Today we had the opportunity to educate our Bible Study Group (Home Church), on the benefits of Water Filters (Eco Filtro).  It was heartbreaking to here them talking about the discomfort of parasites/amoebas in their intestines.  And how, for some, it is necessary to boil their water before using it to drink.

This is just a confirmation of how important and life changing these water filters are in the lives of the people in our community.  As some of our friends have babies,  just imagine how much their bodies need to fight off infection just because of the water, not to mention all of the other hurdles they must overcome living in a less than healthy environment of dirt, dust,  and smoke to name a few. 

So need I ask, "Why is it so beneficial to put an Eco Filtro($42.00) into the homes of as many people as possible in our community?"    Just something to think about.

Our Home Church celebrated Dia de los Niños with children of the pueblo.  More to come after video editing.

Join us on our continuing mission to change the lives of the people in our community in Guatemala.  With your support, our goal is to place one of these water filtration systems in 50 homes in our community by the end of October.
The need is enormous, the effect is life changing and the cost is minimal when you consider the impact it can have on just a single family.
For a mere $42.00  you can partner with us to provide clean drinking water for a family of 5 to 6 people for 2 years.

Our Personal Testimony…
We have seen much improvement in the families where we have placed these filters.  Decrease in stomach/intestinal problems, less general sickness (coughs, colds and flu).  We would like to see more families benefit from drinking clean water.  We also, have been using this filtration system in our home for a few years now, and believe it would be beneficial to every family to have one in their home.  For us, it saves on the cost of purchasing bottled water, for our neighbors who can't even afford bottled water, here are some of the benefits this system provides...

· Reduces diarrhea over 50% along with other intestinal infections
· Reduces respiratory infections, caused by the open fires used to boil contaminated water
· Reduces absenteeism at work and school
· Increases health and productivity
· Reduces firewood expenses and time for no longer needing to boil water on an open fire
· Reduces medicine costs required to treat a stomach illness caused by unfiltered water
· No more purchases of bottled water

It has been a while since our last update.  We have been challenged with many obstacles to overcome in the past few months.   We continue to rely on God's Grace and Mercy to remain obedient to His Purpose for us and are looking forward to seeing His Plan continue to unfold.

Over the past month we have been working on building a home for a family we introduced you too in March, of this year (click to read).  Below are some before and after pictures.  Our final completion was this week with the installation of electrical hook-up.  The family has a safe home with locking doors, a functioning bathroom and shower, and now electricity.   We plan to present a video within the next few week as a thank you to our donors.

This is just a small example of the difference you could make in the lives of a needy family in Guatemala.  There are many more opportunities, big and small, to answer God's Call provide for the widows, children and the poor.

Please, if you can help in any way, you can do so on the below link, or contact us via Facebook,email, or call us @ 856-448-8369.

Thank you and God bless you.

Butch and Terry

PS.  Help us connect with more people and share this on Facebook and email.

To make a General Donation, Click on the Donate button below.
You will have the option to choose your desired purpose and donation amount.

Deuteronomy 14:28-29 (NIV)
28 At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year’s produce and store it in your towns, 29 so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.

Good afternoon family and friends,

This morning a young woman came to our house asking for help. Normally our procedure before we offer assistance to anyone, is that we want to visit their home and talk with them to access their needs. 

In the afternoon we visited with Cindy and her 6 year old son Christian. They live in a 16ft x 20ft  tin shack with 9 other family members. Their portion of the shack is designated to a 8ft x 8ft area sectioned off with blankets and sheets. That area holds all her worldly possessions consisting of a full size bed for her and her son and their clothes. Cindy is a single mom in her early twenties. Christians father left them years ago. Christian is a special needs little boy. He doesn’t talk and kind of gives an empty stare.  Although when Terry rubbed his back and cupped his face with her hands he offered a brief smile. Cindy needs to keep cloth wrapped around Christians hands all the time because he chews on them. He still wears diapers and although he can walk he cannot go outside unattended, therefore he spends most of his time in their shack. Cindy works whenever or wherever she can to buy food for them, but lately it has been harder to find work that does not conflict with the care of her son. They are in desperate need of your help and prayers. I am writing to you to ask for just that. We would like to help her with food, diapers, medicine when needed and any other essentials they might need. This is a family that we will be staying in close contact with as they live very near to some our friends and music students.

Please, if you can help in any way, you can do so on the below link, or contact us via Facebook,email, or call us @ 856-448-8369.

Thank you and God bless you.

Butch and Terry

PS.  Help us connect with more people and share this on Facebook and email.

Since our return from visiting in New Jersey, we have been devoting more of our time and focus on working with La Cigarra Music Academy and also attending a weekly Bible Study with our local neighbors.

This has been an uplifting time for all of us as we share in worship, teaching of music in the academy, and wonderful fellowship and discussion with the Bible Study.  We ask for prayers for these ministries as God guides us in this new direction to serve Him and spread His Word to our brothers and sisters in Magdalena Milpas Altas.

We would like to thank Maurice, Chuck, C & C Supply, Word Fellowship Church, and everyone else who contributed instruments and supplies to make this all possible.

Here is a clip of what is happening...

Today we went to visit with the newest member of our family here in Guatemala.  He has not been given a name as of yet, as it is customary to wait to name the baby.

Maria and her other two children have become very dear to us and we have made many memories with them.   We look forward to creating more wonderful memories which will include this new little one.

We have introduced you to Carina and her family a few months ago.  A family of 10 living in a one room house.

A bit more of their story...

They are facing a continued financial battle due to her husbands health and inability to work because of a hernia.  His hernia does not allow him to work his normal physically challenging job and, at times, causes too much pain for him to work at all.  Along with all of the struggles her husband is facing, we are aware of at least one occasion which resulting in his drinking as an escape from his problems.  We do not want to hide this you from this, as it is a reality.  But our focus is to help this family break the cycle which many here face and to help them to take ownership of their own life and come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
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We visited with her last week and expressed a desire to help them, but they also needed to try to help themselves.   Our suggestion was for her to talk with her husband about looking into surgery for his hernia, which here is free, except for some tests and medication afterwards.  We expressed our understanding that he would not be able to work for a short period, but in the long run, we feel this is the start of them getting back on their feet. 

As we requested, Carina spoke with her husband and he has gone for a consultation, x-rays and next, needs to visit with a surgeon, to find out what are his next steps to correcting this problem.  This is just the beginning of the journey of help this family requires, but we feel it is worth our time and effort, and also teaching them some of the responsibilities they need to take for the better of their family.  We have seen Carina's desire to stay in constant communication with us as to what they are doing, and has so far shown us accountability and honesty with the things we have entrusted to her.   We feel these are great qualities and have hope of a better future for this struggling family.

They have a long road ahead of them and we have been able to help them to some degree, but for a couple months after his surgery, they will require more financial help than we can offer.  We are asking for you to partner with us in this journey and need your prayer and/or funds to see this through.  To partner with us on a financial basis, click the donate button below.  You will be directed to our payment center and be able to enter any amount you desire.