News from Guatemala

Dear friends and family,

The McCutcheon’s, Cindy and I (Dennis) are moving toGuatemala and taking over the ministry of Vine International in that beautiful country. Dennis and Doris Rice have been at the helm for about 5 years now. They are retiring, tho’ I suspect they may slip back once in awhile.

Dennis and Doris are leaving large shoes to fill (also the furniture and vehicle, etc). They have improved the importation and flow of material aid to Christian medical ministries and orphanages. As I understand it Vine International was supporting about 30 such ministries when they came on board and through their project development Vine now helps to some degree over 100 orphanages, clinics and hospitals that share the Gospel of Christ as part of their work. The Rice’s are making it easy to step into their world. I actually turned Dennis down in May 2008 believing that MedEquip Missions, the ministry I have led for 13 years now, would have shop and warehouse space in the United States by the end of that year. But circumstances changed dramatically.It was Cindy that pointed out that the warehouse and shop already existed in the Vine Bodega in Guatemala and that we were the ones that should take over for Dennis and Doris. It was one of those slap yourself on the head “I could have had a V-8” moments.

God is good and patient with His children. It has been a tornado of activity since making this decision at Christmas time 2008. We cleaned house and put it up for sale as the bottom dropped out of the housing market. Our realtor kept shaking his head as the house showed 6 to 10 times per week. We have a contract for 96% of our asking price. The buyers don’t need to move in right away and have offered to rent the house to us after closing for a very reasonable price. Our realtor finally said SOMEONE is looking out for you. He’s right. Only God can orchestrate all that has happened.

We have our tickets for June 1. Peggy our youngest (18 y/o) will go for 6 weeks and Casey (older daughter) will come down the last week of that time and they will fly back together.We will be especially blessed in that the Rice’s will stay for about a month to help in the transition. Casey will get another opportunity to practice her craftsmanship as a biomedical technician and repair equipment. Woody Woodson and Dennis Rice are directly responsible for MedEquip Missions adding the repair of equipment in country using volunteer biomeds. We have learned a lot working together and this transition, I believe will be a blessing for all of us.

Pray for us. Cindy quits work April 29^th, we meet the buyers and attorneys April 3oth and finalize sale of our home of the last 17 years. We are speaking at churches for deputation. We are faith supported by donations from churches, family, friends and one business Metropolitan Medical in Asheville,NC. This Christian family owned and managed business sells anesthesia machines and service. They are a tremendous blessing financially, service and spare parts source. We are trying to set a budget, working on insurance needs, Peggy going to college, and travel. We will also be responsible for funding the equipment repair project we will add now to Vine International Guatemala’s services for medical missionaries in ‘the Land of Eternal Spring.’ Pray for our ability to learn the language. It’s my desire to learn Spanish and be able to preach in the next three to five years without a translator… pray, pray, pray.

We step into some pretty large shoes and know there will be difficult days. But it is our desire to be obedient to God’s call upon our lives. The verse we used for MedEquip Missions is “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life”. (John 3:14-15)Our lives have meaning and purpose because we lift up Jesus to the world around us. We would not and could not do this except that God gave us through Christ eternal life. We leave 4 adult children and a 2 ½ year old granddaughter behind in His care. We go rejoicing for the opportunity to serve Him.