This past week we have had the opportunity to look at six
different houses. They have been
quite the range in styles and prices. The highest was Q8,000 ($1,100) a month,
which was trying to get us to bite as gringos (white people) to see if we would
pay that. The prices dropped all the way down to Q1000/month (around $135). The
styles ranged from a place with one large finished room and bathroom, along
with two extra rooms under construction, to a house with lots of plants,
flowers, and a large area of grass. We are trusting God that He will lead us to
the place that He wants us to be in. We ask that you continue be praying for our
decision process.
We are now spending twice a week with our neighbor kids,
Monday and Thursday afternoons. They come at 2:00 and usually spend 2 ½ -3
hours with us. We are looking forward to being able to grow this into a
thriving after-school program. As we have been looking at houses we have been
envisioning what an after-school program will look like in those places. With
that in mind we know that the price we pay for rent will be a combination of
living space and ministry space. We also
know that as the program grows we will need to increase our school supplies,
games, materials, sports equipment, shelving, and storage. This is the reason
we need people to partner with us. We are currently only 58% funded of our $3,200/month goal. If we were fully funded, we
would be able to purchase those supplies, not be as limited on our rent budget,
and could have more freedom to make certain expenditures. If you are interested
in donating some games, supplies, or sports equipment that would be amazing. Christopher, (in the picture) one of our neighbor kids,
loves building and creating things. We were drawing mazes the other day, and he
was using dominoes to build towers. He asked if we had any puzzles or Legos and
we had to say no. If you are interested in donating some of those types of
games or activities they would be put to great use! Right now, we have been
playing Dutch Blitz, Trouble, Go Fish, Jenga, Junk Art, and Dominoes to name a few.
However, we also need ongoing monthly gifts. We have been
trying to decide if we should include a lunch or only a snack for the after-school
program. It would be so amazing if one or two people decided to give to provide
lunch for the kids once or twice a week. (A quick estimate of cost for 15 kids
for two days a week would be $85/month) Then the decision would be made for us
and God would be using your funds to allow us to more time to build
relationships with these kids. Monthly gifts would also cover the constant
expense of replacing sports equipment. Soccer balls get destroyed, t-shirts for
the kids to differentiate teams get ruined, basketballs, cones, all different
types of plastic and softer balls, rope, and anything else you can imagine. God
has sent us to Guatemala with a passion and vision to spread His love to kids
and their families through the gifts and abilities He has blessed us with.
During this season of beginning our after-school program we will be spending
time in prayer specifically asking that God will provide the funds we need to
complete our budget. If you want your gift to go toward something specifically,
be sure to designate your gift so we can be sure to use it in the way you wish.
Will you be a part of God’s work in Guatemala by joining
with us in prayer and supporting us financially over this time of transition
and beginnings? God has some amazing things in store in the next few months as
we move into a new house and as we see Him work. Let’s go! We are so excited
just thinking about all the possibilities. 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “Whatever
you do, do it all for the glory of God.” Our hope is that our actions and
relationships with these kids and their families will bring glory to God. We
trust God that He will use as his priests to bring others to His throne so that
they can find Him. All the glory to God!
We also wanted to say we are so thankful for those who pray
for us and give financially. You are a blessing to us and we wouldn’t be here
without you.
If there are specific ways we can be covering you or your
family in prayer we would love to be
talking to God about you as well. Send us an e-mail (abrubaker@pushtherock.org or krishauna@hopeforhome.org) or Facebook message and we
will be in contact.
Andi and Krishauna
