4/2/2019

ACPE Zapatos for Zacapa Report

From: Pastor Giovanni Sinay in Zacapa, Guatemala

Shoes for our kids!

Thanks to God for using Faith Church from Minneapolis,
Minnesota, to bless our kids and their families down here.
We received many pairs of shoes to share with the kids of
our three congregations. It was a great blessing for the
kids, personally, but also very important for their families.
We held three events, one in each church (Zacapa City,
Piedras Azules, and Juan Ponce) to deliver the shoes.

VALERY
At the church in Piedras Azules, Valery
was very excited to receive a new pair of
shoes.

Every family took time to pick the

shoes they needed for all the kids
they have. So, some families found
shoes for all the kids. Other found
shoes just for some of their kids,
but everybody got something,
which was, and still is, a great
blessing. It came to be a festive
day because most of the kids
came with old shoes, or with no
shoes, and they went back home
RUBITA’S FAMILY with new shoes. What a day!

When our group from Faith visited Guatemala in 2016, we met Rubita
(center) and some of her children, including Oliver (wearing a red hat
above). He was just a baby at the time and he was in very poor
health. The team prayed for his health and that the family would feel
“Most of the kids came
the support of the Church community in Piedras Azules since they had with old shoes, or with no
just moved there. We are glad to hear that since we were there, Oliver’s
health has Improved significantly, they have walls on their house (it was
shoes, and they went back
just poles and a roof when we visited), and they regularly attend the home with new shoes.
Church services and events. All of Rubita’s children received a much
needed pair of shoes.
What a day!” - Giovanni
 So, thank you very much for your heart,
sharing with us what God gives you.
Also thank you for taking time to collect
everything people give to send for us.

Most of the families will keep these

shoes just for going to school and have
their old shoes for everyday use. Only
those kids who had no shoes at all
would use these for everyday. For those
children, we gave them two pairs,
because in that way they can keep one
just for school and the other for daily
MORE THAN SHOES use.

(Above) Giovanni puts a new pair of socks on a boy who, All the Glory is for Jesus Christ!
like so many others, remind him of himself as a child. Gio God bless you!
understands first hand what a new pair of socks and
shoes can mean for these children. As a boy, he was given
a pair of shoes to replace a badly worn pair of rubber
boots. The generosity and care the missionaries showed
him helped him realize how much God loves him. He
makes sure that every child who receives theses gifts
understands that God loves them and they are valuable as
children of God.

“Magaly and I are very grateful

with the Lord and with you all
for allowing us to be part of this
great blessing to our people.
May the Lord pay you back for
your giving and generosity.”
- Giovanni
 “When people give, they may
think it is not much that they
are giving, but for sure, it will
be very much for those who
receive.” -Giovanni

They also received towels. One

towel for each family. They were
very thankful to receive this present.
It is very important to understand
how great a present like this is for
those who have nothing. So, when
SPECIAL BONUS
people give, they may think it is not
much that they are giving, but for Due to the international shipping company charging by volume
sure, it will be very much for those instead of weight, we found that once the shoes were all packed
who receive. there was some space left over in the box . With this opportunity, we
included 74 new towels/wash cloths (vacuum packed), 155 pairs of
socks, and a few toys to fill every possible inch of space. The towels and
socks were paid for via a donation from ACPE.

Note from Christopher:

What Was Sent: Thank you so much for your generosity and willingness to meet this
need for the children in Guatemala. It is God who makes this work
Pairs of shoes 157 through us and I am especially grateful to Giovanni and Magaly for
their hearts to serve Him.

These pictures and stories are proof that your donations go directly to
Pairs of socks 155
the kids and families they are intended for. They not only meet a real
physical need, they also help strengthen the connection we have with
our brothers and sisters in Christ. Every child who receives a donated
Towels / Washcloths 74
item from Giovanni or Magaly will hear how they are loved by God
and by us at Faith Church as a part of our spiritual family. This is spe-
Toys 10 cial, meaningful and powerful.

In the next Z4Z shoe shipment, we plan to include all of the 40+ bags
and extra supplies donated from the baby shower which will be a
huge blessing for new mothers at the Zacapa hospital. Also, we hope
to send other donations such as personal hygiene items, books, toys,
and fabric for the sewing ministry as space allows.

Please contact Christopher Garner for any questions:

Email: garner.christopher@gmail.com
Phone: 608-609-0642
 ZACAPA, GUATEMALA
The Department of Zacapa, Guatemala, Central America

Belize
Mexico
Official seal of Zacapa

Guatemala Zacapa (Spanish pronunciation:

[saˈkapa]) is one of the 22 departments
Zacapa of Guatemala. It lies in eastern
Guatemala with its capital in the city of
Zacapa, 70 miles from Guatemala City.

The population for the whole

Honduras department of Zacapa is estimated at
188,319

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Zacapa_Department
El Salvador

Piedras Azules
Pastor Giovanni and Magaly live
and serve in Zacapa City. Juan Ponce
They also serve the communities of
Juan Ponce and Piedras Azules
(Blue Rocks)

The remote community of Piedras

Azules is about 30 miles from
Zacapa and it usually takes an hour
or more to drive there. They make
the trip several times per week to
lead Church services, youth
programs, home visits, sewing
ministries, food assistance
programs, etc. Zacapa City