3 Weeks Left

I have about 3 weeks left to be here in the US. It brings up many different feelings. At times I feel like I am going to explode unless I get to Guatemala soon, and other times I feel sad that I am leaving people here in the US. I have been spending these last days just hanging out with friends, trying to soak up the last days that I have left. I am also working still, and it is so hard some days to find purpose and meaning there when I know that I am leaving to do something that I am much more passionate about and I feel makes a difference. I am still so happy that I am able to finally go after praying for 4 years about it. God is faithful and has brought me through the journey of getting there and will continue with me on the journey of being there.

I am now just waiting to see if I have enough financial support in. This is a test of faith as I need support pledged monthly in order to go. God has been providing and I am trusting that he will provide all I need. It is encouraging to see that people are backing what I do and actually believe and trust that God is doing work through me. I cannot wait to see what God does through our work in Guatemala. I know that lives with be touched and hearts changed.

Please pray for me in these last weeks. I am going to have to say good bye and start a new way of life, and it will all happen over only one month. Much change will come for me. Pray that I get the money I need to go. Pray that God gives me safety and health. Pray that my transition goes smooth. Pray that God changes my heart, teaches me, and makes me more like him. Pray that I might know how to love.

My Support Letter

Dear Friends and Family,

I really don’t know how to begin because I cannot put into words how God has been working in my life recently. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that he would give me a ministry that so perfectly matches a need to my strengths. Over the last several years, God has allowed me to be blessed and changed by the people of Guatemala. Now, I have the privilege to dedicate my life to serving them in Christ’s love as a missionary with DeepStream in the position of Teams Coordinator. As this opportunity unfolds before me, I believe that God is calling me to step forward in faith by being in Guatemala by the end of February. As I prepare to leave, I want to let you know about the work I will be doing and how you might participate in God’s work in Guatemala.

Many of you know that I love Guatemala and have felt the call to work alongside its people since I studied there in 2005. Through my experiences in Guatemala, God changed how I looked at the world, gave me a love for its people and a passion to help the poor and work for justice. My heart breaks for the malnourished children that run barefoot, for the women who are abused by their husbands, for the youth with no future, for alcoholics with no way out. I desire to participate in alleviating some of this suffering.

Addressing these challenges can seem impossible, but I believe that with God’s help and willing servants, lives and communities can be changed. By partnering with the community and its leaders, we seek to minister in ways that do not create dependence and that are respectful of Guatemalan culture and the communities in which we have been invited to serve. DeepStream’s current projects are homebuilding, working with an orphanage, and offering sports camps, with plans to build a house a month for families in Magdalena and surrounding communities.

DeepStream also strives to change lives by hosting North American teams to work on these projects. We hope that as the teams work alongside Guatemalans and live in the community, their worldview will be challenged and their hearts will be changed. By experiencing the warmth of Guatemalans and seeing joy and generosity of those who have little material wealth, teams will be challenged to reflect on their lives and make a difference in their communities at home.

In my role as Teams Coordinator, I will remain in the community of Magdalena, living with a Guatemalan family and attending the local church. This will allow me to serve as a liaison between the community and teams. My responsibilities will include preparing for the teams, providing orientation and language training, interpreting, accompanying teams to ministry sites and working alongside them.

Though you may not yet be part of one of the North American teams going to Guatemala (I hope you will be someday), I am inviting you to be part of my support team. I believe that some of us are called to go and some of us are called to be the means for others to go. In addition to having people contribute financially, I need people to pray consistently for me, for Guatemala, and for the lives we seek to touch through our ministry. Prayer is desperately needed because without the Holy Spirit nothing lasting will be accomplished.

Please consider being a part of God’s work in Guatemala by praying and/or providing financial support. If you can participate, please return the enclosed card as soon as possible. Thanks in advance for your prayers and financial contributions. They are greatly appreciated.

Living by His grace,

Amy

Well here I am sitting in minnesota, looking at the snow fall, with hope to soon be in Guatemala. I wanted to start this blog now while I am still in minnesota so people can connect with me and read about my process of getting to Guatemala. I also hope that people will continue reading about what is happening in my life as I seek to serve there. I just found out about 3 weeks ago that I am going to be moving to Guatemala (God-willing) at the end of February. I am super excited and praying that everything goes smoothly. I have to raise support before I can go, which is a huge challenge, but I know that God is faithful and if I am supposed to go to Guatemala he will do it. I just finished writing my support letter and I hope to post it soon for people to read here. I will also be mailing it out to many friends and family in the next week. Please check often for updates. I hope to hear from you all often. It will encourage me so much to get emails and posts.