L i n den C h r i s t i a n S ch o o l

G U A T E M A L A M I S S I O N S 2 0 2 0F e b r u a r y 3 - 1 3 , 2 0 2 0

TEN DAYS OF SERVING GOD IN GUATEMALA three days of VBS service / partnering with Guatemalan high school students

sponsor visits with children and families

two days on a work project / laying a foundation for a new soccer complex

visiting local sites, markets, church at Chixiim

hospital visit

worship and sharing at a local church

media fast for team members

GUATEMALA population: 17,131,395 (2018);

75% of indigenous people live in poverty and40% live in extreme poverty;

8 out of 10 children suffer from chronicmalnourishment and stunted growth;

illiteracy rate of 70% exists in rural areas;

significant spiritual bondage by syncretisticreligious practices.

IMPACT MINISTRIES founded in 1997 by Les and

Rita Peters;

schools started: 11 schools in 8 buildings;

Impact provides Christ-centered education, adaily meal and medical attention for 1500students and their families;

for more info visit: www.impactministries.ca.

This was Linden Christian’s eleventh year

of partnership with Impact Ministries!

THANK YOU! Thank you for your prayers and support (you made this trip possible)! Please continue to pray for our team members as we adjust back to North American culture. Pray that our experiences will continue to impact us, that we will make practical changes in our lives to show it and that we will have a positive impact on those around us.

Please pray for those we ministered to in Guatemala - that God will continue to work in their lives and surround them with His presence.

Top Row (L to R): Joshua P, Emily W, Richelle D, Joshua D, Luke J, Samuel J, Micah S, Paul G.

Middle Row: Cianna R, Rachel B, Alea E, Noah B, Owen G, Natasha D, Sydney N.

Front Row: Alyssa S, Eden K, Terrilee F, Abigail H, Julia L, Katarina M, Julie K, Kayla B, Matt J.

Absent from Photo: Zoe K.

This year I had the privilege of serving as a leader on the SY mission trip to Guatemala alongside another member of the Spiritual Care Team, Terrilee Friesen and SY teachers Julie Kolisnyk and Matt Janzen. Our Mission Team included 21 students, and we all experienced God in powerful ways. He challenged the way we see the world, encouraged us to build His kingdom and equipped us to serve Him back home in Canada.

The Guatemalans from Impact Ministries prepared our team by informing us of cultural norms and through the sharing of powerful testimonies by school teachers. While in Guatemala we served in children’s ministry, visited sponsor children’s homes and the local market. Learning about the religious climate included a visit to the Chicoy Sinkhole—always a highlight for our team.

During our cultural immersion, we learned how the Enemy has influenced Guatemalan culture through the distortion of hope and a veil of darkness. We witnessed many Guatemalans burning candles and making sacrifices to gods of corn, prosperity, the sun, etc. There was one particular moment where we saw a desperate family being led by a witch doctor into the sinkhole to make sacrifices. As we sang and praised God in the sinkhole, we watched as the witch doctor turned around and went

away. We were privileged to hear many testimonies of Impact staff that were set free through their hope in Jesus. Praise God for the amazing work being done through Impact Ministries!

Throughout the week we participated in a work project in which we used pick-axes and shovels to dig holes for the foundation of the soccer complex that Linden was able to support. We were honoured to be part of the sod turning ceremony. The most exciting part of the trip was Vacation Bible School (VBS)! We partnered with Guatemalan high school students to run a three day program that focused on the Fruit of the Spirit. We experienced the flow of God’s love in us and through us. We were told that our willingness to travel and share love with the kids through games, teaching about Jesus and by offering hugs makes a huge difference in their lives. We all felt very privileged to be the instruments of God’s love and we too were reminded of God’s love for us! It is truly amazing how

God works and I am so thankful for this opportunity to witness God at work through our students.

The love of God is transforming Tactic, Guatemala. Just as darkness was easy to see in Guatemala, so was the light. My prayer is that we would see the darkness that is in our own city and bring the same powerful, triumphant light of Jesus into it. We believe God is transforming Winnipeg and this mission trip affirmed our desire to be involved in God’s work globally and locally.

The 2020 Guatemala mission trip allowed us to encourage and be encouraged in our faith. God showed us His power over darkness and worked through us in ways we didn’t expect. We are so very thankful for the financial and prayerful support we received from so many of you.

- Joshua Dalzell, Director of Spiritual Care and Campus Life

E q u i p p i n g t o S e r v e , G l o b a l l y a n d L o c a l l y

Spiritual Care staff Terrilee Friesen with Impact students

Our work project involved laying a foundation for a new soccer complex

Partnering with Guatemalan students to run a three day VBS program

The light of Jesus and work of Impact Ministries is making a difference in Guatemala!