Love Guatemala exists to bring hope through transformation. Transformation of lives through Jesus, relationships, and vocational education. We are at an exciting moment in the life of our work where God is challenging us to move forward in faith to build the Love Guatemala Centro de Entrenamiento Vocacional or Love Guatemala Vocational Training Center. As you may already know we have recently purchased a piece of property and the next step is to build. Here is the plan:
GIVE HOPE
Transformation of the community of Magdalena and the surrounding areas through a muli-purpose facility to host up to ten trade schools, a feeding center, Bible training center, church and much more!
WHY
The Art, Cooking, and Carpentry Schools are at maximum capacity with no more room to expand the ministry. We believe that God is opening doors through the building of a new facility to minister and give hope to thousands. The community needs a hope center where people can receive training, love and Jesus!
VISION
We desire to continue to grow each of the schools and enable more and more people to be able to break the cycle of poverty they are in. We also want to open additional trade schools as the Lord leads to give more people the opportunity to learn and grow. Our desire is to start a feeding center to help with the malnutrition and hunger issues in Magdalena as well as a Bible Training Center and Church in the future. We have purchased a piece of property in which we plan to build a facility to house all the schools, feeding center and more. We are excited about the future and believe God has big plans to transform this community through Love Guatemala!
PRAYER
Where do we begin with this? Prayer! Every fruitful mission in the gospel begins with prayer. Jesus’ ministry began with 40 days of prayer and fasting. We know that none of this can happen apart from prayer and the help of God. So our first request is that you begin to pray with us about this project. It is a huge project that is way beyond any one person or even one ministry. We need the help of many people and most importantly from God! So please pray with us. We are setting aside the first 21 days of January to pray and fast. (Praying every day and fast as the Lord leads) Here are the specific things we need to pray about:
- Wisdom on all the decisions we have to make in respect to the construction, builder to use etc. etc
- Favor from the Government, specifically the Mayor of Magdalena whose name is Bernabe Mendez Dubon.
- For the lives that will be touched and changed through this new facility. We have the opportunity to impact and change the lives of thousands over the next 10-15 years and literally change this community, this country and all of Central America. God has strategically located us just 45 minutes from the biggest city in Central America where many people travel for business from all over Central America etc. (We have an amazing view of the city from our property)
- For God to touch the hearts of many people to get involved in this project.
- For us to be able to finish the retention wall before raining season hits in May of 2014. (We need to build this because the property is about 12 feet above the road.)
- To not have to stop once the construction process starts because of lack of funds.
- For all the funds to come in. We still are calculating the totals, but the first goal is to have $100,000 to begin construction of the building by July 1st, 2014.
- For all the funds to come in and for construction to be completely finish by July 1st, 2015. (Yes I know this is an aggressive goal, but our God is big enough!)
Will you and pray and fast and believe with us for the first 21 days of January? We would like to see 100 people committed to praying for the first 21 days of January. For at least 5 minutes each day would you join our prayer circle and encircle this massive project in prayer? Our Love Guatemala staff and team is committed to praying and we would like to ask you to join us!
We would like to know who is joining our prayer circle so please comment on this post or send Ben an email (benjenku@gmail.com) to let us know you are praying.
Matthew 21:21-22 “Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. 22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
“Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God.” William Carey – Missionary to India and Father of Modern Missions