August Newsletter

Hi to all to my family and friends! I give thanks to the Lord for the life of each and every one of you. I also give thanks for your love and mercy for the Chorti people in Lela Obraje and for this entire ministry.

In this time, all of the land of Guatemala is going through a difficult time. A famine is beginning, not only in this northwest area where we live, but in all areas of Guatemala. In June and at the beginning July, we were blessed with lots of rain, so the people were able to sow their grain and other vegetation. Sadly though, starting at the end of July and in all of August, we did not have one good rain for the land. So, there is a forecast that 80% of our basic grains will be lost. Because of the lack of rain during harvest time, I feel this is a poor time for Guatemala. This famine is also causing starvation to occur in many families. We need your prayers for the rain to bring a good harvest of food and clean water because we are starting to see several deaths of children in Zacapa because of the lack of food in the newspaper. Below are pictures that were in the newspaper just this past week.

We give thanks to God and to you because most of the families of the Lela Obraje village, where this ministry is located, are not experiencing this problem of starvation. They are still having a difficult time, and we know that we are not able to help every person in the entire village, but the Lord is doing a great work. I am still very sad and concerned for some of the poorest families in this village. Some of these families have children, but their children are not a part of this ministry for one reason or another. Many single mothers are raising their children alone, and many older women are living alone in the village during this difficult time. I feel that this concern I have for these types of families is from the Lord, but once again, God has shown His mercy and wisdom. About two weeks ago, I received a call from a church in Guatemala City. They shared with me their desire to come and help in this ministry in Lela Obraje. I gave them a list of 250 families that are without food and are struggling during this difficult time, and they want to visit us on September 26th and 27th to bring baskets of food for each family on the list. This is a miracle that could only come from the Lord, because I have never met these people from Guatemala City that want to come and help.

The Lord has put this ministry on their hearts, and they want fill this urgent need. Now that these angels from Guatemala city have called us and offered to bring baskets, my plan is to begin looking for a church that can come at the end of October and another church at the end of November and another in December so all of these families can have these much needed food baskets once a month. Please pray that this plan can become a reality.

I want you to know that I love you very much and you have all of my heart because of all that you continue to give. Your love, your prayers, and your support are blessings that cannot be repaid with earthly materials or words. All I can say is thank you for giving your best to the Lord. You have followed His command in Deuteronomy 17:1 that says "Never sacrifice sick or defective cattle, sheep, or goats to the Lord your God, for He detests such gifts.” Again, thank you for giving your best!

Sarita Carson

Construction for August

Right now, we are hard at work in our bathroom project at the village. This project includes the construction of four new bathrooms and 16 new sinks for the students to use. Last week, we were blessed with a visit from Jeff Edwards, which is from North Carolina. He came to see how the construction of the bottom bathrooms was coming. He was able to see that the bathrooms are practically finished. Since the bathrooms are only missing a roof, Jeff asked how much it would cost, and we gave him an estimate. We are hoping that the Lord will allow Jeff’s church to help us with the finances of this roof or that God will bless us with whoever else can help. We thank Jeff and his team for their love and support and for their help with the construction of this bathroom project in the village.


Distribution of Glasses

In March 2009, we were blessed with a group of eye doctors who came to serve in a hospital here in Chiquimula. (This entire story is included in the March Newsletter.) One doctor, Dr. George Rooney, came and helped in March with this group, and he was able to give out numerous pairs of prescription and reading glasses. However, some people needed prescription glasses that were not available in Chiquimula. So, when Dr. Rooney returned to the States, he made the remaining glasses and sent them to us in August. For much of August, we made phone calls to people to come and pick up their glasses, and they were very excited to receive them. Their glasses are beautiful, brand new, and each pair has the exact prescription for the people that will be using them. This donation of glasses is a huge blessing for the people here in Chiquimula. Thank you to His Servants Ministry in Kentucky, and thank you Dr. George Rooney and your team for your love and hard work for our people. Most have received their glasses, and we will continue to make phone calls until all have them and are able to use them.

At the School and Feeding Center

In the school and in the feeding center, everything is functioning very well for the glory of God. The children are very different now. They are full of life, and they have a passion to learn more and more. Please continue to pray for each child and their families. Pray that they will all have a passion for Jesus Christ also.

Special Prayer Request

In the second week of August, I had a very poor family visit my house. They confided in me that they have a daughter that is 32 years old, and her name is Angie Sandoval. She is a single mother, and she has a son that is 7 years old. Angie has the phase four type of Endometriosis. Her doctors have told her that she needs four injections that will prepare her body for the surgery she needs to have. After I talked with Angie, I contacted my precious brother in Christ, Bill Countiss, and his wife. They are working, with the help of Doctor Mark, on obtaining these four injections. Praise the Lord, Bill recently called to tell me that there is a great possibility that they can obtain these four injections. While you are reading this Newsletter, please pray for Angie and for Doctor Mark and Bill. Pray that they will be able to obtain this very important medicine for Angie.

A Letter from Heimyn Eunice Morales Sanelzez, Third Grade Teacher

On behalf of the Third grade, it is a pleasure to greet you and bless you in the name of Jesus Christ. We hope that God is always shedding His riches and blessings on you and in your job where you toil every day.
First of all, thank you for your help in our small school because every year we overcome more and because every day we learn more. Also, we are blessed daily with a healthy diet because of the wonderful feeding center, and we know that we have all of this by the grace of God and because of you. Thank you for helping us keep focus on our set goal we now have. Before, we did not have a reason to have goals, but now, because of your kind heart, we have a motive to work hard every day. One reason we are moving forward each day is that we are hoping to someway show you how much your help is making a difference in our lives and in the lives of the children here.
I am very impressed with the changes I have seen in my students. Before, they did not act their ages, but now, thank to the Lord, they are completely different. For example, I have a student that had trouble getting along with one of his classmates. I asked him what he thought he needed to do when he had confrontation with another student, and he told me that he should “just hit him”. These types of attitudes are the ones we are trying to change each day. The students have learned these attitudes from their parents, and we as teachers are trying to make an impression on these students through example and teaching. What we are doing is making a difference because, for one, the student that wanted to hit another student to solve his problem told me that he now wants to have more companions, and I can see that he has more love in his heart for people. If it was not for the support that you give to help students like this, he might have grown up having hatred in his heart for people the rest of his life. But, because God is so big and merciful, these children have joy and an opportunity to be someone different. Now, all of them have a purpose for their lives because of God.
In one of my classes, I asked who had goals and visions for their future. Some children told me that they wanted to be teachers like me, other told me that they wanted to be architects, soldiers, and still others told me that they want to be MISSIONARIES. They now have goals, where before they did not care.
I hope that all that I have said has motivated you and has helped you realize the blessing you truly are to us. Your gifts have yielded fruit, and you have obeyed the Word of God where He says in 1 Corinthians 3:8 “He one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work."

1 Corinthians 13: 1-3 “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing…BUT HAVE NOT LOVE, IT PROFITS ME NOTHING.”

Thank you for the time you have taken to read this Newsletter. The staff and I hope that you have a wonderful and blessed day.

God Bless You all,

Sarita and Staff