Mark 10:17-30

Mark 10:17-30

So many of us that have grown up in the church have lived out what verse 19 says. We have lived it out our whole lives; it’s been drilled in to us by our parents, pastor, and Sunday school teachers. For a lot of us we can repeat these commandments like we repeat the ABC’s. So we think we are going to heaven because we have lived out these commandments and are a good person, I mean, that is what my Sunday school teacher said. But then we get to verse 21 sell all you have and give to the poor and follow me. In other words live radically don’t store up stuff on this world live life for Him. Let go of this world and temporary satisfactions and find full contentment in Him. We are all called to the same pursuit to live 100% surrendered to him and to preach His name to everyone. We can take nothing but souls won for his name to haven with us.

I have been here for a month!! Wow, time has gone by pretty fast. Sorry it has taken me so long to update you all on how I have been doing. But in-between the back to back short term teams and pure exhaustion, I have not found the time to sit down and wright something.

Well, I will try to put all that has happened in a month in a nut shell so you don’t have to read to forever.

God has really shown up to me in major ways since I have been here. In the first week I was here God real solidified in my heart why I am here; the purpose, to seek His face. It has been an adventure ride for sure but I would never trade a moment of what I have experienced being here for anything.

My favorite thing I have done so far was to spend a week in the mountains. For one, it is cold up there and I was wearing pants and jackets because I was cold. This was an awesome change from the desert of Guatemala (Zacupa where I live). And I love the kids up there they are so much fun to play with! They love to play chepo (tag) all most any time you walk past one of the kids they yell chepo chepo because they want you to chase them. Even though there is a language barrier, they don’t care, they love to play which is universal with all kids and you don’t have to know how to talk to them.

Last week I got to spend 2 days in the city before the Beean family (the family I am doing my internship with) left for Florida for 6 weeks. It was nice to have some down time and eat some American fast food. And it is cold in the city to and there is not as many mosquitoes to eat me so that was nice too.

For the next 6 weeks I will be the only gringo (American) here. I am living in a high school dorm which houses kids form the mountains that want to go to high school and if they want, we help them get in to college. The purpose of bringing kids down from the mountains is to try to break the poverty cycle.

I am really excited for this next 6 weeks. I will be concentrating on learning Spanish. And it will be an amazing opportunity to grow in God. Throughout the bible God talks about putting us in desert times so he can grow us and show us the love he has and how awesome He is. I know He has a plan and a purpose for having me here with no one I know very well, and I can’t wait to see what comes out of it.

I am doing pretty good right now. God has given me a lot of comfort all ready and I have only been on my first day alone, but I can feel God moving in me all ready. And know only good things can come out of this time. Thank you all for your prayers. I can’t wait to share more adventures with you all!

Some things you can pray for:

That I will learn Spanish quickly

That I will grow in this time that I have with just me and God m

And that I would not stand in the way of all God has for me in this next 6 weeks 

       

 

The day has finally came!! I am all packed and ready to go. I leave tomorrow bright and early at 2 a.m., for the adventure of a life time!! I cant wait for all the new adventures I get to go on and most of all getting closer to my main man Jesus! I know this year is going to be full of struggles, hardships, lots of fun, and new friendships and growing in Christ. Thank you all for the prayers, encouraging words and financial support you have given me in this time of preparing for Guatemala. You all mean so much to me and have made it possible for me to do this internship! I know God has a lot he wants to do in me and through me while I am there. If you all could keep this things in your prayers, I would greatly appreciate it: safe travel for me and the team I am traveling with on June 8 th, that I would learn Spanish quickly, the family that I am staying with will be coming back to the states in July and will be gone for 8 weeks, so I will be living with the high school kids during that time. (I will be the only English speaking person there during that time). So it will be a great time for learning Spanish. But to be honest, I am a little nervous about it and could use some prayer during that time. Lastly, for my parent's, that God will give them comfort while I am gone and that they won't be too worried about me and they would know that God has it all under control.  I hope to keep my blog updated at least once a month.

16 more days! Where has the time gone? I am so exited I can't wait to be in Guatemala! I am almost done getting all the stuff that I need. And here in a few week the adventures of packing begins.. :) Sunday we had a fundraiser at lulu's frozen yogurt it was a lot fun getting to know some of the people that are going on the youth missions trip and to see a lot of friends who came out to support us. Thank you all for your support and prayers. This Sunday (May 26) the team is going to have a BBQ fundraiser at the Springs Church- North following the 11 clock serves. Would love to see you all there!

                                                

Some of the team members at lulu's!

 

Its coming up so fast!!! 38 more days! I will be traveling to Guatemala with my youth group "Anthem"; they are sending a group of teens and leaders down for 10 days. For all my Colorado friends the team I am going with has two fund raisers coming up to raise support for the trip. One at Lu Lu's frozen yogurt on May 18 from 11am-3pm at 9475 Briar Village Pt Ste 152 80920. They will get a % of all the profits dring that time.  And they are having a bbq on May 26 at the Springs Church- North after the 11am service. It will be an awesome time of fellowship and a great way to help support the team. I will be at both events and would love to see you there.

Here is an email I got form the Beene's (the missionary family I will be staying with) this is what I will be doing for the first 3 months I am in Guatemala.
     

Amanda when you come down with your team from your church after that team we will be with another team from Michigan on the river and then after that we will be another team from Florida in Zacapa. 
 

I just wanted to remind you that we are going to be leaving July 12 to Florida for 8 weeks. During this time you will be living at the Zacapa dorms with all the students! You will have a chance to really apply yourself in learning Spanish, as well as having a schedule for teaching them English.  It would be good to look into a computer program to use on your computer that will teach you Spanish.  You will be eating with the students, going to church with them you, mastering the tortilla making skill! We will give you a curriculum in which you can teach them English every day. 

This will be an incredible growing time for you to press into God and seek Him in solitude and intimacy, while also having a great opportunity to learn the language since you will not have any English-speaking people to talk with. This is how Michael and I learned! Total submerging into the culture and the language. 

 We will be back no later than the second week of September. The kids are so excited about you coming and being part of their life.
 

This year will be a year that will set the course for the rest of your life and for eternities cause. God is equipping people to rise up and become laborers for his kingdom! It's not always adventures and fun, but sometimes tiresome and lonely. Those are the times we most need to dig into God. On the other side of every trial is a sweet victory and amazing growth that comes through our perseverance! 

We can't wait to have you!! 

Lots of love, from the Beene family

 

I am super exited for all the opportunities God has waiting for me in Guatemala. I know it will be a trying time being the only one who can speak English and not knowing any of the people that I will be living with for the 2 months. But what an amazing opportunity to press in to God more and watch what He will do in my life!  

 

 

 

 

 

2 more months!!!!!! I am existed to announce that I have raised the full amount needed for my trip!!!! Thank you all so much for supporting me in this new journey of my life. I am super exited to see what God will do in me and through me in Guatemala. If you still wanted to make a contribution to my trip I would still greatly appreciate, it as I will have some monthly costs for things not covered in my internship. It has been such a blessing to see God provide the funds for my internship. It was the first thing for this trip that I had to put full and compete trust in God to provide what I needed. And he did. God has all ready started a work in my life this past few months as I have been preparing for Guatemala that I know he will continue to build on while I am there. He has been teaching me what true dependence on him is. What it means to fully trust Him for every thing. I know these will be things that I will continue to learn while I am there; where they don't speak the same language or have the same customs as we do here in the USA. I am so exited to work with the kids in the villages again. They are so sweet and a lot of fun to play with! And I love kids so just about any kid can steel my heart. Just like thes ones did when I was in Guatemala last year.

 

 

I can't wait to share all my adventures and things that God is going to teach me while I am there with you all. Thank you all for the prayer support you have been giving me it is a true blessing!

 

      

Only 3 more months until I leave!! Oh man the time is going by fast. Thank you all for all the encouragement and prayers you have sent my way, it has been a true blessing! God has provided a lot for me to go to Guatemala. I only need to raise $1,300 more. I know God has a lot of amazing things in store for me and I have all for you to thank for making it possible for me to go. One of my friends stated a restaurant a few months ago, and he gave me a job until I leave! It  has been a true blessing. If you would like to check out his restaurant that would be sweet. They have really good food. Here is a link to their web site www.sotecatering.com. The name of the restaurant is Salt of the Earth. I would love to see you there some time!