Ministry in Guatemala
Our hearts weigh heavy with love for the people of Guatemala. I heard a pastor of mine one time say that even though some of the villages we serve at don’t appear on an actually map, they are absolutely visible in God’s heart.
Education
We are dedicated to provide easy means to education through scholarship programs starting from elementary school all the way to college level.
Feeding Programs
Poor nutrition is the reality to many communities in our area, so we provide snacks and lunch programs and also provide food bags to different communities.
Bible
Everything that we do we want to be centered around the Bible and also be the means in which many would learn about His truth and encounter the powerful Love of God.
How we started in Guatemala
When I, John Collins, had just finished high school, I was invited to come serve in Guatemala for 7 days in a mountain village. I was told that we were going to do some construction for the local community school and also have an activity for the almost 100 kids that live in the village. I said yes and had no idea what I would be in store for. While serving there, God broke my heart for the beauty of the people. They loved us and accepted us without evening knowing who we were. They taught me so much about God and humbled me many times to the point of crying.
So I continued visiting for the next few years and never felt content in the states having a normal 9-5 job. I would try and distract myself with other things. I would even get involved in ministry in my town. But you cant shake or avoid your calling. God constantly filled my mind with thoughts of the village and the people. I would talk to them on the phone and would cry for them whenever I began to pray. Finally at the end of 2009 I decided that it was time to move to Guatemala and be obedient to the call has given my life. I quit my job and started to sell my few belongings and moved full time in March 2010. At this time I met Ilsi, who is now my amazing wife.
Ilsi grew up in the village of Xeparquiy which is just a 10 minute walk from the ministry we were both serving at. When she was little she was sent to the city to study and live with cousins. She went all the way through college and decided it
was time to return to live with her mom. She was struggling with her own walk with God and realized she wasn’t serving like she needed too. She prayed and decided she wants to serve her own people and help them grow and succeed. So she was given a teaching job to work with the elementary and middle school children. Through this journey we both learned to work together and teach people about God’s love.
Ilsi and I took over as the directors in 2014 for the mission and absolutely loved where God had us. She changed the school around and implanted new teachers and different curriculums to keep Christ in the center of all we have done. We worked with a few women from the village to provide them jobs so they could cook lunch for the students and then also for about 60 other kids from the elementary school to come over and receive lunch and an after school program. We helped them with their homework and even prepared them for the following school year.
We also try and stay involved not only with the students but with the whole family unit. We do regular home visits and pray for the families. Ilsi has a heart to work with the young women and single mothers. She loves them by praying with them and counseling to overcome whatever obstacle may be in their path. We are grateful that freedom is made accessible through Jesus and surrendering our lives to Him.
John T. Collins
"I was visiting Guatemala for the first time in 2007 when my heart broke for the people, the area, and all that God was doing there. I then quit my job and moved full-time in March of 2010."
Ilsi R. Collins
"After leaving my village for some years to study in the city, an opportunity opened to use my gift of teaching to serve my own people. It's been the most beautiful and humbling journey. "