Today was a great day in Sajcavilla. Many children were able to feel the love of a team who loved them through lots of playing and laughing and teaching. I have watched smile after smile grow across children’s faces as our team has been the hands and feet of Jesus this week. The responses of the children confirm the authentic love and compassion being shared each day! For the second year, the Brandywine Grace Church team has been an awesome partner in the field serving alongside the local mission church and our ministry. In addition this year we have had some dear friends join this team, the Abercrombie family from our church in Birmingham and Jerry Flummer, chairman of our board. This team has served well and the impact will be felt for many years to come!
Because of the sacrificial serving of so many teams like this one, we are seeing something stirring in Sajcavilla. After four years of walking faithfully with Iglesia Jeruslan and Pastor Morales, things are starting to happen in Sajcavilla! At the beginning of the week we were welcomed at the sector three school with news of Marybelle’s healing. Today we began to discuss the numerous surprise blessings that seem to be popping up in Sajcavilla.
News of the principal, Gladys, of sector three school giving her heart to Christ was the first news that launched us into a wonderful week. Then the news of Marybelle’s healing continued the blessings. Today we were hearing from Pastor Morales that Marybelle shared with him she had prayed to invite Jesus into her heart as her Lord just this week! And then before the morning was over Pastor Morales was able to share with another teacher, who asked for prayer, how to invite Jesus into her heart. The news of these decisions in combination with the changes we see in the attitude of the entire school, coupled with the growth that is happening in the local mission church leads me to share with you that God is clearly at work in Sajcavilla! The Holy Spirit seems to be moving in a way that is transforming lives and setting captives free.
There are eight women who are leading Bible studies in homes all over the community being discipled by a precious couple from Iglesia Jerusalen, the Romeros. There are two couples meeting with Pastor Morales on a weekly basis being discipled and mentored into strong faithful leaders in the mission church. There are over sixty children gathering each week for church under the leadership of our friend Carla from Iglesia Jerusalen. Plans are being drawn up for building a church / feeding center on newly acquired property for the mission church. Construction materials are being priced and planning is under way for the first three structures to be built on the property this year if possible.
God is at work in this Mayan community. He is showing some of you what He is about to do there, so that you can join Him in His work. Now will you obey and join us as we equip and encourage the church in Guatemala to reach their world and teach the Word! We are recruiting for the November trip to Guatemala now. Our hope is that enough people will join us and help raise the necessary funds to begin construction with two small houses and a bathroom as well as a perimeter fence as soon as possible. Our desire would be to work in Sajcavilla with a large team in November anchored by a medical team to serve the community through the clinic. in addition it would be so amazing to have enough on the team to accomplish construction projects that week toward the completion of the perimeter fence, houses and bathroom on the property. In addition we are looking for a ESL team to assist in equipping the teachers at sector three school to continue teaching small amounts of English to the students. This is an idea that comes out of what they are already doing and is a way to assist in better equipping them to teach, while sharing with them further the love of Christ.
These opportunities are only the beginning but are essential to the continued relationship in Sajcavilla. Please take a moment right now and pray for the mission church, the teachers and the members of this community who are being touched by the grace of the Lord through the local church. Pray for wisdom as we seek to support and encourage the work of the local church through helping build up a permanent base of ministry for the mission church in Sajcavilla. Pray for the resources to be provided and the workers to go to the field and serve. Pray for leadership on the ground to continue to grow and become stronger. Pray God will show you how you can best be involved!
In His Grip,
JT Turner
