Jun 13, 2016
Guatemala – by: Reyna Luplow
seen from France
seen from China
seen from United Kingdom
seen from United States
seen from Malaysia
seen from Malaysia
seen from Italy
seen from China
seen from United States
seen from China
seen from Moldova
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from Thailand
seen from Malaysia
seen from United States
seen from India
seen from China
seen from United States
seen from China
Guatemala – by: Reyna Luplow
Guatemala
Hello everyone! How are you guys doing? I’m pretty well myself. In fact, I’m super excited. Guess what? Every three years, my church sends the upperclassmen on an international mission trip. This upcoming summer (2015), I’ll be old enough to go! We’re going to be building a house, running a Kids Club, and possibly installing water filters in and around San Bernardino, Guatemala. We’re working with Partners in Development (www.pidonline.org/) to improve the lives of everyone there.
Want some facts about Guatemala? I have some. Less than half of the population has access to good healthcare. Most Guatemalans cannot afford education, partly because they must be earning money by then. And even if they can afford education, it’s not of a good quality. 60% live in poverty, while 14% of families live on less than $1.25 a day - families. At least 20% of the population doesn’t have access to “improved” water – this is water that is purified in the filters, but still not up to American standards and water that isn’t safe for us travelers to drink. And 30% do not have access to quality sanitation. For every 100 kids who are born, 3.3 will die before the age of five. It’s 133 out of 187 in the United Nations Human Development Index. Approximately half of children under five have chronic malnutrition, placing it at the fourth highest rate in the world. That rate shoots to 69.7% among indigenous areas.
So, we’re going to help. And that’s super cool. But what’s important is that we’re not going for a White Savior Complex. We’re not going out of our First World Position of Privilege. We’re not going for us. But, the thing is, we’re not going for the residents of Guatemala, either. Sure, we’ll be changed, and we’ll do some good there, too, but that’s not the focus. We’re going to do ministry as defined by Andrew Root: we’re accepting God’s invitation to join Him in His action. It’s about God, as everything is – or at least as everything should be.
Like I said, we’re going to be digging foundations, mixing concrete, building walls, roofing (I’m not allowed on a roof… but my brother is, because he’s 18. Sigh.), and doing all sorts of ridiculous construction site work, running a Kids’ Club (VBS), forging connections with the local Guatemalans, being called “gringo”, perhaps installing water filters as an extension of the last trip, and doing other things. At night, we’ll debrief, discuss how God’s working in us and through us, and learn about cycles and systems that create extreme poverty and learn how to fight against and destroy those systems.
I know I said earlier that this is a triennial trip, but we’ve been blessed with the opportunity to go back only two years after our last trip. This is super exciting! This also means less time for fundraising. God has blessed us with an incredible bounty from our Superbowl Bake Sales, Yard Sales, and the sales of “mission shares”. We could never have raised this much without His providence! However, there simply was no way to raise in two years what took three. So, it was decided that each person should raise $500 to go in the pot and help cover the church’s cost for supporting this and to help ease the cost for the team. So we’re supposed to write fundraising letters.
This would be fine, except that Robert is also writing letters to the same relatives and family friends that I am. And that’d be okay, too, but he went on the last one as well. The pool is simply not as full as we’d like it to be. Suddenly, I had an inspiration: I saw other people on Tumblr fundraise.
Now, I know asking strangers for money isn’t a good thing. But this isn’t for me. This is to help with God’s work. So, I thought I’d present you all with the opportunity to help us, if you’d like to. You don’t have to pay for the whole thing – you don’t have to pay for any of it. I’d just like for you all to prayerfully consider doing so, or at least praying for us.
Should you choose to want to send money, have an address:
Calvin Park/Guatemala 610 S. Frederick Ave. Gaithersburg, MD 20877
Yes, that is the Calvin who I talk a ton about.
There’s also a little sheet that you’re supposed to fill out, but if you could just include this information, it’d be amazing.
Donor’s Name and Address: Student’s Name: Anna Newton Mark one: __ I regretfully cannot participate at this time. __ I will commit to praying for your group, but cannot donate financially. __ I have enclosed a check for $30.00 to support your mission effort. __ I have enclosed a check for the following amount: _________
You don’t really have to mark one, just as long as you put a little note in there saying what you’ve done. Also, I’m sure cash will be cool, too. Finally, all donations are tax-deductible! Isn’t that cool?
Anyway, it’s really cool of you just to have read this. I swear, I’m not trying to guilt-trip you. And, frankly, if you feel guilt-tripped into doing this, you probably shouldn’t. I’d appreciate any prayers, shares, and money you’d send my way.
Grace and peace to you all.
Guatemala
Hello all! How are you guys doing? I’m pretty well myself. In fact, I’m super excited. Guess what? Every three years, my church sends the upperclassmen on an international mission trip. This upcoming summer (2015), I’ll be old enough to go! We’re going to be building a house, running a Kids Club, and possibly installing water filters in and around San Bernardino, Guatemala. We’re working…
View On WordPress