Off We Go to Guatemala - Our Prayer Requests

Dear Family, Friends and partners in our trip!

Here are our itinerary and prayer requests. Thank you for all your prayers and love and support. We are humbled by how so many of you have come along side us.

"For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light." (Colossians 1:9-12)

In the joy of Christ,
Jacqueline and Danny

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Saturday, October 22  Team members arrive in Guatemala City at various times throughout the day. Pray for coordination in pickup and transportation to the team staging area.  Pray also that all the dental supplies team members are transporting in their luggage will clear customs without any problems.

Sunday, October 23  Worship in Guatemala City at La Iglesia Camino Y Verdad, pastor Andy is preaching. The team will travel 4 hours into rugged highland terrain (6,000+ ft elevation) to Piedras Grandes, a village area.  Pray that there will be no rains and that the roads will be passable.

Monday-Tuesday, October 24-25  Dental clinic evangelism in Piedras Grandes. Pray for physical endurance for the dentists, patience for the team members supporting them, and wisdom and enthusiasm for the team evangelists. Pray that many people will respond in faith to the gospel.

Wednesday, October 26  Travel back to Guatemala City... safety.  Pray for Andy and Tom as they engage in pastoral counseling for an on-going situation for a local family in the church.

Thursday, October 27  Convoy into Ciudad Quetzal, a drug-gang controlled area of the city that is very dangerous.  The team will set up a dental clinic in a new church (Casa Mana) starting with mostly women and children.  Pray for a good response to the gospel and for safety coming back out at night

Friday, October 28  Convoy back to Ciudad Quetzal and the team’s preparations for a large children’s concert in the afternoon with Chochy Ruano, recording artist.  The team will canvas the neighborhood extending invitations to children for the concert, which could be both the most exciting and dangerous part of the whole trip.

Saturday, October 29  Pray for a safe return to the USA

Aspiring to Be More Than a "Hobby" Painter

I think I mentioned earlier this fall that I was taking my painting class again.
My motivation, focus, and some inspiration I think has come from spending the past year looking at and talking about the art in the North Carolina Museum of Art.
Being a docent is a wonderful experience, but it left me empty, and hungry to paint. It has been a real force in making me once again try to be courageous to paint seriously.

I have had some of the best hours painting that I can remember and find myself staying late after class because I can't tear myself away. It is almost painful to have to clean up and know I have to wait a whole week before I get to paint again.

I have described the experience of painting/creating -- when you're in the "high" of it, it is like communing with God. I know, that sounds over the top, but think about a runner's high. When you're in the "zone" --- its a time when I think God connects some of the deepest parts of my heart and spirit and mind.

Last week, I was scanning Craigslist for a used easel with no success, but came across an ad for a "Studio Roommate." So I checked it out and its not only affordable, its 10 minutes from our house in downtown Raleigh. Known as the "Carter Building" it is a space specifically for artist studios in Raleigh. This is PRIME real estate and these studios get LOTS of public traffic during First Fridays each month.

The other artist I will be sharing the space with is in her mid-twenties to early 30's(??). I hope to move in this weekend and start to spend some significant time there after our trip to Guatemala. My hope is to be there 3 times a week at least.

What an amazing blessing from God out of no where! Danny's excitement and encouragement has also given me the courage to further pursue all this.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

This is a piece I started a couple of years ago and in fact, posted the beginnings of it in a post. Click here to see.

Here is the finished painting: "Three Graces: Yellow"