Catherine with Hector & Carmen

We have been blessed to have a strong friendship with Hector and Carmen Coc for many years. We first met them at a patient screening for children with physical impairments in March of 2007. Their daughter Evelin Suleymi was a special needs child who was born with Spinal Bifida and Hydrocephalus. Our ministry helped her receive needed surgeries and a custom wheelchair before she went home to be with Jesus on January 8, 2008. Our involvement with them during a tough time in their lives built a strong bond between our families. When they returned Evelin’s wheelchair to us, Maribel told Carmen about the necessity for a woman to take folic acid several months prior to becoming pregnant to improve the chances of the fetus forming correctly.  Before they left, Maribel gave Carmen a huge bottle of folic acid with about a year’s supply. We visited their home with a mission team last August to share a meal with them. At that time, I happened to notice that Carmen had put on some weight and I asked Maribel if she thought that she could be pregnant. Maribel didn’t think so and I didn’t have the nerve to ask. This morning I received a phone call from Hector saying that Carmen gave birth to a perfectly healthy baby girl last night. Praise the Lord for His faithfulness with this family! We are so happy for them and are anxious to see her. Click here to view Evelin Suleymi’s story.

February 4 -7, 2008 – Carlos Morales, and I were asked, to help with a four day medical outreach. Everyday, the clinic was held at the same church in the remote mountain village of “Esperanza Chilatz.” in Guatemala. The doctor leading the group was a Guatemalan and the other physician along with several nurses came from Indianapolis, IN to help with the clinic.

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May 18-20, 2007 – We joined with leaders from a central church in Coban to complete a “Maximum Mission” in another remote village. This time, the village where we went is named Sehubub and it is located in the municipal district of San Pedro Carcha. The event had many forms of evangelism. There were Revival services in the evenings but during the day a medical clinic was held, the church building was painted and VBS classes were held for the Q’eqchi’ children. In these activities, the leaders are split up into different organizational teams. Each team focuses on their specific part of the activity and that is how we are able to accomplish so much.

On Tuesday, May 15, 2007, the neurologists were able to successfully insert a shunt into the head of Little Evelin Suleymi Coc. They also did surgery on her back to reduce some of the tissue mass that she has due to Spinal Bifida. It was also necessary for her to have another operation on her back and this was completed on Tuesday, May 29th. She recuperated a few additional weeks in the national hospital in Guatemala City where the surgeries were done.

On July 29 – Aug 7, a group from Cornerstone Christian Church in Virginia came to hold Vacation Bible School for the children in several villages. The mission team spent the entire week doing ministry by joining with Christians from a local church in Coban.

On May 6, 2006 our Q’eqchi’ evangelism team “Aj Yehol Resil Li Jesucristo” or “The Messengers of the News of Jesus”, went to the village of Paapa. Paapa is in the municipal district of San Juan Chamelco and in the department of Alta Verapaz. The church in Paapa is the “mother church” of a mission in the village of Caclaib. In August of 2005, we joined with a central church in Coban, and held a “Maximum Mission” in the mission church in Caclaib.

On April 22, 2006 our Q’eqchi’ evangelism team “Aj Yehol Resil Li Jesucristo” or “The Messengers of the News of Jesus”, had an overnight outing outside of the department of Alta Verapaz. We received a special invitation to share in the northernmost department in Guatemala; Petén. The village is called “Las Pozas”, and is in the municipal district of “Sayaxche” of the department “El Petén”.

On March 3rd and 4th of 2006, our prayers were answered when our newly formed evangelism team held activities in two Q’eqchi’ speaking villages. Our ministry has been called to carry the Gospel message of Jesus Christ to the Guatemalan people by joining with them to reach their own people.