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 :)