A little about the Women's Social Work site:
The Women's Social Work and Teens site is driven by the goal of witnessing the impactful transformation that the Gospel of Jesus Christ can bring to the lives of women. The outreach spans the women of San Miguel and nearby communities, with the ambition to elevate their quality of life. SI aims to empower women to actively contribute to community and family-oriented projects while providing assistance to those who have endured various forms of abuse and neglect. LIFT, and SI participants will be involved in an array of activities, including home visits, group meetings, counseling sessions, sowing and jewelry classes, devotionals, and a host of other enriching experiences.
Dear friends and family,
Thank you for checking in to see the updates on our mission experience with Students International in Guatemala! I (Lizzie) have been working with the Women's Social Work site with Victoria, Emma C., Attie, and our SI leaders Sheny and Ellie. We have heard many stories of how God has been working in women's lives through this site, and we have witnessed some of that firsthand as well. The Women's Social Work Site strives to teach women tangible skills in sewing and crafting so that they can earn money to help provide for themselves and their families. During the process, they have the opportunity to learn about Jesus through devotions. Student International will sell the products the women make, and 50 percent will go back to the women directly. The other 50 will be used to purchase more material and meet the ministry site's needs. The site provides the sewing machines for the women to use.
4-3-2024 San Miguel
Today was the first day of ministry sites. We started our day with an orientation in San Miguel at our ministry site. San Miguel is a town a short walk from Magdalena, where SI is located. Sheny, our site leader, shared a story with us to start the day. In this story, one of the ladies in the town finds out that she can earn money by making things at the social work site. After a while of attending the site, this woman came up to Sheny and told her that the best part of the site was learning about Jesus. Later, she called Sheny and told her that she wanted to commit suicide because her husband had started cheating on her. She told Sheny that the only reason why she was still alive was because of Jesus. Then Sheny reminded her that she had a daughter she needed to care for. This woman was so distraught that she forgot that she had a daughter. Now, she is working hard to provide for her daughter. She started seeing a new man, but she told Sheny that she was taking it "muy demasiado."
Throughout the day we made bracelets. In the morning, the woman came, and in the afternoon, the kids came. Sheny shared a devotion with each. In the morning, she talked about how God was eternal, and in the afternoon, she shared the story of Daniel.
4-4-2024
Today was a fun day of ministry. All day, we sewed coffee bags with the women. This was very exciting for me because I love to sew, and I have a basic knowledge of sewing machines that proved to be useful. I was very grateful to be able to use my gifts to teach others. I also learned a lot from Sheny about different machines I had never used before.
We also went and did a home visit to a woman who hadn't been to the ministry site in awhile. She has been struggling with high blood sugar and has needed to inject insulin. While we were there, she was talking about her struggles with deciding whether she needed to get off insulin so that her body would be less dependent on it when she can't afford it anymore. We were also able to meet her daughter, who was pregnant, and she was sharing some of her health struggles as well. Hearing these stories made me very thankful for the health care that we have here in the United States, and it made me very grateful for the health that I currently have.
Tonight we had the SI market where all the LIFTers were able to purchase different things from the different ministry sites of SI. This was a great experience because I was able to see money being made for these women, and I knew how it would make a difference in their lives. In particular, one of the ladies who is at the ministry site is working extra hard to earn more money to provide an oven for her son. Her son is training to be a professional chef, and she really wants to gift him this oven because she wants to see him succeed. It brought me joy to see her things selling, knowing that this would make her overjoyed.
4-5-2024
We did not go to the site today; rather, we went to the Municipal Building in Magdalena, and we helped cut out patterns for a sewing class that was happening. Eli, one of the interns with the Social Work Site, told us that this was the most people they've ever had. Usually, only a couple attend, but this week, there were six. I've enjoyed being able to help teach sewing, especially on the machine. We did this class in the morning.
We went and had lunch with the Physical Therapy and Special Education teams, and many of us went to purchase smoothies. After lunch, we went and made another house visit, this time in Magdalena. We visited a lady who had been a part of the Social Work Site. She had since moved, and her husband purchased her a used sewing machine. We got to talk with her and her three children. She shared with us that one of her daughters is sponsored by SI, and they are hoping to get her other daughter sponsored as well. Additionally, she shared how they are trying to pay off their house as the landowner is getting older.
As we jump into this next week and reflect on the past, please pray for these things.
1. Pray that we will have energy and enthusiasm as we continue to be a part of what God is doing here through SI.
2. Pray that we will remain healthy and will all be able to prepare well for the volcano hike. We have attempted the Eco Hike qualifier twice now, and everyone is doing extremely well.
And for the Women's Social Work ministry, please be praying for:
1. Pray for the women we met and heard about this week. Pray that God will work in their lives, give them peace and wisdom, and provide them with the things they may need financially.
2. Pray for the women coming to the site. Many of them have been hurt in some way. Please be praying for healing and peace in their lives.
3. Pray for the children coming to the site. They are so excited to read their Bibles and learn about Jesus! Pray that they would continue to be excited by this and that they would be able to share this with their families.
Personal update:
I am doing really well and enjoying my time in Guatemala. Thank you all for your continued support throughout the trip; it means a lot. God has been so good throughout this trip. I have been learning a lot and have been meeting many great people. Additionally, I qualified for the volcano hike first time! I love my host family. The language barrier is difficult, but I am learning fast, and it is a great opportunity to build relationships and show that we genuinely care. I've definitely messed up my Spanish, but it has just made for some good laughs.
"Do not be dismayed, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." - Isa. 41:10
Thank you all for your continued support in prayer! All of us appreciate it very much.
God bless!
Lizzie
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