BLESSED.

Jose (1 year and 5 months) and Juan (16 days) were the first two children to be welcomed through the doors of Paradise Bound/Open Doors Orphanage on Thursday, December 1! As these children are now safely tucked in, receiving warmth and love like they have never felt before, please continue to pray for these little ones - our Lord's precious children!

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart..." ~Jeremiah 1:5

MILAGRO = MIRACLE, literally!

Her name is Milagro! Milagro was found in Guatemala in a cardboard box thrown into the street. Her little body, limp and still connected to the placenta, was picked up by a volunteer firemen...everything instantly changed for them and for Milagro when they felt her faint pulse! Two months later (today), she remains in the national hospital in Chimaltenango AND if God allows may soon become the first child in our Paradise Bound Ministries Orphanage! The court system cannot promise us yet, but feel we are a perfect match for this precious child named Milagro! We should hear if she is ours (and I mean ALL of ours) this week or next! Regardless if she comes to live with us or if she is gifted to another orphanage, Pray for this child of God whose name is Milago ("Miracle" in English)!

"ALL IN"

From October 16-24, we had the privilege of hosting 12 individuals at our mission base as part of our Fall 2011 construction team. As the week went on, the motto "ALL IN" was quickly adopted by the group members. This phrase not only applied to the 12+ hour work days that they often put in, but also to their personal relationships with Christ. Through personal devotion time, group devotions, and village evangelism, all of the team members experienced God in big ways and were strengthened in their faith! What an amazing week it was!

On behalf of all of us at PBM, I want to say THANK YOU! It is safe to say that all of us were blessed - not only by the fruits of your labor but by the example of your daily walk with Christ!

Open Doors Orphanage Update!

This email was sent out by Dan Smith earlier this evening. What an amazing and awesome God we serve! Thank you so much for all of the prayers.

"Our Lord once again has answered the thousands of you who were praying today at noon for our PBM/Open Doors Orphanage certification! The meeting did NOT go as we expected with the C N A and there were times that I cried out to our Lord in my heart to raise up more of you to pray in that specific moment...HE heard all of our cries of this I am sure. Before our eyes we watched hearts melt away and we were soon 100% approved by the C N A!!! The actual C N A certificate, which we need to open our doors, is still a couple of weeks away due to processing, but we are approved!!!!

Thank you for your continued prayers in this raging battle for souls we are in!

HIS servants,

dan & heidi"

the piano man!

As our discipleship follow-up program continues to grow and expand in the village of La Reina, yet one more aspect has been added to the program...MUSIC LESSONS! For the past few months, we have been bringing our own equipment and musicians for the praise and worship portion of the services we hold on Thursday and Sunday afternoons. Although it works, it has become quite the task to coordinate the transportation of a keyboard, speaker, guitars, microphones, drums, up to 9 individuals, etc. In addition, many young people in La Reina have expressed the desire to learn how to play some type of muscial instrument. Therefore, the dream was formed within Dan Smith's heart to begin a musical group within the village so that they can participate more fully in their own services.


This past Thursday, September 29, marked the first day of these music lessons. Darwin, Hermano Jesus' son-in-law, leads worship at their church and also works as a music teacher. He brought his keyboard and willingly began to teach the first two eager students some basic music theory. Raul and Jorge, the two young men shown in the picture, seemed to pick up on the material quite quickly! Please continue to pray for these two brothers, as well as the other students, who will soon come to learn how to not only play a variety of musical instruments but how to glorify our Lord and Savior with their new-found talents!

QUINCE

Today, September 15, is Guatemalan Independence Day, a special holiday often referred to as QUINCE (or "fifteen" in Spanish). Even though it has been raining here quite steadily over the past few days, it hasn't stopped the Guatemalan people from carrying out their traditions of parades, fireworks, and carrying torches through the streets like it's the Olympics. This country seriously knows how to celebrate! Here are a couple of pictures from Emanuel and Debora's school program last week. Felicidades!

Becoming Fools

Hey everyone!
The following is an email passed on to all Paradise Bound Ministry supporters, but I thought it was worthy of being posted here as well. Check it out!

"Dear Intercessors,
We are called upon to touch the lives of the least, and often the least will never be seen by any of us in our chaotic and busy lives. There are 6,000 to 10,000 street children living in Guatemala alone, with little or no voice to the outside world. Though our Lord has taken us to the remote and abandoned villages in Guatemala, our hearts are also with the children "living" without our Lord and thus without hope within the big cities. The makers of Reparando are venturing out once again to tell the story of a street clown and the "lives" of children in the streets of Guatemala City. Please follow the link http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/306542054/becoming-fools-a-documentary to understand a little more about "Becoming Fools" and if our Lord leads to help support this project. This is not a Paradise Bound venture, but our hearts are with the children that we pray this film will touch.
HIS servant,
dan & heid"