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What a whirlwind this month has been! The beginning of every year is chaotic. There’s rushing around, and new beginnings, and resolutions, and changes, and (here in Guatemala) it’s the beginning of the school year! Nonetheless, we’ve had a wonderful month. We’ve met many new friends and ministry partners; we’re setting goals and dreams for the months and years to come, and we’re all settling into this new year. We are looking forward to seeing you as you come throughout out the year.
An Official Name

Tzutujil – Xejuyu (Shae-hoo-you)
Spanish – Al Lado de la Colina
English – Hillside

A few weeks ago we met with the Abuelitos and spent time sharing with them the vision of the Abuelitos Land. It’s a place where we want this ministry to blossom. We are hoping this building will be somewhere they feel comfortable and where they’ll have facilities to cover their needs. This new building will give all ministries more room to breathe as we were all in the same vicinity for Abuelitos, Stitches of Blessings, Happy Tummies Mom’s meetings, Medical Clinics, and adding the Happy Tummies children to the mix each afternoon.

After meeting with the Abuelitos, Xejuyu is the name we all loved and chose for this land. With the hill next to it and with the cross at the top we think the name is very fitting.

We have many ideas, hopes, and dreams for this land and can’t wait to share with you over time. But, for now we are so excited that everyone here agrees with this name. We will most often refer to it with the Tzutujil name of Xejuyu as it is a demonstration of where we live and in the language of the people God has called us to serve. 
Every day I read a chapter of the Bible and this month I decided to read Psalms. Today I want to share with you Psalm 30 for being the 30th day of January, which is also my birthday. I thank God for his blessings over my life and I want to use David ‘s words in this Psalm to thank our Lord for giving me another year of life.
Psalm 30

1. I will exalt you, O LORD, for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me. 
2. O LORD my God, I called to you for help and you healed me.
3. O LORD, you brought me up from the grave ; you spared me from going down into the pit.
4. Sing to the LORD, you saints of his; praise his holy name.
5. For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.
6. When I felt secure, I said, "I will never be shaken."
7. O LORD, when you favored me, you made my mountain stand firm; but when you hid your face, I was dismayed.
8. To you, O LORD, I called; to the Lord I cried for mercy:
9. "What gain is there in my destruction, in my going down into the pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it proclaim your faithfulness?
10. Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me; O LORD, be my help." 
11. You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
12. that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever .
HOME VISITS

Home visits are such a fun ministry to do with your team. It’s such a special time to get to know some of the local families. With Home Visits we ask the team to split into smaller groups of no more than seven people. Some of the homes here are a bit on the smaller side and having too many people can feel very crowded. The visit itself is a wonderful time. It’s a chance for your team to ask the family questions and vice versa.

During the visits we b ring a bag of staple foods. In the bag you can find things such as, pasta, rice, beans, oatmeal, soups, salt, sugar, peanut butter, oil, a carton of eggs and more.  We have been on home visits where the family is ecstatic about their bags; they’ve confided that they weren’t sure what they were going to eat that day or the next! We take such opportunities to remind them that God sent us, and all glory should go to Him and Him alone. 

It’s an opportunity to get to know each other on a deeper level. We encourage teams to ask for prayer requests and spend time praying with the families. Many of these families are non-believers and they thoroughly enjoy the visits and seeing God’s love from another perspective. When we visit those who are believers, it is a time for them to feel encouraged and uplifted by fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. It’s such a special time and it allows your team to build a more intimate relationship with the families you visit.
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Matthew 9:36
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