Guatemala Mission Team 2007

(Testimony by Maria Kovaleski)

Hola,

The mission team is back from Guatemala and we want to thank everyone who contributed with money, medical supplies, and prayers.  We needed all of it!

Our team in Guatemala helped with collecting clothing, shoes, medication and even food for the village.  We were so fortunate to have had the help from Cinthya and her Guatemalan staff.  The US team and Guatemala team worked great together. To be among people who love God and are serving Him with great personal sacrifice was a huge blessing.  I felt so close to Him in Jalapa.  The entire team clearly had a purpose and each person performed individual jobs God had ordained for them.  I have always loved to be the leader, and leading such an incredible mission for God has been GREAT! I am a different person after this awesome experience. 

We received medical help from a couple of Guatemalan doctors I had contacted that work for the US Embassy and it was wonderful to see them also do for the people in Guatemala.  We took vitamins and other medicines but I felt like we were only able to provide “band-aid” medicine for some situations because it was impossible to have all of the medicine needed.  However, we were able to give the village approximately a two month’s worth of necessary medications. 

We were also able to do head washing with lice shampoo and did hair cuts.  It was amazing to see how grateful they all were.

The people of Rodeo Jalapa loved to hear the word of God.  We used every opportunity possible to show them His love.  Six people and a family of ten accepted Christ as their Savior in the Sunday lesson/preaching I had the honor to teach/preach.  I am so thankful that God used me to do His work.  I know that we all made a difference thru contributions but more important is that we are making an eternal difference.

The bibles for children, teens and adults were invaluable blessings.  We only had 50 children’s bibles but they divided in groups to use them.  They all love them.  Every teen as well as adult received a bible- we raised enough money for 503 bibles. Thank you again!

Another way we blessed the village of Rodeo Jalapa was by providing rice, beans, noodles, sugar, oil and Incaparina (a drink with vitamins and minerals that is given to children).   I would like to continue to provide this for the village children.  There are 160 children and for 30 days, three times a day, it would cost only $740.00 to get Incaparina.  We also have future aspirations to build a Sunday school room for the children and a kitchen to cook the Incaparina.  I know that with everyone’s help we can do this it would only take $5-$10 a family to reach this monthly goal.  The doctors saw children that were age 2 and their weight was only 9 pounds and children that were age 9 and looked like they were 3 years old.  Malnutrition is evident and we can help.  If anyone can and would like to contribute, please let me know.

We also went to orphanages, two nursing homes and read the word of God to them and keep the elderly company for a while. I am so thankful to God for allowing so much to happen while we were in Guatemala.  It was quite humbling to see the living conditions for these people who had so very little.  The older women almost always wanted to hug and kiss us in respect and thanks for our help.  Most especially, I wish everyone could see the precious faces of the children. Their eyes and smiles touched my heart more than anything.

We were well equipped with what God had provided. I have a vision for more. I have a hope for next year. Can you believe I am already talking about next year?

Guatemala Mission Team 2008

We are blessed to announce our Second Guatemala Mission Team Trip, it will be help in two different ways one it will be a short term medical mission and the other is to help start a Home for orphaned children in coordination with God bless the Children Foundation in Guatemala.  Tentative dates are June 25 thru July 6, 2008.

 As most of you know economical disparity has left many children in Guatemala to suffer severely from childhood illnesses and limited access to medical treatment.  There have been increased reports of children being abandoned in the streets and in trash dumps, due to adoption law changes in Guatemala. God has pressed on our hearts the desire to provide a healthy, safe and Godly home for these orphaned children.  We are asking you to pray for this trip and that the Lord would provide for the needs of these children.

The goals of the team:

• To share the love of Jesus Christ.
• Provide basic medical assistance in the Village of Jalapa
• Raise financial support for remodeling/construction of Orphanage and for the purchasing of cribs, beds, linens, and kitchen and play ground equipment.
• Provide manual labor.

Last year we were able to provide the following:

• Basic medical treatment for children and pregnant women with a team of Guatemalan doctors that work in the U.S. Embassy and treated over 200 children over a two day period
• Heart treatment for a child and on going medical for other children
• X-rays, blood and urine work also transportation to get this done
• Hygiene education, delousing and Worming
• Vitamins, on going Incaparina program (multivitamin drink) and medications
• Food, water, shoes and clothing distribution
• Purchased mattresses
• Distribution of over 800 bibles

Please prayerfully consider helping in one or more of the following ways:

• Pray for the success of our team.
• Share any knowledge you may have from similar types of missions you may have been involved in and relate problems you may have encountered and solutions.
• Recommend sources for supplies, assistance, or other resources.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions, want to join us or would like to help.

You also can send us your donations or donate on line.

Blessings,

Maria Kovaleski