Upcoming Trip to Guatemala

This January, I will be heading to the Guatemalan highlands for three months.  In the 1980s, the people there were caught in the middle of a terrible civil war.  Both the Army and Guerillas turned against them and they are still recovering to get back on their feet to this day.  These villagers live in poverty, sustaining themselves mostly on corn.  Education is a huge need, with the majority of the people unable to read or write.  There are several non- profit organizations on the ground in this region all doing tremendous things.  I will go down representing WIND of God Ministries.  WIND is an acronym for When It Needs Doing.  The organization began in early 2007 when on a vision trip, the four founders (including my parents) visited with Mike and Sharon Harvey of ASELSI at their training center in Chichicastenango.  Sharon told them of a vision of God’s mighty “wind” blowing through the region, breaking down the strongholds of despair and pouring forth His love and His Word into the hearts of the people.  

Since WIND of God Ministries has been established, a little Bible institute near to closing its doors has seen an explosion in enrollment.  Qualified teachers are being put in place, and God’s Word is being taught to pastors and lay people alike.  My dad gives some perspective after watching a student graduate from the Bible program:  

“Jacinto Perez has been the pastor of the Methodist Church for six years. He is a married man with six children. Every Sunday and Wednesday, in front of 50 – 60 of his flock, he preaches a sermon at his church. He is a man of very little education whose only requirement for acceptance into the program at Jorai was the ability to read (some) and write (some). His education the last three years at Jorai is the only formal education he has ever had. The degree he received, the Diplomado, is the equivalent to a sixth grade education. The Diplomado program offers very basic fill-in-the-blank Bible teaching. It is provided to pastors and individuals in the church who wish to obtain a greater understanding of the Bible. It does not offer any deep theological training. For Jacinto, the past three years has opened his eyes to the Bible which he has been teaching. By any standards of man, he is under prepared to lead his growing congregation. He remains hungry to learn more, but his economic situation does not make this possible. Through WIND, he was able to get some initial training and has a strong desire to continue if finances make it possible in the future. He sends his deepest appreciation to all the WIND supporters, and as he looked at us with emotion of the day written on his face he said, ‘You are an answer to my prayers.’”

WIND of God is in need of support to continue its role in providing education to church leaders like Jacinto as well as responding to other needs in this community.  While I’m there I will get to know pastors in the program and record their stories.  I will look to volunteer at a Christian school in the area.  I will provide a liaison and a face for WIND of God in the community while raising awareness of the needs to supporters in the United States and around the world.  Most importantly, I will go down with the heart of a servant and see where God leads me.  Please pray for Sharon Harvey’s vision to come to pass, that His love would continue to break the bonds of despair.  Pray for me, that I would be God led and not lean on my own understanding. I understand that dollars are tight in this troubled economy; if you wish to support me financially please know that any gift, however small, is greatly appreciated and helpful. WIND of God Ministries is a 501c3 non-profit, and all donations made are tax deductible.  If you wish to donate please send a check, made payable to WIND, to the address below and attach a note indicating it is for my support (please do not put my name on the check).  Three months of living and travel expenses in Guatemala will cost around $2000.

You can learn more by visiting http://windofgodministries.blogspot.com or http://www.windofgod.org

WIND of God
259 Coyote Lane
Lopez Island, WA  98261

All for His Glory,
                  Jordan

When You Feel that God Cannot Use You...

Here is a bit of encouragement from Action International founder Doug Nichols:

"When you feel God cannot use you, it is helpful to remember that Noah was a drunk, Abraham was too old, Isaac was a day dreamer, Jacob was a liar, Leah was ugly, Joseph was spoiled, Moses had a stuttering problem, Gideon was afraid, Sampson had long hair and was a womanizer, Rahab was a prostitute, Jeremiah and Timothy were too young, David had an affair and was a murderer, Elijah was suicidal, Jonah ran from God, Naomi was a widow, Job went bankrupt, Peter denied Christ, the disciples slept through prayer, Martha worried over everything, the Samaritan woman was divorced more than once, Zacchaeus was too small, Paul was too religious, Timothy had a stomach problem, and Lazarus was dead.”

"But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God” (1 Corinthians 1:27-29, nasb).