Ivanrest Impact Ministries – Guatemala

Hi Jeff,

Just a note to let you know that I am your prayer partner and our family will be keeping you in our thoughts and prayers as you travel to Guatemala and serve the Lord in the coming week. You will surely be blessed more than you can imagine. It is always fun to here from the kids the stories of how the Lord used them that week. I am sure He will use you in a special way. Have a lot of fun. Don’t forget to e-mail your mom. We moms need to know our kids are ok. (remind Nate to do the same)

God Bless,
Kathy Door

Jeff,

Know that Ellen and I will be keeping you in our thoughts and prayers this week. We knew that Rachel Van Dyken was going on this adventure but did not know about you. We will just add your name to our prayer list. Trust in God and know that He will be there for you. We have a very special place in our hearts for the people of Guatemala as we have two grandsons from there. May everyone you meet see God’s love through you. Know we will be keeping track of you and Rachel through this web site.

God Bless,
David and Ellen Vanden Berg from FCCRC

Jeff,
We were so excited to get your e-mail and hear about your trip. We will be following your blog and praying that God will do great things through you and in your life! May God guide you this week and keep your stomach strong!
God Bless!
Duane and Lori Hinken

Hi Jeff,
We were very pleased to hear your reasons for wanting to go on this mission trip. We will be praying for God’s blessing on your activities there and for safety and good health while on this trip. Grandpa and Grandma Sikma

Hey Jeff,
That’s great you’re part of the team to Guatemala this week. Did you know Kevin packed hurdles and is planning on running lots of miles with you this week?? Just kidding – ha-ha. Anyway, be a witness for Christ this week and we’ll be praying for you.
Laurens & Jan TenKate

Hey Jeff,

Life is an adventure and I am so glad that you are willing and able to take this adventure for the Lord. I am certain that you will color the lives of those around you. You may even have to build a make shift ping pong table out of a sheet of plywood so you do not have withdrawal symptoms. Pour out your cup of love and service and rely on God to fill it up! May the grace of God be with you in all things.

Love,

Dad

Dear Jeff, It was so nice to hear your voice yet last night before I went to sleep – thanks so much for the call. It is a bummer about the long delays but we are assuming that you finally made it off the ground. Everyone is praying for effective rest so the team can get things off the ground right away. The dog is quite frustrated that you are gone. He keeps wandering around from room to room looking for you — then climbs up on your bed and looks confused. We played some cards last night without you and even that didn’t feel quite right. We send our blessings and prayers to you today. Prayers for strength, health, and an enthusiasm for your work and the Guatemalan people. We love you! Mom

Hi Jeff,
How was your flight? It is Wednesday afternoon and we were thinking of you so thought we would drop you a line again. Keep up the good work and always be on fire for the Lord. May the people you come in contact with see Christ’s love through you. It sounds like yesterday was a long day Have a wonderful day and we will be in touch again soon. God bless you and your work there. We love you, Grandpa and Grandma Sikma

hey hey hey…
its so weird not having you here…but i hope you are having a great time.
i was going to call you today and then i remembered that you were gone.

28.21
87.83

love you.

Hi Jeff,

It is unfortunate that your flight was delayed so long, but it was great to hear that you were in good spirits. God’s promise is to use everything for good for those who love. Look for Him in all things! We really missed you tonight – we worked on the horse pasture all night! I am sure you missed us too. We look forward to hearing from you.

Thinking of you and praying for you,

Love,

Dad

Jeff:
Know that we are praying for you as you do your work in Guatemala. We know that as you have been faithful to God’s call to go there, He will show His faithfulness to you–in providing for you and showing you how He wants to use you as His servant. You may face “hurdles” of a different kind in Guatemala, but God will use them to see Him more clearly and to build your faith. Know that each thing you do for Him, both big and small, is God using you to show His love!
We can’t wait to see the pictures!
God bless you,
The Dooleys

Isaiah 44:2 CEV
I am your Creator. You were in My care even before you were born.

Dear Jeff,
It was wonderful to hear that you all made it there safely and the building of homes has begun! I know what a night owl you are and how you struggle with your mornings….so I prayed for you often today; for energy and strength and the drive to complete the task that was before you. I pictured you helping out with all of the “hard to reach high places” like you always do at home. In fact, I missed you today as I placed those dinner glasses up high using a chair instead of your long arms! Dad, Joni and I leave tomorrow morning early for Huntington University and will be gone for two days. We hope to keep in touch with your blog. You have many people supporting you in prayer while you are away. Stay strong in the mission, my beloved son! “Whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them” Mark 11:24 Love you, Mom

Jeff: I hope you are having an amazing time in Guatamala – I pray that God is blessing you with HUGE opportunities to grow and bless others! I hope that you are feeling well and if not, I hope that God will bless you with good health soon! See you soon! I can’t wait to hear about all of your adventures! In Christ, Dawn Bouman

Yo Jeff!
What up man! I got your invite to that euchre tourny! But i’m working at Spring Hill this summer and I have zero time!
Hope you’re doing amazing work for God while in Guatamala. I know God will be working through you. Hows that nice weather over there(hopefully)? Working your butt off? Hopefully I’ll see you soon. Good luck and God bless.

Cheers
Bryant.

Hi Jeff, what a wonderful experience for you and all the other kids! I’m sure you are working your hardest and showing God’s love in all you do. Remember that He is there with you, too, and will provide all you need! You are in our thoughts and prayers.

Steve and Donna Miller

Dear Jeff,
It was so hard for me to be away from the computer these last 2 days! I prayed for you often and wondered how the team was doing. I was awakened this morning at 5:00 a.m. and felt called to pray for you and your team. I have no idea what time that was for you or what was going on with your team but I prayed from Psalm 32:8, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.”
Our trip to Indiana went very well and I we just returned home a short while ago. I am eagerly reading the updates that are posted. We all send our love and encouragement! Keep up the hard work in the name of the Lord. Love, Mom

hey jeff! miss ya tons! isaw the picture with you and the power tool… sorta scary!! ha ha its sooo weird without you home. can’t wait to see you!! luv you tons!!
♥ Jenny

JEFF I MISS YOU!
i hope you are having a great time.
i cant wait till you get back.
i need bid euchre.
anyways i have been praying for you.
keep making a difference.

i love you.

Jeff,

I can’t wait to hear from you! We see the pictures and we hear the stories though Keven, but I am am dying to hear how things are going for you. We are praying for you every day and yes, we do miss you! We are trusting that as Kevin says “you are in His grip” and that all things are working out. The building of the homes is wonderful and the stories of faith are even more wonderful.

We will continue to lift you up!

In His name,

Dad

Hi there!!!!!
Hope all is going well for you!
I am impressed that you decided to go on this trip! You are going out of your comfort zone! Good call! Hope the trip down there was good! Hope you are surviving the food! We will continue to pray for you and the rest of your team this coming week! Have fun!
The Hollebeek’s

Jeff,
Sounds like you’ve had some amazing experiences on this trip already! I looked through all the pictures. You’re easy to spot in group photo’s, I just look for the tallest person and it’s always you! I really liked the pic with you and the 3 little boys. You are bending over, pretty much in half to get to their level! This is an awesome opportunity to serve and share God’s love. God’s plan for this trip includes experiences that will stretch you, break your heart, uplift and encourage you. Trust Him completely as he lets his plan unfold through you. We are praying for you. Love, The Stegemans

Hi Jeff, How are things going? It won’t be long now and you will be heading back home. I guess you will get home Tuesday some time and we are leaving for Minnesota the next day. We will be eager to hear about your trip. We are praying that you stay healthy and that your are experiencing God’s blessings everyday. Keep up the good work, we love you and miss you a lot. Love, Grandpa and Grandma Sikma

Jeff,
We are catching up on your mission trip – the pictures show the extensive needs there in the village! We know that God will do great things thru you and others on the team. Learning to rely on God can be humbling – but that is where God can use us the most. We pray that all is going well with your health:) Love from Michigan.

Hey Jeff,

Good job my man down there in Guatemala. Way to build those homes – bet that will look great on your job resume when you return (will build homes!). You look great and I’m sure those kids love the tall blonde guy! See you when you get back. James

Dear Jeff,
I enjoyed readig the updates from your week. Everyone is so happy to hear that God called you here. We have been praying for you and look forward to a safe return this week.

Nancy

Jeff,
We read your updates so far and are amazed at your willingness to serve in another country.
We have been praying for health and safety and spiritual enrichment for both you and the Guatemalan people. I hope your trip home is a smooth one – and we hope you are blessed with an aisle seat!

Brian

hey everyone!
i couldn\t read all those posts yet cuz this is the first time i have been able to get on the internet
we have had a few problems with the vans throughout the week but we managed to get through it. thnx again for all the posts and i am sure i will see u all soon again

hey jeff! i can’t wait til you get home! as i’ve said before WE MISS YOU TONS!! i hope that you get home safely… you’ve been in my prayers every night! how has quatemala been? well i can’t wait to see you tomorrow!! i love you!!
♥ Jenny

jeff you come home tomorrow.
i cant wait till you get here.
im sure youll have a ton of stories.
love you.

Dearest Jeff,
once again, I was awakened last night to pray for you and the team in Guatemala. I’m not sure what you were up to, but you were heavy on my heart. (maybe it is simply because we miss all of the work you do around here!) Dad and I worked in the garden tonight and have it looking pretty good; we eagerly await the return of the master gardner though. Dad says there are new pictures posted on your site, I am eager to look for you in them!
We are praying for “Jeff the eager story-teller’ to return to our home tomorrow evening. YOu have no idea how much you were missed by all of us.
WE love you so much! Mom

Hey Jeff!

I hope you had a great time in Guatemala!! We miss you so much and can not wait to hear about your mission work down there! See you soon!

~joni~

Hi Jeff, I hope your trip was fantastic–sure it was. We all prayed for your safety and success on this trip. Trusting God kept you in the STRONG GRIP OF HIS GRACE. To Christ be the glory.

Blessings,

Pastor Roger