Happenings in Guatemala October 2016
Happenings in Guatemala October 2016
October 15, 2016
A Safe Place to Learn in Guatemala
A Safe Place to Learn in Guatemala
November 13, 2016
Show all

Giving the Gift of Service in Guatemala

Giving the Gift of Service in Guatemala

Giving the Gift of Service in Guatemala.

It has been interesting to see the many ways that God continues to use our ministry.

After almost 14 years of serving in Guatemala, we have gotten to know many people. Among the women’s group that Sharie attends at Casa de Libertad, some of these relationships have developed into close friendships.

Over the past few years, as people we know have expressed a desire to serve, we have involved them more and more in the work we do. From Vacation Bible School, to Summer Camp, to our times of discipleship, activities, and classes with the children we serve, we have tried to make it easy for people to get involved in reaching out to love, give to, and assist others.

Recently, Sharie had several volunteers from the women’s group, volunteer to help her with cooking classes at the orphanage Fundaninos. Among them was a woman who, in the middle of the class took Sharie aside and told her her story.

It was the first time she had cooked in years! Cooking used to be her joy and passion. She used to love cooking for her husband and family. Then, several years ago, her husband passed away and she was widowed. In all the pain and suffering she went through at his loss, she just couldn’t bring herself to cook again.


She had tears in her eyes as she expressed gratefulness for how, through service to those in need, she was able to regain a passion in something that brought joy into her life.


It was a beautiful thing to hear. God was using our ministry of serving and teaching life skills to orphaned and vulnerable children to bring healing and restoration to this precious widow’s heart. What an unexpected gift from God. It truly is more blessed to give than to receive!

James 1:27 tells us that: “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” It’s not enough to just turn away from sin and try to live a Godly life, we must live out the faith of our religion in service to the most vulnerable among us, which often times is the orphaned child and widowed mother.

Timothy Martiny
Timothy Martiny
Missionary in Guatemala serving the orphaned, vulnerable and disabled.