I participated in my first missions trip abroad to the Dominican Republic in 2009, my freshman year of high school. I knew as soon as I got involved that I was called to pursue ministry as a full time position. I wasn’t too sure if I’d be running a non-profit from the states, if I’d take up a position at a local church, or if I was to move abroad. Eight years later, through many tears and many prayers, God opened the doors for me, with the help from loved ones and church, to move to Guatemala and impact the lives of those children who call Casa Shalom home. I am responsible the media for the orphanage. That role ranges from social media posts, website updates, photo and/or video updates, emailed newsletters, and any design projects the orphanage needs done. I am also running the child sponsorship program, translating letters, organizing donations, and providing a helping hand in sponsored outings. I’m also head over the “Good Will” at Casa Shalom. Any clothing donations that come to the orphanage, I will organize into an on-site “shop” (called a “bodega”), where kids can come in and grab a pair of sneakers, a sweatshirt, underwear, or a blanket whenever they’re in need of something new.
Along with those responsibilities, I try to get involved with other ministry opportunities outside the orphanage walls, whether it’s helping build a house, packing meals, or ministering and praying over a local community. Pictured above are the 16 kids I got to live with and love on over my 6 week Casa Shalom internship in 2015.
Casa Shalom is located in San Lucas, Guatemala and is home to about 100 children from the ages of 3 months to 18 years. It is fully supported by churches in the United States, receiving no funds from the Guatemalan government. The kids come to Casa Shalom in various states, from physical/sexual abuse, malnutrition, poverty, family loss, or abandonment. While providing the children with education, 3 meals a day, clothing, and a place to live, the most important part of Casa Shalom is to share the love of Christ with everyone who walks into the gates. For more information about the orphanage, visit Casa Shalom’s website.
(har)perseverance on a mission is a site I’ve created to give you information about the ministries I am involved in. It’s a name that I’ve come up with to combine my own name with God’s calling on my life, to persevere while serving full time on the missions field. Take a look around this website for photos, stories, and information on how to get involved.
(har)Perseverance on a mission 