In the Waiting Period

Waiting. It's a process that I'm all too familiar with, and most of the time, it's never very fun! But, this time, it's kind of an exciting time mixed with all kinds of emotions. To catch you up, if you haven't spoken to me in the last year or so, I have made 2 survey trips to Guatemala this year to learn more about the New Life School in Santa Maria de Jesus. Both trips were very successful and wonderful!!

The New Life School is a non-profit Christian school for children who cannot be educated in the Guatemalan public school system because of any form of disability. It is located on the side of Volcano Agua, which is approximately 15 minutes from Antigua. Santa Maria de Jesus is a Mayan village that is 98% Mayan and also has the highest rate of poverty and illiteracy in the department of Sacatepequez. It was founded by an American nurse in 2000 and now has 87 students on roll.

I found this school after searching online for Christian mission organizations that work with special needs children. They currently do not have a speech therapist at the school and have many children who could benefit from speech therapy. During my time there, I fell in love with the children at "Nueva Vida" and the mission of this organization. They not only provide the opportunity for education to children who would otherwise not, they also have had a major spiritual impact on the town of Santa Maria. Judy, the founder of this organization, and Amy, their occupational therapist, have been involved with the school for at least 10 years. They are amazing Christian ladies who have a heart for these children and this town. I am so excited to work alongside them and learn from them.

After much prayer and consideration, I have decided to move to Guatemala in the summer of 2012 to begin working with the New Life School. And so begins the waiting period. I am now beginning my preparations to fundraise as I will have to raise all my living expenses for this effort. Although it can seem a little overwhelming, I have so much support and people praying for me that I am at peace about it. So, I ask for you to join me in prayer during this waiting period. I know that God will supply my needs and lead me to where I need to be, although it is difficult to always remember that! Please look for updates as things progress throughout this year! God bless!

A First of Many Firsts

Well, as the title says, this blog is a first for me. If you'd asked me six months ago if I wanted to start a blog, the answer would be "NO." I don't really follow many blogs, and I've never really thought of myself as a "blogger." Whatever that means! So, I will not be offended if you don't follow mine.
So why start a blog? Well, for those of you who I haven't seen or talked to in awhile, I have been on a major journey lately. Actually, this journey began when I was born to missionary parents. They are all to blame if you ask me! But really, God has been working on me throughout my life to bring me to where I am today. My latest journey began a few years ago when I went to Nigeria to work with the Susana Homes orphanage. I have known the director, Chi, for most of my life, and she asked if I would be able to work with some of the children there who had special needs. She also wanted me to train some of the teachers to work with these children. This trip was a life changing experience for me! I came to realize how children with special needs are treated in other countries and how so many of them do not receive any education or help. I also realized how much I love being on the mission field! So.. God started working on my heart and planting thoughts in my head about doing missions long term. Of course, I pushed them away at first. I am a single young woman who just started a career. Why would I move away from my family and friends and my chances of a potential future husband? (Let's be honest!) But, this past summer, after returning from a mission trip to Peru, I realized that God was still pushing me in that direction.

It all began when I was talking to my sister on the phone, and she said, "Jennifer, it's funny! You are glowing in every one of your pictures from Peru and Nigeria. Have you ever thought of doing long term missions?" Well, I said "actually, yes. I have not even really told anybody about it, but I've been thinking about it for awhile. So, after that conversation, my desire for mission work was confirmed in many amazing ways. I started searching online to find places around the world that worked with special needs children. I stumbled across a school in Guatemala that was created for special needs children. It is a Christian organization that was started by an American lady who saw the need for educating special needs children in Guatemala. I contacted her, and she said, "We don't currently have a speech therapist here and really need one!" I then was referred to a couple who are moving to a nearby town in Guatemala to start a church plant. I went to visit them recently, and they are eager for me to join them in Guatemala.
So, if this wasn't a big enough confirmation from God, I recently was in my Wednesday night Bible study at church. We were talking about how to discern God's will for your life. The teacher, who is the preacher and a long time friend of my family, asked us to share how we have had to discern God's will in our own lives. I told my story of how God had been pushing me towards missions to Guatemala. The next Wednesday night, I couldn't make it to class. So, I received a message from one of our class leaders saying, "We raised $11,000 for your Guatemala mission tonight." My jaw dropped, and I almost fell over!!!! My first thought was, "Aww, dangit, now I really have to go to Guatemala!" But seriously, what a confirmation from the Lord.
Well, after much planning and praying, I am making a survey trip this March to Guatemala to figure out what this mission might look like. I am very excited and, of course, a little apprehensive, about this possibility!!

I apologize for the length of this post, and I understand if I lost you halfway through. I hopefully will be writing periodical updates about how things are going and just insights that I am learning. I ask for your prayers as I continue this amazing journey!!