Hey family and friends! I just wanted to hop on and give a little update about life in Guatemala! It’s been the sweetest four weeks here! For the last two weeks, my team and I have been living in the village that we are serving in. We live on top of the mountain on a little avocado farm, renting a house from the owners! The home is special! It’s small, cozy, and full of life. We’ve spent much time cooking, laughing, praying, and worshiping the Lord with one another. It’s been a sweet taste of what it truly looks like to live life on mission, where ministry is life and life is ministry.
We are serving with a ministry called Dar Para Dar. They believe “Dar es Amar”: to give is to love. My team is beginning a new relationship with the village of Chimachoy. This ministry has been stretching for our team! Our ministry hosts have graciously allowed us to ask the Lord and seek Him about what the vision for ministry in Chimachoy would look like while we are here. Often times, ministry hosts present tangible action points or ministry opportunities and WR teams jump into what has already been established by the ministry. However, with Dar Para Dar, our team has been given a blank slate with the village and we have earnestly sought the Lord on what he wants for us while we’re here.
Our heart for Chimachoy is discipleship. It’s been sweet to see how the Lord has used each one of our gifts and our passions to unite us in a vision. For example, a few of our team members have a passion for children’s ministry and we have begun a kids club where we spend time with the kids and teach them about who Jesus is…discipleship of children. Kids Club happens on Monday’s and Friday’s at 1:30, so please join us in prayer for it! For others on our team, the Lord has put men’s discipleship on their hearts. We are praying for opportunities and ideas for the discipleship of the men and ministers who disciple the people of Chimachoy. The desire is to walk them through what it looks like to be a man of God and live in a way that honors God’s intend to design, especially in a culture that is very machismo. For me, the Lord has put women’s discipleship on my heart. I have become burdened for the women: the wives, the moms, the young women. I desire that they would know God and Jesus Christ whom he sent, that they might experience life in the Spirit. I have gotten to know a few of the women through home visits, and I am excited to get to know them more. They are eager to be friends and show me hospitality through welcoming me into their homes, like Mary who taught me how to make tortillas! Please pray for more opportunities to get to know them.
Please join us in prayer as we continue to navigate ministry here in Chimachoy and as we step into new opportunities and pursue people as the Lord pursues them! We also desire to establish rhythms of discipleship in Chimachoy that will be sustained by believers in Chimachoy long after we are gone. We want to make disciples who make disciples!! These past couple weeks have grown me in dependence on the Lord that has a new, fresh depth to it! As we navigate ministry and the fluidity of our time here in Chimachoy, pray that we would seek the Lord and his heart for these people and that we would walk in obedience to the Spirit, with boldness and confidence as he calls us to do what he wants. I’m honored to be a part of this village, & I want to see God’s kingdom come in Chimachoy as it is in Heaven.
Thank you so much for following along, praying for our team, and investing in what God is doing here. As always, send your prayer requests, leave a comment, and email me your life updates! I pray for you and am so grateful for you. I love you.
You matter to God, so you matter to me,
Kara <3
This is incredible! God has given you and your team the freedom and the passion to minister to those he puts on your hearts. What a special treat they people of Chimachoy are in for as you and your team disciple and grow in Christ with them. When I think of people living for and like Christ, I think of you guys! Keep up the amazing work and continue to lean into what God is laying on your hearts.
Much Love – Jaden
Kara, that is so amazing what the Lord is doing in your life & in your team. That is beautiful that your team & you have a heart for the Chimachoy people & kids.
Love your sweet caring heart. Its beautiful that you mention ministry is life and life is ministry because P squad is experiencing that for sure. Love your ending too “you matter to God, so you matter to me.”
Miss you, can’t wait to keep hearing the things God is doing in your life. Miss speaking spanish with you.
Kevin
Wow Kara,
Between men in the village, the young people, and the moms and women both young and old, I think you’ve got everyone in the mountains and valleys within your jurisdiction covered :-). When this ministry gave you a blank slate to Press into the Lord about, they knew what they were doing. Truly truly, to love is to give. Your sacrifice and labor of love does not go unnoticed.
I agree with Kevin, what a cool close.
“You matter to God, so you matter to me. “
“For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.”
??Hebrews? ?6:10? ?ESV??
What an honor and privilege God has given you all to be given new ground. New ground to establish ministries, relationship, and ultimately- the love of God. I admire ya’lls discernment to lead where HE wants you to go.
“You matter to God so you matter to me” – that line really got me. So true Kara!
Also that picture of you in the church with the little girls really stole my heart also.
You certainly have a beautiful opportunity ahead of you to speak life and spread life in a new place. Just think, as you walk all over that mountain, you may be the first Holy Spirit vessel that ever touched some of that ground. Cool to think about! What you carry is so powerful! Thank you for your gentle and sweet heart for your team and your location. What you bring is so important!