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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>Friday, March 6, 2009</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>The rest of the story.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>Happy Sabbath dear friends,</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>It has been a week since the first of our group arrived home. We had
split up in Tikal with Bob leading the first group and Eric leading the 2<sup>nd</sup>
group which was to leave 5 hours later. We were not able to get the entire
group leaving together after they changed the return schedule. Eric’s
group ended up being held over in Guatemala City after their first plane was
delayed an hour and causing them to miss all connecting flights. We were all
concerned and feeling sorry for them having to stay over one more night. Well,
that was until some of us were able to see the pictures of the hotel the
airline put them up in! No reason to feel a bit sorry for them</span></font><font
face=Wingdings><span style='font-family:Wingdings'>J</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>We had packed up all our crates on Monday evening and were ready to
leave Machquilla by 8 a.m. on Tuesday. As the bus and van pulled out I was
able to see Flubia crying as she held the hand of her husband Placido. This is
a fine Christian couple and I have no doubt that we will see them in Heaven.
They will be wonderful neighbors. We must have made an impression on them too
in order for them to cry like that at our departure.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>We were a little early for our reservation at Tikal so we stopped at
some fantastic souvenir shops that were on the side of the road. </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>When entering Tikal National Park we had to show our passport and also
receive a stamped ticket with the time of our entrance. If at the end of the
park entrance we were found to have gone over the speed limit by the time stamp
we would be fined heftily. There were many various animal crossing signs all
along our drive. And the park itself is a dense natural rain forest jungle.
Here is where the Maya Temple ruins were discovered in 1848. The Temples were
magnificent in structure and the tale of their civilization and daily routines
were amazing. And to think they built all this without use of metal tools or
beast of burden is almost unbelievable. Besides the incredible architectural
design and the way of life of the Maya people the jungle itself leaves a nature
lover in a state of awe. Personally I was in such a state of adrenaline rush
that I felt as if I could” leap mountains with a single bound”. There
will be nothing in my life that will thrill me more than this experience.
Unfortunately for a few of our group the closeness with nature was more than
they signed on for and it ended up in being a time of fear. Guatemala is the
bird watchers paradise, and along with the Howler monkeys that are aptly named
as their howl can be heard for 6 K. to the spider monkeys that swing from tree
to tree over your head there is never a dull moment going on. There was a pond
with many crocodiles. And our guide told us they just had to kill one of them
after he killed 3 people. He also told us that in the evening the jaguars,
puma and ocelot come down to that pond to drink. It was only a short distance
from where we were staying. The resort was well kept and the rooms which were
clean and nice looking were without constant electric or hot water. There are
no electric lines that come into this park and the resort is powered by solar
and generators. Lights went out in the park at 10:30 and didn’t come
back on till morning. Hot water was available for 2 hours in the morning and 2
hours in the evening. The food was very nice and the creature sightings were
amazing. Our teens made use of the pool and then the soccer ball for a good
part of the day. This was an incredible mission trip with many people being
blessed in many different ways. What an honor it has been to be part of it, especially
knowing that this is not the end, that we will meet many of these people in
heaven and will be able to continue our friendship with each other and with
Jesus who made it all possible for eternity. If you have never been on a
mission trip my friend, let me take this moment to invite you. It will be a
life changing event and you will never be the same. Your eyes will be opened
to what is real and important in life. And if you have ever felt poor, you
will never feel so again. </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>After leaving Tikal with the early team I had the pleasure of meeting a
man that told me the most fantastic story that I feel compelled to tell you
about. I was sitting by myself when I man came up to me and asked where we
were going or where we had been. I said we had been in Machaquilla doing
missionary work and he said that he was from a Poptun I was surprised that he
had not heard about our team being in the area as we had advertised so much.
He told me that his wife had some dental needs and wish she could have been
seen. I am thinking that perhaps his wife was seen by our dental clinic and he
had not been home yet to hear about it. He then pulled down his bottom lip
showing me a full set of beautiful teeth which surprised me greatly. Both of
the fact that a stranger was showing me his teeth and then the fact that they
were so perfect. He then told me that in 1999 Harrison Ford had come to Tikal
to work on a movie. And that because of his extensive knowledge of Tikal that
he wanted to work as a tour guide for them. But it seems my new friend did not
have these beautiful teeth at that time and in fact all of his bottom teeth
were rotten. Those in charge of hiring tour guides told him he was an “ugly,
smelly mouthed man” and they did not want him there and to go home. He
then said “I was so disgraced that I went home and locked myself in the
bedroom. I could not even face my wife to tell her what was wrong as I was so
embarrassed that I could not even support my family because of my teeth” “I
would not come out of that room for 12 hours as I cried in disgrace and pleaded
with God for help. The next part of the story brought tears to my eyes as I
recognized the hand of God. It was 22 days after this prayer that he met an
American dentist named Eduardo Pardo Ayou who gave him his card and said “call
my office, I am going to help you“! As Antonio Diaz told me about this
man I knew immediately who he was as I have seen him on TV and know he does
mission work in 3<sup>rd</sup> world countries. Well Antonio did call his
office and after 8 hours of anesthesia he woke up to having 15 perfect
implanted teeth in his mouth. That would be about $65,000 worth of dental work
for free! The next part of the story is the best. The doctor explained to him
that he had implanted 15 teeth rather than the full 16... and the reason why?
So that he will always be reminded where he came from and how God had come to
his rescue! I was overwhelmed with gratitude to God for what he had done for
this man and for making men like Dr. Ayou who allow God to use them to relieve
suffering. I then had prayer with Antonio and asked the Lord to continue to
bless him and his family. So what does this clean, well dressed gentleman do
now for a living? He is a tour guide for Tikal and supports his family well.
With all the folks in the airport wearing our green mission shirts that day why
did Antonio feel compelled to tell me his story? I feel sure it is because I
was the one that had the ability to tell his story to thousands of people.
Antonio and I had an appointment set up by the creator of the universe and I am
so humbled to have been there for it. Praise God for His tender mercies and
for hearing the crying prayers of His people. As I sat on that chair before
Antonia came I had been thinking that this would have to be my last trip, I had
been so terribly hurt in the fall I took. But after Antonia left it was almost
as if I could hear the Lord saying, hang in there kid, I am still in control of
things. He never told me the path would be without falls, just that He would
be there waiting for me at the end of it.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>My prayers are that you have enjoyed reading these updates as much as I
have enjoyed writing them. </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>Lets us all hold fast until He comes. </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; who for the
joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down
at the right hand of God. Hebrews 12:2</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>Smiles as always,,</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>Jennifer Young Mission Reporter</span></font></p>
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