I'M HERE!!

Hola mis amigos!  Estoy en Guatemala!

I'm still having a hard time believing that I'm actually here!  And then I realize that I don't understand 90% of what everyone is saying...  and I remember! :)

Yesterday I was very blessed to be able to attend a church service that was translated into English!  The sermon was about how as Christ's disciples, we are commanded to surrender our possessions to Him and to go into the world and do His work.  It was a good reminder for me that despite my fears, I'm on the right track!

Today was the first day I got to work in the shop again.  It was really neat to see all the guys there again!  Such a great group of people!  I spent the day mostly doing odd jobs for the shop supervisor, Larry, and helping out where I could.  But then a little after lunch a girl came in who needed her wheelchair repaired.  The front castor wheel was broken so Gustavo and I worked on replacing or re-greasing the bearings.  By the time we were finished, the girl had a new seat on the chair and the castors worked wonderfully!  It was a neat way for me to see how my work can directly affect people!

After a long day at work, I'm tired so I'm going to head to bed.  Buenas noches amigos!

Chris

D-Day!!

Today's the day I move to Guatemala!!

The last few days have been super busy!  I've been working very hard to narrow everything down into two checked bags, a carry-on, and a personal item (backpack), which is a very challenging project!

Also, God is awesome and allowed me to sell my car within four hours of posting it on Craigslist for a very decent price.

Today at 1:35 I board the first of two flights that will carry me out of the US and on to Guatemala.  It's an exciting step!  I'm really looking forward to how God will use me down there!  But at the same time, I'm scared...  and I know I'm going to be missing all you friends a lot!  Please keep in touch through facebook, skype, and this blog! :)

Thank you all so much for your incredible support, your prayers, and your financial donations.  You all have been wonderful in helping me to prepare for this move!  God bless you all!

I'm going to go get a few hours of sleep before I have to get ready to fly!  Goodnight world!

Chris

God's Provision

Wow!  It has been incredible to watch God providing for my financial need for Guatemala!  He has been using you, my friends, to help me do His work!  Thank you all so very much for your prayers and your financial assistance!

I added up everything on my trusty excel spreadsheet, and it looks like I only need about forty more dollars per month in order to meet my goal!  Jump change to God!  Praise the Lord! :D

For those of you wishing to set up an automatic donation, please email me and I will send you the paperwork!

Only THREE MORE DAYS before I move to Guatemala!  I'm really praying that I am prepared but I know God will work things out! :)

Vaya con Dios!
Chris

T Minus 10!

Well friends, it's been an amazing summer to say the least!  And it's almost over!  By the time I post this message, I will only have ten more days left in the United States!  That also means I get to be back in Guatemala in just eleven days!

I've still got a lot of preparations to make before I go.  I have barely even started packing!

This Friday is my last day at John Deere!  It's been a long summer but it's been really good working with the people in my department.  I'm definitely going to miss them!

Next week I am driving to Boston to visit my sister.  While I'm there I am going to be selling my car before I leave.  It's a difficult decision.  I love my car!  But I know I need to be in Guatemala!

Already I have been amazed at how God has provided financially through very generous friends.  Thanks to the lower cost of living in Guatemala, all of my needs can be met for only 7000 dollars a year.  So far I have about $5000 pledged and so I only need to raise about $2000 more!  If only five more people pledge to donate $35 a month, that will complete my fundraising for the next year!

It's awesome to see what God is doing with Hope Haven!  And amazing to think that He will be using me to help with his work there in Guatemala!  I attached some pictures from the last wheelchair distribution!  I get to be involved in the next one! :)

Keep praying!

Vaya con Dios!
Chris

I am so blessed to know that God is allowing me to help provide wheelchairs and a better life to these children! :)

Countdown to Guatemala!

Dear Friends

I know it’s been a long time since I’ve updated this blog!  Life has been quite an adventure this summer!

It’s now less than a month before I head out for Guatemala!  I’m starting to pack up my stuff and decide what I need to take and what to get rid of.  It’s a scary and exciting feeling!

God has been incredible through this summer.  I have been able to work at John Deere and learn a lot about maintenance engineering, excel, and even to take a beginning Spanish course!  He allowed me to finish up two more classes toward my degree with good grades.  I have been able to meet some really incredible people through the intern program this summer and have become much better at volleyball!

It is amazing to me that I only have two more weeks at John Deere!  As the trip gets closer I am still looking for sponsors so if you are interested in supporting me please email me!

I sent out an email yesterday to some people who had already committed to sponsoring me.  If you did not get that email and want to get on that list please email me asap!  Thank you!

Thank you all for your support and prayers!

Vaya con Dios!

Chris