Two Urgent Prayer Requests

07.26.11 | 1:53 p.m.

Hello, Everyone:

Well, we need prayer again.  It seems that we are always asking for prayer and we really need it urgently on two fronts.  First and most urgent is Ronaldo Cuc Gluitz (pictured below). He is 13-year-old boy who was brought to us by the wife of the Mayor of San Benito. Ronaldo´s mother took him to her looking for help. Ronaldo weighed in at 66 pounds today, which is less than half of what he should weigh for his age and height.  He also has a large abscess in his groin and some serious respiratory problems due to severe malnutrition.

Ronaldo Cuc Gluitz

Dr. Carmen Juarez came to me this morning asking if we could exonerate his medical expenses because the family has no resources. The Mayor’s office will pay for x-rays and lab work if we will cover the rest of his expenses. Ronaldo will be a long-term patient at Hospital Shalom due to his severe condition. (If you feel led to give funds to help cover Ronaldo´s health expenses,  we would greatly appreciate it.)   We are anxiously awaiting the time when we have the second floor completed and available with rooms especially for these types of patients. (Read update here.)

Now, for the second prayer request.   We have just been informed that the government-run hospital is now closed due to a lack of funds. We are researching to see if any services are still available there or if the operations have shut down completely. We did notice that we have been unusually busy today, but did not realize the reason for this.  Please join with us in prayer that the General Hospital is not shut down completely, and that we are able to handle the overload of patients.

God Bless you all for all you are doing to keep us here and ministering health and healing in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Thank you.

In His Service,

Tim Spurrier
On the web: www.NewCovenantWorldMissions.org
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Going Everywhere & Announcing the Good News

Posted: 07.26.11 | 9:00 a.m.

Hi, Everyone:

This photo below is of myself, Sean Donnelley and Bob Wilson. Sean is President of Missionary Air Group (MAG) and Bob is a retired firefighter from the Boston area. They arrived from the Rus Rus Hospital in Honduras via the air ambulance MAG has stationed there, to help me install an air compressor for the firefighters at our local airport. The new air compressor will allow our firefighters to refill their own air tanks. Bob was very instrumental in acquiring the compressor and preparing it for shipment to Guatemala.

Tim Spurrier, Sean Donnelly & Bob Wilson

Their visit was to prepare for MAG placing an air ambulance in the Peten to provide emergency air service to very remote areas. Sean says that the Cessna 206 will be stationed here soon after all the modifications for safe jungle service are completed. Then, Paul Jones, the pilot who will work with Hospital Shalom will transport it to Guatemala.

Praise God for giving us His favor, connections, and resources to carry out Mark 16:15, “Then he said, “Go into the world. Go everywhere and announce the Message of God’s good news to one and all.”

I think the remote regions of the Peten Jungle qualifies as everywhere!

Thank you for your continued love & support,

Tim Spurrier
On the web: www.NewCovenantWorldMissions.org
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A Red Roof: The Talk of the Town

7.22.11 | 10:58 a.m.

Hello, Everyone!

As you all can see we are getting a big red roof put on Hospital Shalom and, needless to say, we are the talk of the town.

Our Red Roof!

Now that the martial law has been removed we seem to be getting patients from the rural villages again.   This week our patients numbers have been up where they need to be.   Praise God!!

In His Service,

Tim Spurrier
On the web: www.NewCovenantWorldMissions.org
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Pictures from the Field: Steve Yoder

07.14.11 | 4:13 PM

We’re thrilled to be able to share the following photos provided by Steve Yoder of Stark Truss, who has been on-site assisting with the installation of the trusses. The first picture shows the progress we’ve made this week.  Additional photos are of the vehicle signs we recently received so we can proclaim hope and healing everywhere we drive!

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Thanks so everyone who supports the work God is doing in the hearts of the people living in Peten and throughout Central America.

Everything you give — from your prayers, to financial gifts, to words of encouragement to providing for various needs by traveling to Guatemala or sending resources  — is truly making an eternal difference.

We are blessed to continue to be a blessing!

Tim & Doris Spurrier
On the web: www.NewCovenantWorldMissions.org
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Second Level Trusses Are On!

07.13.2011 | 11:38 AM

Praise God!  All the trusses for the second level have now been installed, and we are in the process of placing the sheet steel roofing.  God is soooooooooo very good to us.

In the pictures I have attached, you will be able to see a tall gringo watching our workers with a careful eye.  That man is Steve Yoder of Stark Truss company located in Canton, Ohio.

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Steve traveled to the Peten to ensure everything was installed properly and the truss system, which was engineered and supplied by Stark Truss, would service Hospital Shalom for many years to come.  Steve was also accompanied by his son Eric and Daniel Miller. Both of these young men worked very hard while they where here.

Doris and I would like to thank all of you who have faithfully supported New Covenant World Missions and Hospital Shalom with your prayers and finances.  Each of you are an integral member of a great team who will continue to serve the people of Central America in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. God bless you!

Read update posted 7/15/11 here.

In His Service,

Tim Spurrier
On the web: www.NewCovenantWorldMissions.org
Access Online Giving Here:  Make A Difference Today

Many “Firsts” Taking Place at Hospital Shalom

06.30.2011 | 9:40 PM

Greetings, Everyone:

Well, I have wanted to get a construction update sent out and here it is!

The pictures show that the truss system is ready for sheet metal roofing except for the valley trusses, and Steve Yoder of Stark Truss will be here to help us with that procedure.  Friday, Doris and I have an appointment to talk to a supplier about getting the roofing material here by the middle of next week.

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Praise God everything seems to be going smoothly with construction and we will soon have the hospital second floor under roof.  The rainy season has already started which has caused us to run a little behind schedule.

Our friends from Lifecorps International (in Canada) have been so very faithful in helping us to fund some of our projects at Hospital Shalom.  They have been assisting us with the purchase of new kitchen and laundry equipment.  This week we will be installing much of the new equipment and I can hardly wait to send you pictures of what looks like.  We will be able to provide a wide variety of meals for all types of diet plans.

The laundry will have washing machines dedicated for surgical laundry and other machines for housekeeping laundry and one for general patient laundry.  It will be exciting to see the look on the health inspector’s face because I think we will be the only health care facility in the Peten that meets all the requirements.

And I have another really BIG FIRST.  Several months ago I talked to Jim Moore of Samaritan’s Purse and he offered us some adult ventilators.  They arrived about two weeks ago and yesterday an internal medicine doctor and a respiratory therapist arrived to check out the machines and we are now official.  Now that we have adult ventilators to go with our neonatal ventilators, we are the first non-governmental health care facility in the Peten to offer complete intensive care service.  To God be the Glory!

Well, I better get moving.  Foster and one of the grounds keepers have been on vacation this week so Doris and I have had to pull double duty.  I have been helping with landscaping today and Doris has been busy with a lot of scheduling for the nursing department. Next week one of the cooks goes on vacation, so Doris will be in the kitchen.  Thank God Foster will be back to do the administration work!

Thank you all for all your prayers and support.

In His Service,

Tim Spurrier
On the web: www.NewCovenantWorldMissions.org
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Construction Continues: Second Floor Taking Shape

06.17.11 | 3:31 PM

Greetings, Everyone:

I’m attaching two pictures of the continuing construction at Hospital Shalom.  We are getting the piggy back trusses in place and starting to install the top cord steel  in preparation for the steel sheet roofing material.

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Joe Rey and Gary Morrison are on site to assist with all this construction work and we are glad that they were able to be here. The Guatemalan crew always enjoys working with people from the States.

We remain under martial law and even though things seem calm at times, we are still encountering challenges. Some members of the drug cartel that caused all these problems are now on trial and from time to time we see large columns of police and military vehicles moving rapidly through the area. They are attempting  to keep things quiet because they do not want to hinder the tourist trade during this high-traffic time of year. Unfortunately, we have noticed that there are not a lot of tourists moving around.

Click here for June construction update.

Please continue to keep us in your prayers.

Thank you,

Tim Spurrier
On the web: www.NewCovenantWorldMissions.org
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Update from the Field: Joe Ray

05.26.2011 | 9:37 PM

Hi, Everyone:

I have just returned from the Peten, Guatemala;  it was such an impacting experience I wanted to share my thoughts and observations with you.

I spent about nine days with the team at Hospital Shalom, working on the trusses for the roof project. Tim took great care of my friend and I while we were on site.  I really enjoyed working with him and the new friends I met while I was there, and hope to return to work with them again in the future.

I must say I love Tim’s attitude of,  “Whatever it takes!” to care for the people who arrive at the hospital.  And regarding the individuals who work at Hospital Shalom, they are treated like valuable team members. It is obvious Tim cares about the needs of his employees, as well as those of the patients.

Unfortunately, I have been in mission fields where the people who do the work are forgotten, or misused to accomplish selfish goals instead of accomplishing Gods will.  This is not the case with Tim Spurrier,  New Covenant World Missions, or Hospital Shalom. Working with Tim is such a blessing — he has a heart for God . . . and the people of the Peten.

Joe Ray
On the web: www.NewCovenantWorldMissions.org
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Free From Infections & Gaining Weight, Carla Goes Home With A New Wheelchair

06.01.11 | 12:39 PM

Hello, Everyone:

From the day Carla arrived at Hospital Shalom–hovering near death–until today, has been less than three weeks. (Read previous post here.)We are thrilled to report she is free of infections and is gaining weight.

The first photo below is of  little Carla and her parents preparing to leave Hospital Shalom.  The other two pictures are of Carla at her home, and in her new wheelchair.

Dick and Mary Jo Crandall contacted Chris Mooney of Bethel Ministries International in Chimaltenango, Guatemala, and he provided us with a chair we could give to Carla.  We are so thankful we could be the instruments that God used to help improve Carla’s quality of  life.

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We will continue to monitor Carla’s progress through her regular visits to Hospital Shalom, and we also continue supporting Carla and her family by visiting them at their home.

Thank you for standing with us through your prayers and support for Carla and her family.

To God Be The Glory!

Tim Spurrier
On the web: www.NewCovenantWorldMissions.org
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Update from the Field from Gary Morrison, Jr.

05.27.2011 | 8:44 AM

Hi, Everyone:

I journeyed to Hospital Shalom in Peten, Guatemala, on May 8, 2011, for a building expansion project.  I had read the articles Tim & Doris have posted online and had seen the photos, but what I discovered there was beyond what I could ever have imagined. I found a place where every person was treated with dignity and respect, and every patient was considered special–not just a number–but a real person, who is a unique individual.

I was also amazed at the attention given to the family members of the patients at the hospital–they were respected and cared for with the same attention as the patient.

The work of God that is being done there is amazing in every aspect. Previously, I had been to Hospital Shalom on short trips, but never fully understood the ministry that goes on there. I can say now without a doubt that this is truly a place of God and a place of wonderous healings, both spiritual and physical.

Tim took the most excellent care of my every need. It is not often that you go on a mission trip for several weeks and gain weight. (But I did!) The accommodations were the best that I have experienced in the Peten and were complete with air conditioning, hot shower, security, and electricity. Never once did I feel unsafe.

Gary Morrison, Jr., in the Peten

God has truly blessed Tim and Doris in their ministry. I went to Guatemala to minister, but was ministered to.  And as with every trip to Guatemala, I love the people there even more

God Bless,

Gary Morrison, Jr.
On the web: www.NewCovenantWorldMissions.org
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