Sunday, January 10, 2016

Why Guatemala....

I often hear this from people: Wait a minute...I thought you were missionaries in Haiti. Why are you going to Guatemala all the time? Hmm...

I wish I could answer this easily, but all I can say is that the Lord often calls us to many things in life. Many years ago, I believed strongly that we were called to China. My grandparents were missionaries there for over 40 years. My mother was raised there. My first daughter was born in China. But...somehow the Lord had different plans for us than what was "obvious". The Lord continued to open our eyes and lead us to other countries in Asia and then to serve throughout Africa. He has since lead us to serve and focus our energies in Latin America and the Caribbean.
 
And what can I say about Guatemala other than it truly has my heart. This is a painful thing for me in many ways. I feel like my heart is with my grown children in different places and then also with dear people around the world. The bulk of family is in Haiti and my heart continues to be here as well. The good thing is, God is bigger than all of these logistics and details.

Back in December, I had the incredible opportunity to travel to some very remote villages in Guatemala and was able to assist in opening a high school that will serve students from 16 different villages. The Chance to Dream truly began in these villages years ago and our commitment remains within these villages and students. I think I was on 7 different types of transportation (chicken buses) for 14 hours traveling back from the villages. It was a windy, bumpy road with people crammed in and well....it wasn't the most pleasant experience. 

BUT...I do still lead two medical teams a year to Santa Maria de Jesus (near Antigua) and these teams have an involvement in helping to sustain the village schools. Each team that I bring in to either Haiti or Guatemala (or Ecuador), our intent is that we will of course bring the hope of Jesus to others, but also that we will be involved in sustainable projects on the ground vs. just drop in for that one week and do the best we can.
 
Please keep Guatemala in prayer and the students. We need funds to keep this program running and continue to pray for guidance regarding this process. And please consider joining a team to either Guatemala, Ecuador, or Haiti. I bring in a very limited number of teams (4 teams to Haiti a year, 2 to Guatemala, and 1 to Ecuador), but what they do is crucial to assisting with sustainability in country.


The end of January, I will have a medical team traveling to Guatemala. We will overlap that team with much needed trauma training for the fire fighters as well. We are beginning to expand upon trauma training and continue to see such a great need for mental health services internationally. 

We are blessed beyond measure that the Lord has entrusted us with this incredible task of serving internationally. We covet your prayers and especially think of friends and family members back home in the States. We pray that each one of us with faithfully walk with the Lord wherever that leads us. 
 





Thank you everyone for your love and support!! I'll attach some random photos below. :)

~ Linda and Family





















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