Merry Christmas Everyone, December 25, 2019
We are enjoying a white Christmas here in the mountains of Southern California.
To grandma’s house we went. More snow is expected tonight and tomorrow
Jeanette and I enjoyed having Josh, Lydia and Luke. We plan to celebrate Christmas with some of our other children in a few days.
Jeanette and I, the board and the staff in Guatemala send to you a very Merry Christmas greeting.
For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
Isaiah 9:6 & 7
Our return to Guatemala is on January 5th arriving on the 6th. There are a lot of things to do before we leave so please be praying for us. This next year promises to be a very exciting one especially when we think about the diary farm and berry farm possibilities.
But there are other exciting things happening too. Please be in prayer for our afternoon vocational program. The more we have been praying and thinking about it the more we feel the need to ask one of our part-time staff to come on as full-time to help in that program. The funds needed to do that is about $2000 for the year. The budget has already been approved but this was not included. Please be praying about this and any year end gift that you would like to give.
Don’t forget to pray for Joselin that she would be able to come and learn. Pray for Mario too and all of the other students and staff.
God bless you all. Merry Christmas!
In His service,
Greg and Jeanette
P.O. Box 809, Twin Peaks, CA 92391 USA Phone 909-233-4271
A 501 (c)(3) tax exempt organization
December 12, 2019
Hello Everyone, Our trip back east was beautiful with all of the fall colors. We shared in many churches along the way, and we spoke in several ASLI classes at Liberty University.
The plans for a dairy farm are moving forward. Greg is receiving help from some professional dairymen here in California. The owner in Guatemala is excited that we are asking so many questions. He is looking forward to talking with Greg once we return in early January.
Greg spoke with a woman who works in a ministry that helps orphanages become self-sustaining through the planting, harvesting and sale of strawberries. We don’t have an orphanage but we may be headed in that direction. Or at least the direction of a residential school. Let me explain.
While we were on our trip visiting churches I received a message from Elvis in Guatemala saying that we may be getting another deaf child, this time a girl named Joselin. She is living in an orphanage with little or no language learning opportunities.
Mario is doing well and we will see him in the beginning of January. School starts three weeks after we return.
Please pray for Mario and Joselin.
How many more deaf children are there living in situations where they have no language and no opportunities to learn? Is God leading us towards a residential school? Is the dairy farm and perhaps the strawberry fields part of what God wants to do in Guatemala to reach the Deaf? Please be praying with us for direction.
The staff will be taking a much needed vacation during Christmas and New Years. Please keep them in your prayers. There is still much to be done to get ready for next year. January will be a busy month. There are many needs. How people respond financially to those needs helps us in our planning.
Our snail mail Christmas letter went out last week. If you have not received yours it may be that we do not have your physical address. Please let us know if you want one of these paper newsletters.
Keep us in mind for your year end tax deductible giving. Thank you for your prayers and financial support. May the Lord bless you richly. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
In His service,
Greg and Jeanette
P.O. Box 809, Twin Peaks, CA 92391 USA Phone 909-233-4271
A 501 (c)(3) tax exempt organization
Hello Everyone, October 4th, 2019
The new law for establishing the official Guatemalan Sign Language is Bill #5603. It is currently before the legislature for discussion. They were supposed to meet this last week and in fact Elvis and Jonathan drove to the capital in support and to answer any questions but there were not enough congressmen so they cancelled the session. The bill puts the Ministry of Education and CONADI in charge of implementing the different aspects of the law. GDM is working directly under these two organizations giving support, advice and counsel on issues that affect the Deaf. Please continue to pray for this bill and for our involvement in the whole process.
Now for some exciting news that needs a huge amount of prayer. We found some property not too far from our current location. I have attached a couple of pictures. I talked with the owner and he is willing to donate several acres of his more than 100, but there is a catch. He has 45 pregnant cows and is needing someone to manage a dairy business for him where they would make cheese and cream (something they eat of a lot of in Guatemala). This could provide many jobs for the Deaf in Jutiapa. We don’t know anything about running a dairy business. Ideally, we are looking for a dairy farmer in the United States who wants to be a missionary. Not too difficult, right? God owns the cattle on a thousand hills. Surely He knows a dairy farmer who is willing to come to Guatemala to train deaf people in the dairy business. This is one of those God things where only a great and powerful God could put together a plan like this. So please pray for the right person and all the details to fall into place.
Our Awareness trip across the USA starts today, Saturday. We will be speaking in three deaf churches, a hearing church and three Hispanic churches as well as Liberty University classes. Please pray for safe travels for us and that every place we speak the people would be encouraged and want to get involved supporting us in prayer and financial support.
Thank you for praying and supporting us financially.
In His service,
Greg and Jeanette Summerville
P.O. Box 809, Twin Peaks, CA 92391 USA Phone 909-233-4271
A 501 (c)(3) tax exempt organization
Hello Everyone, September 13, 2019 I am happy to report that the deaf camp was a huge success. Four people dedicated their lives to Christ for the first time and five or so people rededicated their lives to following Christ. The activities were well organized and our staff did an excellent job in planning everything. Many thanks to Iglesia Bautista Renacer (Rebirth Baptist Church) in Connecticut for sponsoring most of the camp. My team won the sports events for the weekend. Yahoooo! It was hot and humid but very beautiful and right on the shore of the Caribbean. Thanks to all who prayed for this weekend.
This Sunday is Guatemala’s Independence Day, September 15th. The school held a celebration marking the special day in the lives of the students. This year’s celebration was the best so far with all of the children doing a great job in the parts that they played. It’s always fun to learn about the history of your country.
The school year is coming to an end in two weeks. School starts next year on the 28th of January. We are expected to have over 50 students. Please pray for the following needs:
The establishment of an official sign language for Guatemala.
Wisdom for the staff in all of the areas of their work, with the students, parents and community.
The students will be spending their vacation in their homes where most are not able to communicate with their families. It is often a very difficult time for them. Please pray.
Our trip across country is coming up soon. We will be speaking in several churches back east and of course we want to speak in as many churches as we can in the Southern California area. Give us a call.
Finances. Praise God July was a very good month but August was a very low month.
Please be praying for the future needs of this ministry in terms of staff and volunteers. The harvest is plenty but the workers are few. Is God calling you to Guatemala?
Thank you for your faithfulness in supporting this ministry. May the Lord bless you all.
More later.
Blessings, Greg and Jeanette Summerville
P.O. Box 809, Twin Peaks, CA 92391 USA Phone 909-647-8577
WhatsApp +502-3142-3964
A 501 (c)(3) tax exempt organization
Hello Everyone, August 22, 2019
We are back in Guatemala after a busy time in the USA. The main reason we returned this summer was to attend the wedding of our daughter Julia who married Daniel DeYoung on July 21st. It was a beautiful “country style” wedding.
But it turned out that was not the only reason for returning. Through an anonymous donor God blessed us with a trip to Israel. Julia was not certain of the date for the wedding so we planned on returning for June and July. The Israel trip was the first 10 days of June. God’s timing is perfect.
Jeanette is busy with homeschooling again. Mario is a good student and smart. He attends the school here Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays in the mornings and then Jeanette teaches him in the afternoons and Mondays and Fridays. He has a lot of catching up to do since he did not have an opportunity to learn for so many years.
This year’s school excursion was a trip to Antigua. The students learned a little about the history of the third capital of Guatemala. We also toured a chocolate factory, yum, yum. For most of the students this was their first visit to one of the oldest cities in Latin America.
Prayer requests:
Yulissa has stomach problems. Please pray for healing and that the medication will take away the problem.
Pedro stayed home today and is very sick. Please pray for healing.
Pray for the health of all the students and staff. It’s been raining quite a bit lately and that seems to always bring more illness.
Our staff is helping with a deaf camp the last weekend of this month. We will have over 50 people attending so please pray that God’s word will be presented clearly. Pray that we will all travel safely and have a good, safe time there. The camp is in Izabal, about 6 or 7 hours from here.
Pray for the finances to come in. The summer months seem to be a bit slimmer than we would like.
We appreciate your prayers for us, the ministry and the people we serve. Thank you for your financial support as well. May the Lord bless you all richly.
In His service,
Greg and Jeanette Summerville
P.O. Box 809, Twin Peaks, CA 92391 USA Phone 909-233-4271
P.O. Box 809, Twin Peaks, CA 92391 USA Phone 909-647-8577
WhatsApp +502-3142-3964
A 501 (c)(3) tax exempt organization
Hello Everyone, May 28th, 2019
An anonymous person gave us a trip to Israel, praise the Lord! We are returning to the USA tonight and then flying this coming Saturday to Tel Aviv to start our tour of the Holy Land. Please pray for us and all the people on the tour for safety, inspiration and health.
In July we will be attending the wedding of our daughter Julia. Please pray for her as she makes plans for this momentous occasion.
The ministry is in good hands while we are away because God has blessed us with a wonderful staff. Pictured below from left to right are Aura, Jonathan, César, Ruth, Greg, Jeanette, Margory, Edwin, Heidy, Marcela, Melki, Febe, Yulissa, Elvis, Dairy, Sandy, Yolima y José.
Our welding class is going well. Below are some of the things we have made in the last few weeks. Remember that Melki is now an apprentice learning the welding trade. He also assists Edwin in the carpentry shop and helps Greg around the ministry grounds. As you can see, he is doing a great job.
Please be praying for Mario as he returns to visit his friends at the orphanage. They love him dearly and we will miss him a lot. The picture below is of Mario with the city of El Progreso in the background.
We appreciate you holding up these things in prayer. Thank you for your financial support. May the Lord bless you all richly.
We will be returning to Guatemala after the wedding for the last two months of school. These two months are packed with many things so please pray for the school as well.
In His service,
Greg and Jeanette
P.O. Box 809, Twin Peaks, CA 92391 USA Phone 909-233-4271
P.O. Box 809, Twin Peaks, CA 92391 USA Phone 909-647-8577
WhatsApp +502-3142-3964
A 501 (c)(3) tax exempt organization
Hello Everyone, May 23, 2019
Check out the project the wood shop class did for Mother’s Day. We’ve got some talented students and teachers.
This next picture is Febe teaching our community Sign Language class. There are about 20 people attending and learning LSG. This is something that we have wanted to do for quite some time.
A team from Liberty University is here this week and they helped us teach the swimming class. This was our 6th class and several of the children are now “pool safe” and many others are very close. This has been a great opportunity to interact with the children on a different level and different environment. We are all having a good time.
Thank you all for praying for us and our staff. And thank you for your financial support as well. May the Lord bless you.
In His service,
P.O. Box 809, Twin Peaks, CA 92391 USA Phone 909-233-4271
P.O. Box 809, Twin Peaks, CA 92391 USA Phone 909-647-8577
WhatsApp +502-3142-3964
A 501 (c)(3) tax exempt organization
A 501 (c)(3) tax exempt organization
He is risen!
He’s alive! I’m forgiven!
Soon and very soon we are going to see the King!
We woke up yesterday morning to the most beautiful sunrise and today is when the Son rose.
Matthew 26:64
Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
We picked up Mario yesterday In Guatemala City. He spent the past week hanging out with his friends at the orphanage in Quiche. School starts up again this week. Please pray for Mario and all the other deaf boys and girls who need to know:
Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4
Have a blessed Resurrection Day!
In His service,
Greg and Jeanette
P.O. Box 809, Twin Peaks, CA 92391 USA Phone 909-233-4271
P.O. Box 809, Twin Peaks, CA 92391 USA Phone 909-647-8577
WhatsApp +502-3142-3964
A 501 (c)(3) tax exempt organization
Hello Everyone,
We want you all to meet our newest student, Mario. He is living with us here in the ministry. His 11th birthday was Monday. He’s smart, loves life and is such a blessing. .
School is going well, 45 students are attending. We already have 12 students on the waiting list for next year. Our new bus is running great after working out some issues. There are an average of 26 children taking the bus in the morning along with Jeanette and I. Our 15 passenger Ford Van would not be able to hold that many. Praise God for His timing.
We now have a welding shop. Melki is my apprentice and is learning welding, plumbing and electrical as well as his carpentry class with Edwin. We’ll be sure to send pictures of some of our projects. He’s going to make a great shop teacher in a few years.
Thank you all for your financial support of this ministry. Things are a bit tight this month. Your prayers are always appreciated. There seems to be a cold virus going around so prays against that would be great too.
May the Lord richly bless all of you.
In His service,
Greg and Jeanette
P.O. Box 809, Twin Peaks, CA 92391 USA Phone 909-233-4271
P.O. Box 809, Twin Peaks, CA 92391 USA Phone 909-647-8577
WhatsApp +502-3142-3964
A 501 (c)(3) tax exempt organization