Wow! What a whirlwind it has been over the last month! God has done and is continuing to do some amazing things here in Guatemala. We recently had a team from New York City come down and help us do some of the hardest work of the summer. We are currently building a eco-friendly retaining wall. We are using gabions (cages filled with large, solid, hard to move rocks) to help steady the side of hill where the retreat center will be built. It was four tough days loading rock that weighted anywhere from 40 to 80 pounds into a wheelbarrow, moving rock up then down a small hill, passing the rocks down the assembly line, then to the Guatemalans workers so they can place them correctly into the gabions. At different times, the Guatemalans needed different sizes of rocks or specific shapes. In these cases, we would have to dig around in the rock pile looking for rocks that were flat or coconut size or the biggest ones we could find. When they asked for the big ones, it was quite difficult! Those were the tough ones.
Overall, it was a wonderful week. The team was made up of mostly young professionals around my age. Being able to connect with them was great, and I was able to make some great friendships. I especially enjoyed hanging out with them at night while playing cards or my favorite: Banana Grams.
Now, I am eager to shift gears and tell you some really exciting news.
With every team we have had this summer, we have shown a movie that documents the ministry. The movie is called the Lost Boys of Paradise and it is a documentary explaining what we’re doing here in Guatemala, and gives others a glimpse into the lives of the people here.
It was shot, edited, and produced by Phillip Blume from Athens, GA. He and his team came down in November 2011, and shot the entire thing in a week. It premiered on Tuesday night (September 11th) in front of an audience of 90 people in Athens. People came from all over the southeast to see it! It is encouraging to hear the reports of the impact the movie has already made on those who have seen it. To God be the glory!
Tuesday night also kick-started the Engadi World Tour (as Nathan likes to call it)! Nathan and his family are going to be traveling all across the US for the next three months. They are going to be speaking, sharing the vision, and the showing the documentary in several different locations.
The Engadi World Tour’s first stop is going to be in Franklin, TN at, Rolling Hills Community Church (my home church). On Friday September 14th, RHCC will be showing the Lost Boys of Paradise film. You can watch the trailer of the video here. www.lostboysofparadise.com
I would like to challenge all of my Nashville friends to come out on Friday night to RHCC in Franklin at 7:15 pm. It is one night to see the impact that Engadi is having in Guatemala, talk with Nathan and Claudia, and see how you can becoming involved.
Whether it’s in Guatemala, China, or somewhere else in the world, I want us all to remember that we are the hands and feet of Christ. As Pastor Jeff Simmons said about a month ago, “If you’re not dead, you’re not done.” Come along side of us and let’s make an impact around the world!
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