 |
|
|
 |
Please ask for a refrigerator magnet!
|
|
 |
Rss Feed is available.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Quote to ponder... "He that loveth little prayeth little, he that loveth much prayeth much."
Augustine |
L A C E S
Latin American Christian Education Services |
|
Add Me To Your List!
Please click here to add your name and email
address to our Newsletter Email List. Click here
if you would like to request a LACES refrigerator magnet
News Letter
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Antigua, Guatemala
From: Andrew & Rebecca Loveall (for Escuela Integrada and L.A.C.E.S.)
Missionaries to Guatemala
A Discipleship / Teaching Mission
Dear Friends and Family,
Greetings from the cities and Antigua and Patzun, Guatemala. What a great and eventful
couple of months we have had during July and August. Rebecca and Andrew wish to
share a quick review of events in the Escuela Integrada schools project – as well
as an update on the recent security problems. THIS IS A LONG REPORT – BUT WE ASK
YOU to please take a few minutes and read all of it. Your knowledgeable prayers
are so valuable to all of us and to all the kids / young people / families / team
members here.
The JULY MISSION DISCOVERY TEAM led by Michael Kneff and crew was
great fun and produced great results. We had the honor of sharing them with the
Jeremiah Project, the feeding program (which also prepares street kids to enter
school) headed up by Larenda Haden. This team was made up of representatives of
three different churches – from Tennessee, Texas, and Maryland (and three different
denomination groups). Fabulous. The team put on a
Bible School program for the younger
kids They visited and delivered much needed food bags to over 30 homes, and they
rebuilt the houses of two families (one family from Escuela Integrada – Antigua,
one family from the Jeremiah Project.) Some of the team made the trek to the mountains
for a site-visit to Escuela Integrada – Chuchuca. It was a great week and the kids
/ families loved it. There was lots of sharing. Rebecca spoke to the team about
the cultural differences they would be encountering when here and gave advise /
guidance in how to deal with these differences even after going back home.
Pastor Josue Lemus (elder in the new Home Church) gave an excellent discourse on the Prodigal
Son. It was a week to remember for everyone involved.
THE NEW MURAL, designed and supervised by visiting intern Michaelanne
Harriman, was painted by the ‘kids’ of the Escuela Integrada – Antigua Colegio,
our “Basico grade” kids (ie. middle / high school grades.) The symbols in the mural
(see photo collage) each represent a different aspect of the kids’ emotional and
spiritual lives. All of the “basico grade” kids helped paint the mural – it is fantastic
and beautiful. Many thanks from all the kids to Michaelanne. It is a must-see item
at the Antigua school (and it is
hard to miss because it is so huge.) Special THANKS
to missionary Joel Van Dyke for thinking of us when Michaelanne was looking for
a
place to use her talents while studying in Guatemala.
REBECCA IS NOW BACK AT WHEATON College (Chicago area) to complete
the second year of her graduate studies in clinical psychology. She recently spent
the weekend visiting supporters in the Rockford area and had the opportunity to
meet with the members of the July Circle of Love Foundation mission team. (Rebecca
also got to ‘hand out’ with Dr. Helen Laib all weekend as well as meet with various
Rockford area supporters of Escuela Integrada.) To everyone who helps with her monthly
expenses in Illinois (car, gas, food, books, etc.) we say a heart-felt THANKS. As
stated in our last newsletter, her studies are CRITICAL to this mission's future
development in the treatment and counseling of our kids, pretty much ALL OF WHOM
have been ABUSED in at least one way or another.
DON’T FORGET TO CONTACT REBECCA if you are interested in her coming
to / speaking at your church or group one weekend!!! The best way to reach her is
through her personal email address (rebecca.laces@gmail.com) or her cell phone (708-674-2238).
The 2009 CALIFORNIA MISSIONS TEAM recently left. This year (as
in previous years) the team was predominantly made up of members of the Green Hills
Baptist Church of Orange County, CA – led by Ronnie and Robyn Jones However, this
year they were joined by three members of San Jose’s White Road Baptist Church (including
Pastor Pete and Anabella Ramirez). As it is in every year, the California Team’s
VBS program is the apex of all children’s extra-curricular activities for the entire
year. 2009’s was the best children’s program ever done at Escuela Integrada. It
was an interesting program – based on being on an imaginary train in Australia (the
“Boomerang Express.”) There were 47 decisions for Christ over the course of the
week. This year our program was a bit different – after three days of VBS at the
Antigua school, the team traveled to the war-refugee town of El Tesoro de Nuestra
Esperanza to do the program there. This was the first large scale children’s ministry
event of any kind – ever – in the history of this town. Wow was it great.
Half the
town’s adults came to the closing program and shared for over an hour and a half
their people’s history – which includes massacres and their homes being burned down
and all the violence that fell on their people during the Guatemalan Civil War.
It was a time of new hope and community healing. While there we treated their school’s
roof with heavy-duty anti-corrosive paint. Greens Hills Church provided the paint;
White Road Church provided the professional quality paint spraying rig. The people
of the town are so grateful.
REPORT: THE ASSAULTS ON THE ANTIGUA SCHOOL AND ON THE LOVEALL HOUSE.
The Escuela Integrada – Antigua school has been the object of several attempted
nighttime assaults over the last three months or so. Working with the police and
using the alarm equipment donated from our Tennessee supporters, these attempts
to enter the building have failed.
Three weeks ago this threat reached anew level when four (4) men armed with guns
forced entrance into the Lovealls’ home. At home at the time were: our sons Robert
(age 5) and Jonathan (age 7), as well as three (3) of the young men in Andrew’s
mentor group: Elber (age 13), Arlyn (age 14), and Kevin (age 17). All five (5) boys
were rounded up at gun-point, robbed, tied up, and forced to lay face-down on the
living room floor while the men ransacked the house looking for money – which they
did not find because there is no money in the house. About ten (10) minutes later
Andrew and Maricella (our 21 year old housekeeper) came in during the assault –
they were also tied up and robbed. The armed men then left the house. Eventually
one of the boys freed their hands and everyone escaped the house. The police were
then notified.
We thank the Lord that nobody was seriously hurt. These men were not wearing masks
– so, according to the police and the “Ministerio Publico,” all who were assaulted
in the house are in continued danger. There have been additional threats to other
members of our Escuela Integrada team. We believe that these men have returned to
the house at least three (3) times, each time failing to assault us again. The authorities
believe that these are the same men who have repeatedly tried to enter the Antigua
school. There is now a government “Ministerio Publico” investigation under way.
We have also responded
by temporarily hiring uniformed, armed guards for both the
Escuela Integrada – Antigua school and for the Lovealls’ house. We have and will
continue to provide counseling for the victims of the assault.
SOME PERSPECTIVES TO KEEP IN MIND: Why do these things happen?
Why do things here seem so hard? Why do such bad things happen to people who are
trying to do good? The answer is simple: These things happen to us because of what
we do and
with whom we do it with. We work with hundreds of sweet, good little children
and hundreds of teens. These kids are good – and as they learn, they become better.
Most grow and advance in all aspects of their lives – emotional, academic, social,
and spiritual. However, as good as most of these kids are, many of them have immediate
families (parents, older siblings), extended families (cousins, uncles, etc.), and
neighbors that are ROUGH. Remember – we work with very poor families that are at
the bottom of the social-economic scale. We work with the kids and families that
most other people and projects prefer not to work with. We are, therefore, constantly
exposed to people who are connected with drugs, alcohol, crime, and violence. We
work in a country that basically has no rule of law. And while we take precautions
and do all we can to keep our family and team safe, the reality is that these things
happen. If we are afraid and run away, who will work with these children? So – we
are doing all we can (including the use of armed guards) to keep ourselves and the
school safe. But we will not run away.
OTHER NEWS includes the completion of third quarter finals (we
are now 3/4 of the way through the 2009 Guatemalan school year!!), and our request
that you remember in prayer the health of our Escuela Integrada team members. The
Antigua director, Glenda, was out with illness for four (4) weeks – she just returned
to work on Friday. Please pray that our “3rd Basico” (sort of like 9th grade) will
all complete the school year in strong form.
Ten points that Rebecca and Andrew wish to share with you:
1. We cannot depend on the local police. There simply are not enough of them, they
are lacking in resources, and some can easily be paid-off. So while we are utilizing
private guards and doing everything we know to eliminate danger, we don’t really
depend on these things either. We depend on God.
2. As shocked as some of us from the USA are by all of this, this is the sort of
thing that happens to our schools’ families and kids all the time. They experience
this type of violence constantly. Indeed – on the very day the assault happened,
one of Andrews mentor group ‘boys (17 year old David) told him of how the same sort
of thing happened to him and his family when he was just eleven years old. Our families
experience all of this stuff – many of you have read about it over the years in
our newsletters as we sometimes share these unfortunate occurrences with you.
3. We were and are not alone. The presence of the Lord in our home was very, very
strong. At no time did Andrew think that they would be shot and killed.
4. Most people who experience this type of violence here ARE alone when it happens.
They don’t know the Lord and don’t experience His very real presence in times of
crisis – or in normal times either. One reason we must continue the work here is
to introduce as many of these families and kids to the Lord so that, as they go through life,
they do not have to do so alone.
5. If the work with the kids and families wasn’t changing their lives (and we’re
talking by the hundreds and hundreds), the work would not be attacked. In other
words, we experience this opposition because the fight we are in is making a difference.
It is worth it.
6. We are not sitting down here playing out the passive
role of martyrs. We are
doing everything reasonable to protect the kids and team members. We are not, however,
retreating behind the walls of a mega-guarded private community as the local rich
people usually do. We can’t live that way and do the work we do. The present security
steps are very effective and give us time to pray and think as a family….. and seek
knowledgeable counsel as to what future steps need to be taken.
7. We cannot stress the value and importance of the presence of the California Team
immediately after the assault on the house. Indeed, 3 members of the team (from
White Road church) were already here but were not with us during the assault. This
was a special blessing – because we KNOW them – our boys, Jonathan and Robert, KNOW
and REMEMBER most of the team members. Their presence was so very helpful for our
boys – they especially were happy to see the Palmers. This is but one example of
the kind of mission team partnerships that we seek – people who come back – people
who are connected all year long – people who get to know us and the kids in the
schools. The best visiting mission teams are like this – they are FRIENDS. Within
25 minutes of the assault ending, pastor Pete was counseling with Jonathan, Robert,
Kevin, Elber, and Arlyn. He was able to do this because they KNOW HIM and remember
him for his previous 4 or 5 visits with the Green Hills teams. This is an example
of how a church’s short-term missions should work. There have been other examples
recently – all of our teams this summer have been with churches and groups that
are proven to be dedicated not only to the work but to friendship and partnership
as well.
8. We choose to be here. The families connected to the Escuela Integrada schools
are pretty much stuck here. We can leave the violence and instability if we decide
to do so – they cannot. What would it say to the Guatemalan kids and families we
serve if, confronted by the same sort of violence they face all the time, we run
away and leave them behind – stuck here. Again – while protecting our family, we
choose to serve God by staying with our people.
9. Please remember that this is costing the project more money than we presently
have. We need some extra financial support through this period of adjustment and
extra security measures. Surviving the recession is faith-challenging enough. This
makes the funds even tighter.
10. More importantly – most importantly – everyone who cares anything about this
work, about these kids, about the team, and about us needs to pray for this situation.
We need to seek the Lord’s Face and Will. We need to remember that Rebecca, who
is presently in Chicago at Wheaton, is processing this with us – we are dealing
with this very much as a family. The families of Maricela, Arlyn, Kevin, and Elber
are also dealing with the effects of this traumatic assault. Lift all of us up.
Lift up in prayer all the kids at Escuela Integrada. This assault has scared many
of them.
Many Blessings!
Andrew & Rebecca Loveall
and Team Escuela Integrada
"God is not unjust; He will
not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as
you have helped His people
and continue to help them". - Hebrews 6:10 NIV
_____________________________________________________________________________
For tax-deductible contributions,
make check out to
"Latin American Christian Education
Services" or
"L.A.C.E.S." and mail to:
Latin American Christian Education
Services
8217 West 20th Street, Suite C
Greeley CO 80634
Phone: (970) 313-4590
Fax: (970) 313-4161
_____________________________________________________________________________
PHOTOS: A : Escuela Integrada – Antigua, second graders perform Guatemalan dance
and drama. B: Escuela Integrada – Chuchuca, 2009 school King and Queen. Don’t they
look great? C: March missions visiting missions team from Mission Discovery making
home visits and delivering food. D: Antigua students march in parade with the school
banner at the Antigua Stadium, Inter-School Sports Tournament. E: Guys from Andrew’s
mentor group (i.e. the “knuckleheads”) do maintenance on the playground equipment.
F, G, and H: Massive distribution of clothes donated by Wal-Mart Central America.
It was amazing. I and J: New home church in action. What an opportunity to teach
people about the love of God and His desires for their lives – desires of hope and
live and success.
Periodically, Laces publishes a news letter that is emailed to recipiants around
the world.
If you would like to be added to our newsletter emailing list, please complete the
request below:
Refrigerator Magnets!
If you would like a refrigerator magnet, please request one by sending your letter
t
LACES - Guatemala
8217 W. 20th Street, Suite A
Greeley, Colorado 80634
Be sure to include your Name, Address and if you would like to receive our News
Letter, your email address as well.
|
|
|
TCT47n http://xSwjQwnf48jmNfl40fh9Bs.biz
jiBO74 http://obk7W1mQkfiVvap7dGsp.net
jiBO74 http://obk7W1mQkfiVvap7dGsp.net
jiBO74 http://obk7W1mQkfiVvap7dGsp.net
CnilFB http://mMs93Hfppskd6wngIosSu.net
perfect design thanks
perfect design thanks
comment2
comment5
comment4
comment5
comment3
comment3
comment3
comment6
comment1
comment6
comment4
comment6
comment5
comment1
comment4
comment4
comment4
comment6
comment5
comment5
comment5
comment6
comment3
comment2
comment4
comment3
comment2
comment4
comment1
comment1
comment4
comment6
comment4
comment1
comment5
comment4
comment1
comment2
comment5
comment3
comment3
comment5
comment5
comment3
comment4
comment3
comment5
comment6
comment6
comment6
comment4
comment1
comment5
comment6
comment6
comment1
comment1
comment5
comment5
comment1
comment4
comment3
comment5
comment5
comment2
comment5
comment4
comment4
270_96.txt;8;12
270_98.txt;8;12
270_109.txt;8;12
270_111.txt;8;12
270_112.txt;8;12
270_113.txt;8;12
270_114.txt;8;12
270_115.txt;8;12
270_117.txt;8;12
270_118.txt;8;12
Hello good day
270_119.txt;8;12
Very funny pictures
Very funny pictures
qT5rqV http://cry82Nqp94NsW0sl2VvqhJ4m.com
3uql6m http://fh82nGsQk0fQsn3Ldap1f.com
dvkSLlYI
This site is crazy :)
Good crew it's cool :)
good material thanks
Very Good Site
i'm fine good work
Best Site good looking
Best Site good looking
Best Site good looking
Punk not dead
Gloomy tales
Gloomy tales
this is be cool 8)
good material thanks
Jonny was here
Good crew it's cool :)
perfect design thanks
Excellent work, Nice Design
Excellent work, Nice Design
very best job
very best job
very best job
Very funny pictures
this is be cool 8)
Very Good Site
i'm fine good work
this post is fantastic
It's serious
Excellent work, Nice Design
Excellent work, Nice Design
Punk not dead
magic story very thanks
magic story very thanks
magic story very thanks
magic story very thanks
It's serious
Cool site goodluck :)
i'm fine good work
good material thanks
Excellent work, Nice Design
I'm happy very good site
I love this site
I love this site
Jonny was here
Jonny was here
Wonderfull great site
Gloomy tales
i'm fine good work
this is be cool 8)
Best Site good looking
Thanks funny site
Thanks funny site
Thanks funny site
Very Good Site
Cool site goodluck :)
Wonderfull great site
Cool site goodluck :)
Cool site goodluck :)
Very interesting tale
Excellent work, Nice Design
i'm fine good work
i'm fine good work
Best Site Good Work
Good crew it's cool :)
Good crew it's cool :)
Wonderfull great site
Gloomy tales
Gloomy tales
Excellent work, Nice Design
I love this site
I love this site
I love this site
I love this site
Very Good Site
Jonny was here
Punk not dead
Punk not dead
Punk not dead
Best Site good looking
Best Site good looking
Gloomy tales
Very interesting tale
Very interesting tale
Excellent work, Nice Design
I'm happy very good site
Best Site Good Work
I love this site
I love this site
real beauty page
Gloomy tales
Very interesting tale
very best job
Best Site good looking
Jonny was here
Gloomy tales
It's serious
good material thanks
i'm fine good work
Best Site Good Work
Good crew it's cool :)
real beauty page
Jonny was here
Thanks funny site
Thanks funny site
Good crew it's cool :)
very best job
i'm fine good work
Good crew it's cool :)
Good crew it's cool :)
Best Site good looking
magic story very thanks
i'm fine good work
Very interesting tale
Best Site good looking
Best Site good looking
Best Site good looking
Hello good day
I'm happy very good site
Punk not dead
i'm fine good work
Very interesting tale
Excellent work, Nice Design
this is be cool 8)
Punk not dead
Excellent work, Nice Design
Excellent work, Nice Design
perfect design thanks
It's funny goodluck
magic story very thanks
magic story very thanks
magic story very thanks
Very funny pictures
good material thanks
i'm fine good work
Jonny was here
Very funny pictures
Thanks funny site
Best Site Good Work
Very Good Site
I'm happy very good site
This site is crazy :)
Cool site goodluck :)
i'm fine good work
I'm happy very good site
this is be cool 8)
It's serious
It's serious
It's serious
Punk not dead
Wonderfull great site
good material thanks
good material thanks
perfect design thanks
Good crew it's cool :)
perfect design thanks
It's funny goodluck
i'm fine good work
I'm happy very good site
Very interesting tale
Punk not dead
Very Good Site
Very funny pictures
Very interesting tale
very best job
very best job
Good crew it's cool :)
I love this site
Hello good day
Cool site goodluck :)
Jonny was here
magic story very thanks
magic story very thanks
It's funny goodluck
It's funny goodluck
i'm fine good work
This site is crazy :)
This site is crazy :)
Very Good Site
Best Site good looking
Good crew it's cool :)
Best Site Good Work
Very interesting tale
Very interesting tale
i'm fine good work
Excellent work, Nice Design
Punk not dead
Best Site good looking
Cool site goodluck :)
Hello good day
Excellent work, Nice Design
Excellent work, Nice Design
Best Site Good Work
Cool site goodluck :)
Good crew it's cool :)
Cool site goodluck :)
good material thanks
real beauty page
real beauty page
real beauty page
perfect design thanks
this post is fantastic
Very interesting tale
Punk not dead
This site is crazy :)
Wonderfull great site
Punk not dead
Punk not dead
Punk not dead
good material thanks
Very Good Site
magic story very thanks
Very interesting tale
Wonderfull great site
Hello good day
Very funny pictures
Best Site good looking
Best Site good looking
Punk not dead
This site is crazy :)
I'm happy very good site
Very interesting tale
Good crew it's cool :)
perfect design thanks
perfect design thanks
perfect design thanks
perfect design thanks
Hello good day
Excellent work, Nice Design
Very funny pictures
Good crew it's cool :)
good material thanks
good material thanks
Excellent work, Nice Design
Excellent work, Nice Design
this post is fantastic
this post is fantastic
this post is fantastic
I'm happy very good site
Wonderfull great site
this is be cool 8)
real beauty page
Very interesting tale
perfect design thanks
this is be cool 8)
It's serious
Best Site good looking
Wonderfull great site
Hello good day
Thanks funny site
I love this site
It's funny goodluck
Excellent work, Nice Design
This site is crazy :)
Cool site goodluck :)
Hello good day
Gloomy tales
It's funny goodluck
This site is crazy :)
Gloomy tales
this post is fantastic
i'm fine good work
|
|
|