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Katelyn,
I am so happy for you! You will experience so many awesome things!
Stay away from the dirt!
Love you, Lori
Katelyn,
I am so excited for you! and somewhat jealous! I know that you will have an awesome time and I cannot wait to hear about the amazing ways in which God changes your life throughout the week. love you girlie!
Devon
KATEL!!!
I’m so glad you’re going finally! You are going to love it and you will be so blessed! The kiddies are so amazing.
I love you sososososoooo much and I hope you have a great time and do wonderful things! I can’t wait to hear all about it and see pics of the munchkins!
Have an AWESOME time!!!!!
Love you and praying for you!
Love,
Hol
p.s…..Don’t get Giardia! (sp?)
Katelyn,
I am so EXCITED that you are going to Guatemala!!! WAHOOO!! I wish I was there with you. God is going to use you in powerful and amazing ways! Thank you for being willing to be used by Him for His glory. You have so many incredible gifts and talents I know that you will be a huge blessing to the team and to the Guatemalans! Have fun! I know that you and Dan will hit it off great. Give him a hard time for me.
Big hugs,
Kristy
Katelyn,
Someday I hope to go back – maybe we can go together 
I will be thinking of you and praying that you are touched and can touch others with the love of Christ Jesus.
I hope you have a great experience and are truely blessed by your time there!
Love ya girl!
Sara
Thanks to all of you for your prayers and support! It means so much to have people who love and care for me praying me through this trip! I am beyond excited to be used by God this week! I truly am blessed to be a blessing!
I hear this song as I was packing and it truly puts into words my thoughts and prayers…
Give me your eyes for just one second,
Give me your eyes so i can see,
Everything that i keep missing,
Give me your love for humanity,
Give me your arms for the broken hearted,
The ones that are far beyond my reach,
Give me your heart for the one’s forgotten,
Give me your eyes so i can see!
Katelyn
Love you Kates! Praying that you will be blessed!
Katelyn, We are thinking of you today as you travel and pray for safety for your team. We look forward to keeping up with your activities on this blog.
Love you! we are praying you are a blessing to the people there.
I am so jealous, but you will have the time of your life there in Guate. Be nice to everyone and be a mother to all!!! Don’t forget your motion sickness pills!! you’ll need them on the mountain roads!!!!!
Katelyn!!!! Sorry we didn’t get a chance to give you a hug tonight, but we will be thinking about you and hope you have a great experience! Love you and keep an eye on Kevin!!
Love you lots!!
The Berens’
Katelyn, Enjoy your time in Guatemala serving the Lord!!! I am so excited for you to be able to experience the Lord’s work in this way. Say hi to Dan and Heidi for me, k? I’d love to have coffee with you when you get back to hear all your stories!
Katelyn!!!
Praying for you and the group this week. So proud of you love!!!
P.S. I finally got accepted to Padnos!! I’m going to start the ISA app now. : )
Love you!
Dear Kates,
Love you soooo much. I am so proud of you. Hope you are enjoying your plane ride and not getting motion sickness. This is going to be a great experience for you and to the people you are serving. Praying you all get through customs and that you will have a blessed week. Keep the bugs away.
Love,
Gram
I can’t wait to read your updates! I hope you post often. I’ll be praying for you!
Katelyn,
Now that you are there, isn’t it unbelievable! Tell Dan and Heidi I said hi.
You don’t have to be so organized there! Just enjoy the awesome world God has made in Guatemala.
Stay away from the dirt!
Love you
Hello Everyone! We are here safe, and LOVING IT!
We start building a house tomorrow! So excited to see what God has in store! Love you all keep us in your prayers!
Today we got up at 3:30 am and camp to the airport…. got to Guat around 1ish here… We have been doing stuff all day. I didn’t forget my motion sickness pills so don’t worry… I was totally fine! Nate…. I met everyone and love them all! Paulina, Yoanna, Esduardo, Noami, Dan, Heidi… all the kids!… love them all and have been speaking lots of spanish. They all mis you and are sad you are not here… Noami wishes you were here to help her cook!
Yeah Katelyn, I am so glad that you are there! God is going to be using your spanish in a major way! take care of yourself and get a good night’s sleep. Make sure Kevin doesn’t get out of hand!
I can’t wait to hear your stories! Praying that tomorrow simply rocks!
Katelyn,
Thanks so much for that. I know God can use you and your spanish to impact deeper than you realize. Because he is bigger than us. “His purpose was not from pain and suffering, but from meaninglessness.” Erwin McManus. the barbarian way. Have a safe trip and remember not to pet those cute little doggies!!!
Katelyn, How fun to think that you are on the same building team as your little neighbor and buddy, Dixon. We will be praying for you, and know that you are going to be making the most of every opportunity. God bless, love, The Pettijohns
Kates,
Great to see you made it, you didn’t get motion sick, and you’ve already connected with so many folks there. I am so proud of the decisions you are making in your life to care about and help others. In some ways this trip is a worldwide extension of the love, care, and compassion you have always been gifted to share with people around you. Now, instead of sharing it with the younger members of your sports team, or with the girls you are coaching at Calvin Christian, you are sharing it globally in ways that I am certain will leave a lasting impression of the beauty of Christ’s love. I love you loads! Keep up the good work, and blog often! – DAD XXXOOO
FYI…yes, I picked up your car..and…your computer is back already!
rossy
im so glad you made it safely! you are beyond wonderful and what you are doing is an inspiration to sooo many people. have so much fun and stay safe…maybs even fall in love with a central american hottie
haha. ill be prayin for you! love you sista friend!
love KP
Katelyn,
Praying that you and the team will stay safe, healthy and open to the many ways God will work in and through you this week. Thanks for going out of your comfort zone to serve God and the people of Guatemala!
Mrs. Stegeman
(Olivia’s mom)
Hi Kates,
I can only imagin how tired you must be after your first day of building houses. Just like when you started running but you can do it. Have a great time and enjoy every minute because when you look back the time will have just flown bye. Keeping you in our prays. Love You
Gram
Katelyn, today I almost took another shower while shampooing someone at work, it made me think of you:) I wish I could be there with you guys now!! Sounds like you are having a great time. Keeping you in my prayers girl!
-Taylor
Kates,
Praying for you! Glad to see you arrived safely. In addition to the blessings you are bringing to others, you, too will be blessed! Look forward to continued updates….can’t believe you’re building a house! Love Aunt Jane and Uncle Steve
I hope you had a great 1st full day there today. I have been going to this blogsite almost every hour since about 3:00 pm because I am so eager to hear more about what you are up to and how your day went today. I am headed to bed soon, so I’ll look for more of your “bloggings” tomorrow.
Love you! DAD
Katelyn,
Still praying for you! Remember what I said about the candy! You are awesome!
Lori
Katelyn
So glad to hear from you and just love reading your posting as it sounds just like you are here talking to me. I love it! Praying for you everyday and many times throughout the day that your time will be Spirit filled and full of precious moments. Enjoy this wonderful opportunity and soak up this special time.
Love Bill and Lisa
Hello Everyone!
… so I am very excited to see what the next two days hold… and If I can remember enough spanish to continue having more and more conversations with her… especially about Christ, and her relationship with him!… So I guess that’s also a prayer request!
So everyone else is headed to bed, but God is just so great and I’ve got so much on my mind I just thought I’d leave a little note!
Today was a great day, and if you didn’t read the blog post that was posted tonight {on the home page} you should… I wrote it…. with my group members help
But… today was SOOOO awesome!… so i’ll share a few more details..
When we got to our village to start building our house we wanted to get the family we were building for and pray over them… so we found Maria Ingreketa and her 2 girls, and we prayed together… but… Just before the prayer Dan… the missionary who we are working with down here.. .gathers our whole group and asks whoKatelyn is…. yup.. I’m Katelyn… “you’re the spanish speaker right…” … yes… “I want you to get to know this woman.. “sheis a widow who has four children and is just in desperate need. Shr never smiles and is sad all of the time…” … at this time I’m already an emotional wreck.. balling my eyes out but so excited to see what God had in store for the first 3 days of our trip [the first three days are the house building days... yes we construct a house in three days ... it's crazy... but SO awesome!]. So needless to say I did some work today… did my best to help with the house, but also spent a lot of time attempting to use some of my spanish skills and talk with Maria, her girls, the other moms and of course play with all of the beautiful little children in our village! My favorite part of the day was when I asked Maria if she wanted to see how her house was coming along… she and her girls walked over and she looked in the little window of her little house….. she was standing there… crying… but so happy! This woman after knowing her for just a few hours was so happy and so thankful and had a beaming smile on her face seeing the house we were providing for her! I snapped a few pictures of her beautiful smile and will gladly show you all when I get home
Sorry about the novel.. there are are just so many exciting things going on… I can’t even type them all!
Lori- Last night during our singing time Dan told us we were whimps and needed to turn it up a notch… I immediately thought of Melissa… “Katelyn sing louder… do you want to be me or not?!” and then I looked over and saw her picture on the wall [which I haddn't seen before that moment]… needless to say I was a basket case…
Nate- Everyone absolutely loves you… they talk about you all of the time and Paulina thinks I’m your girlfriend.. I know she understands my spanish when I say that I’m not… but she refuses to believe me.. so I spent about a half an hour trying to describe Melanie to her.. even though I’ve never even met her… Kyle and Sarah tried to help too… haha
Dad- you’re looney toons and I saw what you wrote on Sarah’s page…. I may or may not start a day care… I love all of these children!
…. but The base we are staying at is currently raising money to start an orphanage…..guess that means I just have to come back once it gets started! 
Grandma R- don’t worry there is not an uptight bone in my body this week. God is great, and there is nothing to worry about here!
Love you!
Love you all thanks so much for keeping us in your prayers.. I just love checking this and reading and writing becuase I love the encouragement… it’s what keeps me going… and will tomorrow too [especially since it looks like i'll be running on about 5.5 hours of sleep]
Buenas Noches!
En Cristo,
Katelyn
Where are you…Jodi Ippel is there right now too! They are in Antigue. In the city…maybe you should ask.
Just read your blog and then ended up talking to Ippels in Hungary via Skype in the middle of reading your blog. Sounds like you are having a wonderful time. I hope the bugs are leaving you alone. Make sure you do some work there too! It souns like you have been blessed to use your Spanish to spend some important time interacting with Maria and her kids. You keep on keepin’ on, have a wonderful time, and I look forward to reading more and more of your bloggings.
DAD XXXXXOOOOO
Katelyn It sounds like it is just amazing! God is unsing you in great ways and you are making a HUGE ddifference in those lives! I think you should try to steal a baby! Just hide it in your suit case!!! I am POSITIVE that the customs agents would not mind in the least!!! Did you take your planner down with you to keep a schedule of what you have to get done each day? That would be awesome if you did! Keep loving the people there! Including the team because I know you are great with the girls on the team! God is doing big things through you! Praying for you,
Jason
Love reading your blog-you are accomplishing great things.What a blessing you are to the people there. Keep up the good work. We keep praying for your team and the people you are helping. Is it really hot there and what about the bugs? Are you the only one on your team that can speak Spanish? Love you lots.
Rooooooom-a-toooom!
It sounds like you are having an absolutely amazing time! I’m not gonna lie… I’m a little jealous. Can we do this (or some sort of mission trip) together next summer? Yes? Ok. Great. I’m at Kelsey’s house right now and we miss you greatly. She is on the couch singing Justin Bieber… with her Bieber hair… but we know you are doing awesome things down there so we are trying not to miss you too much. Cannnnot wait to see you when you get home. Keep posting updates, and we’ll keep reading them haha. Love you so much and praying for you, sister friend!
I love reading your updates. I love how detailed they are and it makes me feel like you are just sitting on my computer chair while I’m on my bed and you’re telling me about your day
–Your Long Lost Roomie.
Katelyn! I read your update and cried as I read how God is already using you on this trip. Your face radiates in the pictures and your love is obvious to anyone who sees your “life in action”. I know you are uniquely “You” to be uniquely “Used” by HIM this week. I will pray for spanish recall (ha!), for health, for energy (since you are already staying up past your bedtime) and for opportunity within your small group and the people of Guatemala. Blessings to you, Katelyn! ~Mrs. H
It was wierd to see all of the Hinkens at volleyball this morning without “their Katelyn” — you were missed in the gym.
Katelyn
Sounds like you are enjoying it! All those times you didn’t think you needed to go out of the country and now here you are. It wasn’t God’s timing all those past years but this time it was. He wanted you on this trip @ this time. I know he will use you down there. It’s sounds like he already is. The kids are so precious. Can’t wait to hear your stories when you get home. I have a feeling this will not be your last trip there. Keeping you in my prayers this week.
Anti-Guatemala!,
Have you changed your mind yet?! It’s so sweet to see how God is clearly using your passion for Him… I loved your comment to Lori about Melissa and singing louder…also…your updates are VERY short…could you include more? You should think about starting to journal to help as practice!
-Spener
Kates,
Wow–God is really using you and your team to minister to the people there. Love the picture with you and the little kids….such cuties (you included!). You REALLY are building a house!–had to see pictures to REALLY get that! We’re praying that God will conineu to use you for HIS purposes….look forward to reading your updates!
Love, Aunt Jane
Love you!! Keep up the good work!
Hola Amigos y Familia,
My brain is functioning in spanish these days… but I love it!
Here’s a recap of today… I know Team 2 updated on our home page.. but I’ll tell you what I did!
Got up, ate breakfast, Went back to our wonderful village… once again lots of kids wanting dulces….so crazy… I can’t even explain to you having kids run up a hill, or sit and wait for our vans to drive by.. just for some candy.
We spent more time in the afternoon playing with the kids. I am very impressed with our whole group and their spanish abilities… even those who came here knowing nothing are doing well talking to the kids and families. I also very much enjoy the times when one of my group members needs some help translating, and talking with one of the people in our village.. I am finding out lots of cool things about our people… it’s AWESOME! We came home in the early afternoon [about 3:30] and some of us went for a walk… it was nice…we had Pizza for dinner, and then hung out… we just got done with group and personal devos… lots of emotions going on around here, and it’s so awesome! God is doing great things through all of us, and I can’t see what the coming days have in store! Keep praying for no rain, and for all of us as God is working on all of our hearts as much as he is working on the hearts of the Guatemalans. God is teaching me that I need to surrender everything to him! I always try to control every last piece of my life, but being here in a totally new place, in a place that it’s sometimes hard to communicate I am completely vulnerable, but God is soooooo good!
In the village today was stucco day for the houses and porch day… I started out the day just playing with tons of kids… I LOVE THEM ALL [yes Jason.. I'm trying to find a way to sneak them through customs!] After that I worked on some stucco.. .about this point I wasn’t feeling well. I tried to ignore it for a while… but finally just couldn’t… my stomach was churning.. I was afraid I was going to puke and my head was pounding… so I asked Dan if he had any medicine that might make me feel better. Fairly soon after I was starting to feel better! thank goodness Dan has dealt with this a million times and I have been feeling better since. We ate lunch [ I only ate a little tortilla and rice, becuase of my achy stomach] and had a treat of Pepsi!
Love you all… more tomorrow…
Dad- bugs aren’t even bad, no worries, p.s aparently my name is the hardest thing ever to say for spanish speakers they can’t grasp the name Katelyn… they pronounce it ka-ta-leeen …. if you can understand that…
God is so great and i can’t wait to come home and tell you all about this trip, and yes for sure we can do something together!
Grandma B- Many people in my group speak spanish, but just a little. I am spending a lot of time helping with conversations but LOVING IT!
EKING- I love you soooo much! I miss you, and Kperras too! Have a happy birthday in a few days!
Spener- YES YES YES, I have changed my mind. This is the greatest place on earth. seriously… so great! I could stay here forever.
Adios!
Katelyn
Kates,
– DAD XXXOOO
Love reading your blog. I checked to see if you had any updates very late last night after the NBA Finals (about 10:20 om your time), and just missed your update before going to bed. It’s so nice waking up in the morning and knowing that there will be updates to read as soon as I get the computer fired up. It was so great to hear that despite not feeling well for a spell you were able to get over it quite quickly. It’s really cool to see all the pictures. Tell Kevin to keep posting them, it gives us a much clearer picture of what you’re up to. Im curious about what a “porch” on your houses looks like. Anyway, you keep having a wonderful time…and….please DO come home. You can always go back again another time.
Hi Kates,
So glad you got over your sickness sooo quick. God at work. It sounds like you are having a wonderful time. I have you in my thoughts and prayers allllll day long. I am so happy you are having a great time. Enjoy every minute. You are really being used by God.
Love you lots.
Gram
Hey you!
I’m so glad to hear you’re using your spanish skills!! How exciting! Also happy to hear that you were only feeling sick for a short time. It’s no fun to be sick in Guate. Well I’m sure all the Guatemaltecos love you.. you’re so fun and bubbly
Praying for you today as you dedicate the homes!
Love ya
Katelyn! I love reading your posts! You are so detailed and enthusiastic! I am so glad that God is working so much in your lives! The med clinics are going to be crazy for you! I promise one of the nights you will for sure see God in ways you never have before or thought you could! I like that you asked Dan if he had meds for you! Asking Dan if he has meds is like asking you at pash if you have your planner with you!!! Its a no brainer silly question!!! haha. I am praying for you and praying that God continues to give you strength. The med clinics are LOOOONG days! I enjoy reading about the passion you have for the place you used to think was prolly “overrated” God can have a sense of humor! Keep it up!!!
Jason
Hi Katelyn!
Love your posts!!! If your objective was to bring me to tears – Mission Accomplished!!!
I am so glad you are down there – what an amazing adventure you are having. Can I go with you next time??? I speak zero spanish, so I would need someone like you! If you can sneak any more of the kids through customs, I would be so grateful!
Hope that you are keeping Kev in line and making sure he is pulling his own weight – also, I hope he is taking notes on your Spanish – he really needs to work on that!
We are thinking about you and the whole team constantly and keeping you in our prayers (now I truly know why I have those 2 hour periods in the middle of the night when I can’t sleep – it gives me times to pray for each one of you individually!)
Keep up with the posts and don’t listen to Spencer when he says they are too short!!
Love you and keep up God’s great work!
Mama Berens!
Hi Katelyn! What an experience this is for you! You will grow in every way. An experience like this is something everyone should do. God works in wonderful ways. It sounds like you are having a great time. We are praying for you everyday.
Love, Grandma Tacoma
Katelyn,
) reading your posts and I teared up and laughed out loud and it just brightened up my afternoon! I knew God had big plans for you the moment you told me you were going to Guatemala this summer and I see he is working through you and the rest of the group to do great and wonderful things. I hope the dedications went well today and can’t wait to read more posts. Praying that you stay healthy and that many will be turned to God through the group’s ministry.
I am so glad you are having such an awesome time! I just spent the last 10 minutes (when I should have been working
Love ya
Sara
rossy,
hope your weekend goes well and i cant wait to see you when you get back, ill be praying for you! love you mucho!
sounds like you’re having a blast and a half down there! if you and eking decide to go on a mission trip adventure…i’m coming too! glad you are feeling better, it sounds like you’ve already made quite an impact (which is no surprise btw). maybe once that orphanage opens you can adopt eight guatemalan kids to help fulfill your dreams of a big fam
peace and blessings,
KP
Hola Amigos!
Dixon is quite the artist!
It’s 8:13 right now… well it’ll be probably 8:45 by the time I’m done.. but anways we just got back from “house dedication day” at the village. God is so great!
First I’ll recap a little about last night:
We had an awesome devotion that made many of us verrrry emotional [yes I mean me... I'm a basket case.. what can you do?] But God is good… we then had small group time and that was pretty good, considering we all had so much going through our minds that we didn’t want to talk much [I know surprise surprise...] But God is continually challenging me to give my all to him. Not just some parts or everything but one area, but to completely surrender all that I am to him… but I’ll say more about this when I get to some stuff about today..
This morning we got up at 6am again.. [yes 6... my camp counselor "bright and cheery morning face" is coming in handy at this hour] and had breakfast, and also packed some suitcases full of gifts for our families as we would dedicate our houses today. My family is the Widow mother.. Maria Enriqueta and her daugthers Sandra and Yojana that are 11 and 7. She also has two sons that are 14 and 16 that were off working the last two days, but we got to meet Noe today [he's 14]. So we packed the suitcase full of jump ropes, blankets, food, balls, toothpaste and brushes. We got to the village around 8:30 and were once again greeted with MANY MANY children screaming for candy [ we are not helping their trash accumulation or their teeth... these kids have eaten SOOOOO MUCH candy this week... I can't even believe it!] We spent the morning painting our houses, it was so fun! I love painting! We also got to decorate the house, we put flowers, their names, a bible verse, and some cool creations Dixon and Angie came up with… you’ll probably see some pictures when they are posted!
Then we ate lunch [tostadas... YUM!] … really quickly so we could get to dedications …
When we were preparing to dedicate the houses Dan explained what we were going to do… The people who built the house would be in the house with the family, we would present them the gifts that we packed in the suitcase and then Dan would share the gospel with them… and then Hermano Jesus [the pastor that works with Dan, also a native spanish speaker] would say a little more and talk with the families more about their faith, life, christ and possibly accepting Christ right there. The rest of the team would surround the house, laying our hands on the house, praying for the house, and singing, lifting up the family in prayer hoping they would be willing to accept Christ! This was a new but very cool concept for me. I really liked the idea of some people inside [the people who knew the family best] and the rest being prayer warriors! We did have plenty of distractions with kids running everywhere, but our goal was to stay focused and in prayer and worship for the family. This was the most emotional experience I’ve had in a long time [like I said earlier... basket case central.. ] We started on the “non-traditional” house that we fixed up, but didn’t build completely… Today was the first day that I felt like I had a HUGE advantage becuase of my Spanish… I really got to hear and understand and comprehend all of the cool things that we going on….. God was totally at work! But at the first house the entire family dedicated their lives to Christ and I was standing outside the house praying a woman from the village was crying out to God, giving thanks for honestly just about EVERYTHING. I think she spent 15 minutes continually saying Thanks be to God for… [fill in the blank]. This was so awesome! I have never seen a woman with so little give thanks for EVERYTHING, and at once point she said God bless this community entirely and bless all of the people in it, and I hope they all turn to you! This was just so awesome. Next came my house, the beautiful widow and her children. Yes this was also a waterfall … but so amazing! They also all decided to dedicate their lives to Christ. As much as in times past I have been anti alter-call type situations.. This was one of the coolest experiences to be right there. Holding their crying bodies, being 5 feet from them while they are understanding the gospel and seeing what God can do for them! SO SO SO awesome. I have offically written the longest of all long posts but I can’t explain to you the cool stuff that’s happened in the last 24 hours…
I also can’t get enough of the mom’s and the kids. The mom’s are so wonderful and so beautiful, and the babies are just a hoot. Our little ADHD child is a hoot… [read Sarah's blog for more about her... haha]. But we were all very sad to be there for the last time. The people in our village are just so great, and I can’t even tell you how exciting it has been for me to talk to the people, get to know them, their hearts, and just learn more about a poverty that is unbelievable and something you would never ever ever see at home, and I don’t even begin to know how to explain it.. hopefully pictures will show more. We ended the day with a crazy “fiesta” some singing, a Pinata… holy smokes I have never seen kids run so crazy after candy in my life…but very awesome! We also had some other toys… so they have something to remember us by when their candy is gone tomorrow. Well I’m pretty sure it’s about my time for a shower, and I’ve had paint on my since 10am…. adios amigos!
su hermana en Cristo!
-Katelyn
Katelyn,
Praying that you are feeling better today! There were several times today that I got choked up thinkingabout the dedications and what must be happening inside those precious homes. I have been praying that your family accepts the ultimate gift. Praying that you continue to be used by God to further His kingdom. Having your Spanish abilities is such a gift to the team and to the families! TOmorrow at the med clinics it will be even more important, since you have such a little time to build a relationship, good communication helps! Praying that group time is awesome, as you all share the many many God Sightings.
Thank you, thank you, THank you for your wonderful updates!! I so wish I was there with you and the team but reading your posts makes me feel like I am there. I can just picture everything. Is Dan giving you a hard time yet? I can see the two of you getting along really well. He loves to have someone on the team that he can give a “hard time” to! Of course he does it out of love!
Love you and big hugs,
Kristy
Kates,
Awesome update! I like hearing about all the details. It sounds like you truly have been blessed to be a blessing! i have not been to the pictures yet today, but I will be going there next. I almost wish for you that you could stay there longer than just a few more days because I can tell that when you leave there a part of your heart will remain there with those families. I am so glad this experience has been so awesome for you, and to think just a few years ago you were uptight about going off to Chicago on a mission trip. Just look at you now! I am proud to be your dad and am proud of the way you are using your life to share Christ’s love in these ways.
Love you! – Dad XXXOOO
Katelyn, I love your updates! Makes me feel like I am there! Thank you for that and for the incredible passion you have had down there! You are making such a difference! I am praying for you at the medical clinics! work hard and take care of those mothers!!! Once you do you will be able to see that precious gleam in their eyes!!! It is exciting to read about the way God is working in and through you!!! I am glad that you finally came around to the idea of Guatemala!!! Praying and God bless!
Jason
Katelyn
So happy for you and it is so apparent from reading your blog that you are having a mountain top experience. How awesome!! You will never forget this time in your life and I pray that you will keep the passion and love in your heart always. Praise the Lord for all that he has done in and through you in this trip so far. We can’t wait to hear more and more! Hugs and kisses,
The Van Dykens
You have such a gift in your writing that makes us really feel the passion you have for what you are doing! What a blessing you have been and such blessings you are receiving. You are in our prayers and we look forwarding to hearing what today brings for you. Love you, Kates!
Love, Aunt Jane
P.S. Do they not have Coke?!?!
Hey Kates,
You probably had a very busy and tiring day today. It’s 12:31 am our time (10:31 pm your time). I just came home from Alec green’s open house and talked with several other parents about the bloggings and God sightings that we are reading about. I expected to read another update, but your probably catching up on your “beauty rest” after a long day. I will be checking first thing in the morning…maybe I’ll see something from you by then. If not…no worries! I am going to check pictures and a few other bloggings before I go to bed though.
Love ya! -Dad XXXOOO
Hello All this will not be near as long of an update as the last few, but I will try to give you a quick synopsis and maybe add some more in the morning if I have time….
Today was our first med clinic day. we got up had breakfast, had nice long devotions out in the beautiful weather both individually all together as a big group and in small groups.. and it was beautiful outside…. we were singing “I lift my eyes up” and it was so cool to be in the midst of the mountains while singing…. so great! We headed out around 12/12:30 to the village…. It was about a 2 hour VERY BUMPY ride…good thing this girl was not in the back seat!… This village is so far out in the middle of nowwhere I can’t even explain it too you, and I think tomorrow we might be going into an even more remote area… INSANE… but yes drove literally one hour through the city and on bettter much smoother roads and one whole hour on very bumpy winding mountain road… The med clinic was set up in the “school” in our village… which was a three room building which was by far the nicest building in the village… we played with kids, play some futbol [soccer], gave dulces, and just had a good time. I was not one the people involved in working with the people in need of medicine. The set up was the med clinic was in one room of the “schoolhouse” and the parents waited in line for medicine and all of the kids were around, ready to play perro, perro, gato, and hang out with us gringos. About half way through the med clinic Julie [Mrs. Gortsema] came out of the clinic room and was like Katelyn have you ever used a OneTouch [diabetes testing meter for those of you that haven't seen the commercials haha] and I attempted to figure it out but it wasn’t working. I went and grabbed my meter from my room and her blood sugar was in the HIGH 400′s… definately not good considering I was diagnosed with a blood sugar of 350′s. My heart broke for this woman, we are not able to provide her with insulin, and can only provide her with oral medicine that is supposed to help her blood sugar. I left the clinic to let them finish getting her medicine and vitamins, and waited for her to come back outside. I was a little scared [and am no doctor] but thought I’d attempt to talk to her [they spoke some sort of mayan dialect and some spanish in this village, making it a little more difficult to communicate] we had a great conversation and I shared with her some of my “diabetes tips” in hoping that she could keep herself healthy enough to raise her 2 year old boy. She was very thankful for my help, and I attempted to turn the conversation towards Christ and I asked her if she knew God and if she attended church, she said she did, and I just asked her If I could say a prayer for her! It was a very heartfelt prayer on both sides as she prayed with me. This was God sighting number one. After we got done with the clinic we shoved some sandwiches down our throats, and started showing the Jesus film, after the film we sang a few songs, shared a few testimonies [Chad, Riley, Morgan, Lauren], with Dan translating, and Hermano Jesus shared with the people. After sharing with the people he asked if people were willing to come down, little Miss Sebastiana with her 2 year old strapped on her back [the woman who probably has diabetes] was the first to come down! I was a MESS, but it was SO awesome! God works in wonderful ways, as going into today I was a little nervous about the idea of only having one day at this village. We then packed up our stuff and returned back to the base, about 11:45 pm here….
I was so tired I could have fallen over, but I made it to my bed… about then I realized… dog gone it… I’m about to fall over because my blood sugar is so low not because I’m so tired.. So I proceded to shove my face with 3 juice boxes and LOTS of crackers… now I’m wide awake, but could desperately use some sleep…. so off to bed I go!
Pray for us tomorrow as rumor has it was have a 3-4 hour drive to our village…. and many of us get sick and very uncomfortable in the car. Pray also that those in our group that are not feeling 100% could wake up tomorrow rested and ready for another long day! Love you all! Thanks for all of your love and prayers!
-Katelyn Joy
p.s and since I’m still up, and it’s officially 12:20 here that means it’s 2:20 there… which means it’s offically FATHER’S DAY! Happy Father’s Day DAD! love you so much! Thanks for everything that you do!
ALSO. happy birthday EKING.. miss you and love you and Hope you have a wonderful 20th birthday… i will see you soon I’m sure!
BUENAS NOCHES AMIGOS!
Hi Katelyn,
I truly need to get a box of kleenix by the computer before I start to read all these posts! They are so heartfelt and touching to realize what an amazing this you are all witnessing! Thanks so much for your detailed writings – it’s great to feel like we are right there with you! God bless you again today as you go out again in His name! He is with you and has all of this in his plan!
In Him Alone,
Shelley Postema
You keep making your father cry every time I read these. We were playing “It is Well with My Soul” during praise team REHEARSAL this morning and all of a sudden I thoug ht of you and started crying right there while playing the drums on that song. I don’t think anyway noticed, but I was just thinking and I was realizing that it is certainly VERY well with your soul (and your heart) right now…
Thanks for the Father’s Day greetings…i was actually up until approx. 1:00 am, and the last thing I did was look for a post. I figured you had a very long day and it seems that I was correct. Continue to spread the love over there, and we may have to go out for coffee “for a day” when you get back so I can here the rest of the stories.
Love ya! – Dad XXXXOOOOO
Wow Katelyn! I’m trying to read these posts on my phone where the letters are really teeny,so when my eyes are filled with tears it makes it really difficult!! How cool is it, that your diabetes would help to bring someone to Christ. I would dare bet you never thought that would happen. It truly amazes me how God takes something we feel as an inconvenience as a tool for His work. Hope you don’t get car sick on the way out to the coast. Keep up the awesome work and watch your blood sugar!! Hope you can come over sometime this summer and tell us some more of your stories.
Love ya!!!
Mama Berens
Kates,
So exciting to hear what God is doing through you and your team! We are continuing to pray for you and look forward to hearing again how God is using you there today. What a tremendous blessing you have been to the people you have come in contact with and see what blessings you have received in return! Praying for safe travels and good health for you, too. Love, Aunt Jane and Uncle Steve
Katelyn,
Are you serious??? Pepsi!!! Hello?? Ask Dan what is wrong! Pepsi should not be allowed there! I love it that you are having such an awesome time! I am soo jealous, but so happy for you! I am glad you took the drugs right away. You don’t want to miss out on ANY of those days there!
I agree with Spencer, I am not quite getting enough information!!!
I actually love your posts!!! I am praying today goes well again! Can’t wait to see you!
Love you, Lori
(Sing louder, do you want to be like me or not?) Oh how I miss hearing things like this!!!
Katelyn,
Isn’t God awesome! You are there for the woman with the high blood sugar! Wow, incredible stuff!
Thanks for the birthday shout-out
Lovvvveee you!!
Your stories are awesome and I can’t wait to hear more in person. We might have to have a marathon sleepover so I can hear them all… or maybs a visit up to camp together at some point this summer?! That’d be epic. Keep up the amazing work… keep pouring your heart & soul out and keep being the hands & feet of God
I KNEW IT! Spanish is so easy to speak when you can’t speak anything else!!! even the myan dialects. Sounds like you having the time of your life. I always have to prep my self before checking your blog. why??? b/c you always write so much! but it’s awesome how God’s using you and your talents. I hope you feel very confident in your ability to speak the language fluently. B/c now we can have really good convos in spanish when you get back!! and don’t forget to buy me 5 Quetzal of tortillas! im getting hungry!!!
just prayin for you now while your in the village. praying for a night filled with his spirit and that he roads are safe to travel.
nate
Great Stories about a Greater God, Thanks for sharing Katelyn ! hang in there, love, Your favorite neighbors !
Kates,
I am not sure you will post when you get back because I am pretty sure YOU will be carsick and very tired! I’ll check tomorrow. I hope you were able to travel safely and I hope you are feeling OK. Keep up the good work!
- Dad XXXOOO
Ka-ta-LEEN!
Your posts have been amazing (I don’t know what the others are talking about); you almost make me feel like I am right there with you. I’m not surprised at how God is using your joy, love, service, faith, abilities in espanol–and to say just the right thing at just the right time, and even your diabetes to change lives for all eternity! It’s obvious that you are changed too: you now have the eyes, love, arms, and heart of God…and will continue to have them for way more than just one second! I rejoice with you that God chose YOU to go on this trip and be His hands and feet to His beloved children in Guatemala!
Lynette Dooley
“Fairest Lord Jesus! You alone are my heart’s desire…my chief delight…my soul’s glory, joy, and crown. Every advantage life can offer is like rubbish, compared with the overwhelming gain of knowing You. You are worthy, Lord–worthy to be thanked and praised and worshiped and adored.” Ruth Myers, 31 Days of Praise
Hola Amigos…
] and they were all standing at their school waiting for us. Again we had a wonderful experience and many people came to know Christ. This was a village where they may have heard the name of Christ but they certainly haven’t seen the face of Christ, and it was so awesome to be able to bring that to them. Tonight just before showing the Jesus film a woman with a mass on her face went into the med clinic and Julie… our favorite PA did “surgery” on her face to cut of her mass…and I held her son while they did this, and he fell right asleep. He was just so precious! Also today I got to speak with many women in the village, one in particular who was a single mother to four kids, and she was very inspiring to me as she was explaining to me how she works to provide for her family, because her husband left her, and the catholic church that she belongs to does not allow for her to remarry, to have someone to support her. She was a very strong woman who has been through a lot, but she also ending up giving her life to Christ, very timidly might I add, but her soul was saved tonight, and for that I am very thankful! Just before we left the village and after many many people gave their lives over to Christ we sang “Light the Fire” one of my favorite songs! it was so awesome to look up and see the dark night sky and the few stars. We then headed for home about 8:30… just a few minutes in one of our vans [the only one without 4 wheel drive] got stuck on a hilll and could not make it up. We spent 2+ hours using shovels and moving rocks attempting to make a path that we could drive over to get out. This was a very long process which included carrying and lifting big rocks, forming an assembly line to move these rocks, Katelyn learning how to army crawl under barbed wire fencing to find more rocks [next step: bootcamp.. this girls is ready for anything] we did get out, and were safe after some time, and were back headed on our way. The roads were absolutely insane, more bumpy than you can imagine. We have all said we will never complain about the roads in MI again… We finally made it back to the base about 2:15 after a very long very sleep deprived car ride [I told Kevin I'd ride shotgun and keep him awake.. well that lasted 10 minutes.. but thanks to Alyssa for taking my place!] But we’re back safe so no worries. I am now just sitting still waiting for my shower… covered in mud..hoping my stomach will settle so I don’t feel like I’m going to puke… [even dramamine doesn't help the roads out here..]
So it’s offically 2:30 am and this girl has lost her mind. We just got back from the village and it took 6 hours to get home, but I am covered in mud and am waiting in line for a shower..so rather than fall asleep muddy I thought I’d give a quick [don't worry.. this will be quick.. I'm exhausted] update. We got up this morning at 8 [well we'reso used to waking up at at 6 we got up a little earlier] and did some group devos and got ready to head out… we left the base at 10am to drive to our village. I thought yesterday we were out in the middle of nowhere.. holy smokes was I wrong.. today we drove almost 5 hours to get there [including a stop at texaco for pop and snacks!
LOVE YOU ALL!
You’re prayers are what are getting us through each day!
-Katelyn
CRAZZY!!!! awesomeness!!!!! HIS strength is greater!! Glad you guys made it back. Just to let you know. you are safer on the most dangerous roads in Guatemala than you are driving down the side streets in Grandville. You guys were covered in prayer today. Have a fun day tomorrow and never forget why you went. But i don’t think you will have a problem with that.
nate
p.s. tortillas!!!!
Kates,
WOW….thanks for taking the time to blog even thgough you were exhausted. I read your blog last night and I was a little concerned that you might get stuck. It sounds like you ARE ready for just about anything. Have a great last few days, and please update me again on when you EXPECT to be returning to Ivanrest. I think I remember, but I just want to be sure. I don’t know what your adventure still holds, but if I recall you might have a chance to do a little more chillin’ and relaxing today, so enjoy it! I’m eager to see you when you get back and hear “the rest of the story!”
- Dad XXXXXXOOOOOO
Katelyn,
He’s used to that with me…I always fall asleep! Enjoy your day today. Have a flurry for me, I swear to you, it will be the best tasting one ever!! Big hugs,
Thank you so much for staying up to give us a little glimpse of last night. I was up until 3 am (EST) , praying for you and the team, knowing that you had a long drive after a very long day. Thank you for attempting to stay awake for Kev!
Kristy
Hi Katelyn,
Thanks too for the update! So strange that it was about the time that you got back to base, that I woke up and just felt the need to pray and all I could pray for was thankfulness. Must have “known” that you were all safely home! What adventures you are having. Can’t believe that tomorrow night you will be back home. So looking forward to seeing all of you home safe and sound.
Love you!!!!
Mom Berens
Katelyn…..Yeah, back at base,safe and sound…..blessings to you for a relaxing day today, take care of yourself. love, bob and carole
rossy,
you continue to amaze me with each new post!! you are so spectacular and i cant believe all the cool stuff youre experiencing! i miss you a ton and cant wait for you to get back so we can have that epic sleepover marathon eking referred to in her post! love you lots!
KP
Katelyn,
What an amazing story. So glad to hear everyone is safe and sound. Truly, God was at work. Kyle commented on you diagnosing a lady with diabetes, and giving her wellness instructions. That was the Lord’s hand at work. May the Lord continue to bless you as you finish out the trip.
Randy D.
katelyn, You have noo idea how much your updates have been a blessing to us back here! But it certainly sounds like you are being a HUGE blessing down there. God definately had big plans for you and brought “Miss Anti Guate” down there in his perfect timing! Thanks for listening to the call and going down! The team would not have been the same without you!!! Praying for you!
Katelyn
Thanks for taking all the time to tell us your stories this week. Beside Kyle and Sarahs you were one of my favorite blogs to go to, I knew you would share what was on your heart that day. Thank you for showing the people of Guatemala the love of Jesus Christ this week. We will continue are prayers for you and the rest of the team.
Love, Gwen Door
I am so glad you all made it back safe and sound!
Praying for a safe trip home!
hello friends….
today was definately our day to relax and we definately enjoyed it.. got up at 8:30 after a LONG night, and had breakfast and team devo’s … we headed out to Antigua to go to the market around 11 and got there around 12, ate some McDonald’s… which has never tasted so good, and shopped for a while.. learned to barter… I think I was pretty good.. knowing a little spanish is helpful there… and got some cool stuff.. some of which I will be sharing
After shopping we stopped back at our village to see all of our brothers and sisters in Christ one last time, then we headed back to base. We are now here just packing up our things and enjoying our last few moments as a team considering we are heading out to the Airport tomorrow morning. Dad… we should be back to Ivanrest about 3:00ish Wednesday am……. make sense.. please don’t forget about me.. I would not appreciate walking home at that hour
Love you all… you’re prayers have definately gotten us through this week… see you sooooooon!
-katelyn.joy
p.s. Nate I forgot your tortillas.. lo siento
but I better see you at PASH wed
Gotcha Kates,
Glad to see you enjoyed your time in Antigua! That’s where Julie Ippel was until about three days ago. That would have been crazy if your path’s would have crossed.
I’ll be there for you at 3:00 am Wednesday early am. I’m eager to see you again and hear all the stories.
- Dad XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Katelyn!!
I’ve loved reading all your updates and seeing what God has been doing with you throughout your trip. Everything sounds so exciting and I can’t wait to hear more about it when you get back!
Love and miss you sooo much,
Dani
Can’t believe your time there is coming to an end. We have enjoyed following your journey on your blog. What amazing things you have experienced. God was certainly watching over all of you all week. We will pray for safe traveling for your team.
Love, Grandma Brasser
We’re on our way home in just a few minutes….
We had an awesome team time last night.
God has definately revealed himself in so many ways I can’t even begin to explain it.
This has been an absolutely crazy and amazing experience and I am so thankful for all of your prayer and support.
Please keep us in your prayers as we will arrive home around 3:30 am tomorrow.
Your sister in Christ,
Katelyn
“Give me your eyes for just one second,
Give me your eyes so I can see,
everything that I’ve been missing,
Give me your love for humanity,
Give me your arms for the broken hearted,
the ones that are far beyond my reach”
Katelyn! I am so glad that the trip was amazing and that God was able to work in and through you!!!! I pray for safe travels and that you all will be able to hold onto and mature that passion you have all received down there amidst a busy world. Thanks for being the hands and feet down there!
Jason
Kates,
What an experience you have had this week! We enjoyed “experiencing it” through your eyes by your postings and the pictures. We continue to pray tonight for safe travels. May you arrive safely and all get much needed rest tomorrow!
Love, Aunt Jane