Goodbye August! Time is a funny thing, some months feel eternal while others fly by in the blink of an eye. August seems to have blown by for our staff. We've been busy making plans, decisions, thinking of protocols we will have to follow and so much more! We are following the news closely as we are hoping for the airport to open in the next few weeks. Pastor Luis, Dinora, and Sarah are all ready to be back in Guatemala. As you know, the laws, and expectations in each country regarding this pandemic differ from country to country, and state to state.
A few days ago an immediate family member to one of our Happy Tummies workers was diagnosed with COVID-19. They live in the same house and spend every day together. For this reason, after a lot of prayer and consideration, we had to close Happy Tummies for a two-week quarantine. We pray to be open again soon and be able to serve our community. We ask that you join us in praying for our Happy Tummies workers and their families. We will not be disclosing any names as a way of protecting their privacy. Please pray, the cases around the lake are on the rise, and as we've mentioned many times before, our major concern is the lack of medical resources in the area. We are trusting God and hoping for quick and miraculous healing for our land. |
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You might have seen on our Instagram or Facebook that God opened the doors for us to visit Zacapa this month. We were able to bring food bags and give about 60 large food bags to families in need. We left 4 bags with the Pastor so that he was able to use them use them to evangelize 4 new families! The church in Zacapa has grown from about 10 members to almost 30, during a pandemic! People are hungry for Jesus and as the Church we must rise and meet that need with His love, mercy, grace, and truth, which is found in His Word. "Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth" John 17:17 |
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Many of you might remember a video we shared of a young girl and her mom in Zacapa, thanking Impacto for the bag of food. She mentioned that they did not have food that week and how God had provided through Impacto. Well, for the past 2 months we have been helping the Church pay for part of the internet bill so that they are able to join our women's weekly Bible Study as well as the Bible Institute classes. This young girl was going to have to drop out of her first year of middle school as her mom did not own a phone, computer, or have any way to access the internet. The young girl commented this to the pastor and his wife and now every time she has online classes she comes to the church and they lend her their phone! Is this not what we are called to do? |
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Our hearts are happy and full after our trip to Zacapa. Though times are hard and finances are extremely tight, God is still working and moving. We are ready and willing for Him to use us. "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father" John 14:1 |
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All the people receiving food bags in Zacapa were told that God had provided for them through your generosity, compassion, and love. We are all very thankful! |
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It is for my good that I have been humbled; it was so that I would learn your laws. Psalm 119:71 [CJB] |
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Humiliation - Good or Bad?
I believe that no one likes to be humiliated, but in many cases when humiliation comes from God, it results in something good for us. For example, in my case, before the pandemic, Impacto's calendar looked like the best year ever! It was so full with over 35 teams! And my personal calendar was filled with many invitations to visit churches with the purpose to speak and raise funds for all the ministries in Guatemala. Additionally, in my mind I dreamed about reaching all the goals we had set for the year. For instance, finishing the construction projects we have started, adding more students to the Bible institute, planting more churches, training more pastors and leaders, opening another Happy Tummies, and many other things. But God had other plans (the pandemic came), which are perfect plans. So, I will use the words of David and apply them to myself: It is for my good that I have been humbled; it was so that I would learn your laws. Psalm 119:71 [CJB] |
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Missionary Minute
We forgot to add this in our last newsletter, hope you enjoy!
Working for Impacto has been one of the best decisions I have made in my life. It has been the way God has used to allow me to serve Him. Pastor Luis had invited me to go on a mission trip with him and serve the people and it made me fall in love not only with the people but the ministry. It has been 16 years since I started this journey and though there have been challenges, nothing is better than to follow God's will, and for me it is to serve Him full time.
I do thank God for Impacto for many reasons, but I don't want to miss this opportunity to let you know that when my dad was alive, him and I, for years, didn't have the best relationship. I remember my dad was invited to work with Impacto and he very joyfully accepted. During our work together with Impacto, my dad and I had the best two years! Our relationship with each other grew more and more and I remember we even had the opportunity to ask each other for forgiveness and love on each other while working together for the Kingdom of God with Impacto. My dad was able to work and serve for almost two years before he passed away, and for that, I will always be thankful to Impacto and to Our Lord and Savior for allowing me to gain the relationship we had lost. To God be the glory! |
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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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