Rob Kirkpatrick

OK, it’s actually about 4 months later than would be ideal.  But, we’re hoping to return to Guatemala this summer.

Here’s a note from my son, Rob II, that spells out some of the details.
I believe we have been called to return to Guatemala this summer.  God’s opened to door for us and I’m really excited to get back. My dad, my brother and I have been accepted to this year’s “Never the Same” outreach from June 28 through July 11.

Over the past several summers God has been working in my life as He’s giving me a greater heart of compassion for His people around the world.  As I experienced last year and in prior years, this 2-week excursion provides amazing opportunities to reach out to help people in need and, in doing so, have the privilege of sharing the Gospel with the Guatemalans through a story we get to “perform” as a drama.

And here’s the exciting part: you can be a part of this outreach, too! First, you can help pray.  This is truly the most important thing you can do!  Please pray that God will prepare us for our outreach and bless our efforts as we minister to the people of Guatemala. Pray also that the finances will be provided to afford the expenses associated with an event like this. At this time we need to raise about $2,700.00 each.

Perhaps God’s given you the means to also be a part of accomplishing that second request. Would you consider supporting us with a small donation? We’ll need to raise all the funds by April 1st in order to pay for airline tickets and other items.  Very soon there will be a link on this Facebook page that you can use to help raise the funds.  In the mean time, you can send a tax-deductible check made out to “Big World Ventures” to our home.

That address is: 3425 Inspiration Dr.Colorado Springs, CO  80917

Whether you feel led to pray for us, contribute financially, or both, all of your support is appreciated.  I look forward to being used by God’s in Guatemala and letting you know all about how God has worked through this trip when I return in July.

Rob Kirkpatrick II

Can you believe it?

Between additional travels and the inability to access the internet during that time, I’ve fallen quite behind with updates from this year’s mission outreach to Guatemala. I think it was about the third night that we were in Antigua that it began to dawn on me that I truly wouldn’t have the opportunities I expected in order to quietly sit, reflect and write about what God was doing in and through the teens this year. Where did I come up with that expectation? Granted, this was only the second of these types of trips I’ve been on, but didn’t I learn from last year?!

For our team, one of the last to arrive in Antigua, we were on our way within 10 hours of being at the hotel. After a few hours for sleep, we woke to enjoy a delicious breakfast buffet followed by devotions. Then, after loading the bus and counting off to make sure we were all aboard, we headed out for the small village of Santa Maria.

Large buses and narrow streets make for an exciting drive!

I still don’t know how the drivers do it.

Once the bus was parked, we walked up the main roadway into the village square and met with the principal of a school. Needless to say, he was excited for us to be there—we were going to paint the exterior walls of his building!

Each of the team members grabbed a brush and a bowlful of lightly terra cotta tinted paint and went to work.

And, boy, did they work!

After a lunch break for the first of many peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (a staple on this trip) every part of the wall we could reach had a fresh coat of paint.

Now, it was time to play with the kids for the rest of the time we had before we needed to get back on the bus to head back to Antigua.

One of our team members, Andrew, wowed the crowd with yo-yo tricks. Little did we know that Andrew was a champion yo-yoer in his home state!

After we got back to the hotel we headed out near the pool to spend some time rehearsing the “Spellbound” drama.

It had been two days since we last worked on it and it would be two more days before we had a chance to perform it for a group.

Everyone was thrilled with how well they remembered their parts.

After dinner it was time for the first FUAGNEM event (Fired Up And Going Nuts Every Minute) in Antigua! Cotemporary Christian Artist, Jamie Jamgochian got thins started with a few of her songs. Susie Shellenberger then exhorted the entire group to not push the snooze button when God calls in our lives—an important challenge for us all.

Wednesday was devoted to finishing the dramatic mime presentation, “Spellbound.” In conference rooms all over the hotel, teams worked to build on what they started on Tuesday.

They danced…

They posed…

They learned how to apply make-up for their characters…

They rehearsed…

The “Cats” practiced being menacing…

Many have asked about the drama. Here’s a synopsis:

In “Spellbound” the toy-maker creates a world of toys for his son. Then, he creates two special toys, the prince and the princess. They’re given free reign of everything except the tree that stands in the middle of the toy world.

An evil magician enters the land of toys and tempts the princess to eat the fruit of the tree. As she does, the creation begins to crumble. When the prince also eats from the tree, the world of toys is controlled by the evil magician and a wall of separation is established between the toy-maker, his son and the prince and princess.

Because the toy-maker knew the wall would not last forever, more toys were created to interact with the prince and princess. But, the evil magician has control over them, too. He sends his bad-cat minions to wreak havoc and cause pain and suffering for the toys.

Eventually, the time comes for the toy-maker to enact his plan and he sends his son the land of toys to grow up as a toy and tell the other toys about the toy-maker. Many of the toys grow to love the toy-maker’s son. Some are healed of their ailments.

The evil magician concocts a plan to get rid of the toy-maker’s son and convinces one of the toys to help capture the toy-maker’s son. The plan succeeds and the leader of the cats nails the son to a cross where he dies (see below).

As we know, that’s not how the story ends. After the evil magician returns to celebrate the apparent victory the toy-maker’s plan moves to the next level, and his son comes back to life. The evil magician makes a last-ditch attempt, but is ultimately banished from creation and the wall of separation is broken.

Many of the toys enjoy their restored relationship with the toy-maker and the drama comes to a close (whew!).

I am so proud of all the members on Team 8 (shown below minus a few leaders). They worked and worked and worked to learn about their parts. As we get to Guatemala and have opportunities to perform the allegory I’m confident God will use them to draw many to Himself.

Pray for the people we’ll meet. The harvest is ripe…

By dinnertime on Monday, June 29th, the Embassy Suites hotel was noticeably different as more than 500 people wearing brightly colored yellow and orange shirts were buzzing in the hallways. Team assignments were given out as they all checked in. Lots of questions as many had never done something like this before.

Each evening everyone gets together for FUAGNEM! (Fired Up And Going Nuts Every Minute!), a fun time of music and encouragement from the host of this outreach, Susie Shellenberger. Susie’s been in teen ministry for over 20 years. She’s got a way of really speaking God’s Truth into their lives.

By the end of the program for the night 12 teams were formed and parts were handed out for the mimed drama, “Spellbound”.

I’m a leader on Team 8. Rob and Ben are on Teams 9 and 12, respectively. I know they’re here, but haven’t really seen them–it’s a busy place! Each morning, teams start showing up for breakfast at 6:45 AM and don’t make it back to their rooms for the night until 10:00 PM.

Yesterday, June 30th, was filled with a lot of hard work learning all the blocking for the drama. As I write this, it’s just over 24 hours since they started learning their parts and they’re 90% of the way there. By tonight, we’ll be ready after multiple run-throughs and dress-rehearsals.

It’s exciting to see new friendships beginning to form. My expectations are confidently high that all on this trip will see God work through and in them in ways that they’ll remember for the rest of their lives.

I’m just realizing that next Saturday I’ll be in Miami preparing to lead a bunch of teens to Guatemala! Rob II and Ben arrive the following Monday along with almost 400 other teens.

The time has swept by since the beginning of this amazing adventure. Thanks again for joining our support team.

Here are some things to pray about:

1) That God would bless the leadership team I’m heading (as well as the other 11 teams) with unity and wisdom as we prepare to take on the responsibility of guiding a bunch of teens through what promises to be an amazing experience.
2) Monday, June 29th, everybody finishes arriving in Miami and meets the members of their teams. Pray for a quick bond to occur so new friendships can be formed and we can begin the work of pouring out our lives to reach people for Christ in Guatemala.
3) Pray for the Guatemalan people that God has prepared before the beginning of time to be drawn to Him during this outreach

Learn more here by downloading a recent webcast hosted by Ryan Dobson, the new head of the Brio outreach.

Here’s the link:

http://www.castlerockradio.com/file_download_launch.asp?filePath=/uploads/KorKast%2006-15-09.mp3#

Click on the “download the file” hyperlink to get the program.

Thanks, again, for your support.

Rob

Our support is in and we’re now planning on being a part of the “Never The Same” Brio Mission to Guatemala!

What will God do this time? I’m eager to see. I’ve heard there are more than 400 teens signed up to go!

We’re hosting a get-together at our home on April 26th for mission participants and supporters who live in and around Colorado Springs. We’ll be able to spend some good fellowship and prayer time together.

As we prepare to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection, let’s be mindful of the millions who don’t yet have Him in their lives. My prayer is that this summer thousands in Guatemala will be able to experience Him for the first time.