporting. They have great experience in this area, community development. So it’s really gonna be up to Harry to be an example of keeping his hand in the pocket. Our new adventure begins with these pictures.
Kenny
GMSM
