big move!

Well, it happened! After a lot of praying and searching I found my apartment. It's about five minutes away from the school which makes commute in the morning rather short and sweet :) Here are some pictures of the place for you to see if you want to!

 My Kitchen

A little note

Bets came for a visit

 

Welcome home!

There it is! Hope you enjoy :)

Open Doors

I think that most everyone who reads this post already knows me, but for those who happen upon this and don't, here's my story.

God called me to the beautiful country of Guatemala when I was just seventeen years old. Of course, me in my little mind, thought this would be for a short six months that God would use to grow me in my character and to serve Him through missions. I started volunteering two weeks after I moved to Guatemala at the Christian Academy of Guatemala, four days a week and one day a week at a children's home. Quickly I fell into the routine of serving the Lord by loving on these people that God had surrounded me with.
Those six months flew by and I found myself with my family on a plane to return to the States for the summer. Throughout the summer I spent time getting things ready for college, spent time with friends and family and more than all of those things-praying. I prayed that God would show me what it was that he wanted me to do with my life. The go to answer at that age seems so obvious-go to college. Right? WRONG. Well, for me it was anyways. I continued to prepare for school, but decided that instead of moving to Chicago in August, I would go in December. I packed everything up in pretty little boxes ready to be shipped and hopped back on a plane eager to arrive back to the country that I love so much.
I remember the plane hitting the landing strip and just thinking, "I'm home!". It was one of the most exciting moments in my life, because I think it was in that moment that I knew this is where God wants me to serve him for the time being. (This is also the moment I decided I would earn my whole degree online for those of you who are wondering what I did about my schooling :))
I was't sure what I would do for ministry because I was planning on staying for just a few month before I would return to the States for school, so I hadn't set up very formal plans for the months that I would be in country. I had talked to the recruiter at CAG earlier in the summer and they had offered me a job (for the time that I would be here) teaching music, so I accepted. But, something still wasn't completely settled in my heart. So, I kept praying.
One day during a in-service meeting, a teacher lifted a prayer request that God would bring a teacher to work one on one with her young son...and I knew God was opening this door to me, telling me to walk through it, have faith and trust Him completely. I went up to this woman after we had finished our meeting for the day and told her that I had been praying, and that I'm willing to fill the position. That was one of the most amazing moments in this journey so far-because God answered both of our prayers that day.
That year (2012) proved to be challenging in new ways for me. Finding a good balance between studying and preparing for classes proved to be more difficult that I thought it would be-but I can see now looking back how God was using that to grow and teach me.
December came and passed, and I stayed in Guatemala 'for another six months'. And another. God had called me I realized, not for six months, but for as long as He wants me here. Those first six months have now turned into almost two and a half years!
In July of 2012 I began collecting the paperwork necessary for residency here in Guatemala. In August, I filed and now I've been approved and am waiting for just a few more details to finish up. I have a full-time position at CAG still, and I plan to work there next year as well. God has also opened my heart to work with team ministry, helping translate and working alongside groups that come to serve here short term.
As God continues to open these doors for me and reveals to me what he wants me to do to bring glory to his name, I would appreciate your prayer. I believe that our God is a God who hears and answers our prayers in his timing. As I continue my work here, I ask you to pray for those I come in contact with and that God would touch their hearts; for safety, good health, courage and financial support. Knowing that you are praying gives me peace as I continue the work that I have been called to.

Beyond your prayers, if you feel led to join me by financially supporting me, please email me at:
abbyjoyw@yahoo.com for more information on that.
The cost of living as a single person here is about $1,000 per month. I want to open this invitation for you to participate. This is a journey that God has called me to, and I greatly appreciate any level of support you are able to offer.

I want to thank you SO much for taking the time to read what God has been doing in my life and for your support through prayers.

Abby