New Blog Website

Thank you for checking out my blog and for your interest in our ministry in Guatemala.

This blog has moved sites! Please click on the link below to continue reading about exciting adventures. :)

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Many Blessings!

Colleen

The Valley

 Our School of Missions is located in a town called San Juan, that is part of a bunch of other towns all in the Rio Grand Valley.  Everyone here calls it the valley because you never know from one second to the next what town your actually in.  I’ve known this from the first week of living here.  Then one day about a week ago it hit me when someone said to me “WELCOME TO THE VALLEY!!  It hit me like a ton of bricks. This time has most definitely been a time of living in and walking through a valley. You know, the one mentioned in Psalm 23. (Which ironically our second week here we had to memorize the passage) “Even though I walk through the darkest valley”, or another version say “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death”  Let me give you a glimpse into this valley.  All of us students here have been under ATTACK. Complete 100% spiritual warfare type of attack.  You see when we are sitting in our pews at church (or for my church auditorium chairs J) the devil is a little ticked. He’s thinking oh well God won that one, but its just one person.  Then you leave church, and for the ones who drive to el sombrero (guilty) and forget about the sermon or living a life for God, you’re safe!  The ones who drive off and act on what was learned and continue striving to live a life worthy of our savior and sharing the good news, BEWARE!!! YOU will soon be under attack!!!   You see Satan doesn’t care about you if your not doing anything for the kingdom of God. The second you try to get someone else on God’s side, that’s when it happens!!! That is the same reason the rest of Psalm 23 says:

I will fear no evil, for you are with me: your rod and your staff, THEY COMFORT ME.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life and I WILL DWELL IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD FOREVER.

I thought my first 6 months in Guatemala would make this time spent here in “The Valley” a breeze. But, I am learning how to be so much more effective in ministry in Guatemala that this valley is worse because I’m not with the kids I love so much!

Yes life here in the valley physically and emotionally is tasking, its ALWAYS HOT, were among the top ten poorest communities in the nation, THERE ARE BUGS EVERYWHERE, and the number one worst zip code for car insurance (because they drive like maniacs), oh and there is a war going on 2 miles directly south of our house, our front door literally faces straight into Mexico.

 So everyone’s fears are being tried and tested in this valley by the one trying to STOP us. Some with attack of the bajillion roaches here, attack of loneliness, attack of fear of the war, attack of being severely under supported, attack on health, and the worst attack SATANS LIES.  Satan keeps whispering to us all, don’t you want to go home to your loved ones, to the comforts you know, I mean your still in America and your being broken down, how will you survive in Guatemala?  Evil is trying to send us home, because there is a big task in front of us.  All of these conditions are magnified in Guatemala, but boy is it easier to handle it there amongst the culture each of us dearly love! 

I started this blog earlier in the week, and could never find the right words to finish, until today.  My roommate and amazing new friend Ashley and I have found a church (it’s a Matt Chandler plant!) that we love! Well, at the end of the sermon we sang the song, No mountain, NO VALLEY, No gain or loss we know COULD KEEP US FROM YOUR LOVE!.  NO VALLEY can keep us from his love, or HIS plan and purpose in our lives.  God ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS shows up, but especially so when we need him and the reminder of His love and grace the most. So satan, keep on because this may be our valley, but we are being built up for battle, and we are NOT going home. 

I am so thankful to my family and friends that God specifically put in my life for this time to encourage, and diligently pray. I received several packages and letters this week that I desperately needed to be pushed to keep going, and reminded that I am not in this alone.  Two months in to any new place always seems to be the hardest, but each day his love and mercies are new and we continue to learn more about what lays ahead, and what God has for us now and how much He loves us now! This is like basic training for His army, and I am thankful, even during the times I want to run away from here as fast as possible. So thank you for supporting me through this spiritually, financially, and emotionally! If you want to learn more about our ministry here and in Guatemala, please feel free to e-mail me anytime at cowart.colleen@gmail.com

Thank you for the MUCH needed prayers!

Last week we had the chance to walk into Mexico and it was a HUGE blessing.  It felt like home, at least the home we are preparing for in Guatemala, and was the reminder and boost we each needed to keep fighting (and studying!)

First Week!

I am so excited to be able to share this process and road with each and every one of you.  The first week of mission school is over, and wow do I have so much to learn!  First of all thank you, thank you, thank you, for your prayers and support thus far.  I cannot tell you how life changing each of you and will be in my life, and in return the lives that I will have the honor to meet and share Gods saving grace.  I want this blog to be a sounding bored. One in which you can hear what your prayer and financial support is doing in this ministry, and as a way for you to comment, encourage, teach, or just say hi! (I need a lot of hi’s by the way ;)).

The first week of school focused in on two of my biggest struggles, silence and finances.  Learning to just sit in silence and solitude and truly hear what God is saying to me. IT IS SO HARD….at first.  Blocking out the 3842934832948 things going on in my head and things I Have to get done is no easy task.  I can joyfully say after just one week, my spiritual life has changed immensely. Prayer followed by listening, is a daily miracle.  Coming to school under supported was a step of faith one in which I have been patiently waiting for the Lord to say “here I am, and all the support you need.” GREAT NEWS PEOPLE, He never left.  Not only that, He blessed this step in providing 50% of the support needed for my ministry. Every day is a step closer.  MUCH MORE IMPORTANTLY than that, I have VISION of what exactly the Lord has ahead for me in Guatemala.  Some are still blurry, and I know that once I am there He will show off again with a clear path, daily opening and closing doors. I AM SOOO EXCITED TO SHARE THEM WITH YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!

 Please bare with my grammatical, spelling, rambling errors, it’s a message of passion that I am so desperate for you to read and know about!  Ready, Set, READ!

As you know, I will be primarily working with the children’s home, and with all of those faces I love and miss DEARLY every single day.  During my internship and visit back in March, my heart BROKE for the community of Villa Nueva and outlying communities in the area.  My job at the time was focused on working and helping out with all the many, many tasks that go into raising 50 plus kids, hosting teams, clinics, schools, the list goes on.  My passion is to see each and every child (and adult) that steps foot onto property to truly KNOW the LOVE of Jesus, and for that love to swell up so much in there heart that it overflows into their lives, and the desperate, broken, poor, slum we live in.  I can imagine now, children asking to serve and help out our neighbors.  Simple acts of feeding those (who if lucky) eat once a week, pitching in to build homes, to teach their friends of the life changing/healing hand of Jesus.  Let me make a (poor) attempt to paint a clearer picture of where the kiddos in our home came from. T

They have come from background where some were SOLD (for less than 10 dollars to do who know what), ABUSED, 6 year olds being the head of the house feeding and caring for younger siblings, completely abandoned.  These kids, are already finding healing and a life in JESUS, in turn they will change their communities. They will be the church, they will relate, they will LOVE.  I see myself discipling these children, forming relationships with the community whom live in the most dangerous living conditions one can imagine, teaching classes on health and child and family development (finally using my major!), and eating with a widowed mom of 8.  These are my God given dreams, visions, and hopes for this community that has stolen my heart.  If you have never seen a third world country, its hard to even begin to know what a slum in a third world country is like. But my heart cries out for you to PRAY with me on this vision, to become a part of it. Because my dream is getting even bigger friends! It involves you my friends and family, coming to serve, visit and be a physical part of this.  Forming teams throughout the community of Statesboro (or wherever you are!) to bring your resources, knowledge, or your ability to sit and drink a cup of coffee and be relational. DISCIPLING, DISCIPLING, DISCIPLING! It is time we step up and step out of our comfort. I love how David Platt words this requirement of our walk in his book Radical “My biggest fear, is that I will hear Jesus’ words and walk away, content to settle for less than radical obedience to him.

Many have asked when I will be in Guatemala after the school ends in December.  I finally have an answer!!! Not because I am fully supported (which NLAI requires before purchasing a plane ticket), but because God clearly told me to trust in him for every single need in this journey and always. So January 18,2013 IM GOING TO GUATEMALA!  The funds are the only thing lacking after school is completed, and OUR GOD is BIGGER than lacking 50%.  Even though He doesn’t need to, He has proven that over and over again.

If you are interested in more of this vision, want to come on a team one day, want to support financially, or just want to say hi please e-mail me! Would love an update on YOUR life! Thank you for letting me share this with you, and I cannot wait to see and HEAR what all God does (and I can’t wait to see you down there!)

Many Blessings!

Colleen

Rest and Thankfulness!

Since the day I came back from Guatemala in April, it has been a straight marathon. The Lord knows I work best under extreme pressure (especially time constraints) and so I am convinced that is why it took so long for me to FINALLY see God’s clear and perfect path to becoming full time with NLAI.  Along with making decisions at the last possible moment, came a lot of ground work in a short amount of time. Support packets sent, people met with, car sold, all of my belongings packed into 4 suitcases, everything else sold/given away, and marrying off a best friend ;).  Now it is time to enjoy a week of rest before heading to the School of Missions.  I am soaking in this time with my family.  Knowing they are about to move to Italy has made time with them even more precious.  Life as an army brat was always an adventure but really hard at times.  Saying goodbye to friends or my dad was a part of almost every day life, I remember when I was little thinking, well when we are older we will all live in the same place and life will be great.  Well my sister Katie just accepted a job in Texas, parents heading out end of this month to Italy, All of my Grandparents are in Georgia/South Carolina,  friends literally all over the world and I am in Guatemala (via San Juan, Texas ha). Yep, we are a lot closer now! Oh wait.. All this to say the stress of getting things done, mounted when I thought of the separation that’s coming.   I am so thankful that one day when this life is over we will all be together! 

For now I just wanted to say THANK YOU, for all of you who listened to me as I debated on what to do, encouraged me to be patient (another downfall of mine), and did everything you could to help emotionally, prayerfully, and financially! I think of each of you as my beloved family!

Now that I have time to sit, and process my heart is BURSTING with ideas on ministry both while in San Juan and once I am finally in my home in Guatemala. :) I cannot wait to see how things continue to progress. Thank you for joining me on this journey and continuing to do life with me far a part.

Please keep in your prayers:

1, Ease and safety in moving to San Juan, and my parents as a week later they move to Italy. 

2. I am only at 35% of monthly support. Each day is a test of faith as time comes closer to starting the School of Missions. I know the Lord will take care of me, this is just truly an amazing path of Faith!

3. Melvin as he continues to go through medical treatment to become healed from Leukemia. 

I would LOVE to hear all that is going on with each of you, and things that I can be praying for! cowart.colleen@gmail.com

Love you all!

Colleen :)