Mission Minded

GUATEMALA....A place I never really thought about and to be honest probably couldn't have even located it on a map.  Now, it's seared into my heart in ways that can't be undone.  This past summer, I went on my first international mission trip to Hope of Life International in Guatemala along with my husband and two oldest children.

Derrick, Ambria, River and myself with two precious
teenagers from the orphanage, Gaby and Blanca

When we returned, I couldn't get the faces out of my head.  I would drive along the road and just envision the people of Guatemala standing along the roadside with their sweet smiles.  They have so little and yet are so happy and loving.  I would go to the grocery store and just stand in the aisle staring at all the choices we have available at our fingertips, and I would start to feel angry inside.  It was like I couldn't wrap my head around what makes us think we are so deserving to have access to anything we could possibly want.  I was angry at our culture and at our way of thinking as Americans.  I was angry at how we take things for granted.  I just kept thinking this is not right.  It's not right...kids are starving and malnourished while we eat 3+ meals a day so easily.  It's not right that people are dying because of sickness from lack of clean water while we drink it so freely straight from our own kitchens.  I know life is not fair, but we only get one shot at it.  I don't want to waste the little shot I have been given.   My hearts desire is to help people, any people.  That may be my neighbor or someone in a foreign country.  A need is a need and if I can fill it, that is what I want to do.   I started this blog because this is something very near to my heart.  A burning passion of mine that could only come from God.  I don't want to miss a single thing HE has for me.  So, the intentions for this blog is simply a way I can keep track of what God is doing in and thru the Gates family! I don't know what His plans are for us, but I know our lives were changed this summer by a small little country full of people with hurts, pain, and needs.

Child at the local dump

Some people believe we should serve the needs in our own cities and country first before traveling all over the place helping others.  I believe we should serve the needs wherever the Lord leads each of us and if that is someplace else, I pray we are all obedient to that calling.  No matter the place, serving is not an option if you claim to be a follower of Christ.  It's a command.  Whether you do that locally or internationally is up to the Lord.  He knows where we are needed the most.

Local dump feeding site

Average home

After MUCH prayer and MANY obstacles we have booked a trip to return to Hope of Life Intl. this December.  I don't know what the Lord has in store, but I just know we are supposed to go.  Financially, it doesn't make sense.  I have recently quit my job to homeschool my three children, and things are as tight as ever before with finances.  So, to most people this decision makes no sense.  It would be much easier for us to take the money we have raised to put towards our summer mission trip where we will return to Hope of Life Intl. once again with a group from our church.  But, God never said when we follow him it would be safe or easy.  We aren't called to do easy.  With much confidence that He is telling us to go back in December, I have no choice but to say, "Yes Lord...I will go!" The way he chooses to provide financially will be nothing short of a miracle.  I trust him.  That's all I can do.  So, this Christmas instead of buying gifts, we hope to bring Christmas to Guatemala.  If you want to walk this journey with us, feel free to read updates to the blog.  As for the Gates' family, we are His and will follow His commands.  My prayer is that God will make His light shine "thru His Gates!"