Now fast forward three years to this past December when I started to feel a restlessness. Now this wasn't just the restlessness that you feel when it is snowy, cold, and miserable in the mountains of Cashiers, NC during the December month. This was a restlessness found deep inside my soul of knowing that God had a crazy plan for me. This is when I really quieted my life down and sought what God wanted for my life.
I began to feel the urge to go back to Guatemala, but I wanted to make sure this was from God and not just my human desires to go back. I prayed that if this desire was not from God that He would take it away immediately from me, but if this desire was from Him, to confirm in a very obvious and clear way. I knew I had already planned a spring break trip to go visit the Beenes and I prayed that between now and that trip that God would confirm where I was to go and what I was to do. I kept my mind open that maybe I was to even go to Guatemala, but not go with the Beene family. I kept searching Gods' heart. I followed different paths looking at Africa, China, El Salvador, and different organizations in Guatemala as well.
Now jump to my spring break trip to Guatemala with the Beene family and skip a few details as I could probably write a novel of all the crazy things God worked in this period of time. Right before I left, I had another organization in Guatemala that was not Faith In Action, contact me and have interest in me working for them. I began praying that if this was Gods will for my life, that He would confirm very clearly. While with Faith In Action over spring break I had been up in the mountains working on building a new playground that my church raised money for. Michael and Rocky Beene had stayed behind to take care of other details. While up in the village I sought a lot of time praying. I knew being in Guatemala was like home to me, I loved the Beene family, and loved the heart and mission of Faith In Action. Again, I continued to pray that if it was Gods will for my life to move and work with Faith In Action that God would confirm in a very obvious way. Well, God DID confirm in a very obvious way through two crazy women of God, my mom and Rocky Beene. Long story short, God had been putting a desire in Rocky Beenes' heart for quite some time to have someone come down and help their dorm students in Zacapa with their English and Math studies. At the same time God had put an uneasiness in my moms' heart for the organization that I had been looking at in Guatemala and a strong desire/longing in my moms' heart to have me work for Faith In Action. All these prayers and faithfulness came colliding together in Gods' beautiful timing and has now resulted in me moving down to Guatemala for a year.
As stated above, I will be moving down to live in Zacapa, Guatemala. Here I will be working with a dear friend and sister in Christ, Amanda Culver to help tutor the dorm students. (Amanda has lived with the Beene family for three years now working and helping Faith In Action. I met Amanda the very first time I was in Guatemala as she was just beginning her journey to live with the Beenes.) The dorm students live in a home that the Beene's have built. Here they also have dorm parents that live and take care of them. The students go to school and study all subjects as well as learn English. Many of these students in Zacapa have been struggling with learning English and this is where Rocky and Michael have been praying that someone would come and help them. Amanda and I will be living with the students in Zacapa and be there all day tutoring and helping the students grow not only academically but spiritually as well . Amanda has had such a heart for the students and between the two of us, I am beyond excited to see what God has in store for us.
So here is something that I need your help with. Although I am the one physically going down to Guatemala for a year, I am asking you all to join this mission with me. I will be keeping updates on this blog and I ask that you join me spiritually in this journey. Following me with prayer and being Gods hands and feet spiritually through the power of prayer.
"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." ~Philippians 4:6
I will also be raising my own support to live for a year. These funds will go towards my housing, food, airfare, and Faith In Action. If you feel led to give money, I have posted the link below. This will take you to the Faith In Action website and there you can give money online. There you can hit the "Give" button and select the option "General Fund" and put in the memo: Mary Dews. Here there are many options from giving a one time gift to also giving on a monthly basis.
http://fiaministries.com/give/
Thank your for taking the time to read and share a huge part of my heart. I look forward to this journey that I am about to embark on and that I hope many of you will join in with me as well.
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