8 Months and Counting

8 months!!! Really?? Many people have asked me recently, "So, when are you planning to move to Guatemala?" I often hesitantly say, "July of 2012, if all goes as planned." But what I should be saying is "JULY of 2012!!!" with confidence in my voice. The New Life School will begin a new school year in January of 2012. I wish that I could be there to begin this new year with them, but I know that God is still preparing me in many ways before I go down there. I know that God has called me to Guatemala, and if he has done so, he will provide me with the funds to do so. I have been so humbled and honored by the amount of people who have asked how they can help. God continues to amaze me in how he is working to touch people's hearts to give to HIS effort through me! I know that none of this can be done on my own, although sometimes my thoughts and actions say otherwise. I ask for your continued prayers for increased faith that God "who began this good work will bring it to completion."

Where I will be 8 months from now!!!

If you are at all interested in keeping up with me through this journey or in donating to this effort, please sign up for my newsletter at the top of this blog. I truly appreciate all your prayers, concern, and love that you have shown me throughout this process. I pray that God will use all of you mightily in his kingdom to spread his love throughout the world!

Fundraising 101

In order to work with the New Life School, it will be necessary to raise a full salary for at least the 2.5 years that I have committed to work there. Before I even decided to work in Guatemala, one of the volunteers at the school, Amy, recommended a book to me called Funding your Ministry. It not only gives practical ideas on how to fundraise effectively, it also provides a Biblical rationale to fundraising along with an extensive Bible study that shows how people throughout Scripture were funded for specific ministries. It has opened my eyes to how God looks at fundraising and giving. Fundraising is not just about you asking people for money, but it is about Christians giving to God and missionaries receiving those gifts from God. This has given me a new perspective on raising the money I need for this ministry that God has called me. I have been praying for God to show me the people whom he wants to use to join me in this ministry, and it has been amazing so far to see how he has worked. I continue to pray that God guide me to the people whom he has called in this effort. I am currently speaking to several churches and am also seeking the support of individuals.
If you are interested in joining me in any way on this journey, this is what I ask of you:
 
1.First and most importantly, I ask that you join me in prayer to petition God for his guidance, protection, and provision in my life 
2.If you know of churches or individuals who would be willing to meet with me, please email me at jenngiese82@gmail.com 
3.If God has put on your heart to support me in any way, please provide your information above to be added to the newsletter

Thank you so much!!! 

Blessings, Jennifer

New Life Graduates

The New Life School's school year runs from January to October unlike the American school year. So, the school just celebrated another class of amazing students graduating from the 6th grade this week! I just wanted to share the post by Judy on her website so you can see and congratulate all these students. Without this school, many of these children would never have dreamed of graduating from the 6th grade! Not only that, they have gained a Christian education that will help them to be lights to a very dark world around them. Here is a link to the website: http://www.newlifeguatemala.com/. If you would like to send a note of congratulations to these students, feel free to post a comment, and I will send them on to Judy and the graduates! Thanks!