Hello Everyone! A big, big day in San Antonio today. We got up early, packed all the CHRISTmas presents in the vans and trucks and got to San Antonio about 9 a.m. We accomplished a great deal today. Laura Lee saw many of the townspeople today and did basic physicals on them. They were happy to get their finger stuck and find out that their blood sugar was OK. We cooked and served a delicious meal for the entire community, and gave boots to every man in the community (they were thrilled!), gave each lady in the community a bag with items for her, gave each family a Bible, gave each family a plastic laundry basket filled with food and cooking items (probably 30 pounds of food and other items), and of course gave all the children presents from their sponsors, plus provided gifts for all the children who did not have formal sponsors. Everyone received gifts in the name of the Lord Jesus. I cannot convey how much it means to see these children line up and have their names called and come forward, receive their gifts and respond with “muchas gracias,” even the smallest of the small. There are no words to describe the joy of helping these children and families. They truly have been ignored by their world and I want you to know that all your prayers and all your gifts have made and continue to make a huge difference in their lives. This morning in our devotion time, Efrain (our Guatemala contact) read two quotations, one from Mother Teresa who said: “Let us touch the dying, the poor, the lonely and the unwanted according to the graces we have received and let us not be ashamed or slow to do the humble work.” He also read one that said: “The miracle is not that we do this work, but that we are happy to do it.” We went today, and in joy handed out the gifts. I also had the opportunity to share the Gospel over the loudspeaker to the entire assembled community. The Apostle Paul said: “I planted, Apollos watered, and God caused the growth” and today I truly feel like I had the opportunity to plant seeds where perhaps no Gospel seeds have ever been sown. It was a Holy Spirit moment! We will continue to plant and water and we will trust that God will cause the growth of faith amongst the people of San Antonio. One thing I do know: They, at least for once in their lives, KNOW that someone loves them and cares about them. And in all that we are doing we are continually telling them that the reason that we love them and that the reason we are giving them clean water, and homes, and gifts and and food is not because we are simply good, charitable people, but because we are followers of Jesus Christ and because HIS love fills our lives. God truly is good all the time, and today was special beyond words. You will eventually have the opportunity to come to this beautiful land and you will experience what we experienced over these last few days. Thank you for helping to make all of this possible. Your friend in Christ, Tommy Bolan and the rest of the Mission Firefly Team.

Hey Folks, My name is Tommy Bolan and I’m writing the Firefly update for Thursday. We got up early and met Efrain and went to an area that is a part of the dry corridor in Guatemala. We were there to investigate projects which would offer the potential for future Firefly projects here in Guatemala. The dry corridor is an area that has not had measureable rain of any significance in the past 3 years. It is hard to believe that an area that is so near to areas that have received large amounts of rain can be so rain deficient . . . but it is. Much like Alabama/Georgia/Tennessee two to three years ago. We went to the county seat of the area and a representatives from the mayor’s office went with us to Camolote, a town of 800. We traveled down 8 miles of the roughest roads that I have ever been on in my life in a 4 wheel drive truck. After about 45 minutes of bouncing around, we arrived in Camolote. About 125 of the townspeople showed up to meet me, Billy, Will and the two Mayor’s representatives and Efrain of course. To make a long story short, the people were tremendously gracious, very friendly, and in great need of water. Their men have dug a 20 x 20 hole in the ground and they have two small spigots that produce 14 gallons total an hour . . . for a town of 800. When that water isn’t running, they walk 90 minutes up and down a mountain to go to a spring and then have to carry the water back to their homes . . . 90 more minutes of walking. They also had a number of medical needs. One of the most touching situations was a lady came up and said, “I have 5 children, but my neighbor has a special needs child, please come to meet him. “ Then she said that his mother picks coffee beans and makes about 2 dollars for picking 100 pounds . . . it takes her 3 days to pick that much. We met the child—a beautiful 10 year old named Redell. I could write for an hour about the town, but suffice to say, we hope to help them with a water project of some type SOON. We left and had the opportunity to meet the Mayor of the area. He was very humble and grateful to have people wanting to help. In his words, if I can help out front, that’s fine. But if I am a rock in your shoe, I will gladly offer support without being out front. I just want my people to be helped. And that’s what we want as well. They need water and they need Jesus and we have the opportunity to offer them help with physical water and help with the Water of Life as well. There are other economic opportunities and educational opportunities to help Camolote as well . . . all the while sharing the love of Christ. A great opportunity! God bless and pray for us. We share Jesus with San Antonio children and adults on Saturday. Love in Christ, Tommy Bolan and the Firefly Team.

It was a great day when we arrived to San Antonio and the kids were all waiting for us with big smiles. They enjoy it so much when we call them by their names, and now many of them know ours!.

Laura Lee and the Medical Team saw over 60 patients and distributed medication today in San Antonio. It was great news when Laura Lee announced that the children are not malnourished. The main complaint in the village is that many of the kids and adults have stomach and intestinal parasites, so Laura Lee emphasized that they take care to drink only filtered water and take the anti-parasite medication she gave many of them. It was touching to see the kids and their parents being able to receive medical assistance.

Even though it was Saturday and there was no class; the children were all at the school to do crafts and coloring books, with the help of Anna and Abby. They were over the moon with every activity!

Another great accomplishment was that Mike was able to completely install a webcam in one of the computers .

Alicia also had the kids practice for the play they will be presenting for their parents and the community tomorrow.

Construction of the house continued today under Billy´s direction, an d assistance from John, Chuck, Dustin, and Josh. Several courses of block were laid – prior to some heavy rain in the afternoon which slowed further progress. Most of the block which will be used to complete the house was moved down to the work site, this will certainly speed the rest of the work.

The children again had seconds and thirds at lunch with the delicious barbecue chicken and potato salad that Wallie did with the assistance of April and Chuck.

The Lord has a better plan that we can even imagine in putting Mission Firefly together with so many different skills and keeping us flexible and patient.

At the end of each day we feel so joyful to know that the kids are getting the benefit of all God´s work.

We are looking carefully at the older children in the village, and planning to encourage them (and their parents) for them to continue their education. (Normally the children from the village do not attend
school after the Sixth Grade.)

We continue to request your prayers for all our adopted villagers – the children and parents.

Day 2

We visited another village that has requested help Wednesday morning. Probably not a fit for us, they are a lot further along than San Antonio. Other than that not much happened we spent most of the day shuttling people and supplies from Guatemala City to Antigua.

Day3

Real work today. We completed the footing for the house and got the steel laid. Chuck, Will, John, Rex, Jake, Josh and Dustin worked hard to make this happen. The footer is an average of 3 feet deep all hand dug. Tomorrow we will start pouring concrete. Alicia, Wallie, Abby, Anna and April worked with the children. We served them lunch. It still is moving to see how excited these children get when they realize we are cooking them a meal. As I have said before “no one should be that excited to get to eat”. Mike got the computers set up with an email account. He will set up skype tomorrow along with more email accounts. The teachers were very happy to have the new computers hooked up to the internet. (As a side note: John’s monster is back.)

Laura Lee, Daddy, Aunt Alice and Vincent had a good day also for their first ever medical mission trip. They treated over 90 women and children with various issues. Laura Lee talked about one girl whose feet were blistered and bleeding simply because the shoes she was wearing were several sizes too small. Another little girl who might have leprosy and tomorrow they move to another village. On Saturday they will be in San Antonio.

Creating new relationships and deepening existing ones both within our team and with the people of Guatemala never gets old.