Looking Forward, Looking Back

                                              

      

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:11

Merry Christmas! Praying that you are blessed to be surrounded by family and friends as the birth of our Savior is remembered and celebrated.

Looking Back

2016 (or the last 6 months of it) seemed to pass rather quickly. It's hard to believe that 2017 is only a couple of weeks away. From enrolling as a first year student at the Bible Institute, forming an outreach team and ministering in the children's cancer hospital, are just a few of the highlights of a whirlwind year.

A passing comment by a dear friend led me to enrolling at the Bible Institute in Guatemala City. For four months, four days a week, getting up at 4am each morning and a 2 hour round trip commute was definitely challenging and definitely a huge step of faith but the camaraderie, friendships and spiritual renewal was worth it.

First Year Students

I.B.C 2016

Promotion Day

October 2016

                                                                                    

           

                                   
                                                          AcciónKidsUpdate

AcciónKids held their first outreach at Iglesia Samaria in Villa Nueva in August with approximately 90 children in attendance. We were discouraged because when the service started it was pouring down rain and the only people in the church were the pastor's wife and children and us :( but despite the heavy rain, we all had a lot of fun.

        

 

November and December means that school is out for the year and Vacation Bible School season is here! AcciónKids participated in two VBS programs this year.

Iglesia Monte de Olivos en La Segunda Cruz, Sacatepéquez is a small village in an area where witchcraft is widely practiced. It is a poor village, many have little to no education, most children have no idea how old they are as the teachers only sporadically come to teach at the local school. Pastor Norma has a heart for the children and each day nearly 40 children came to the church!

We started each day with songs, games and activities, then the younger and older children each received a Bible lesson for their age group about how God used different people in the Bible.

Iglesia Arca de Noe located nearby in San Miguel Petapa was our second VBS this year. Pastors Carlos and Delmy have only been pastors at this church for approximately 8 months and there is no children's ministry (yet!) so this VBS was a great outreach for the community. Every day, seventy children from ages 2 - 15 learned about the Apostle Paul and what God is doing in countries around the world even where it's difficult to be a Christian.

 Arca de Noe will have their inaugural children's service on January 15!

Looking Forward to 2017

I do not know what the future holds but I know Who holds the future! I'm looking forward to what God has for me in the coming year but some doors that God has opened make me feel nervous. I have been asked to teach English classes and coordinate missions outreaches for the students at a brand new Christian school in Villa Nueva. AcciónKids has two outreaches planned for next year.

Prayer Needs:

- that I would be able to manage my time wisely. Doors are opening for ministry for which I am grateful but I need wisdom when to say yes and when to say not yet.

- financial support. Consistent monthly support has declined this year but God has been faithful and always provides.

- praying about returning to study at the Bible Institute this year. Saturday classes are available which is a better fit for my schedule for this term but is it what God has for me?

Year End Giving

           Checks may be mailed to:                                          For Electronic Contributions:

   Y.E.S. Ministries                                                 Please Visit www.yeservants.org 
P.O.Box 700697                                                    and click on the Donation link.

            St. Cloud, FL 34770-0697

                                             

All Contributions Are Tax-Deductible.

Serving Those Who Serve

As I began to reflect on the past month, the above phrase came to mind which describes the ministry I was honored to be asked to be part of. From serving pastors wives at the National Assemblies of God conference, traveling with the missions ministry from my church and serving the pastors of Section Pinula and their families, it was a whirlwind of activity from one side of Guatemala to the other but God was faithful and many lives were blessed.

Every two years, the Assemblies of God invites the wives of all the pastors in Guatemala to a three day conference at the Tabernacle in Villa Nueva. Each time, the number of women increases and this year, nearly 1,000 were in attendance. On the first day of the conference, I served in the medical where general physicians, gynecologists and pediatricians provided free medical consultations and exams. Medications and eyeglasses were also available. Days 2 and 3 found me in assisting in the kitchen - preparing and serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, washing dishes between meal times and repeating for the next one. Although exhausted at the end of the conference, to hear the words of gratitude was worth it.

 
            

                    

                                     

Vida A Huehuetenango

Just five short days after, the women's conference, I boarded a bus with 35 other individuals from Iglesia Vida for Buenos Aires (no, we did not make a wrong turn to Argentina)! We were approximately 30-45 minutes from the Mexico border) in the department of Huehuetenango - a 6-7 hour bus ride from Guatemala City. The pastor in Buenos Aires also has two outreaches in El Naranjal and El Mirador. Each of these villages are heavily Catholic and indigenous (Maya Mam) with no evangelical church in either village. The pastor from Buenos Aires needs to walk approximately one hour each way to reach these villages. At the end of the week, we were able to bless him with a motorcycle. Each day, we hosted children's programs including piñatas!, ministered to the women, distributed clothing, shoes and toys and concluded each day with a service. Many made a decision for Christ or reconciled. Here's a few photos - way too many to include them all!

 

Section Pinula Family Retreat

I was honored to be invited by Section Presbyter Eliu Morales to accompany the section pastors and their families to the first ever family retreat at the Valle Dorado resort in Zacapa and have a small program for the children. Grateful the resort had a water park as it was as hot as one would imagine a city located in the "Corredor Seco" (Dry Corridor) would be. The retreat was a rare event as the pastors usually do not often have an opportunity to relax with their families

  

Year End Giving

As 2015 comes to a close, I have a couple of one-time expenses coming up in the new year. Please prayerfully giving to one or more of these needs:

- $535 to complete the residency process

-$375 to move me in to my new home closer to where I will be ministering most

- $1500 to pay the balance of my vehicle

      Checks may be mailed to:                                        For Electronic Contributions:

      Y.E.S. Ministries                                                    Please Visit www.yeservants.org   

      P.O.Box 700697                                                     and click on the Donation link.

     St. Cloud, FL 34770-0697

                                             

All Contributions Are Tax-Deductible.

Trusting God - One Month At A Time

Transitioning from many years of being self-supporting to fully trusting God to provide has definitely stretched my faith as I learn to completely rely on Him and resist trying to make it on my own. I have been so blessed in so many ways over the months I have been in Guatemala especially with a church where I feel at home, where I am genuinely cared for and where I am ministered to and have found a place to serve.

I have been blessed with new monthly supporters and am grateful for those who have supported me financially from the beginning, however with some changes in my support base, I am in need of consistent monthly support. Each month, God graciously provides exactly what I need to live in the country He has called me to and the country I love. My monthly budget has turned out to be $1000 (a lower amount than originally estimated!) which includes all my living expenses, allows me to set aside money for ministry and additional expenses and is the amount of income needed each month to move forward in establishing permanent residency.

If you have supported me financially in the past, will you prayerfully consider renewing your support? If you have prayed or thought about supporting me but not yet made a commitment, would you consider giving as God leads? No amount is too small and every amount is gratefully appreciated.

One of my biggest (but temporary!) expenses that I would like to take care of is paying off my vehicle. I need approximately $2000 to completely pay the balance and free those funds for ministry.

Prayer Needs:

1) continued wisdom and protection in ministry
2)monthly support
3)funds to completely pay for my vehicle (it works as much in my ministry as I do!)
4) funds to set aside for ministry expenses
5) for the nation of Guatemala. These are exciting times of necessary change (politically speaking)
    especially with the upcoming presidential election.


To send financial support, please visit the Yielded Evangelical Servants website at www.yeservant.org.

Checks may be mailed to    
Yielded Evangelical Servants
P.O. Box 700697
St. Cloud, FL 34770

Electronic contributions may be set up through the Y.E.S. website using direct withdrawal from your bank account (preferred) or PayPal (although I am charged an extra 2.5%).


Thank you for partnering with me in ministry.
Heather

Six Churches, Five Days, One Memorable Experience

A couple of months ago, I was provided with the opportunity to organize from start to finish a medical clinic in Villa Nueva and San Miguel Petapa. These two cities are part of Section Petapa - a region which includes 24 Assemblies of God churches. Several details needed to be finalized, including finding a doctor willing to spend a week attending patients for whom seeing a doctor is a rare occurrence. Many thanks to Dr. Lisa Utsey for generously giving her time and funds toward the purchase of medicines. The next step was selecting the churches where the need was the greatest. This was not an easy task. How do you choose when the need is so great and your time is limited? Presbyter Marcelino Martinez and Pastor Marvin Martinez were invaluable in selecting the churches and pastors who would be hosting us. Two weeks prior to the clinic, Presbyter Martinez graciously invited me to the section meeting, providing the opportunity for the pastors to meet me and for me to give a short message of encouragement. Each church who opened their doors went far above what I expected in welcoming and caring for us. Between 35 - 40 children were able to see the doctor each day. Special thanks to Dr. Carlos Sosa who was invaluable in purchasing medicines at a lower cost.

Samaria Church - Pastor Maroqueo Guzman

Villa Nueva 

  Jeshua Church - Pastor Romeo Ruiz

Escuelitas, San Miguel Petapa

Assemblies of God Rosa de Saron  -   Pastor Arnufo Beteta

San Miguel Petapa

                             

 Mahanaim Church - Pastor Alvaro Lutin

               Colonia Luisa Alejandra II San Miguel Petapa              

Fuente de Salvación Church - Pastor Marcelino Martinez

 Colonia Marianitas, Villa Nueva

 Aposento Alto Church - Pastor Abimael Marroquin

Aldea Martires del Pueblo, Villa Nueva

Dr. Lisa and Some of Her Patients

   

 OK - so finding at least one child in each church didn't take long :)

Six churches were ministered to this time and I can't wait for the next opportunity. I enjoyed spending time with each pastoral family, learning about each church and the challenges of ministering in areas where drugs and gangs are prevalent. In every church, ministry to children and youth are thriving as the pastors are reaching them before the gangs do. 

  

To everyone who contributed to the purchase of medicines, thank you. If you would like to donate funds for vitamins, medicines and supplies for the next medical clinic or if you are a medical professional or know of someone who would be interested in participating, please let me know. 

Praises:

• For each child and family who was cared for during the clinic
• For each pastor and family who graciously and generously cared for us each day 

Prayer Needs:

• For the churches and pastors in Section Petapa as they minister to their congregations and communities. 
• Wisdom as I prayerfully consider coordinating future medical clinics in Section Petapa