September Newsletter

Guatemala is right in the middle of the rainy season and although we are thankful for the rain as it cools everything off wonderfully, it also brings hardship even devastation for poorer families who live in way of the mountains and whose houses are not sturdy enough to withstand all the rains and even worse, mudslides. All of the locals are saying that it is the hardest rainy season they have seen in a very long time. Just last weekend on the highway from Guatemala City to Chichi, a drive we make every week at least once, a bus full of people was hit by a mudslide killing 19 people. These tragedies are very near to us and cause us as a ministry to stand up, asking God to bring clear direction to us as to how we need to step in and help, in hands on ways. An exciting way that we have been able to step in and help is, YOU. I know that sounds funny, but it is our teams that have come to the aid of many of these families, raising the funds to build homes for families who have been devastated by the torrential rains and mudslides, these teams have literally brought hope are encouragement where before devastation prevailed. It has been a tremendous blessing to get to know the teams that we have had back to back, coming to serve from the states and in turn to be apart of their outreach and heart for the people in our community. If you have never had the opportunity to visit us, please come, it is a life giving blessing for those who serve and those who receive. We pick up a team from the airport next week who will actually be building our 500th house, and in our hearts this is only the beginning!

We are so excited at all of the movement towards our vision to help young girls who have been abused and molested; and staying in contact with Bethany Christian Services who, along with other organizations, are also on fire about this need and ministry. They are walking beside us, bringing training and consultations on how best to be meet the needs of these hurting girls. Our desire is not simply to meet needs, but to be His hands of complete healing, restoration and equip these girls to live fulfilled, healed and productive lives and leave powerful women of God. Already construction has begun on the second level of our first girls home, so this is coming and coming soon! We are praying for God to prepare us for this battle field. yet so overflowing with excitement to already see His heart in action for these girls!

Andrew had a small victory in a project he was working on within our Widow Bible Studies. To recap, our Widow Bible Studies are comprised of widows who have received homes built by our teams and ministry who are hungry to know more about this Jesus Who loved them so much He sent people to build a house for them. With the help of our amazing local Guatemalan pastor who has been apart of many of the formative outreaches of our ministry, Andrew was able to find some phenomenal men and women of God who couldn't wait to serve their own people. These pastors are here to love these widows and to introduce them and disciple them in Christ and already we have seen the numbers double in these Bible Studies.

On the home front, we have moved in and are loving our new cozy little home! It still feels a little like a construction zone...okay, a lot like a construction zone, but there are no words to describe the amazing feeling of someplace to call our own!! So, if you are ever in the neighborhood, drop by for some amazing Guatemalan coffee, that if you know my husband is always brewing, and we would love to share it with you! Thank you for sharing in our lives and making it possible for us to serve in Guatemala!