Amanda's Mission to Guatemala with The Kitchen of Love

"Holà!" "Buenos días!" "Muy bonita!" "Buenos noches!" This was about all the Spanish I knew when traveling to the great Central American country of Guatemala this past summer to support Pastor José Alvarez and the ministry God began working through him over 30 years ago. And here I was, 24 years old, traveling to a country I didn't know, a place I'd never dreamed of going to, with little to no language experience. (I should have paid more attention in Spanish class!)

Why did I do this, you might ask? Because God asked me to.

Sure, when I was growing up in church, I would hear about people's experiences, those who had gone out into the mission field and had come back changed for life by the way they'd witnessed God move in miraculous ways. But never did I think I 'fit in' there. I did not believe for an iota of a second that I'd be one of 'those' people, a person forever changed by witnessing the Gospel message of Christ.

"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom" (1 Corinthians 3:17)

I was probably 8 when I first met the Lord for the first time. And 16 the second time. And 23 the third time. And probably a million little times in between. It just so happens that it took me about 24 years to finally 'get' the message He was trying to send me: that He loves me and sent His One and only Son to die for ME. (John 3:16) And He wanted me to have life and have it everlasting.

"Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength" (Nehamiah 8:10)

You see, I was missing the point, but the point had also been missing me. There comes a time in every man's life where he must decide whether or not he is to embrace the truth or continue denying it. Although this took some time for me to realize, at 24, I had finally decided to accept the invitation Jesus had been offering to me all along, eternal life with Him starting TODAY!

And thus my journey with Christ began, which is what led me to this missions trip, following Jesus wherever He sends me.

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)

You may ask, "Okay, WHY is this all relevant NOW, Amanda, AFTER the fact?"

I know, I hear you, I'm getting to the point.

Well, because I am going AGAIN!

Yes, you heard that right! Miss Mandy Grace Vasas (formerly just Amanda Grace Vasas) is headed to Guatemala ONCE AGAIN this summer, for the same cause, for the same mission, for the SAME GOD.

Why do I need to go again, you ask, if it's the same mission over again?

Another great question! (You're touching my inner teacher's heart!)

Well, because, simply, the work of an evangelist is never done. (2 Timothy 4:5)

And Jesus tells us in His own words; "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD." (Luke 4:18-19)

What does that all mean? (Again, yet another GREAT QUESTION!!! You, my friend, are on FIYA!) It simply means that because I am now following Jesus, I will do what He does. I will preach the gospel to the poor, I will heal the brokenhearted, I will proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, I will set at liberty those who are pressed, and proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.

He saved me from the muck & the mire of my sinful life, the despair I was in, the dissaray, confusion, turmoil, and HE set my feet on solid rock. Not me or anybody else, but HIM. I ought to lay my life down for Him and do the work of an evangelist. (There's that 2 Timothy verse again!)

Three other MAJOR upgrades God gave me since I visited Guatemala last: I became a pre-school teacher at a private Christian school (I cannot WAIT to see the kiddos of Guatemala again!), I am now completing my first year pursuing a degree in Ministry Leadership from the University of Valley Forge in PA (double woo! I never thought I'd make it to college!) and I also began renting! (triple woo, although this speaks to my tight financial situation).

God has been so good to me, and all I can sell you on is that I have a heart for Jesus and the ministry He's placed in my hands, the people who need to hear about Him who never have before, and those who must be reminded of Him.

I needed to be reminded time and time again until I finally got what this whole following Jesus thing is about. I think we all do. THIS, going to Guatemala with the Kitchen of Love through Crossroads Community Chapel out of East Hartford, will BE that reminder for some or the very first time invitation to accept Jesus in their WHOLE LIVES!!! Wouldn't you like to be a part of that?

What you can expect as a donor/prayer warrior joining in mission with me:

I will serve food, clothing, and other necessities to the people of the mountain village of Esquipulas, Guatemala, as well as to the residents of Guatemala City, Guatemala, who find their way to Kitchen of Love's doorstep. This will include those residents living in the village dump and the children attending the one-room schoolhouses on top of the mountain.

I will aid and participate in the preaching of the Gospel to the lost and broken, who need the hope of Jesus in their lives through worship, preaching, and the sharing of my "come to Jesus" testimony (like you just read some of moments ago!)

We will do some or all of this, in addition to the dump and school, at a local men's rehab facility in Guatemala City and/or the men's prison, where Pastor José has led many men in need of hope to Christ.

I will also report back in any way I can about my trip via text chain, email, or other social avenues to keep you updated and attuned to what the Lord is doing.

And I will be lifting each of you to the Lord as you embark on this mission with me.

I've heard it said that ministry work would be a lot easier if it didn't involve people, and while that is true, it's a lot more beautiful. Following the Lord Jesus is the most exhilarating ride you could ever be on, and it's all for our good and His glory.

Would you join me in blessing the people of Guatemala with a taste of Jesus this summer? I'll be leaving July 29th and arriving back home August 7th, just a month after my 26th birthday. This will be a very special trip for me as I'll be traveling this time with some sisters in Christ from my own FUSE Young Adults group from Cornerstone Church. We're thrilled to be going together on this trip, as we've grown so close over the last few years since embarking on this Jesus journey together. May it be known that any extra funds I make will go toward supporting their trip lots as well, as well as any additional monetary needs of the ministry while we are there. We will be blessed to be a blessing. We each must raise a total of $2,700 to cover all trip expenses, food, airfare, and lodging while we're there ministering.

Thank you for your help in this mission. I pray that the Lord blesses you mightily and you see His hand of favor working in your life in ways you didn't even expect possible. I know I have.

"A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed" (Proverbs 11:25)

Thank you once again. God bless you and all your efforts toward His gain. In Jesus' Name.

All for His honor and glory,

Amanda Grace Vasas

Click here for more information on Pastor José and his wife Ana and their beautiful family at the Kitchen of Love (Cucina del Amor) & click here if you feel led to contact or donate to them directly (and you can try a 'Find Amanda's Face" Challenge in the crowd of faces on that same page!)

Thank you, and have a blessed day.