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The above picture of International Missionaries Esteban & Cris Flores was taken at the center of Guastatoya, Guatemala...the setting for this newsletter.

What's Not to Love?!

A quick internet search on Guatemala will tell you that it is historic (the birthplace of the Mayan culture), diverse (with 20+ indigenous languages as well as a variety of wildlife), and temperate (with year-round spring-like temperatures). What’s not to love?! You might also learn that this Central American nation is explosive (with 3 active volcanoes), young (6.6 million of its 17 million residents are under 18 years of age) and poor (with 57% of the population living in poverty).

I’ve been interested in Guatemala for about 12 years, when my sister and her family moved there as missionaries, and have been learning about its intermingled beauty and heartache through them. Needless to say, I was excited that our ministry was taking us there once again…so we could combine a few days of family-time with a few days of ministry.

But 24 hours before time for departure, I got sick. With a fevered grin and a sad wave, I sent Ricardo to Guatemala alone on Thursday morning. He will be returning home tonight to a healthier wife. I think he’s caught the fever – not mine, the Guatemala one – because he saw a lot of things to love. He is returning full of hope for Guatemala and the future of the FMC there!

On the phone Ricardo told me that “this is the beginning of something sustainable in Guatemala because we have the right leaders with the right heart! Knowledge can be taught, ministry skills can be taught, but a person’s character is God built." Pastor Victor and his wife Patti, have the right heart! In fact, they have been embracing the mission and vision of the Free Methodist Church in Latin America for three years already. In addition to pastoring a church that serves the needs of its community in a holistic way, they have launched 8 houses of peace.

For these reasons and more, it was a privilege for Ricardo to officially launch the Provisional Mission District of Guatemala. This weekend was all about collaboration as he was there with Pastors Cris and Esteban Flores from Mexico (Esteban serves as a mentor for Pastor Victor), Pastor Carlos Martinez (he is the Community Church Planting coach from Nicaragua), and Pastor Brian Warth (a key support partner from the USA - the only one missing from this picture).

The church and family isn’t without its challenges. It is estimated that at least 2 million Guatemalans have migrated to the USA since 2025. Many of them, like Pastora Patti’s mother, leave young families behind to basically fend for themselves. The poorest of the poor live along an abandoned railway in Guastatoya. That has become home to some of the church’s most vibrant outreach. In fact, there is a story about their ministry in the last edition of our Latin American magazine (check out page 25 “Rescuing Smiles").

While in Guatemala, Ricardo also met with couples from three churches in Guatemala that have been planted by FM churches in California. This week he will be meeting with those mother churches to determine if they too will join the Provisional Mission District of Guatemala.

And between meetings, they had time for walks through the town and countryside...and delicious treats like coconut water straight from the source.

Please pray for the Provisional Mission District of Guatemala, these humble and capable leaders, and their growing ministry! If you would like to make a one-time gift to support the ministry of Pastor Victor and the church in Guatemala, or to join their ongoing support team, please use the button below.

On my internet search I also learned that the first chocolate bar was developed in Guatemala and that the Mayan culture believes that chocolate has incredible nutritional benefits, including reducing blood pressure. I ask you again, What’s not to love?!

I hope you'll agree that it is fun to learn about and experience new cultures…even if we can only do it through the eyes of those whom we send. Thank you for being a part of our sending team! We thank God with every remembrance of you!

Blessings,

Ricardo and Beth

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