Rain or shine, school children across the western highlands of Guatemala are treated to evangelistic outreach and one-on-one ministry. Living Water Teaching Summer Campaigns are in full swing. Three months, three youth teams. The fiery teams arrive overflowing with the zeal and enthusiasm only teens on a mission can. For these school aged children its a welcome break from the ordinary day at school. Today, a group of high energy, …
Martinez Mail June 2017 part 2
Most days in “the city“, Guatemala City that is, can be an adventure. Driving in the heavy traffic, on narrow streets, and trying to identify poorly marked intersections, is just another day on the mission field in Central America. On this day we are hunting down the most favorable prices on needed equipment. Generous support has made it possible to purchase sewing machines in country, facilitating additional outreaches. Robin gearing …
Martinez Mail June 2017- part 1
It is officially the wet season so, cloud cover and thunder storms are a daily occurrence. But once in a while you get a gap in the weather pattern, sometimes days long, other times just for a few hours. Meanwhile, inside the tall doors of the Mercy Wings International (MWI) hangar in Quetzaltenango, several days of meticulous, painstaking, work is just beginning. Like a finely choreographed Ballet, all is in place and ready. The …
May 2017- Save It For a Rainy Day
“Life on the mission field has its “focused” moments, like getting the Gospel out to the people, or ministering to the physical needs of those within your reach. Then there are those moments when the unexpected fights for all your attention.” -Chuck Martinez, Missionary to Guatemala. A few flights– The weather pattern as we move into wet season, it is less erratic and becoming easier to predict. Support flights were few during this month of seasonal transition, …
Adventures in April 2017
Holy Week in Central America. The streets are filled with precessions and displays that are both colorful and solemn at the same time. With great care, residents along the processional routes build-up brightly colored carpets. These carpets are not rolled out, but created, using colored wood shaving, flowers, and vegetables. Everyone enjoys making carpets in front of their houses with the help of family and visitors. There is no formal census defining religious affiliation in Guatemala, and it is estimated that …
Robins Revelations May 2017
Robins vision born two years ago, is to train young women in a useful skill. This is a group are students at Living Water Teaching Bible Institute, Quetzaltenango Guatemala. A finishing touch is what Robin likes to call these four month long training courses. Donated machines and materials are used to bring out and cultivate abilities that serve the individual but also minister to people and community. Costs for US domestic, then international shipping to Guatemala …
Wasn’t expecting that…..
Martinez Missionary Medical Update: At home after two days in the hospital. Had not been quite right the last week or so. A small but ever present pain in my lower left back and abdomen, was getting noticeable. Shocking pain woke me from sleep, followed by waves of nausea. After a few hours, it all subsided and I thought to myself……boy glad that’s over. The following day, exactly the same thing …
And now for something totally different…..
Ephesians 6:10-18 talks about putting on the whole Armor of God. This, so that you can be fully protected against the lethal deceptions of the devil. This passage of scripture actually reads like an airplane check-list. Mission Aviation flies very much in line with these exhortations. Before any flight carrying ministry workers, medical emergencies, or relief cargo takes off, a pilot must check every critical part of the aircraft. In …
Proverbs 31:22
At the beginning of the semester Robin began training up LWT/BI students in the art and skill of using the sewing machine. The vision is to equip these young people with a skill that could sustain them in life and ministry. Donated machines, thread, scissors, and yards of material let the training begin. Twice a week these students meet and learn to craft various items. After just a few weeks, the machine is not as scary, and useful and fun …
The dark work of missionaries
What if, in your line of work, a battery lantern is near the top of the required equipment list? It’s evening, and for whatever unexplained reason, the power is off, again. “There are choices to be made……..sit in the dark and reason why or find another way.” Robin always has a project or two in the works. Tonight, rather than admitting defeat, she is on the kitchen floor with a lantern, …