2015 marks the 15th anniversary for Impact Ministries in Guatemala. During this time, the ministry has grown from a dream to the ministry it is today that includes a vibrant church, schools with more than 1500 students, a medical clinic, an agricultural program providing for nutrition and sustainability, and plans for the construction of an orphanage. God has been faithful and it has been a thrill to see so many lives change as people have learned to know Jesus Christ.
Hosting Short Term Mission Teams has been an important part of our ministry from the very beginning as one component of our mission to,
“Train Guatemalans for leadership by teaching Biblical principles in such a way that they become integrated in their lives and effect spiritual change in their society and to impact North American Christians for World Missions.”
This summer, the Celebration Team spent 10 days in Tactic touring schools and participating in the festivities making 15 years of service in Guatemala. The Guatemalan people are very gracious hosts and place great value in welcoming guests with warm hearts and a spirit of generosity. This was evident as the team visited each school where they were greeted by students, teachers, and staff dressed up in the traditional Guatemalan clothing of Tactic. In some schools, students held large palm branches in the air as they lead the team to the devotional hall. Some provided a hand made path covered with palm branches and pine needles while in another school, students held baskets of flower petals and confetti, throwing them into the air as the anniversary team walked through into the schools. Each event was different, but worship, food, laughter, and new found friendships were common to each experience. Many schools had many ‘hand made’ items to give to members of the team making the events very special. The culminating event was a service of celebration with more than 1200 people in attendance.
Some of the activites at the welcome celebration in the schools included:
- Marimba music playing in the background
- Teaching how to make different cultural foods, tamales, tamales filled with refried black beans, tortillas, chicken soup
- Teaching the team how the Guatemalan people have historically grow and harvest corn, and ground corn with traditional tools
- Singing and worship at each school
- Testimonies from staff and students of how their lives have been changed because of Impact Ministries. Many of these testimonies were filled with deep gratitude and tear filled eyes recognizing how knowing and loving Jesus Christ has changed their lives.
This anniversary celebration was complete with a celebratory parade of 15 years! Students, staff and teachers walked the streets of Tactic! It was a beautiful sight to see as the community came out of their homes and stopped their work to watch as large floats, children dressed in different biblical stories, impact school uniforms, playing worship music all passed through the town! It was a momentous occasion!
