Dear Jenn,
I was sitting outside with my girls enjoying the warm Michigan summer and God brought you and your team to my mind. You are all in our prayers as you head to the medical clinic sites. I pray for safety on the roads- I remember how those are! I pray that God would protect all of you and that He would work not only in the lives of the people of Guatemala, but also in the lives of those of you who have traveled there. I don’t know what you are encountering at this time, but God has laid you and the whole team on my heart and is calling me to pray for you. So, my girls and I will be in prayer for your all.
Thank you for all your prayers!! Oh my the Roads!!! We just made it home safe from our first med clinic day! What an amazing day!!! This is more than i ever imagined!! Thanks again for all your help getting me here!
I am the only one awake and it has been a BIG struggle to sleep here for me! I have Miya sleeping over me in a bunk and I am a very light sleeper! She moves ALL the time and the beds are very loud! I am very thankful that i do not require as much sleep as others but i know this is going to catch up with me! I don’t even know where to start! I am overwhelmed that my whole family is experiencing this together! I have seen my kids step up in such an amazing way! They have been using their Spanish so much and yesterday Cole ran a Eye Clinic station where he would test people’s vision and then decide what strength would be best for them! I was able to watch elderly men and women see for the first time and the look on their faces was amazing! It made me cry to see my kids interacting with these people in a village that has never even been told about Jesus! The roads there were some of the worst i have ever seen! I can’t even begin to describe how nervous i was that we would never get back out! It rained after we got everything inside and knowing the roads and water we just had come through there was a chance of extreme changes in the already dangerous roads! God took care of us and we made it home safe!
Thank you to everyone for all their prayers! I am not feeling the best this morning and woke up with a bad headache! I can’t get me meds because everyone is sleeping in there! PLEASE Pray for our health! It is a big concern right now as we are being exposed to so much! I pray that this morning it is just a bad headache and not the start of something more serious!
Jennifer… I guess all I can say is I am happy to hear from you and that I can pray…Pray..PRAY! I love you all and know the situations are hard and dangerous! Our sermon this morning was on obedience and your family was just that in wanting to share your time and your hearts with these people! God will carry you thru this experience… so much love and prayers are going for your family! Love and hugs and lots of prayers… ~mom~
well!!!Keep praying!!!! I got the Guatemala yuck! The missionary here gave me the parasite meds and i felt better just in time to leave today!!!! NOW it has gone to Cole!!! He threw up on the way home and kept throwing up!!! Please pray! He might not be able to go and build tomorrow! It was an amazing day and i have never experience something like this ever! The woman i was praying for accepted Christ tonight in tears and i was in tears! I was taking care of her baby all day! Wait until you see her picture! We are taking care of Cole right now and so i have to go! Keep praying that this does not hit anyone else!
We are praying for Cole. God answered our many prayers for you yesterday and I trust that He will answer so Cole can help with the building today. It would be wonderful if you could have a week with no problems but life seldom works that way. I know that Satan does not want this ministry to go on but “greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world” I John 4:4
Cole got worse and now our leader is down and one other girl! Keep the prayers coming! Cole is miserable! God has a plan so we will just keep moving forward and pry God can use us!
I am so excited to be able to see pictures and hear of some of the things your family is experiencing. I can’t wait to hear and see pictures about it in just a few short weeks 😉
Praying for health for your team! Praying that God’s will would be done through every circumstance. This are verses from my devotions today:
“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.” Psalm 143:8
“I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you”. Genesis 28:15
Praying that God would continue to watch over all of you whether sick or well, and am thankful that we have a God in whom we can entrust our very lives to!
Hi Jenn….. what an amazing experience you all are having…. I sure am sorry about Cole getting sick and not recovering as quickly as you did….. we are all praying hard that Miya, Trey and Rick do not get it also. Anxiously awaiting news that Cole is back on the mend….
I love that they have this blog so we can communicate….and that you can feel our support and love and prayers coming your way….. miss you guys very much but could not be more proud of you all!
Well, another Laven is down!!! It is Rick! He was so sick this morning and Cole still was not 100% and was not sure he could take the roads to get to the house! I broke down this morning when Cole could not join us! I have prayed for the trip for so long and to see Cole miss both building days was so sad for me! They split our family up in different building teams and Cole was suppose to be on my team! He would have LOVED it! It was hard work but so rewarding to see how these people are living and see how grateful they are! Seeing Rick stay back was hard too! During the day Miya started to feel bad and came back early! I was very nervous and was not even told that he had taken her! I really had a hard time not hearing what her blood sugar was and if she was really sick! We just got home and she is doing OK! I am praying that she will not get worse and please Pray that it stops here. I am so worried about Trey and Miya that they will stay healthy! Our devotion time together every night is amazing and I trully know God wanted us to be here with this team! They are a great group of people!!
Wow! I am so sorry to hear that this sickness is still spreading. This is not what we had prayed for but God is in control and He is faithful. We can trust Him totally. Proverbs 3:5&6 We love you lots. Mom L
Yes! That is very sad to hear that Rick missed the building today…I could tell he was really looking forward to it. And Cole missing both the building days is very sad too!
I am very happy to hear that Miya started feeling better… And that Trey has missed it so far.
So sorry to hear about all the sickness going around. We have been praying so much for all of you. Our small groups prayed for Cole last night. We love reading the blogs every day and seeing the pictures. We will continue to pray for all of you.
Love jocky and Rachel
I’m so thankful that we can trust that God’s plans are the best, even tho tough. I am praying that God will continue to strengthen you all and keep you safe. Thanks for taking the time to give us updates.
Well!!! All 4 Lavens were upright today!! It was an amazing day!! I cried talking to our family as we dedicated their house to them! It was a very emotional day laying hands on the houses and praying for all the people who were receiving them! We had another member get sick this morning and now one tonight! This is the worst they have ever had on one trip! I am praying that Trey will get it and stay healthy because our time on our own is so close! Trey, Cole and Miya are having a great time with the other teens and this team has been such an answer to prayer!
Thank you for all your prayers! We are feeling them!
So glad to hear that your family is finally healthy! Prayers that Trey will stay healthy. I pray that as you have your last day tomorrow that God would continue to work in the hearts of all of you. Prayers too for all those that came to know Christ that they would grow in their faith and that God would place people in their lives that would feed the seed of faith that was planted. I will pray that as you return home that God would continue to work in your lives, that the changes that were started would continue.
So thankful that today was a good day for the whole family and sorry that two more team members are ill. It sounds like your team has really bonded together and that is a wonderful answer to our prayers. Praying for tomorrow to be a memorable day for all as you wind up your time together. I never did hear if your hotel situation was resolved for Saturday. But I will keep praying for all your plans and for your health for those last three family vacation days.
Love you all so much. Mom L
quick update! We had a fun time in Antigua yesterday with the team but nothing compared to our last devotions together! It was a powerful time and God was right in the center! The people on this trip will be life long friends and the decisions here will affect our future forever! I can’t even begin to describe how amazing it was to be part of this night! God was working on our kids and to see them and the tenderness to this was such an answer to prayer!
The whole team and Dan and Anya left last night after devotions! We were the only ones who stayed back! We prayed together as a family last night and had a special time together! We are all waking up healthy and ready to explore a little more of God’s beauty in Guatemala together as a family! Our kids are doing amazing and Trey stayed Healthy the WHOLE week! Praise God! We leave in a few minutes and meet our new driver! Please pray for saftey! I am a bit nervous that all goes as planned! I have put so much work into the details so hopefully that will pay off~ Thank you for all your prayers during this week! It was more than i could have ever imagined!! LOVE you ALl!!!!
Team Res Life Rockford 2016 
Dear Jenn,
I was sitting outside with my girls enjoying the warm Michigan summer and God brought you and your team to my mind. You are all in our prayers as you head to the medical clinic sites. I pray for safety on the roads- I remember how those are! I pray that God would protect all of you and that He would work not only in the lives of the people of Guatemala, but also in the lives of those of you who have traveled there. I don’t know what you are encountering at this time, but God has laid you and the whole team on my heart and is calling me to pray for you. So, my girls and I will be in prayer for your all.
Kristin Jenkins
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is actually 7:45pm here, not 11:45 as the blog says. Probably about time to show the Jesus Film.
Kristin
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for all your prayers!! Oh my the Roads!!! We just made it home safe from our first med clinic day! What an amazing day!!! This is more than i ever imagined!! Thanks again for all your help getting me here!
LikeLike
I am the only one awake and it has been a BIG struggle to sleep here for me! I have Miya sleeping over me in a bunk and I am a very light sleeper! She moves ALL the time and the beds are very loud! I am very thankful that i do not require as much sleep as others but i know this is going to catch up with me! I don’t even know where to start! I am overwhelmed that my whole family is experiencing this together! I have seen my kids step up in such an amazing way! They have been using their Spanish so much and yesterday Cole ran a Eye Clinic station where he would test people’s vision and then decide what strength would be best for them! I was able to watch elderly men and women see for the first time and the look on their faces was amazing! It made me cry to see my kids interacting with these people in a village that has never even been told about Jesus! The roads there were some of the worst i have ever seen! I can’t even begin to describe how nervous i was that we would never get back out! It rained after we got everything inside and knowing the roads and water we just had come through there was a chance of extreme changes in the already dangerous roads! God took care of us and we made it home safe!
Thank you to everyone for all their prayers! I am not feeling the best this morning and woke up with a bad headache! I can’t get me meds because everyone is sleeping in there! PLEASE Pray for our health! It is a big concern right now as we are being exposed to so much! I pray that this morning it is just a bad headache and not the start of something more serious!
LikeLike
Jennifer… I guess all I can say is I am happy to hear from you and that I can pray…Pray..PRAY! I love you all and know the situations are hard and dangerous! Our sermon this morning was on obedience and your family was just that in wanting to share your time and your hearts with these people! God will carry you thru this experience… so much love and prayers are going for your family! Love and hugs and lots of prayers… ~mom~
LikeLike
well!!!Keep praying!!!! I got the Guatemala yuck! The missionary here gave me the parasite meds and i felt better just in time to leave today!!!! NOW it has gone to Cole!!! He threw up on the way home and kept throwing up!!! Please pray! He might not be able to go and build tomorrow! It was an amazing day and i have never experience something like this ever! The woman i was praying for accepted Christ tonight in tears and i was in tears! I was taking care of her baby all day! Wait until you see her picture! We are taking care of Cole right now and so i have to go! Keep praying that this does not hit anyone else!
LikeLike
We are praying for Cole. God answered our many prayers for you yesterday and I trust that He will answer so Cole can help with the building today. It would be wonderful if you could have a week with no problems but life seldom works that way. I know that Satan does not want this ministry to go on but “greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world” I John 4:4
LikeLike
Cole got worse and now our leader is down and one other girl! Keep the prayers coming! Cole is miserable! God has a plan so we will just keep moving forward and pry God can use us!
LikeLike
I am so excited to be able to see pictures and hear of some of the things your family is experiencing. I can’t wait to hear and see pictures about it in just a few short weeks 😉
LikeLike
Praying for health for your team! Praying that God’s will would be done through every circumstance. This are verses from my devotions today:
“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.” Psalm 143:8
“I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you”. Genesis 28:15
Praying that God would continue to watch over all of you whether sick or well, and am thankful that we have a God in whom we can entrust our very lives to!
Kristin
LikeLike
Hi Jenn….. what an amazing experience you all are having…. I sure am sorry about Cole getting sick and not recovering as quickly as you did….. we are all praying hard that Miya, Trey and Rick do not get it also. Anxiously awaiting news that Cole is back on the mend….
I love that they have this blog so we can communicate….and that you can feel our support and love and prayers coming your way….. miss you guys very much but could not be more proud of you all!
Praying you sleep better too! =)
Love and hugs and tons of prayers….
~mom~
LikeLike
So cool to be able to hear about some of your experiences and how God is using you- praying for all of you
LikeLike
Well, another Laven is down!!! It is Rick! He was so sick this morning and Cole still was not 100% and was not sure he could take the roads to get to the house! I broke down this morning when Cole could not join us! I have prayed for the trip for so long and to see Cole miss both building days was so sad for me! They split our family up in different building teams and Cole was suppose to be on my team! He would have LOVED it! It was hard work but so rewarding to see how these people are living and see how grateful they are! Seeing Rick stay back was hard too! During the day Miya started to feel bad and came back early! I was very nervous and was not even told that he had taken her! I really had a hard time not hearing what her blood sugar was and if she was really sick! We just got home and she is doing OK! I am praying that she will not get worse and please Pray that it stops here. I am so worried about Trey and Miya that they will stay healthy! Our devotion time together every night is amazing and I trully know God wanted us to be here with this team! They are a great group of people!!
LikeLike
Wow! I am so sorry to hear that this sickness is still spreading. This is not what we had prayed for but God is in control and He is faithful. We can trust Him totally. Proverbs 3:5&6 We love you lots. Mom L
LikeLike
Yes! That is very sad to hear that Rick missed the building today…I could tell he was really looking forward to it. And Cole missing both the building days is very sad too!
I am very happy to hear that Miya started feeling better… And that Trey has missed it so far.
We are praying…PRAYING…. Praying……
Love
~mom~
LikeLike
So sorry to hear about all the sickness going around. We have been praying so much for all of you. Our small groups prayed for Cole last night. We love reading the blogs every day and seeing the pictures. We will continue to pray for all of you.
Love jocky and Rachel
LikeLike
I’m so thankful that we can trust that God’s plans are the best, even tho tough. I am praying that God will continue to strengthen you all and keep you safe. Thanks for taking the time to give us updates.
LikeLike
Well!!! All 4 Lavens were upright today!! It was an amazing day!! I cried talking to our family as we dedicated their house to them! It was a very emotional day laying hands on the houses and praying for all the people who were receiving them! We had another member get sick this morning and now one tonight! This is the worst they have ever had on one trip! I am praying that Trey will get it and stay healthy because our time on our own is so close! Trey, Cole and Miya are having a great time with the other teens and this team has been such an answer to prayer!
Thank you for all your prayers! We are feeling them!
LikeLike
So glad to hear that your family is finally healthy! Prayers that Trey will stay healthy. I pray that as you have your last day tomorrow that God would continue to work in the hearts of all of you. Prayers too for all those that came to know Christ that they would grow in their faith and that God would place people in their lives that would feed the seed of faith that was planted. I will pray that as you return home that God would continue to work in your lives, that the changes that were started would continue.
In Christ,
Kristin
LikeLike
So thankful that today was a good day for the whole family and sorry that two more team members are ill. It sounds like your team has really bonded together and that is a wonderful answer to our prayers. Praying for tomorrow to be a memorable day for all as you wind up your time together. I never did hear if your hotel situation was resolved for Saturday. But I will keep praying for all your plans and for your health for those last three family vacation days.
Love you all so much. Mom L
LikeLike
quick update! We had a fun time in Antigua yesterday with the team but nothing compared to our last devotions together! It was a powerful time and God was right in the center! The people on this trip will be life long friends and the decisions here will affect our future forever! I can’t even begin to describe how amazing it was to be part of this night! God was working on our kids and to see them and the tenderness to this was such an answer to prayer!
The whole team and Dan and Anya left last night after devotions! We were the only ones who stayed back! We prayed together as a family last night and had a special time together! We are all waking up healthy and ready to explore a little more of God’s beauty in Guatemala together as a family! Our kids are doing amazing and Trey stayed Healthy the WHOLE week! Praise God! We leave in a few minutes and meet our new driver! Please pray for saftey! I am a bit nervous that all goes as planned! I have put so much work into the details so hopefully that will pay off~ Thank you for all your prayers during this week! It was more than i could have ever imagined!! LOVE you ALl!!!!
LikeLike