Caroline's Promise News

Written by Pastor Gary Combs while serving in Guatemala   “Jesus gave them this answer: ‘Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does’” (John 5:19 NIV). This is my first visit to Guatemala. Since this is the third year our church has sent   a team here, I thought it was finally time to see for myself what the Lord was doing. We have been partnering with Caroline’s Promise, based in Kernersville, North Carolina, and Iglesia Adonai, a church in Guatemala City, to make these trips possible. Whether in our hometown of Wilson, North Carolina or in other parts of the world, it has been our desire to look for where God is already working and to join Him there. We don’t go out as those who claim to have all the resources and answers to the world’s problems, but humbly, as those who only want to join the Father in His work. With this philosophy in mind, we lo...

This was my first mission trip to Guatemala. I visited Guatemala about 8 years ago during the adoption of our daughter, Katie. This was also her first trip back to Guatemala.   I felt God was calling me to go on this trip, and God worked out the time I needed off work and provided financially for our whole family of four to go. Leading up to the weeks and days before the trip, I began to question why I should go, because I felt I would not make a difference. I thought, anyone can do what I am going to do. If I am not there, someone else will be right there to do the exact same thing.  Plus, there seemed to be several unexpected things that came up, and I wondered if I should be home to take care of them. That was my way out, and they seemed like good reasons (excuses) to stay home. So I was going into the trip with that mindset, and I was ready to go home in the first day or two. I had already decided that I would not come back again. I figured what I...

Calling all men . During an evening debrief in Guatemala, I looked around the circle to notice that I was one of two men in our group of 20+ volunteers during the "family" mission trip. I couldn't help but to wonder: Is this normal? Is this just another sign of the demise of the American family, or the demise of men being called as the spiritual leaders of households? Now believe me: this isn't to pat myself on the back, because I struggle and fail in so many ways daily. Men, I encourage you to take the lead and get involved in mission work if you have not done so. You are needed at so many levels. You can make a difference! One hug, one kicked soccer ball, one high five, one passed football, one pat on the back, one opened juice box may be the most interaction a needy child gets from a man in a month. Children need to see these things and feel these things from men.  There is plenty of work to be done if you are a man's man, too. Metal to ...