BRIDGES OF GRACE MINISTRIES, Arlene Reitz

BRIDGES OF GRACE MINISTRIES

Arlene J. Reitz, Founder and Administrator, Guatemala [email protected]

2020 The Path of Promises, Many fulfilled, Others up-and-coming!

Greetings from Guatemala!

Out of the abundance of my heart, I give glory and honor to my Lord Jesus for His strengthening grace. In the midst of unusual circumstances and unprecedented uncertainties, I am able to decree without a doubt and with utmost sincerity that it is well with my soul—God’s mercies are new every morning and His love never fails.

Psalm 18:30 What a God you are! Your path for me has been perfect! All your promises have proven true. What a secure shelter for all those who turn to hide themselves in you! You are the wrap-around God giving grace to me.

This year has been challenging for all of us. There is a shaking and a shifting still going on around the World but we can as Christians stand on the solid rock of Jesus Christ, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Though there have been many changes and many more are coming, we have the comforting revelation that’s God’s Word will always remain our faithful compass, steady and true.

Thank you Lord that Your word is the lamp to our feet and a light to our path. Psalm 109:105

You will keep us in perfect peace when our minds and hearts are stayed on You because we trust in You. Isaiah 26:3

This is a crucial time! That is clear! A web of uncertainty because of the unknown has been thrown over the minds of many. Confusion and chaos are the results of lack of trust.

Questions abound. Who has the answers? Who can I trust? Where do I go from here? The Word of the Lord tells us that we are to seek Him first and not to worry.

Matthew 6:33-34, The Passion Translation “So above all, constantly chase after the realm of God’s kingdom and the righteousness that proceeds from him. Then all these less important things will be given to you abundantly. Refuse to worry about tomorrow, but deal with each challenge that comes your way, one day at a time.Tomorrow will take care of itself.”

“You are moving from one season to the next-don’t back up-keep moving on, you will be crossing over to the other side of this.”That’s what the Lord spoke to me in the Spring when Guatemala experienced a total lock-down from the Pandemic, and I became house bound. Moving on didn’t seem like much of an option. So I had questions.You probably have had them too—such as What? When? How?

Did the Lord answer me?

Yes and no! Depends on your perspective of things and knowing from experience that He doesn’t tell us everything and when He does it’s on His Time Clock, not ours. Only God knows the times and timing of things. He is the Creator of time.

It is written in the book of Acts that when the disciples questioned Jesus, He answered,“The Father is the one who sets the fixed dates and the times of their fulfillment. You are not permitted to know the timing of all that he has prepared by his own authority.”

Many things in the natural have either been put on hold, changed or cancelled completely. We have had to trust Him, believe His Word and make His Promises personal. Praising Him in the midst of the Pandemic has been the strengthening force that has kept me focusing on the future. Not looking back and wishing for things that were not to be, but instead pressing on with hope that only comes from having Jesus living in my heart. He is the Anchor to my soul-my sustaining grace. I have been sheltering in place, positioned under the shadow of His Wings-and doing what the Word of God says to do.Waiting-Trusting-Believing in Him!

“Those who wait for Yahweh’s grace will experience divine strength.They will rise up on soaring wings and fly like eagles, run their race without growing weary, and walk through life without giving up.”Isaiah 40:31 TPT

And so by our calendar we have moved from one season to the next-Summer is gone and Autumn has arrived-—my favorite time of the year to be Stateside and yet, here I am in Guatemala, still waiting. It’s been two years since I’ve been home in Pennsylvania. Am I sad, not really, because I trust Him to work it all out according to His Word.

Romans 8:28 TPT “So we are convinced that every detail of our lives is continually woven together to fit into God’s perfect plan of bringing good into our lives, for we are his lovers who have been called to fulfill his designed purpose.”

God is always working, even when we can’t see Him. Things are beginning to open up in Guatemala. We can move about a little more freely. The Airport opened up September 18th. A good missionary friend returned that day on American Airlines -one of the first planes permitted into the country. They still have some restrictions, but I have good news.

My daughter, Donna’s flight was cancelled in May and we were disappointed but now she is able to come in November and that’s when I actually need her help the most.

Decreeing by faith more freedom to minister!

Here are the dates:

Donna’s Missionary Trip November 22-Dec 7th. We will do our Christmas Food Distribution in Fountain of Grace Church, Xecam, Cantel on November 29th. We are doing bags of groceries this year instead of baskets, cutting out the cost of the baskets to buy larger quantities of food.

Our Ladies Tea will be December 2nd. We will be blessing the women and children at the Tea with Gift bags of Goodies. It is a special blessing that my daughter is coming to help with all the Christmas Activities.

I appreciate prayers for her safe trip, finances to cover all expenses for the Christmas activities, especially the food distribution, women and children’s ministry.

BRIDGES OF GRACE-CHRISTMAS IN GUATEMALA

BOG NAVIDAD/ OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP!

BRIDGES OF GRACE-CHRISTMAS IN GUATEMALA

BOG NAVIDAD/ OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP!

1. BOG/BAGS OF GROCERIES (50) $25.00 EACH BAG

2. WOMEN’S CHILDRENS MINISTRY (60 KIDS)

3. DONNA’S MISSION TRIP NOV 22-DEC 7

PLUS SPECIAL OFFERING OPPORTUNITY FOR FOUNTAIN OF GRACE CHURCH CONSTRUCTION -ADDITION NEEDED FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH ACTIVITY CENTER

“Let giving flow from your heart, not from a sense of religious duty. Let it spring up freely from the joy of giving—all because God loves hilarious generosity![Yes, God is more than ready to overwhelm you with every form of grace, so that you will have more than enough of everything[e]—every moment and in every way. He will make you overflow with abundance in every good thing you do.Just as the Scriptures say about the one who trusts in him.”2 Co 9:7-8 TPT

Please send monthly support as usual to:

Bridges of Grace Ministries

C/O Donna Yonish,

134 South Washington Avenue,

Greensburg, PA 15601

Special offerings to same above address:

Designate your offering on check line

BOG for Bags of Groceries

WATW for the Women and Children

FOG for Church Construction

Donna for Mission Trip

Thank you for taking time to read this and for praying, participating and partnering with Bridges of Grace Ministry as we serve the Lord together in His Mission Field here in Guatemala.

More news of changes and blessings coming soon as we press on as the Lord leads…don’t forget to pray and vote…mine is on the way!

Choose wisely. Freedom for our Faith,

Christianity & Life is on the line!