Ely + Rosa Siebenhor

With tears in his eyes Ely said, "Lewis for 35 years we have worked and prayed for help, but no one has come until now. Thank you so much for coming!" To God be the glory!

We have now partnered with Eleazar and Rosa Siebenhor in carrying the gospel to some of the poorest people in Guatemala. Pastor Ely and his wife Rosa had planted some 40 churches in the San Marcos area (West coast) of Guatemala. Currently there are 52 churches.

When I first met Ely, I had been praying for two years asking God to direct me to where He wanted me to serve. With like visions we knew that God had brought us together for the purpose of building His kingdom among the poor.

Ely was born in 1953 in Piedra Partida, a small community 10 miles from the border of Mexico. Much of his family still lives in the area today. When Ely was just a child, his father became a Christian and soon began the first evangelical Christian church in the area, holding his first church services in their front yard. Ely prayed to receive Christ when he was 8 years old and preached his first sermon in the city of San Marcos at the age of 12. Many came to Christ that day, and this was the beginning of the first Christian Church in the city of San Marcos, which still meets today.

Though he pastors a church in Guatemala City, he spends most weeks making the 6 hour trip out to the coast ministering to the poor. He has taught me much about humility and generosity as he sacrifices so much to reach others for Christ.

The San Marcos region is one of Guatemala's largest counties by area and population. Many of the people there live in small remote pockets where no Americans have ever been. Currently we are the only American mission agency working solely in this area. There are still villages we visit where we are told that we are the first Americans to ever come there. Living conditions are very primitive with many living in dirt floor homes without electricity or running water and surviving on $2.00 a day. Ely's churches average in size around 40 to 50 adults. The pastors are not paid a salary and offerings are used to further the gospel. I have never witnessed such poverty and so much dedication in the work of our Lord's Great Commission.

Las Mercedes is one such area where there was no gospel at all. When Ely and I first came there the people thought we were spies from the government and were going to kill us. After much prayer, on my part, and some fast talking they decided to let us leave but we were told never to return. This is the area where we later poured a concrete floor in their little school and soon were allowed to come back again. To make a long story short, today, less than 1 year later, we have a church there and many are coming to Christ each week. To God be the glory!