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James 5:16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. We pray for the families of those affected by injustice and violence. We pray for the families who have lost loved ones. We pray for our country that all would be saved. We pray for the reporters who work through intense emotion to bring us the pictures and news of the day. We pray for our elected leaders who so desperately need wisdom from beyond themselves. We pray for the clergy in North America who care first-hand for the spiritual needs of those who have experienced these great tragedies. We pray for the Law enforcement agencies who serve in weary days. We pray against evil systems that oppress the poor. We pray for our nation -- that these events will bring us together and turn our thoughts toward helping each other. We pray against evil systems that oppress the poor. We pray for all those who might be tempted to think that violence accomplishes anything of lasting value. Lastly, we pray for every peacemaker in this world.  We pray that God will break the cycle of violence and use the Church in this sinful world, to proclaim his truth.

Miguel: Before coming to Guatemala my preconceive notions of the evangelical churches were that they were the Holy Grail for the expansion towards the U.S. Especially due to the fact that my home church is Elim. While attending the Neo-Pentecostal Churches like Casa de Dios and by hearing from fellow colleges about La Frater I was able to see that their primary goal has been financial income. Also by studying  the various characteristics of a Neo-Pentecostal church I noticed their differences from my church. Their technological advances used as propaganda and tele network amazed me. While attending the Casa de Dios service I noticed that they have a vison and focus that God will bless them material wise by giving economically.  In midst of this I was blessed by the message that was given. Just how every church has its up and downs the main importance is that peoples lives should be transformed and their character and mind should be change towards that of Jesus Christ. Therefore one can ask what is the Church doing for its nation. Being a musician I stood amazed by the quality of sound, video, and lighting that the church contained. I always longed for my own home church to have all of this, now living it I will still love to have this but now with a different motive and intention. To be able to impact the lives Coming to a conclusion that one cannot change the world by themselves Jesus has already done that but one can change their community and that would create a chain reaction. Jesus: Visiting La Casa de Dios was a different experience because of how the organization of the sound and how they where able to project it as a concert and how myself as a musician was able to hear a different style of playing. The church also felt like and auditorium in being able to see the big building and parking lot.

Written By: Micaela Gutierrez 'Sup everyone! This is Micaela G. reporting live from Kolkata. Well, maybe not live as we our blog is a little outdated considering the WiFi issues but that is just one of the aspects of this exciting Indian experience. Speaking of the Indian experience, allow me to share a little of what I've experienced so far...   India thus far has been quite the wild ride. In fact any time I hop on a Turk tub in a race I or on a bus I'm pretty sure I'm paying for my death. Other than the crazy modes if transportation, Kolkata has been very good to me and very hospitable. In most places the people are the most respectful and polite to you. More time than not you can here anyone calling you auntie or ma'am and offering you more food than you could ever eat. The values and virtues that so many people hold, like hospitality and manners, are actually quite surprising in a place that one would assume would be filled with so much anger and hostility. There are millions of people without the necessary means of life and yet they offer so much to people- it can be quite unsettling to see someone give their last of anything to someone else. The one thing that any westerner may find a bit creepy is the long stares that you get because of fair skin, or in my case because most people can not tell if I'm Indian or not. (Ive come in to contact with many shop owners or mashies at my site who have said I look like I could be half Indian of from the Southern regions.) The experience for everyone is very different though, to each their own would be a more than appropriate saying. I personally have not felt too much discomfort with the people in Kolkata but depending on how well you pick up on social cues there might be a chance it is very different. There have been plenty of people who have pulled on my heart strings whether it be the staff at BMS (our hotel) or the staff working with MCC, my new shop owner friends in New Market or the volunteers, children, sisters, and mashies at my Sisters of Charity site and I can't forget the baristas I have gotten to know at 8th day. Kolkata is a pretty big city filled with a lot of culture and history- which are both things that I truly appreciate; there is never a day that goes by that I do not learn something new. Even the small things are victories like hailing a cab or tuk tuk, bargaining a good price on some new pants, or finding my bus stop through a sea of people on the bus and on the crowded street. Speaking of crowded streets, there is a lot more than just people on them; they are filled with vendors, shops, and dogs- tons of dogs. If anything more though, the smells in Kolkata can be quite strong. Anytime you walk outside you get a whiff of humid air combined with the smells of whatever the guys down the street are cooking up, throw some smog and incense in there and you basically have Kolkata. Nevertheless, the city has its moments when you can just stare at something and be filled with awe and hope. As dilapidated and dirty that most of the buildings are, they still have aspects of craftsmanship that you can be mesmerized by. The kids of the family who sleep on the side walk a little ways down from my comfortable hotel are always running, laughing, and filled with joy- even in the crazy heat of India. While is sit thinking if complaining about how hot it is or how I have no clean clothes, those children give me hope; it amazes me that they can be so happy with so little. On my journey to this country I prayed that God would soften my heart and help me to appreciate the things that I am so fortunate to have. He has defiantly begun this work in me and I can feel myself becoming more understanding of suffering. The situations and sacrifices that so much of this country endure adds perspective to an outsider looking in to their own culture. The things that I have seen in Kolkata have helped me understand more of the ways that God works in this world and among the marginalized. He reveals himself to us in ways that we do not always expect- in the laugh of a child or the craftsmanship of a skilled carpenter or in the beautiful patterns of the clothing. Some people do not understand that as they perfect their craft, God is trying to perfect His. It's hard to come in to a different culture and expect people to understand your worldview or values but the important thing is that through everything you see God and you shine your light.

The Cross Still Saves Evangelist Billy Graham has preached about the cross to millions of people around the world—and now he brings the timeless message of hope and redemption in Jesus Christ to America once more.

Just A few days ago, great evil hit the land, and many people were killed because of the hatred in the heart of one man. The church of Jesus Christ always responds when crisis of this magnitude impacts a community. The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association was there on the scene to help mourners in this difficult season of life. " A chaplain prays with someone at a memorial site. Chaplain Kelly Burke said he often shares Psalm 73:26 when talking with people at the memorial sites. “It says my heart and flesh fail, which to me is the reality of life that sometimes life is too much,” Burke said. “It’s too hard to comprehend. The evil’s too wicked, the harm’s too heavy, the hurt is too deep. I realize in myself I can’t fix this. … But the verse goes on to say, ‘But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. That’s what I need, and that’s what I have, and that’s what I hope to share whenever I go on any of these deployments or do any ministry like this.”

We find ourselves before the one true God Hands open Hearts laid bare and broken We want to serve Him We want His name to be the very foundation upon which we build our lives To be the eyes through which we see the world Our community Ourselves We want to walk the roads of Jesus with that same dust on our feet We want to build bridges instead of burn them We want to love with the kind of love that flips over tables in temples And dares the religious to cast stones in judgment And is willing to share a table with sinners and betrayers This calling is bigger than a career Extends beyond a job or formal position This mission is eternal Bigger than anything we could come up with ourselves We are picking up the mission Jesus left for us We are doing what He told us “Love God Love your neighbor Love yourself Take up your cross Deny yourself Follow Me Make disciples Teach them the way Walk in the Spirit Speak the truth but make sure you live it too” Jesus is still calling His disciples To put down our nets To serve and love our neighbors Next door and across the world Jesus is calling all of us Whether we need to walk across the street Reach across the table Move across the country Make our home across the world Live in community Learn a new language Practice talking less and listening more Pray and discern what God has in store This plow we put our hands to This work we commit our lives to is not easy There is plenty of harvest but very few hands But we will not grow weary in well doing We ask the God who plants and waters and harvests and reaps To send the brave and the wise To send the women and the men and the children To send the leaders and the influencers To send the elders and the young To send artists, engineers, teachers, farmers, preachers, Mechanics, musicians, athletes, architects To send those who will befriend and walk alongside To send those who will again and again offer their lives We will not be a generation who is lulled to sleep By apathy and selfishness and complacency We are the people who will be moved to action To walk humbly and love mercy and do justice We want God to send us To Seattle coffee shops and Shanghai start-ups London streets and St. Louis neighborhoods To skyscrapers and street corners in Detroit and Dubai No matter where go When God sends us on mission We will answer with our whole lives Amena Brown is a spoken word artist from Atlanta, Georgia.

My Experience in Guatemala City As a first time traveler and first time to go outside the country, I was nervous and anxious on what to expect on this new journey I was about to take. I also had never been on an airplane before, and just to think about it was terrifying.  Although, the flights were not as bad as I imagined and the group was there to support in any possible way. From my arrival till today, everything has been incredibly great! The people here have been very welcoming and not to mention the food! It is very delicious, it is different to the food back in the U.S. but very good. My host family who I will stay with for the rest of the program here in Guatemala City have been very nice and they treat me as one of the family. I have two siblings; a brother and a sister. They both have taught me many things about the culture here and they spend time with me every day. Traveling to Guatemala has been a great opportunity and so far a great experience. Estafani (FPU Student)

COME PRAY FOR NORTH AMERICA We pray for those affected by terrorist attacks around the world, and especially those in Florida this past week. We pray for the families who have lost loved ones. We pray for the fire, police and ambulance staff on the scene. We pray for the doctors and nurses caring for the hurting. We pray for the reporters who work through intense emotion to bring us the pictures and news of the day. We pray for our elected leaders who so desperately need wisdom from beyond themselves. We pray for the clergy in Florida who care first-hand for the spiritual needs of those who have experienced this great tragedy. We pray for the Law enforcement agencies who seek to find out who would do this so they might be brought to justice. We pray for our nation -- that this event will bring us together and turn our thoughts toward helping each other to overcome the threat of terrorism. We pray for all those who might be tempted to think that violence accomplishes anything of lasting value. Lastly, We pray for every peace lover in this world. May God break the cycle of violence to make a difference for His Peace and Grace in this sinful world. Amen. Let us pray together University Pastor: God the Father, Community: have mercy upon us. University Pastor: God the Son, Community: have mercy upon us. University Pastor: God the Holy Spirit, Community: have mercy upon us. University Pastor: Holy, blessed and glorious Trinity, Community: have mercy upon us. University Pastor: By your holy incarnation, by your cross and passion, by your precious death and burial, Community: have mercy upon us. University Pastor: By your glorious resurrection and ascension, and by the coming of the Holy Spirit, Community: have mercy upon us. University Pastor: Graciously hear us, Lord Jesus Christ, that it may please you to deliver your servants from all evil and from eternal death, Community: hear us, good Lord. University Pastor: That it may please you mercifully to pardon all their sins, Community: hear us, good Lord. University Pastor: That it may please you to give them peace, rest and gladness, raising them to new life in your kingdom, Community: hear us, good Lord. University Pastor: That it may please you to bring us, with all your saints, to a joyful resurrection, Community: hear us, good Lord. All together: In darkness and in light, in trouble and in joy, help us, O God, to trust your love, to seek your purpose, and to praise your name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

By Reilly Reis Today was our last day in Galilee. We started our day off with an approximately 2 hour hike up the cliffs of Mount Arbel. During parts of the bike cables and handles were necessary! It was a fairly intense hike. There were some pretty neat remains of. Castle built into the sides of the cliff that we were able to explore and visit. At the top we took a group picture, which I will be sure do cherish for many years do come. From our bike we traveled to Tel Jezreel where we could see Mount Moreh, En-dor, the Harod Valley, the Nazareth Ridge, and mount Gilboa, all of which we have learned about in our lectures. We then drive to the base of Mount Gilboa, which is thought to be where Gideon chose his 300 soldiers based on whether they lapped up water like dogs or not. We continued on and drove to Beth-Shan, which is said to be the most preserved Roman/Hellenistic cities in Israel. At the site there were massive structures held up by beautifully decorated columns. During our time there we were able to see a theatre, a bath house, restrooms (toilets), and colonnaded streets. Jokingly our group members sat down and took plenty of pictures on the Hellenistic-styled toilets! The toilets were placed right next to each other, talk about have zero privacy right?! While we were at the site I began to think about what modern architectural structures of what everyday objects will future generations characterize our generations by. Ad have made great mathematical, medical, scientific, architectural, sociological, and environmental strides, but when it comes down to it what will our generation's legacy be? Personally, I hope that our "modern" generation will be known did more than our material advances and that we can be a bright, determined, and caring generation. I aspire to be part of a generation of great minds and soft hearts. Our last site of the day was at the western side of the Jordan River. This is said to be one of ghetto more popular baptismal sofas on the West side of the Jordan. As we drove back go to the Jerusalem University campus I was just overwhelmed by how blessed I am to have been given this once in a lifetime opportunity of going on this trip! The sites, the information, and the company has been truly phenomenal! The group, along with the culture of this remarkable land, has made these past three weeks an unforgettable experience. I have grown as a student and a follower of Christ as a result of this trip! I could not have picked a better group, leader, or nation to experience and interact with! Being around these Biblical and historical sites with an extremely knowledgable professor and eager to learn peers has been almost indescribable. Our group's diverse ages, hometowns, and personalities has created an atmosphere unlike any other! God is good!