Champs Camp 2019

This is the time of year that we, at Potter’s Field Ranch, look forward to every year…Champs Camp in June!  Champs Camp is a wonderful group of Special Needs Adults from Lighthouse Christian Home from Bigfork, Montana.  We had fourteen adults this year, welcoming back some old friends and meeting some new faces.

There is nothing more rewarding than watching someone on the back of a horse with a grin covering their face from ear to ear. When we get to sow into these beautiful, undefiled, pure-hearted souls, there is a reawakening within us that touches and opens our own hearts to rise once again to trust our loving Father.  When we do, we get a glimpse of what Heaven might be like…living and loving each other together in harmony.

Horses spark within us awe and wonder we felt as children, full of hope and longing.  It is so easy to love these “special needs” adults.  They display unrestrained squeals of delight and laughter, they love with abandon and dispel truth with no filter which is perfectly wonderful.  One such example is when we sing praise and worship together before we ride.  It is such pure worship offered in spirit and in truth.  

I overheard a sweet conversation where someone asked, “What is prayer?”  The response was, “It is when you talk to God and He listens like a friend.”  Such simplicity in truth…we make it too complicated.

One of the campers participating in worship.

Theo, one of the equine staff members, and a camper warming up the horse before they ride!

This week grounded us once again and filled us up to go forth to do the eleven more camps through the end of the year, touching the adults and children that God brings us once again…what a privilege…we will never take this for granted.

We were thrilled to see a great majority of them ride on their own this year without a lead line.  Such progress!  Also watching some overcome their fears, trusting these majestic animals to carry them, and also putting their trust in their leaders that were leading them.

Bonds were deepened, friendships reignited and love given and received purely.  When a horse would “spook” at something scary, they would comfort the animal…there was healing all around.

The sweetest thing was when I came back to my desk and one of the young men who has had a crush on me since last year had left something on my desk.  He had asked last year if I was married and I told him I was…he had made this ring out of paper and left it for me on my desk.  This is such a precious, giving heart.  Also, someone had left a stuffed mini-dachshund on my desk as well. (I have three mini-doxies at home.)  They will be permanent fixtures on my desk as daily reminders of God’s undefiled pure love.  I was reminded that God loves wholly and completely, forgives, and his mercies are new every morning.  Thank you, Lighthouse Christian Home!

Written by Pam Rozell founder and director of Equine ministry

We Are His Workmanship

This past week, our team in Guatemala was able to help at a camp called “I Am Art.” It is a camp founded by Athentikos, a ministry started in Guatemala by a couple who wanted to give back to the country their two adopted sons were from. Our team, alongside the other volunteers and workers, spent a week ministering to teenagers from ages 14-17 who are considered ‘at risk’ and have been affected by drugs or violence for a major part of their lives. This is the testimony of one of our liaison’s, Brooke, who was a part of the team that went and served there.

Hi Everyone,

I wanted to share with you what an incredible blessing ‘I Am Art’ camp was for our team that was able to go. The founders of Athentikos and their staff have a kindred heart and spirit with PFM in so many ways.

 We learned just before going to the camp that the ‘kids’ that would be participating were actually 14-17 years old, the majority of who were going to be boys. As a team of mostly women, most of us felt a bit anxious about this. I remember asking the Lord, “Why are you sending the six of us females and not Matt and Julio?”

 But God.

 The first morning I wanted to cry. The boys were vulgar and tough, but also barely spoke. We could not get them to participate in the first activity.

 But God.

 Laurel, our workshop leader, had planned to use music as a way to creatively express what the kids were feeling as they painted with watercolors. Once the music began playing and the boys picked up their paintbrushes, everything changed. They were all so gifted and LOVED to paint. Little by little they began to soften and open up.

Monday, the music was a peaceful classical piece and all of us painted something that was tranquil and peaceful.

 Tuesday, the music selection was a longer piece that had lyrics in Italian. It was full of crescendos and highs and lows. Everyone painted something that was dark, something that expressed fear or pain.

 It was so interesting to see how the music allowed us to express what we were feeling – and how much the paintings told the story of what was inside each one of us.

 Wednesday was the day we ripped up our artwork. It was heavy and difficult, and it was hard to hear the boys express their feelings. They felt like all their work was for nothing – the works of art that they had created were now trash. That night was a special chapel service where one of the AMG staff (the hosting organization) shared his testimony and the gospel. Because it was in Spanish, most of the Athetikos team were not in the service, but Talitha and I were. At the end, when the gospel was shared, around half of the boys went forward to receive Christ, including a couple from our class!

 One of the boys who the Lord had laid on my heart, went forward and was on his knees weeping before the Lord. Talitha and I were able to pray with him. That night changed the rest of the camp, as so many hearts had been transformed by Jesus’ love.

 Thursday was the day we created something new out of the pieces from our ripped paintings. I love the way they turned out. Rolan, the boy I wrote about above, did not completely finish his new creation, but his takeaway was that, in the same way, God was not finished with him yet either. What looks unfinished often is really just a work in progress. Oh, how we need eyes to see this in today’s world! Another boy wrote that we learned in camp what the I Am Art t-shirts say – to shine through the scars! That night, there was an art show where all the works of art were displayed. It was so special!

These kids came in rough, vulgar, disobedient and left softened, with hearts transformed, and seeking- not actually wanting to leave. 

 I was able to have conversations with several of the toughest of the older boys- because I kept getting asked to be a part of where they were. The softness in their eyes has given me great hope for their futures. Many of them have never heard anything positive, let alone had someone look them in the eyes and tell them they have value, that their life matters, and that there is more to their life than what they currently see. Many of them have used drugs in the past. Many, if not all, have had their lives affected by gang violence or have seen loved ones killed. All of them came into the camp angry and not wanting to be there. But no one wanted to leave on Friday.

 I believe the Lord will water all of the seeds sown and that He will bear fruit – even more fruit.

 We truly are seeking the Lord for how we can continue the relationships we built with these kids. The Lord used each of us in different unique ways and we have all been impacted by what we saw the Lord do and how He moved.  This is only a glimpse into what I experienced. Izzy and Shannon were in a group of five girls who have lived through horrible things, and two of the five accepted Christ this week! Lexi helped in the other girls group and was truly impacted herself by what the Lord did in the girls; one of the girls accepted Christ! Ale was in a group of guys that had several of the older and most ‘troublesome’ guys – but it was a group that the Lord really moved in and through.

 We are thankful for hearts knitted together with Athentikos. One of the Guatemalan staff members has already invited us to go with her to an activity next month to minister in one of the areas where a camp will be held this fall. The founder and the camp director invited us to serve again with them at a camp.

 Thank you for your prayers and for this opportunity!

 

Blessings,

Brooke

The Fruit of Today

We recently received this letter from Fred. He started attending Calvary Chapel Entebbe in 2008 and has been coming to Kids Club in Uganda since 2010 and, even though he has since graduated from the program, continues to come help at PFK every Saturday!  He wanted to express his gratitude and share the impact your support has had on his life. Thank you for your prayers and support that impact kids just like Fred all around the globe!  

Fred at Kids Club in 2010!

IGNITE Intern, Micah, with Fred learning more about his life.

Fred is a gifted guitar player and even plays at the church on Sundays!

Fred is Pastor Steve’s prayer child and they got to meet on a trip made to Africa this past year!

Hello PFM Sponsors,

It’s the joy inside my heart to write to you and to everyone who has been part in shaping my future, it’s a pleasure and a blessing. I want to thank you for contributing to my education and all the other kids in Africa. I am not a kid anymore, but I have finished high school and have become the man God wants me to be. Thank you so much for your support. Please continue praying for me to continue with a heart of serving God and to not go astray because we’re faced day to day with challenges. Sometimes, I feel so weak and like losing hope when I see what the future demands from us. But I know God is faithful! I know He will still see me through; pray for me that He may show me what He wants me to accomplish because that is my greatest desire. I am looking forward to experiencing the new plan the Lord has prepared for me through the talents and gifts he has blessed me with. To all the IGNITE teams I’ve seen, who have been a blessing, a testimony, and so encouraging to me, may God bless you so much. Please know your work in Africa is not in vain because He is faithful. ‘Til the Whole World Hears.

Love, Fred

A Father’s Letter of Thanks

Angel is the father of three children, Diego, Daniela, and Celeste, who have been connected with Potter’s Field Kids in Guatemala for five years. He recently sent us this letter expressing his gratitude and shared how God has transformed his life! We hope you are encouraged to see a glimpse of a much larger work taking place around the world.

         

Hello!

I am Angel, father of Diego, Daniela, Celeste, and Aura’s husband. I thank God for this day, for the opportunity He gives me day to day, for giving me more time on this earth, and for the miracle He has done in my life that I no longer drink alcohol and that I am a different person who values life and its opportunities. I thank Potter’s Field Ministries for the prayers that are made day after day for the world and for families. You are teaching that God is who gives us life and that only through God we can be okay.

Amen!

 

This is just one of countless testimonies that we’ve received from those connected to your prayers and support! These children and their families will never be the same!

Thank You, PFM Sponsors!

IGNITE Class 16 interns had the opportunity to share their gratitude as well as some encouraging testimonies of the work God is doing in their lives by writing a letter to PFM sponsors! We wanted to share a few short excerpts with you, and thank you from the bottom of our hearts for being a part of impacting the next generation for Christ!

Dear Sponsors…
“I want to thank you so much for being devoted to loving Jesus. Your love has helped me in ways you don’t even realize. Without your faithfulness, I most likely would have never heard about IGNITE! Your prayers and financial support not only help children, but you quite literally help me see the depths of God’s grace and provision. You are the ones holding up my hands and encouraging me to run full force for the Kingdom.”
-Shannon, Calvary Chapel Lebanon

Shannon praying over two public high school students after an outreach!

“The Lord gave me Psalm 23 coming into IGNITE as a picture of what He would do in my life in this season. He showed me that He would lead me beside still waters, that I would lay down in green pastures and, most of all, that He would restore my soul. IGNITE has been my green pasture, it has been my still waters, and it has restored my soul. It has been the most grounding, healing, restorative, redemptive, and beautiful experience of my life. And that’s because the Lord’s presence is so powerfully tangible here.”
-Christina, Selah Fellowship

Christina sharing her spoken word with the rest of IGNITE Class 16!

“Over the past three months, God has shown me how much He loves me, how much He cares about me, and how blessed I am. Before coming, I had no idea of what true love really meant, and God has been showing me how much He does love me, and how much I needed this year away from everything.”
-Alejandra, Rios de Fe

Alejandra and the three other girls serving in Guatemala for six months!

“I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for allowing God to use you as a vessel that has helped change my life forever. It took an army of God’s people to get me here, and it takes an army of God’s people to continue to push me through. This has been an opportunity of a lifetime, and my world has flipped upside down as I strive to be more and more like Jesus every day. Please keep me in your prayers as I embark on my journey to Southeast Asia to be a light in the darkest corners of Cambodia. God bless you and thank you again!”
-Erika, Calvary Chapel Fellowship

Erika, sharing during an outreach

“He’s given me time to experience that He is my true Father entirely. I’ve seen Him move in ways in my heart that I’ve never experienced before since walking with Him. I’m excited to be able to love on the children, young adults, and families in Uganda for six months, but more importantly, to give them Jesus through the trials they are going through. I’m expecting the next six months on the field to change my life and my walk with the Lord forever. I’m expecting the Lord to show Himself so clearly in my life, and my teammates’ lives. He’s always been faithful, and I can’t wait to be able to share testimonies of His faithfulness through the nationals that already believe in Jesus and those that will come to Christ. Thank you, sponsors, for all that you’re doing for us. May God bless you in all that you do.”
-Mariah, Calvary Chapel Chattanooga

Mariah at one of the car washes they did for the community!

“In supporting Potter’s Field Ministries, you are helping send me out to Uganda with five other interns so that we can serve for six months. So, I am here to say, thank you! Thank you for supporting us here, thank you for helping our leaders, and thank you for giving to Potter’s Field Ministries.
At the time of this writing, I am approaching the end of my first three months of training in St. Petersburg, Florida, preparing for my time in Uganda. From our daily ‘Inductive Bible Studies’ to outreaches in downtown St. Petersburg, you have helped us grow closer to God each day. So, again, thank you. I know, for myself, I have grown in wisdom, knowing when to speak and when to stay silent, as well as learning how to worship God with my whole being.”
-Abram, Calvary Chapel Plano

Abram serving at Calvary Chapel Fellowship

“These months of training have shown me anew the joy of my salvation (Ps. 51:12), and I know they will be essential not only for the next six months on the field, but also for the rest of my life. The Lord has used this time to show Himself alive and active on my behalf as I’ve never seen Him before, and because of it, my faith has grown deeper than I ever thought it needed to or could.”
-Katie, McClean Bible Church

Katie fellowshipping with other IGNITE Interns!

 

‘Til The Whole World Hears,
IGNITE Class 16

Fruit Over the Years

IGNITE Class 15 intern, Jesse, shares about one of the precious children that has made an incredible impact on him during his time serving in Uganda.

The Lord provided me with an incredible blessing to speak with a great and faithful young boy named Collin, who has a tremendous love for the Lord. I was given the opportunity to meet with this wonderful young man while serving at the school filled with all various young children of God, just after having gone and done school outreach at a small local school. This interaction with all of these children and the building of relationships with them is a strong encouragement for both them and us, IGNITE interns.

For the children, they see us as role models and observe us and hopefully how we conduct ourselves, in the hopes that they would imitate our love for one another. As for us, they are not only an encouragement but also a challenge, the encouragement is from the fruit which God is so gracious to show us even in the challenging times. From this one, the fruit has been revealed to me!

Collin is a very ‘chill’ and peaceful boy, who attends Calvary Chapel Entebbe’s Christian school, the Church, and Potter’s Field Kids Club. Amazingly, he said that he has been attending the Kids Club for two years, but then Collin went on to say that he had learned in the baby class, so he has actually been attending for close to seven years. How great the Lord is to raise up this boy into a man! The fruit is being produced in his life.

Something that I would love to witness from him is his admittedly favorite hobby; praying with his friends to the Lord our beloved God. Having heard this, it gave me encouragement in our labors of helping, teaching, and interacting with these children. That is a sign to me of unity, a people of one mind and one accord letting their requests be made known to God. That is truly spectacular to me.

A few of Collin’s own preferences are, soccer, or fútbol, as they call it, and the color white and this is likened unto the purity which we can receive from God, purity of mind and soul. Sometime after speaking with Collin and learning these great things about him, I was delighted to play a little bit of fútbol with him and his friends. We didn’t actually use a soccer ball, but a baseball. They were, none-the-less thrilled to play with that ball.

He has a cheerful and straightforward personality, peaceable to speak with, and even quite funny. He seems to have good relationships with his friends, and I can see him being a peacemaker among the people, so that is my prayer for him. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.” Matthew 5:9.

By His Grace

Baye Parrish is 18 years old, originally from Cookeville, TN where she attends Washington Avenue Baptist Church. She is currently a part of Potter’s Field Ministries IGNITE Mission Training Program in IGNITE Class 15 in her fifth month of field time serving in Cambodia! She wants to express her immense gratitude and thankfulness to the sponsors of PFM for their generosity and prayers that are impacting the lives of so many in Cambodia!

 

Dear Sponsors,

I am currently a part of Potter’s Field Ministries IGNITE Mission Training Program. Potter’s Field Ministries has seven different Potter’s Field Kids locations all over the world. My IGNITE Class began in July 2018, and now my class and I are serving in the field time portion. I have been serving in the Cambodia location for the last five months, with one more month left! In April, my class will be returning from different field locations and coming to Montana for re-entry.

IGNITE Class 15

The revival that is taking place here in Cambodia consistently leaves me speechless. PFM partners with a local church here in Cambodia called New Life Fellowship. My team and I teach at the school associated with the church on Monday and Tuesday, and I have been blessed to teach 1st-3rd and 5th-6th grade. Not only has it been a privilege to teach but also humbling. I just graduated high school last spring, so going from a student perspective to a teacher’s has been a growing experience for me. The Lord has had to teach me what it means to be a teacher.
Then, usually, the rest of the week is spent traveling to different PFK locations throughout the country. I love teaching Kids Clubs! So far, my favorite skit and lesson has been the parable of the lost sheep from Luke 15. The parable of the lost sheep expresses God’s love for us in a simple way that all the children can understand; if they call out to Him, He hears them and cares for them. We have also been able to see just how much they want to learn. Not only English or math but about Jesus. Especially with the older kids. One of the prayer children here named Pros Reach is an older kid in the program. I saw in him a genuine passion for the Lord as he consistently took care of other children and desired to grow in his relationship with God. It has been a blessing to witness desire in the hearts of children ignite like a match and continue to grow brighter.

A verse that consistently reminds me of what this season has been is 1 Corinthians 2:9, “But, as it is written, ‘What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him.” He has exceedingly and abundantly done more in this season than I could have ever imagined. A specific moment that reminds me of this verse happened in Oloch, a PFK location, where a little girl lives who is maybe six years old. Usually, when you meet kids, they are a bit shy at first, but not her. She was attached to my side. She wanted to be held, wanted all the hugs and kisses I could give, and simply wanted to be loved. She loved to play, and she was still by my side until the sunset. She looked up as the sun was going down and started telling me all the colors of the sunset and how pretty it was. My eyes welled up with tears because I realized: here I was in Cambodia with a little girl on my hip whom love is abounding from to all people. I saw Jesus in her. She loved me so much, and I had done nothing to deserve it. She showered me with affection when I didn’t even know her name yet. Jesus showed me, even in the smallest glimpse, just how infinite and affectionate His love is for me.

Since training in Montana, from July to September of 2018, until now writing this in February, on the field, I am able to see how faithful God is and the grace He has given me abundantly. I got saved in the summer of 2017, but I still held on to so much shame and attempted to prove that I had it all together not only to people but to God. During training, the Lord set me free from the bondage of shame and of feeling like it was my works that created a better relationship with Him. What reminded me of this was a few weeks ago, I read Romans 11:6, “But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works: otherwise grace would not be grace.” By His grace, He brought me to IGNITE and then to Cambodia. What the Lord has done in my life here in Cambodia has changed me forever.
I wish saying thank you did justice to how grateful I am for you, sponsors. By the grace of God, you said “yes” to sponsoring this ministry that has allowed me to know more of who He is and know these children you are praying for. They are able to have a fresh meal, education, and most importantly they are learning about the One True God. To the best of my ability, I want to say a sincere thank you. Truly, your help does not go unnoticed.
’Til the Whole World Hears!

With love,
Baye Parrish

Lord, I Need You

Justice Weigle, from Calvary Chapel Minot in North Dakota, writes about a girl from the village, Jolina, who has touched her heart immensely during her time serving in Uganda!

 

Jolina is a ten-year-old girl that has impacted my life more than she could ever know or understand. I met her the first day that I was at my new home in Uganda. I was walking around Calvary Chapel’s property here in Nongombe where we live, and I stopped to talk with Dorothy, who is Calvary Chapel Entebbe’s farm manager. She lives and works on the same property as the other interns and I, and Jolina lives with her. Dorothy introduced me to Jolina that day, telling me, “This one, she’s looking for a friend.” So, of course, I offered to be her friend.

Justice and Jolina together

Often times, I’d walk over to Dorothy’s house and hang out with her and Jolina. She’d teach me the Ugandan version of tic-tac-toe, or throw rocks at the mango tree and knock mangoes down for us to eat, or I’d help her with one of her chores that day. Soon, Jolina and I became good friends. Each day I’d learn more about her story, and her life.

Jolina has lived in the village of Nongombe all of her life. She comes from a very broken home, her father is a drunk, who has three wives. Jolina’s mother, one of his wives, has six children. And his other wives have many more. When her father would drink too much, he often would say cruel things to his family. He told them that if they wanted to go to school, they’d have to find their own way because he could not afford it. When Jolina’s father told her this, Jolina came to Dorothy and she cried. Dorothy told Jolina not to cry, promising her everything would be okay.

Jolina and Dorothy

Shortly after, Jolina moved in with Dorothy, to keep Dorothy company, and help around the farm and Dorothy would try to help pay her school fees. Jolina comes to church every Sunday with Dorothy, and a couple of her sisters come as well.

A few weeks ago, my team and I planned a Vacation Bible School for the children who live here in the village with us. We gave our three-day event a superhero theme, and each day we’d tell a Bible story about a real-life “superhero.” Along with a Bible story, we shared the different attributes a superhero has and how the kids could be a hero too. On the last day, we told the kids that each hero needs to have love, and we told them the story of how Jesus loves us so much. He took all of our sins upon himself and died for us on the cross, so we could have eternal life rather than facing eternal separation from Him. At the end of the lesson, we asked any to come forward who wanted to receive Jesus as their Savior and Friend. Jolina’s oldest sister was first to move forward, followed by a couple other older girls and then by Jolina. Each of them repeated a prayer of repentance and asked Jesus to come into their lives. It was a beautiful thing to see children being moved by the Spirit and choosing to follow Jesus.

Jolina and one of her sisters

   I know that saying goodbye to Jolina in three months when I go home is going to be one of the hardest goodbyes I’ll have to face. This little girl has shown me what it looks like to work with a joyful attitude, to give what little she has, and to not be afraid to love. She lives selflessly and joyfully. One song her and I always sing together is “Lord I Need You.” The lyrics in the song go, “when I cannot stand I’ll fall on you, Jesus, your my hope and strength. Lord I need you, oh I need you, every hour I need you.”

For a ten-year-old girl in Uganda, to sing this, to mean it and to live it, is a beautiful thing. I pray that her love for the Lord spreads to her family and her father will turn from the darkness and into the light and be able to care for his children. I’m so thankful for Dorothy and her love and willingness to care for Jolina. I’m grateful for Potter’s Field, for giving us the ability to host a Vacation Bible school and see children give their lives to the Lord. I love Jolina so much, and I thank God that He has brought her into my life.

Free Indeed

 

Kaydra is from Boston, Massachusetts and was a part of IGNITE Class 14. She spent her field time in Uganda, Africa! She will be returning in January as a part of the IGNITE 2.0 program at the ministry headquarters in Montana.

I remember believing that the broken pieces of my life could never be mended back together, that I would forever be glued to a vortex of hurt and pain. I remember being as James and Jude, who grew up with Jesus but never knew Him. I never knew the God I claimed to believe in and I surely never knew the endless amount of grace and mercy that was bestowed on my behalf, even through my wandering. IGNITE was my divine intervention to stop wandering and to heal from a past that was less than ideal. I ran into the loving arms of Jesus Christ surrendering my heart, mind, and soul to the only One who could transform my life and make me whole.

    The most impactful moments in IGNITE were during my field time in Uganda. For the first three months after landing, I found that I had created a barrier between myself and those around me. Though externally it may have appeared differently, I was isolated, alone, and miserable. Misery was where I found comfort in a life that had no meaning. I was battling against God and the longing to be different. Why? Because if I could no longer be the “victim” then who could I possibly be? As the days dragged on, other situations and circumstances arose that drove me farther and farther away from the people who wanted nothing other than to see the Lord do great work in my life, if only I would surrender to Him. The Lord continued to bless me immensely, even giving me the opportunity to assist teaching in middle class during the week. As I sat in and helped the teachers with these rambunctious children, the Lord broke through to me as I witnessed child-like faith put into action. These children relied on us for all of their needs; when they sobbed, we were there to comfort them, and when they made mistakes, we were firm to correct them. What a beautiful picture this painted, as I realized that the Lord isn’t looking for beauty, success, or wealth, but complete and utter dependence on Him. Watching these children gave me hope in a life of simplicity, showing me that access to the Lord requires me to simply walk through the door at street-level, exactly as I am.

    Though there were many breakthroughs, there was still one area in my life that hindered me greatly. It wasn’t until August that I was brought to a crossroads where I could either choose the Lord and surrender completely or pack my bags and fly home. The Lord had been knocking on the door of my heart for the majority of my life, and I chose to ignore Him every time, but at this point, I believe, He had had enough of me thinking I could have victory in my own strength. As I witnessed this event unfold before me, I realized I was no longer in control. As I look back, I still can’t fathom the amount of love the Lord has for me to have brought me to the end of myself; this was grace extended and mercy overflowing. I chose the Lord. I chose freedom. I chose to surrender. The Lord used the remaining two months of my field time to break down the walls that I had built up in hopes of protecting myself. I noticed each day my heart becoming softer than the day previous as His heart became mine. I was no longer battling against God because I was battling with Him alongside me.

    I remember waking up one morning refreshed, forgetting the feeling of misery. I remember breathing in the Ugandan air and praising God because, through Him, I was a new creation, sanctified by the blood of Jesus Christ. The failures of my past no longer defined me because I was set free, and who the Son sets free is free I N D E E D. I am currently interning at my home church in Danvers, Massachusetts where I continue to grow in the Lord through His Word. Though it is an uphill battle, it is a battle nonetheless as I must choose every day to pick up my cross and walk with Him and every day, it’s worth it.

I am but clay in the Potter’s hand.

Thank you, Potter’s Field Ministries and Sponsors!

’Til the Whole World Hears

The Impact of His Light

We are excited to share a praise report regarding our relief efforts to help those affected by the volcano and seismic activity that rocked Guatemala in June. To those who have helped support these relief efforts, we would like to once again say, “Thank You!”

The volcano shelter administrators from the city of Alotenango and representatives from the Guatemalan department of child services welcomed us with open arms and were excited to extend the invitation for us to teach weekly English classes in the shelters! We started in September with pre-school aged children. We held three classes with about 20 students total. They were between three and six years old so it was quite interesting! Since then, they have asked us to commit to entire mornings, so we set up time slots for different age groups from pre-school to adults every Tuesday from 9am-12pm. 

A long-term issue, apart from permanent housing, is the people becoming dependent upon the help they are receiving and therefore growing less and less motivated to act for themselves to make a difference in their lives. This is partially why the administration is so excited about English classes, because no one living there now would ever be able to afford them, but they have the power to make a difference in their lives for the future. The administration was also very encouraged to see two teenagers (Izzy and Audrey McClain, two of our missionaries’ daughters) volunteering. One staff member commented that she hopes this will be something that they can speak to the youth about to encourage them to see that they too can make a difference and their age doesn’t hinder them to help. At that point, we were able to share a bit more of our heart as a ministry and the vision that has been given for Guatemala. It was really exciting to see them excited for the youth of their own country.

We met with one of the shelter officials, Jorge, who shared how there is still a long way to go before each family is functioning fully on their own again. There are now a few organizations that the shelter officials are looking at to be part of the process to help the people move forward in their lives. They are looking at Potter’s Field to be part of the process! They’d like to have our input and would like to include us in future steps for the improvement of the lives of the people.

Jorge thanked us several times for being part of the relief efforts and, more so, the lives of the people since the beginning. They’ve seen the impact the ministry has had on the lives of the people. They are thankful for our willingness to come and teach the children English. They are willing to help in whatever way they can to motivate the people to be a part of the classes. They see the value and are excited at the possibilities.

At first, we only had a handful of kids, and Jorge and Sandra, the public relations coordinator, took note of that. They want our time there to be fruitful and they asked us to use the registration forms that we use with normal Kids Clubs for those that will participate, seeing that it is a great benefit that parents see our level of commitment to their kids and their learning English. Next month, we will hold a Transforming English camp in a city building with the backing of the city leaders free of charge due to the relationship formed with the Alotenango city officials!

 

Sandra has one son who attended a school funded by the La Reunion Golf Club. Since the golf resort and the school were destroyed, her son, as well as many others, fell behind in their studies during the time immediately following the eruption of Fuego. Eventually, they began classes in another location, but now her son is failing English. We’ve offered to tutor her son in English while we are at the shelter on Tuesday mornings. She was overjoyed and thanked us profusely for what, for her, is an incredible blessing. She shared with me Tuesday how excited her son is to start working with us.

La Reunion Golf Club

Sandra shared her story of the day of the eruption with us a couple of months ago and the part that was so impactful to me was her sharing how she is still haunted by the people that they could not fit in the first rescue truck – the ones who ultimately lost their lives because there simply was not enough room in the truck. She said there were so many that they could not save. I reminded her that day that she was a part of the lives of the 1,000+ people that were living in Alotenango that were saved that day.

“After our meeting in the shelter, Matt and I drove up closer than we had before to Ground Zero. I cannot describe how haunting the scene was. I felt the air in my lungs escape me, and it was not due to poor air quality, but because what I was seeing took my breath away. We have driven that road so many times, but I could not recognize where we were.

I truly have nothing to offer in the aftermath of a tragic natural disaster like the eruption of a volcano. I have nothing to offer a person who has lost their entire livelihood and most of their family members in a matter of minutes. Nothing could have ever prepared me or anyone else for what we have experienced the past four months. But God.” -Brooke McClain, PFM Missionary

Ground Zero of the eruption

We were blown away and so thankful for this open door to be a light in the middle of such darkness and hopelessness. It truly is a privilege. 

An outreach our team had at one of the shelters.

If you are encouraged by this update or feel led to get further involved, we would like to extend an invitation for you to join us on our upcoming Medical Mission Trip to Guatemala, January 5-12, 2019. Even if you are not medical personnel, there are still open spots available! Come and see for yourself the work the Lord is doing in Guatemala! We will be offering medical care in the volcano shelters. Click here for more information and to download an application.

Lastly, in addition to asking you all to join us in prayer for the people of Guatemala and for how we can best help them at this time, should the Lord lead you to help financially in this relief effort, you can donate toward this by clicking here to process an online donation (be sure to select “Guatemala 2019 Medical Mission Trip” as the Directed Giving Fund) or by calling us directly at 1.877.337.2624. Funds will be directed toward sharing the love of Jesus, including providing medications, for our multiple upcoming medical clinics. Any funds raised over and above the medical trip need will support the ongoing work of Potter’s Field Ministries in Guatemala.

THANK YOU all for doing what you do that allows us to be able to serve here for such a time as this!