Raymond Baptist - Guatemala trip - Day 1

The day for me actually began last evening when I drove from Chattanooga to Atlanta.  About an hour into the drive the car started wobbling and sounded terrible.  I stopped and found out that the front right tire was separating, so I had to get it replace.  Thank God that there was a Pep Boys close at hand, and that it was still open.

Around 2:15 in the morning the team left the church and headed for Boston's International Airport.  Apparently they had some interesting situations as they almost lost James because he had some liquids taken out of his carry on bag, and he wanted to put them in his checked bag.  He left the group, and they couldn't find him.  It all worked out okay, and James made it to the plane.

At 8:50 they pulled into D11 where I was patiently awaiting.  The first guy off the plane was walking toward me and I asked him, "did you just come from Boston?"  He said, "no".  I was a little worried until the guy right behind him said that they had come from Boston.  Not sure what that was all about, but eventually the team came off the plane. 

First impressions - there are a lot of guys, and they are going to be an energetic bunch.  My work this week is going to be keeping them busy, keeping them on task, and keeping them out of trouble.  Seriously, they are a lot of fun, and they obviously enjoy having fun together.  I think the kids are going to love their energy and their fun natures.  With only 3 ladies on the team, I am hoping I can keep them sane. :-)

We left the airport and met up with Phil (who almost missed being there because the information he had said we wouldn't arrive until 10:15 PM - an apparent blunder on my part.  Everything worked out okay though - praise the Lord.  I am so glad that He is the one really in control of this trip.

The skies looked like rain, so we headed to Thelma's to unload the luggage that was on the roof rack before the rain fell.  Thank God that we were able to unload and head out to lunch before things started to get wet.  We had lunch at Pollo Campero (a local KFC style eatery), and then headed back to Thelma's.

The afternoon was just a time of relaxing, playing games, sleeping, and getting ready for the week.  We had dinner at 6 (beef stew) and then met with the Wilsons for orientation.  The team asked some great questions, and I think they are ready to for a great week.

Tomorrow we will be going to church and then out to Camp Caanan (AMG's camp that all of the 6th grade and up students get to attend for a week every year).  We will be playing soccer and learning about the camping ministry of AMG here in Guatemala.

Thought for today:  There were probably 5 or 6 groups on the plane with us - so out of the 150 or so possible people on the plane, most were coming to minister to the people of Guatemala.  From Medical teams to people working at orphanages, from church planters to teams like ours working with children, they were Christian groups working together for a common goal of sharing Christ.  Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian... the titles aren't really that important.  Yeah, we do differ, but what is most critical is that Christ is preached and people are brought to Him.

That is my prayer for these groups this week - ours included - that we would keep the most important things at the center of our ministry.  We will be building a wall, putting up a drop ceiling and painting.  We will be playing soccer, basketball, football, and more.  But what is most important is that Christ is presented clearly, and that His gospel is preeminent.

I might not agree with the theology of all of the other groups - but again that is not critical.  Paul reminds us (Phil 1:15-18) that no matter what the motivation of those seeking to share Christ, either way He is being presented.  We need to pray that God would make them effective in sharing Christ as they go their various ways as well.

This is our prayer.