Why Guatemala - by Janice Brandes (Board President)
How did you get involved with Hope Renewed International?
My first introduction to the work of Hope Renewed International was in the context of a mission trip with the organization in October of 2013. The poverty-stricken communities overwhelmed me and as I encountered God's people in the midst of hopelessness, I asked God to show me His presence. I went home and began to delve into what God had to say about the poor and my passion for poverty alleviation in Guatemala and in our own backyard began to ignite. God has SO much to say about the poor and needy and the responsibility that those who are in Christ have to the least of these. In Deuteronomy 15:4 God declared, "There should be no poor among you." and 1 John 3:17 says, "If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in Him?"
What "next steps" led you to take a position on the board of Hope Renewed International?
To be honest, the next steps felt as overwhelming as my trip to Guatemala. I was hopeful, however, that by lending the gifts and abilities that God gave me to the organization, He would do a work through me that might make a difference - even if it was just a small difference. I didn't begin serving on the board - I began with sponsoring a student in the scholarship program financially and in prayer. In addition, I organized the mission teams that visited Guatemala, hoping that - like me - people on teams might feel led to join in poverty alleviation efforts by giving to the ongoing efforts of HRI in Guatemala.
“I read a book on poverty alleviation from a Biblical worldview that helped to focus God’s call on my life ”
Wanting to learn more about how HRI was organized, I read the book WHEN HELPING HURTS by Brian Fikkert and Steve Corbett and it was this book on poverty alleviation from a Biblical worldview that helped to focus God's call on my life to recognize my OWN poverty apart from Him and to realize that God created us all in His image to be in relationship with Him, with ourselves (to know we are made in His image), with others (in community) and with the rest of creation. Poverty then takes on a much broader context, doesn't it? Colossians 1 says that Jesus created ALL THINGS, sustains ALL THINGS and came to reconcile ALL THINGS - and that's GOOD NEWS that has to be shared. Oftentimes, however, when people suffer from material poverty (broken relationships with themselves, others and creation) the Truth of the Good News that they can be reconciled to their Creator is difficult to experience. That's why HRI works with Guatemalans to develop assets-based projects in at-risk communities that are designed to transform lives through care, education, opportunity and formation. Our goal is to serve, equip and empower Guatemalans with a hand-up, not with hand-outs.
How has the pandemic most affected HRI's ability to serve the people of Guatemala?
Obviously, the global pandemic has made desperate people in desperate situations more desperate and it has been a privilege to walk through this with the Guatemalan staff we employ and the people that we serve in the communities there. Our staff there has stepped up to the plate and provided meals for families and have helped parents to navigate at-home learning which is particularly difficult for those in poverty.
Additionally, the pandemic has impacted our ability to serve people because our finances were severely affected. We were thrilled to have 12 mission teams scheduled for the 2020 calendar year but 9 were not able to attend. This not only affected our budget for 2020 but also severely limited the chance for acquiring more prayer warriors and financial recurring donors through these teams. God has provided for us in miraculous ways, however, and directed us to give up some ministry projects and make other cost cuts that allowed us to continue to employ most of the Guatemalans on staff with us.
We are hopeful that in 2022, we will be able to get back to hosting teams to join us in serving, equipping and empowering Guatemalans in ways that help them to help themselves and others in their own communities. We are also hoping and praying that at the end of 2021 we will see God provide year-end giving that will provide for our expenses miraculously!