Last summer, our Guatemala Team pioneered a new venture for Peace mission teams by conducting medical clinics in Huehuetenango and Agua Dulce. We learned what it meant to “make do” with facilities and equipment while attempting to meet the very real needs of a population who have no regular access to medical care. While in the small Mayan village of Agua Dulce , our team used the porch of a local farmhouse as an examination room.

During three days of clinic, God allowed us to serve close to 100 people. At least two children and one young mother were identified with potentially serious medical issues that needed immediate attention. Our team doctor, Dr. Donald Knox, worked with Edwin Martinez, OCI missionary supported in part by Peace Church , to make local referrals and secure medicine and follow-up care for these individuals. Thanks to God our Father and those who supported us with prayer and financial assistance, we were able to make a substantial contribution to the community.

This summer, a team from Peace has once again been invited to make a contribution to the rural poor of Guatemala by renovating and refitting a building to serve as a medical clinic for the village of Agua Dulce . The population of 5,000 regular residents has no medical facility close to them. During harvest season (coffee harvest) the population swells to as much as 20,000 as the migrant workers come. By providing a local facility, the door is opened for more medical mission teams to visit the area. We hope that by meeting the physical needs of these people we will find the door open wider to take the gospel to them as well. As chairman of the Peace World Mission Ministry Group explained, “Medical missions are a tremendous opportunity to treat the body (James 2:16 ), and thus open doors to treat the soul. ”

Our team is almost finalized however we still have room for more team members. Our main challenge this year is financial support. Due to a change in the procedure for transferring our funds to Guatemala for use, we must raise 100% of our basic expenses by May 23rd. What this means in real terms is that we only have until then to raise just over $10,000.

We believe that God has assembled this team and that He will provide for us. If you believe that God is leading you to make a financial gift to support the team, please make your checks payable to Peace Church . Please do not make any notes on the memo line but instead put your check into an envelope marked “Guatemala Team.”

Please join us in this team effort – we need a home team supporting us in prayer as we seek to “continue the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ in word and deed” for the people of Guatemala . For more information on the Guatemala Team 2005, please contact me by e-mail at AngelsLine@aol.com or by calling the church office to obtain my phone number.

¡Que Dios les bendiga!