Jesse is 3!!!

While we were in Cubulco, Jesse turned 3 years old on August 15.  Since his birthday was on Sunday we decided to have his birthday party on Monday.  Lia invited some kids from the church and friends to a little birthday party.  We had cake and broke a pinata full of candy.  Jesse was spoiled with presents from his friends.  Jesse is really growing.  He is still a little skinny, but he is eating a lot and starting to fill out a bit.  He seems to be quite content here in Guatemala.  In Canada it was hard for us to leave him.  For instance he did not want to go to the babysit during church.  However, here in Guatemala he has no problem with us leaving him in the babysit at the Central Presbyterian church where all the people are strangers and do not speak English.

Our Visit to Cubulco

After our week in the city we spent more than 3 weeks in Cubulco.  During the time there Nico spent most of his time visiting the projects and meeting with the workers of each project.  As mission we are involved with a number of projects.  Our main focus for many years has been working with the Reformed churches of Cubulco.   The churches currently are without a pastor, although we have one man  Pastor Carlos) who comes every other week to pastor the church.  For the rest we have local leaders who are leading the churches.  Another one of our main focuses for many years has been translating the Old Testament into the indigenous dialect Achi.  Our final project is something that we started around 3-4 years ago which has to do with education.  Initially we started by sending teachers to the government schools in the aldeas (mountain villages) where we have churches.  Most schools in Guatemala especially in the rural areas are understaffed.  Some only have 1 teacher for grades 1-6.  So our sending of extra teachers really helps the communities.  The latest addition to the education project are two education centres.  The purpose of these centres is to provide children who are in grades 1-6 with a positive Christian environment so that they can get help with their homework. 

Apart from seeing and meeting with the different projects Nico was also invited to preach at a special service in Pachijul where the community was inaugurating a new school building.   Normally one would have to cross the famous 276 metre long suspension bridge in Chitomax, but the bridge is no longer there.  During the recent tropical storm Agatha the bridge was destroyed.   In order to cross the river you have to pay someone Q2.00 (25 cents) to take you in a small skiff.  The picture was taken from the place where the bridge is supposed to be.  The government supposedly has promised to rebuild the bridge, but this is yet to be seen.  There are plenty of more important bridges to be rebuilt or repaired all over Guatemala which were either damaged or completely destroyed during Agatha. 

We had a good time in Cubulco reconnecting with friends and members of the church.  Please continue to pray for the work especially that God would provide a pastor for the church.