A quick post to catch you up to speed....

Yes, time has once again flown by and returning emails and keeping our blog current is a challenge. We are grateful for this busy season. It is keeping our minds off of the weather changes at home, upcoming holidays, football seasons, camping, fires in the fireplace.... well, you get the idea. Life is so different these days in this place where we are serving but we are beginning to go deeper with our ministry vision and it is exciting.

Tomorrow, I (Melinda) am going to be traveling 6 hours into the mountains to an area of Nabaj. I will be meeting with other FH missionaries and support staff to present them with David and I's first business development plan on making candles. It seems like a small task to say the least. We're all so accustom to running to the local craft store, buying our "kit" and throwing in some long, enjoyable hours probably with friends making early gifts for the holiday season. But that 's just not in the scope of the days for the women of the Nabaj region where we will travel and assist them in this wonderful business plan. This is a plan that they have to "buy " into. The only thing that they are "given" is the plan and 2 day class on making the candles. From there on out , they have to decide whether they want to invest in this business plan and make it their own. This gives them incredible incentive to begin this work themselves. As their product begin to sell and they experience "success" and a return on their investment, their hearts are open (prayerfully) to relationship and exposure to the gospel as we pour ourselves into relationships that will grow over long periods of time. This way we are all "buying " into something.... for the women it is the candles and for David and I and the entire FH staff we are buying into the lives of the people of the Nabaj region. There are no guarantees that the women will pursue this trade, no guarantees that they will receive even one days wage from their efforts. All that we have to claim as truth is that God loves his people. God has a plan for his people. ALL of us involved in the huge efforts of next week are desiring change. Will you consider praying right now for the men/women and children of Nabaj. Would you pray that their hearts and minds would be clear...which is physically a challenge for malnourished people... that they will have a vision and that God would use me to cast that out to them.....I'll be posting lots of photos so keep an eye out...

much love from Guatemala,
Mel