COVID & My Mustard Seed
Hey there friends and family! I am on almost week three of life abroad and this past week I have been spending it in a gorgeous hotel in quarantine with one other teammate. It has been a journey to say the least. I never once thought that a quarantine overseas during month one of my journey was in the cards for me. But hey— it’s his plan not mine right??
Quarantine has taught me a lot of things about myself. I knew that life abroad would be hard, but I didn’t realize the heartache I would feel as I lived thousands of miles away from family and friends. A few days ago in my quiet time, I was reminded by my Heavenly Father that he doesn’t change because I am living overseas. He is the same God in Arkansas, and the same God here in the cities and mountainsides of Guate. As I sat out on the balcony of our hotel I was reminded that my God is the God of the volcano across from me (literally) and the God of my heart and emotions. I would not have been led to this life here if it wasn’t for the glory of God’s Kingdom.
We have been serving alongside a church here called CASA Guatemala. The church pastors: prostitutes, gang members, those involved in drug trafficking, and people from some of the poorest communities around the city. The pastor, Alex, has a heart to love and serve the people here that have been rejected from the typical church. I am so thankful that my team gets to serve alongside a pastor with a passion to love these people as he does it with grace and the power of the Holy Spirit. It has been amazing to see all of the work that is being done here.
Although my teammate, Caitlyn, and I have been in quarantine we have been able to witness the Lord move mountains for CASA and the people of Mixco. This week, our team got to host a women’s ministry retreat called “Beauty for Ashes” where they shared the redeeming power of Jesus and got to make flower crowns with the women. Many women released shackles that had been weighing them down for years at this retreat and many witnessed the love and power of Jesus for the first time in their life. What a praise!! The women here are being changed! The Lord and the power of the Holy Spirit are in this place!!
Not only did our team get to host this event, but Caitlyn and I have devoted much of our time here to prayer and intercession. CASA has had some trouble paying the rent here as the rent is high and not many people can tithe in the church as they have no money of their own. After much prayer, I felt that the Lord wanted me to post on social media to raise funds for the church. I prayed that the Lord would take it into his hands and that he would move mountains that night. I prayed with a heart that believed that my Heavenly Father would provide for the people here and that he would perform a miracle literally in my sleep.
The next morning I woke up with so many notifications on my phone of friends and family that had generously outstretched their hands with gifts for the church. I was blown away by the generosity of so many in so little time. Literally as I was sleeping that night the Lord prompted people to give enough to cover rent for the next month and a half. Praise to God, for he is good! This is nothing short of a miracle and I spent most of my quiet time weeping as I was flooded with God’s love and his church’s love. Oh and did I mention that pastor Alex was going to be kicked out of the location for the church this afternoon if they could not pay rent. Yeah— my God really did that.
Thank you friends and family! Honestly, thank you isn’t enough, but it means so much to me and the people here for you prayers and giving. You are the church. You are the body of Christ. “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all it’s many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.” 1 Corinthians 12:12 I am in awe of the way the body of Christ moved in just one night. I am in awe of my faith—much like a mustard seed— and the the way it had the power to literally move mountains last night. “He replied, ‘Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20.
As we move forward please pray that the church will be able to make future rent payments and that CASA can be a self-sustaining church. The Lord is using Alex and his family to love the people of Mixco so well, so thank you for being a part of this. If you feel led to give feel free to Venmo (@katherinejeane) or cash–app ($katherinejeane) and I will make sure the funds get to CASA. Please put in the subject line “CASA”.
I love you all and would love to pray for your needs as I have plenty of time as I finish my days in quarantine. Please reach out anytime!
XOXOX,
Katherine
This is the view of the mountains from our hotel (quarantine) stay. Just a few days left to enjoy this during quiet time!
These are photos from my journal in prayer the night before raising rent for CASA and the morning after the miracle.
My teammate, Lauren, and our translator/best friend, Ivana, speaking at the Beauty for Ashes event at CASA.
Pastor Alex sharing the love of Jesus with the kids during the women’s ministry retreat.
Women sharing what the Lord has done in their life at the Beauty for Ashes event.
My teammate, Caitlyn, and I the first night we found out we had COVID. We ate dinner in a separate room than our team and got to play with our hosts new puppy-CHERRY!
