Hola. Our family was blessed to go to our 1st Intermissions Conference (held annually) here for long-term English-speaking missionaries serving in Guatemala. The timing of this conference (for all ages) seemed so perfect as we became quickly aware that we too needed encouragement and refreshing. We didn't realize how much we needed it until we were in the midst of it. It was great to worship God with like-minded missionaries who understood the difficulties, struggles and challenges that we are faced with here day to day.

This past month we concentrated on the Family Crises Sponsorship program that we also oversee with FeViva. With sponsors (who adopt-a-family/child in crises), FeViva helps supplement these families in crises with food, clothing, toiletries, medical aid, and education for their children. We presently supplement 13 families with more on a waiting list. With your help we also try to improve their living conditions so that they may have a roof over their head, running water, an outhouse, beds, shelving etc. This is not a handout program. Every applicant does go through a screening process. Our goal is to help families help themselves out of their crises and have a chance of a better life and future. It takes another level of love and commitment to help break this cycle of poverty one family at a time… that takes action with the love of Jesus.

One such family is the Vasquez family. Pablo, who was the father/provider of the family, fell from a mango tree that left him paralyzed from the waist down. His long time wife then left him to fend for himself along with their 3 children & granddaughter. Pablo wept as he shared his story again with me, not out of pity but shame because he had to resort to begging. Please pray for this family (see picture attached), as we need more sponsors to help this family.

Patricia and I are also pleased to see our first dental team come and open and use the new dental clinic on our base. Please pray for more dental teams to come and further the dentistry work including the basic cleaning & hygiene. (P.S. We also a need Chiropractors and therapists.)

This month there is a Youth leaders discipleship-training program happening on base. Justin has volunteered to help out in teaching, leading and playing the Dejembes drum with the worship team. Jelissa & Jenea continue to work on their studies for school and are involved with the Casa Kids and short-term mission teams when they come. Jesse is doing well in school and excelling in Spanish. Jesse is already helping us translate and communicate. Not bad for a 6 year old.

It was great to have our friends (the Ushers) here with us from Westbank. We took some time off with them to show them around and have some much needed fun. It was also great to have a team from Summerland (Alliance Church) come and serve us here. Besides some work projects, the Summerland team were able to minister at a prison, do street ministry, door-to-door ministry, visited sponsor families, and put together a concert with some of the Casa Kids at a local church.

We now have 2 more children at the home,  Jose age-3 and Yohanna age-4. Please pray for them, especially Yohanna who is already blind in one eye with the other eye possibly losing sight. God seems to be sending us children with greater challenges. Please pray for God to move in the hearts of these children with his unfailing love and healing power.

Patricia and I are blessed to be serving God full-time here in Guatemala. For your information only because you asked, we do not get a wage or salary here with FeViva. Although we have titles as Administrators of FeViva World Missions and Directors of Casa Esperanza (children`s home), we live and work here on faith. So yes, we are full-time volunteers who pay to be here which enables FeViva Ministry to help support the work that God is doing here. So thank you for supporting us, our monthly support is slowly growing. Please keep us in your prayers and consider partnering with us as God leads you.

Blessings on you all, Steven, Patricia, Justin, Jelissa, Jenea & Jesse.

For more photos, click here.