Below is an email I sent out today to those that have given or have told me that they wanted to recieve updates on how everything is going with Guatemala preparations.  If you would like to be added to this email list, please send me your name and email address at Hannah.McGlothlin@gmail.com

Hey Everyone -

I have had several people ask me for an update on where things are for Guatemala, so I thought I would send out a quick update. 

As many of you know I am still in the initial fundraising process.  This week has been very encouraging.  After a couple of weeks at sitting at 19-20% and slowly becoming discouraged, I have moved up to approximately 31% of my support goal over that last week (this is based on either actual gifts that have come in or promised gifts/gifts that I have been told are on the way).  Looking at the overall picture, I realize that I am still a long way away from actually being released to my assignment in Guatemala through GCM, however I have been greatly encouraged that God is answering the prayers I prayed so many months ago when this journey was simply an idea of what might happen.  At that time I was asking that the Lord would show Himself mighty and reveal to those around me that it is through Him that I have been placed on this journey and not by the workings of my own hands.  It excites me and gives me great hope that it is only by His hand and purposes that I will be leaving for Guatemala in August, as looking at statistics I cannot do it on my own.  Now as I press forward, I know it will be God that receives all the glory for what He is doing in my life and throughout the ministry that is and will take place in Guatemala.  At the end of the day, all I want is for Him to receive the glory anyway.   

A verse that has resounded with me over and over this week has been Proverbs 20:24.  “A man’s steps are from the Lord; how then can man understand his way?”  It reminds me that the steps before me have been predestined by the Lord and He is directing me on the path He has planned, even if it seems to be a confusing way to go.  He has proved Himself faithful so many times before in my life, I can only trust that He will continue to do so.    

Thank you to those of you that have given a special gift or have begun giving monthly gifts to GCM on my behalf.  Currently those gifts are accumulating in the account with GCM that I am responsible for and going toward the amount of cash in hand that I need to have in the account before my hopeful “Release to Assignment” on June 1^st.  The amount needed by June 1^st will help me as I go to Missions Training International in Colorado for 6 weeks this summer as well as the travel to Guatemala and relocating costs to begin a new life in Guatemala.  Each gift has been a great encouragement to my soul as I have trusted that God is working both in my life and in yours for His glory.  For those of you that would like to give and not been able to up until this time, please let me know if you have any questions about getting set up on MyGCM or additional ways to give.  I have also has several opportunities to share at Home Groups lately.  If you are a part of a Home Group or have friends that would be excited to hear about what God is doing, please let me know so that I can share with them as well.   

Lastly, hopefully you are aware of my blog.  I haven’t posted much, but there have been a few updates here and there about what is going on or verses/prayers that I have found encouragement in.  If you haven’t checked it out yet, please do at: www.HannahMcGlothlin.com As things continue to draw closer I hope to use it as a place of connection to keep you updated on stories and pictures of what God is doing.  One thing I hope to do well is keep updated prayer needs listed there. 

Right now you can be praying:

• God would continue to make Himself glorious among those here and in Guatemala as lives are transformed through the gospel of Jesus Christ
• God would continue to provide the funds needed to go.  According to our plans we would like to be around 75% of our support goal in April and completely finished by mid-May.  Again, these are our plans, but ultimately, we want His will in this. 
• God would begin to prepare hearts and minds in Guatemala to hear and understand the gospel
• For the children and staff at Fundaninos – the orphanage we will be working with
• For the staff and members at Casa de Libertad – the church we have partnered with and will be serving alongside
• Continued wisdom, peace and unity over the team that I am a part of

Thank you for your continued prayers! 

In Him,

Hannah

If I were to be completely honest then I would have to say that I struggle with anxiety more than I would like to admit.  It is something that I’ve struggled with on and off most of my life and every time I think I have it under control and have given everything to the Lord, it pops its ugly head out once again in a new area of my heart. 

Today, it’s in the reality that I am lacking and unable to change my heart on my own.  I get frustrated and take it out on others.  I find that my heart towards God I can sometimes throw the same type of irrational tantrums that the 3 year olds in my class throw toward me.  When God is loving and protective, I see it as unfair.  My heart is wicked and all I can do is confess it to the Lord and beg Him to change me, speak to me, to mold me into a Christ-like image and grant me His mercy and love toward others.  I read “The Deeps” tonight – it’s another Puritan Prayer from The Valley of Vision that resounded within me today.   

“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save, he will rejoice over your with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.”

Zephaniah 3:17

I think apart of this started with the fact that I have been trying to support raise while working two jobs and trying to maintain normalcy and rest.  It has been slow and while I keep telling myself that God will provide all that my team needs to go, I battle daily the daunting task that has been set before us and the support goal that only God could provide in the time that we need it to come.  I feel as though many are excited about what is going on and seeing me obey the Lord, but few have been able to give financially to the ministry.  The fact is that it is only God who can stir in the hearts of His children to give.  Only God that can press on people a certain amount to give, even if I am able to offer suggestions.  He has surprised me time and time again and I am confident that He will continue to do so.  The Lord has been gracious and I’ve raised a good amount, however I still have a long way to go.  God will have to do it!  He has been the one to do it thus far!  Our team has been praying that God would allow us to have all the funds needed to go by April 1st – this is about 6 weeks before we actually need to have it, but it is something that God is using to refine my faith and trust Him more.  There’s no possible way we can raise everything we need by April 1st, it would have to be God and He would be the only one that would be able to get the glory should this prayer be answered.  Would you join us in praying?  

Would you also prayerful consider allowing God to use you in sharing His name, glory and love to the nation of Guatemala, and specifically the people and children at Casa de Libertad and the staff and children at Fundaninos by giving to GCM on my behalf?  If this is something that the Lord has put on your heart, please go to "Give" and follow the instructions for MyGCM or send me your address and I will mail you a packet with all the necessary information on how to give.   

Thank you!  Please know that I am praying for you and your family.  Love you all!

Written  on Wednesday March 3, 2010, posted to website on Saturday March 6, 2010

Lord Jesus –

Give me a deeper repentance, a horror of sin, a dread of its approach; Help me chastely to flee it, and jealously to resolve that my heart shall be thine alone. 

Give me a deeper trust, that I may lose myself to find myself in thee, the ground of my rest, the spring of my being.

Give me a deeper knowledge of thyself as Saviour, Master, Lord, and King.

Give me deeper power in private prayer, more sweetness in thy Word, more steadfast grip on its truth.

Give me deeper holiness in speech, thought, action, and let me not seek moral virtue apart from thee.

Plough deep in me, great Lord, heavenly Husbandman, that my being may be a tilled field, the roots of grace spreading far and wide, until thou alone art seen in me, thy beauty golden like summer harvest, thy fruitfulness as autumn plenty.

I have no Master but thee, no law but thy will, no delight but thyself, no wealth but that thou givest, no peace but that thou bestowest. 

I am nothing but that thou makest me, I have nothing but that I recieve from thee, I can be nothing but that grace adorns me. 

Quarry me deep, dear Lord, and then fill me to overflowing with living water.

The Valley of Vision