This past Monday, my teams ministry was assigned to us. We are going into a village called San Jose Calderas. This village is way up in the mountains at the base of a volcano. The views will take your breath away up there. It’s amazing!! Around 400 families make up this community. Our ministry hosts are an older couple whose names are Angel and Elsa. They have four kids and four grandkids. One of them is only one month old and it probably made my whole week when I got to hold her. We had the opportunity to walk around the community this week with Angel and Elsa to pray over people and we’ve already gotten to know a few of the kids. We’ve also learned how to make tortillas at their house and had lunch with them. They are the sweetest couple and so wise! Angel is a community leader and wants to see his community change for Christ. After talking to him, we found out that there are five churches in the village, but they are all fighting and are all jealous of each other. Angel and Elsas dream is to see their community reconciled and at peace with each other through God’s love.
So what does this ministry look like?
We met with the community leaders and we will be teaching English to kids and adults, women ministry, Vacation bible schools, house visits to pray for people, and anything else the Lord calls us to there. There is so much opportunity in this village to build relationships and make Christ evident.
During devotional time this week, a few scriptures have stuck out to me.
Psalm 57:9-10 “I will praise you among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.”
Romans 15:5-6 “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind towards each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
I love these scriptures because it reminds me that I am apart of something so much greater than myself these next nine months and the rest of my life. We don’t live four ourselves and our desires, but we live for the Lord and his desires. Being apart of something greater is building the kingdom and continually welcoming people into the Lord’s goodness and fulness of life. I belong to the Lord and my job is to serve him in the best ways that I can. I want people to know that they are loved, they are chosen, they are a child of the Lord, and that there is a seat for them at the kingdom table.
As my team and I were processing what we see in this village ministry, we began to ask the Lord what he wants us to do. These are our prayers for these next three months here and we would love for you to join us in praying for these things.
*Plant seeds in the community pastors
*Ignite a love for scripture
*Bring the joy of the Lord to the streets
*For there to be peace and love surrounding the village
*For the holy spirit to be very evident
*For the woman of the village to create a support system for each other
*For miracles to happen in the name of Jesus
*For Angel and Elsa to be encouraged and loved
*For our team to be flowing with the love of Christ daily
For this village, I see us as a team bringing unity to the village through Christ. I see us being friends, daughters, and even granddaughter figures to people in the community. I see us going in full of Joy each day with expectancy that the Lord will show up in mighty ways to change this village. I cannot wait to see where the Lord leads us and this village. Thank you so much for continuing to pray for the ways the Lord is working in and through not only me, but everybody I have the privilege of serving with. We serve a mighty God and I fully believe he has amazing things in store.
Love, Bethany
