Precious Family

More pictures to come but here is a photo at Sunday morning church with my sponsor child and her whole family!  They are amazing.  I feel as if they are a part of my family and although I know I have been a blessing to them - they have been such a blessing to me and my life!  I know my dad has been greatly impacted by them also.  We went to their house on Monday (which I will write about later) and it was amazing.  :)

Spirit of God would you fall in this place

Guatemala is amazing.  I can't describe to you how great it is.  I feel peace, joy, and love here.  I feel at home as I am surrounded by sisters and brothers in Christ.  I wish I could write about everything that I have experienced but I cannot.  It is hard to express how good God is and what He is doing in the lives of the people here - including mine.

I do not have time to write much tonight but I will quickly say that God is moving and making a huge difference here.  We are being challenged and changed through God's grace.  Today we went to one of Impact's schools and during the worship devotional God's Spirit was so tangible. The children were worshiping with all of their hearts - so passionately.  There were children bowing before the Lord spontaneously.  They were thanking God with all of their hearts - even though they live in the poorest area that Impact is involved in.  Once again during the song that says "I believe in you and what you are doing in me, Receive all the glory and all the honor" I was brought to tears.  Afterwards during a prayer time, we were asked to raise our hands if wanted God to have all of our lives.  By the end of the prayer I was really crying and just felt God so close to me.  I will tell you more individually about this experience but God was really tangible and there with all of the students and our group.  It was amazing and something that I wish I could never be apart from.

God is so good and doing amazing things.

Blessings and love.

No hay nadie como Tu

This post is from Sunday.... Due to power outages and computer troubles here it is: There is no one like God! Already my time here has been amazing - I can say the same for my dad. Today we attended two church services (the first started off as a cell group of 15 and now has over 50 in attendance and the second is Impact's main church - Rio de Vida). At the first church service, I grabbed my seat and looked up to see a girl smiling so big at me. She ran towards me and gave me a huge hug! It was Yoselina my sponsor child! Her whole family was at church and it warmed my heart to see them praising the Lord - my heart was especially moved by her father's genuine worship. Before the children were dismissed for Sunday School, she sat on my lap and just clung to me. I asked her if it was a surprise to see me and she was like "SI!!!!!" She was so happy. Prior to worship the team we are here with had the time to speak to the congregation. My dad also got up and spoke and said how he thought he came here for me but instead realized it was for God. He told them how no matter who we are, we all have the same loving God and can glorify him with our lives despite where we live etc. During worship we sang my favorite song - recibe toda la Gloria y la honra. God impacted my life and spoke to me through that song last year and being able to sing it again alongside my dad, Yoselina, and all the other Guatemalans brought tears to my eyes. The sermon was preached by a man who came to know the Lord through his sons. They are now in their later teenage years and are students at Impact's schools. He spoke about Matt 6:25-33 and why Christians don't feel like they are growing. He reminded us that we must open every room of our lives to Him and when we fail, because we will, that instead of closing the doors we should make them bigger! The service at Rio de Vida was also very impacting and relevant. We were asked at the beginning of the service if we were ready for what God wants to do in our lives. This got me thinking.... Am I ready? Am I allowing God to work in and through me? He spoke on James 1:22-25 and really emphasized the need not to just be hearers of the word but to let the word impact us and truly change our lives. To love as Christ loved! He said our calling wasn't meant to be an easy one but one that we must take up our cross and follow Him. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it - he will be blessed in what he does. James 1:25

mi casa en guatemala

After two days travel, we are successfully in Guatemala with Impact Ministries!  We are safe and sound.  I am feeling back at home (although the house is now green, not yellow) and Dad is experiencing some culture shock.  

I am so happy to be back.  Seeing familiar faces, smelling the Guatemalan smells, seeing the sights, and tasting the food is bringing back so many memories! 

Today we started off in Guatemala City... got to see a few sights and drink milk fresher than ever before - right from the goat!  We then drove the route that is beginning to feel familiar to me and after lunch and some car troubles, we arrived!  

I cannot wait for the adventures that tomorrow and the rest of the week hold.  God is so good and is doing amazing things here.  I am so blessed by this place and know this week will once again be life altering.

Although I did not really do anything today, I am exhausted so off to bed I go.  I'll update you on tomorrow - the church service(s) and whatever else it may hold!

Buenas noches y hasta luego,

Rebecca

Back to the place that holds a piece of my heart

I am currently sitting at the Vancouver Airport waiting for my flight to LAX where I will meet up with my dad and then fly out tomorrow to Guatemala - the place that truly holds a piece of my heart.  I cannot believe I am already going back and am so excited to see how God has been working there and what He has in store for my dad and I.  This is going to be a really special trip as my dad and I haven't been able to spend that much time together as he is busy with work and I am away at school.  He has never been on a missions trip and I am actually so excited to see God rock his world.  I really believe Guatemala is a place where God changes lives (as He changed mine) and I can't wait to see how it affects my dad!  I will try to keep my blog updated on our travels in Guatemala and work with Impact Ministries!  

Thank you for everyone who has been praying.  Please continue to pray for safety and open hearts to what God would have us do.

Thank you so much!  

Lots of love, Rebecca

Never consider whether or not you are of use - but always consider that you are not your own - you are His! 

-Oswald Chambers