Pastor Jonathan received 2 letters from the Pangs in Guatemala. Please read the 2 letters below.
1st letter from the Pangs in Guatemala:
Hi Pastor Jonathan,
We arrived in Antigua without a hitch and continue to marvel at God’s provision of a tenant for our home. The Figueroa’s moved in the very evening we were leaving. They were suddenly displaced from their home when toxic mold was discovered all over the home they were renting in Park Pacifica. They had to evacuate without any of their belongings. Having just moved to Pacifica 6 months ago with their two children the same age as Ethan and Zachary, they had no idea where they were going stay. They too are believers and it was neat to see God provide for them while providing for us. We are praying that our home is a blessing to this family and they will find a church they can plug into and grow in. Invitations have been extended for them to visit New Life where mom and dad attend. There were so many people praying for us when our first tenants pulled out 9 days before we were to leave, and it’s been such an encouragement to see God answer ours and their prayers.
The YWAM Antigua base we moved into is located on the outskirts of Antigua. The team just moved into a new building that they have been building for several years. Our family is in a room with two set of bunk beds on the second floor. From our window, we can see our neighbors in the town of Ciudad Vieja and the three volcanoes that surround Antigua – Agua, Fuego, and Acantenago. It makes for a pretty dramatic landscape. We are trying to get a lay of the land on many different levels. What will our schedule look like? How will be contribute to the base here? How will we balance work and school commitments. Our internet connection has been rather challenging and we are all trying to adjust to the change. The kids are adjusting pretty well although I think it is a little overwhelming to have everything be so different. We’re trying to establish some semblance of a routine, but so far, it’s been hard to pin down. The big blessing is that the base has a fantastic local Guatemalan cook and a professional chef on staff. The meals have been great so far.
Here are a few prayer requests as you lift us up to the Lord:
1) The staff at the YWAM base seem to be in a weird place. The construction of the new base has been a very difficult process especially for the base director. Bad contractors and some poor decisions seem to have taken a toll on the relationships between staff. This week, they have staff leadership training, so please pray for their team, that God would open up channels of communication and bring healing and a renewed commitment their calling.
2) We are having trouble understanding how we should plug in and serve in this context. Since their team seems to be lacking a sense of cohesion and direction, they have provided little direction to us as well. On one hand its good because we have to balance schooling and work commitments, but we also want to know how God wants us to serve in this context. So, please pray that God would open our hearts and eyes to what the needs are and how we can serve this team and the community they minister to.
3) Continued prayers that God would reveal himself to us, help us fall deeper in love with him, and that our kids would experience God in a profound way.
Thanks for all your love and prayers,
LiLing
2nd Letter from the Pangs in Guatemala:
Hello from Antigua, Guatemala!
We are finally feeling settled here at the YWAM base. January was completely consumed with the logistics of leaving, and Feb has been like a deep breath. It took a few weeks to really sink into this season of rest and adventure. Life here is so completely different from our lives back in Pacifica so everyone’s been adjusting. From having all 5 of us living in the same room, to living in community with others, to having barely any internet connection, to not having a car to get around. It’s felt good to be jolted out of life as we’ve known it. More importantly, it’s been wonderful to spend time as a family seeking God, stretching ourselves, and learning to serve together. There have been tears, there have been laughter, and there have been lots of adventures and misadventures. All in all, the slower pace of life here has allowed us to walk more closely with each other through the ups and downs. I’m so thankful for this season and thankful that God called us into this season of rest.
The kids seem to be enjoying life here for the most part (minus the poor internet).They all agree that the food is much better than they expected. You can read some of their musings from our trip at musings.trekaroo.com. It’s fun to hear their perspectives on what they are experiencing.
The first few weeks at the YWAM base were a little strange because things felt really disorganized and the staff seemed disconnected with each other. But we have been praying for them, for unity and vision. And even in the month we have been here, we’ve seen a shift. Thank you for praying for this! God is answering your prayers!
On Fridays we get to visit a nearby town and knock on doors to distribute bibles and pray for people. You never know what you are going to encounter from week to week. It felt awkward at first, but people are surprisingly welcoming here. And after three weeks, we have felt encouraged we’ve gotten to see God at work, guiding us and building up our faith as we have to lean on his Spirit to know how to pray for the people we meet. Our Spanish is very limited (though we are taking lessons), but we’re discovering that what we don’t know, God does, and simply asking God to reveal what we should pray for is remarkably powerful.
It’s been especially energizing to have a group of DTS (Discipleship Training School) students arrive. Their energy and excitement for God is infectious and we get to listen in on some of their sessions. We also found a fantastic church here in Antigua that we are all really enjoying. It’s a church plant of a church in Texas called Shoreline.
We’ve got another 4 weeks here at the YWAM base, we covet your prayers for our remaining weeks here.
– That God will take us deeper into his rest
– That God would give us a clearer sense of His calling on our lives
– For the people of Guatemala who have had a long and violent history, that God’s peace and freedom would reign here
– For Ethan, Zachary, and Abby, that they will experience God in a powerful way and that He will capture their hearts.
Thanks for all your prayers for us. How can we be lifting you guys up in prayer as well?
