International Christian Hospice News Letter

August to September 2011

Continuing in Guatemala

Pastor Francisco Ilias from Honduras ( ICH Central American Director) joined us for 3 days of work in Guatemala City. God has blessed him with many connections and we presented hospice training to 112 people from 3 different churches. It is always so amazing to see the Body of Christ at work in surprising places and ways. At one of our trainings we met Dr. Luiz Granajo who runs a medical clinic with 5 other MDs in the outskirts of the city. They serve the poor in Jesus’ name and he told of over 200 salvations through the ministry of his clinic over the past year. He shared that he has cared for many people with terminal illnesses and hospice care is a huge piece of what his staff does. We thank God for the opens doors for ICH work and look forward to working with the medical staff in hospice support training in the future. Thank you, Pastor Francisco, for your ongoing work in Central America, for ICH.

It is always fun to have “reunions” away from home! Richard and Barbara Banis flew into Guatemala to be a part of ICH internationally. Rich and Barbara serve on the ICH Board of Directors and Rich is our Financial Director. They now live in Asheville,

N.C. but have served for 28 years as overseas missionaries. We appreciate their friendship and hard work for ICH as well as the wisdom and experience they share with us. The photos above are of Rich and Barbara and our friends Paul and Ruth Philipi who have served as missionaries in Guatemala for 55 years. In our visit with the Philipi's we descovered that Barbara's brother had graduated with Paul from Moody Bible College. It truly is a small world! God teaches us again just how we are all connected through the body of Christ.

Vine International ( Medical Equipment & Supplies for Guatemala )

Dennis & Cindy McCutcheon

What great fellowship for the 6 of us as we got together with mutual old friends, Dennis and Cindy McCutcheon, who serve with Vine International in Guatemala City. Dennis and Cindy serve over 120 missions and other medical ministries in Guatemala by receiving containers (which originate at Vine base in Knoxville, Tenn.) of medical supplies and equipment. They negotiate with the port authorities, transport and unload containers in the Vine warehouse, then disperse whatever the Lord sends to them to those in need.

Do you enjoy sharing hugs, giving encouraging smiles or blowing soap bubbles? So do the residents of My Sweet Refuge Home for the Elderly. These 36 “grandparents”, affectionately so called by the 12 staff members, were a delight and blessing to us! One dear blind lady told us,
“ They are so good to me! They help me dress, feed me and take care of me!” Another elderly resident patiently did hand exercises with a fellow resident suffering with contractures caused by a stroke. We were able to pray with Everardo, a new resident who just arrived. Like many of the Grandparents upon arrival at My Sweet Refuge he was malnourished, failing in health and depressed. The staff told us that most of the folks arrive in similar condition from either poor homes, abandonment or off the street.

We were so impressed with the compassionate Christ-like staff. They shared with us during our ICH training session with them that over the past 6 months 11 residents have died and 8 of those came to know the Savior in their final weeks of life. Praise God that goal of Christian Hospice is alive and well in these servants who have a heart for those who are often the forgotten ones!

In the final days of August we welcomed 2 more members of our third team to Guatemala. Linda Craig, Hospice RN from Taylorsville, N.C. and Arleen Jennings, MDiv in counseling (also Ron’s sister) joined us as we returned to Chocola for ministry work with Dr. Sergio. Here are some events of the week.

· Prayer and ministry with patients in the mission hospital
· 3 clinic days in San Antonio
· Eye clinic screening and over 90 patients served
· Meeting with Quiche (key-chay) Pastor Eligio to present 40 Bibles which were donated by Deanie and Devon Shelton (Deanie was on our first team in July and saw the need).
· Visiting the village of Xojola to learn about the community development program started by Pastor Eligio. One of the team members described him as a “visionary”. He is initiating a program for the people in his own Mayan region to improve education, health care and microenterprise all Christ centered.

A young woman named Veira came to have her eyes checked the first day of our eye clinic. We were pleased to give her the reading glasses she needed and eye drops for irritation. But God knew she needed much more. As we do with everyone who passes through the eye clinic we directed her to our final station to receive her drops and prayer offered by a team member. Arleen was giving this special attention to each patient that day. As she began talking to Veira Arleen learned that she had not heard the Gospel story nor made a decision to follow Jesus. She eagerly read with Arleen through Billy Graham’s booklet in Spanish “Steps to Peace with God.” At the end Veira humbly prayed to receive Christ as her Savior. Arleen promised that she would have a Bible for her if she returned the next day. Veira came to the clinic at the appointed time the next day and received her new Bible which Arleen prepared with highlighted scriptures to help her in her new faith. Veira told Arleen that her job was the only support for herself, her husband and 2 children. Mario has been ill and out of work for several months and they could not pay for any more medical care. She said that last night she told him about her decision to follow Christ and he was very interested in her new faith. She made an appointment for Mario to see Dr. Sergio at the clinic the next day and she was so excited that our team would be there for a third day so we could meet him. God also knew she needed a local Pastor and church family to welcome her in. At that moment Pastor Mac, who had an eye exam the day before, came back by the clinic. He graciously talked with Veira, prayed with her and they shared phone numbers. The following day Mario came to the clinic alone because Veira was working. As he was waiting for his appointment with Dr. Sergio the time seemed perfect. Ron and Arleen introduced themselves to Mario and took him aside to pray with him and share the best news he had ever heard: “God loves you and wants to give you His presence and peace.” Mario was ready and without hesitation prayed to ask Christ to be his Savior and Lord. Wouldn’t you know it, Pastor Mac was in the neighborhood again and we introduced him to Mario. None of this was by accident. God loves us and as in the parable of the one lost sheep, our good Shepherd leaves the ninety nine in the fold and goes out in search of the one lost lamb. Pray for Veira and Mario with us. Pray that their whole family will come to Christ and also for Mario’s health.

Yesenia Valesqez has worked with us in the ICH Ministry for four years. A former student and now graduate of SETECA in Guatemala City Yesenia is now working for the Law & Justice Mission also in the City. This Mission works with widows, orphans the under privilaged to provide legal counsel and Christian support for the individual and their families.

The staff begin their work week with devotions on Monday morning and we enjoyed joining in. This is a great ministry and a tremendous need in Guatemala and other developing countires.

A special thank you from our ICH team to Union Church of Guatemala City. We were given the opportunity to share with a group of 60 in Sunday school about hospice and end-of-life issues. Union Church has a unique opportunity being an English speaking church in the capitol of a Spanish speaking country. It ministers to missionaries, foreign diplomats and business people who need fellowship in their own heart language.

Honduras in September

Rich and Barbara continued the journey with us to Honduras. We had a special time of fellowship and encouragement with ICH co-workers, Pastors Francisco and Wilmer, and their families in the San Pedro Sula area. Due to a strike of medical personnel in the government hospitals we had to postpone the hospice training which we were scheduled for in the Tela Government Hospital. Public education and medical care are very unstable in Central America. Government funds to pay nurses and teachers typically runs out or "mysteriously disappears” after the first 6 months of each yeat. So the workers go unpaid but as you can imagine most workers cannot continue for nothing. Therefore in the 7th and 8th months of the year “strikes” are the result and public schools and hospitals shutdown. Literally the doors are closed. The buildings are vacant. Last year the students in public schools only attended 100 days all year due to this problem. A young woman we know who has a brain tumor is still waiting to be seen in the hospital for evaluation for surgery. Peaceful demonstrations occur in the streets as workers march and burn tires which blocks traffic causing most commerce to halt in an attempt to impress the government. Those who suffer are the children, the sick and the people who really want to do their jobs. Private hospitals and private schools are few and expensive for the average person. This is an example of the cycle that keeps education and healthcare poor in most developing countries. Thus the need is great for medical teams and mission hospitals!

Our final point of ministry in September was with a family we met in April. Dennis was injured in a construction job and had both arms and one leg amputated. Maria is unable to work outside the home with 6 children and her husband to care for. The first time we met them they expressed their deep faith in God as the One who knows their situation and will provide for their needs. Mario and Maria both expressed desires to serve in their church. We were so impressed with them that we could not get them off our minds. God gave us some ideas and, praise Him, we were able to revisit them with gifts. Susan’s mother and sister were always great seamstresses. With their donations we were able to purchase and carry a portable sewing machine to Maria. Ron spent many long hours in his garage workshop developing and adapting a type of mechanical device for Dennis’ arm stubs. These will enable him to feed himself, brush his own teeth and grip objects. Ron and Dennis worked with the prototype and some fitting and adjustments will be necessary but they were excited and much encouraged about the potential. We also delivered children’s supplies for the neighborhood Bible club Maria teaches on Saturdays. We were very happy to hear Dennis’s news that the construction company has given him a job as a supervisor. What a sweet time of fellowship we had in their humble, dirt floor home! Their lives shout of God’s faithfulness and goodness even in the face of disaster and impossibility.

Thank you to all of you who pray and support us as we take hope and comfort in Jesus’ name to a world that is dying without Him. We could not be working in the calling from our Father without you all praying and giving as He has called you to do.

Serving Him with you,
Ron and Susan
803-781-0656 intlchristianhospice@yahoo.com

Tax receipts given for donations received at:
ICH
303 Madison Heights Dr.
Marshall, N.C. 28753
828-242-3090

International Christian Hospice News Letter June-August 2011

June
Thanks to everyone for your encouragement as we prepared for our upcoming ministry time in Guatemala. Many of you helped us to collect reading glasses, medical supplies and children’s supplies for VBS in Central America. We were blessed by willing volunteers who are preparing to be a part of three teams that will join us in Guatemala and Honduras over the next two months. Special thanks to Dr. Steven Satterfield for glasses, cases and eye drop donations. Also we are looking forward to using the new “culturally specific” Bible story book created by Brian and Ann Keay with Truth Action Ministry.

This month God answered a prayer we have been praying for several years. State Street Baptist Church of Cayce, S.C. sent a team to Trujillo Peru in June. This was not just any mission team but a very special one. Mary Ann Dowd, an operating room nurse, contacted us this spring requesting Hospice training for herself and her mission team. Before we met Mary Ann God had given her the desire to help a mission hospital in Trujillo establish hospice under the leadership of retired missionaries Rodolph and Mae Dixon It was our delight to help prepare the team for this task by sharing ICH concepts and materials with them. Once again God opened a new door as these new friends joined ICH in pioneering work. It has been a dream of ours to offer ICH as another tool for mission teams to take as they follow God anywhere in the world. Upon returning Mary Ann excitedly shared with us that ICH was embraced with open arms by the national Peruvian believers. They are organizing this work to go out into their surrounding villages with practical knowledge that will bring comfort in Jesus Christ to people who are dying and their families. We continue to pray along with State Street Baptist Church for God’s ongoing work in Trujillo, Peru.

July
The coffee lands of Guatemala welcomed us with our first team. Deanie Shelton from Lexington, S.C. and Kara Meeuwsen, who is a student at Seteca in Guatemala City, traveled to Chocola with us. Here we spent a week at a mission Hospital Santa Fe run by Dr. Sergio Castillo. It is a place that serves the poor people of this region, particularly the indigenous Mayans. Here is a sketch of ministry opportunities in which God allowed us participate.
· Vision screening clinic for reading glasses and consult with 40 people
· VBS for 100 children in the local village
· Bible/Gospel presentations in grades 4,5 and 6 in the highland indigenous school of 85 children
· Hospice training seminar for Presbyterian Quiche (key-chay) Pastor Association

Private counseling sessions with a grieving father and a 20 year old girl anticipating surgery for a brain tumor
· Hospice home visits in village homes
On Sunday evening we were invited to worship with Quiche believers in a highland village. We couldn’t refuse their request to participate in the service by the ladies singing and Ron sharing a message from the Word. Near the end of the service the Pastor was summoned away because a dear 95 year old sister in the church had died in her home. It is their custom that the body is kept at home for 24 hours then taken to the church in a wooden box and buried after the funeral service. During the 24 hour wake friends and family keep vigil over the body at the bedside with the family. It was a privilege that we were invited to go to Anna’s home along with most of the church members after the service. We all trekked through the village and over the footpath to offer our support to Anna’s family. The small dirt floor home was crowded with sympathetic folks. It

was hot and humid due to the regular afternoon jungle rain and the cooking fire. We were ushered in to a place of honor to sit on a low, rough, wood bench and the Pastor offered a prayer. On the other side of the room the family parted and we saw a small form lying under a brightly colored blanket on a narrow bed. As is the custom everyone prayed aloud with the Pastor, the women in a high wailing tone. By that time we, along with everyone in the room, had noticed that Anna’s blanket was moving and a small, boney hand was emerging. Susan joined her daughters at her bedside to hold her trembling, cool hand. Her daughter explained that she did not respond to them today and they thought she had died. They were expecting this since Anna had been sleeping almost constantly and only taking sips of liquid from the corner of a small cloth for 7 days. She opened her eyes only briefly as her daughter offered the cloth dipped in water to gently moistened Anna’s mouth. She slowly relaxed and drifted into a peaceful sleep again. With the help of a translator Susan was able to make suggestions and explain what the family could expect as Anna moved closer to death. It was obvious that they were giving her constant, tender care. Everyone could feel the comfort of God’s Spirit surrounding us as we put our arms around the tearful family and said a short prayer before we left.
Addendum: Anna went to be with the Lord three days following our visit. We ask that you pray for those who will always miss her.

Some parts of our ICH ministry is so sacred we scarcely believe the privilege we are given. We will never forget another experience we had this week. We heard that 86 year old Pastor Calel was homebound and declining with kidney failure. Pastor Eligio told us the amazing story of Pastor Calel in his early days. He was the first Quiche believer to come to this region with the Gospel 40 years earlier. The people were devout to their Mayan superstitions and beliefs. They attempted to run him off by throwing rocks at him. They did everything to make him go back to where he came from. But slowly, after many months, one and then two people began to listen to his Gospel message. Calel’s family settled in the village and a small home church meeting began. One by one people began to open their hearts to his message of God’s love and place their faith in His Son, Jesus. Pastor Eligio, as well as many of the younger Pastors, came to faith in Christ through Calel’s ministry and today they lead 16 churches in the Quiche regional association. We were honored to visit with this great pioneer of the Gospel. His wife and four adult children greeted us and Pastor Calel was resting on a plastic outdoor chaise in his living room. He was suffering with swelling from his toes to his waistline and the diuretics he had received from the clinic were no longer effective. Pastor Calel seemed to be tiring so we asked him one final question: would he like to share a message with us from the Bible? The transformation was remarkable! He rose to sit on the side of his chair and his face lit up in animation. Kara, our translator, knelt by his side to be sure that she, nor we, would miss anything he would say. He began weaving the beautiful story of God’s love and plan of redemption starting in the Garden of Eden. He told of God’s new beginning for mankind after the flood then of God’s message through the prophets that a redeemer would come to the world. His eyes glistened while he preached on about Jesus our Savior and then the early church and apostles who laid the foundation of our faith today. The hushed crowd in the room grew as others from the community and church joined us to hear Pastor Calel’s powerful message that encompassed the entire Bible. He finally turned to Kara, still kneeling at his side. He gently placed both of his rough, brown hands on her head. As she bowed her head he leaned over and kissed the top of her head as a sign of blessing and gratitude. We were awed that God allowed us to hear what was probably Pastor Calel’s final sermon. As we were leaving he held Deanie’s hand and together they sang “I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my heart”. It was a beautiful duet of praise and testimony in Quiche and English!
Addendum: On Sunday, August 21, 2011, Pastor Calel went to be with the Lord. His friends told us that he talked to the family earlier that day instructing them not to be sad when he died because he was going to be with His Savior that day!

August…..
We owe a huge thank you to our next team, Don and Sue Smith, Linda Lovern and Linda Gill from Lexington, S.C. Eva Aguilar, a seminary student at Seteca served as our translator this week. It was a beautiful trip from Guatemala City up to Quetzaltenango (Xela or shala to the Mayans) between the steaming volcanoes at 8,000 ft. Don’t worry, it is a normal and good thing if they are venting and releasing steam. We spent a jam packed week presenting 6 ICH training seminars in 5 days. Here is a list of the opportunities we had.
· Traveling to a Highland Mam (Mayan dialect group) village and teaching a group of 30 CHE or Community Health Educators/Evangelists. They work scattered throughout the highlands for a Christian organization.
· Traveling in another direction to teach Highland Quiche (key-chay) CHE workers. 45 people gathered and welcomed our team into a village home for the day.
· Teaching a morning and evening session to students at Hands that Help and Harvest Bible Seminary in Xela.
· Traveling to a coastal Quiche village to teach more CHE workers and Pastors.
· Eye clinics for reading glasses in all 3 locations.
· Traveling back toward the capital to give training, support and encouragement to staff at a newly established facility for elderly, “My Sweet Refuge”.
We were thrilled with the results of this week that 166 people from 54 different churches have received Christian Hospice training. Many of these people are Pastors, church leaders, medical workers and students. They represent three Mayan dialect groups: Quiche, Mam and Quetchekal.
You can imagine that we spent much time on the road to cover this much territory. We are here to testify that we know that God is answering the prayers of all of you who are lifting us up for safety in travel. It is the rainy season and flooding is common. As we were returning to Xela from the coast we drove through a particularly huge storm. The driving rain soon overwhelmed the shallow, roadside ditches and flowed across the road. For fear of getting stuck behind smaller vehicles that were stalling we eased into a flooded river crossing. We were following a 4x4 truck with enough clearance so felt that if he could make it so could our Ford Escape. We could hear the sound of waves against the sides and undercarriage of the car as Ron excellerated. He didn’t dare stop now, we were committed. A few tense moments later we began to emerge onto higher ground. Everyone breathed a collective sigh and lifted praise to God!
We’d like to share one final story of how God honors ICH ministry with unique opportunities. We are often given the privilege of walking with those who are often forgotten.
“I can’t believe he is really gone! He said he was going to work, just like he always does on Saturday.” The shock and disbelief of Anna’s fresh grief broke our hearts. Her 17 year old son had left home that morning as usual. His friends returned in the evening with news that he had gone to the beach with them that day, instead of work, and drowned and his body could not be found. How do you comfort a mother? How can we understand the life she tried to make for her two sons? When they were young she came to the Capital from a Quiche village. Her plan was to give them an education and a better life. Somehow she found herself, her sister and brother-in-law living together and trying to provide for the two boys. Their home, of 15 years, is a 10x12 house made of tin in the city dump. Her older son returned to their indigenous village and married but the younger son stayed with his mom in the city where he has grown up. “He was a good boy, made good grades in high school and had a job. He trusted in Jesus and we went to church all the time.” Jesus is the Way Baptist Church is only a few blocks away from over 300 families who make up a village inside the dump. Pastor Saul told us that many of these families, including Anna’s, attend his church and receive medical care by his wife who is a doctor. He also provides pure drinking water through a filtration system installed in the church by a mission team. We were honored to see Pastor Saul’s ministry firsthand when we visited Anna at her home in the dump. After listening to her story and praying for her we set up an appointment for the next evening with one of our Lexington Team members. Linda Gill is a nurse and licensed psychological counselor who specializes in life losses. It is just like our heavenly Father to bring Linda to Guatemala to be able to minister to His dear, grieving child Anna. It was not too difficult for Him to bridge the language barrier with translators from English to Spanish as we counseled with her. We also believe He directed our path to intersect with Pastor Saul. We praise God for this example of national believers who are giving their lives in service to their own people. Pastor Saul is offering education and 2 meals a day to children from the dump village for $4.00 a month per child. Everything he is doing involves reaching out in Jesus’ name. We look forward to the future opportunity of ICH training for his church members in the area of hospice and grief care.
Addendum: Two weeks later, in a phone call to follow up with Anna, we learned that the church took Anna and her family to the shore for a memorial service for her son. She is still grieving and will always miss her son but we heard that she is “doing a little better.” Please remember her in your prayers.
As always we thank you for following our news of how God is using ICH to minister to people around the world. We look forward to continuing our August report from Central America in another entry.
God bless you and yours!
Serving in His Grace,

Ron and Susan

International Christian Hospice News from Central America

March-April 2011
Never are we prepared for the things God will do when we step outside our comfort zone and travel to places He takes us. But we can confidently say “The Lord Himself goes before you (us) and will be with you (us)” Deut. 31:8. What an honor to be the fingertips of The Body that get to touch, through this vehicle of ICH, those who need to know there is hope, peace and life, even in the face of death and loss. Thank you to each of you who give us your encouragement and prayers. We can feel it every day!
Stories from Honduras
“I have trouble sleeping at night. I am afraid. But then I think about God.” These words were spoken to us by 72 year old Mr. Flores whom we visited while we were in Trujillo. We have known his family for 5 years and greatly admire their faith and courage. They have lived and ministered on the north coast of Honduras among the Garifuna people (African descent) for many years as they raised 7 children. Today 3 sons are pastors and we were honored to share ICH training in their son Carlos’ church nearby. The next day we visited the Flores family in their home. Mr. Flores has a history of heart problems and had a stroke last fall. Since then he has slowly declined despite the wonderful care of his wife and children. His words that day expressed one of the most common experiences of people who are facing the end of their lives. We were able to encourage him and his family by explaining that many times people are afraid to go to sleep for fear they will not awaken. Even people of great faith experience fear. It is a normal human emotion. The psalmist wrote “When I am afraid I will trust in you.” Not, if I am afraid, but when which signifies that it will happen. Mrs. Flores thanked us for explaining this and other changes to expect. Their faces relaxed with smiles of relief that someone understood what was happening. Susan was also able to demonstrate some simple care techniques to improve comfort for his immobility. How sweet to join hands for prayer before we left. Please pray for this family who are carrying on the Kingdom work among their own people.
Courageous, determined and steadfast are only a few adjectives that describe Dionisio, or Dennis in English. That evening people had begun to gather in Christ Church New Covenant, in thepoorest community in the city of La Ceiba. We were setting up for our ICH training and expecting people from 3 churches to be attending. Pastor Jeronimo, introduced us to Dennis who attends his new church plant further up the mountain. Dennis was a construction worker and last year he suffered a terrible accident. He was putting rebar into cement blocks and accidently touched a nearby live electric line. He experienced severe burns and damage beyond repair to one leg and both his arms. Today he lives with two stumps just below the elbows and one leg stump above the knee. Yes, he has only one leg and no hands. I forgot the adjective innovative because he adapted his two crutches with small slings for his arm stumps and he goes everywhere this way. He and Maria have 6 children, the youngest baby girl, 4 months, was born 6 months after his accident, and the oldest is a son who is 13. Maria is a professional teacher but has not been able to work because of caring for Dennis and the family. I quote his testimony to us.
“God is faithful! He provides what we need. There were days we had nothing to eat but then a church member or neighbor would arrive at our house with food. I could join the other cripples who beg on the streets, but no, I choose to trust God and work for Him.”
That evening our ICH teaching that God walks with us through our suffering rang true to everyone present. After the service we witnessed a beautiful picture as people shared hugs and encouraging words with Dennis and his family. The next day we were honored by an invitation to their home. From the church, we drove 2 km. uphill on a rugged, rocky road. Then we walked the final 1 km., passing the new home church, and arrived at the steep 50 ft. trail downward to their home. Before the accident Dennis was building their house of cement block on a small ledge of land perched above a river. He had completed the first level which is built into the hillside and is two rooms in which they sleep. The kitchen and laundry area are outside covered by a tin awning. His sons, 13 and 11, are continuing, to work on the upstairs which opens on three sides onto the hillside above and is covered with tin held up by poles. Maria volunteers to teach a free daily kindergarten as a church outreach to this community. In addition, each Saturday Maria and other ladies from the church, hold a Bible class and free lunch, you guessed it, on the open second level of their home for 45 children from the community. They are so willing to work and serve but sadly told us that they have very few children’s teaching supplies. Dennis continued to amaze us as he demonstrated how he draws with a cut off plastic coke bottle fitting snuggly onto the end of his right stump. He attaches a pencil or pen to a piece of old door knob then inserts it into the neck of the bottle. We could not believe the beautiful banner he designed on a square of white sheet for the church. Maria showed us a rusty, old, treddle sewing machine beyond repair. Her dream is an electric machine with various stitches so she can embroider the designs Dennis draws to sell. We felt as though we went back in time to the first century church. Join us in praying for our new friends whom God has raised up to spread His light against all odds in this small corner of the world.
The coastal town of Tela has a new national hospital. Pastor Francisco, our Honduras ICH Director, contacted this hospital and arranged a meeting for us with the Directors. God’s hand has opened a new door for hospice training that we did not expect. The nurse education director, Berna, admitted that the staff see so much suffering and death on a daily basis and do not know what to say or how to help the families. They have a very progressive community health program with staff and volunteers particularly serving a high population of AIDs patients. They provide home care and education in several nearby villages. Everyone was excited as we discussed plans to return later this year to offer hospice training to the hospital and community health staff.
Before we leave Honduras we must tell at least one travel story. It is a two day trip to Trujillo from Seguatepeque where we store our car with missionary friends. But before we could begin our travels Ron had to have the clutch changed, again. You may think this is not a very good advertisement for Ford Escape since this is clutch number 3. Besides a defective clutch, you just have to understand the rough mountain roads and the high elevations that we travel when we are in Central America. Ask Ron if you want to know more about a hot clutch and transmission going up a rugged grade at 6,000 ft.+. Thankfully God provided a very good mechanic and crew to do this 3 man job before we hit the road.
We are always pleased when Lourdes Argueta, our translator and ICH Volunteer Director, can join us for ministry. Thank you, Lourdes, for sharing your semester break from teaching English at the Unitversity. She is such a trouper! It is a two day trip from Segua. to Trujillo. During the final leg of this journey we came upon a bridge which had been washed out last summer during a tropical storm. The solution offered by the Hondurans was a raft propelled by an outboard motor which would hold two cars at a time and cross the river. Ron reluctantly followed instructions and backed our car onto the raft and was joined by another car. Hastily Ron instructed us in escape measures because we all had visions of capsizing while we road inside the car on the raft. This was their method of getting people across too. Thankfully we can report that God delivered us safely to the other side. Thanks for the prayers!
Adventures in Guatemala
We said goodbye to Pastor Francisco and Lourdes Argueta in San Pedro Sula, Honduras and began our two day drive and border crossing to Guatemala City. Thank you Dennis and Cindy McCutcheon, who serve with Vine International, for your warm hospitality. We were delighted to exchange the dark chocolate we delivered to them from the states for a comfortable bed and hot shower when we arrived at their home in Guatemala City!
Thank you to First Baptist Church of Lexington, S.C. for the gift of Celebrate Recovery materials in Spanish. Yesinia Valasquez is following God’s call on her life to be a Christian Counselor. For the past 3 years she has worked with us each time we came to Guatemala as a translator and very important leader on our teams. Yesi gasped when we handed her the Celebrate Recovery materials because she had just learned about this program last week. A professional counselor in Guatemala had recommended this program to her as a Christ-centered solution to help people with addictions. But she had no access to these materials. At that time the books were bumping along in our luggage in Honduras. We love it when we get to see God “connect the dots!”
That day Yesi was also instrumental in helping us to purchase 392 Bibles from the Bible Society of Guatemala. Thank you to the many people who donated $946.00 to purchase Bibles for students in a small highland village! It was the most enjoyable shopping trip we have made in a long time! The director of the Bible Society was so delighted with where the Bibles were going that he took pictures and told us to check their web page for our story. We will also be sending him some of the distribution photos you will see here.
We are in awe of our loving heavenly Father who selects his special children in a remote village, which no one has heard of, to receive in their hands His story of love! We cannot thank Him enough for the honor of placing the Bibles in the eager hands of Quiche’ (Kee-chay) children. Pastor Eligio met us last August as we taught ICH at a small mission hospital on the southern edge of Quiche’ territory. He had recently been appointed by the government as director of 3 national schools in the highland area called Xojola (sho-ho-la). We agreed that God has placed him in this position “for such a time as this”, to quote the book of Esther. Pastor Eligio is Quiche also so he made such a beautiful connection with the teachers and children. He told us that less than 5% of the families represented in the schools had a Bible in their homes, and even less attended any church (Catholic or Evangelical) which required one hour walk down the mountain. As we entered each classroom Pastor Eligio gave a short lesson about the Bible, “the Book of all books.” We have no doubts that the power of God’s word was carried into 392 homes that day. We only wish each of you could have been with us for this huge blessing!
“7,777 ft., the perfect elevation,” to quote Dr. Hugo Gomez. He welcomed us into his office and home in the city of Quetzaltenango, or Xela (shay-la). Dr. Gomez has been partnered with Lexington Baptist Church for many years and thanks to Chuck McCurry, one of our ICH Team Leaders, God orchestrated a very important divine appointment. Dr. Gomez is the CEO of Global CHE Enterprises. Community Health projects such as clean water wells, agriculture, local medical clinics, education and microenterprises encourage empowering of the indigenous people to improve their lives right where they live. In the process, relationships with local mayors or community leaders has proven to build trust and opens doors for the Gospel. Currently CHE has 30 Christian Educators who are directing projects from Mexico to Panama. Dr. Gomez was excited to learn about ICH and we made plans to provide hospice training to leaders in his organization as well as to anyone interested in the community. How wonderful to see this man of God giving hope and a future to so many through CHE. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” These words right out of Jeremiah 29 express the heart of our loving God and sound just like the ministry He has given CHE. Please Pray for CHE, ICH and Lexington Baptist Church as we plan to join hands in August serving the people of Guatemala in the Xela area.
While we were in Xela we reconnected with an indigenous Bible Seminary, Hands that Harvest and Help. We look forward to another ICH training opportunity in August and spending more time with our friends the Muellers and Dieners.
It never ceases to amaze us how many passionate men and women of God we are honored to meet! Sonia Rivera is right up there among those who have a calling that is transforming Guatemala. After two weeks of fasting, prayer and singing on the street in front of the Ministry of Health’s office in the capitol she was granted an interview. Her request was for funding to continue what she has begun on her own: more homes to care for the elderly and homeless. Four years ago we visited the first “My Sweet Refuge” home in the far northwest region of Guatemala known as the Peten. Now Sonia is operating 7 homes in different places throughout Guatemala. A few months ago she was granted enough money from the government to open 6 more homes in new locations, no strings attached. This is unprecedented in this country so again we see the hand of God caring for the forgotten ones. You cannot drive through any town in Central America and not see people who are living in the streets who are elderly, sick with no family or home. Most people just look the other way. But God sees them and He has given Sonia His vision and heart. ICH is honored to be able to offer hospice training for the staff of My Sweet Refuge homes who face death and loss every day. Dates are set and a plan is underway to begin this work in August. How could we expect anything less from someone as determined and convinced of her mission in life as Sonia?
If you have ever tried to work cross-culturally with a language barrier you can appreciate this gift God has given us. Often one of our most difficult logistical challenge is finding good translators to help us and our teams teach and minister. In this photo you will see four Bible students at a seminary (SETECA) in Guatemala City desire to do new ministries and travel, are bilingual and best of all, want to work with ICH! There are actually two others also, making six in all, and we are looking forward to working together in August and the future as God leads. Please give thanks for this blessing along with us!
Coming in 2011
May-June
Team training for State Street Baptist Church of Columbia, S.C. who are opening hospice work in Peru. Team training for work in Guatemala.
July, August, and September
Ministry work in Guatemala. Three team opportunities to accompany us for hospice work, eye clinics, medical clinics, community development and children’s ministry.
October-November
Ministry work in Honduras. Team opportunity to partner with Tela Hospital in initiating hospice services and education. Church and hospice family practical support which would include construction and microenterprise assistance. This will depend on team member’s expertise.

Please know we are so thankful to those who support ICH through prayer, interest and donations.
God bless you!
Ron and Susan Naish Founders and Directors of International Christian Hospice
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