Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Guatemala update


Several years ago,  I was singing the worship song "Hosanna" in church, and these lyrics just touched my heart in such amazing ways.

Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like You have loved me

Break my heart for what breaks Yours
Everything I am for Your kingdom's cause
As I walk from earth into eternity


  I began crying during the song, and couldn't get those lyrics out of my head. I decided to pray those words as often as possible during that week - for God to show me how to love like Him and break my heart for what breaks His.
I know that God began to answer that prayer because slowly I could feel my heart breaking more and more for people that were less fortunate, people in need, and people searching for hope.
Over time, I became completely drawn towards missions.
It amazes me that we live in a country where excess is so accepted, and yet there are people all over the world with next to nothing. And I am guilty. I look at my children arguing over a toy, and I can't help but think of mothers in other parts of the world who are watching their children die due to a lack of clean water and food.

It leaves me speechless and broken hearted.

I began looking for Scriptures in the Bible to help guide me towards what God wants my response to be.

The following pictures are from the people that we will be serving this summer.
Please join me in praying for them and taking care of their most basic needs.

 Proverbs 31:8-9 “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”
 Deuteronomy 15:11 “There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.”
John 13: 3-15 "Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him..... When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them.  “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am.  Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. "
 Deuteronomy 10:18 “He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing.”
 Proverbs 22:2“Rich and poor have this in common: The LORD is the Maker of them all.”

Matthew 25:35 “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in.”

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Guatemala Missions Trip 2013


Dear friends and family,

As many of you know, one of my dreams for the past several years has been to go on a mission trip. My desire is to spread the love and power of my personal savior, Jesus Christ, as well as to serve the needy and less fortunate. I am extremely excited to announce that those dreams are quickly becoming a reality. This July, I have the amazing opportunity of joining my church family as we partake in our first global missions trip in the villages of Guatemala. Our time will be spent feeding villages with rice and beans, caring for and praying with the sick in local hospitals, and teaching young children about their purpose in this world through the love of God. I cannot begin to tell you how much this entire trip means to me, and how much I’m looking forward to the honor of being a part of it all. This is an amazing cause that is near and dear to my heart.
It is our hope as a missions team to raise $1500 each, which will be used for purchasing the rice and beans in order to feed needy villages, and for purchasing  medicine and other supplies to help the sick in local hospitals.

If you think that this cause is worthy of your support, or you feel a tug at your heart in any way to help, your contributions would be so greatly appreciated -- and I can assure you that 100% of the donations will go directly towards the people whom we are serving! Please don't feel any obligation at all to contribute. I believe that God's hands are guiding this process and I know the necessary funds will come through no matter what :)

However, for those of you who would like to support this cause, for your convenience, I have established a Pay Pal button in the upper right corner of this blog in order to donate directly to me.
All of your donations will be tax deductible, and anything above $100 will be eligible to receive a tax ID letter from my church, InlandHills.

Thank you SO much in advance for your support!! Of course, if you are unable to help monetarily, your prayers are just as appreciated!! If you have any questions at all, please email me and I’d be happy to answer them for you.

Thanks again!

God bless, Carly Maurer