Mission Guatemala
Donation protected
Hello Friends
and Family!
First of all, I want
to thank you for the feedback, encouragement, and prayers on my call to help
those in need in Guatemala. I am truly thankful and blessed to receive
such support from you all. Furthermore,
I am more than happy to announce that God has made a way for me to embark on a six month journey come early January
2014 as a missionary with Adventures in Missions (AIM) <http://www.adventures.org/about/index.asp?iname=about>. I will be with a team of 8 - 12 others in and
around Guatemala. It is less than two months away, so I
need all of the help I can get! Please take
5 more minutes to read the rest and go to the link on the next page! I confidently believe that the Lord has
guided my life in order to bring me up to this point. Here is my brief story:
Growing up in Baltimore, MD with my parents, sister, and brother, we became a strong family in close relationship with each other. Even though we went through some tough, impoverished times, and instead of them separating us, by the grace of God, we became closer. I am very thankful for my family, for their love and support throughout my life. As I progressed into high school, I chose to live my life apart from God, and it was dark and hopeless, as I put my trust in worldly desires. Looking back at it now, I see Jesus' hand over all of the experiences of pain and joy. It was all for a reason "“ so that I could see His amazing love for me and the wonders of His grace! This all led to when God changed my heart as I decided to follow Jesus my freshman year of college!
Furthermore, it took
a lot of trials and temptations for my heart to get where it is at today. Therefore, as long as the Lord wakes me up in
the morning, I will stand and hallow Jesus' name through relationships with the
people that He puts in my life "“ sharing with them the freedom, peace, love,
and joy that Jesus has given me. The following
verse has expressed to me this joy, and all I want to do is share that joy with
others:
"Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations! Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed" (Revelation 15:3-4).
For this mission in Guatemala, its focus is on the lost sheep
that society shuns - the poor, oppressed, hopeless, and others that God brings
our way; and helping connect them with the local church. Poverty in Guatemala is very different than
America - the justice system is very weak and much relief, rehabilitation, and
development is desperately needed. This is a real problem in Guatemala and this work
is very important to GOD. In
this, God broke my heart for the people there and is calling me to be a part of
its redemption right now. We will have
times called "sobremesa", which means "table-talk" or
"after-dinner conversation". In
this Latin culture, it is something that happens often; a simple phrase meaning
to invite people into our home, both strangers and longtime friends, to sit and
share more than just food with one another, but the intimacy of our faith - to
know Jesus fully and His love, together.
Overall, this mission is a focus on long term relationships.
My heart continues to yearn more and more for the less fortunate "“ to be in their midst, walk in their shoes, and serve them with the gifts that God has given me. Most importantly, for them to know that they have a Father in heaven that so earnestly desires to mercifully bestow His love on them! Therefore, right now I first ask you to join me in this mission by praying "“ for me, the mission, and the people I'm going to interact with. This is the most important, so I need everyone's prayer.
Additionally, I will also need financial support. I will be leaving for Guatemala early January and returning late June. A total cost that I need to raise for the trip and my living expenses back home (I can't get rid of my living expenses because I will be coming back in six months) is $17,460. I have not raised any funds yet but I believe God has a plan for it all, and I pray that you would so kindly partner with me in this mission of not my work, but God's work. I seek that this fruit increases to your credit (Philippians 4:16-17). Overall, this is to be a demonstration of the inclusive body of Jesus and the joy of being sent is great when a great number of people that I desire to share it with, are involved. Your partnership will sustain me through this whole time and there will be a blog that you will be able to see what you are supporting. Keep your receipt(s) for tax deduction purposes. Here is the website to make a donation - <http://www.gofundme.com/4yzxew>, or send to my church at P.O. Box 783, California, MD 20619. Please make checks out to "Cornerstone PCA" with "Stu "“ Mission Guatemala" on the memo line. Thank you, thank you, and gracias!
Specific Prayer Requests:
1. Love, wisdom, and guidance from God to strengthen and sustain me in this mission to Guatemala.
2. Faithfulness for my reintegration back to Maryland "“ my job, church, and community, from a drastically different culture in Guatemala.
3. Please pray that the right amount of financial support is raised.
4. Logistics with my family and living arrangements while I'm away.
5. My local church, friends, and family having a greater desire to love and serve the least of these brothers and sisters in our world by being a part of this mission in serving as a "sender".
6.
Confidence that God
will bless you, others, and me in this missionary journey of inviting people
into the love of Jesus!
I want you to know
that I am blessed to be able to even to share this work of God. Thank you for taking the time to read all of
this and consider being a part of this journey with me! Please feel free to contact me directly. Dios te bendiga (God bless you)!
In His Name,
Stu Oberg / [phone redacted]
"I'm looking forward to seeing what God does through you and in you." -Senior Pastor Walt Nilsson of Cornerstone Church in Lexington Park, MD
Growing up in Baltimore, MD with my parents, sister, and brother, we became a strong family in close relationship with each other. Even though we went through some tough, impoverished times, and instead of them separating us, by the grace of God, we became closer. I am very thankful for my family, for their love and support throughout my life. As I progressed into high school, I chose to live my life apart from God, and it was dark and hopeless, as I put my trust in worldly desires. Looking back at it now, I see Jesus' hand over all of the experiences of pain and joy. It was all for a reason "“ so that I could see His amazing love for me and the wonders of His grace! This all led to when God changed my heart as I decided to follow Jesus my freshman year of college!
"Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations! Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed" (Revelation 15:3-4).
My heart continues to yearn more and more for the less fortunate "“ to be in their midst, walk in their shoes, and serve them with the gifts that God has given me. Most importantly, for them to know that they have a Father in heaven that so earnestly desires to mercifully bestow His love on them! Therefore, right now I first ask you to join me in this mission by praying "“ for me, the mission, and the people I'm going to interact with. This is the most important, so I need everyone's prayer.
Additionally, I will also need financial support. I will be leaving for Guatemala early January and returning late June. A total cost that I need to raise for the trip and my living expenses back home (I can't get rid of my living expenses because I will be coming back in six months) is $17,460. I have not raised any funds yet but I believe God has a plan for it all, and I pray that you would so kindly partner with me in this mission of not my work, but God's work. I seek that this fruit increases to your credit (Philippians 4:16-17). Overall, this is to be a demonstration of the inclusive body of Jesus and the joy of being sent is great when a great number of people that I desire to share it with, are involved. Your partnership will sustain me through this whole time and there will be a blog that you will be able to see what you are supporting. Keep your receipt(s) for tax deduction purposes. Here is the website to make a donation - <http://www.gofundme.com/4yzxew>, or send to my church at P.O. Box 783, California, MD 20619. Please make checks out to "Cornerstone PCA" with "Stu "“ Mission Guatemala" on the memo line. Thank you, thank you, and gracias!
Specific Prayer Requests:
1. Love, wisdom, and guidance from God to strengthen and sustain me in this mission to Guatemala.
2. Faithfulness for my reintegration back to Maryland "“ my job, church, and community, from a drastically different culture in Guatemala.
3. Please pray that the right amount of financial support is raised.
4. Logistics with my family and living arrangements while I'm away.
5. My local church, friends, and family having a greater desire to love and serve the least of these brothers and sisters in our world by being a part of this mission in serving as a "sender".
6.
In His Name,
Stu Oberg / [phone redacted]
"I'm looking forward to seeing what God does through you and in you." -Senior Pastor Walt Nilsson of Cornerstone Church in Lexington Park, MD
Organizer
Stu Oberg
Organizer
California, MD
