Jennifer's Birthday

 This past weekend we celebrated Jennifer's birthday. We are grateful for her life and ministry. She is a big blessing to many. Please pray for her in her last few months of her pregnancy that she would have strength. We are excited about all the Lord has in store for our growing family. 

Happy Birthday Jennifer!!

Escuelita de Misiones

 I shared a while back that one area in which the Lord has burdening me is Missionary Mobilization. Mobilizing the Latino Church into missions especially missions to the least reached peoples of the world. This work has begun in a few ways. One we have a series focused on global missions happening right now at Iglesia Nueva Vida. We are beginning 21 days of prayer today.

Another big step towards mobilizing Guatemalans towards global missions is a 8 week course on missions we are teaching. This is a course developed by Center for Mission Mobilization.  We have 20 students and hope to do this a few times a year to help people see their role in the Great Commission. We are excited about how the Lord is going to use this to mobilize not just a few missionaries but our church here and eventually many other churches and networks of churches. Please pray about this.

Here is a cool mural we did recently in the church to help us stay focused on Missions.

Visit from Levi

 We had a visit from Levi and his girlfriend Alanna earlier this month. It was good to have them here and have a few adventures together. Check out a few pics below.

We took a trip to the zoo. Our three youngest!

Family pic...almost impossible to get everyone to smile ;-)

We didn't all fit at the table for meals.

Pray for this momma. Its hard to have your son so far away!

Thanks for continuing to pray with Levi. It is hard to be so far away from kids!

9 Years in Guatemala

 It is hard to believe we have been in Guatemala 9 years. We moved here June 20, 2012. Caleb our youngest boy was just 2. How things have changed. We did not really know what we were getting into when we moved to Guatemala. God has done more than we could have imagined or thought. Here are a few of the things God has done:

• Moved us here: Not an easy task to sell everything and pack up 21 suitcases with 5 boys and head to a foreign country. Many challenges along the way living in Guatemala but we wouldn't have it any other way.
• Learned Spanish: Well still learning but that will be the rest of my life.
• Helped further Establish Love Guatemala: Before we arrived our home church and other missionaries and mainly Carlos and Telma Lopez had established the Art, Cooking and Carpentry School and we came to support and further establish things. We were able to help further develop and implement devotionals, a sponsor programs, teams program, expand staff etc.
• Purchased Property: In 2013 we bought property which was a miracle in and of itself for a small ministry with very little resources.
• Built a 10,000 sq ft facility: Then God surprised us again by miraculously providing over a half million dollars for a new building to house our growing ministry in 2014.
• Started some new schools: In 2015 with our new space we started an English School and Literacy program which has now become a primary school for older youth/adults. 
• Started our Feeding Center in 2015.
• Started New Life Church in 2018.
• Bought more property and built our multi-purpose space in 2019. (The Lord knew we would need this space with the pandemic coming!)
• Started Bible Institute in 2020 with 10 students graduating this year.
• We have seen the Lord transform countless lives.
• Our family has grown by 2 soon to be 3 more. (See pics of family changes over the years below) 

To God be the glory! Great things he has done!

Thanks for supporting and praying for us over the years!

Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. Psalm 36:5

We are so grateful for God's faithfulness!

Our commissioning service in June 2012.

2014

2015

2016

2017

2019

January 2021

Easter 2021

Jennifer and Jake's Trip Stateside

Traveling these days is challenging. So we were glad that Jennifer and Jacob could get back for a quick trip to visit Levi and family. Check out some pictures below.

Lots of fishing for Jacob.

They celebrated Levi's graduation as well while they were there.

I can't believe Levi is finishing Highschool!

Brothers

Joel made them a welcome home cake.

Dad held down the fort while Jennifer and Jake were gone. Joel and Caleb helped quite a bit. Joel likes to cook so he helped with that and they both helped with the girls and Luke. We are grateful for our family and it makes me (Ben) even more grateful for my wife after she is gone for a while.

Sofia doesn't look to happy here but we had a good time for the most part. 

 

Mother's Day, Luke's Birthday and Prom

 Yesterday and today (Today is Mother's Day in Guatemala) we are celebrating. We celebrate Jennifer and our Moms. We are also celebrating Luke's 21st birthday which is hard to fathom. How can our oldest be 21? Luke has taught us so much and we are grateful for his life. I am grateful for the amazing Mom God has given me and also my amazing wife who is a great Mom. 

Grateful to do life with this fine lady!

We are grateful for our moms too. These are the most recent pics we have with them. Hard to be away from them on Mother's day but we were glad to at least talk with them yesterday.

Jake is becoming a fine young man as well.

Luke needed a little help blowing out candles.

He was happy with Rice Crispy Treats and Mom's pizza bread for dinner.

Levi was also able to be in Texas with his girlfriend for her prom. He stopped there on the way back from our trip to Colombia. Hard to miss these types of moments with him but glad he was able to go.