Mission Fiesta!!!

Every year a group called Mission Fiesta comes to Guatemala and goes to several different orphanages and schools to host parties. They have been coming to Guatemala for about 15 years and started coming to our home when Chici and Victor took over 10 years ago.

Their purpose is to put on a big party in order to let the kids have the extras that they don't always get. Things like balloons and decorations, pizza (lots of pizza!), pop, ice cream, cake and crafts.

Decorating the house.

Toni blowing up his balloon.

They also receive a birthday card with a small amount of money inside for each child. You should have heard the excitement level in the room when they opened their cards!

The big kids did a craft,

and the smaller kids colored pictures.

Then they ran off their energy outside with the group. They played with balls, played soccer, were pushed in swings and had a great time!

Then they had room in their stomachs to head back inside and eat more! Ice cream and a fantastic vanilla and strawberry cake were on the menu.

Noe. Too busy eating to smile. :)

Toni. Also too busy eating cake.

Spatz quietly snuck in and tried to be busy eating cake.

It was a fun Friday afternoon and the kids loved every minute of it. I have no doubt every member of the group had a great time as well!

Thanks again Mission Fiesta!!

Feliz Dia Del Padre!

Yesterday was Fathers Day here in Guatemala. It is the same date every year- June 17. So we celebrated last night by having a special dinner. I made rotini with alfredo sauce and bacon. It was mostly well received but a little heavy for their dinner. Guatemalan's usually eat a big lunch and a small dinner.

One of the house parents made a sign for Victor.

I am not sure if it is supposed to be a likeness. If so, he was generous with the muscles!

Do you know how hard it is to get a good picture of 25 people, let alone 25 people who want to eat the cake sitting on the table?!?

Cake!!!

The tradition here is for the recipient to bite the cake. For some reason Victor wasn't interested. So Dennis stepped up. Inevitably, his face was pushed down in the cake, as is also the custom. Hmmm. Maybe Victor made a good choice! Anyway, poor Dennis was pretty surprised.

Somehow poor Debora got a face full of cake as well!

It was a fun night to honor Victor, Rodolfo, Adrian, and Marroquin. They all play an important father figure role in our kids lives.

Busy weekend!

This weekend started off with a ladies conference for missionary women hosted by Pearlene Nolan from Snyder, Texas and a group of ladies that came with her to bless us.

Chici, director of Rehoboth, Sandra, director of the Nicaragua Rehab Center, and myself (Naomi) drove out on Thursday afternoon. The next two days were full of worshipping God, attending many meetings, fellowship, and not to be forgotten, the food! When we arrived there were treats and Bible verses on our beds and the next two mornings while we were out, more scriptures and treats would appear on our beds.

It was a good time to rest, reflect on God, and get to know each other better as well as meet new people. One of the new people I met was someone who others had met the year before and mistook me for her. Several times. We have now become friends and I will be a surrogate auntie to her kids. :)

Chici was able to meet up with other friends who have been missionaries here for a long time, and she has known them for more than 15 years.

Judy, Sheri, and Chici

We came home Saturday afternoon feeling refreshed and ready for the next team to visit. This team was from Texas and they had been here the year before and had brought everyone new crocs. This year was no different. They came with bags full of new crocs.

The fitting process was very "scientific" and there were many people who wanted to make sure the shoes were perfect. Not too small with a bit of growing room as well.

Lesly, Carla, Maria, Tatiana, and Debora with their shoes

Toni, excited with his new crocs.

Angel, Engler, and Felipe. (I caught them at a bad moment. They were very happy with their crocs)

Edgar, Miguel, Moises, and Jose

Luis, Geovany, Dennis, Fito

Even I got a new pair of crocs. Noe is helping me show them off. :)

There was also lots of time to run around and play soccer with the new soccer balls, play on the playground equipment, and totally wear out the visitors!

They left many other things for us as well, crayons, soccer balls and basket balls, peanut butter (expensive here, definitely a delicacy!) and many other things. We were blessed to have them play with our kids and leave many gifts.

It was a busy weekend and today the kids are back to normal, wearing their crocs with pride!

How to Become a Volunteer

Even though we do have a Guatemalan staff to help us fulfill our daily needs, long-term volunteers are always needed to fill the gaps. Do you feel the call on your life to be a foreign missionary? Begin by joining our team here in Guatemala! You can help by: tutoring, fundraising, building projects, teaching, sports activities, computer, or public relations. Or let us know one of your many talents or how you think God has called you to help us!

All positions require people who speak Spanish at least on a basic level. All volunteers will be expected to assume their own cost of living.

We are also praying for directors to work alongside us and help us expand the vision that God has given us!

Please e-mail Chici at Chicibarbella@conexion.com for more information.

Short Term Mission Teams

One huge reason that our ministry has been able to grow and expand is the teams. Whether it is construction, clothing and shoe donations, much needed personal items from the States, or just to spend some quality time with the children at the home, these teams are such a blessing to us. Short term mission teams have become a vital part of New Life and Peace Ministries.

Volunteer mission teams members are relatively normal people, for the most part anyway. They sacrifice their time, their vacations, stretch their financial budgets, and give up the comforts of their homes to become a foreign missionary for a week. They leave behind their loved ones, and they go and share the love of Christ with those they have never met and may never meet again. They always go to be a blessing, but always end up receiving much more. Church groups and strangers can come together to become a part of God’s work here in Guatemala.

You may ask yourself, “Why be involved in short term missions?” It is only to bring glory to our Lord and Savior as we go declaring His glory and good deeds. If any individual or church group is interested in helping on a short term mission trip, please contact us.

New Life and Peace Rehab Center

Psalms 72:12 "For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper."

Our purpose and goal are to reach the needy and desperate, and to offer hope to otherwise hopeless lives.

The rehabilitation program lasts from eight to ten months and is divided into four phases with increasing responsibilities and privileges as the resident moves up in status. An additional 10-12 month training program may be offered to the graduate if he wishes to stay and help run the program.

Upon entering the program, the resident will be given a two month induction period with few privileges other than spending and receiving mail, and will have no other responsibilities other than simple daily chores. Generally it is during this time that he will receive salvation and the Holy Spirit. In the next two stages, he will begin to assume certain job responsibilities, which will add pressure and lead him to the Lord for help. With these increased responsibilities comes added privileges such as receiving and making phone calls, visits from family, and supervised weekends at home.

In the final phase of the program, the resident actually is in training to be a counselor and will counsel another resident of lower status. Then he will make a report to the senior staff. In this way, he will learn to help others as he was helped.

Each person in the program will be required to follow a daily schedule which includes attending Bible classes and devotional meetings, receiving counsel, and participating in recreational activities and work chores. Disciplinary measures, such as written compositions or Bible verses, or extra work chores will be given to help correct negative behavior. We do not use any sort of medication or restraint, nor do we use group therapy.

To be admitted into the program, a person must be desperate and want help, must be willing to seek God as the answer to all his problems, and submit to authority. All court cases must be taken care of or postponed for at least a month. Prescription medication is allowed upon approval of the program overseer. No narcotics or alcohol containing medication will be allowed. A preliminary interview will be taken before acceptance into the program.

Our rehab centers do not receive any government funding. We are totally dependant upon God to move upon the heart of people to supply our needs, either as individuals or church groups. None of our staff are paid, though they do receive any funds donated specifically to them by name or for the staff in general.

Rehoboth Home for Children

The name of the home is based on the scripture Gen: 26: 22. Isaac had dug two wells in the new land and those around him quarreled with him, saying it was theirs. Once he had dug the third well, no one quarreled over it and he named it Rehoboth, saying, “Now the Lord has given us room and we will flourish in the land.” This means a lot to our children. Whereas their parents and others have abandoned them, God has made room for them.

God has so graciously provided a home for these children where they can be nurtured and brought up in the ways of the Lord. These children have been raised in an atmosphere of abuse with little or no family structure. They are malnourished, homeless, and exposed to all kinds of bad situations and people. They hadn’t been loved and were without family guidance. Here at Rehoboth they have loving Christian house parents and an atmosphere of God’s love and security so that they can mature into fine young Christians people.

We have built one home for children in Parramos, Guatemala, and need to build one more for boys 18 and older. This will be a transition house that will give them a more independent life, but also make a smoother transition into adulthood.

We try to keep a healthy balance of school, chores, and play. We have several Guatemalans that come in to help with devotions, recreation, and excursions. They provide much love and care for the children. Many foreign missionaries also interact with the kids and help with these needs. The children attend a local church, Sunday school, and youth group. We also encourage outside activities to help with social skills.

As a non-profit Interdenominational Faith ministry, New Life and Peace Ministries depends on donations from individuals and churches who want to reach the lost for Jesus, help take care of the needy, and bring hope to the hopeless. We have a child sponsor program where an individual, family, or church can be assigned to an individual child. The sponsor gives $30. or $50. a month which helps with the daily needs: housing, warm bed, food, medical, domestic help, house parents. Since we provide complete care for the children more than one sponsor is needed.

What will the relationship between you and your sponsored child?

You will receive a photo and history of your child and you may correspond with your child through postcards and letters. You may also visit when you are in the country. Your child will write to you twice a year and you will receive yearly updates from the staff.

New Life and Peace Church

The church was started in 1994 by director Victor Barbella and another missionary, Tim Johnson. The purpose of the church was to reach the surrounding community with the purpose of Christ for their lives and to have a place where the people in the Rehab center could worship and have exposure to a church environment.

Since then the church has become what we call a missions’ church. Our Sunday services are translate from English to Spanish and the church itself consists of missionaries from the United States, Canada, and people from here in Guatemala.

Wednesday night there is a Bible study and a youth group, both of which are in Spanish only. Friday night services are in Spanish only as well and consist mainly of the Guatemalan community.

Offerings and donations received at the church are used to support the Guatemalan missionaries serving her in Guatemala and in other parts of the world. In addition, we are able to help other Guatemalans who may have different needs and to make improvements on the church building itself. Also, none of the church workers receive a salary for their services in the church. This includes the pastor, worship leaders, Sunday school teachers, and translators.

About the Directors of New Life and Peace Ministry

Victor and Chici founded New Life and Peace Ministries Guatemala in 1992. Victor is an ex-heroin addict. He and his wife both come from difficult backgrounds. The glory of God touched both of them and they knew that they were called to be missionaries to impart Gods love and support the desperate. Victor and Chici served in another ministry in the U.S for fourteen years before coming to Guatemala. They also worked at a residential home for boys. They were taught many things that would become necessary to assume the responsibilities in their ministries.

Upon arriving in Guatemala in 1992, they opened residential Christian centers are a place for those to seek answers drug addicts, alcoholics and prostitutes. These centers are a place for those to seek answers from God for their life and where they can be trained and discipled to know God’s love and hope for them.

They now also have the Rehoboth home for children and are very grateful to the Lord for giving them this wonderful opportunity.

Happy Thursday!

The title of this post started out as Happy Friday! Then it was Happy Monday! And now it is Happy Thursday! Wow, this had better be a good one! :)

If you notice on the side, we will now have two contributors to this blog. I am Naomi Heye from British Columbia. I moved to Guatemala in April of 2009 and started working with New Life & Peace Ministries in May of 2010. My focus is learning and helping with the administration aspect of running Rehoboth Children's Home. Part of my job will be to update this blog on a fairly regular basis.

I love to bake with the kids every Friday. They love it too! I imagine it is because of all the quality time they get to spend with me, and not the fact that they get out of homework (for the time being) and get to eat lots of cookies afterwards! ;)

Last week the kids didn't have school. The President had declared a state of emergency for Guatemala and that meant the kids were off school while families, volunteers and the government tried to clean up and distribute much needed supplies. And while the normal chores got done in the house and the garden, and a few extra "spring cleaning" type things happened, there was still plenty of time for playing on the trampoline, playing trucks, and another game I just learned. One person is "it". That person is given 3 lives by everyone (just 3 slaps on the hand). Then everyone runs around trying to not get hit by the ball as each hit from the ball takes away a life. Sadly, these little boys have too much energy and this "old" lady can't keep up with (or away from) them. I "died" pretty fast every time. Which to be honest, was okay with me. I would much rather sit on the sidelines with a kid on my lap and cheer on everyone else!

Miguel's birthday was last Saturday and on Sunday we had cake for him. I don't have the pictures with me. Sorry. He is currently attending a high school with a computer focus. At this point, he would like to pursue a career in computers. He is very smart and dedicates a lot of time and energy into his studies.

That is Miguel on the left and Moises on the right. Don't they look very excited to be in a picture with me?

This week has been back to normal. All the kids went back to school and back to their normal routines.

So that is about it for this update. Have a great weekend all! God Bless.