How You Can Help Us: Communication

This is going to be the first in a series of blog posts over the next few months about different ways you can support us on our mission here in Mexico.  They won't be long, but hopefully they'll be helpful for you as you prayerfully serve us while we serve here!

Today's topic is one that we bring up from time to time, but one that is probably more important than you realize:  Communication!  Growing up in the Southern Baptist Convention, I heard frequently about giving monetarily to support missionaries, I heard often about going on mission, and I heard rarely about praying for missionaries (specific missionaries, not just ones in general).  However, I'm not sure I can remember ever being encouraged to reach out and contact a specific missionary, probably because I didn't really know any missionaries.  However, now that we've been gone for 18 months, I can say this: I never realized how important contact is for a missionary!

Our letter wall, just some of the letters and cards we've received here in the past year.

Sara and I were talking a while back, and she said, "You know, now that I've been a missionary, if we ever returned to live in the States, I think I would have to find missionaries to write to, now that I know how much it means." This pretty well sums up how much it means to us when we get letters, packages, emails, phone calls, skype calls, and even Facebook messages.  They're visible, tangible reminders for us that there are people back home that are holding the rope for us, that are supporting us.  They are weapons against discouragement on days when we feel lonely and homesick, that we are far away, but not forgotten.  They are encouragements on days when we are discouraged, that we are not in the fight for souls alone.  They opportunities to talk to our kids about how blessed we are to have the family and friends that we do.  They mean the world to us!

And, we're blessed to live in the day that we do!  Not that long ago, communicating with a missionary would mean writing a letter that may or may not make it to the missionary within a few months.  Today, we have computer communication with Skype, Facebook, and email that is instantaneous.  We have a VOIP (Vonage) phone that sits in our house, but uses a Wyoming phone number, that can be called at any time, and doesn't cost us extra.  And even physical mail like letters and packages are much more reliable than they used to be.  It's pretty incredible how much smaller the world is these days, and we can't describe what a blessing that is to missionaries!

Yellowstone Baptist Church in Cody, WY recently had EVERYone at the church write us a postcard and send them in a large envelope... SO COOL!

So, that's all to say, we'd love to hear from you!  Many of you already follow us on Facebook, and we'd always love to hear from you there.  Or, if you would like our Skype name, phone number, or physical address here in Mexico, write us on Facebook, or email me at missionguzman@gmail.com, and I'd love to send you the rest of our information.  Thank you to all of you who support us with your communication.  You'll never know what a blessing it is to us!