42 thoughts on “Lori Schuitema

  1. I’m so privileged to be the 1st to write you a note! I hope you have a great time in Guatemala and that God richly blesses you and the kids. I love you so much and will miss you!! Can’t wait to hear about all that God did during the mission he is sending you on!

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  2. Lori,
    Thank you for your willingness to go along on short notice! You are an amazingly strong, beautiful person both inside and out!!
    Thank you ahead of time for what you will do for the girls of this team!
    Blessings,
    Patty

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  3. Well, the saying that “God’s timing is not our timing” has become very real for me in the last 2 weeks.
    When two of my children went to Guatemala 2 yrs ago and said “mom you would love to go on this trip someday”, I hoped that would become a reality some day. And then it did.
    Two weeks ago I received a call from Kevin asking if I would be able to go with the team to Guatemala since someone was no longer able to go. It felt like God was saying “now is the time”. So since I didn’thave much time to ponder, I said yes with a smile in my heart.
    I am very excited to share this opportunity with not only an amazing group of people from church, but especially my three kids.
    I want to express how thankful I am for the many people who have helped to sponsor this trip! We are presently sitting in Atlanta waiting for our next flight, and have already had such great sharing in our small groups. What awesome young people I am with!
    Thank you also for your love ♡ and prayers from home. Please pray for fresh and vulnerable faith.
    LOVE TO YOU ALL ♡

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  4. Lori,
    So glad you were able to go on this trip! It may have been a surprise to you, but not to God. He knew all along that you would be going and what a blessing to experience it with your kids. I will be praying for unity as a team, bonding, safety and health. May many lives be changed, both Guatemalans and the team’s. To God be the glory! Love ya friend, Nancy

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    • Thank you for the encouragement Nancy, I have thought of you a few times already and am so thankful that you are involved in such an incredible ministry. Love you friend!

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  5. Ahhh!!! Such adventures we have when we step into His leading:) I pray God bonds you in Christ as you work with those God has called you to minister to whether Guatemalan or American. Your sensitivity to others will be a blessing to many. You responded swiftly to this invitation and I pray that God opens your eyes to the invitations all around you to respond swiftly on His behalf. May you be strengthened with His confidence, His words, and His grace as you share this adventure with your children and the team. Nothing but blessings to/for you, Lori! -Bonny

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    • Thank you for the prayers Linda, Mason and I were seat partners on each flight, what an amazing young man. It was a lot of fun to connect and get to know him better 🙂

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  6. Hey honey, I’m so glad you guys made it there safe. I woke up early this morning, prompted by the spirit at 2:55am to pray that you guys made it safe and that God had given you all the strength you needed. So when I checked this morning to see if there was an update, I said to my self Wow, God is in control. Why would he wake me up and promt me to pray at almost the exact time you guys arrived. (I think it was to remind me not to worry) I hope you guys all had a great day building homes for those in need. I’m sure even though you all worked very hard today with little rest, He gave you the strength you needed and blessed you beyond what you could imagine. Love you a ton and can’t to hear how its going. Tell the kids I love them and miss them! Dave

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    • Yes, it was an exhausting day with little sleep, but such a great day! Thanks for the timely prayers, prompted by an amazing God 🙂 Love you too

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  7. Hi Lor,
    It is wonderful to know that you & team have made it there safely! I am confident God will bless your work so that the delay w/flight cannot interfere with God’s plan! Nol is doing great, to bed late & up early, out for brft, went w/Gramps on a project! I picked him up @ 11:45, so an ice cream cone was next! We did some reading & than I suggested a nap! He was sound asleep in short time! I know that is hard to believe!
    Tmrw he goes to Crew @ 11:00 & than we will pick them both up & take them over night to the cottage! Boating & fishing! Love to my dear ones, Mom
    Hi Mom,
    It’s me Noland how r you doing, is the group doing good on building houses! R you, Nichole, Noah, and Natalie having fun! R you making a difference kind of like my schools logo for the year “difference makers”. We’re praying for you what have you guy’s done so far! Hope you’re having fun!😘☺️✌😂😎👋😍😧💩💘🇲🇽

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    • Morning Noland! I have so many pictures for you to see, I am trying to be a difference maker 🙂 The shirt I am wearing says”Part of God’s story” so I will keep praying that each day I truly am part of God’s story. I love you so much and I am glad you are busy and having fun. Hugs and Kisses to my sweet boy, 🙂 Love mom
      Give grandpa and grandma a big hug too!

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  8. Thank you, Lori, for you willingness to serve on such short notice. I’m sure you are being blessed and blessing others with your beautiful disposition. Keeping you in prayer

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  9. Lori,

    Praying each day for your safety, growth and development as you move through this trip. You are in my thoughts.

    God bless.

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    • Thanks Becky, I hope you are having peace about not being here. I am sorry you are not here with your mom especially, but I hope and pray that you will be here in the future. Your mom and I took a little nap after dinner, we have bunks next to each other. We are having a lot of fun to say the least. I will be thinking and praying for you too!

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  10. Hi Lori,
    I’m so glad this worked out for you to go…and at the last minute! The memories you make with your kids and the lives you touch for eternity will be priceless. God bless you 🙂

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    • Hi Sara, thank you for the encouragement, it is such a blessing to be here. God is transforming so many lives, it is so exciting to behold. A bit of heaven on earth 🙂

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  11. Lori, I will be praying for you and the team that hearts will be open and that the family of God will grow today. I wish I were there with this team.

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    • Hi Scott, we talked about you today and yes we miss you, but so glad that you could have time with your family. Thank you for the prayers! It has been such an INCREDIBLE experience being here.

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  12. Dear Lori,
    What an experience for all of you. Dad & I pray daily and many times during the day for all of you. It’s wonderful that you can share this ministry with your children and watch them grow in Christ too. Everything is fine at the house. Sader likes me more each day. He doesn’t want to spend a whole lot of time outside. Maybe it’s too hot. He’s a good dog!! I know he misses all of you, as do Dave, Nate & Noland. Thank you for sharing God’s love with the beautiful people there. We love you and will continue to pray for your health and safety. See you soon, Mom S.

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    • Thank you mom, for your prayers, this trip has been such an amazing experience of prayer and feeling the presence of the Holy Spirit. It is really hard to explain or comprehend unless you have actually been here. Please pray for continued health and energy, love you both!

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  13. Hey honey, Love seeing you in the pics. After reading some of the blogs, the team seems to be having an amazing time. God is for sure working through your hard work, but more importantly your loving service and your willingness to be used by God! Your right I’m sure it can only be experienced by being there in person. Seeing you and the kids in pics makes me wish I went. Maybe next time they go I can plan ahead to make sure it works. I miss you a ton and can’t wait to see you and hear your stories. I read this Scripture yesterday morning for my Verse of the day and thought of you guys! Romans 15:5-6 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may “glorify” the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Love you and am Praying for you guys in the next step of your mission! Dave 🙂

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    • Honey, thank you for the bible passage, this has been transforming not only for me but also for our kids. So glad that God opened the door for me to be here. I miss you and think of you each day and Nate and Noland. Praying for each of you. Love you so much, and looking forward to seeing what God has in store each day for this team!!!

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  14. Hi Lori!

    I am praying for you and the group as you travel in Guatamala. Today, as you go to the coast, may God protect you and the vehicles you are riding in. May you be warmly received with your medications and love for the people in that remote village. I also pray that you are staying healthy and enjoying this experience with your kids! May the God of all grace and peace be yours today.

    Blessings!
    Sandy Holtrop

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    • Sandy, thank you for the prayers, this has been an AMAZING experience so far, God is actively transforming hearts and minds.

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  15. Our hearts are full from reading the reports and seeing the pictures so I can only imagine how you must be feeling. Praying for you and the whole team that you may absorb and process all that you are experiencing. Can’t wait to hear some of your stories!

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  16. Good morning hun, so glad to see you guys made it back safe. The group must be whipped! From kevins brief post, you must of had an amazing day. I can’t wait to hear the stories, I’m sure your heart is being displayed in all you have done this week. God has given you an amazing gift of caring deeply for people, even those you don’t know at all and espescially those you do know. So glad you had the opportunity to go on this trip, can’t imagine the blessings your experiencing. I miss you a ton and am looking forward to seeing you Tuesday! Love you, dave:)

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    • HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!!! Love you so much 🙂 I hope you are enjoying the pictures, I haven’t had any time to look at them but I will when we get home. Please pray for me, I am really scared to come home and be who God has pushed me to be here. I am being really authentic right now, God has been breaking me in ways that are unbelievable. My prayer has been for the last few months that He would empty me of myself and fill me with Himself. I hadn’t been doing that and obeying Him. I truly believe that is why I am here. GOD KNEW I NEEDED HIM TO PUSH ME IN WAYS THAT ONLY COULD HAPPEN WHEN I WAS WHERE HE WANTED ME. I am so filled and yet my prayer is that the foothold Satan has had on me will not creep back in, please please pray for me. I love you so much and miss you all.
      By the way, in my heart I have adopted about 20 more kids and loved them with the love that only comes from the Father of LOVE. I just wanted you to know that I have become a momma over and over here in Guatemala, and these kids are SO AMAZING and all have their own beautiful story.

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  17. Lori how great for you to experience and to see your kids serving and being transformed from the inside out! God does amazing things when we put it all on Him!

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    • Steve and Carmen, I just want to share with you what amazing young men you are raising. Both of them have blessed this team with their sharing and acts of love. I have enjoyed getting to know them better.
      Yesterday Zach and I had a great talk in the van and he has such a tender heart and yet desires to have such a strong passion for Christ. I have been so blessed to be here this week, amazing how fast it has gone.

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  18. Thanks for sharing hun! Our God is amazing! I think to often we don’t stop long enough to realize not only that He loves us but “That He Loves Us That much” that He will never leave us or drive us away. I will do my best in praying for you and the kids, I just hope he helps those of us who haven’t gone to be able to feel that same fire and that we can together further His Kingdom here in a country that needs Him more than ever! Love you a ton! Dave:)

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    • Morning Hun, looking forward to seeing you in 24 hours 🙂 It will be awesome to be with you. Love you all! Coveting your prayers for our travels home.

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  19. Good morning dear ones,
    Reading Kevin’s blog & seeing the pictures was a very special thing to behold, how the Holy Spirit’s power was mightily at work in every area! The pictures were really something to behold, what a blessing for you, Nichole, Noah, & Natalie! Praying for the team as they travel home God’s presence & love surround each one! Praying also for fellow believers in Guatamala that God’s will grow His church there!
    Love each one of you, anxious to hear your stories! Dad & Mom

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    • Thank you for the prayers, it’s amazing how important that aspect really is, especially when we are traveling in the dark with rain and the roads are steep and very rocky/muddy. I quietly prayed for Jesus to take the wheel. Love you all!

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  20. To Family and Friends, I am writing on Lori’s blog to let you all know what a great blessing Lori has been to me. This is Tim Brummel and I have been on Lori’s work crew and her Bible Study. It has been amazing getting to see Lori in such a different light and breaking down some of the barriers that we put up with members of the Hillcrest body. We have talked about that to a lot of the young men and women in our group that our identity lies in Jesus Christ. She has really emptied herself and filled others up in the mean time. She has always been there to comfort other members of the team when they were tired or frustrated, and has been a great help to me as she has shared some of her struggles with her faith. It has been a great warm feeling knowing that she has been on our team. She has great servant heart and I know that she will only be able to be the wife, mom, friend and family member by relying upon God’s help to be willing to share her life with others without worrying about others think. It has been a priviledge to work with Lori and I love that God ordained us to be together as partners in ministry. God’s Blessings to all and the Family of God.

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  21. Lori, I want to thank you for your loving and humble leadership to this team. For your willingness to ‘Go’…
    For Dave’s willingness to share you with this group and trusting God from home for your safety. You are a blessing to everyone you meet.

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    • Thanks Diane, It has been so much fun for Connor and I, we are in the same small group. We have been able to share quite a bit as a group which has been very special.

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  22. Hun, I can’t wait to see you tomorrow. Noland and I will for sure be there, not sure what Nates plan is yet. He’s trying to get his Final exam done. Call or text me when you land in Atlanta. I’m sure I’ll be up anyways. Hope you had a great day and a little more rest! Love you a ton, dave

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