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News & Updates of Lutheran Mission, Church, and School Activities in Guatemala and Latin America | |
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Hurricane Beta to hit Central America |
(29 Oct 05 6:00 PM) With sustained winds of 90 mph, this season's latest hurricane is due to hit the east coast of Nicaragua midday tomorrow, Sunday.Predictions are that the storm will stregthen to a category 2 hurricane before making landfall, but weaken to a tropical storm as it continues almost due west crossing Nicaraugua, Honduras, and Guatemala. Other recent hurricanes and storms have soaked Central America, particularly Guatemala, causing deadly landslides which left an estimated 1400 dead or missingb in Guatemala alone. Exactly eight years ago today Hurricane Mitch marched across Central America leaving an estimated 20,000 dead or missing. Mitch was a category 2 hurricane when it struck land. |
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Click here for current information about Beta |
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| McMillens issue Good News Update #3 |
October 27th
"This is the day the LORD has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!"
Hello All,
Just stopping by to say hello and to share with you all the peace and contentment that only our loving LORD can give. In fact, last Sunday in church, my eyes welled up with tears of joy because of the contentment that He has poured over Margie and I. |
Ben, Katy, Krista, and Ty drove all the way down from Louisville KY to be with the McMillens over a long weekend 10 days ago. |
Today is the last day of week # 4, only one more week to go for the concurrent treatments. And so far I have not seen/had any side effects sufficient to write home about.
Whereas the trend is the other way! The last two weeks' blood tests have shown an improvement in my white blood count: 7.4 last week, 8.2 this week. Also I have gained five pounds since treatment started. Our LORD has definitely answered your prayers. I have my next appointment with the oncologist on the 3rd, the final day of the treatments. Then we'll have an idea of what is going to happen between then my December 12th surgery at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas will most likely take place. I've already met with the liver and rectal cancer surgeon specialists there.
Margie is doing very well too; she's been buying some utensils and stuff for our sojurn in the guest house that Femi and Tina are remodeling; we'll be moving some 100 plus feet shortly. She's getting back into the role of a student as she works on her correspondence studies. She also is helping our grandsons as they usually have lots of homework to do every night.
We've been in contact with Cristobol in Guatemala via phone lines. All matters/projects are going according to plan. Please continue to uphold Cristobol too in your prayers so that he will have wisdom and peace as he directs the different projects. Thanks! [Just in case we haven't told you, Uspantan area was not affected by Hurricane Stan like the western and southern parts of Guatemala was.]I have included this foto (above) of our family surrounding us with their love in order to illustrate/point out how we feel about you all, members of our God's family, and how you all are surrounding us with your love, messages of encouragement, cards, and prayers! We surely know and feel your support.
Will sign off for now, knowing that God's plan for each one of us is perfect!
Stan & Margie |
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Guatemala Lutherans respond to floods |
(25 Oct 05) Hurricane Stan hit Guatemala and Central American hard, leaving some 1400 dead or missing and many thousand homeless, especially in the western highlands.As roads opened in the western mountains where three Lutheran congregations serve, the Lutheran Church of Guatmala sent a team of four to distribute some basic relief supplies and assess the situation for additional help. Many congregations donated basic supplies and clothes and LCMS-World Relief funded additional purchases. One of our team members, Dr. Elry Orozco, a medical doctor, conducted two free clinics. Several Lutheran families in the Quetzaltenango area either lost or suffered severe damage to their homes," writes LCMS Missionary Dale Talsma. "While the church and properties of the Lutheran congregation in San Marcos suffered flooding, all the buildings are intact. Some members suffered damage to their homes and their crops. But some nearby communities were severely damaged by massive mudslides which wiped out many homes and claimed many lives."
"Each of the congregations who received help were very much grateful and encouraged that someone was finally able to visit them," adds Talsma. "They will use the donations to offer help to those who are in physical need as an expression of the love of Christ and his people for them. "
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School moves forward in faith and service |
(22 Oct 05) Redentor del Mundo Lutheran Church of Guatemala will continue serving area children and families through Christian education, trusting that God will supply for their needs.According to school administrator Guadalupe Zamora, church members recently met to discuss the economic struggles facing the school, a major one being large salary hikes mandated by the government. Their decision was to continue operating the PK - 9th grade school for both its children and those of the community and surrounding area. "By our confidence in God and the promises of our friends in the United States to continue the school's service," writes Guadalupe. Guadalupe continues, "We are very grateful for our our friends who demonstrate their support for us in difficult times. God bless them always." Redentor del Mundo Lutheran School has long-time relationships with several stateside friends and organizations, including St. Paul Lutheran in Fort Worth, TX, Grace Lutheran in Columbus, OH and other Lutheran churches and schools in the greater Columbus area. More recently, the school has developed an important relationship with CALMS, the Central American Lutheran Mission Society, based in Texas. (See link below.) | |
| McMillens count blessings; give thanks |
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Just stopping by to share with you all what's happening with Margie and I in East Texas. (If one has a choice as to where to live in Texas, then this is probably one of the more scenic parts.)
Yes we are very blessed to be where we are here in Longview TX. First of all, Blessing #1 is being hosted by the bestest & mostest hosts. I.e. Femi & Tina, Tobeya, & Yosef to stay with while this medical odyssey plays out.
Blessing #2 is to be treated like royalty at the Longview Cancer Center. One example is the daily hospitality all patients receive by the volunteers in the green jackets. The coffee pot is always on and there are usually donuts and snacks available. The rest of the staff is just as user friendly. In fact, Dr. Taylor, my radiation oncologist, asked me how I was being treated by all the staff. (Quality control check, smile.)But Blessing #3 has nothing specifically to do with East Texas, it has to do with another world. That is the world of God's family. Margie and I have been so overwhelmed by the love, concern, and compassion shown by so many of you all. Your reasurrance that you are praying for us as well as enlisting others to pray for us just leaves us speechless with tears of thanksgiving in our eyes.
On the medical front, the Good Fight became a wee bit more challenging after the results of the PET scan. That test showed that I have a cancerous lesion on my liver, which complicates matters. So 'Plan B' is now in effect. I have completed two weeks of concurrent radiation/chemotherapy treatments with three more to go which will carry me up to November 3rd. Then there will be a five-week rest period before surgery to remove the tumor in the rectal area and and a liver resection if there is no more metastasis. Surgery may take place on or around December 12 at Baylor University Hospital in Dallas. Recovery from surgery will take 4 to 6 weeks with most likely one week of hospitalization. After the first of the year, my oncologist, Dr. Frase, has programmed five months more of chemotherapy.
Margie returned last Saturday night on the 8th from a whirlwind trip to wet and mudslided Guatemala. Needless to say Margie was very tired upon return, but she had been refreshed emotionally by the love, kindnesses, and physical help of many people. Katrinka & Jose Miguel were with her for two days thanks to Peter Corey who brought them over from Xela. Paul Kinney and Allen Larsen of LBT Guatemala offered vehicle and time and effort to take care of her transportation needs, and Juan & Jeni Martinez as well as the rest of the Martinez family showered her with love and physical help as well as a banana creme pie (thanks Jeni!). The Quigley's also pitched in too by handling some of the myriad details that she had to attend to.
Guatemala was devastated by Hurricane Stan. Thanks be to our LORD, the Uspantan area received only normal amounts of rain for a typical rainy season.
Margie was able to accomplish almost all of her goals with the ongoing Uspanteco ministries. In another update we'll talk more about that. Thank you all so much for the multitude of prayers that carried Margie to Guatemala and safely back into my arms. She is gradually recovering and getting back to a normal Texas lifestyle.
As two members of God's family, we ask our LORD to keep His hands upon you and yours as well,
Stan & Margie |
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School's future uncertain as school year ends |
(7 Oct 05 UPDATED) After fifteen years of ministry to Maya families, Guatemala's first rural Lutheran school may be closing its doors as church members meet this Sunday to discuss it's future,Guadalupe Zamora, director of Redentor del Mundo Lutheran School, asks for prayers for a congregational meeting Sunday afternoon (9 Oct 05) to discuss the substantial budget increase which includes large hikes in teacher pay, their options, and decide what course they must take. Financial difficulties have long plagued the school, but the last few years have been especially tough as the Guatemala economy has plummeted and stateside asistance has diminished. Guadalupe says the situation is now complicated by the anticipated substantial salary increases for teachers which would take effect in January. The Guatemala school year runs from January through October. While funding from stateside friends has fallen the past few years, some have remained constant and others have been added. "CALMS is our second most important source" of funding say Guadalupe. CALMS is the Texas-based Central American Lutheran Mission Society directed by James Pressnell. According to Guadalupe has help identify over fifty supporters for the school students. Redentor del Mundo has long-standing relationships with St. Paul Lutheran Church and School of Fort Worth, TX and the Kansas-based Children's Christian Concern Society (CCCS), both which generously assist the school. Opened as a preschool in 1991,Redentor del Mundo grew to a full PK-9 grade school, making local history when it graduated the village's first girls (from 6th grade) and opened a middle school for village youth. The public school only goes to 6th grade. | |
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Hurricane leaves hundreds dead in Guatemala |
(5 Oct 05 UPDATED) A "small" Hurricane Stan has brought death and devastation to Mexico and Guatemala with deadly mudslides.Hundreds are missing and feared dead in Tecpan, Solola, Nahuala and other rural parts of western Guatemala. In some cases entire communities were swept away or buried in mud. Six-foot deep flood waters washed through Quetzatenango destroying hundreds of homes, businesses, and government buildings. Stan's heavy rains washed away deforested hillsides and flimsy homes that covered them and closed over 300 roads nationwide. |
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Click here for the complete story |
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