Good News from Guatemala

Happy Valentine’s Day!

We are back home in Kapa’au after three weeks of travel. Many thanks for your prayers.

We praise the Lord for His journeying mercies as we traveled to California and on to Guatemala. It was great to visit with dear friends in our supporting churches in San Diego, El Segundo, and Biola (west of Fresno) as we reported about IDEAS.

It was our first time to Central America. We enjoyed Guatemala’s natural beauty, rich history, and cultural diversity - a blend of indigenous Mayan traditions and Spanish influences. Best of all we found our IDEAS colleagues faithfully making Christ known in Word and deed. 

We landed in Guatemala City and rode an hour through the city into the central highlands. We gathered in the charming town of Antigua with our IDEAS Board and Associates. The town was founded in 1543 and is situated in a valley surrounded by three majestic volcanoes: Agua, Fuego, and Acatenango.

Walking through Antigua felt like stepping back in time - many restored colonial buildings and churches. The cobble stone streets and bustling markets teemed with foods, coffee, crafts, textiles, and produce. One lovely afternoon we rode bikes through a coffee plantation where lush plants grow in rich volcanic soil.

Our IDEAS team is uniquely equipped to serve the nation of Guatemala which has one of the highest numbers of spina bifida per capita in the world. In His Gospel-advancing-providence He has assembled this team which bring their skills in language and culture, nursing (three of them!), Assistive Technology Professional (ATP), community development project leadership, a certified prosthetist/orthotist (CPO), and pastoral and ministry experience. In Guatemala they are working to serve communities, families and children impacted by disability. In 2024 IDEAS helped 165 children be fitted and equipped with wheelchairs and other appropriate technology. It was a privilege to share with them and offer our pastoral care.

We went to Guatemala as part of the IDEAS Community Life team, privileged to encourage and pray with our Associates. While there I taught from the book of Titus to our IDEAS Guatemala team. I spoke one morning to our IDEAS Board on “Hearing from the Lord” from Joshua 9.

We were proud to see some of the good work our IDEAS team is doing as they provide whole-person care for people with disabilities through training, resources, and locally appropriate assistive technology devices. Our programs address medical and mobility needs and invite people into a community where they are loved and valued. Our team works to help people experience the fullness of their God-given dignity.

Learn more at: https://ideasworld.org/guatemala

 

Before heading home across the Pacific we enjoyed a week with Nathan and Heather and our three grandsons in Los Angeles. Our bond of sharing included a bad cold that found us all! But the sun came out for our great day at Legoland.

It was good to return back to our family at Kalahikiola Church. I started preaching through the Gospel of Luke for Advent and plan to continue in this great inerrant declaration of the Savior of the World, our Lord Jesus Christ. We appreciate your prayers as we long to make Him known in our community. Later this month we will resume our Wednesday Bible Study, stepping into 2 Corinthians.  

Many are enthusiastic about what they perceive to be a new day of opportunity in our beloved America. We certainly pray so! But remember that only Almighty God can bring eternal, holy, just, and saving change to any nation. That is what we most pray, labor, and hope for all nations. Of course, this requires what we shoulder the cross as disciples daily, renouncing our sins, and rejoicing in our Savior. May God help us in this hard and holy calling! May He make His Name Great…forever!

Until the knowledge of Jesus fills the earth, 

Mark and Dayna Blair