The Hastings Family

Where have the Hastings been???

Dear Friends,

Sorry for the long delay between blog posts. We have broken the cardinal rule of blogging by waiting too long to post. We'll try to do better!

First, a ministry update:

Since our last post, a team came from the Grand Rapids Michigan area to help us with a construction project at one of our rural area schools. They built 3 new classrooms for us at the Filadelfia school and ministered to hundreds of children at this school and our Camp Canaan facility through teaching Bible stories and doing crafts together with the children. This team has come to Guatemala for many years and have assisted in many building and ministry projects.

Thanks to all these faithful co-laborers who give of their time and talents each year!

We also had a medical team here in March from Lakeview Covenant Church in Minnesota. They, too, have come to minister at our hospital in Cubulco for many years and spend their time here working with our national staff, performing much needed surgeries and medical procedures and ministering to the Guatemalan people. Many thanks to these faithful brothers and sisters!

This year we also have had the blessing of starting a new childcare program. Here at AMG Guatemala we often receive requests to open new childcare centers or schools in different areas. Last year one such request came from a small Baptist church in rural eastern Guatemala. They tried to start a Christian school as there are none in their town or area, but were unable to survive due to lack of funds. After much consideration, visits to the church and area and meetings with the church leaders and staff, we formed a partnership with La Palabra Baptist Church and began a child sponsorship program there with the help of one of our funding partners - Word & Deed North America. What a blessing to be able to expand the ministry and help more needy children and also to partner together with brothers and sisters of this local church. Please pray for La Palabra. They currently have their school in a rented building and are praying for the Lord to provide a building so they can help more children.

As you can see from the pictures, the rented facility has limitations, but the kids don´t seem to mind. :)

As always, there are many more blessings in the ministry....and challenges as well!...but the Lord continues to faithfully provide, sometimes in ways that we cannot even imagine.

Family update:

Adam (stateside) continues to work and take business classes in Manchester, NH. He serves in the music ministry at our home church and is well taken care of by friends and family. Thanks everyone!

Melody and Bethany are both looking forward to the end of their school years. Bethany will finish middle school in just 4 weeks and then it is on to high school! She has had a very good year in school and has worked hard to get excellent grades.

Melody will finish her year at Instituto Canzion (a local music college) the first week of June. Her big news is that she has decided to leave Guatemala in July. She will transition back to the states after spending the last 5 years here in Guatemala with us and begin taking classes locally for a while in our home state of NH. She has already begun applying to colleges and will consider going away to college some time in 2010, hopefully to major in music and possibly missions as a minor. Please pray for her as she considers these things and seeks the Lord´s will for her future.

Robin continues to help out at the Christian Academy of Guatemala where Bethany attends by serving on the school board and helping in other areas. She also takes Melody across the city each day to and from school...this is a job in itself!(those of you who have been here will understand this) And on thursdays Robin helps out at AMG´s school here in Guatemala City.

That's all for now. We promise to post again soon. Thanks for hanging on during our absence from our blog!

More to come soon.

Love from all the Hastings Family.