Here is a copy of my June newsletter!!!
Newsletter: Jackie on the World Race! June, 2014
The First 5 Months: Slums, the Sex Industry, and Mayan Villages
11 countries in 11 months.
The goal is not travel or tourism; the goal is bringing hope to the hopeless, help to those in need, and the love of Jesus to this world.
This is the World Race. This is what I have been doing since January – serving in various Christian ministries around the world, one per month.
Xenacoj, Guatemala
Talanga, Honduras
Palacaguina, Nicaragua
Los Guido, Costa Rica
Phuket, Thailand
…and 6 countries to go!
So the million dollar question…
What have I been doing on the World Race?
In Guatemala, we worked with GO!Ministries in a small Mayan town called Xenacoj. Many people didn't even speak Spanish – only kaq'chiel – and the community typically dressed and lived very traditionally. I was able to feed school children, play games with kids in the park to give them somewhere safe and fun to go after school, and visit lonely and poor widows. The people in Xenacoj really respected the love and concern we brough to the town, and we were invited to attend several funerals, even having the honor of serving as paulbearers in one.
In Honduras, we worked with Aaron's Ministry Outreach. They serve the Talanga area, a rural area deep in poverty. We did Sunday school, preaching, and worship with their churches, including churches deep in the mountains in a very poor community. I also spent a lot of time assisting in their medical clinic with triage, and as a pharm tech and secretary. Through my experience in the clinic, I was able to get a great picture of the community and many of the trials and issues they face daily. We also did construction for the ministry, visited orphanages and foster homes, and fed school children. An incredible miracle also happened one day this month when I was able to pray for a nearly-blind widow in a neighboring town and her eyesight was restored.
In March we worked with 5:16 Ministries in northern Nicaragua, a remote town called Palacaguina. 5:16's vision is to unite all the church denominations and congregations in their area, and we worked with the Baptist church with their youth. We did quite a bit of construction, and we taught Sunday school and led the youth nights, as well. I had the privledges of sharing my testimony at an evangelistic campaign and of preaching for the first time one Sunday. We also held an event for the teen girls in the community speaking about boyfriends, relationships, and waiting. Palacaguina has one of the highest rates in the area of pregnancies in girls under 15, so this event was one we had lots of passion for and believe was impactful.
Our last month in Central America was spent in the capital of Costa Rica, San Jose. We spent the whole month in a slum community, called Los Guido, with an incredible ministry called Christian Light Foundation. They have formed a very strong and faithful community of young believers within this barrio, and have empowered and equipped teens to lead their small church and create new disciples. These young leaders focus a lot on evangelism, discipleship with the younger kids, and just bringing love and fun to their tough neighborhoods. We spent much of the month just hanging out with the people of Los Guido and just growing deep relationships. We were able to organize some outreach events, such as water games and a carnival day, and took part in church and bible studies for the community. Prayer for the community and ministry also was a significant part of our time, and we observed God move through those prayers. We spent a very memorable Easter there, where the teens did us the honor of washing our feet. This month was one of my favorite, and the people I met in Los Guido I will never forget.
In May, we hopped over to Thailand and worked with SHE Ministires in Phuket, a beach and tourism destination in the south. With beaches in Thailand comes sex tourism, and we spent our month poring out His love in the red light district. SHE aims to get women out of this industry and retrained with another vocation, while introducing them to the freeing love of Jesus. My team spent our time in the bars, focused on showing a different kind of love and friendship to the Thai girls who feel the only way they can feed their families is by working and dancing there. We formed deeper relationships with many of the girls, taking them on coffee dates during the day, affirming them in their worth as people, giving them flowers (a big gesture in Thai culture), and offering them hope for a better future. Additionally, on our nights in the bars, we had many amazing, God-planned encounters with Western tourists, male bar owners and promoters, prostitues, and lady boys. We also prayed often and specifically for Bangla Road, and saw quite a few of those prayers answered throughout the month. There are many stories of how God's love was shown and spread freely this month.
— — — — — — — — —
My team's experiences these past 5 months in local ministries in these countries have been absolutely incredible, and we have seen God move in so many ways, in so many lives!
On my Race, I've been privileged to feed the hungry, comfort widows, attend to patients, befriend prostitutes, hang out with kids in the slums, and bring authentic love to those lost in violence, poverty, and the sex industry. And that was only in the last 5 months!
I wanted to share an update of what has happened so far on the Race – because it has been incredible – and to highlight all of my generous supporters. I would not be where I am, and many of these incredible things may not have come to pass, without their help. At this point, I want to invite you to join this incredible journey by becoming a supporter also! I sincerely hope to complete the last 6 months of this incredible opportunity, but I need your help!
I need to raise $2500 more by July 1st to complete the Race. I would like to ask you to prayerfully consider supporting me through a one-time donation this month to help me meet my goal!
Please feel no obligation whatsoever… I have no desire to receive support out of obligation; that makes it not really support at all. However, I know some of you want to help; some of you are able and delighted to add a little something to help me reach this goal, and it is to you I direct this request.
If you are interested in sending a donation to help me make the July 1st deadline, please find the link on my blog on the left-hand side to donate!
Alternatively, a check can be made out to Adventures In Missions with "World Race: BakalarskiJaclyn" in the subject line and mailed to the address below:
Adventures In Missions
PO Box 742570
Atlanta, ga 30374-2570
Thank you again for everything you do and who you are. Your support financially and through prayer is effective and deeply meaningful to me and many others; you are making miracles and dreams happen!
In His deep love,
Always,
Jackie Bakalarski
