Transition

This is me, 8 years ago :)

Eight years ago the Lord called me to serve him as a full time missionary and I said YES. It’s one of the biggest (and greatest) decisions I’ve ever made, and I couldn’t imagine my life any other way.

Even though it’s been one of the best decisions of my life, it hasn’t been easy or joyful all the time, I’ve indeed experienced the greatest joys and the greatest sorrows these past eight years, and even though it hasn’t been easy, it’s been worth it!

On September 2014 the Lord answered a prayer I’d been praying for (for a while) and gave me the greatest ministry family he could’ve given me: the Kids Alive Guatemala family, and a new journey began. I was presented the challenge of putting together and running a transition program for 18y/o (and up) young ladies who’ve been institutionalized and needed to transition from the institution life to adulthood. The Lord told me to do it so I accepted the challenge, not knowing what was ahead, but trusting He was in control of everything. And that, my friends, was the beginning of the unknown and the greatest joys and memories I have so far.

During these past three years I’ve experience God’s love in ways I haven’t before, I’ve known him in roles I haven’t before, and I’ve been able to understand (in a way) how He (as a father) grieves for the last, the lost, and the least. How He truly loves us no matter what, and getting to know Him this way, and getting to understand (in a way) how He feels, hasn’t been easy.

The first picture taken of my Casa Ester girls (of the original 4 as I call them).

My girls (Casa Ester/Transition Program girls) are the greatest thing that could’ve ever happened to me, but at times, it feels like I had to give birth to them (figuratively speaking –keep on reading, eventually it’ll make sense-). And after this process of “giving birth” (with the contractions and the pain and the expectations and all those things I’ve been told that happen when someone is about to give birth) they know they belong, but not to me, but to the one who sent me. With some the process took few months, with some it took years, and with others the process it’s still ongoing. And it’s been worth it every single time!

Part of the Kids Alive Guatemala family with some friends from the "Centro Cristiano Internacional" Church in Chile

This is my sweet Mayra, two days before going to heaven.

The loss of the youngest of my girls at the end of 2016 shifted everything, I experience the deepest sadness I’ve ever experienced, I cried more than ever, my heart broke and literally hurt, but at the same time I experienced God’s love and comfort more than ever before, I understood that He had everything in control and that one of the reasons why I was here was for a moment like that (and all the moments leading to that loss/transition). After that we were united even more as a family, and we understood that we had to be intentional in living each day (for the Lord) to the maximum. After that some of the girls transitioned and some others came to join the program.

Since my vision and my heart had changed due to this loss, I prayed the Lord to give me more wisdom, love, and joy to lead these girls to Him, so He could show them the path they should be on, and His (not mine) will be done in their lives.

These is my family, my beautiful girls, This was also the last family picture with Mayra. Ah, by the way, Yenni was having fun but she didn't like to smile for pictures (she now smiles for pictures :D )

Then, in no time, it was 2017 already, and we were facing new challenges, the biggest of them, the Transition Program was growing more and more every day.

From the beginning I was on the “let’s work and do something great” mode. I was praying more (since I move to Casa Ester and began running the program and living with my lovely teenage girls I’ve prayed more than ever in my life), I was asking the Lord for guidance, and I was trying to get better at listening to His voice and knowing what He wanted me to do. The first challenge I faced in 2017 was to develop a branch within the program for young adults with learning disabilities and/or special needs. We thought we had more time for that but in no time (March to be exact) we open that area of the program and we got within few weeks 5 young ladies there. We also hire two caregivers to take care of them, so the family kept on growing.

One of our family trips to the lake.

Summer was here already and we were getting more and more calls to receive more young ladies into the program, we were building more apartments and reorganizing the rooms to fit more young women in there. We went from having 6 to 8 young ladies in the program to having 12 to 14 of them. Around that time our field director talked to me about another area I was also directing (somehow in 2016 I accepted the challenge of running our local PR department and due to all the work at the Transition Program I wasn’t really doing that much in that area), He told me that we finally had gotten some –much needed- funds for the PR department (for website, information materials, videos, etc.) and that he wanted a person to be in charge of that department full time. I was a little sad about that when he told me that because, I’m a networker, as a local I have lots of contacts and connections that can be of great benefit for us but just didn’t have the resources –nor the time- to approach them and do more. But while he told me that, he also said: “you should think about it”. I really didn’t understand that, or acted like I didn’t understand it and that was it. In our following meetings he mentioned it again, and he clarified why he thought I was the person he wanted to run that area since he wanted to work more to unify the church in Guatemala (more on that on a future post), to do development projects in different communities we already do some work at, and develop materials, to plan events, and find creative ways to share what we do with others so they can also be part of this beautiful calling we have. After realizing he was serious about it I got defensive, I couldn’t understand why he wanted me to be away from my girls and to do something else (even though I’m very passionate about all those things mentioned before). I told him he should decide because I couldn’t just leave my girls.

Could you imagine a life without this cuties after having them as part of your life?!

After a couple of months, the director mentioned this again, this time clarifying I had to be the one to make this decision (either to stay running the Transition Program, or move and develop and run our PR program). I was a little confused, I didn’t even want to think about this possibility, but I understood that I needed to ask for advice. To me, the fact that he was asking me to make a decision – he is a godly man who I admire and respect a lot and know that he wouldn’t even mention it if it wasn’t because the Lord was guiding him to-, the fact that he clarified that my job has succeed their expectations and that our Transition Program was already making such a difference in the lives of our girls and in the way other ministries and government homes worked with the 18y/o and up population, made me understand that he wasn’t suggesting this because they were not happy with me or because my job was not good but because he felt that he should present me with this opportunity, so I started praying about this.

It was difficult for me just to think about the possibility of being away from my girls, it was difficult for me to think of doing anything else but what I’ve been doing for the past three years, it was just unthinkable. But the more I prayed about it, the more I asked for advice, the Lord kept on guiding me towards taking this new challenge. And after weeks of praying and crying -and a little fighting- I decided to do what the Lord had asked me to do. In the end, that’s what we’re supposed to be doing, we’re supposed to do what he tells us to –even when it’s not comfortable, or goes according to our plans – because  His plans for us are bigger and better than ours.

So, since November 2017, I’m no longer the Transition Program Coordinator but the PR Coordinator.

This was huge, the hardest part was to tell my girls, for them to understand that all that “Family Talk” I’ve given them for the past three years, all those times reminding them that we’re family no matter what, all of that was going to be tested now. They were sad, we all cried (I think I cried the whole month, I still cry sometimes), but we understood that we have to be still and acknowledge that He is God. I love my girls, they are like my own children, but they are actually God’s children, and His plans for them are always going to be way better than mine, and He loves them more than I ever will, and He is in control of this situation, He already knew this was going to happen. 

And two months later I can say that I have seen God’s loving hand in my life more, he’s opening doors for us to do so much more. It’s been only two months and we have already accomplish so much, I have already visited some churches who want to work together with us and who are already doing a lot to love and protect children in their communities. Also, after two months we are learning –with my girls- to be a family even though we don’t live in the same house (as most families with grown up kids). We see each other often, we talk a lot, and we keep on going out and planning trips together. I’m also learning to rest, to take better care of myself (sometimes is hard to think about ourselves when all we think about is others, but that’s not God’s plan for us), and I’m learning to manage my resources better (time, money, energy) since this new area brings new challenges and now I’m exposed to more need and more opportunities to help.

Now I’m getting to know God in other ways, and I’m learning things about myself I didn’t know. I’m also so grateful for my supporters, those who every month give from their hearts to make this possible, and in a way, they are also part of all of these things that are happening. Also those who keep me in their prayers, I know I’m in your prayers because there won’t be a way I could do what I do without funds, and also without people lifting me in prayers. My CTEN family also plays a big part on this, and of course my Kids Alive Guatemala family, who trusts me so much and supports me in many ways in my every day work. Without all of you, who are being used by God to restore lives through the work I do, none of these things/programs/testimonies would exist.

THANK YOU, for all these years of support and for more to come!

May God bless you abundantly and may he keep on using you as the blessing you are to so many, including myself.

THANK YOU!!!

With love,

Julia Arreaga

Coordinadora de Relaciones Comunitarias y de Iglesias

Vida Para Niños Guatemala

CTEN Missionary

www.cten.org/juliaarreaga

Casa Ester

Eight months ago, I embarked in a new adventure. 
I moved to a small town next to Guatemala city (San Lucas Sacatepequez) to coordinate a transition (independence) program called "Casa Ester" run by Kids Alive Guatemala. In other words, I moved in with 5 young ladies who are 18 and up who came from Oasis (Kids Alive Girls Home) to guide them, disciple them, find them jobs, help them finishing school, help them getting a technical degree, and to teach them life skills that will help them transition into adulthood and be able to be fully independent.

This has been quite an adventure, since I moved here 4 out of those 5 girls I had at the beginning have transitioned into moving by themselves (the youngest being 19 and the oldest being 21) and I got another 4 (one of them from a government orphanage) so I'm still at 5 and waiting for a couple more this coming week. 

Every single step of the way I've seen God's hand working in these girls lives. I've faced challenges I would have never expected, and I've had really tough times, there are moments of frustration and desperation, but most of all it's been so joyful and rewarding that I usually remember the tough times when someone talks about it because I don't even think about those anymore. There is so much joy in my heart to be able to see God's work in these young ladies lives, and there is so much love in my heart for these girls and there are so many dreams that we now share, that I can totally tell you this is home (even when they don't do their chores and the house is a mess -if you know me you know I'm crazy about having a clean and organized house- ;) ). 

If you've known me for a while (and if not, let me tell you), you know that at the beginning of my ministry 5 years ago (oh yea, in a couple of weeks I'll be celebrating 5 years of ministry) I've had it in my heart to help 18+ y/o girls, specially the ones who have been in the system (orphanages, foster homes, etc.) because most programs are focused on younger kids and when they get to be 18 they have little or no way to help them. I wanted to do this since I became a missionary, but God's plans are way better than ours, and He took His time training and equipping me to be as ready as I could be for this adventure.

Last year was a year of transitions and new beginnings for me and, while transitioning and praying on what to do next, a dear friend of mine from Chicago asked me if she could give my contact information to the Director of Kids Alive Guatemala. She explained they were looking for someone who could lead their transition program, and since she knew I was "busy" with other mission work she wondered if I could meet with him and maybe think about someone else who could lead that program. I had already met Corbey Dukes, Director of Kids Alive Guatemala, and I had already visited Oasis a couple of times, and was (and still am) in love with their families together program and other programs, so I knew it was a good thing to partner with them to find someone who could help them. After our first meeting it just hit me, it was what I was called to do. That's it. And Corbey was just as surprised as I was (he was expecting to get a name or two to contact people to see if they could do it, but I just said "I'm in").

I am never gonna get used to the way God works in my life, how He is truly in control of everything, and that's definitely good (specially since I used to be a little bit of a control freak), and I could never explain how He does it but I can totally tell when He's telling me "Go, do it, this is for you, this is what I want you to do". And that's how this beautiful and chaotic adventure began.

There are ups and downs, we are getting to know each other better, they are learning to love me and I'm learning to love them more and more every day. We work hard, we laugh harder, and my biggest desire is that they get to see God and sense God's love every single step of the way.

P.D. I've gotten some emails telling me some of the people who used to get my newsletter haven't gotten it lately. I only send 3 a year but I've been checking and it seems like something is not working the way it is supposed to. So, my blog will do the work. Just subscribe to it or friend me on facebook and you'll get my updates. Blessings!

See ya in December!

Heads up to those of you in Chicago, Indiana, Ohio and Missouri! I’ll be in the States in December for a fundraising and volunteer recruiting spree. I’ve still got some open dates, so if you’d like to host an informational event at your school, church or home, contact me at juliaarreaga@cten.org.

There are other ways to help, too. You can host me in your home, help me organize events, connect me to other interested people, or even just think up some great fundraising ideas. Let’s have some fun with it!   

Joyful Hearts

I’m excited to announce that my dear friend Samantha Fisher and I have created a brand-new organization called Joyful Hearts!

Joyful Hearts works with small ministries and organizations to help them become more self-sustainable. Basically, that means we connect organizations in Guatemala with resources and people so that they can be even more successful in achieving their mission and vision. We help organizations find sponsors and donors, we connect them to potential volunteers, and we can even help them develop new programs. Our specialty is helping organization get to “the next level” and equipping them to eventually manage that new growth on their own.

Naturally, Guatemala is the first country in which Joyful Hearts will operate. To start out, we’re working with three organizations: Mama Carmen’s Home, City of Children Orphanage, and Champions in Action. But the sky is the limit. Depending on what God’s will is, we could soon potentially begin working with dozens more organizations — in Guatemala and beyond.

Since we're still brand-new, we’ll be presenting our projects in four different states this December. We'll share our vision (plus some ways to get involved). We're also fundraising by selling different items made in Guatemala by locals who are connected to our ministry. The items are already being sold in Indiana, and we're working right now to create a catalog so you can see and purchase them (hint: stocking stuffers).

We're also developing a network of individuals and organizations who would like to have a part in advancing this vision. Would you be willing to share your time, finances and/or connections with us? We need places to host our informational events in December, roofs to sleep under, and leaders to help us promote our vision within their networks. Are you in? Get in touch with me as soon as you’re able!

Do you wanna join me?

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20

We know we have to "go and make disciples of all nations", and sometimes that go means to send, to partner, to make it possible for someone else to go.

Every month, individuals and families help me to continue my work as a full-time missionary in Guatemala. Through prayer and financial support, people like you can join me and become my partners in the mission field.

I invite you to become a partner!

Will you consider financially supporting the work that God is doing here in Guatemala?
If so, you can go to www.cten.org/juliaarreaga to make a one-time donation or to set up monthly support. You can also send support to: Commission To Every Nation, P.O. Box 291307, Kerrville, TX 78029-1307 (please specify that it is for Julia Arreaga). I currently have 30 percent of my support raised. (Commission To Every Nation is a recognized 501(c)(3) by the Internal Revenue Service. We issue tax-deductible receipts for all donations processed.)

As some of you know, my car was stolen here in Guatemala this summer, which has put a strain on my work and limited my ability to transport myself and other missionaries here in the country. Eventually, insurance will cover some of the cost of a new car, but I’m relying on partners to help make up the difference. If you’d like to donate to the “car fund,” simply indicate it on the donations you send online or via mail.

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9

What's going on in Guate

yup, that's me.

What a great summer it was here in Guatemala!

Back in May, I hosted some medical missions teams from the U.S. and went with them to rural parts of Guatemala. Hundreds of people received medical attention from the doctors on the teams, and we also spent time getting to know the local churches so that we could develop a better understanding of the community’s needs and partner with them in prayer

With some friends who have come to Guatemala as missionaries.

In June, I spent a few weeks in the States, where I helped some churches and ministries plan future missions trips. Oh, and there’s also a new ministry in the works! A good friend of mine, Samantha, and I are in the process of shaping the vision for a new organization that will help small NGOs and ministries that need financial support and human resources.

I sit on the board of directors of Champions in Action, an organization that uses soccer to connect at-risk youth to older mentors from their own communities. In July, we had our second of two summer soccer camps, and I got to shift gears a bit and do some “hands-on” work — namely managing all the logistics of getting 150 people to and from camp. Fun! (And maybe a little exhausting too. Whew...) You can read about camp and see some pictures http://www.championsinaction.org/news/newsitem.aspx?newsid=940&newsitemid=7334

This was taken at the girls' camp.  (I'm the one in white on the left on the third row next to my friend with the green jersey) ;)

All told, there are LOTS of opportunities for people like you to be involved in ministries and projects here in Guatemala. Want to come on a mission trip? Want to volunteer? Want to be an intern and live here? (Hint hint, young folks, it looks GREAT on a résumé.) Let’s make it happen! Contact me and we’ll talk about the different ways you can be part of the work that God is doing.

(Quick side note, FYI: As you may have noticed, based on all these updates, God has opened up some new doors and steered me in a slightly different direction this year. As of July, I’m no longer formally involved with the At Risk No More program of AMG Guatemala. I’m very thankful for the opportunity to have volunteered with them, and I look forward to seeing what God has in store for their ministry in the coming months and years.)

Loved to be part of this team and my life was blessed by each one of you. Thank you for everything At Risk No More!

April is here!!!

So 2013 is passing by so much faster than expected, and here I am, trying to keep up with it (one can always try), it´s been busy and crazy (more than expected) and there have been more opportunities to minister and love the ones in need.

So, a little summary of what´s going on:
In December I launched a fund raise campaign on indiegogo (a website that helps ppl get exposed and funded) and the goal was to fund raise enough money for the year, and it went well. I fund raised enough for a month but God´s mercy has stretched that provision and it lasted 3 months!!! I`m thankful beyond words for the people who partnered with me in ministry, without them listening and obeying the Lord this past three months would have been very difficult.
I`m also thankful for other people and friends that have been helping me these past months also (some of them since last year). The seed you've been planting will give good fruit, and the blessings from that fruit will be sent back to you.

 "Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full--pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back." Luke 6:38

Another blessing (something new this year) is that now I'm part of the Board of Directors of Champions in Action (www.championsinaction.org) a ministry that also works with youth at risk.

I'm in charge of the Volunteer Committee and we've already been working a lot to get the ministry exposed. One of the activities that I was recently involved in was a volunteer fair in the American Embassy, and the response of the people who came, and gave us an opportunity to share with them about the ministry, was amazing. People really want to get involved and help, and that's definitely God working in their lives. 

I've been traveling to different parts of the country getting to know new ministries who work with at-risk population, and finding ways on how to partner with them. It's been amazing to see how God has prepared me for a time like this. Specially when I hear their needs and I can actually help or connect them with someone (or even an organization) that can help them. It's been a blessing to me to be able to plant seeds everywhere I go.

Well, this is supposed to be a summary, so I'll try to keep it short...

In January I got to help, once again (with a big smile on my face and a heart full of joy), Lifetouch Ministries (www.lifetouchmin.org) and together we visited different places. Darla (founder) and her team (lovely and very wise/well trained/ experienced people) let me help them while ministering and helping many people in desperate need of getting unstuck and returning back to the joy.  There were many remarkable moments, many invitations to come back or to do conferences in new ministries, but the one closest to my heart was the visit to Shadow of His wings Orphanage (where I served in 2010-2011). It was a great blessing to be able to train the staff and to minister to my girls (and now some boys too). God's so good to me and He always gives me surprises like this one.

And last but not least, I have a new apartment!!! (not a bran new one but it's new to me).

My roommate Ashley (you'll probably will hear more about her) and I are now renting a beautiful apartment in Guatemala city in a very safe area (God loves us so much) and very close to everything.

After a year of living in a suburb outside the city without a car it was almost impossible to fully serve and do so many things, but that is history now!!!. And I also got a car!!! wow! God's really showing off, I know. :)  My parents have been kind enough to let me use one of their cars, so I could say it's mine, but I'm still waiting for provision so I can actually buy my own. Of course a new apartment and a car represent more expenses, but I trust God will send His provision for that too. So, with an apartment in the city and a car now I'm really being able to do so much more!!! sometimes it's overwhelming though, but then I remember what God wants me to do and how He's always there for me, and then I can go on.   

Anyhow, this is pretty much a summary of the last three months... I'll do my best to keep you posted on news and even little things that happen, but for now all I can say is: Thank you Lord for your blessings and love. And, Thank you all for your support and love.

Ttyl!

With some of my friends from Impact Ministries and my sister (the second from right to left) last week after serving  together with them to help kids at risk.

Visiting a beautiful family in a very rural area in Alta Verapaz. 

Sharing God's love and hope with the kids during the visit. 

With some of the Shadow of His Wings youngest girls, for a special dinner party.

With my roommate Ashley. This is the view from our apartment :)