By David Konold

When we arrived, the meeting had already started. I was not prepared for what we were about to see in this little mountain village of Chimazat located at 8,000 feet above sea level. I entered the front door of the church and saw multitudes of people worshipping the Lord in a kind of singing I hadn’t heard before. It was Guatemalan mountain music, or course! The air was electrified. And that was no wonder; I saw the PA system's huge speakers on the stage, the praise band playing and the worship leader singing with much gusto up in front.

Many of the ladies in the congregation were dressed in traditional Guatemalan clothing that is so rich in color and texture. Some were standing, most everyone was clapping and even the young people were taking part. It was a delightful feast for the eyes and ears. This enthusiasm for the Lord on a Saturday afternoon gave me a glimpse into the lovely hearts of the 500 people gathered to worship.

While the music continued on, we were motioned to take our place in the front row, directly in front of the gigantic speakers. From that close vantage point the sound rose to the threshold of serious discomfort, but the excitement of the occasion kept me glued to my place.

Outside the church building I had seen a remarkable number of cars, pickup trucks and buses. Many people had come from other mountain churches in the area to participate and get a good look at the foreigners. Our foreign missionary delegation was eleven in number with North Americans and nationals from Colombia and El Salvador. Each of us had the chance to greet the churches with a brief word and the people received us with joyful appreciation.

This same treatment was repeated again for us twice on Sunday, first in the capital city and then later in the hot and humid lowlands in the village of Pasasagua. The missionaries had traveled to Guatemala to attend the CinA Latin American Area Conference which provided the underlying cause behind all of this activity.

This conference confirmed the exciting trend in missions for developing nations to send foreign missionaries. In Guatemala we have one couple preparing for ministry in Spain and another couple ready to take up work in neighboring Honduras. The Colombia team is also preparing to send missionaries again, this time they are also aiming for Spain as a gateway into Africa.

As our Latin fields reach out in greater numbers, what might this be saying to us, or to you! The numbers of missionaries from North America is not increasing as we might think it should. Do you sense a call to missions, but you find yourself holding back from the release to complete God’s will in your life? That is not unusual, but neither is it healthy. If you’re struggling, remember that obedience in this area is the same as other areas of your life.

After the mountain music had died away, it was time to eat some delicious Guatemalan cooking. Here you can see how it is prepared.

CinA President, David Konold (left), Vice President, Bob Spencer, sit by Miguel Toledo, Director for Guatemala and Central America, at the Quiche area service held in Chimazat.

May 12-28 Guatemala hosted our biennuial Latin America conference, which included Guatemalan national pastors.

Fulfilling God’s will begins with a decision to do it and this is especially the case for missions. A simple phone call will get things started. Sure there is planning and arranging of personal areas of your life, but those things will fall into place. Once you extend yourself for Christ, you’ll find joy and the guiding presence of the Holy Spirit in your life like never before. Take it from someone who has been there, done that. If you just take Jesus at His Word, you may well be headed to experience some of that high mountain praise music that I found in a Guatemala village called Chimazat.

Missionary work is oftentimes exciting and always rewarding but, as you well know, there are expenses involved. Would you help send the Gospel message again this month by responding with a financial gift? I would be so grateful.

Bob Spencer serves as CinA Vice President and Latin American Director, and often interpreted for Dave. Because of his energetic and visionary gifting in the pulpit, Bob was called upon many times during the week for teaching and preaching.

Home | Ministry News | Newsletter | Short Term | Ministry Resources | Training
Sister Church | Prayer Bulletin | Ministry Needs | Donations | Contact Us | Privacy Policy