I’m so excited to be traveling back to Guatemala tomorrow!
You're probably wondering why I would want to go to Guatemala of all places.
In Mark 16:15, the bible says “Go into the world and preach the good news”. I know some people are designed to serve locally, and of course I do that! But, I’m a traveler, and I wanted to use my passion and experience to spread God’s love to Guatemala. I thought, I can certainly take one week out of my busy life and devote completely to God.
So, I decided to serve at the Hope of Life mission in Guatemala.
Guatemala is the poorest country in Latin America. It has a population of over 14 million people. 50% live in poverty. 30% of those live in extreme poverty. So there is A LOT of need there.
The Hope of Life Mission was started by a man named Carlos Vargas – a native of Guatemala who was a successful business man. One day a blind beggar came to him and asked for money – he gave him $5. Carlos became severely ill, suffering from Gout. He thought back to that blind man and thought maybe that was what he was supposed to do help the poor. He prayed to God to heal him and vowed that he would work to help the poor for the rest of his life. That’s exactly what he’s done.
Hope of life mission is amazing. It has :
• A nutritional center
• An orphanage
• An elderly home
• A college
• Tilapia ponds
• Greenhouses
• And many, many projects including over 20 Feeding centers, (HOL is solely responsible for aiding 26,000 people to survive!In Zacapa alone it feeds 1,000 children a day at one landfill!)
• Housing projects
• Hospital – St. Luke’s hospital, 1st private pediatric hospital, completely free
Having served at the Hope of Life mission last July, I can honestly tell you – I can live with A LOT less and I can give A LOT more! And I am looking forward to a another week of giving!
Friday, January 14, 2011
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Unladylike Conduct
Although I'm a bit ashamed to admit it, it's true. I run to Lady Gaga. Well, sometimes. Before getting in to that shameful admission, let me digress to my previous post. I am signed up for the Guatemala mission trip this summer! My paperwork and deposit have been sent so it's official. I'm very excited and will continue to keep you posted on the progress of that trip.
Now, back to my Lady Gaga story. Most of you know that I am a runner. I am training for the Shamrock Half-marathon on March 21. When doing my long-runs, if I'm not running with a partner, I listen to contemporary Christian rock music. I find these songs very appropriate. For instance, my play list starts with Song of Hope by the Robbie Seay Band. It moves in to other motivating and meaningful songs, like Wonderful Maker and Your Grace is Enough. Then about mile eight or so, Rescue by the Desperation Band plays in my ear,"I need you Jesus to come to my rescue..." I am desperately (pun intended) in need of rescue at that time. Appropriately enough the run is finished with Take My Life by Chris Tomlin. Because, that is surely what I feel like doing to myself.
Anyway...there are those runs where I am feeling a bit funky and unenergetic. It's those times where Lady Gaga comes to my rescue. (GASP!) Being a single-gal, her Bad Romance song makes me feel strangely good. And I just love singing all of those "p-p-p's" in Poker Face. I know- I know...her lyrics are totally inappropriate for a lady, but hey, at least I'm honest about it. Listening to them isn't really the problem though. The problem is, you start acting inappropriately. Like me spitting* on a passing truck this morning. Yup. I didn't actually mean to do it, but it happened none the less. And I blame Lady Gaga for that.
*Runners know that spitting and other atrocious acts are just part of being a runner. It's okay to spit when you run. (Albeit not on passing vehicles!) I NEVER EVER thought I'd be spitting, but then again, I NEVER EVER thought I'd be running a half-marathon either. You just never know.
Now, back to my Lady Gaga story. Most of you know that I am a runner. I am training for the Shamrock Half-marathon on March 21. When doing my long-runs, if I'm not running with a partner, I listen to contemporary Christian rock music. I find these songs very appropriate. For instance, my play list starts with Song of Hope by the Robbie Seay Band. It moves in to other motivating and meaningful songs, like Wonderful Maker and Your Grace is Enough. Then about mile eight or so, Rescue by the Desperation Band plays in my ear,"I need you Jesus to come to my rescue..." I am desperately (pun intended) in need of rescue at that time. Appropriately enough the run is finished with Take My Life by Chris Tomlin. Because, that is surely what I feel like doing to myself.
Anyway...there are those runs where I am feeling a bit funky and unenergetic. It's those times where Lady Gaga comes to my rescue. (GASP!) Being a single-gal, her Bad Romance song makes me feel strangely good. And I just love singing all of those "p-p-p's" in Poker Face. I know- I know...her lyrics are totally inappropriate for a lady, but hey, at least I'm honest about it. Listening to them isn't really the problem though. The problem is, you start acting inappropriately. Like me spitting* on a passing truck this morning. Yup. I didn't actually mean to do it, but it happened none the less. And I blame Lady Gaga for that.
*Runners know that spitting and other atrocious acts are just part of being a runner. It's okay to spit when you run. (Albeit not on passing vehicles!) I NEVER EVER thought I'd be spitting, but then again, I NEVER EVER thought I'd be running a half-marathon either. You just never know.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
My Mission to Mission
So...I've been wanting to go on a mission trip for a while now. I've considered China and Peru, but just had a friend get back from a trip to Guatemala. His excitement was contagious...so much so that I have decided to pursue Team Guatemala's next trip there in late July. Of course, I haven't actually talked to anyone officially about this yet, so I'm not sure it's going to happen. But, if God wants it to, then well....it will be so!
While I was discussing this with my ex-husband (he is my son's father afterall, so I like to make sure he is on board with my travels) he asked me why I would want to do that, and why, in fact, does anyone do that - why can't we stay here and help the people in America? Hmmmm......I paused...for about 1 second and told him that we had 365 days a year to help people here - why NOT take a week and minister to those who don't have the resources we have available to us here? He seemed satisfied with that answer. I then reminded him that I had plenty of life insurance and that JB (our son) would be well taken care of if something happened to me. He was ALSO satisfied with that answer. LOL!
Anyway.....please pray with me that if this is what God is leading me to do that it will be done and that I have the prayer support and financial resources to make it happen!
While I was discussing this with my ex-husband (he is my son's father afterall, so I like to make sure he is on board with my travels) he asked me why I would want to do that, and why, in fact, does anyone do that - why can't we stay here and help the people in America? Hmmmm......I paused...for about 1 second and told him that we had 365 days a year to help people here - why NOT take a week and minister to those who don't have the resources we have available to us here? He seemed satisfied with that answer. I then reminded him that I had plenty of life insurance and that JB (our son) would be well taken care of if something happened to me. He was ALSO satisfied with that answer. LOL!
Anyway.....please pray with me that if this is what God is leading me to do that it will be done and that I have the prayer support and financial resources to make it happen!
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