How’s your quarantine going? We understand some places have a stricter quarantine than others. Here in Guatemala things are fairly strict; we have a curfew from 6:00pm to 5:00am daily. Everything is to be completely closed on Sundays and no one is allowed out of their homes. Here by the lake things are a little less tense than in Guatemala City. Praise God, the numbers around here are not as alarming and we’re seeing people do their best to keep the Coronavirus from spreading.
We are missing the teams so much this year and we pray this situation will not last much longer. We miss the joint effort and encouragement teams bring. We miss being able to be with our Happy Tummies kids, our Abuelitos, visiting schools, and churches. We miss being able to share the Gospel and God’s love. We will, however, continue to trust in God, His timing, and His will. | | Happy Tummies To Go
As we are getting ready to start our fourth month of quarantine there are a few changes our local government has made. As a Christian organization we are working hard at being an example as we respect the orders and laws. With the new changes we are able to do something we have never done before; we will be feeding the kids and abuelitos once again through Happy Tummies to Go! Though we cannot go back to how things were, we are eager to start providing meals once again. The children and the elderly are being asked to continue staying at home. However, we are able to serve food and have them take it home. Starting July 1 st the person in charge of each child and abuelito will be able to come by Happy Tummies and pick up a plate to take home to them. Of course, many things will be different, but we hope that with these to go meals we’ll be able to continue sharing the love of Jesus.
We purchased 2 different dishes, with lids, for each child and abuelito. Their names will be written on the dish and we will alternate dishes every other day in the hope of minimizing the chances of cross-contamination. We’ve asked each person to bring a cloth napkin to wrap their tortillas. Our plan is for each serving to be a full adult-size serving; this way if those receiving the meal want to share it, they can. With their food we will be sending a folder with a daily activity for each week along with a weekly memory verse. They will return the folder at the end of each week. Once the quarantine is over, the child who has memorized the most verses and turned in the most work out of their folders will get a prize! We’ve also opened a Facebook page where we’ll be uploading weekly devotions so that the children can watch! We know some of the children at Happy Tummies do not hear about God and the Gospel at home. These folders will make sure we continue to nourish their souls and spirits as well as feeding their physical bodies.
We want to thank you for continuing to support Impacto in prayer and with donations. We are seeing the local need grow, especially since the economy of San Juan and San Pedro is largely driven by tourism, both national and international. COVID-19 has really messed with the income of many families. Thanks to your financial gifts we will be able to feed over 100 children and abuelitos daily. To God be the glory! | | They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.” 1 Samuel 8:5 [NIV] | | I hope that all of you are well during the quarantine created by the pandemic. With the extra time spent indoors, Dinora and I have been reading the Bible again starting from the beginning. Today we read 1 Samuel 8. What I have found through all these first books of the Bible, is the best government that has existed in the history of the earth. Do you know why I consider it the best government? Because God Himself was the king of the people of Israel and He ruled over them. He gave laws to the people to abide by and ways to behave. For example, in the Exodus 20, God gave them the ten commandments. I believe these were the first laws given to mankind and the first beautiful principles given from a king to follow and have a successful life.
These people had the King of the universe as their king and He ruled politically with a Theocratic and Spiritual government. But in 1 Samuel 8:5, we find one of the worst decisions made by the people of Israel. The elders of Israel came to speak to the prophet Samuel to tell him that they wanted a king, an earthly king. Samuel spoke very sadly to God and said, “ Lord your people want a king. ” What a foolish decision! They wanted to change their divine King for an earthly king. God answered to Samuel and said, “Samuel, they are not rejecting you, but they are rejecting me.”
If you continue to read in 1 Samuel 8:12-21, you will find the consequences of having an earthly king. God said to Samuel “If they want a king, they will have consequences.”
I want to finish this corner with the following; the year 2020 has become over-loaded with many things. COVID-19 came and has changed our lives completely. It came and changed the way we live, affected our jobs, our economy, etc. In a few months, we will have to vote for a new President. My intention is not to tell you who to vote for or even which is the right political party for you. But I do want to encourage you as a follower of Christ, to continue to live your life reigned by the King of kings and Lord of lords. | | Missionary Minute
My first mission trip was with a team from my church to Guatemala. As our team leader was preparing us to come serve, he had trouble getting responses from Pastor Luis. It was pretty discouraging, but we didn’t know that Pastor Luis couldn’t write in English very well. I worked in a U.S. Cabinet Secretary’s office at that time and was responsible for helping set up travel for the Secretary. I knew the importance of providing and getting information, especially for international travel, and can remember telling our leader that if we ever got to Guatemala and back that he should never, ever attempt to take another team anywhere through Pastor Luis! Doesn't God have a great sense of humor?
The first day helping with VBS in Guatemala City, God broke my heart. The children were dirty, wore dirty clothes, some had no shoes, and some were obviously malnourished. I wanted to “fix” everything. Pastor Luis took our team to the lake for one day and I had such a sense of “coming home” as we were crossing the lake from Panajachel to San Juan. God reminded me all week that as a teen I had promised Him I’d work for Him.
About 2 months after we returned to the States, I called Pastor Luis and offered to help him with emails and calendaring. He took me up on it. A year later, I met with my pastor and told him that I was really feeling God’s call to work full-time with Pastor Luis. After several meetings, my pastor told me that he could offer me a receptionist position that would be shared with another person part of the week and the other days I would work for Pastor Luis. So, I quit my full-time job with the U.S. Government and began the new chapter in my life in May 2004. Impacto was formed and as time passed and Impacto grew, my pastor allowed me to begin working full-time as Pastor Luis’ assistant. I’ve never regretted my decision and still love my work. I am so thankful to God, New Life Church, Pastor Mike Hilson, and Pastor Luis for providing the opportunity for me to do what God has called me to do. | | When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9:36 | | | WANT TO STAY IN TOUCH? check our website or e-mail us for more information. | | | | SUPPORT OUR MINISTRY Support Impacto by shopping consciously through AmazonSmile. | | | | | | | | |
