We loved every minute our students were on the mountain. We made sure they had food, clothes, shoes—everything they needed every single day. But the day came when we had to say goodbye to our oldest students and watch them step into the real world. For years, we knew they ate breakfast and lunch every … More Still Pointing Them to Jesus!
“Can you do me a favor?” Whenever I receive these type of text messages while I am in the states then I know exactly what message will follow—Someone is about to ask me to bring them something from the states to Guatemala. The following text message was exactly what I expected. Can you bring … More Only Eyeglasses!
“It’s only thirty minutes!”Only thirty minutes to see some of the absolute cutest children ever. Thirty minutes to hear children speak Truth.To watch an adorable skit.To sing worship songs together.Thirty minutes to be reminded of the beautiful simplicity of the Gospel. If you are coming to Guatemala this year, do yourself a favor and make … More Worth the Time!
“Ask about her story.” Absolutely not. You can’t just walk up to someone and ask about their story. She would have every reason to think I was strange. “Ask about her story.” I was saying goodbye to a group from Tennessee. Ironically, the team was from the same church where Soy and I attended while … More Sweet Amy!
We are excited about 2026! This week, our school will welcome more than 200 students as we begin a new school year. We will see both new and familiar faces among our faculty and students. There will be smiles, hugs, and a warm plate of food served to every child. We are also thrilled to … More 2026!
All of the December activities on the mountain have come and gone. The Christmas dinners, the decor, the field trips, the camping nights, the basketball games, the food distribution, the Christmas parade…..a whirlwind of events for the past several weeks is finished. As we spend the next several days focused on Christmas, we will not … More Happy Birthday Jesus!
“Excuse Me? It cost how much? No, thank you!” This was my response when someone told me the price for a basketball court. It was a lot of money. How can concrete and metal be so expensive? While I was certain the students would have fun playing basketball, I seriously doubted any … More The Basketball Court!
Since I see these students every day, then I am able to hear them express their gratitude towards Grace Ministries. They may see me as the boots on the ground, but none of this possible without the people who support us. In October, I asked the seniors to write a “Thank You” letter to give … More A Heart of Gratitude!
“I thank my God every time I remember you.” Philippians 1:3 Today—and everyday—we choose to be thankful for every single one of you. You have loved our family. You have shown up for our family. You have encouraged our family. You have laughed with us. You have cried with us. You … More Thankful!
“I have learned to appreciate a plate of food!” He sat in a circle with five of our teachers looking at him with a mixture of love and memories. They remembered his past–the poor decisions, the many interventions, the destructive choices. They knew about the loss in his life. They remembered how our hearts were … More A Plate of Food!
Shining Light Abroad Ministries 