2016's Happenings!

The music blares; the ball drops, and the fireworks go off. Somewhere lost in the chaos of Christmas hams and heading back to work and school, 2016 has arrived in all her shiny brightness and budding promise. There’s something about newness that we as people can’t get enough of. The heart of God is to make all things new, so it’s no surprise to find that desire traced throughout our own hearts. As believers, we desire a different kind of newness – the kind that comes through that which is restored and reborn – so we are pumped about what God has for Adventures Guatemala in 2016!

As a ministry, we sense that 2016 is a year of overflow and that our theme for the year, as a result, is to abide. Inspired by John 15:1-10, we believe that we are entering a season of building character and preparing for harvest. The Lord has reminded us that this only comes through the pruning of our hearts, our lives, and our work – but the fruit is lasting, and that’s what matters. We only want to create way for that which will produce healthy, enduring fruit.

That said, here are our plans for lasting fruit in 2016…

This year, we are receiving six new interns in our Center for Global Action discipleship program! They join us for four months, from January through May, to be discipled and empowered in their personal callings as they serve our ministry’s vision. We have been praying and preparing for months, and are eager for their arrival next week!

In our Mobilization Department, we are kicking off a new season of monthly missions trainings with three different Guatemalan churches this spring. These trainings are designed to teach about how to live a Great Commission lifestyle no matter where you are.  At the end of the year, we are prayerfully planning three mission trips – to Honduras, Nicaragua, and Peru – with our Guatemalan church partners to create space for the Lord to speak through the opportunity of becoming participants in what God is doing in other nations. 

Some exciting expansion is underway for our Programs Department. In San Lucas, we are preparing for another season of Art for the Heart with our children’s home partners at Casa Shalom, an upcoming facilitator’s course for the teenagers who want to help with the art classes, and a new youth outreach program to connect with the teenagers at the home through service and discipleship. 

In Ciudad Vieja, our women’s ministry is underway! We will be continuing our weekly women’s discipleship group with a holistic approach – teachings about mental health, emotional health, physical health, and spiritual health – along with biblical teachings. We will also be starting a brand new literacy class for women in our group who have never learned how to read or write. Along with our partners in surrounding communities, we hope to host three ‘Beauty for Ashes’ retreats this year.

For our service projects this year, we are prayerfully seeking to install 48 stoves and 48 water filters in Ciudad Vieja, our women’s ministry community. We have been blessed to see the way meeting this felt need has opened so many doors for deepened relationship through evangelism, prayer, and friendship. 

Our Donor Relations Department is prayerfully seeking for people to invest in Adventures Guatemala through financial partnership. We exist because of God’s generosity through people just like you, who have captured the vision for this ministry and have sought to advance His purposes here through financial giving. As we begin our fourth year as a ministry in Guatemala, please pray about the possibility of joining us in partnership!

To say we are looking forward to all that God has in store for this year is an understatement. We are expectant with a holy anticipation that we feel deep in our bones. The best part about lasting fruit is just that – it lasts! The roots go deep, and it continues providing sustenance for generations to come. 

May this year be one of furthering deep roots for a beautiful vineyard! 

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