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Member Directory
Jen May -
English Teacher at Escuela Vida y Esperanza
A Little Bit About Me:
I was born in CA but grew up in Norfolk, MA until attending Bates College in Lewiston, ME. I lived in Maine for five years after graduating from Bates in 2001. In the summer of 2006, I moved out of my apartment in Maine and traveled around for pre-field training and to visit friends and family before leaving for Guatemala in September 2006. I have an older brother who lives in Albany, NY. I love to be active outdoors, hiking, running & kayaking in the summer, and snowshoeing & skiing in the winter. I absolutely love Maine and miss seeing the landscape and change of seasons there on a daily basis. My sending churches are Galilee Baptist Church in Gorham, ME where I attended for two years and West Medway Community Church in Medway, MA where I grew up. I am extremely blessed by the support of family and friends in the States, and miss them greatly as I begin my life here in Guatemala.
My Calling
I have studied Spanish every year since my freshman year in high school and love both the language itself and the culture associated with it. I was a Spanish major in college and received my teaching certificate and masters in education four years after completing my undergraduate work. I taught Spanish II & III at Scarborough High School in Scarborough, ME for three years before leaving for Guatemala in September 2006.
God first spoke to my heart about missions at Urbana 2000, a mission conference hosted by InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. Since that conference, I felt called to missions and teaching overseas; it was just a matter of waiting on God’s ways and His timing. I first heard of God’s work in Guatemala through Mission Impact in December 2004 by meeting Susan Blount and a Guatemalan missionary who was visiting Maine. Eight months later (August 2005), I went with Susan and a team of 13 people from Maine and New Hampshire on a short-term mission trip. It was on that trip, through working at Wally’s school, meeting fellow Mission Impact missionaries, in addition to prayer, Scripture reading and a deep sense of peace, that God confirmed His call to work there long-term.
Upon returning from my trip in August 2005, God continued to reaffirm His call for me to work in Guatemala with Mission Impact. I officially began the fundraising process in November 2005 and humbly watched God work in the hearts of people and churches to build a complete support team by the time of my departure in September 2006. I will be working as an English teacher for Grades K-4 at Escuela Vida y Esperanza for the new school year, starting January 2007. I invite your support, prayers and encouragement as I continue my transition to daily life here in Guatemala.
Praise God for:
- A full support team, formed from monthly financial commitments and generous special gifts that were pledged throughout 2005 & 2006 so that I have been able to arrive in Guatemala fully funded.
- Safe travel and a solid beginning to my daily life here in Guatemala. Praise Him that I found an apartment and furniture quickly as I began to settle into living here.
- A solid end to the 2006 school year for Escuela Vida y Esperanza students, as well as good decisions for hiring new staff for 2007.
- His faithfulness in bringing my dream of coming to Guatemala to fruition quickly and smoothly this year.
Please Pray for:
- Continual adjustment to daily life here in Guatemala. Pray that I can find a used vehicle to use as safe transportation during my time here. Pray that I can find a church and build strong relationships to form a support network for me before I begin teaching in January 2007.
- Preparation for teaching English to Grades K-4 at Escuela Vida y Esperanza. Pray for wisdom for planning activities and games appropriate for each grade level. Pray for peace as I adjust to teaching younger students instead of high school students. Pray for stamina as I attempt to learn 125 students’ new names at the beginning of next year.
- My family and friends, that God would give them peace with my being here, and that they would trust Him for my safety and His will for my life here instead of being preoccupied or worrying about my daily activities.
2 Corinthians 9:10b (NLT)- God will give you many opportunities to do good, and he will produce a great harvest of generosity in you.
Thank you for being obedient to God’s leading, and partnering with me throughout this year during preparations and now life changes as I adjust to living here in Guatemala!
Newsletters
July 2006 (PDF, 1.5 MB)
August 2006 (PDF, 180 KB)
September 2006 (PDF, 136 KB)
October 2006 v1 (PDF, 184 KB)
October 2006 v2 (PDF, 292 KB)
November 2006 (PDF, 196 KB)
Trip to Ixcan - November 2006 (PDF, 460 KB)
Christmas 2006 (PDF, 708 KB)
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info@missionimpact.com
