Ministry

Myra ministering to Andrea in downtown Baltimore with Doxa Ministry




Sunday Morning with Pastor Leonel




Food, gifts and a pinata for Children 2-7 year of age for Christmas



Johana sharing the word, food, fellowship and gifts for the women for Christmas




A movie, popcorn and gifts for children in first grade and up for Christmas.



HAPPY NEW YEAR! Greetings from Guatemala. Its been a while. I’ve had serious computer problems but now am back stronger than ever.

Looking back we marvel at how much was accomplished during 2009. Twenty one stoves were installed from January through August. One hundred and sixty pairs of school shoes were given out in January. Thirteen blankets were donated locally for the families. Two latrines were installed. Four homes made of heavy plastic were recovered and one home was built from scratch. Two lean-twos were built to protect the stoves from the rain. A medical clinic was held. School material, uniforms and tennis were provided for the children attending school. Hot meals were provided for over 100 children three times a week. Beans, rice and corn were provided for 56 families for three months.

Men started to attend the church services under our new pastor Leonel Gomez. The people are growing in their relationship to the Lord. The children with excellent grades were rewarded with a movie and pizza. Every child received a gift for their birthdays.

We are so thankful for the financial help given to provide these services to the people. We are also thankful for those who came and helped build, paint, play and pray with and for the people in 2009.

Myra went to the states in late October to share the vision of the ministry. She was at Huber Church, Friendship Baptist, Hilton St Baptist, Mt Moriah Baptist church, Deeper Life Church, Park Valley Church of Va. and her home church of Immanuels Church. She saw many old friends and made some new ones while she was home. It was a great trip.

She also celebrated the 20 year anniversary of the ministry she founded - Watchmen On the Walls. There was a celebration given by the WMOTW board that highlighted some of the activities of the ministry. She is very proud of being a part of such a great group of people.

One of the most emotional parts of her visit was an opportunity to minister to street people along with Doxa Ministries in downtown Baltimore.

Pastor Leonel continued with the ministry of the church while Myra was gone. Two more persons accepted Christ!

He, Raquel, Gilma, Graciela, and Elsa kept the feeding program “Comedor de Paz” going as well.

We have much to be thankful for and much to look forward to in this New Year 2010.

I’d like to call this the year of the BUILDING!

We are currently meeting in my garage and the assembly has grown on average to 120 to 175 person three times a week for the feeding program. On Sundays over 40 small children are meeting in my kitchen. We need room!

The land is paid for and has been excavated to begin work on the subterranean level. We need people and money to go forward. If you ever thought of getting down and dirty for 7-10 days to help the poor in a practical way email me at angeldaniel@wmotw.com. or contact Kelly Schaeffer at Kelly.Schaeffer@KleinschmidtUSA.com.

Park Valley Church of Va. will again be coming for their third year. A combined group of people from PA., Ohio and South Carolina as well as the youth of Doxa Ministry have already committed to come and lend a hand. You can make your own group or be a part of an already formed group.

As the year has come and gone we say goodbye to what was and hello to what is coming. We thank God for Venus Stewart who has been with WMOTW from the beginning as Secretary and so much more. We wish her the very best in the coming years with the many projects God has given her to lead. We thank Juanita Holland, another dear friend, for taking over the position of secretary. I am truly blessed to have such an excellent group of people on the board.

My trip home was wonderful to see my family and to share at several churches. I was encouraged and refreshed. I send a special thank you to Sandi McFadden who made my visit almost like a retreat!

Love, Myra

Today was an especially interesting one spiritually and emotionally. As I was reading my devotional this morning I read from Romans 11 and then in another reading there was the same Romans 11. The first reading touched my spirit and when it cropped up again I was intrigued by what God was saying. I went on with my day praising God for His love and blessings of hearth and home and everything as I hung my clothes on the line thanking him for clean clothes and a place to hang them. thanking him for safety and security. Where was this day heading?

by mid day I was out to lunch with friends at a baby shower for one of their daughter-in-laws. I listened more than talked which is usually my way but I was sad and feeling alone in the midst of them. I shook it off and thought maybe the enemy was trying to steal from me my joy in the Lord.

I returned home, hugged my son, spent some time with him talking about his day and then left him watching Animal Planet as I retreated to the computer to check my emails. A bit later he came asking to watch a movie and I said let's review some school work first. WHAT DID I SAY THAT FOR!

He stormed out of the room and slammed his door muttering as he went. The thought crossed my mind to go after him with a belt for his attitude but instead sat at my computer and prayed. A few minutes later he came back sobbing saying, 'Mom, I want to change." I assured him he was changing. Just by coming back convicted, is a sure sign of change. I also asked if he was truly doing what is needed to help him change and he said "no, mom, I'm not reading my Bible every day." I said "Okay let's review your school work, you read something from the Bible and then go watch a movie." He said "Okay, mom."

After the school review I felt compelled to tell him about Romans 11 that I was reading in the morning. I explained to him how the Jewish rejected Jesus and we who were not chosen from God initially were ingrafted in to the olive tree which represents a planting cultivated by God. They were like a baby that was born and covered with blood and the Bible says God found them by the side of the road and he washed the blood off of the body and clothed them and fed them and they rejected him. I told him how blessed we are to be made a part of God choosing because as he made the jewish people who were not a people a people He has made us a body.

He sat down and read from my English NIV of his own choosing from Romans 8 about the law of sin and death and the law of the spirit of life that sets us free. After reading he looked at me with a big smile and said "Mom the spirit of God is living in me and I cannot continue to sin because I want to please God. I am not perfect but I am changing." I agreed with him with all of my heart.

Thank you Lord for preparing my heart this morning to be available to you and to my son Angel.

Greetings from Guatemala. The Second and third semesters of school just ended. School was closed for a month so there has been a lot of catching up to do. We’re just now getting the report cards and so far everyone has passed but one. We celebrated with pizza, games and gifts those who had excellent grades of 80 and above. Two of the students in the 4th grade had marks of five 100’s and another in 6th grade had marks of three 100’s!

One young man who will complete Junior High (Basico) in October wants to attend Agriculture school for four years. He is a good student. His mother is a widow and there are three other siblings. His tuition and monthly needs will be far above the normal monthly school support. We pray we can get him three supporters. Please pray about helping him. His name is Kevin Aroch.

We also celebrated the children’s birthdays with cake and gifts.

“Dios es Nuestra Paz” Our Church, "God is our Peace".

Pastor Leonel has been visiting the families to get to know them better, pray for them and to encourage the husbands to attend church.

This month another man was murdered and left a pregnant wife with seven children. The men are at great risk and need the Lord.

We are now holding “family” services every third Sunday in the afternoon so the whole family can attend. Many of the men work Sunday morning. The first Sunday 5 men showed up and on the second occasion 8 men showed up. One man even came alone.
Please pray for the work of the church in this poor community.


This month two families were blessed with stoves. One stove was donated by Lorraine Speraw of Zion 3 church and was received by Aurelia, single mother of five children. The Bart Robey family of Park Valley church donated a stove to Josephina Carranza, mother of five. Pastor Leonel, Angel and Hugo installed the stoves.


The last two months we have been blessed to be able to give out bulk food to the people we serve. Here bulk food is called viveres which means basically food to live. We have given out beans, rice and corn to 53 families with 180 children!
We received a generous donation from First Baptist Church of Pimlico to be able to distribute viveres until the end of this year! This is a hard time for most families because the rains have been less so there is a great need and God has answered it.

Another month has come and gone. We had a pretty good month health wise. Angel had only a few small bouts of sickness. My lovely Aimee and my precious mom celebrated their 21st and 86th respectively. Angel passed his exams and is doing well in school.

Gloria’s, pregnant with her 8th child, husband was murdered this month. Alicia’s ankle was broken by her abusive husband. Another Gloria, a widow with three children, was diagnosed with cancer of the uterus and Maria Elena, whose husband was murdered last year, was considering suicide again.

All of these things happen in everyday life. A husband dies leaving young children, a wife lives with an abusive spouse, illness suddenly rears its ugly head and desperation and despair knocks at the door and we respond. But I have hope!

I am hopeful that with prayer support, visitation and helping with practical needs that Gloria will get through this difficult time.

I am hopeful because Alicia is a strong Christian woman who fasts and prays for her husband.

I am hopeful that the other Gloria’s operation was successful this month.

I am hopeful because Maria Elena accepted Christ as her Savior and now has everything she needs to live her life.

Our hope is in God and He has never failed us yet. Please remember these ladies in your prayers. Thank you for your support and for your prayers.

Love, Myra

Prayer Requests:
Joy in the journey
Good Health
Spiritual growth for Myra’s Children
Good relations with ministry team
Money for building
More visitors
More monthly support


Please send cash donations to:
WMOTW
3415 Fallstaff RD
Baltimore, MD 21215
Make checks payable to: WMOTW
PayPal is also another way to make donations

Visitors, Stoves, Pool and Birthdays

Pastor Leonel praying for the men


Myra Chillin at the pool



Devotions at the pool


Waiting for the new stove be installed



At the pool


Karen-Quincienera 15th birthday


Heidy-Quincienera 15th birthday


Bringing a latrine to its new home


Going uphill


Making repairs


New home and new stove



New stove





Greetings from Guatemala. What a busy month we’ve had. We had a group of 17 people come from Park Valley Church in Va. and did they work! They installed 10 stoves, put laminated steel roof on heavy plastic homes, replaced plastic covered walls, delivered a latrine for one family, built two plastic, wood and laminated steel lean-tos to cover new stoves and provided the material to build a family of five a new home! They went up hills and down mountains all for the glory of God. They found time to visit a local school and have a play day, make a happy mural for the feeding program and take about 80 children to the pool. Did I mention also celebrate two young ladies 15th birthday by providing everything from their clothing to the cake and a special ring for each young lady thrown in. WOW!

This month 10 families were blessed with stoves. Six stoves were donated by Zion 3 church and four by Park Valley church. There are not enough words to express the joy and gratitude in the hearts of the people who were blessed with these new stoves. The stove uses less wood, has a chimney that takes the smoke outside, and is high off of the ground away from animals and more hygienic.
Pastor Leonel had a busy month too. He has stepped up and is now teaching the youth during the time of the comedor as well as preaching on Sundays. Raquel continues to be a blessing with the Sunday school and during the time of the comedor.

Pastor Leonel was also the coordinator with several local churches for a youth event to pray for the nation of Guatemala against the violence in the country. A group of our young people went to represent our church “Dios es Nuestra Paz” (God is our Peace). There was a weekend of activities including a prayer vigil at a local park. The youth are growing in the church and we are blessed to have pastor Leonel and his wife Johanna taking such care of their instruction in righteousness while having fun at the same time.
The men also had their monthly meeting with teaching, prayer and testimonies. We plan to meet later in the day on every third week in hopes the men, who sometimes work Sunday mornings, may attend with their families. Please pray for this new format.

A 15th birthday is an important part of a Guatemalan girls life. The poor do not have the means to even celebrate a normal birthday. We are so thrilled to celebrate for the second time this special event with two beautiful young ladies. Last year it was karla who was the first “quincienera” of this ministry. This year we have two. – Karen and Heidy! Both were given new dresses, shoes, rings, jewelry and even underwear! We are so thankful, as they are also, for the generous donation from Phil of Park Valley Church who made it all possible. Some members of the group made the cake and even brought gifts. Thanks Park Valley Church for making the dreams of two young girls come true.


Another month has come and gone. We had some more health challenges but thank God that is behind us. Late July I had to take Angel to the hospital for a bad throat infection. He was home from school for eight days just in time to return for the third semester exams. In all things I am thankful.

We all had a great time with the visitor. It’s always good to be with people who speak English but even more with friends like those from Park Valley Church.

I am so thankful for the way they came in under the leadership of Kelly, who is a fellow missionary, and accomplished so much.
I am so thankful for Pastor Leonel and Aimee who pitched in and accompanied them into the highways and byways and got as down and dirty as the group did.

I am thankful for those who stayed behind and painted my garage where we hold church and the feeding program and also painted the outside of the house.

I am so thankful for the generous donation that Park Valley church sent to do more work on the construction of the building.

I am thankful for my “new best friend” Diana for the beautiful job she and her daughter Nicole did on the mural for the children. (Smile)

I am thankful for the generous donation from Pimlico Baptist church for the scholarship and feeding programs and for the food given out to needy families.

I am so thankful for each of you who have stood with me financially and in prayer these nearly 14 years of serving God in Guatemala. May all, no more, be returned to each one of you in blessings from the hand of God who reigns forever and ever.

Love, Myra

Comedor y Educacion de Paz, Chiquimula

Francisco cutting hair




Grandma with donated blanket





New stove for poor family

We have officially named the ministry in Guatemala to reflect the work that is being done there. The Guatemalan name for our ministry is Ministerio Comedor y Educacion de Paz, Chiquimula. It means that the ministry is a feeding program and education program with the emphasis on Peace. The name of the Guatemalan church also has the same emphasis. The church's name is Dios es Nuestra Paz (God is our Peace). We are still under WMOTW for tax purposes and for the non-profit status. Continue sending donations to WMOTW. The name Watchmen On the Walls does not translate to a meaningful statement of the ministry in Guatemala.

We are excited about officially becoming a Guatemalan ministry recognized by the government. Our hope is that more Guatemalan's will spearhead this ministry in the years to come.


Ministerio Comedor y Educación de Paz, Chiquimula

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light Isaiah 9:2

March 2008

It's been cold and then hot. I'm just coming out from under walking pneumonia. It's been a long boring time. I'm looking forward to some adventure. (smile)
Aimee has recuperated from her last baby-Nathan and has returned as part time secretary in the mornings. She will help with reports in English, input of information in English and also clean the ministry office. Angel just finished his exams and we are waiting for a good report.

While I was down and out, Francisco and Raquel helped a great deal. Francisco is now full time with the ministry while Raquel continues part time because of her new baby, Deborah, born in February. Francisco was off and running from day one...and I mean running. He has been talking to local merchants to help the ministry financially with monthly or one time support. We already had five faithful commitments of as much as $25 a month to as little as $2 a month. Two dollars buys 2 pounds of chicken or a little over 1 pound of meat. Every little bit helps.

On Francisco's first day he had two more committed donations of $25 a month each! Praise God! He was very pleased with himself for being able to make that contribution. He is now full time salaried as youth pastor along with Raquel. He will also do a lot of running for me that I could not do. As a youth pastors they are responsible for the ministry and games at the comedor, Sunday services with the children, helping with homework and activities. He cuts the boys hair and is teaching the older boys how to cut hair.

Francisco fits a special need in the ministry for a man for the boys. He is planning a sleep over with some of the older boys with fun and games. He is currently still working with the men one Sunday a month sharing the word. During my illness, he preached to the ladies on Sunday while Raquel worked with the children. Raquel also helps in the office keeping the files up to date for the ministry. She also writes letters to local authorities, tutors Angel, helps with presentations and is the teacher for the literacy class.

We are still looking for a pastor who will be able to minister to the whole family and build up the church from members in the poor community who are not attending church. Please pray for guidance in this endeavor.

Heidi, who is in the 7th grade, came by to use Myra’s computer to download some information. We do have internet cafe's and a local library where she could get this information. She said even though she has a computer class for the first time in school, the teacher doesn't come often and she does not understand yet how to use a computer. Myra searched and copied the info for her. It was too much information and not enough time to teach her and also complete the assignment. That's a good example of the need to provide computer classes for the poor while they are still in elementary school. Heidi had never encountered a computer before entering seventh grade and now she has to search for info from the web and is at a loss.


AN UPDATE ON THE BUILDING PROJECT

We now have an estimate of the cost of the building, water and sewer. The dimensions of the building are 19.20 x 9.5 meters one side and 16 x 9.5 meters on the other side. The first level is below ground and will be the comedor for 200 children, Church, kitchen, small bathroom for workers and storage. The cost is $40,000.
The top level will be an office, medical clinic, dental clinic, Susi Saltsman multipurpose room (library, computer lab, afterschool programs, literacy classes, Bible classes, etc,), and living quarters for someone to live there. The cost is $45,000.

We can complete the bottom level and open the comedor and church while we are still building the second level.

The well costs $5,000.00 and the sewer is $3,000.00. Electricity has come to the area recently so we do not have to put in a transformer, praise God. We are asking the mayor to resurface the road near the construction of the building so we can get trucks in and out.

We now have $9,600 saved for the construction. We need $13,000 to begin work. The builder is an excellent Christian man and included in the cost are doors, windows, plumbing and electricity. Please pray about helping us finish this project.

We also welcome groups to come see firsthand what we are doing here. Airfare is very cheap now and the trip with food, hotel and transportation to and from the airport would be as little as $1000 per person including airfare of $500 or less per person. A small group of twelve or less would be good. We ask $100 a person for a donation to the ministry. That should be included in the $1000.

We are all amazed at our all sufficient God. It's been a hard economic down time for so many people in the U.S. and even as we all struggle we are seeing how faithful God is. There are so many examples. We have 39 children who are sponsored this year and one adult. Because of personal economic struggles, a few of the commitments have not been met monthly… BUT GOD is still faithful. Two Guatemalan business men donated over 200 notebooks that we were able to give out to any of the 163 children attending school who needed them. The local elementary schools also gave out some school supplies. A local merchant donated 15 blankets to the ministry. We now have seven Guatemalan's who monthly donate Q25 ($2.00) to Q200 ($25) towards the ministry. We have given out over 800 meals this month. Another stove was donated to a poor family in memory of the late Ed Saltsman. God is truly awesome. There is no downside in Him. He keeps His promises and cares especially for the poor, children, orphans and widows.

I am encouraged that I am in the right line of work and have a great Boss who never cuts my wages but always gives life to His ministry. Thank you all for your love, prayers and support. Have a blessed Easter.

Love, Myra.


PRAYER REQUESTS

Joy in the journey
Good Health
Spiritual growth for my children
Good relations with ministry team
Pastor for the church
$3400.00 to start the construction
More visitors
More monthly support

The incomplete building



Francisco ministering to the men




Doris and her new stove



Children with new tennis and school supplies



Young ladies and Gilma at the sleepover


Ministering to the children and having fun too



Outdoor classroom for first grade


Nathan




Ministerio Comedor y Educación de Paz, Chiquimula
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light Isaiah 9:2

Greetings from Guatemala… cold, windy blustery Guatemala. For a while there I thought I was back in the states because of the cold! In parts of Guatemala it was below zero!

We have officially named the ministry in Guatemala to reflect the work that is being done. The Guatemalan name for our ministry is Ministerio Comedor y Educacion de Paz, Chiquimula. It means it is a feeding program and education program with the emphasis on Peace. The name of the Guatemalan church also has the same emphasis. The church's name is Dios es Nuestra Paz (God is our Peace). We are still WMOTW for tax purposes and for the non-profit status. The name Watchmen On the Walls does not translate to a meaningful statement of the ministry in Guatemala.

Birth Announcement! Nathan has come. My Aimee gave birth on the 12th of February to her second son. He weighed 8 lbs and is gorgeous.

Angel is well. With Raquel on maternity leave, Erika stepped in as his tutor. He’s in the fifth grade and really struggles with focusing. He’s smart, especially in math but he’d rather play with the cat, watch action videos (although he loves Bambi 1 and 2), sleep in, eat everything in sight, and play with his toy soldiers. He’s a typical 11 year old. Please pray for me.

There is a new school in the colonial where most of the families we work with live. We visited them one day. What a walk. There are 87 students from grades kinder through 4th. There are four classrooms. There are two classes of first grade. Many older children ages 10-14 are studying for the first time.


We have a wonderful group of youth coming to help with the children at the comedor. They have broken them down by age into groups to share the word and play games. It’s been a bit crazy because space is limited in the garage, but fun for the children. Francisco also faithfully comes to help.


We had our first sleepover for 2009. Twenty one girls attended ages 10 through 15. We had a great meal of chicken Chow Mein, cake, bread and a drink. Afterwards we had a time of games and then a special gospel sharing by a youth from a local Guatemalan church. We had prayers, popcorn and a movie. All of the girls save two had accepted Christ before. One of those two made a first time commitment. Please pray for the other girl, Katerin, who said she was not ready.
We gave out tennis, book bags and school supplies this month. Thank God the government is helping some this year but more is needed. We are so thankful we could fill in the spaces where more help was needed. This also meant we could help more children.



So far this year we have given out four stoves. They use less wood, have a chimney that takes the smoke outside of the home and is high off of the ground away from animals. The latest stove given out this month was donated by Jerry and Daisy Hudson of Zion 3 church of Ohio. Doris and her four children were thrilled to receive the blessing of the stove.


Francisco had his monthly meeting with the men. Seven men showed up and he shared on relationships within the family especially with their wives. There is a lot of abuse here. After the sharing and prayer, the men ate a meal and sat around talking more. We are thankful for Francisco’s positive influence on these men who are not attending any church. This is their opportunity to hear about another way to live.

As time goes on things change but remain the same…new birth, death and taxes. We rejoice in all three. Each brings renewal. How? New birth brings a new life, death in Christ brings a new life eternal, taxes bring an opportunity to take care of here and now. We are so excited about new birth in the ministry, actually the rebirth of the building project that has been on hold for four years.


The month of March we plan to restart the construction. We are in the process of getting a new estimate based on the rise in the costs of construction and a new building plan. We plan to build a two story building to house the comedor (feeding program), church, medical clinic, computer lab, library, space for an after school program, English classes and much more. Please continue to pray as we look to begin again on the construction. Become a part of what we are doing here if you have not already and if you have thanks and keep it up. You are needed.

Thanks for your love, prayers and support.
Love, Myra

A New Year with lots of shoes

Happy 11th Birthday Angel


Two of a kind-Aimee and Raquel


Children with new shoes


Children with new shoes


Children with new shoes



Francisco praying with the men



Happy Birthday children





Happy Birthday Ladies


Children with great grades and their gifts


Old stove



New Stove



Ministry staff - Gilma, Sindy and Graciela


Youth Group Helping out at Feeding program


Out with my Girlfriends

Greetings from Guatemala. We are warm here compared to when we were in the states. I am glad to be home. Angel loved the cold and snow.

Angel celebrated his 11th birthday on the 12th of January. He gained 27 lbs while we were home and now weighs 97 lbs. He is a big boy. He started back to school and is getting into the flow of studying and doing homework again. His reading English is very good. He is growing into a fine young man.


We've been busy getting back to ministry work. Francisco and Raquel did a great job running things while we were gone. Gilma took great care of the house and paid the bills. Raquel gave birth to her second child (Debora) late January and my daughter Aimee is still a lady in waiting.

The biggest project in January is always school. We ordered 161 pairs of school shoes. One day from 10am to 6pm we were able to fit and give most of them out. What a blessing to see the faces of the children with their new school shoes. This year we have scholarships for 39 children and one adult. The adult, Santos, is attending a local university. Some of our kids are now attending junior and senior high school. God is good.

We celebrated the children's birthdays for the months of November through January with our usual chicken salad and black beans sandwiches, cake and a flavored ice drink in a bag and a gift. We also gave gifts to the children that had excellent grades at the end of the school year in October 2008.

The Sunday services continued with the ladies. We also celebrated their birthdays with small gifts of toothpaste, tooth brush, comb, soap and a piece of jewelry. We started with the book of Ruth as we continue studying through the Bible forever...

The men had their meeting one Sunday with Francisco sharing the word, praying with them, and giving out clothing and shoes.

Towards the end of the month with Raquel home with her new baby, a youth group from a local church volunteered to come help. Praise God. They are very well organized and such a blessing to the ministry. My art teacher Eddy arranged it through his church. Eddy is the head of the children's ministry of his church and has come and shared before with the children. Eddy is like a kid magnet for God. Each time he comes the kids run forward to receive Christ.

We gave out three stoves this month. Gary & Kathy Speraw purchased one stove and Ed & Joy Saltsman purchased another stove. They are from Zion 3 church in Ohio. The third stove was purchased by Mark & Robin Hemming from Church of Nazarene also in Ohio.

In all of this busyness I did find time to go out with my four friends, Carla, Lucky, Sarita and Anita to celebrate Carla's and Lucky's birthday. We had a fun day and I needed it.

We are outgrowing the garage where our meetings and the feeding program is held. We are believing God to finish the building this year so we can have more space for the feeding program, provide a medical clinic, a computer lab, English classes, a library, after school study program and much more.

Thanks to all of you for loving on us while we were home, giving us generously of your time, hospitality and money. We are so blessed. We in turn can bless the poor in Guatemala through your support of this ministry.